UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 11, 2018

 

 

METLIFE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-15787   13-4075851

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

200 Park Avenue, New York, New York   10166-0188
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

212-578-9500

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 11, 2018, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of MetLife, Inc. (the “Company”) approved modified forms of Performance Share Agreement and Performance Unit Agreement (collectively, the “Modified Forms of Award Agreement”) for awards made on and after January 1, 2019.

Performance Shares, if they vest at the end of a three-year performance period, are multiplied by a performance factor from zero to 175% and payable in shares of Company common stock (“Shares”). Performance Units are substantially similar to Performance Shares, but are paid in cash using the price of Shares.

The Modified Forms of Award Agreement no longer allow the Committee to exercise discretion in determining the performance factor. Rather, the Committee must determine the performance factor by (a) the Company’s annual adjusted return on equity performance over the three-year period compared to the Company’s three-year business plan goal; (b) the Company’s total shareholder return over the same three-year period compared to a peer group of companies (the “Peer Group”); and (c) a cap of 100% if the Company’s total shareholder return for the three-year period is zero or less.

The Modified Forms of Award Agreement require the Committee to exclude the impact of a “Significant Event” from the Company’s adjusted return on equity or the business plan goal, to the extent the Committee determines in its informed judgment that the event changed the adjusted return on equity performance factor component. “Significant Events” include accounting changes, business combinations, restructuring, nonrecurring tax events, common share issuance or repurchases, catastrophes, litigation and regulatory settlements, asbestos and environment events, certain specified classes of non-coupon investments, and other significant nonrecurring, infrequent, or unusual items.

The Modified Forms of Award Agreement also prescribe the Peer Group. The Peer Group now excludes Aegon NV, AIA Group, Assicurazioni Generali SPA, Aviva PLC, and Ping An Insurance Group, and now includes Chubb Limited, Sun Life Financial Inc., and Torchmark Corporation in addition to other Company peers. If the Committee determines in its informed judgment that an event has or will have a substantial effect on the business or total shareholder return of any Peer Group company, it will remove that company from the list. Such events including bankruptcies, insolvencies, delisting, and divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, or similar transactions that significantly change the major markets or operational scope of business.

The foregoing description of the Modified Award Agreements is a summary, is not complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Modified Award Agreements which are attached hereto as exhibits and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

10.1    Form of Performance Share Agreement (effective January 1, 2019)
10.2    Form of Performance Unit Agreement (effective January 1, 2019)

 

2


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

METLIFE, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeannette N. Pina

Name:   Jeannette N. Pina
Title:   Vice President and Secretary

Date: December 13, 2018

 

3

Exhibit 10.1

PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT

MetLife, Inc. confirms that, on [grant date ] (the “Grant Date”), it granted you, [name] , [number] Performance Shares (your “Performance Shares”). Your Performance Shares are subject to the terms and conditions of the MetLife, Inc. 2015 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) and this Performance Share Agreement (this “Agreement”), which includes the Award Agreement Supplement (the “Supplement”). Please note that the Supplement includes terms for forfeiture of your Performance Shares under some circumstances.

Standard Terms .

(a) These terms are the “Standard Terms” and will apply to your Performance Shares except in so far as Sections S-2 (“Change of Status”), S-3 (“Change of Control”), or S-16 (“Restrictive Covenants”) apply. If Shares are paid to you, you will receive evidence of ownership of those Shares.

(b) The three-year Performance Period for your Performance Shares will begin on January 1, [year] and end on the December 31 immediately preceding the third anniversary of the beginning of the Performance Period. After the conclusion of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine the number of Performance Shares payable in accordance with these Standard Terms (your “Final Performance Shares”), and your Final Performance Shares will be due and payable in Shares at the time specified in Section S-8 (“Timing of Payment”).

(c) The Committee will determine your Final Performance Shares by multiplying your Performance Shares by the “Final Performance Factor.” The Final Performance Factor means the average of two “Component Performance Factors” (each from zero to 175%), determined by (1) and (2) below, subject (if applicable) to the cap determined by (3) below. Each Component Performance Factor, and the Final Performance Factor, will be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent (0.1%).

