METLIFE REACHES $3.6 BILLION IN AGRICULTURAL LOANS IN 2014; INTERNATIONAL DEALS HELP DRIVE STRONG INCREASE

NEW YORK, February 05, 2015

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today that it originated $3.6 billion in agricultural loans in 2014 through its Agricultural Investments Department, an increase of 9 percent year-over-year. MetLife is one of the largest agricultural mortgage lenders in North America.

“MetLife continued to strengthen its position as a leader in the agricultural lending industry in 2014,” said Robert Merck, senior managing director and global head of agricultural investments for MetLife. “Our customers know they can rely on MetLife as a trusted source of financing for the long-term growth of their business, and this drives our success year after year.”

Consistent with the company’s global strategy to grow its business in emerging markets, MetLife continued to increase lending in Brazil, originating $360 million in agricultural loans to Brazilian producers of cotton, grains and oilseeds, among other crops. This represents an increase of 26 percent over the $285 million originated in Brazil during 2013.

Agricultural investments are an important part of MetLife’s asset-liability matching program. The long-term nature of these investments makes them a good match for the long-term liabilities the company writes.

In 2014, the average loan-to-value of MetLife’s overall agricultural mortgage portfolio was 44 percent.

“We succeeded in growing our business both domestically and internationally in 2014 because our customers value our strategic approach to this business,” said Barry Bogseth, managing director and head of MetLife’s agricultural portfolio unit. “In 2015, we expect to continue our growth by identifying superior agricultural lending opportunities in the United States and abroad, especially in key emerging markets such as Brazil.”

Highlights of MetLife’s domestic and international agricultural lending transactions for 2014 include:

Red Mountain Timberlands, LLC

  • $1 billion funding commitment in five tranches
  • Secured by approximately 2.3 million acres of diverse timberland holdings located in seven states
  • Red Mountain Timberlands assets are managed by Birmingham-based Resource Management Service, LLC

Amaggi Group

  • $150 million 12-year floating rate loan
  • Secured by a qualified real estate mortgage on developed farmland in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
  • Amaggi is a family-owned agricultural conglomerate that is one of the largest domestic producers and traders of farm commodities in Brazil

SDG Lombard, LLC

  • $22 million financing in two 20-year fixed rate tranches
  • Secured by two warehouse facilities located in Napa County, Calif.
  • Security was built by Stravinski Development Group and occupied by affiliate Valley Wine Warehouse

Consolidated Ag Properties, LLC

  • $15.25 million 25-year term loan fixed for 15 years
  • Secured by ranch and farmland located in southern Idaho and Utah
  • The security is used for the production of cattle, sheep, wheat, potatoes, alfalfa and corn

Superior East II, LLC

  • Commitment to a $14.25 million 20-year fixed rate mortgage loan
  • Greenfield shuttle train loader facility located in South Central Nebraska
  • Secured by a ground lease, a 2.5 million bushel grain storage facility and rail loop track

MetLife’s Agricultural Investments Department oversees an agricultural portfolio consisting primarily of mortgages for farms, ranches, food production, agribusiness and timberland. MetLife has provided agricultural financing solutions since 1917 and is one of the largest agricultural mortgage lenders in North America. MetLife has agricultural investments offices in Fresno, Calif., Overland Park, Kan., Memphis, Tenn., and a consulting office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

About MetLife, Inc. 
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (MetLife), is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. Serving approximately 100 million customers, MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

This press release may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning, or are tied to future periods, in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.

Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the actual future results of MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors that might cause such differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in MetLife, Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by MetLife, Inc. with the SEC after the date of the Annual Report under the captions “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” and other filings MetLife, Inc. makes with the SEC. MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if we later become aware that such statement is not likely to be achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife, Inc. makes on related subjects in reports to the SEC.

Contact:

MetLife
Fred Pieretti