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MetLife Announces Second Quarter 2014 ResultsNEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) today reported the following results for the second quarter of 2014: MetLife reported operating earnings* of $1.6 billion, unchanged from the second quarter of 2013. On a per share basis, operating earnings were $1.39, down 3 percent over the prior year quarter. Operating earnings in the Americas grew 5 percent. Operating earnings in Asia decreased 3 percent on a reported basis and were down 1 percent on a constant currency basis. Operating earnings in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) increased 37 percent on a reported basis and were up 41 percent on a constant currency basis. Second quarter 2014 operating earnings included the following items:
On a GAAP basis, MetLife reported second quarter 2014 net income of $1.3 billion, or $1.17 per share. Net income includes $202 million, after tax, in net derivative gains, reflecting a decline in interest rates. MetLife uses derivatives as part of its broader asset-liability management strategy to hedge certain risks, such as movements in interest rates and foreign currencies. This hedging activity often generates derivative gains or losses and creates fluctuations in net income because the risk being hedged may not have the same GAAP accounting treatment. Other notable items that explain the difference between net income and operating earnings in the second quarter include charges associated with asymmetrical GAAP accounting treatment, net investment losses and costs related to certain variable annuity guarantees. Premiums, fees & other revenues* were $12.7 billion, up 6 percent (8 percent on a constant currency basis) over the second quarter of 2013. Book value, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)*, was $50.14 per share, up from $47.20 in the second quarter of 2013. "MetLife's second quarter results demonstrated the benefit of our diverse business mix, as strong investment margins and favorable market performance helped offset unfavorable underwriting results," said Steven A. Kandarian, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MetLife, Inc. "We continue to carefully manage expenses and execute on our strategy to maximize shareholder value."
*Information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures included in this news release and the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is provided in the Non-GAAP and Other Financial Disclosures discussion below, as well as in the tables that accompany this release and/or the Second Quarter 2014 Financial Supplement (which is available on the MetLife Investor Relations Web page at www.metlife.com). BUSINESS DISCUSSIONS All comparisons of the results for the second quarter 2014 in the business discussions that follow are with the second quarter of 2013, unless otherwise noted. All comparisons on a constant currency basis are calculated using the average foreign currency exchange rates for the current period and are applied to the prior period. THE AMERICAS Total operating earnings for the Americas were $1.4 billion, up 5 percent, driven by Latin America, Retail and Corporate Benefit Funding. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $9.6 billion, up 10 percent, and excluding pension closeouts, up 9 percent. Retail Operating earnings for Retail were $652 million, up 12 percent primarily due to favorable market performance and the benefit from the previously mentioned retail life reserve adjustment, partially offset by unfavorable underwriting results. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $3.3 billion, up 8 percent due to separate account growth and higher income annuity sales. Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits Operating earnings for Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits were $205 million, down 25 percent due to unfavorable underwriting results in non-medical health. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $4.3 billion, up 6 percent reflecting business growth and experience adjustments on participating group life business. Corporate Benefit Funding Operating earnings for Corporate Benefit Funding were $374 million, up 8 percent due to higher interest margins as well as favorable expense margins. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $816 million, up 29 percent due to increased structured settlements and pension closeouts. Latin America Operating earnings for Latin America were $160 million, up 28 percent on a reported basis and 40 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting the ProVida acquisition. Operating earnings were down 10 percent on a constant currency basis excluding ProVida, due to certain one-time items and unfavorable underwriting. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $1.1 billion, up 16 percent on a reported basis, and up 27 percent on a constant currency basis. Premiums, fees & other revenues were up 18 percent on a constant currency basis excluding ProVida. ASIA Operating earnings for Asia were $319 million, down 3 percent on a reported basis. Adjusting for changes in foreign currencies, primarily the Japanese Yen, operating earnings were down 1 percent, as strong growth elsewhere in Asia was offset by expected lower surrender fee income from certain foreign currency fixed annuity products in Japan. