METLIFE ANNOUNCES TWO TACTICAL EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS MANAGED BY STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS
NEW YORK AND BOSTON, November 20, 2008
MetLife, a leading provider of insurance and financial services, announces that State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) the investment management arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) and the largest institutional fund manager in the world¹, will subadvise two tactical asset allocation portfolios investing primarily in exchange-traded funds (ETFs).*
These portfolios will be offered through many of MetLife’s suite of deferred variable annuities and will be available with MetLife’s most popular optional riders, including the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Plus (GMIB Plus/Predictor Plus), Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee (LWG) and Enhanced Death Benefit.
"We are pleased to be one of the first in the industry to offer ETF-based asset allocation portfolios," said Elizabeth Forget, senior vice president, MetLife, "And we are fortunate to be able to do so in partnership with State Street Global Advisors, a leading expert in this field. These tactical portfolios investing in ETFs provide another option for our clients to choose from when investing for retirement."
For the new SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio and SSgA Growth & Income ETF Portfolio, Met Investors Advisory, LLC, an affiliate of MetLife, will act as manager, with SSgA Funds Management, Inc.* as subadvisor. State Street Global Advisors will take a tactical asset allocation investment approach covering the major stock, bond and cash asset classes of both developed and emerging markets.
Both Portfolios seek to add value by making a series of low-correlated tactical moves in a risk-controlled framework. They allow ranges of equity and fixed-income exposure against defined neutral targets. The offerings leverage the expertise of SSgA’s Global Asset Allocation team which consists of 30 investment professionals with multi-asset class experience managing more than $225 billion (as of September 30, 2008) in total assets.
"Adding a tactical asset allocation program to our investment lineup allows us to meet a broader range of client needs," says Forget. "The new ETF-based asset allocation portfolios complement our existing investment program and are available stand alone or with our optional rider guarantees."
"We are delighted to be awarded this sub-advisory mandate for MetLife’s tactical ETF asset allocation portfolios," said Michael Dalis, managing director at State Street Global Advisors. "We look forward to helping MetLife advisors and customers by contributing SSgA’s strengths in asset allocation, ETFs and subadvisory."
State Street is one of the largest ETF providers in the United States and abroad with more than $180 billion of ETF assets under management.** Today, State Street’s family of SPDR Exchange Traded Funds allows investors to choose from more than 105 ETFs globally.
MetLife was one of the pioneers in using ETFs within the variable annuity space when it began offering ETF-based portfolios within Class AA, one of its variable annuity products in 2005. With today’s announcement, MetLife broadens its array of asset allocation options for clients.
About State Street Global Advisors
State Street Global Advisors, the investment management arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), delivers investment strategies and integrated solutions to clients worldwide across every asset class, investment approach and style. With $1.7 trillion in assets under management at September 30, 2008, State Street Global Advisors has investment centers in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Montreal, Munich, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Zurich, and offices in 27 cities worldwide. For more information, visit State Street Global Advisors at www.ssga.com.
About MetLife
Celebrating 140 years, MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its domestic and international subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.
The above descriptions of the new tactical exchange-traded fund asset allocation portfolios are only brief summaries. Detailed descriptions of these portfolios appear in the related product prospectuses. ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk and will fluctuate in market value. Frequent trading of ETF’s could significantly increase commissions and other costs such that they may offset any savings from low fees or costs.
Variable annuities are offered by prospectus only, which is available from a registered representative. A client should carefully consider the product’s features, risks, charges and expenses, and the investment objectives, risks and policies of the underlying portfolios, as well other information about the underlying funding choices. Amounts allocated to the variable investment options of an account balance are subject to market fluctuations, and when withdrawn or annuitized, may be worth more or less than their original value. The principal value and rate of return in a variable annuity will fluctuate due to market conditions. Therefore, at any point in time, the value of the annuity contract may be worth more or less than the owner’s actual investment in the contract. There is no guarantee that any of the variable options in this product will meet their stated goals or objectives. This and other information is available in the prospectuses, which a customer should read carefully before investing. Product availability and features may vary by state. All variable annuity product guarantees, including those associated with the GMIB Plus/Predictor Plus, LWG and Enhanced Death Benefit riders, are based on the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income taxes. Withdrawals before age 59 ½ are generally subject to ordinary income taxes.
The information in this press release is not intended to (and cannot) be used by anyone to avoid IRS penalties. This press release supports the promotion and marketing of this annuity rider. Clients should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
Like most annuity contracts, the contracts issued by MetLife and its affiliates contain fees, surrender charges, and holding periods and terms for keeping the contract in force. Clients should consult their qualified tax or legal professional before making an investment decision.
Prospectuses for MetLife’s or any of its affiliated insurance companies’ individual variable annuities and the underlying investment options can be obtained by contacting an authorized MetLife, MetLife Investors or New England Financial representative. MetLife’s variable annuities are issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166 and distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company (member FINRA), 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900, Irvine, CA, 92614. Variable annuity products issued by MetLife Investors Insurance Company, Irvine CA 92614, MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company, Irvine, CA 92614 and in New York only by First MetLife Investors Insurance Company, New York, NY 10015 ("MetLife Investors"), (subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc.) are distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company, 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900, Irvine, CA, 92614. Variable annuities issued by New England Life Insurance Company (a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.) are distributed by New England Securities Corporation, 501 Boylston Street Boston, MA, 02116. New England Financial is a service mark of New England Life Insurance Company. MetLife’s GMIB Plus/Predictor Plus II, LWG and Enhanced Death Benefit are not currently available in New York.
¹Source: Pensions & Investments magazine for assets under management as of December 31, 2007
*The MetLife portfolios are subadvised by SSgA Funds Management, Inc.
** As of September 30, 2008 SPDR ETFs are advised by SSgA Funds Management Inc., a registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation.
The "SPDR®" trademark is used under license from The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("McGraw-Hill"). No financial product offered by State Street Corporation and are distributed by State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, with the exception of SPDR shares, MidCap SPDRs and Dow Diamonds, all unit investment trusts, and Select Sector SPDRs, which are managed by ALPS Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer.