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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

(Mark One)

x	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

OR

 

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number: 001-15787

 

 

 

A.	Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

New England Life Insurance Company Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

 

B.	Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

MetLife, Inc.

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166-0188

 

 

 

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New England Life Insurance Company

Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

Table of Contents

 

		Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			1
Financial Statements:
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2011 and 2010			2
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2011			3
Notes to Financial Statements			4
Supplemental Schedule:
Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i, Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December  31, 2011			14
Signatures			15
Exhibit Index			16
Note: Supplemental schedules not listed are omitted due to the absence of conditions under which they are required.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Trustee and Participants of

New England Life Insurance Company Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of New England Life Insurance Company Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with 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 are free of material misstatement. The Plan 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 Plan’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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2011 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Such schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the basic 2011 financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Tampa, Florida

June 28, 2012

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New England Life Insurance Company

Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

		As of December 31,
		2011				2010
Assets:
Participant directed investments – at estimated fair value (see Note 3)		$	175,264,124			$	186,924,927
Adjustment from estimated fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive stable value fund			1,409,591				1,050,017
Net assets available for benefits		$	176,673,715			$	187,974,944

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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New England Life Insurance Company

Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

		Year Ended December 31, 2011
Additions to net assets attributed to:
Contributions:
Employer		$	3,000,297
Participant			1,034,837
Rollover			46,985
Total contributions			4,082,119
Interest and dividends			5,899,529
Reallocated fees			114,239
Total additions			10,095,887
Deductions from net assets attributed to:
Benefit payments to participants			14,808,088
Net depreciation in estimated fair value of investments (see Note 4)			6,589,028
Total deductions			21,397,116
Net decrease in net assets			11,301,229
Net assets available for benefits:
Beginning of year			187,974,944
End of year		$	176,673,715

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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New England Life Insurance Company

Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

Notes to Financial Statements

1. Description of the Plan

The following description of New England Life Insurance Company Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust, as amended (the “Plan”), is provided for general information purposes only. Participants (as defined below) should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan.

General Information

The Plan is a money purchase defined contribution plan available to certain insurance agents of New England Life Insurance Company (the “Company”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”). Such agents are eligible to participate in the Plan on the first day of the month after attaining eligible status (see “— Participation”). The Plan is designed to comply with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the United States Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The administrator of the Plan (the “Plan Administrator”) is an officer of the Company. Recordkeeping services are performed for the Plan by an unaffiliated third party.

The Plan provides three categories of investment options — Target Retirement Funds, Individual Core Investment Funds and a Self-Directed Brokerage Account (“SDB”). The Target Retirement Funds, the Individual Core Investment Funds (with the exception of the MetLife Company Stock Fund (as defined below) and the NEF Stable Value Fund), and the SDB are held in trust by Orchard Trust Company, LLC, as trustee.

Following are the fund choices within the Target Retirement Funds and Individual Core Investment Funds categories:

 

Target Retirement Funds		Individual Core Investment Funds
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund		NEF Stable Value Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund		Vanguard Total Bond Market Index — Inst Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund		Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Instl Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund		Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund		T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund		Natixis CGM Advisor Targeted Equity A
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund		Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index Ins Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund		Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund		Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Instl Fund
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund		Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund*
		MetLife Company Stock Fund

 

*	Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund replaced Artio International Equity II—I Fund, effective December 30, 2011, with funds trading on January 2, 2012.

The Target Retirement Funds and the Individual Core Investment Funds together constitute the core investment options of the Plan (“Core Funds”). The Core Funds represent investments in publicly available mutual funds managed by a third-party investment management firm and an investment in the general account of MetLife. To supplement the Core Funds, the Plan offers to all participants the ability to transfer funds out of the Core Funds into a SDB. The SDB works like a personal brokerage account by providing participants with direct access to a wide variety of mutual funds that are available to the public through many well-known mutual fund families.

Participants may allocate contributions to each fund, including a fund holding primarily shares of common stock of MetLife, Inc. (the “MetLife Company Stock Fund”). The MetLife Company Stock Fund is held in the New England Life Insurance Company Defined Contribution Plans Master Trust (the “New England Master Trust”) (see Note 5) by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY Mellon”), as trustee.