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $2.3 billion, down 5 percent on a reported basis, and down 2 percent on a constant currency basis, also due to expected lower surrender fee revenues in Japan. Total sales for the region decreased 12 percent as planned product actions in Japan were implemented. This impact more than offset strong sales growth in China and Korea. EMEA Operating earnings for EMEA were $93 million, up 37 percent on a reported basis, and 41 percent on a constant currency basis aided by one-time items including $7 million in tax-related items in the quarter. Operating earnings for the second quarter of 2013 were negatively impacted by $4 million from two large and primarily offsetting items. Premiums, fees & other revenues were $712 million, up 3 percent on a reported basis and up 1 percent on a constant currency basis. Total sales for the region increased 3 percent, with emerging markets up 10 percent, driven by growth in Poland and Turkey. INVESTMENTS Net investment income was unchanged at $5.1 billion. Variable investment income was $342 million ($221 million, after tax and DAC), compared with $312 million ($202 million, after tax and DAC) in the second quarter of 2013. Declines in interest rates during the quarter are reflected in derivative net gains of $71 million, after tax and other adjustments. Derivative net losses in the second quarter of 2013 were $1.1 billion, after tax and other adjustments. CORPORATE & OTHER Corporate & Other had an operating loss of $213 million compared with an operating loss of $140 million in the second quarter of 2013, due to expenses related to company initiatives and regulatory compliance as well as a charge related to the timing of certain tax credits. Conference Call MetLife will hold its second quarter 2014 earnings conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, July 31, 2014, from 8-9 a.m. EDT. The conference call will be available live via telephone and the Internet. To listen via telephone, dial 800-553-0288 (U.S.) or 612-332-0335 (outside the U.S.). To listen to the conference call via the Internet, visit www.metlife.com through a link on the Investor Relations page. Those who want to listen to the call via telephone or the Internet should dial in or go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, and/or download and install any necessary audio software. The conference call will be available for replay via telephone and the Internet beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 31, 2014, until Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. To listen to a replay of the conference call via telephone, dial 800-475-6701 (U.S.) or 320-365-3844 (outside the U.S.). The access code for the replay is 314847. To access the replay of the conference call over the Internet, visit the above-mentioned website. About MetLife 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. Non-GAAP and Other Financial Disclosures Any references in this news release (except in this section and in the tables that accompany this release) to net income (loss), net income (loss) per share, operating earnings, operating earnings per share, book value per share, book value per share, excluding AOCI, premiums, fees and other revenues, and operating return on equity, should be read as net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.'s common shareholders, net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.'s common shareholders per diluted common share, operating earnings available to common shareholders, operating earnings available to common shareholders per diluted common share, book value per common share, book value per common share, excluding AOCI, premiums, fees and other revenues (operating), and operating return on MetLife, Inc.'s common equity, excluding AOCI, respectively. Operating earnings is the measure of segment profit or loss that MetLife uses to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) accounting guidance for segment reporting, operating earnings is MetLife's measure of segment performance. Operating earnings is also a measure by which MetLife senior management's and many other employees' performance is evaluated for the purposes of determining their compensation under applicable compensation plans. Operating earnings is defined as operating revenues less operating expenses, both net of income tax. Operating earnings available to common shareholders is defined as operating earnings less preferred stock dividends. Operating revenues and operating expenses exclude results of discontinued operations and other businesses that have been or will be sold or exited by MetLife. Operating revenues also excludes net investment gains (losses) (NIGL) and net derivative gains (losses) (NDGL). Operating expenses also excludes goodwill impairments. The following additional adjustments are made to GAAP revenues, in the line items indicated, in calculating operating revenues:
The following additional adjustments are made to GAAP expenses, in the line items indicated, in calculating operating expenses:
Operating earnings also excludes the recognition of certain contingent assets and liabilities that could not be recognized at acquisition or adjusted for during the measurement period under GAAP business combination accounting guidance. MetLife believes the presentation of operating earnings and operating earnings available to common shareholders as MetLife measures it for management purposes enhances the understanding of the company's performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of the business. Operating revenues, operating expenses, operating earnings, operating earnings available to common shareholders, operating earnings available to common shareholders per diluted common share, book value per common share, excluding AOCI, book value per diluted common share, excluding AOCI, operating return on MetLife, Inc.'s common equity, operating return on MetLife, Inc.'s common equity, excluding AOCI, investment portfolio gains (losses) and derivative gains (losses) should not be viewed as substitutes for the following financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP: GAAP revenues, GAAP expenses, income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income tax, net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.'s common shareholders, net income (loss) available to MetLife, Inc.'s common shareholders per diluted common share, book value per common share, book value per diluted common share, return on MetLife, Inc.'s common equity, return on MetLife, Inc.'s common equity, excluding AOCI, net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses), respectively. Reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the Second Quarter 2014 Financial Supplement and/or in the tables that accompany this earnings news release. Operating return on MetLife, Inc.'s common equity is defined as operating earnings available to common shareholders divided by average GAAP common equity. Operating expense ratio is calculated by dividing operating expenses (other expenses, net of