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| MET > SEC Filings for MET > Form 8-K on 3-Sep-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
3-Sep-2009
Change in Directors or Principal Officers
Summary
On September 3, 2009, Lisa M. Weber, formerly President, Individual Business of
MetLife, Inc. ("MetLife") resigned her executive officer position and all other
positions with the Company. Under the Separation Agreement approved by MetLife's
Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, Ms. Weber may not work for
certain competitors of MetLife, interfere with MetLife's business relationships,
or solicit employees to leave MetLife through 2010, among other terms. In
exchange, Ms. Weber will receive a payment of $5 million, each of her
outstanding stock options will be exercisable through the remainder of its term,
and she will receive the other consideration described below. Ms. Weber's
employment will end no later than December 31, 2009.
Protections for MetLife's Business
Ms. Weber's Separation Agreement with an affiliate of MetLife (the "Separation
Agreement") will assure that, for a reasonable period following her departure,
she may not engage in activities on behalf of certain competitors, solicit
employees or interfere with the business relationships of MetLife or its
affiliates (the "Company"). Ms. Weber has agreed not to provide services to, or
otherwise become associated with, in any active fashion, whether as an officer,
consultant, agent, partner or otherwise, a number of the Company's competitors
or their affiliates or subsidiaries, in the United States or anywhere else the
Company now conducts business (or planned to conduct business as of July 1,
2009) until after December 31, 2010. Ms. Weber has also agreed that, during that
same restricted period, she will not solicit for employment or otherwise induce
any of the Company's officers or other employees who have been employed within
18 months prior to the effective date of the Separation Agreement to leave
employment, or hire any such person. Additionally, during the same restricted
period, Ms. Weber has agreed not to solicit any of the Company's customers,
suppliers, vendors or other business relations on behalf of anyone, or otherwise
encourage any such business relations of the Company to cease doing business
with the Company, or otherwise lessen the extent of its business relationships
with the Company, or interfere with the Company's business relationships in any
way.
Ms. Weber has also reaffirmed the commitments previously made under her
Agreements to Protect Corporate Property, which provide for a limited period of
general non-solicitation of Company employees and general non-interference with
the Company's business following Ms. Weber's employment. The temporal
restrictions on Ms. Weber in the Agreements to Protect Corporate Property will
coincide with those under the Separation Agreement.
Confidentiality and Cooperation
Ms. Weber has also agreed to maintain the confidentiality of information related
to the Company and her employment, subject to exceptions for legal or
governmental proceedings, and to return all Company documents and property.
Ms. Weber will cooperate with the Company in connection with any investigations,
administrative proceedings, or litigation involving the Company to the extent
doing so does not unreasonably interfere with her subsequent employment or
business activities, and will give the Company notice of any subpoenas or
government requests for any Company information. Ms. Weber will also adhere to
the same fiduciary duties during the remainder of her employment that applied
when she was an officer of the Company.
Enforcement by MetLife
The Separation Agreement also contains provisions recognizing the Company's
rights to enforce these covenants, including through the issuance of injunctive
relief. The Separation Agreement includes a general release of all claims
against the Company and its affiliates in connection with Ms. Weber's
employment, and became final on September 3, 2009.
Continued Employment
Ms. Weber will remain employed and available to advise MetLife through December
31, 2009 (or an earlier date of her choice), which will be her date of
discontinuance. During this time, Ms. Weber will receive her salary at an annual
rate of $630,000, remain eligible for benefits under the Company's benefit
programs, and will continue to receive vehicle and driver services consistent
with those previously provided to her. Ms. Weber will also be reimbursed for
business and professional conferences previously approved by MetLife. She will
also continue to receive Company support staff services for one month following
the date she executed the Separation Agreement.
Previously Awarded Outstanding Performance Shares and Stock Options
Ms. Weber will receive payments for her outstanding performance share awards to
which she is entitled under the terms of each of her existing Performance Share
Agreements in light of her continued employment. If Ms. Weber discontinues her
employment on or after December 1, 2009 but before December 31, 2009 the payment
for her performance shares will be $1,621,200 in cash (representing forfeiture
of her awards for the 2009-2011 performance period, prorated payment for the
2008-2010 performance period at the grant date price of MetLife common stock,
and payment for the 2007-2009 performance period at the grant date price of
MetLife common stock). However, if Ms. Weber instead discontinues her employment
on December 31, 2009, the payment for her performance shares will be $817,950 in
cash (representing prorated payments for the 2009-2011 and 2008-2010 performance
periods each at the grant date price of MetLife common stock) and 16,500 shares
of MetLife common stock (for the 2007-2009 performance period and assuming a
target performance factor, which will not be determined until after the end of
the performance period).
Each of Ms. Weber's outstanding stock options will be exercisable through the
remainder of its term, and consist of those previously disclosed in MetLife's
2009 proxy statement as well as options to purchase 62,000 shares of MetLife
common stock at an exercise price of $23.30 that were granted early in 2009 and
expire on February 23, 2019.
Other Benefits
Ms. Weber will continue to participate in the Company's financial counseling
program for senior officers for one year after her date of discontinuance, and
will be provided a twelve-month comprehensive senior executive outplacement
program by a service provider of her choice, at standard fees to MetLife.
Ms. Weber's legal fees in connection with the Separation Agreement will be
reimbursed, up to $12,500.
The foregoing description of the Separation Agreement is a summary, is not
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Separation
Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein
by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements And Exhibits.
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) Not applicable
(d) Exhibits.
10.1 Separation Agreement, Waiver and General Release between Lisa M. Weber and MetLife Group, Inc.
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