PRE 14A
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schedule14a.txt
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the Appropriate Box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant toss.240. 14a-12
Met Investors Series Trust
--------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
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(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11 (a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(4) Date Filed:
MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
22 Corporate Plaza Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
November 25, 2002
Dear Contract Owner:
As an Owner of a variable annuity contract (the "Contract") issued by
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company,
MetLife Investors Insurance Company, First MetLife Investors Insurance Company,
New England Financial Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investors Insurance
Company of California and General American Life Insurance Company (each an
"Insurance Company"), you have the right to instruct the Insurance Company how
to vote certain shares of the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio") of
Met Investors Series Trust (the "Trust") at a Special Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on December 30, 2002. Although you are not directly a shareholder of the
Portfolio, some or all of your Contract value is invested, as provided by your
Contract, in the Portfolio. Accordingly, you have the right under your Contract
to instruct the Insurance Company how to vote the Portfolio's shares that are
attributable to your Contract at the Special Meeting. Before the Special
Meeting, I would like your vote on the important proposal described in the
accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement. For
the Portfolio, you will be asked to vote on an Amendment to the Management
Agreement. The Amendment will increase the management fee payable with respect
to the Portfolio.
Currently, Met Investors Advisory LLC (the "Manager") manages the
Portfolio under a Management Agreement and receives a management fee from the
Portfolio based on the Portfolio's net assets. Out of the management fee, the
Manager compensates a separate investment adviser for the Portfolio. The Manager
has the ability, without shareholder approval, to terminate the Portfolio's
investment adviser and retain a new investment adviser. In the exercise of its
managerial oversight, the Manager has determined to replace the current
investment adviser of the Portfolio and retain T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. as
investment adviser to the Portfolio.
To obtain this quality investment adviser, the Manager is required to
pay a higher investment advisory fee than is currently being paid to the
Portfolio's current investment adviser. Therefore, the Manager has asked the
Trustees for an increase in the management fee to cover the additional costs.
The Board of Trustees has approved the proposal and recommends that you
vote FOR the proposal.
I realize that this Proxy Statement will take time to review, but your
vote is very important. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the
proposal. If you attend the meeting, you may give your voting instructions in
person. If you do not expect to attend the meeting, please complete, date, sign
and return the enclosed voting instructions form in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope. You may also transmit your voting instructions through the Internet.
Instructions on how to complete the voting instructions form or vote through the
Internet are included immediately after the Notice of Special Meeting.
If you have any questions about the voting instructions form please
call the Trust at 1-800-343-8496. If we do not receive your completed voting
instructions form or your Internet vote within several weeks, you may be
contacted by ALAMO Direct, our proxy solicitor, who will remind you to pass on
your voting instructions.
Thank you for taking this matter seriously and participating in this
important process.
Sincerely,
/s/ Elizabeth M. Forget
Elizabeth M. Forget
President
Met Investors Series Trust
MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
22 Corporate Plaza Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
December 30, 2002
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of voting instructions by the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust
(the "Trust") for the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio") of the
Trust, for use at a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Portfolio to be held
at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 30, 2002 at the offices of the Trust, 22
Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California, 92660, and any adjournments
thereof (the "Special Meeting"). A notice of the Special Meeting and a voting
instructions form accompany this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement and the
accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and voting instructions form are first
being mailed to shareholders on or about November 25, 2002. In addition to
solicitations of proxies by mail, beginning on or about December 9, 2002, proxy
solicitations may also be made by telephone, e-mail or personal interviews
conducted by officers of the Trust; regular employees of Met Investors Advisory
LLC, the Trust's manager (the "Manager"); the Trust's proxy solicitor; or other
representatives of the Trust. The Trust has retained ALAMO Direct as the Trust's
proxy solicitor for the Special Meeting of Shareholders. The estimated cost of
the proxy solicitation is approximately $4,000. The costs of solicitation and
expenses incurred in connection with preparing this Proxy Statement and its
enclosures will be paid by the Portfolio. The Trust's most recent annual and
semi-annual reports are available upon request without charge by writing the
Trust at the above address or calling the Trust toll-free at 1-800-343-8496.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a New York life insurance company
("MetLife"), and its affiliates, MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company,
MetLife Investors Insurance Company, First MetLife Investors Insurance Company,
New England Financial Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investors Insurance
Company of California and General American Life Insurance Company (individually
an "Insurance Company" and collectively the "Insurance Companies"), are the
record owners of the Portfolio's shares and at the Meeting will vote the shares
of the Portfolio held in their separate accounts.