 

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A frozen fund (the “RGA Frozen Fund”) was established primarily to hold shares of the Class B common stock of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (“RGA”) issued in connection with the exchange offer of shares of MetLife, Inc. common stock held in the MetLife Company Stock Fund (a “frozen fund” is one into which participants may neither direct contributions nor transfer balances from other funds but may make withdrawals or reallocate to other available investment options under the Plan). RGA subsequently reclassified its shares of common stock, including Class B, into a single class. The RGA Frozen Fund is also held in the New England Master Trust (see Note 5) by BNY Mellon, as trustee.

Participation

Full-time insurance agents of the Company (as defined in and with such exceptions as set forth in the Plan document) are eligible to participate in the Plan.

Participant Accounts

The recordkeeper maintains individual account balances for each agent who participates in the Plan (each such agent, a “participant”). Each participant’s account is credited with contributions, as discussed below, charged with withdrawals, and allocated investment earnings and losses as provided by the Plan document. A participant is entitled to the benefits that generally are equal to the participant’s vested account balance determined in accordance with the Plan document and as described below.

Contributions

Each year, the Company contributes to the Plan an amount equal to 5% of eligible commissions (as defined in the Plan document) earned by participants from the sale of certain products. Participants with eligible commissions of $150,000 or less during the preceding plan year are allowed to contribute additional after-tax dollars of up to 10% of eligible commissions in the current year; participants with eligible commissions greater than $150,000 during the preceding plan year are allowed to make after-tax contributions of up to 5% of eligible commissions in the current year. Contributions are subject to certain IRC limitations.

Withdrawals and Distributions

A participant may request withdrawals from the Plan under the conditions set forth in the Plan document. Distributions from the Plan are generally made upon a participant’s or beneficiary’s request in connection with his or her retirement, death, or total disability (as defined in the Plan document). The participant or beneficiary may elect to receive either a lump sum, installment payments or annuity actuarially equivalent in value to the participant’s account as of the relevant date of distribution. For those participants who request that an annuity contract be purchased with their benefits under the Plan, the Plan purchases an individual annuity contract from MetLife. Upon the purchase of such an annuity, the benefits thereunder become fully guaranteed by MetLife. Accordingly, the Plan’s financial statements exclude assets which pertain to such annuity contracts. Upon termination other than retirement death, or total disability, participants may receive benefits in the form of a lump sum distribution 12 months following termination of employment.

Additionally, participants may request in-service withdrawals of their own voluntary contributions to the Plan in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator.

Vesting

Participant contributions vest immediately. Employer contributions become fully vested at a rate of 25% per year in years two through five of employment. However, a participant becomes fully vested in employer contributions when the participant retires, becomes disabled (as defined in the Plan), or dies. A participant who dies during a military absence is fully vested at death.

Forfeited Accounts

Participants generally forfeit employer contribution accounts when terminating service prior to vesting in their employer contributions and when they are not re-hired within the timeframe specified in the Plan document. These forfeitures remain in the Plan in the NEF Stable Value Fund and can be used to reduce future employer contributions and restore previously forfeited balances, as provided in the Plan document.

 

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At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the cumulative employer matching contribution forfeitures totaled $377,104 and $717,402, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2011, forfeited non-vested employer matching contributions totaled $158,391. During the year ended December 31, 2011, $535,722 from forfeitures were used to reduce future employer matching contributions. During the year ended December 31, 2011, forfeitures earned $37,033 in interest and dividends.

Plan Amendments

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the following material Plan amendment was adopted and became effective:

Effective October 1, 2011, the Plan was amended to allow individuals who reached age 62 to take up to 25% of their account balance as an in-service distribution.