(1) The first Component Performance Factor will be determined by Performance Factor Appendix 1 to this Agreement based on the Company’s Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result. “Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result” is a percentage, rounded to the nearest whole percent, expressing the Company’s average annual performance during the Performance Period with respect to Adjusted Return on Equity compared to the Company’s Adjusted Return on Equity goal approved by the Committee for this purpose on or before the Grant Date (the “Adjusted Return on Equity Goal”).

(2) The second Component Performance Factor will be determined by Performance Factor Appendix 2 to this Agreement based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return Performance Result. “Total Shareholder Return Performance Result” is a percentile rank, rounded to the nearest whole percent, expressing the Company’s performance with respect to Total Shareholder Return during the Performance Period compared to the Company’s peer companies identified in that appendix. “Total Shareholder Return” means the change (plus or minus) from the Initial Closing Price to the Final Closing Price, plus dividends (if any) when actually paid on Shares or peer company common stock, as applicable, on a reinvested basis during the applicable period. “Initial Closing Price” means the average Closing Price for the twenty (20) trading days prior to the first day of the applicable period. “Final Closing Price” means the average Closing Price for the twenty (20) trading days prior to and including the final day of the applicable period. “Closing Price” for Shares is defined in Section S-9, “Closing Price,” and for peer company common stock has the same meaning with reference to the recognized quotation system, including the primary currency used on or for such system, for the


primary exchange on which the trading price of each peer company’s common stock is quoted at the relevant time. For purposes of this Section (c)(2), a “trading day” for Shares and for each peer company will be determined on a separate basis based on the trading on the primary exchange on which Shares or the peer company’s common stock is quoted.

(3) If the Company’s Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period is zero or less, the Final Performance Factor shall be the lesser of (a) the average of the percentages determined under Sections (c)(1) and (2) of these Standard Terms; or (b) 100%.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MetLife, Inc. has caused this agreement to be offered to you, and you have accepted this Agreement by the electronic means made available to you.


PERFORMANCE FACTOR APPENDIX 1

TO PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT

Determination of Adjusted Return on Equity

(a) Adjusted Return on Equity means the adjusted return on the Company’s common stockholders’ equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income other than foreign currency translation adjustments, as defined:

(1) in the final news release announcing Company financial results for the final quarter prior to the Performance Period that the Company files with or furnishes to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within the first quarter of the Performance Period; or

(2) if no such definition is in such news release, as defined in the final Quarterly Financial Supplement for the final quarter prior to the Performance Period that the Company files with or furnishes to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within the first quarter of the Performance Period; or.

(3) if no such definition is in such news release or supplement, as defined by the Committee at the time the Committee approves the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal.

(b) The Committee will revise either the calculation of Adjusted Return on Equity or the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal, or both, for one or more of the following items, in each case respectively to the extent above or below the Company’s three-year business plan on the date on which the Committee approved the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal (the “Three-Year Business Plan”), and in each case respectively to the extent the Committee determines in its informed judgment that a Significant Event has occurred that, separate and apart from any or all other Significant Events, has had an effect on Adjusted Return on Equity sufficient to change the Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result otherwise determined by Standard Terms Section (c)(1) and this Performance Factor Appendix 1, including applicable rounding, by one percent or more. “Significant Event” means:

(1) the effect of accounting changes, including but not limited to adoption of accounting standards;

(2) business combination expenses not already outside adjusted earnings, including by way of example those not included in divested business;

(3) restructuring or related charges;

(4) nonrecurring tax benefits or charges, including but not limited to tax benefits resulting from reduction in valuation allowance originally established in equity in a prior period;

(5) common share issuances or repurchases and declared common shareholder dividends;

(6) catastrophe losses;

(7) the gain or loss associated with litigation and regulatory settlement or reserve charges;

(8) asbestos and environment reserve charges or releases;

(9) earnings from specified classes of non-coupon investments (outside of +/- 10% of the earnings on these investments in the Three-Year Business Plan); and/or

(10) the impact of other significant nonrecurring, infrequent, or unusual items.