As an owner of a variable life insurance or annuity contact (a
"Contract") issued by the Insurance Company, you have the right to instruct the
Insurance Company how to vote the shares of the Portfolio that are attributable
to your Contract at the Meeting. Although you are not directly a shareholder of
the Portfolio, you have this right because some or all of your Contract value is
invested, as provided by your Contract, in the Portfolio. For simplicity, in
this Proxy Statement:
o "Record Holder" of the Portfolio refers to each Insurance Company which
holds the Portfolio's shares of record;
o "shares" refers generally to your shares of beneficial interest in the
Portfolio; and
o "shareholder" or "Contract Owner" refers to you.
The Insurance Companies, through their separate accounts, own all of
the shares of the Portfolio, and are the shareholders of record of the Portfolio
at the close of business on the Record Date (defined below). Each Insurance
Company is entitled to be present and vote at the Meeting with respect to such
shares of the Portfolio. Each Insurance Company has undertaken to vote its
shares or abstain from voting its shares of the Portfolio for the Contract
Owners of the Portfolio in accordance with voting instructions received on a
timely basis from those Contract Owners. In connection with the solicitation of
such voting instructions, each Insurance Company will furnish a copy of this
Proxy Statement to Contract Owners.
The number of shares as to which voting instructions may be given under
a Contract is determined by the number of full and fractional shares of the
Portfolio held in a separate account with respect to that particular Contract.
In voting on the proposal, each full share of the Portfolio is entitled to one
vote and any fractional share is entitled to a fractional vote. All share
classes of the Portfolio (Class A, Class B and Class E) will vote as a single
class.
Voting instructions may be revoked by executing and delivering
later-dated signed voting instructions to the Insurance Company, or by attending
the Meeting in person and instructing the Insurance Company how to vote your
shares. Unless revoked, all valid voting instructions will be voted, or the
Insurance Company will abstain from voting, in accordance with the
specifications thereon or, in the absence of such specifications, FOR approval
of the proposal.
If you wish to participate in the Meeting, you may submit the voting
instructions form included with this Proxy Statement, vote by the Internet or
attend in person and provide your voting instructions to the Insurance Company.
(Guidelines on providing voting instructions and voting by the Internet are
immediately after the Notice of Special Meeting).
If the enclosed voting instructions form is properly executed and
returned in time to be voted at the Meeting, the shares represented by the
voting instructions form will be voted, or the Insurance Company will abstain
from voting, in accordance with the instructions marked on the returned voting
instructions form.
o Unless instructions to the contrary are marked on the voting instructions
form, it will be voted FOR the proposal and FOR any other matters deemed
appropriate.
o Voting instructions forms which are properly executed and returned but are
not marked with voting instructions will be voted FOR the proposal and FOR
any other matters deemed appropriate.
Interests in Contracts for which no timely voting instructions are
received will be voted, or the Insurance Company will abstain from voting, in
the same proportion as the Insurance Company votes shares for which it has
received voting instructions from other Contract Owners. The Insurance Company
will also vote, or abstain from voting, any shares in its general account which
are not attributable to Contracts in the same proportion as it votes shares held
in all of the Insurance Company's registered separate accounts, in the
aggregate.