2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements of the Plan have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management of the Plan to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements. The most important of these estimates and assumptions relates to the fair value measurements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan utilizes various investment vehicles, including the insurance company general account, mutual funds and the MetLife Company Stock Fund. Such investments, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as overall market volatility, interest rate risk, and credit risk. Volatility in interest rates, as well as the equity and credit markets, could materially affect the value of the Plan’s investments as reported in the accompanying financial statements. In addition, investments in actively managed funds are exposed to diversifiable risks. Diversifiable risk is the risk of price change due to the unique circumstances of a specific security, as opposed to the overall market.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

The Plan’s investments are stated at estimated fair value. The NEF Stable Value Fund, which represents a fully benefit-responsive stable value fund in the general account of MetLife (see Note 7), is stated at estimated fair value and then adjusted to contract value as a single amount reflected separately in the statements of net assets available for benefits. The statement of changes in net assets available for benefits, as it relates to the NEF Stable Value Fund, is presented on a contract value basis.

As described below, certain assets and liabilities are measured at estimated fair value in the Plan’s financial statements. In addition, the notes to these financial statements include further disclosures of estimated fair values. The Plan defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In most cases, the exit price and the transaction (or entry) price will be the same at initial recognition. Subsequent to initial recognition, fair values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that are readily and regularly obtainable. When such quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar but not identical assets or liabilities, or other observable inputs. If these inputs are not available, or observable inputs are not determinative, unobservable inputs and/or adjustments to observable inputs requiring the judgment of Plan management are used to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities.

 

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The Plan considers three broad valuation techniques: (i) the market approach, (ii) the income approach, and (iii) the cost approach. The Plan determines the most appropriate valuation technique to use, given what is being measured and the availability of sufficient inputs, giving priority to observable inputs. The Plan categorizes its assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value into a three-level hierarchy, based on the significant input with the lowest level in its valuation. The input levels are as follows:

 

The Plan’s policy is to recognize significant transfers between levels at the beginning of the reporting period.

The estimated fair values of the Plan’s interests in the Core Funds (excluding the MetLife Company Stock Fund), which represent investments in publicly available mutual funds, are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset values (“NAV”) of shares published by the respective fund managers on the applicable reporting date.

The estimated fair value of the funds held in the SDB is determined by reference to the underlying shares of the publicly available mutual funds held within each participant’s respective account. Such estimated fair value is based on the NAV published by the respective fund managers on the applicable reporting date.

The NEF Stable Value Fund represents the Plan’s fully benefit-responsive stable value fund in the general account of MetLife (see Note 7). Estimated fair value of the NEF Stable Value Fund was calculated by discounting the contract value, which is payable in ten annual installments upon termination of the contract by the Plan, using the yield of the Moody’s Baa Industrial Bond Index on the appropriate valuation dates.

The estimated fair value of the Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust (see Note 5) is determined by reference to the underlying assets held in the trust. These underlying assets represent accumulated contributions, dividends and realized and unrealized investment gains or losses apportioned to such contributions, less withdrawals, distributions, loans to participants, allocable expenses relating to the purchase, sale and maintenance of the assets, and an allocable part of investment-related expenses. At both December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Plan’s percentage interest in the net assets of the New England Master Trust was approximately 37%. The underlying assets of the New England Master Trust at December 31, 2011 and 2010 were principally comprised of the MetLife Company Stock Fund and the RGA Frozen Fund, each of which is a proprietary fund and is described more fully in Note 1. The estimated fair value of each of the MetLife Company Stock Fund and the RGA Frozen Fund is determined by the price of MetLife, Inc. and RGA common stock, respectively, each of which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Interest, dividends, and administrative expenses relating to the New England Master Trust are allocated to each participating defined contribution plan based upon average daily balances invested by each plan.

Contributions

Contributions are recognized when due. Investment income is recorded as earned. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Investment Management Fees and Operating Expenses

Except for a limited amount of fees related to participant transactions, operating expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company. Investment management fees charged to the Plan are paid out of the assets of the Plan and are deducted from income earned on a daily basis and are not separately reflected. Consequently, investment management fees are reflected as a reduction of return on such investments.

Payment of Benefits

Benefit payments to participants are recorded when paid.

 

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Excess Contributions Payable

The Plan is required to return contributions received during the plan year in excess of IRC limits applicable to such contributions. An immaterial amount of such excess contributions was required to be returned to participants for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance regarding fair value measurements (ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and international financial reporting standards (“IFRSs”)), effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2011. The guidance should be applied prospectively. The amendments in this ASU are intended to establish common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP and IFRSs. Some of the amendments clarify the FASB’s intent on the application of existing fair value measurement requirements. Other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Plan’s financial statements.

