EX-99.4(A) 2 d560916dex994a.txt FORM OF GOLD TRACK SELECT CONTRACT AND CONTRACT SCHEDULE METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY . [200 PARK AVENUE . NEW YORK, NY . 02116] A STOCK COMPANY WE ARE PLEASED TO PROVIDE YOU THE PLEASE READ ALL ATTACHED FORMS BENEFITS OF THIS ANNUITY CONTRACT. CAREFULLY. THE CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS STATED ON THE ATTACHED PAGES, ALL OF WHICH ARE A PART OF IT. THE CONTRACT AND CERTIFICATES ARE ISSUED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PURCHASE PAYMENTS. Based on the maximum charges of the Separate Account assets, the smallest yearly gross investment rate which would have to be earned on the assets of an Underlying Fund so that the dollar amount of variable annuity payments will not decrease is [4.30%]. The Smallest Yearly Gross Investment Rate is equal to the Assumed Net Investment Rate of 3.00% plus the annual mortality and expense risk deduction for all funds. EXECUTED AT NEW YORK, NEW YORK [GRAPHIC] [Steven A. Kandarian President] THIS IS A LEGAL CONTRACT BETWEEN YOU PLEASE READ YOUR CONTRACT CAREFULLY. AND US. FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT TAX QUALIFIED ELECTIVE OPTIONS NON-PARTICIPATING ANNUITY PAYMENTS, DEATH BENEFITS, WITHDRAWAL VALUES AND OTHER CASH VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT, WHEN BASED ON INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE OF THE UNDERLYING FUNDS, ARE VARIABLE AND MAY INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLUCTUATIONS IN THE NET INVESTMENT FACTOR, AS APPLICABLE, AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED AS TO FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RESTRICT THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FIXED ACCOUNT AFTER ISSUE. M-14669 (4223) TABLE OF CONTENTS Contract Specifications......................................................... [Page 3 Definitions..................................................................... Page 7 Purchase Payments............................................................... Page 8 General Contract Provisions..................................................... Page 9 Valuation Information........................................................... Page 10 Transfers Between Underlying Funds.............................................. Page 11 Transfers from Underlying Funds to Contracts or Certificates not Issued by Us... Page 12 Transfers from Other Contracts or Certificates Issued by Us..................... Page 12 Transfers to Other Contracts or Certificates Issued by Us....................... Page 12 Distributions from the Certificates............................................. Page 12 Certificate Charges............................................................. Page 12 Death Benefit Provisions........................................................ Page 12 Account Termination Provisions.................................................. Page 13 Contract Discontinuance Provisions.............................................. Page 13 Settlement Provisions........................................................... Page 14 Variable Annuity............................................................. Page 15 Fixed Annuity................................................................ Page 15 Annuity Options.............................................................. Page 15 Annuity Tables.................................................................. Page 18]
Any Riders or Endorsements follow the Life Annuity Tables. M-14669 (4223) 2 DEFINITIONS (A) ACCUMULATION UNIT - An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the value of the certificates. An Accumulation Unit exists for each Underlying Fund. The value of this measure is called the Accumulation Unit Value. (B) ANNUITANT - The person on whose life the Annuity payments are made. (C) ANNUITY - Payment of income for a stated period or amount. (D) ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE - The date on which Annuity payments begin. (E) BENEFICIARY(IES) - The Beneficiary of the certificate named by the Participant. (F) CASH SURRENDER VALUE - The Cash Value less any amounts deducted on Surrender shown on the Contract Specifications page and any applicable Premium Tax. (G) CASH VALUE - The value of the Accumulation Units in an Individual Account less any reduction for administrative charges. Sometimes referred to as "Account Value." (H) CERTIFICATE DATE - The date the certificate is issued as shown on the Certificate Specifications Page. (I) CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION - A certificate stating the benefits to which each Participant is entitled under this contract. (J) CERTIFICATE YEAR - The twelve-month period beginning with the Certificate Date or any anniversary thereof. (K) COMPETING FUND - Any funding option under this contract which, in Our opinion, consists primarily of fixed income securities and/or money market instruments. (L) CONTRACT DATE - The date this contract is issued as shown on the Contract Specifications page. (M) CONTRACT DISCONTINUANCE - Termination of this contract by Us or by Your Written Request. (N) CONTRACT YEAR - The twelve-month period beginning with the Contract Date or any anniversary thereof. This may or may not coincide with the Plan year, if any. (O) DUE PROOF OF DEATH - (i) A copy of a certified death certificate; (ii) a copy of a certified decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death; (iii) a written statement by a medical doctor who attended the deceased; or (iv) any other proof satisfactory to Us. (P) EXCESS PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS - Plan contributions including excess deferrals, excess contributions, excess aggregate contributions, excess annual additions, and excess nondeductible contributions that require correction by a Plan Administrator, if any, excluding reversions upon Plan Termination. (Q) FIXED ANNUITY - An Annuity with payments which remain fixed as to dollar amount throughout the payment period. (R) INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT - Accumulation Units credited to a Participant or Beneficiary under a Certificate of Participation. (S) OUR OFFICE - The home office of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or any other office which We may designate for the purpose of administering this contract. All correspondence concerning this contract should be sent to the mailing address stated on the cover page of this contract. (T) PARTICIPANT - An eligible person. (U) PLAN - The Plan, if any, designated on the Contract Specifications page. We are not a party to the Plan. We do not assume the responsibilities of a Plan Administrator, nor are We bound by the terms of the Plan. All records