MetLife has announced plans to pursue a separation of a substantial portion of their U.S. Retail business, which includes the retail distribution of individual life insurance policies and annuity contracts issued by MetLife Insurance Company USA (MLUS), First MetLife Investors Insurance Company (FMLI) and New England Life Insurance Company (NELICO). The name of this separated business that will continue with the U.S. retail distribution of MLUS, FMLI and NELICO products will be Brighthouse Financial.
The ultimate form and timing the separation of Brighthouse Financial from MetLife will be influenced by a number of factors, including regulatory considerations and economic conditions. In planning for this separation, MetLife has sent us the following important information and dates. Please review this information carefully and contact your Shaw American with any questions you may have.
The following changes are expected to to take effect on March 6, 2017:
Legal Entities:
- The new Broker Dealer for Brighthouse Financial will be Brighthouse Securities, LLC. We are in the process of obtaining FINRA approval for the new Broker Dealer.
- MLUS, FMLI and NELICO, and thus the contracts/policies they have issued, will be part of Brighthouse Financial.
- Issuing Insurance Company names will change to the following:
- MetLife Insurance Company USA will be renamed Brighthouse Life Insurance Company.
- First MetLife Investors Insurance Company will be renamed Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY.
- New England Life Insurance Company will be part of Brighthouse Financial but the Issuing Insurance Company name will not change.
- The MetLife Investors Distribution Company (MLIDC) Broker Dealer will remain with MetLife.
- Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC) will remain with MetLife so it is not impacted by the separation. There will be no changes to existing policies, contracts and product features under this Issuing Insurance Company.
- The new holding company name will be Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
Industry Automation/Operations:
- CUSIP numbers will not change on March 6, 2017. The CUSIP numbers will change in the 2nd half of 2017 for all new and existing products currently under MetLife Insurance Company USA and First MetLife Investors Insurance Company.
- There will be no changes to DTCC Participant Numbers or NAIC numbers.
- Bank Account names will change, but ACA and account numbers will not change.
- Tax IDs will not change.
Appointments:
- All financial advisor appointments will remain the same, but the name of the issuing companies will be changed to the appropriate Brighthouse Financial Issuing Insurance Company. No action is required at this time by the advisor.
Licensing & Contracting:
- All contracts will be updated to reflect Brighthouse Financial and no further action will be required at this time. Firms and advisors will receive more information November 2016.
Communications:
Firm Communications:
- MetLife will send important information regarding the separation to you as it becomes available. Consistent with our normal procedure, MetLife will notify you prior to sending communications your clients.
Client Communications:
- Client Notification Letter of Separation
- Will be sent to clients December 5th – December 25th.
- Provides a high level overview of the separation, notification that they will begin receiving communications from MetLife and Brighthouse Financial, a URL to learn more at metlife.com/brighthousefinancial, and a phone number for them to contact us if more questions.
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