Approval of the proposal set forth in this Proxy Statement requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Portfolio cast at a shareholders' meeting duly called and at which a quorum is
present (the presence in person or by proxy of holders entitled to cast at least
33 1/3% of the votes at any shareholders' meeting). Abstentions will be counted
for purposes of determining a quorum, but will not be included in the amount of
shares voted. As of the Record Date, the shareholders of record of the Portfolio
were the Insurance Companies. Since the Insurance Companies are the legal owners
of the shares, attendance by the Insurance Companies at the Meeting will
constitute a quorum under the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), a
majority of a Portfolio's outstanding voting securities is defined as the lesser
of (1) 67% of the outstanding shares represented at a meeting at which more than
50% of the Portfolio's outstanding shares are present in person or represented
by proxy or (2) more than 50% of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities
(a "Majority Vote").
If sufficient votes to approve the proposal set forth in this Proxy
Statement are not received, the persons named as proxies on a proxy form sent to
the Record Holders may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit
further solicitation of voting instructions. In determining whether to adjourn
the Meeting, the following factors may be considered: the percentage of votes
actually cast, the percentage of negative votes actually cast, the nature of any
further solicitation and the information to be provided to Contract Owners with
respect to the reasons for the solicitation. Any adjournment will require an
affirmative vote of a majority of those shares represented at the Meeting in
person or by proxy. The persons named as proxies will vote upon such adjournment
after consideration of all circumstances which may bear upon a decision to
adjourn the Meeting.
The Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on October 31,
2002 as the record date (the "Record Date") for the determination of
shareholders of the Portfolio entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special
Meeting. The number of shares of the Portfolio outstanding on the Record Date
was 13,693,181.
As of October 31, 2002, the officers and the Trustees of the Trust as a
group beneficially owned less that 1% of the shares of the Portfolio. To the
knowledge of the Trust, no person, as of October 31, 2002, was entitled to give
voting instructions to an Insurance Company with respect to 5% or more of the
Portfolio's shares.
In order that your shares may be represented at the Special Meeting,
you are requested to:
o Indicate your instructions on the enclosed voting instructions form;
o date and sign the voting instructions form;
o mail the voting instructions form in the enclosed envelope, which requires
no postage if mailed in the United States; and
o allow sufficient time for the voting instructions form to be received on or
before 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 30, 2002.
You may also vote by the Internet.
SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSAL
The Manager currently provides investment advisory services to the
Portfolio under a management agreement dated December 8, 2000, and amended
February 12, 2002 (as amended, the "Current Management Agreement"). The Manager,
22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California, 92660, has overall
responsibility for the general management and administration of the Portfolio.
The Manager selects the investment adviser for the Portfolio and monitors the
investment adviser's investment program. Out of the management fee it receives
under the Current Management Agreement, the Manager pays the fees of the
investment adviser.
At the Meeting, shareholders of the Portfolio will be asked to approve
an amendment to the Current Management Agreement (the "Amendment") between the
Trust and the Manager with respect to the Portfolio. Under the Amendment, the
Manager would have the same responsibilities as set forth in the Current
Management Agreement but would not receive an increased management fee from the
Portfolio.
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Trust held on November 13, 2002,
all of the Trustees present, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons" (the "Independent Trustees") of the Trust or the Manager,
voted to approve the Amendment and to recommend that shareholders of the
Portfolio approve the Amendment.
Background
The Trust is a series-type mutual fund that is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an open-end, diversified management
investment company. As of October 31, 2002, the Trust had twenty two portfolios,
one of which is the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio. As described below with
respect to the change of investment adviser for the Portfolio, MFS Mid Cap
Growth Portfolio will change its name to T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio.
The assets of the Portfolio are held separate from the assets of the other
portfolios, and the Portfolio has its own distinct investment objectives and
policies. The Portfolio operates as a separate investment fund, and the income,
losses, or expenses of the Portfolio generally have no effect on the investment
performance of any other portfolio. MetLife Investors Distribution Company, 22
Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660, an affiliate of the
Manager, is the Trust's principal underwriter. State Street Bank and Trust
Company, One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02206, is the Trust's
administrator.
Under the Current Management Agreement, the Manager has overall
supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the
Portfolio's assets and for the general administration and management of the
Trust. As authorized by the Current Management Agreement, the Manager selects
and contracts with an investment adviser (the "Adviser") for investment services
for the Portfolio and reviews the Adviser's activities. Currently, Massachusetts
Financial Services Company ("MFS") provides investment advisory services to
Portfolio. The Manager pays the Adviser for its services a portion of the
management fee the Manager receives with respect to the Portfolio. The Adviser
is not an affiliate of the Manager.
Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act requires that all agreements under which
persons serve as investment managers or investment advisers to investment
companies be approved by shareholders. The Securities and Exchange Commission
has granted exemptive relief to the Trust and the Manager which generally
permits the Manager, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to: (i)
select an Adviser for the Portfolio; (ii) enter into and materially modify
existing investment advisory agreements between the Manager and the Adviser; and
(iii) terminate and replace the Adviser without obtaining approval of the
Portfolio's shareholders.
The Proposed Amendment
In the exercise of its Portfolio oversight and management
responsibility, the Manager has determined to replace MFS as Adviser to the
Portfolio. The primary factors considered by the Manager in reaching this
determination were the relatively poor performance of the Portfolio and the
significant change in portfolio managers at MFS.
After reviewing potential replacement Advisers, the Manager proposed to
the Board of Trustees and, on November 13, 2002, all of the Trustees present
approved the termination of MFS as Adviser to the Portfolio. Further, on
November 13, 2002, all Trustees present approved the investment advisory
agreement between the Manager and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("T. Rowe
Price") with respect to the Portfolio (to be renamed the T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap
Growth Portfolio). Information about T. Rowe Price is set forth in Appendix B to
this Proxy Statement.
The new investment advisory agreement with T. Rowe Price provides for
payment of an investment advisory fee by the Manager to T. Rowe Price in an
amount greater than the investment advisory fee currently paid by the Manager to
MFS. Set forth below is the schedule of fees as a percentage of average daily
net assets paid by the Manager to MFS and the fees that will be payable to T.
Rowe Price.
Adviser/Fee
OLD - MFS - 0.40% of first $150 million of such assets, plus 0.375% of such
assets over $150 million up to $300 million, plus 0.35% of such assets over $300
million
NEW - T. Rowe Price - 0.50%
As a result of the increased investment advisory cost to the Manager
for the Portfolio, the Manager proposed and all of the Trustees present at the
Board meeting approved, subject to shareholder approval, an increase in the
management fee paid to the Manager with respect to the Portfolio. Although the
proposed new fee schedule will increase the management fee paid by the
Portfolio, the new fee schedule will not increase or decrease the amount of the
fee retained by the Manager. The full amount of the fee increase will be passed
on to the new Adviser. Management's primary goal in the new fee schedule was to
compensate the new Adviser at competitive levels, while maintaining the amount
of the management fee retained by the Manager.
Basis for the Board's Recommendation. In evaluating and approving the
Amendment, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, in consultation with
their separate counsel, requested and evaluated information provided by the
Manager which, in its opinion, constituted all the information necessary for the
Board to form a judgment as to whether the new management fee set forth in the
Amendment would be in the best interest of the Portfolio and its shareholders.
In recommending that shareholders approved the Amendment, the Board
considered all factors that it deemed relevant, including:
(i) the investment management fee and other expenses that would be paid
by the Portfolio under the Amendment as compared to those of similar funds
managed by other investment advisers. The Trustees noted in particular that, for
the Portfolio, the new investment management fee would be within the range of
contractual fee rates at similar asset levels for funds within the current
variable insurance marketplace having similar investment focus and asset types,
as indicated in material prepared for the Board by the Manager based on
information contained in publicly available documents and information supplied
by Lipper Analytical Services;
(ii) the impact of the proposed changes in the investment management
fee rate on the Portfolio's total expense ratio including the fact that under
the Manager's Expense Limitation Agreement with the Trust, the 80% limit through
April 30, 2003 on management fees and other expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees)
would not change. Since the Manager is currently waiving a portion of its
management fees, shareholders will not pay any increased expenses until
subsequent to April 30, 2003;
(iii) the historical investment performance of the Portfolio, as well
as the new Adviser's historical performance with comparable mutual funds, its
portfolio managers and other investment personnel;
(iv) the Board's confidence in the Manager's recommendation based on
the Board's favorable experience with the nature and quality of investment
management services provided by the Manager to the Portfolio;
(v) current and projected profitability and related other benefits to
the Manager in providing investment management services to the Portfolio, both
under the current investment management fee schedule and the proposed new
investment management fee schedule; and
(vi) possible growth in the Portfolio's assets due to potential of
improved performance by the new Adviser resulting in possible economies of scale
in managing the Portfolio.