pertaining to the Plan will be open for inspection by Us. We are not bound by any material change in the Plan terms or administration after the Contract Date, unless we agree otherwise. (V) PLAN TERMINATION - Termination of Your Plan, if any, including partial Plan Termination, as determined by Us. M-14669 (4223) 7 (W) PREMIUM TAX - The amount of tax, if any, charged by the state or municipality. We may deduct any applicable Premium Tax from the Cash Value either upon Surrender, annuitization, death, or at the time Purchase Payments are made, but no earlier than when We have a tax liability under state law. (X) PURCHASE PAYMENTS - Payments You or the Participants make to the certificates. (Y) SEPARATE ACCOUNT - the Separate Account(s) indicated in the Contract Specifications which We established under Connecticut Insurance Laws and complies with New York Insurance Laws, and which purchases shares of the Underlying Funds for this class of contracts and certain other contracts. (Z) SEPARATION FROM SERVICE - The termination or permanent severance of the Participant's employment with the employer for any reason that is a separation from service within the meaning of the Plan, if any. However, termination of a Participant's employment with the employer as a result of the sale of all or part of the employer's business (including divisions or subsidiaries of the employer) will not be considered Separation from Service unless the Participant actually loses his/her job or is not immediately included in a pension or profit sharing plan of the successor employer. (AA) SURRENDER - Funds distributed from the certificate for retirement, Separation from Service, loans, hardship withdrawals, death, disability, minimum distribution return of Excess Plan Contributions, payment of certain Plan expenses as mutually agreed upon, Contract Discontinuance, or transfers to other Plan funding vehicles. Such surrender may or may not be subject to charges. (BB) SURRENDER DATE - The date We receive a Participant's Written Request for a Surrender. (CC) UNDERLYING FUND - An open-ended diversified investment management company which is an underlying investment for the Separate Account. (DD) VALUATION DATE - The date on which the Separate Account is valued. (EE) NEXT VALUATION DATE - If a participant submits a Written Request to Us for a transaction that requires valuation of the funding options under this Contract, the Next Valuation Date (when those funds will be valued) will be: 1) The day the Written Request was received if prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (except for when trading is restricted due to an emergency as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission); or 2) The next day regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange occurs. (FF) VALUATION PERIOD - The period between successive valuations. (GG) VARIABLE ANNUITY - An Annuity with payments which vary with the net investment results of the Separate Account. (HH) WE, OUR, US - Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. (II) WRITTEN REQUEST - A written form satisfactory to Us and received at Our Office. (JJ) YOU, YOUR - The contract owner. PURCHASE PAYMENTS PURCHASE PAYMENT The Purchase Payments are the payments You and/or the Participants make to any certificate issued under the contract. An initial lump sum Purchase Payment must be made to a certificate and is due and payable before a certificate becomes effective. Each Purchase Payment is payable to Us at Our Office. The minimum Purchase Payment is shown on the Contract Specifications page. We reserve the right to limit the amount of the Purchase Payment which will be accepted subject to the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Payment Amounts shown on the Contract Specifications. Net Purchase Payments are that part of the Purchase Payments applied to the certificates. The net Purchase Payment is equal to the Purchase Payment less any applicable Premium Tax. M-14669 (4223) 8 ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS The initial net Purchase Payment will be applied within two business days following its receipt in good order at Our Office. We will establish Individual Accounts and issue a Certificate of Participation for each Participant upon the acceptance of the initial net Purchase Payment. Each net Purchase Payment will be allocated to the Underlying Funds in the proportion specified by the Participant for their Purchase Payments for any certificate issued under the contract. By Written Request, any subsequent net Purchase Payments will be credited to an Individual Account using the Accumulation Unit Value determined after We receive those payments at Our Office. The Participant may change the choice of Underlying Funds or allocation percentages. The available Underlying Funds to which assets may be allocated may be subsequently added or deleted. We will deposit each net Purchase Payment to the appropriate Individual Account as directed by You or the Participant. We will satisfy distribution requests from the Individual Accounts and provide periodic reports as described in the "Required Reports" provision. GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS OWNER This contract belongs to You. You have sole power while the contract is in force to exercise any rights given in the contract, subject to the terms of the provision entitled "Control of the Certificate." In order to maintain tax qualification, this contract and any certificates issued to a Participant may not be sold, assigned, transferred, discounted or pledged as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose except as may be required or permitted under applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. CREDITOR CLAIMS No right or benefit to You, the Annuitant or Beneficiary under this contract shall be subject to the claims of creditors or any legal process other than to the extent permitted by law. CONTROL OF THE CONTRACT All rights in the contract rest with You. Except as expressly provided below in "Control of the Certificate," You may elect to exercise any options allowed by the contract. Elections made under the contract must be made by a Written Request, unless another manner is mutually agreed upon. CONTROL OF THE CERTIFICATE The Certificate belongs to the Participant. As certificate owner, the Participant has sole power during the Annuitant's lifetime to exercise any rights and to receive all benefits given in the certificate, provided the Participant has not named an irrevocable Beneficiary. The Participant will be the recipient of all payments while the Annuitant is alive unless the Participant directs them to an alternate recipient by Written Request. An alternate recipient does not become the certificate owner. An