Adjusted Return on Equity Component Performance Factor Determination

 

    

Below
Threshold

   Threshold  

Between Threshold

and Target

   Target  

Between Target

and Maximum

   Maximum  

Above
Maximum

Adjusted Return on

Equity Performance

Result*

   0% - 79%    80%   81% - 99%    100%   101% - 119%    120%   121% +

Component

Performance Factor**

   0%    25%   For each 1% the performance result is above 80%, add 3.75% to the threshold performance factor of 25%.    100%   For each 1% the performance result is above 100%, add 3.75% to the target performance factor of 100%.    175%   175%

Determination Examples

 

Adjusted Return on Equity

Performance Result*

  

Component

Performance Factor**

79%              0%
80%            25%
85%        43.75%
90%        62.50%
95%        81.25%
100%         100%
105%    118.75%
110%    137.50%
115%    156.25%
120%         175%
125%         175%

 

*

The Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result will be determined against the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal, expressed as a percentage rounded to the nearest whole percent.

 

**

Notwithstanding presentation of hundredths of one percent, the Component Performance Factor determined by this Performance Factor Appendix 1 will be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent (0.1%).


PERFORMANCE FACTOR APPENDIX 2

TO PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT

Total Shareholder Return Peer Companies

 

Aflac Inc.

  

Manulife Financial Corp.

Allianz SE

  

Principal Financial Grp Inc.

Allstate Corp

  

Prudential Financial Inc.

American International Group

  

Prudential PLC

AXA

  

Sun Life Financial Inc.

Chubb Limited

  

Torchmark Corp.

Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

  

Travelers Cos. Inc.

Hartford Financial Services

  

Unum Group

Legal & General Group

  

Zurich Financial Services

Lincoln National Corp.

  

Changes to Total Shareholder Return Peer Companies

If the Committee determines in its informed judgment that a significant event has occurred that the Committee expects to have, or the Committee determines has had, a substantial effect on the business or Total Shareholder Return of any of the above peer companies, including by way of example events such as bankruptcies, insolvencies, delisting, and divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, or similar transactions in each case that significantly change the major markets or operational scope of the business, it will remove that peer company from the list of peer companies.

Total Shareholder Return Component Performance Factor Determination

 

    

Below
Threshold

  

Threshold

  

Between Threshold

and Target

  

Target

  

Between Target

and Maximum

  

Maximum

  

Above
Maximum

Total Shareholder Return

Performance Result*

   0 - 24th %tile   

25th

%tile

  

26th - 49th

%tile

   50th %tile   

51st - 87.4th

%tile

  

87.5th

%tile

  

87.6th - 99th

%tile

Component Performance

Factor**

   0%    25%    For each %tile the performance result is above the 25th %tile, add 3% to the threshold performance factor of 25%.    100%    For each %tile the performance result is above the 50th %tile, add 2% to the target performance factor of 100%.    175%    175%

MetLife will be excluded in the array of peer group companies for purposes of calculating percentile ranking and Performance Result.


Determination Examples

 

Total Shareholder

Return Performance Result*

  

Component

Performance Factor**

24th %tile   

       0%

25th %tile   

     25%

30th %tile   

     40%

40th %tile   

     70%

50th %tile   

   100%

60th %tile   

   120%

70th %tile   

   140%

80th %tile   

   160%

87.5th %tile

   175%

99th %tile   

   175%

 

*

Notwithstanding presentation of hundredths of one percentile, the Total Shareholder Return Performance Result will be determined against Peer Companies expressed as a percentile rounded to the nearest whole percentile.

 

**

The Component Performance Factor determined by this Performance Factor Appendix 2 will be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent (0.1%).

Exhibit 10.2

PERFORMANCE UNIT AGREEMENT

[Global Affiliate] (the “Global Affiliate”) confirms that, on [grant date ] (the “Grant Date”), it granted you, [name] , [number] Performance Units (your “Performance Units”), and approves and ratifies such grant. Your Performance Units are subject to the terms and conditions of the MetLife, Inc. 2015 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) and this Performance Unit Agreement (this “Agreement”), which includes the Award Agreement Supplement (the “Supplement”). Please note that the Supplement includes terms for forfeiture of your Performance Units under some circumstances. Any payment due under this Agreement may be made by any one or more Affiliates (the “Paying Affiliate”).

Standard Terms .

(a) These terms are the “Standard Terms” and will apply to your Performance Units except in so far as Sections S-2 (“Change of Status”), S-3 (“Change of Control”), or S-16 (“Restrictive Covenants”) apply.