In considering the Amendment, the Board concluded that the proposed new
management fee schedule will: (i) over the long-term, enable the Manager to
continue to provide high-quality investment management services to the Portfolio
at a reasonable and competitive fee rate; and (ii) enable the Manager to provide
investment management services to the Portfolio at levels consistent with the
increased demands of the current variable products marketplace.
If the Amendment is not approved by the shareholders of the Portfolio,
Met Investors Advisory LLC would continue as Manager of the Portfolio under the
terms of the Current Management Agreement without such Amendment.
Summary of the Current Management Agreement and the Amendment
A copy of the Current Management Agreement and the proposed Amendment
are attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A. The following description of
the Current Management Agreement and the Amendment is only a summary. You should
refer to Exhibit A for the complete Current Management Agreement and the
Amendment.
The Current Management Agreement provides that the Manager has overall
supervisory responsibility for the general management and investment of the
Portfolio's assets and has full investment discretion with respect to the assets
of the Portfolio not then being managed by an Adviser. The Manager is expressly
authorized to delegate day-to-day investment management of the Portfolio's
assets to another investment adviser.
The Current Management Agreement also provides that the Manager is also
responsible for providing the Trust with office space, office equipment, and
personnel necessary to operate and administer the Trust's business. The Manager
also supervises the provision of services by third parties such as the Trust's
administrator, custodian and transfer agent.
The Current Management Agreement provides that the Manager will be paid
a fee with respect to the Portfolio based on the Portfolio's average daily net
assets. Under the Amendment, the amount of the management fee will increase. The
management fee in effect for the Portfolio and the aggregate amount of
compensation paid to the Manager by the Portfolio during the Trust's fiscal year
ended December 31, 2001 is set forth in Table 1. The proposed management fee for
the Portfolio and the aggregate amount of compensation that would have been paid
to the Manager for the Portfolio during the Trust's fiscal year ended December
31, 2001 is set forth in Table 2.
TABLE 1
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Management Fee Aggregate Management Fee Paid During Fiscal Year Ended
(as a % of net assets) December 31, 2001*
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
0.65% up to $150 million; 0.625% in excess of $150 $76,853
million up to $300 million; 0.60% in excess of $300
million
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
* Pursuant to the Expense Limitation Agreement, until April 30, 2003, the
Portfolio's total operating expenses, exclusive of commissions and Rule 12b-1
fees, are limited to 0.80% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets. The
Manager waived $76,853 in management fees and reimbursed other expenses in the
amount of $106,382. It is anticipated that the Expense limitation Agreement will
be renewed subsequent to April 30, 2003; however, the 0.80% expense limitation
will likely be raised.
TABLE 2
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Management Fee Pro Forma Management Fee Paid During Fiscal Year Ended
(as a % of net assets) December 31, 2001**
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
0.75% $89,428
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
** Pursuant to the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Manager, would have waived
$89,428 in management fees and reimbursed other expenses of $106,382.
Table A in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement shows: the annualized
level of all fees and expenses incurred by the Portfolio's Class B shares (the
Portfolio's oldest Class) during the year ended December 31, 2001 under the
current investment management fee schedule; the annualized level of all fees and
expenses that would have been incurred by the Portfolio during the year ended
December 31, 2001 under the proposed new investment management fee schedule; and
the dollar and percentage differences between the two.
Table B in Appendix A also contains a fee table for each Class of the
Portfolio's shares showing the actual level of all recurring expenses under the
Current Management Agreement and the estimated overall expense levels under the
Amendment if the Amendment had been in effect for the year ended December 31,
2001.
