EX-10.53: NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Exhibit 10.53

The MetLife Non-Management Director
Deferred Compensation Plan

Program Description and Plan Document
December 2008

MetLife Non-Management Director Deferred Compensation Plan
Plan At-a-Glance

Purpose		To provide eligible directors with the opportunity to defer their cash and MetLife Stock compensation, thereby deferring payment of federal and most state income taxes on such compensation.
Eligibility		Directors of MetLife, Inc. who are not employees of MetLife, Inc. or any of its affiliates.
Election Options		•     Deferral amount
		•     Investment tracking funds (for cash deferrals)
		•     Distribution date
		•     Number of distribution payments
Annual Enrollment Period for Incumbent Directors		Eligible Directors will be notified of the annual enrollment in the calendar year before deferrals begin.
Enrollment Period for New Directors		Newly-appointed directors may make a deferral election for fees payable in the calendar year in which they are elected, but must generally do so by the earlier of:

	•		the day before the first Directors meeting after appointment or,
	•		the 30th day after appointment.

Investment Tracking		The value of your deferred cash compensation accounts will fluctuate daily based on the performance of the investment tracking funds and indices you select.
Investment Tracking Fund Changes		Limited to a total of six times per year for future deferrals and existing account balances.
Changes in Amounts Deferred		None allowed, except for hardship.
Form of Distribution		Your deferred cash compensation will be paid in cash at the end of the deferral period. Your deferred awards of MetLife Stock will be paid in the form of such stock, with imputed reinvested dividends, at the end of the deferral period.
Distribution:
— Number		Lump-sum payment or up to 15 annual installments.
— Timing		Beginning upon earlier of 60 days after termination of service as a director or on a designated future date.
— Hardship		Immediate lump-sum payment (availability strictly limited).
Changes to Distribution Date and/or Number of Payments		You may change the distribution date to a date at least five years later than the date you originally selected, and/or change the number of payments. Your change will only be effective if you submit your request no later than one year before the earlier of the end of your service as a director or the distribution date you originally selected.
Taxes		Deferred compensation is taxable as ordinary income at the time of distribution.
		Rollover to an IRA, qualified plan or nonqualified plan is not permitted.
Beneficiary		Upon your death, any existing account balances will be paid to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries in a lump sum.
Plan Funding		The Plan is a nonqualified, unfunded plan. Your accounts are maintained for recordkeeping purposes only.

MetLife Non-Management Director Deferred Compensation Plan

The MetLife Non-Management Director Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) allows eligible directors to defer receiving a portion of their fees payable in cash or shares of MetLife, Inc. common stock (“MetLife Stock”) for services in 2005 and thereafter, thereby deferring payment of federal and most state income taxes until a later date when the deferred payments are received. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary.

The Plan is a nonqualified plan that is unfunded and subject to the risks described in this document. Amounts credited to an account are solely for recordkeeping purposes. The Plan is not subject to protection under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Eligibility

Members of the Board of Directors of MetLife, Inc. (the “Board”) who are not employees of MetLife, Inc. or any of its affiliates (“Non-Management Directors”) are eligible to participate. In this Program Description, “you” refers to a director who is eligible to participate in the Plan.

Making a Deferral Election

Incumbent Directors — Prior to each year in which you receive fees for services you provide as a Non-Management Director, you may defer all or a portion of the fees payable as compensation for such services. Designations do not carry over from year to year; you must make a new designation each year.

New Directors — In general, you may defer all or a portion of your fees for services in the calendar year you are appointed to the Board by submitting a deferral election by the earlier of:

	•		the day before the first Directors meeting following your appointment or,
	•		the thirtieth (30th) day after your appointment.

If a Directors meeting occurs before the thirtieth (30^th) day after your appointment and before you have filed a deferral election, then, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, you may defer a prorated portion of your fees. The proration will be determined according to the number of scheduled meetings for the year of your appointment. You must submit your deferral election no later than the thirtieth (30^th) day after your appointment.