(b) The three-year Performance Period for your Performance Units will begin on January 1, [year] and end on the December 31 immediately preceding the third anniversary of the beginning of the Performance Period. After the conclusion of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine the number of Performance Units payable in accordance with these Standard Terms (your “Final Performance Units”), and your Final Performance Units will be due and payable in cash equal to the Closing Price on the date the Committee determines your Final Performance Units. Your Final Performance Units will be due and payable at the time specified in Section S-8 (“Timing of Payment”).

(c) The Committee will determine your Final Performance Units by multiplying your Performance Units by the “Final Performance Factor.” The Final Performance Factor means the average of two “Component Performance Factors” (each from zero to 175%), determined by (1) and (2) below, subject (if applicable) to the cap determined by (3) below. Each Component Performance Factor, and the Final Performance Factor, will be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent (0.1%).

(1) The first Component Performance Factor will be determined by Performance Factor Appendix 1 to this Agreement based on the Company’s Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result. “Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result” is a percentage, rounded to the nearest whole percent, expressing the Company’s average annual performance during the Performance Period with respect to Adjusted Return on Equity compared to the Company’s Adjusted Return on Equity goal approved by the Committee for this purpose on or before the Grant Date (the “Adjusted Return on Equity Goal”).

(2) The second Component Performance Factor will be determined by Performance Factor Appendix 2 to this Agreement based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return Performance Result. “Total Shareholder Return Performance Result” is a percentile rank, rounded to the nearest whole percent, expressing the Company’s performance with respect to Total Shareholder Return during the Performance Period compared to the Company’s peer companies identified in that appendix. “Total Shareholder Return” means the change (plus or minus) from the Initial Closing Price to the Final Closing Price, plus dividends (if any) when actually paid on Shares or peer company common stock, as applicable, on a reinvested basis during the applicable period. “Initial Closing Price” means the average Closing Price for the twenty (20) trading days prior to the first day of the applicable period. “Final Closing Price” means the average Closing Price for the twenty (20) trading days prior to and including the final day of the applicable period. “Closing Price” for Shares is defined in Section S-9, “Closing Price,” and for peer company common stock has the same meaning with reference to the


recognized quotation system, including the primary currency used on or for such system, for the primary exchange on which the trading price of each peer company’s common stock is quoted at the relevant time. For purposes of this Section (c)(2), a “trading day” for Shares and for each peer company will be determined on a separate basis based on the trading on the primary exchange on which Shares or the peer company’s common stock is quoted.

(3) If the Company’s Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period is zero or less, the Final Performance Factor shall be the lesser of (a) the average of the percentages determined under Sections (c)(1) and (2) of these Standard Terms; or (b) 100%.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Global Affiliate has caused this agreement to be offered to you, and you have accepted this Agreement by the electronic means made available to you.


PERFORMANCE FACTOR APPENDIX 1

TO PERFORMANCE UNIT AGREEMENT

Determination of Adjusted Return on Equity

(a) Adjusted Return on Equity means the adjusted return on the Company’s common stockholders’ equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income other than foreign currency translation adjustments, as defined:

(1) in the final news release announcing Company financial results for the final quarter prior to the Performance Period that the Company files with or furnishes to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within the first quarter of the Performance Period; or

(2) if no such definition is in such news release, as defined in the final Quarterly Financial Supplement for the final quarter prior to the Performance Period that the Company files with or furnishes to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within the first quarter of the Performance Period; or.

(3) if no such definition is in such news release or supplement, as defined by the Committee at the time the Committee approves the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal.

(b) The Committee will revise either the calculation of Adjusted Return on Equity or the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal, or both, for one or more of the following items, in each case respectively to the extent above or below the Company’s three-year business plan on the date on which the Committee approved the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal (the “Three-Year Business Plan”), and in each case respectively to the extent the Committee determines in its informed judgment that a Significant Event has occurred that, separate and apart from any or all other Significant Events, has had an effect on Adjusted Return on Equity sufficient to change the Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result otherwise determined by Standard Terms Section (c)(1) and this Performance Factor Appendix 1, including applicable rounding, by one percent or more. “Significant Event” means:

(1) the effect of accounting changes, including but not limited to adoption of accounting standards;

(2) business combination expenses not already outside adjusted earnings, including by way of example those not included in divested business;

(3) restructuring or related charges;

(4) nonrecurring tax benefits or charges, including but not limited to tax benefits resulting from reduction in valuation allowance originally established in equity in a prior period;

(5) common share issuances or repurchases and declared common shareholder dividends;

(6) catastrophe losses;

(7) the gain or loss associated with litigation and regulatory settlement or reserve charges;

(8) asbestos and environment reserve charges or releases;

(9) earnings from specified classes of non-coupon investments (outside of +/- 10% of the earnings on these investments in the Three-Year Business Plan); and/or

(10) the impact of other significant nonrecurring, infrequent, or unusual items.


