MetLife Continues Focus on Retirement Income Needs with New Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee Rider.

NEW YORK -- MetLife today announced the most recent enhancement to its line up of optional living benefits with the launch of the new Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee (LWG) rider for most new variable annuities sold. The LWG rider allows customers to withdraw up to 5% of their purchase payments for as long as they live, beginning as early as age 59 1/2.

"At MetLife, we are dedicated to helping our customers preserve their lifestyle and maintain their financial independence in retirement," said Michael K. Farrell, executive vice president, MetLife, who leads Independent Distribution Group, including MetLife Investors. "Our customers have varying retirement needs, so we don't take a one-size fits all approach, but offer a variety of products and optional living benefits to fit the needs of virtually any variable annuity customer needing growth, protection and retirement income."

"Most people - even those just starting their careers - understand that they are increasingly responsible for funding and financing the risks that they face, like living longer in retirement," said Michael J. Vietri, executive vice president, MetLife, who heads Agency Distribution Group, including MetLife and New England Financial. "At MetLife, we have a broad array of products and options to help mitigate those risks. We've been around for 138 years, and we'll be around when our customers need the guarantees that we are promising today."

With the LWG optional living benefit, customers make a purchase payment, which becomes their initial Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. This is the minimum amount they are guaranteed to receive over time, provided withdrawals do not exceed 5% annually.

If a customer begins withdrawals on or after age 59 1/2, he or she may withdraw up to 5% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount each year for the rest of his or her life, regardless of the impact of market conditions on the customer's account value. If withdrawals are taken before age 59 1/2, the customer will not receive payments for life, but will receive every dollar invested (providing the customer does not exceed 5% withdrawals annually).

MetLife also guarantees that the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount will grow at a 5% compounding rate annually until the first withdrawal or 10 years from contract issue, whatever comes first. Therefore the longer a customer waits to take withdrawals, the greater the dollar amount they can withdraw.

If the market performs well and the customer's account value increases, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is automatically "stepped-up" to equal the account value on each contract anniversary. Step-ups may increase the LWG rider charge, in which case customers have the option of declining automatic step-ups. If the 5% compounding rate is in effect, the customer will receive either the 5% compounding increase or the step-up, whichever results in the higher Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.

If a customer decides not to take withdrawals under the LWG rider, he or she can cancel the rider on the 5th, 10th, or 15th contract anniversaries or annually thereafter. If the rider is cancelled on the 15th contract anniversary or thereafter, MetLife will bring the customer's account value back up to its original amount (purchase payments received within 120 days of the date the contract was issued and adjusted for withdrawals).

When a customer chooses the LWG optional living benefit, they may also choose to provide lifetime withdrawals for one person or for both husband and wife. If the surviving spouse is age 59 1/2 or older, and he or she elects to continue the contract, the joint life version of the LWG enables withdrawals of up to 5% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for as long as the surviving spouse lives. If the surviving spouse is younger than age 59 1/2 and he or she elects to continue the contract, the surviving spouse will not receive payments for life, but will receive every dollar invested (provided withdrawals do not exceed 5% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount annually).

The LWG is available at contract issue (through age 85) with certain variable annuity products for an annual additional charge of 0.50% (single life) or 0.70% (joint life) of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, which is deducted from the account value and assessed on the contract anniversary date. If an automatic annual step-up increases the applicable charge, the maximum allowable charge is 0.95% (single life) or 1.40% (joint life). LWG is available with certain variable annuity products through MetLife Investors, as well as products sold by the MetLife and New England Financial sales forces.

Investment Options

MetLife variable annuities offer diversified asset allocation portfolios that have the potential for growth in a variety of market conditions, as well as the ability to protect against a declining market. For variable annuities featuring the optional LWG offered through MetLife Investors, customers may select their investment options from the MetLife Asset Allocation Program from the Met Investors Series Trust. When the LWG is purchased with a variable annuity from MetLife or New England Financial, customers may choose their investment options from the MetLife Asset Allocation Series from the Metropolitan Series Fund, Inc.

LWG complements the company's existing living benefits options, including a guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB or Predictor) and an enhanced guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB Plus or Predictor Plus), as well as a guaranteed withdrawal benefit (GWB) and guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (GMAB).

Certain terms and conditions apply if the LWG rider is elected, such as investment allocation restrictions. Income taxes and tax penalties may apply to any withdrawal. The LWG may not be appropriate for purchase by a beneficiary under a decedent's IRA.

Variable annuities are offered by prospectus only, which is available from a registered representative. A customer 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 LWG rider, are based on the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company.

About MetLife Investors

MetLife Investors is part of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. MetLife Investors affiliated insurance companies offer individual life insurance, annuity and long-term care insurance products and services through third party intermediaries including wirehouses, independent planners, broker dealers and banks. Products are distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company, Irvine, CA.

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner's insurance and retail banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.

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. Customers 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. Customers 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 offered through MetLife affiliated broker/dealers including Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (member NASD) or MetLife Securities, Inc. (member NASD, SIPC), both at 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166, MetLife Investors variable annuity products are issued by MetLife Investors Insurance Company, MetLife Investors Insurance Company of California and MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc.) and distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company, 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900, Irvine, CA, 92614 and New England Financial variable annuities are issued by New England Life Insurance Company (a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.) and distributed by New England Securities Corporation, 501 Boylston Street Boston, MA, 02116. New England Financial is the service mark for New England Life Insurance Company and related companies, Boston, MA.