All Directors

To defer your cash compensation, you need to complete a deferral election form specifying:

•		The percentage of your cash fees you want deferred into a Deferred Cash Account (if you choose to defer any of your cash fees, your deferral must equal at least $10,000);
•		The investment tracking funds that will be used to adjust the value of that Deferred Cash Account; and

•

A future distribution date and number of payments for that Deferred Cash Account (paid in cash).

To defer your MetLife Stock compensation, you need to complete a deferral election form specifying:

•		The percentage of your MetLife Stock fees you want deferred into a MetLife Deferred Stock Account; and
•		The future distribution date and number of payments for your MetLife Deferred Stock Account.

Your deferral election form must be submitted during the enrollment period. If you submit an election form that does not specify when payment is to be made, payment will be made upon the termination of your service as a Non-Management Director. If you submit an election form that does not specify the number of installments in which payment should be made, payment will be made in a single lump sum.

Before making your elections, you may wish to consult a tax or personal financial advisor regarding all of the ramifications of deferral of compensation under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and all other requirements under law for deferral of income taxation (“Legal Deferral Requirements”).

All deferrals are subject to the terms of this Plan.

Income Taxes

Deferred compensation is not subject to current taxation under federal and most state income tax laws at the time it is deferred. However, income and self-employment taxes will be due at the time payment is made. Consult your financial advisor with any questions regarding how and when you should make payment of your tax obligations arising from payments under the Plan. Note that amounts payable under the Plan may not be rolled-over into an IRA, qualified plan or another nonqualified plan.

Neither MetLife, Inc. nor any of its affiliates will be entitled to claim a tax deduction for any compensation (plus earnings) the payment of which is deferred under the terms of this Plan until the taxable period in which the payments are includible in the taxable income of a participant. The deduction can be claimed only in the amount that such income is included in such participant’s income.

Deferral Amounts

During the annual enrollment period, you may elect to defer all or a portion of your fees payable in the following year for services as a director of MetLife, Inc. If you choose to defer any of your cash fees, you must defer at least $10,000.

Once you elect your deferral amount, you may not change it. You may, however, suspend deferrals in cases of extreme hardship as provided in the Plan. See “Hardship Exceptions,” below.

Deferred Compensation Accounts

If you defer any or all of your cash compensation, a Deferred Cash Account in your name for that year’s deferrals will be established for recordkeeping purposes. If you defer any of your MetLife Stock compensation, a MetLife Deferred Stock Account in your name for that year’s deferrals will be established for recordkeeping purposes. You will receive account statements annually.

Your accounts will be credited effective on the date on which your fees would have been payable had you not elected to defer receipt of such fees.

Investment Tracking For Your Deferred Cash Accounts

Investment tracking funds are used as a device for adjusting the value of your Deferred Cash Accounts, from the time contributions are made until the time payments are made from your Deferred Cash Accounts, based on fund performance.

Each investment tracking fund reflects the investment returns of the actual fund or index, including any management fees and/or other expenses that apply to the actual fund. Returns are measured each day the relevant stock exchange is open. Your account will fluctuate based on the fund’s performance (gains or losses) in effect “mirroring” the performance of the specified fund or index, determined on a Total Return basis. “Total Return” reflects the change (plus or minus) in price or value, plus dividends (if any) on a reinvested basis. Your deferred cash account will not actually be invested in the funds. If the aggregate performance of the funds mirrored by the investment tracking funds you choose is positive, the value of your account will increase; if it is negative, the value of your account will decrease.

You may change your investment tracking funds — either with regard to future deferrals or your existing account — at any time during the year by accessing the Plan’s website or by calling the participant service center. However, you may make no more than six changes per year. For this purpose, all changes submitted on the same day will count as a single change. You can elect to track your account against one or more of the investment tracking funds, and fund allocations must be made in multiples of 5%. If you have provided your e-mail address, you will receive confirmation of your changes shortly after they are made.