The Current Management Agreement provides that the Trust is responsible
for all expenses other than those expressly assumed by the Manager. The Trust is
responsible for, among other things, (1) the Manager's fees; (2) legal and audit
expenses; (3) fees for registration of Trust shares; (4) fees of the Trust's
administrator, transfer agent, registrar, custodian, dividend disbursing agent,
and shareholder servicing agent; (5) taxes; (6) brokerage and other transaction
expenses; (7) interest expenses; (8) expenses of shareholders' and Trustees'
meetings; (9) printing of share certificates and preparing, printing and mailing
notices, proxy material, reports to regulatory bodies, and reports to
shareholders; (10) expenses of preparing and typesetting of prospectuses and
expenses of printing and mailing of prospectuses to existing Trust shareholders;
(11) insurance premiums; (12) charges of an independent pricing service; (13)
expenses related to the purchase and redemption of Trust shares; (14)
association membership dues; (15) fees and expenses of Trustees and executive
officers of the Trust who are not "affiliated persons" of the Manager or the
Adviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act; and (16) nonrecurring expenses, such
as the cost of litigation.
The Current Management Agreement provides that the Manager is not
liable for its acts or omissions under the Agreement, but that the Manager is
not protected against liability arising out of its own willful misfeasance, bad
faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties.
The Current Management Agreement provides (1) that it will continue in
effect with respect to the Portfolio for a period of two years from its date and
indefinitely thereafter if approved at least annually by a majority vote of the
shares of the Portfolio or a majority of the Trustees and by a majority of the
Independent Trustees; (2) that it may be terminated as to the Portfolio, without
penalty, by the Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares
of the Portfolio upon 60 days' prior written notice; (3) that it may be
terminated by the Manager on 90 days' prior written notice to the Trust; and (4)
that it will terminate automatically in the event of its "assignment" as such
term is defined in the 1940 Act.
Portfolio Transactions
Subject to the supervision and control of the Manager and the Trustees
of the Trust, the Portfolio's Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and
sell securities for its account and for the placement of its portfolio business
and the negotiation of commissions, if any, paid on such transactions. Brokerage
commissions are paid on transactions in equity securities traded on a securities
exchange and on options, futures contracts and options thereon. Fixed income
securities and certain equity securities in which the Portfolio invests are
traded in the over-the-counter market. These securities are generally traded on
a net basis with dealers acting as principal for their own account without a
stated commission, although prices of such securities usually include a profit
to the dealer. In over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with
a principal market maker unless a better price and execution can be obtained by
using a broker. In underwritten offerings, securities are usually purchased at a
fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter
generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. Certain money
market securities may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no
commissions or discounts are paid. U.S. government securities are generally
purchased from underwriters or dealers, although certain newly-issued U.S.
government securities may be purchased directly from the U.S. Treasury or from
the issuing agency or instrumentality. The Portfolio's Adviser is responsible
for effecting its portfolio transactions and will do so in a manner deemed fair
and reasonable to the Portfolio and not according to any formula. The primary
consideration in all portfolio transactions will be prompt execution of orders
in an efficient manner at a favorable price. In selecting broker-dealers and
negotiating commissions, the Adviser considers the firm's reliability, the
quality of its execution services on a continuing basis, confidentiality,
including trade anonymity and its financial condition. When more than one firm
is believed to meet these criteria, preference may be given to brokers that
provide the Portfolio or its Adviser with brokerage and research services within
the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In doing
so, the Portfolio may pay higher commission rates that the lowest available when
its Adviser believes of it is reasonable to do so in light of the nature of the
brokerage and research services provided by the broker effecting the
transaction. The Portfolio's Adviser is of the opinion that, because this
material must be analyzed and reviewed, its receipt and use does not tend to
reduce expenses but may benefit the Portfolio or other accounts managed by the
Adviser by supplementing the Adviser's research.