Adjusted Return on Equity Component Performance Factor Determination

 

    

Below
Threshold

   Threshold  

Between Threshold

and Target

   Target  

Between Target

and Maximum

   Maximum  

Above
Maximum

Adjusted Return on

Equity Performance

Result*

   0% - 79%    80%   81% - 99%    100%   101% - 119%    120%   121% +

Component

Performance Factor**

   0%    25%   For each 1% the performance result is above 80%, add 3.75% to the threshold performance factor of 25%.    100%   For each 1% the performance result is above 100%, add 3.75% to the target performance factor of 100%.    175%   175%

Determination Examples

 

Adjusted Return on Equity

Performance Result*

  

Component

Performance Factor**

79%              0%
80%            25%
85%        43.75%
90%        62.50%
95%        81.25%
100%         100%
105%    118.75%
110%    137.50%
115%    156.25%
120%         175%
125%         175%

 

*

The Adjusted Return on Equity Performance Result will be determined against the Adjusted Return on Equity Goal, expressed as a percentage rounded to the nearest whole percent.

 

**

Notwithstanding presentation of hundredths of one percent, the Component Performance Factor determined by this Performance Factor Appendix 1 will be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent (0.1%).


PERFORMANCE FACTOR APPENDIX 2

TO PERFORMANCE UNIT AGREEMENT

Total Shareholder Return Peer Companies

 

Aflac Inc.

  

Manulife Financial Corp.

Allianz SE

  

Principal Financial Grp Inc.

Allstate Corp

  

Prudential Financial Inc.

American International Group

  

Prudential PLC

AXA

  

Sun Life Financial Inc.

Chubb Limited

  

Torchmark Corp.

Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

  

Travelers Cos. Inc.

Hartford Financial Services

  

Unum Group

Legal & General Group

  

Zurich Financial Services

Lincoln National Corp.

  

Changes to Total Shareholder Return Peer Companies

If the Committee determines in its informed judgment that a significant event has occurred that the Committee expects to have, or the Committee determines has had, a substantial effect on the business or Total Shareholder Return of any of the above peer companies, including by way of example events such as bankruptcies, insolvencies, delisting, and divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, or similar transactions in each case that significantly change the major markets or operational scope of the business, it will remove that peer company from the list of peer companies.

Total Shareholder Return Component Performance Factor Determination

 

    

Below
Threshold

   Threshold  

Between Threshold

and Target

  

Target

  

Between Target

and Maximum

  

Maximum

  

Above
Maximum

Total Shareholder Return Performance Result*    0 - 24th %tile    25th

%tile

 

26th - 49th

%tile

  

50th

%tile

  

51st - 87.4th

%tile

  

87.5th

%tile

  

87.6th - 99th

%tile

Component Performance Factor**    0%    25%   For each %tile the performance result is above the 25th %tile, add 3% to the threshold performance factor of 25%.    100%    For each %tile the performance result is above the 50th %tile, add 2% to the target performance factor of 100%.    175%    175%

MetLife will be excluded in the array of peer group companies for purposes of calculating percentile ranking and Performance Result.


Determination Examples

 

Total Shareholder

Return Performance Result*

  

Component

Performance Factor**

24th %tile   

       0%

25th %tile   

     25%

30th %tile   

     40%

40th %tile   

     70%

50th %tile   

   100%

60th %tile   

   120%

70th %tile   

   140%

80th %tile   

   160%

87.5th %tile

   175%

99th %tile   

   175%

 

*

Notwithstanding presentation of hundredths of one percentile, the Total Shareholder Return Performance Result will be determined against Peer Companies expressed as a percentile rounded to the nearest whole percentile.

 

**

The Component Performance Factor determined by this Performance Factor Appendix 2 will be rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent (0.1%).