 

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3. Investments

The Plan’s investments were as follows as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

		December 31,
		2011				2010
Target Retirement Funds:
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund		$	1,109,480			$	844,866
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund			1,033,704				353,575
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund			652,802				608,641
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund			611,278				319,898
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund			492,492				314,721
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund			423,781				244,130
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund			336,390				236,317
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund			272,935				184,520
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund			231,227				218,953
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund			227,961				159,599
Total Target Retirement Funds			5,392,050				3,485,220
Individual Core Investment Funds (excluding the MetLife Company Stock Fund):
NEF Stable Value Fund**			106,065,017	*			107,808,555	*
Natixis CGM Advisor Targeted Equity A			14,993,451	*			21,155,916	*
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Instl Fund			8,835,293	*			10,487,590	*
Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index Ins Fund			7,967,196				8,711,828
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Instl Fund			6,555,857				6,515,651
Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund***			6,185,679				—
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund			6,055,766				5,588,601
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index-Inst Fund			3,892,665				4,217,778
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund			3,467,061				3,737,830
Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund			967,562				1,192,430
Artio International Equity II—I Fund**			—				8,756,010
Total Individual Core Investment Funds			164,985,547				178,172,189
TD Ameritrade SDB Account			3,963,666				4,035,726
Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust (see Note 5)			922,861				1,231,792
Total Investments		$	175,264,124			$	186,924,927

 

*	Represents 5% or more of the net assets available for benefits.

**	Includes Plan forfeitures.

***	Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund replaced Artio International Equity II—I Fund, effective December 30, 2011, with funds trading on January 2, 2012.

4. Net Depreciation in Estimated Fair Value of Investments

The Plan’s net depreciation in estimated fair value of investments (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) was as follows for the year ended December 31, 2011:

 

		December 31, 2011
Mutual funds		$	5,887,910
Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust (see Note 5)			335,263
TD Ameritrade SDB Account			365,855
Net depreciation in estimated fair value of investments		$	6,589,028

 

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5. Interest in New England Master Trust

The New England Master Trust was established to hold certain investments of several Company-sponsored defined contribution plans, including the Plan. Each participating defined contribution plan has an undivided interest in the New England Master Trust. At both December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Plan’s interest in the net assets of the New England Master Trust was approximately 37%.

The New England Master Trust’s investments were as follows at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

		2011				2010
MetLife Company Stock Fund		$	2,498,281			$	3,319,304
RGA Frozen Fund			17,005				17,871
Total net assets available in the New England Master Trust		$	2,515,286			$	3,337,175
Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust		$	922,861			$	1,231,792

The New England Master Trust’s net depreciation in the estimated fair value of investments (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) was as follows for the year ended December 31, 2011:

 

		December 31, 2011
MetLife Company Stock Fund		$	904,349
RGA Frozen Fund			187
Net depreciation in estimated fair value of investments		$	904,536
Plan’s share of net depreciation in estimated fair value of investments		$	335,263

 

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6. Fair Value Measurements

Plan assets have been classified in their entirety within a level of the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the estimated fair value measurement, as set forth below. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no significant transfers into or out of asset levels 1, 2 or 3.

 

						Assets Held Outside the New England Master Trust Estimated Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
		Total				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level  1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Investments in mutual funds – balanced funds:
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund		$	1,109,480			$	1,109,480			$	—			$	—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund			1,033,704				1,033,704				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund			652,802				652,802				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund			611,278				611,278				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund			492,492				492,492				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund			423,781				423,781				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund			336,390				336,390				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund			272,935				272,935				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund			231,227				231,227				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund			227,961				227,961				—				—
Investments in mutual funds – fixed income securities:
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index-Inst Fund			3,892,665				3,892,665				—				—
Investments in mutual funds – equity securities;
Natixis CGM Advisor Targeted Equity A			14,993,451				14,993,451				—				—
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Instl Fund			8,835,293				8,835,293				—				—
Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index Ins Fund			7,967,196				7,967,196				—				—
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Instl Fund			6,555,857				6,555,857				—				—
Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund*			6,185,679				6,185,679				—				—
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund			6,055,766				6,055,766				—				—
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund			3,467,061				3,467,061				—				—
Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund			967,562				967,562
NEF Stable Value Fund			106,065,017				—				106,065,017				—
TD Ameritrade SDB Account			3,963,666				—				3,963,666				—
Total Assets (excluding the Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust)		$	174,341,263			$	64,312,580			$	110,028,683			$	—