Under MetLife’s Insider Trading Policy, active Directors are required to obtain pre-clearance from the MetLife Corporate Secretary before transferring funds into or out of the MetLife Common Stock Fund or changing the percentage of future deferred fees that will be allocated to the MetLife Common Stock Fund.

Detailed information about the available investment tracking funds will be provided to you. This will include descriptions and historic performance. The Plan Administrator may change, eliminate or replace any investment tracking fund or index at any time. When the Plan Administrator has determined to make a change, you will be informed and you will be given an opportunity to change your investment tracking selections to the extent they are affected by the change.

MetLife Deferred Stock Accounts

Your MetLife Deferred Stock Accounts will reflect the number of shares of MetLife Stock you deferred, plus imputed reinvested dividends (on the same basis as such dividends are paid on actual shares of MetLife Stock).

The value of your MetLife Deferred Stock Account will depend on the price of MetLife Stock, which is affected by market conditions and other factors, such as declared dividends. As a result, the value of your MetLife Deferred Stock Account is anticipated to have a relatively high risk profile.

Your MetLife Deferred Stock Accounts will be appropriately adjusted (as determined by the Governance Committee of the Board, or its successor) in the event of any MetLife Stock dividend, MetLife Stock split, recapitalization (including, but not limited, to the payment of an extraordinary dividend), merger, consolidation, combination, or spin-off affecting MetLife, Inc. capitalization, distribution of MetLife, Inc. assets to holders of MetLife Stock (other than ordinary cash dividends), exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change.

The performance of MetLife Deferred Stock Account will be identical to that of the MetLife Common Stock Fund, and is labeled the “MetLife Deferred Shares Fund” in the “Total Return Historic Fund & Index Performance by Calendar Year” chart.

Distribution Dates

For each of your Deferred Cash Accounts and your MetLife Deferred Stock Accounts, you may choose to have your distributions begin either (1) on a specific date no less than three years after the year of deferral, or (2) upon the termination of your service as a Non-Management Director of MetLife, Inc. (the date of your termination of service will be determined in accordance with Legal Deferral Requirements). If you choose to receive your account on a specific date, your account will be paid to you on the earlier of (a) the date you selected, or (b) on the date of the termination of your service as a director.

Once you have designated a distribution date, you cannot change it except as described below under “Changing the Distribution Date And/Or Number of Payments.”

Number of Payments

You may elect to receive each of your account balances in either a lump-sum payment or up to 15 annual installments. For each of your Deferred Cash Accounts, each annual installment will be a fraction of the account’s cash value with one being the numerator and the number of payments remaining being the denominator. For each of your MetLife Deferred Stock Accounts, each annual installment will be a fraction of the number of shares of MetLife Stock represented in the account, with one being the numerator and the number of payments remaining being the denominator and disregarding any fraction of a share until the last installment. For example, if you elect to receive 10 annual payments, the first payment is equal to 1/10^th of the account; the second payment is equal to 1/9^th of the account; and so on until final payment is made. For purposes of Legal Deferral Requirements, any payment option selected under this plan will be considered to be a single payment form of benefit.

Form of Payments

All payments from your Deferred Cash Accounts (including portions invested in the MetLife Common Stock Fund) will be made in cash. All payments from your MetLife Deferred Stock Account will be made in MetLife Stock, except that fractional shares will be paid in cash at the Closing Price of MetLife Stock on the date of payment.^*

Changing the Distribution Date And/Or Number of Payments

For each of your Deferred Cash Account and your MetLife Deferred Stock Account for a given year, you may make changes only once, at which time you may change either or both: (1) the date you have selected to receive payment of your deferred compensation to a date at least five (5) years later than your original selection; and/or (2) the number of payments you have chosen to receive (your change may increase or decrease the number of payments). You must make all changes to any particular account at the same time; provided, however, that your changes are only effective if you submit them no later than one year before the earlier of the original date you had selected for payment or the date your service as a Non-Management Director ends, and otherwise will not be effective. All changes will be effective to the extent consistent with Legal Deferral Requirements.