capitalization of DAC) by operating premiums, fees and other revenues. Statistical sales information for life insurance is calculated by MetLife using the LIMRA definition of sales for core direct sales, excluding company sponsored internal exchanges, corporate-owned life insurance, bank-owned life insurance, and private placement variable universal life insurance. Individual annuities sales consists of statutory premiums direct and assumed, excluding company sponsored internal exchanges. Forward-Looking Statements This news 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 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). These factors include: (1) difficult conditions in the global capital markets; (2) increased volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, which may affect our ability to meet liquidity needs and access capital, including through our credit facilities, generate fee income and market-related revenue and finance statutory reserve requirements and may require us to pledge collateral or make payments related to declines in value of specified assets, including assets supporting risks ceded to certain of our captive reinsurers or hedging arrangements associated with those risks; (3) exposure to financial and capital market risks, including as a result of the disruption in Europe; (4) impact of comprehensive financial services regulation reform on us, as a potential non-bank systemically important financial institution, or otherwise; (5) numerous rulemaking initiatives required or permitted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which may impact how we conduct our business, including those compelling the liquidation of certain financial institutions; (6) regulatory, legislative or tax changes relating to our insurance, international, or other operations that may affect the cost of, or demand for, our products or services, or increase the cost or administrative burdens of providing benefits to employees; (7) adverse results or other consequences from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations; (8) potential liquidity and other risks resulting from our participation in a securities lending program and other transactions; (9) investment losses and defaults, and changes to investment valuations; (10) changes in assumptions related to investment valuations, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired or goodwill; (11) impairments of goodwill and realized losses or market value impairments to illiquid assets; (12) defaults on our mortgage loans; (13) the defaults or deteriorating credit of other financial institutions that could adversely affect us; (14) economic, political, legal, currency and other risks relating to our international operations, including with respect to fluctuations of exchange rates; (15) downgrades in our claims paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings; (16) a deterioration in the experience of the "closed block" established in connection with the reorganization of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; (17) availability and effectiveness of reinsurance or indemnification arrangements, as well as any default or failure of counterparties to perform; (18) differences between actual claims experience and underwriting and reserving assumptions; (19) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures; (20) catastrophe losses; (21) increasing cost and limited market capacity for statutory life insurance reserve financings; (22) heightened competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors, consolidation of distributors, the development of new products by new and existing competitors, and for personnel; (23) exposure to losses related to variable annuity guarantee benefits, including from significant and sustained downturns or extreme volatility in equity markets, reduced interest rates, unanticipated policyholder behavior, mortality or longevity, and the adjustment for nonperformance risk; (24) our ability to address difficulties, unforeseen liabilities, asset impairments, or rating agency actions arising from business acquisitions, including our acquisition of American Life Insurance Company and Delaware American Life Insurance Company, and integrating and managing the growth of such acquired businesses, or arising from dispositions of businesses or legal entity reorganizations; (25) the dilutive impact on our stockholders resulting from the settlement of our outstanding common equity units; (26) regulatory and other restrictions affecting MetLife, Inc.'s ability to pay dividends and repurchase common stock; (27) MetLife, Inc.'s primary reliance, as a holding company, on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt payment obligations and the applicable regulatory restrictions on the ability of the subsidiaries to pay such dividends; (28) the possibility that MetLife, Inc.'s Board of Directors may influence the outcome of stockholder votes through the voting provisions of the MetLife Policyholder Trust; (29) changes in accounting standards, practices and/or policies; (30) increased expenses relating to pension and postretirement benefit plans, as well as health care and other employee benefits; (31) inability to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; (32) inability to attract and retain sales representatives; (33) provisions of laws and our incorporation documents may delay, deter or prevent takeovers and corporate combinations involving MetLife; (34) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to disasters such as terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, other hostilities, or natural catastrophes, including any related impact on the value of our investment portfolio, our disaster recovery systems, cyber- or other information security systems and management continuity planning; (35) the effectiveness of our programs and practices in avoiding giving our associates incentives to take excessive risks; and (36) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in MetLife, Inc.'s filings with the SEC. MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife, Inc. later becomes 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.
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