It has for many years been a common practice in the investment advisory
business for advisers of investment companies and other institutional investors
to receive research services from broker-dealers which execute portfolio
transactions for the clients of such advisers. Consistent with this practice,
the Portfolio's Adviser receives research services from many broker-dealers with
which the Adviser places the Portfolio's transactions. The Adviser may also
receive research or research credits from brokers which are generated from
underwriting commissions when purchasing new issues of fixed income securities
or other assets for the Portfolio. These services, which in some cases may also
be purchased for cash, include such matters as general economic and security
market reviews, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and
recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities.
As noted above the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for
the Portfolio in underwritten fixed price offerings. In these situations, the
underwriter or selling group member may provide the Adviser with research in
addition to selling the securities (at the fixed public offering price) to the
Portfolio or other advisory clients. Because the offerings are conducted at a
fixed price, the ability to obtain research from a broker-dealer in this
situation provides knowledge that may benefit the Portfolio, other investment
advisory clients, and the Adviser without incurring additional costs. These
arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e) because the
broker-dealer is considered to be acting in a principal capacity in underwritten
transactions. However NASD Regulation, Inc. has adopted rules expressly
permitting broker-dealers to provide bona-fide research to advisers in
connection with fixed price offerings under certain circumstances. As a general
matter in these situations, the underwriter or selling group member will provide
research credits at a rate that is higher than that which is available for
secondary market transactions.
The Adviser, subject to seeking the most favorable price and best
execution and in compliance with the Conduct Rules of NASD Regulation, Inc., may
consider sales of shares of the Trust as a factor in the selection of
broker-dealers. The Board of Trustees has approved a Statement of Directed
Brokerage Policies and Procedures for the Trust pursuant to which the Trust may
direct the Manager to cause the Adviser to effect securities transactions
through broker-dealers in a manner that would help to generate resources to (i)
pay the cost of certain expenses which the Trust is required to pay or for which
the Trust is required to arrange payment pursuant to the management agreement
("Directed Brokerage"); or (ii) reward brokers for past sales of Trust shares
("Reward Brokerage"). The Trustees will review the levels of Directed Brokerage
and Reward Brokerage for the Portfolio on a quarterly basis.
The Adviser may effect portfolio transactions for other investment
companies and advisory accounts. Research services furnished by broker-dealers
through which the Portfolio effects its securities transactions may be used by
the Portfolio's Adviser in servicing all of its accounts; not all such services
may be used in connection with the Portfolio. In the opinion of the Adviser, it
is not possible to measure separately the benefits from research services to
each of its accounts, including the Portfolio. Whenever concurrent decisions are
made to purchase or sell securities by the Portfolio and another account, the
Portfolio's Adviser will attempt to allocate equitably portfolio transactions
among the Portfolio and other accounts. In making such allocations between the
Portfolio and other accounts, the main factors to be considered are the
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the
same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size
of investment commitments generally held, and the opinions of the persons
responsible for recommending investments to the Portfolio and the other
accounts. In some cases this procedure could have an adverse effect of the
Portfolio. In the opinion of the Adviser, however, the results of such
procedures will, on the whole, be in the best interest of each of the accounts.
The Adviser to the Portfolio may execute portfolio transactions through
certain of its affiliated brokers, if any, acting as agent in accordance with
the procedures established by the Board of Trustees, but will not purchase any
securities from or sell any securities to any such affiliate acting as principal
for its own account.
For the period February 12, 2001 (commencement of operations) through
December 31, 2001, the Portfolio paid $30,275 in brokerage commissions. No
commissions were paid to any affiliated broker of the Manager or the Adviser.
Distribution Plans
The Portfolio has adopted for each of its Class B and Class E shares a
plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan") and pursuant to each
Plan, entered into a Distribution Agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution
Company. Each Plan permits the use of Trust assets to help finance the
distribution of the shares of the Portfolio. Under the Plans for Class B and
Class E shares, the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, is permitted to pay
various service providers up to 0.50% for Class B shares and up to 0.25% for
Class E shares of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio allocated, as
applicable, to Class B and Class E shares as payment for services rendered in
connection with the distribution of the shares of the Portfolio. Currently,
payments with respect to Class B and Class E shares are limited to 0.25% and
0.15%, respectively, of average net assets, which amounts may be increased to
the full Plan amount by the Trustees of the Trust without shareholder approval.