Payment to Beneficiaries

If you die before your distributions begin or are completed, the balance in your accounts will be paid as a single lump sum to your beneficiary. If you have not designated a beneficiary, or your beneficiary (or beneficiaries) die(s) before you do, the balance in your accounts will be paid to your estate.

You may designate an individual, entity, trustee, or your estate as your beneficiary, and you may change your beneficiary at any time. Each beneficiary designation will apply to all of your deferrals under the Plan, and will supersede your previous beneficiary designations. Unless or until you submit a new beneficiary designation form, your last beneficiary designation (if any) under the MetLife Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors (or, if you have not designated a beneficiary under that plan, the beneficiary you have designated under the MetLife, Inc. 2000 Directors Stock Plan, if any) will apply under this Plan.

You may update or designate your beneficiary(ies) during each annual enrollment period. If you wish to change your beneficiary designations during the year you may do so by accessing the Plan recordkeeper’s website or by calling the Participant Service Center.

Loans

No loans may be taken from your accounts.

Hardship Exceptions

In cases of extreme hardship, and consistent with Legal Deferral Requirements for deferral of income taxation, the Plan Administrator may suspend deferrals or make payments to you, reducing the value of your account. However, the total amount suspended and advanced cannot exceed the amount required to satisfy the financial consequences of the hardship and tax withholding requirements.

Unfunded, Unsecured Obligations of MetLife, Inc.

Deferrals under the Plan are unfunded and unsecured obligations of MetLife, Inc. Your rights are those of a general unsecured creditor of MetLife, Inc. The Plan is intended to be designed and administered in complete accordance with Legal Deferral Requirements, but in no event will MetLife, Inc., any affiliate, or the Plan be liable for any taxes, penalties, or other losses on account of the Plan or its administration failing to comply with Legal Deferral Requirements. The total amount of deferrals under the Plan will depend on participant elections. There are no fees charged to you for participation in the Plan.

Assignment

No assignment, hypothecation, or pledge of the right to receive the payment of amounts deferred or any other rights under the Plan may be made. The Plan does not provide for the creation of a lien on any account.

Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (“QDROs”)

Deferred compensation will be distributed or attached to the extent required by a QDRO.

Plan Administrator

The Plan is administered by a Plan Administrator who may establish, amend or rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan. The Plan Administrator of this Plan is also the Plan Administrator of the Metropolitan Life Retirement Plan for U.S. Employees. The Plan Administrator acts through an individual who is an employee of an affiliate of MetLife, Inc. and an officer of one or more affiliates of MetLife, Inc. The Employee Benefits Committee of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company appoints the Plan Administrator of the Retirement Plan, who serves until such time as the Committee appoints a new Plan Administrator.

To the extent consistent with law, including Legal Deferral Requirements, the Plan Administrator may amend, modify, suspend, or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason. The Plan Administrator may not amend, modify or terminate the Plan in a way that will reduce the amount that has been accrued in your deferred compensation account prior to the effective date of the amendment, modification or termination.

The determinations and interpretations of the Plan made by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding, and conclusive for all purposes under the Plan. The Plan Administrator may

prescribe forms for participants to take action authorized or allowed under the Plan and may appoint agents and consult legal counsel and other professionals to assist in administration of the Plan. The Plan Administrator may, in his or her discretion, adjust the value of a deferred compensation account on a basis other than as prescribed in deferral or reallocation elections, including but not limited to the use of investment tracking funds other than those selected by the participant. The Plan Administrator will administer any claims under the Plan by following Section 503 of ERISA, any applicable regulations, and any other procedures the Plan Administrator adopts.

The Plan Administrator may reject or reform a deferral election on any lawful basis, and may conform any provision of the Plan to Legal Deferral Requirements. Where consistent with such requirements, the Plan Administrator may pay deferred compensation regardless of the participant’s election for payment at another time.

Additional Information

Additional information about the Plan will be provided to you from time to time. To the extent that information is part of a prospectus for the Plan, it will include a notice to that effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this MetLife Non-Management Director Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005, is approved.