alternate payment directive is revocable by the Participant at any time by giving Us 30 days advance notice by Written Request. THE CONTRACT The entire contract between You and Us consists of the contract and all attached pages. CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION A certificate issued for delivery to Participants stating who may exercise the rights, privileges and receive the benefits of the certificate. Nothing in the contract invalidates or impairs any right granted to the Participant under the law or a certificate. CONTRACT AND CERTIFICATE CHANGES The only way this contract or certificate(s) may be changed is by a written endorsement signed by one of Our officers. SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERLYING FUNDS If it is not possible to continue to offer an Underlying Fund, or in Our judgment becomes inappropriate for the purposes of this contract, We may substitute another Underlying Fund without Your or the Participant's consent. Substitutions may be made with respect to both existing investments and investment of future Purchase Payments subject to applicable law. INCONTESTABILITY We will not contest this contract from its Contract Date. MINIMUM BENEFITS Any paid-up annuity, cash surrender or death benefits that may be available under this contract are not less than the minimum benefits required by any statute of the state in which this contract is delivered. M-14669 (4223) 9 REQUIRED REPORTS As often as required by law, but at least once in each Certificate Year, We will furnish a report to the Participant which will show the number of Accumulation Units credited to their Certificate for each Underlying Fund and the corresponding Accumulation Unit Values as of the date of the report. VOTING RIGHTS If required by federal law, the Participant, during the lifetime of the Participant or the Beneficiary after the death of the Participant, may have the right to vote at the meetings of the Shareholders of the Underlying Funds. If the Participant has voting rights, We will send a notice to each Participant telling each Participant the time and place of a meeting. The notice will also explain matters to be voted upon and how many votes the Participant may exercise. MORTALITY AND EXPENSES Neither expenses actually incurred, other than taxes on the investment return, nor mortality actually experienced, shall adversely affect the dollar amount of the variable annuity payments after such payments have commenced. NON-PARTICIPATING This contract and any certificate issued under the contract does not share in Our surplus earnings, so You will receive no dividends under it. CONTRACT MODIFICATION We reserve the right to modify this contract and any certificate issued under the contract to qualify it under all related laws and regulations which are in effect during the term of this contract. We will obtain the approval of any regulatory authority needed for the modifications. STATE LAWS This contract and any certificates issued under the contract are governed by the law of the state in which it is issued for delivery. We may, at any time, make any changes, including retroactive changes, in this contract or certificates to the extent that the change is required to meet the requirements of any law or regulation issued by any governmental agency to which We or You are subject. EMERGENCY PROCEDURE We reserve the right to suspend or postpone the date of any payment of any benefit or values for any Valuation Period (1) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed; (2) when trading on the Exchange is restricted; (3) when an emergency exists as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission so that disposal of the securities held in the Underlying Funds is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable to determine the value of the Underlying Fund's net assets; or (4) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits for the protection of security holders. Any provision of this contract which specifies a Valuation Date will be superseded by this Emergency Procedure. RELATION OF THIS CONTRACT TO THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT We will have exclusive and absolute ownership and control of the assets of the Separate Account. That portion of the assets of the Separate Account equal to the reserves and other certificate liabilities with respect to such Separate Account shall not be chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business We conduct. Our determination of the value of an Accumulation Unit and an Annuity Unit by the method described in this contract will be conclusive. Income, gains and losses, whether or not realized from assets allocated to a Separate Account shall be credited to or charged against such account without regard to other income, gains or losses or the insurer. We will maintain in each Separate Account assets with a value at least equal to the amount accumulated in accordance with applicable agreements with respect to such Separate Account and the reserves for annuities in the course of payment that vary with the investment experience of such Separate Account. VALUATION INFORMATION NUMBER OF ACCUMULATION UNITS The number of Accumulation Units to be credited for each Underlying Fund once a Purchase Payment has been received by Us will be determined by dividing the net Purchase Payment allocated to each Underlying Fund by the corresponding Accumulation Unit Value of that Underlying Fund. ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE The initial value of an Accumulation Unit for each Underlying Fund is set at $1.000000. We determine the value of an Accumulation Unit on each Valuation Date by multiplying the value on the immediately preceding Valuation Date by the net investment factor for that Underlying Fund for the Valuation Period just ended. M-14669 (4223) 10 The value of an Accumulation Unit on any date other than a Valuation Date will be equal to its value on the Next Valuation Date. NET INVESTMENT FACTOR The net investment factor is a factor applied to measure the investment performance of an Underlying Fund from one Valuation Period to the next. The net investment factor for an Underlying Fund for any Valuation Period is equal to the sum of 1.000000 plus the net investment rate. Each Underlying Fund's net investment rate for a Valuation Period is equal to the gross investment rate for that Underlying Fund less the applicable daily mortality and expense risk deduction. The mortality and expense risk deduction is shown on the Contract Specifications page. The gross investment rate of an Underlying Fund for a Valuation Period is equal to (1) divided by (2) where (1) is: (a) investment income; plus (b) capital gains and losses, whether realized or unrealized; less (c) a deduction for any expenses levied against the Separate Account and its Underlying Funds; and (2) is the amount of the net assets at the beginning of the Valuation Period. The gross investment rate for an Underlying Fund may be either positive or negative. Underlying Fund assets are based on the net assets held in the Underlying Fund. Investment income includes any distribution whose ex-dividend date occurs during the Valuation Period. TRANSFERS BETWEEN UNDERLYING FUNDS Participants may transfer all or any part of their Individual Account's Cash Value to any Underlying Fund subject to the restrictions noted on the Contract Specifications page and in the Fixed Account Rider, if applicable. Transfers may be made at any time up to 30 days before the due date of the first Annuity payment subject to the restrictions as noted on the Contract Specifications page and in the Fixed Account Rider (if applicable). We reserve the right to limit the number of transfers in an account between Underlying Funds. The minimum number of transfers allowed are shown on the Contract Specifications. Transfers between Underlying Funds will result in the addition or deletion of Accumulation Units having a total value equal to the dollar amount being transferred to or from a particular Underlying Fund. The Number of Accumulation Units will be determined by using the Accumulation Unit Value of the Underlying Funds involved as of the Next Valuation Date after We receive notification of request for transfer. Transfers will be subject to any applicable Underlying Fund Transfer Charge stated on the Contract Specifications page. The Participant's right to make transfers is subject to limitations or modification by Us if We determine, in Our sole opinion, that the exercise of the right by one or more owners with interests in the Underlying Fund is, or would be, to the disadvantage of other owners. Restrictions may be applied in any manner reasonably designed to prevent any use of the transfer right that is considered by Us to be to the disadvantage of other owners. We will notify the Participants, in writing, in advance of any restrictions on transfers. A limitation or modification could be applied to transfers to, or from, one or more of the Underlying Funds and may include: (a) the requirement of no more than one transfer per six month period; (b) requiring that the Participant, deliver an originally executed Written Request for a transfer to Our Office; (c) any restriction imposed by an Underlying Fund. Frequent requests from certificate owners to make transfers/reallocations may dilute the value of the Underlying Funds' shares if the frequent transfers/reallocations involve an attempt to take advantage of pricing inefficiencies created by a lag between a change in the value of the securities held by the Underlying Funds and the reflection of that change in the Underlying Funds' share price ("arbitrage trading"). Arbitrage trading may adversely affect the long-term performance of the Underlying Funds, which may in turn adversely affect contract owners and other persons who may have an interest in the certificates (e.g., Annuitants and Beneficiaries). We have policies and procedures that attempt to detect and deter frequent transfers in situations where we determine there is a potential for M-14669 (4223) 11 arbitrage trading. The Underlying Funds have their own policies and procedures with respect to frequent transfers of their respective shares and we reserve the right to enforce these policies and procedures. We may also conduct monitoring of transfers based upon a request by a portfolio manager of an Underlying Fund. When we deter such trades, we may impose restrictions based upon our policies and procedures. TRANSFERS FROM UNDERLYING FUNDS TO CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES NOT ISSUED BY US Participants may transfer all or any part of their Individual Account's Cash Surrender Value to any contract/certificate not issued by Us, subject to restrictions as noted on the Contract Specifications page and in the Fixed Account Rider (if applicable). Such transfers may be subject to Amounts Deducted on Surrender as shown on the Contract Specifications page. TRANSFERS FROM OTHER CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY US We may allow a Participant to transfer funds from another group Annuity contract or certificate issued by Us to a certificate under this contract without applying deferred sales charges or surrender charges to the funds being transferred. Once the transfer is complete and We have established a new account for the Participant, new deferred sales charges or surrender charges may apply to the certificate as shown on the Contract Specifications page. TRANSFERS TO OTHER CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY US We may allow a Participant to transfer their Individual Account Cash Value in their certificate to another contract or certificate issued by Us without incurring a deferred sales charge or surrender charge as shown on the Contract Specifications page to the funds being transferred. Once the transfer is complete and We have established a new account for the Participant, new deferred sales charges or surrender charges may apply to the new contract/certificate in accordance with the provisions of such contract/certificate. DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CERTIFICATE CASH SURRENDER VALUE The Cash Surrender Value will be determined as of the Next Valuation Date following receipt of a Written Request from the Participant. We may delay payment of the Cash Surrender Value in the Underlying Funds for a period of not more than seven days after We receive the request. The payment of the Cash Surrender Value of the Fixed Account, may be delayed as described in the Fixed Account Rider, if applicable. We will pay interest on delayed Cash Surrender Value payments in accordance with applicable regulations or laws of the state of New York. CERTIFICATE CHARGES AMOUNTS DEDUCTED ON SURRENDER The applicable amounts deducted on Surrender are shown on the Contract Specifications page. These amounts as well as the mortality and expense risk deduction may be reduced or eliminated to the extent that We anticipate lower sales expenses or perform fewer sales services due to: 1. the size of the group participating in the contract; 2. an existing relationship to the contract owner; 3. use of mass enrollment procedures, or; 4. performance of sales functions by a third party, which We would otherwise perform. DEATH BENEFIT PROVISIONS A death benefit is payable in a single sum to the Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant before the Annuity Commencement Date. A death benefit is also payable under those Annuity Options which