 

*	Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund replaced Artio International Equity II—I Fund, effective December 30, 2011, with funds trading on January 2, 2012.

 

						Assets Held Inside the New England Master Trust Estimated Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
		Total				Quoted Prices in  Active Markets for Identical  Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
MetLife Company Stock Fund		$	2,498,281			$	—			$	2,498,281			$	—
RGA Frozen Fund			17,005				—				17,005				—
Total Investments in the New England Master Trust		$	2,515,286			$	—			$	2,515,286			$	—

 

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						Assets Held Outside the New England Master Trust Estimated Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010
		Total				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level  1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Investments in mutual funds – balanced funds:
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund		$	844,866			$	844,866			$	—			$	—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund			608,641				608,641				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund			353,575				353,575				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund			319,898				319,898				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund			314,721				314,721				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund			244,130				244,130				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund			236,317				236,317				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund			218,953				218,953				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund			184,520				184,520				—				—
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund			159,599				159,599				—				—
Investments in mutual funds – fixed income securities:
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index-Inst Fund			4,217,778				4,217,778				—				—
Investments in mutual funds – equity securities:
Natixis CGM Advisor Targeted Equity A			21,155,916				21,155,916				—				—
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Instl Fund			10,487,590				10,487,590				—				—
Artio International Equity II—I Fund			8,756,010				8,756,010				—				—
Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index Ins Fund			8,711,828				8,711,828				—				—
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Instl Fund			6,515,651				6,515,651				—				—
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund			5,588,601				5,588,601				—				—
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund			3,737,830				3,737,830				—				—
Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund			1,192,430				1,192,430				—				—
NEF Stable Value Fund			107,808,555				—				107,808,555				—
TD Ameritrade SDB Account			4,035,726				—				4,035,726				—
Total Assets (excluding the Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust)		$	185,693,135			$	73,848,854			$	111,844,281			$	—

 

						Assets Held Inside the New England Master Trust Estimated Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010
		Total				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level  1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
MetLife Company Stock Fund		$	3,319,304			$	—			$	3,319,304			$	—
RGA Frozen Fund			17,871				—				17,871				—
Total Investments in the New England Master Trust		$	3,337,175			$	—			$	3,337,175			$	—

7. Fully Benefit-Responsive Stable Value Fund with MetLife

The NEF Stable Value Fund represents a fully benefit-responsive stable value fund in the general account of MetLife through which participants may direct contributions made on their behalf into the general account of MetLife. The Plan’s assets invested in the NEF Stable Value Fund are included in the Plan’s financial statements at estimated fair value and then adjusted to contract value as a single amount reflected separately in the statements of net assets available for benefits. Contract value represents accumulated contributions directed to the investment, plus interest credited, less participant withdrawals and expenses. Participants may direct the withdrawal for benefit payments or transfer all or a portion of their investment to other investments offered under the Plan at contract value. The crediting interest rate is established annually by MetLife in a manner consistent with its practices for determining such rates, but which may not be less than zero percent. Both the crediting interest rate for participants and average yield based on annualized earnings for the NEF Stable Value Fund were 4.85% and 5.75% for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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The Plan’s investment in the NEF Stable Value Fund had a contract value of $107,474,608 and $108,858,572 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The estimated fair market value of these investments was $106,065,017 and $107,808,555 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The estimated fair market value is presented for measurement and disclosure purposes. Upon termination of the underlying contract by the Plan, proceeds will be paid for the benefit of the participants at the contract value, determined on the date of termination, in ten equal annual installments plus additional interest credited.

The fully benefit-responsive investments have certain restrictions, such as partial plan termination or a meaningful divestiture, that may affect the ability of the Plan to collect the contract value. Plan management believes that the occurrence of events that would cause the Plan to enter into transactions at less than contract value is not probable. The Company may not terminate the contract at any amount less than the contract value.

While the Plan may elect to do so at any time, it does not currently intend to terminate the contract underlying this investment. There are no reserves against the reported contract value for credit risk of the Company, as the issuer of the contract that constitutes this fully benefit-responsive stable value fund.

8. Related-Party Transactions

The Plan invests in the NEF Stable Value Fund, which is a fully benefit-responsive stable value fund in the general account of MetLife. The estimated fair value of these investments was $106,065,017 and $107,808,555 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Total investment income from the NEF Stable Value Fund was $5,035,693 for the year ended December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2011, the New England Master Trust held approximately 82,700 shares of common stock of MetLife, Inc. in the MetLife Company Stock Fund with a cost basis of approximately $3,300,000, of which approximately 37% was allocable to the Plan. At December 31, 2010, the New England Master Trust held approximately 74,500 shares of common stock of MetLife, Inc. in the MetLife Company Stock Fund with a cost basis of approximately $2,700,000, of which approximately 37% was allocable to the Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the New England Master Trust recorded dividend income on MetLife, Inc. common stock of approximately $56,000, of which approximately 37% was allocable to the Plan.

9. Termination of the Plan

While the Company intends that the Plan be permanent, it has the right to discontinue it. In the event of such termination, each participant would be fully vested in Company contributions made to the Plan, and generally has a right to receive a distribution of his or her interest, in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

10. Federal Income Tax Status

The United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated April 13, 2009 that the Plan was designed in accordance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. The Plan has been amended since receiving such determination letter. The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is designed and currently being operated in material compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and the Plan document and continues to be tax exempt under the IRC. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011.

GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain tax position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. Plan management has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a tax liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions: however, there are currently no audits of the Plan in progress. The Plan Administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2008.

******

 

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New England Life Insurance Company

Agents’ Retirement Plan and Trust

Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i, Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

as of December 31, 2011

 

(a) (b) Identity of Issuer, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party		(c) Description of Investment, Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par, or Maturity Value		(d) Cost***		(e) Current Value
		Target Retirement Funds:
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund		* **		$	1,109,480
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund		* **			1,033,704
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund		* **			652,802
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund		* **			611,278
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund		* **			492,492
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund		* **			423,781
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund		* **			336,390
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund		* **			272,935
		Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund		* **			231,227
		Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund		* **			227,961
		Total Target Retirement Funds					5,392,050
		Individual Core Investment Funds (excluding the MetLife Company Stock Fund):
* Metropolitan Life Insurance Company		NEF Stable Value Fund		* **			107,474,608
		Natixis CGM Advisor Targeted Equity A		* **			14,993,451
		Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Instl Fund		* **			8,835,293
		Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index Ins Fund		* **			7,967,196
		Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Instl Fund		* **			6,555,857
		Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund**		* **			6,185,679
		T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund		* **			6,055,766
		Vanguard Total Bond Market Index-Inst Fund		* **			3,892,665
		Vanguard Institutional Index Fund		* **			3,467,061
		Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund		* **			967,562
		Total Individual Core Investment Funds					166,395,138
* New England Life Insurance Company		Plan’s interest in the New England Master Trust (the MetLife Company Stock Fund and the RGA Frozen Fund)		* **			922,861
* Various participants		TD Ameritrade SDB Account		* **			3,963,666
		Participant-directed investments				$	176,673,715

 

*	Permitted party-in-interest.

**	Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Instl Fund replaced Artio International Equity II—I Fund, effective December 30, 2011, with funds trading on January 2, 2012.

***	Cost has been omitted with respect to participant-directed investments.

 

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Signatures

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

		New England Life Insurance Company Agents’ Retirement
		Plan and Trust
		By:		/s/ Mark J. Davis
				Name: Mark J. Davis
				Title: Plan Administrator
Date: June 28, 2012

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Name
23.1		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

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