provide for death benefits. We will pay the Beneficiary the death benefit as described below upon receiving Due Proof of Death and a Written Request. M-14669 (4223) 12 DEATH PROCEEDS PRIOR TO THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE If the Participant dies before age 75 and before the Annuity Commencement Date, We will pay the Beneficiary the greater of a) or b) below, less any applicable Premium Tax, prior surrender(s) not previously deducted as of the date We receive Due Proof of Death: a) the Cash Value of the Participant's Individual Account; or b) the total net Purchase Payments under that Participant's Individual Account. If the Participant dies on or after age 75 and before the Annuity Commencement Date, We will pay the Beneficiary the Cash Value of the Participant's Individual Account, less any applicable Premium Tax as of the date We receive Due Proof of Death. INTEREST ON DEATH PROCEEDS We will pay interest on death proceeds of a Participant's Individual Account in accordance with laws and regulations in effect by the state in which the certificate is issued for delivery. DEATH PROCEEDS AFTER THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE If the Annuitant dies on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, We will pay the Beneficiary a death benefit consisting of any benefit remaining under the Annuity option then in effect. ACCOUNT TERMINATION PROVISIONS TERMINATION AMOUNT Prior to annuitization, We reserve the right to terminate a Certificate on any Valuation Date if the Individual Account Certificate value is less than the Termination amount stated in the Contract Specifications and Purchase Payments have not been made to the Certificate for at least three years. Termination will not occur until 31 days after We have mailed notice of termination to the Participant at their last known address. If we terminate a Certificate we will pay the Participant the Cash Value of the Individual Account, if any. CONTRACT DISCONTINUANCE PROVISIONS You may discontinue this contract by Written Request at any time for any reason. On the date We receive Your Written Request to discontinue the contract We will either: a) If the contract is discontinued because of Plan Termination and the Plan certifies to Us that the Plan Termination is the result of the dissolution or liquidation of the employer under US Code Title 11 procedures, the Cash Surrender Value may be distributed directly to the employees entitled to share in such distributions in accordance with the Plan relating to Plan Termination. Distribution may be in the form of cash payments, Annuity options, or deferred annuities. If the Plan is terminated or the contract discontinued by You for any other reason, then upon discontinuance of the contract We will accept no further payments for this contract or any certificates and pay the Certificate Owners the Cash Surrender Value of the Underlying Funds and values of the Fixed Account, if any, as described in the Fixed Account Rider, if applicable, of their Individual Accounts; (Option A) IS ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOU PROVIDE NOTICE TO AND RECEIVE CONSENT FROM ALL CERTIFICATE OWNERS UNDER THIS CONTRACT) or b) accept no payments for new certificates under this contract, but allow all inforce certificates under this contract to continue. We reserve the right to discontinue this contract if: a) We determine that the Plan, if any or administration of the Plan is not in conformity with applicable law; or b) We receive notice that is satisfactory to Us of Plan Termination. c) Within 31 days after We notify You in writing of Our intent to discontinue this contract, We will accept no payments for new certificates, but allow all in-force certificates under this contract to continue under the existing terms of those certificates. If this contract is discontinued, We will distribute the values as applicable under the terms described above to the Participants no later than seven days following Our mailing the written notice of discontinuance to You at the most current address available on Our records. Discontinuance of this contract will not affect payments We are making under any Annuity options which began before the date of discontinuance. M-14669 (4223) 13 SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS ELECTION OF SETTLEMENT OPTIONS Any amount distributed from the certificates may be applied to any one of the Annuity options described below. Election of any of these options must be made by Written Request to Our Office at least 30 days prior to the date such election is to become effective. The form of such Annuity option shall be determined by the Participant. The following information must be provided with any such request: a) the Participant's name, address, date of birth, social security number; and b) the amount to be distributed in the form of an Annuity option; and c) the Annuity option which is to be purchased; and d) the date the Annuity option payments are to begin (the Annuity Commencement Date); and e) if the form of the Annuity provides a death benefit in the event of the Participant's death, the name, relationship and address of the Beneficiary as designated by You; and f) any other data that We may require. If no Annuity Commencement Date is specified, the automatic Annuity Commencement Date for each Certificate will be the greater of when the Annuitant reaches age 90 or ten years after the Certificate Date. Additionally, to the extent permitted by law, at least 30 days before the original Annuity Commencement Date, the Participant may change the Annuity Commencement Date by Written Request to any time prior to the Annuitant's 90th birthday, or ten years after the Certificate Date, or if We agree, to a later date not to exceed the Annuitant's 95/th/ birthday, subject to laws and regulations then in effect and Our approval. Individuals taking minimum required distributions are allowed to go beyond the maximum Annuity Commencement Date. If no election has been made on the Annuity Commencement Date and if the Annuitant is living and has a spouse, We will pay to Participant the first of a series of monthly annuity payments based on the life of the Annuitant as primary payee and the Annuitant's spouse as secondary payee in accordance with the Joint and Last Survivor Life Annuity-Annuity Reduced on Death of Primary Payee Option. During the Annuitant's lifetime, if no election has been made and the Annuitant has no spouse on the Annuity Commencement Date, We will pay to the Participant the first of a series of monthly annuity payments based on the life of the Annuitant, in accordance with the Life Annuity with Period Certain Annuity option, with 120 monthly payments assured. The Beneficiary, as specified in item (e) above, may be changed by the Participant, as long as We are notified by Written Request while the Annuitant is alive. If the Beneficiary designation is irrevocable, such designation cannot be changed or revoked without the consent of the Beneficiary. After We receive the Written Request and the written consent of the Beneficiary (if required), the new Beneficiary designation will take effect as of the date the notice is signed. We have no further responsibility for any payment We made before the Written Request. MINIMUM AMOUNTS The minimum Cash Value amount that can be placed under an Annuity option is $2,000 unless We consent to a lesser amount. If any periodic payments due are less than $100, We reserve the right to make payments at less frequent intervals. MISSTATEMENT If an Annuitant's date of birth was misstated, all benefits of the certificates are what the Cash Value would have purchased at the correct age on the date of issue of the Annuity option elected. If an overpayment has occurred, the overpaid amount will be charged an interest rate as specified on the Contract Specifications page, per annum. This amount will be deducted from the subsequent annuity payments as necessary. If an underpayment has occurred, the underpaid amount will be credited an interest rate as specified on the Contract Specifications page, per annum. This amount due will be added to subsequent annuity payments as necessary. Proof of the Annuitant's age may be filed at any time at Our Office. RETIRED LIFE CERTIFICATE We will issue to each person to whom Annuity benefits are being paid under the certificates, a retired life certificate setting forth the benefits to which such person is entitled under this contract. M-14669 (4223) 14 ALLOCATION OF AN ANNUITY When an Annuity option is elected, the Participant may further elect to have the Cash Value attributable to a Participant applied to provide a Variable Annuity, a Fixed Annuity, or a combination of both. If the Participant elects a Variable Annuity, they may elect to transfer all or any part of the Cash Value from one Underlying Fund to another, as described in the provision "Transfer Between Underlying Funds," in order to reallocate the basis on which Annuity payments will be determined. Once Annuity payments start, the Participant with Our consent, may change the allocation of his/her values in each funding option. VARIABLE ANNUITY RELATION OF VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYMENTS TO THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT Once variable annuity payments have begun, neither expenses actually incurred, other than taxes on the investment return, nor mortality actually experienced, shall adversly affect the dollar amount of variable annuity payments. AMOUNT OF FIRST PAYMENT The LIFE ANNUITY TABLES are used to determine the first monthly Annuity payment. They show the dollar amount of the first monthly Annuity payment which can be purchased with each $1,000 applied. The amount applied to an Annuity will be the Cash Value attributable to a Participant as of 14 days before the date Annuity payments start. We reserve the right to require satisfactory proof of the age of any person on whose life Annuity payments are based before making the first payment under any of these options. ANNUITY UNIT VALUE The initial value of an Annuity Unit for each Underlying Fund was set at $1.000000. On any Valuation Date, the Annuity Unit Value for an Underlying Fund equals the Underlying Fund Annuity Unit Value on the immediately preceding Valuation Date, multiplied by the net investment factor for that Underlying Fund for the Valuation Period just ended, divided by the Assumed Daily Net Investment Factor. The Assumed Daily Net Investment Factor is shown on the Contract Specifications page. The value of an Annuity Unit as of any date other than a Valuation Date will be equal to its value as of the Next Valuation Date. NUMBER OF ANNUITY UNITS We determine the number of Annuity Units credited to the Annuitant's account in each Underlying Fund by dividing the first monthly Annuity payment attributable to that Underlying Fund by the Underlying Fund's Annuity Unit Value as of 14 days before the due date of the first Annuity payment. AMOUNT OF SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT PAYMENTS The dollar amount of any or all payments made to an Annuitant after the first payment may change from month to month based on the net investment results of the Underlying Fund(s). The total amount of each Annuity payment made to an Annuitant will be equal to the sum of the payments in each Underlying Fund allocated to that Annuitant's account. The actual amount of the payments made to an Annuitant for each Underlying Fund is found by multiplying the number of Annuity Units credited to the Annuitant's account for that Underlying Fund by the applicable Annuity Unit Value of the Underlying Fund as of the date 14 days prior to the date on which the payment is due. Once the variable annuity payments begin, the scale of charges to be made against the Separate Account will not adversely affect the dollar amount of variable annuity payments. FIXED ANNUITY A Fixed Annuity is an Annuity with payments which remain fixed as to dollar amount throughout the payment period. The dollar amount of the first Fixed Annuity payment will be calculated as described above in the "Amount of First Payment" provision. All subsequent payments will be in the same amount and that amount will be assured throughout the payment period. BETTERMENT OF RATES We guarantee that any annuity purchased with respect to an amount equal to the Participant's Individual Account Value as determined at the time of its commencement shall not be less than that which would be provided by the application of such amount to purchase a single consideration immediate annuity offered by Us or Our affiliates at that time for other group annuity contracts, which other contracts are determined in good faith by Us to be substantially similar to this Contract as to class, size, and date of issue. ANNUITY OPTIONS Subject to conditions stated in ELECTION OF SETTLEMENT OPTIONS and MINIMUM AMOUNTS, all or any part of the Cash Value of the Certificates may be paid to the Annuitant under one or more of the options below. M-14669 (4223) 15 OPTION 1. LIFE ANNUITY - NO REFUND We will make monthly Annuity payments during the lifetime of the person on whose life the payments are based, ending with the last monthly payment preceding death. OPTION 2. LIFE ANNUITY WITH 120, 180, OR 240 MONTHLY PAYMENTS ASSURED We will make monthly Annuity payments during the lifetime of the person on whose life the payments are based and under the conditions stated below. If at the death of the Annuitant, payments have been made for less than 120, 180, or 240 months, as elected, We will continue to make payments to the designated Beneficiary during the remainder of the period. OPTION 3. LIFE ANNUITY-CASH REFUND We will make monthly Annuity payments during the lifetime of the Annuitant, ceasing with the last payment due prior to the death of the Annuitant, provided that, at the death of the Annuitant, the Beneficiary will receive an additional payment equal to the dollar value of the excess, if any, of (a) over (b) where, for a Variable Annuity: (a) is the total amount applied under the option divided by the Annuity Unit Value on the due date of the first Annuity payment; and (b) is: (1) the number of Annuity Units represented by each payment; times (2) the number of payments made; and for a Fixed Annuity: (a) is the Cash Value applied on the Annuity Commencement Date under this option; and (b) is the dollar amount of Annuity payments already paid. OPTION 4. JOINT AND LAST SURVIVOR LIFE ANNUITY We will make monthly Annuity payments during the joint lifetime of the Annuitant and a secondary payee, and thereafter during the remaining lifetime of the survivor, ceasing with the last payment prior to the death of the survivor. OPTION 5. JOINT AND LAST SURVIVOR LIFE ANNUITY--ANNUITY REDUCED ON DEATH OF PRIMARY PAYEE We will make monthly Annuity payments to the Annuitant during the joint lifetime of two persons selected. One of the two persons will be designated as the primary payee. The other will be designated as the secondary payee. On the death of the secondary payee, if survived by the primary payee, We will continue to make monthly Annuity payments to the primary payee in the same amount that would have been payable during the joint lifetime of the two persons. On the death of the primary payee, if survived by the secondary payee, We will continue to make monthly Annuity payments to the secondary payee in an amount equal to 50% of the payments which would have been made during the lifetime of the primary payee. No further payments will be made following the death of the survivor. OPTION 6. PAYMENTS FOR A FIXED PERIOD We will make monthly payments for the period selected. If at the death of the Annuitant, payments have been made for less than the period selected, We will continue to make payments to the designated Beneficiary during the remainder of that period. OPTION 7. OTHER ANNUITY OPTIONS We will make other arrangements for Annuity payments as may be mutually agreed upon by the Participant and Us. M-14669 (4223) 16 LIFE ANNUITY TABLES GUARANTEED AMOUNT OF MONTHLY ANNUITY PAYMENTS PURCHASED WITH EACH $1,000 APPLIED OPTIONS 1, 2, AND 3 - SINGLE LIFE ANNUITIES
MALE AND FEMALE ADJUSTED NUMBER OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS GUARANTEED CASH AGE NONE 120 180 240 REFUND 50 3.95 3.93 3.90 3.86 3.81 51 4.03 4.00 3.97 3.91 3.87 52 4.10 4.08 4.04 3.97 3.93 53 4.19 4.15 4.11 4.04 3.99 54 4.27 4.24 4.18 4.10 4.06 55 4.37 4.32 4.26 4.17 4.13 56 4.47 4.42 4.34 4.23 4.20 57 4.57 4.51 4.43 4.30 4.27 58 4.68 4.61 4.51 4.37 4.35 59 4.80 4.72 4.60 4.44 4.44 60 4.93 4.83 4.70 4.52 4.52 61 5.07 4.95 4.80 4.59 4.62 62 5.21 5.07 4.90 4.66 4.71 63 5.36 5.20 5.00 4.74 4.81 64 5.53 5.34 5.11 4.81 4.92 65 5.70 5.48 5.21 4.88 5.03 66 5.89 5.62 5.32 4.95 5.15 67 6.08 5.78 5.43 5.01 5.28 68 6.29 5.94 5.54 5.08 5.41 69 6.51 6.10 5.66 5.13 5.54 70 6.75 6.27 5.76 5.19 5.69 71 7.00 6.45 5.87 5.24 5.84 72 7.28 6.63 5.98 5.29 6.00 73 7.57 6.82 6.08 5.33 6.17 74 7.89 7.01 6.18 5.36 6.35 75 8.23 7.20 6.27 5.40 6.54
Dollar amounts of the life Annuity payments are based on the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality Table for males projected with mortality improvement scale AA with ages set back two years and a net investment rate of 3%. The adjusted age of the person on whose life the Annuity is based is determined from the actual age last birthday on the due date of the first Annuity payment in the following manner: Calendar year in which 2001 - 2010 2011 - 2020 2021 - 2030 2031 and later first payment is due Adjusted age is actual age minus 1 minus 2 minus 3 minus 4
M-14669 (4223) 17 LIFE ANNUITY TABLES GUARANTEED AMOUNT OF MONTHLY ANNUITY PAYMENTS PURCHASED WITH EACH $1,000 APPLIED OPTION 4 - JOINT AND LAST SURVIVOR LIFE ANNUITY
MALE AND FEMALE ADJUSTED AGES 50 55 60 65 70 75 50 3.53 3.65 3.74 3.81 3.87 3.90 55 3.65 3.81 3.97 4.09 4.19 4.26 60 3.74 3.97 4.19 4.40 4.57 4.70 65 3.81 4.09 4.40 4.71 4.99 5.23 70 3.87 4.19 4.57 4.99 5.42 5.82 75 3.90 4.26 4.70 5.23 5.82 6.43
OPTION 5 - JOINT AND LAST SURVIVOR LIFE ANNUITY - ANNUITY REDUCED ON DEATH OF PRIMARY PAYEE
MALE AND FEMALE ADJUSTED AGES 50 55 60 65 70 75 50 3.73 3.79 3.84 3.88 3.91 3.93 55 3.97 4.07 4.16 4.23 4.28 4.31 60 4.25 4.40 4.53 4.65 4.74 4.81 65 4.57 4.77 4.97 5.16 5.32 5.46 70 4.92 5.17 5.45 5.74 6.01 6.25 75 5.29 5.61 5.99 6.40 6.82 7.22
Dollar amounts of the life Annuity payments are based on the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality Table for males projected with mortality improvement scale AA with ages set back two years and a net investment rate of 3%. The adjusted age of the person on whose life the Annuity is based is determined from the actual age last birthday on the due date of the first Annuity payment in the following manner: Calendar year in which 2001 - 2010 2011 - 2020 2021 - 2030 2031 and later first payment is due Adjusted age is actual age minus 1 minus 2 minus 3 minus 4
M-14669 (4223) 18 ANNUITY TABLES GUARANTEED AMOUNT OF MONTHLY ANNUITY PAYMENTS PURCHASED WITH EACH $1,000 APPLIED OPTION 6 - PAYMENTS FOR A DESIGNATED PERIOD
NUMBER MONTHLY PAYMENT MONTHLY PAYMENT OF YEARS AMOUNT NUMBER OF YEARS AMOUNT 5 17.91 18 5.96 6 15.14 19 5.73 7 13.16 20 5.51 8 11.68 21 5.32 9 10.53 22 5.15 10 9.61 23 4.99 11 8.86 24 4.84 12 8.24 25 4.71 13 7.71 26 4.59 14 7.26 27 4.47 15 6.87 28 4.37 16 6.53 29 4.27 17 6.23 30 4.18
The dollar amounts of the monthly Annuity payments for the Sixth Option are based on a net investment rate of 3% per annum. M-14669 (4223) 19 CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS CONTRACT OWNER [TRUSTEE OF THE ABC RETIREMENT PLAN] PLAN NAME [THE ABC RETIREMENT PLAN] CONTRACT NUMBER [SPECIMEN] CONTRACT DATE [09/01/13]
PURCHASE PAYMENT/TERMINATION AMOUNTS Minimum Average Purchase Payment [$1,000] per Individual Account per Amount: Certificate Year Maximum Aggregate Purchase Payment [$3,000,000] per Individual Account Amount: without prior approval by Our Office Termination Amount: $2,000 per Individual Account and no Purchase Payments having been received for three years per Individual Account AMOUNTS DEDUCTED ON SURRENDER: For the purpose of determining the Amounts Deducted on Surrender, the surrender charge is calculated as a percentage of the Cash Value being surrendered.
CERTIFICATE YEAR SURRENDER CHARGE ---------------- --------------------------------------- (on amounts not previously surrendered) [1-2 [5% 3-4 4% 5-6 3% 7-8 2% 9 and thereafter ] 0%]
We guarantee that the aggregate surrender charge will never exceed 8.5% of the total Purchase Payments made. ALLOWABLE DISTRIBUTIONS PRIOR TO CONTRACT DISCONTINUANCE NOT SUBJECT TO AMOUNTS DEDUCTED ON SURRENDER: [Retirement, Separation from Service, loan initiations if applicable, hardship withdrawals (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code), death, disability (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code section 72 [m] [7]), minimum distribution (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code), return of Excess Plan Contributions, certain Plan expenses as mutually agreed upon, transfers to an employer stock fund and annuitization under this contract to another contract issued by Us. Distributions may be in the form of cash payments, Annuity Options or to a deferred Annuity issued by Us.] For distributions subject to Amounts Deducted on Surrender, the applicable portion of the Cash Surrender Value of the Individual Account(s) will be paid to satisfy the requested distribution. For allowable distributions not subject to Amounts Deducted on Surrender, the applicable portion of the Cash Value of the Individual Account(s) will be paid to satisfy the requested distribution. INTEREST RATE APPLICABLE TO UNDERPAYMENTS OR OVERPAYMENTS DUE TO MISSTATEMENT OF AGE AND/OR SEX: [6%] M-14669 (4223) 3 CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS FIXED ACCOUNT (This section only applies if the Fixed Account is available under Your Contract) WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RESTRICT THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FIXED ACCOUNT AFTER ISSUE. FIXED ACCOUNT INITIAL INTEREST RATE FOR INITIAL PURCHASE PAYMENT: [1%] MINIMUM GUARANTEED INTEREST RATE FOR THE FIXED ACCOUNT: [1%] WE RESERVE THE RIGHT WITH 30 DAYS ADVANCE WRITTEN NOTICE TO RESTRICT PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND TRANSFERS TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IF THE CREDITED INTEREST RATE EQUALS THE MINIMUM GUARANTEED INTEREST RATE. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU ADVANCE WRITTEN NOTICE IF THESE RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND TRANSFERS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY LIFTED. MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK DEDUCTION The annual mortality and expense risk deduction is [1.20%] for all funds. [An annual administrative expense fee of [10%] may be deducted on a pro-rata basis from all Underlying Funds in the Individual Accounts.] This amounts to a daily deduction of [.00003562] per fund. ASSUMED DAILY NET INVESTMENT FACTOR: Upon annuitization, the Assumed Daily Net Investment Factor for variable payments is [1.000081] for each Funding Option. When expressed on an annual basis this equals [3%], for variable payments, assuming a 365-day year. FUND TRANSFERS UNDERLYING FUND TRANSFER CHARGE: [$0.00] We reserve the right to limit the number of transfers in an account between Underlying Funds. The minimum number of transfers allowed would be one in any six-month period. We reserve the right to assess a processing fee not to exceed $10.00 per transaction upon 30 days' written notice to You and/or the Participant. Certain funds are considered Competing Funds as shown in the Funding Options section of the Contract Specifications and are subject to transfer restrictions as described in the Fixed Account Rider, if applicable. Transfers from the Fixed Account, either to the Underlying Funds or to contracts/certificates not issued by Us, as described in the Fixed Account Rider (if applicable), may not exceed [20%] per Certificate Year of the Cash Value in the Fixed Account of the certificate valued on each Certificate Year anniversary. FREE WITHDRAWAL ALLOWANCE: [After the first Certificate Year,] to the extent permitted under current law, the Participant may take partial surrenders annually of up to [10%] of the Cash Value in their Individual Account as of the first Valuation Date of any given Certificate Year without imposition of Amounts Deducted on Surrender. The free withdrawal allowance applies to partial surrenders of any amount and to full surrenders. Note: Any free withdrawal taken will reduce Purchase Payments no longer subject to a surrender charge. The available amount will be calculated as of the end of the previous Certificate Year. The free withdrawal amount is not cumulative from year to year. M-14669 (4223) 4 CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS SEPARATE ACCOUNT: [Metropolitan Life Separate Account E] UNDERLYING FUNDS: [American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio MFS(R) Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio American Funds Global Growth Fund MFS(R) Research International Portfolio American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio MFS(R) Total Return Portfolio ** American Funds Growth Fund MFS(R) Value Portfolio American Funds Growth-Income Fund Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio MetLife Aggressive Strategy Portfolio Barclays Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio * MetLife Conservative Allocation Portfolio BlackRock Bond Income Portfolio * MetLife Conservative to Moderate Allocation Portfolio BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index Portfolio BlackRock Diversified Portfolio ** MetLife Moderate Allocation Portfolio BlackRock High Yield Portfolio* MetLife Moderate to Aggressive Allocation Portfolio BlackRock Large Cap Core Portfolio MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio BlackRock Large Cap Value Portfolio MetLife Stock Index Portfolio BlackRock Money Market Portfolio MSCI EAFE(R) Index Portfolio Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio Davis Venture Value Portfolio Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio - Class B Delaware VIP Small Cap Value Series Pioneer Fund Portfolio Enterprise Portfolio Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio ** * Frontier Mid Cap Growth Portfolio PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio * Harris Oakmark International Portfolio PIMCO Total Return Portfolio * Janus Forty Portfolio Pyramis(R) Managed Risk Portfolio Jennison Growth Portfolio Russell 2000(R) Index Portfolio JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio Templeton Foreign Securities Fund ClearBridge Variable Appreciation Portfolio Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio ClearBridge Variable Equity Income Portfolio ** T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth Portfolio ClearBridge Variable All Cap Value Portfolio T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio ClearBridge Variable Large Cap Growth Portfolio T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio ClearBridge Variable Large Cap Value Portfolio Invesco Comstock Portfolio ClearBridge Variable Small Cap Growth Portfolio VIP Contrafund(R) Portfolio Legg Mason Investment Counsel Variable VIP Mid Cap Portfolio Social Awareness Portfolio Western Asset Management U.S. Government Portfolio * Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio * Western Asset Variable High Income Portfolio*] Lord Abbett Mid Cap Value Portfolio
The Underlying Funds marked with an asterisk (*) are considered Competing Funds, and are subject to transfer restrictions as described in the Fixed Account Rider (if applicable). We reserve the right to change which funds are considered Competing Funds in the future, but We will provide advance written notice to You of any such changes. M-14669 (4223) 5 This Page Left Intentionally Blank M-14669 (4223) 4 FLEXIBLE PREMIUM GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT TAX QUALIFIED NON-PARTICIPATING RIDERS ENDORSEMENTS M-14669 (4223)