For the year ended December 31, 2001, MetLife Investors Distribution
Company received an aggregate of $20,764 pursuant to the Plans.
Other Information
The Current Management Agreement with respect to the Portfolio was
approved by the Trustees of the Trust (including all of the Independent
Trustees) on January 24, 2001, and by the initial shareholder of the Portfolio
on January 25, 2001.
Met Life Investors Group, Inc., 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport
Beach, California 92660, an affiliate of MetLife, owns all of the Manager's
outstanding common stock. MetLife is a publicly held New York life insurance
company. The managers and principal executive officers of the Manager, along
with the principal occupation of each, are set forth in Exhibit B.
OTHER MATTERS
Submission of Shareholder Proposals
The Trust is not generally required to hold annual or special meetings
of shareholders. Shareholders wishing to submit proposals for inclusion in a
proxy statement for a subsequent shareholders' meeting should send their written
proposals to the Assistant Secretary of the Trust, c/o State Street Bank and
Trust Company, One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02206.
Shareholders' Request for Special Meeting
Shareholders holding at least 10% of the Trust's outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) may require the calling of a meeting of
the Trust's shareholders for the purpose of voting on the removal of any Board
member. Meetings of the Trust's shareholders for any other purpose will also be
called by the Board when request in writing by shareholders holding at least 10%
of the shares then outstanding or, if the Board members shall fail to call or
give notice of any meeting of shareholders for a period of 30 days after such
application, shareholders holding at least 10% of the shares then outstanding
may call and give notice of such meeting.
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting
The Board does not intend to present any other business at the Special
Meeting other than as described in this Proxy Statement, nor is the Board aware
that any shareholder intends to do so. If, however, any other matters are
properly brought before the Special Meeting, the persons named in the
accompanying proxy card will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT VOTING INSTRUCTION FORMS BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS
WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN,
DATE, AND RETURN THE FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID
ENVELOPE.
November 25, 2002
APPENDIX A
TABLE A
The table below shows (i) the annualized level of all fees and expenses
incurred by the Portfolio's Class B shares under the current investment
management fee schedule during the year ended December 31, 2001, (ii) the
annualized level of all fees and expenses that would have been incurred by the
Portfolio under the amended management fee schedule during the year ended
December 31, 2001, and (iii) the dollar difference and percentage differences
between the two.
------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
Current Aggregate Fees and Pro Forma Aggregate Fees Difference Between Current % Difference Between
Expenses and Expenses and Pro Forma Aggregate Current and Pro Forma
Fees and Expenses Aggregate Fees and Expenses
------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
1.05%(1)(2) 1.05%(3)(4) $0(5) 0%(6)
------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
(1) Includes 0.25% of Rule 12b-1 fees.
(2) Absent the Expense Limitation Agreement, current aggregate fees and expenses
(including Rule 12b-1 fees) would have been 2.60%.
(3) Includes 0.25% of Rule 12b-1 fees.
(4) Absent the Expense Limitation Agreement, pro forma aggregate fees and
expenses (including Rule 12b-1 fees) would have been 2.70%.
(5) Absent the Expense Limitation Agreement, such difference would equal
$12,575.
(6) Absent the Expense Limitation Agreement, such difference would equal 0.10%.
TABLE B
PORTFOLIO FEE TABLE COMPARISON
The table provided below compares the actual overall recurring expenses
for the Portfolio's Class A, Class B and Class E shares under the Current
Management Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the estimated
overall recurring Portfolio expenses under the proposed Amendment if the
Amendment has been in effect for the year ended December 31, 2001. The table and
example reflect the 0.80% limitation on Portfolio expenses (other than certain
expenses including 12b-1 fees) through April 30, 2003, but do not reflect
separate account expenses, including sales loads. The table reflects the annual
Portfolio operating expenses calculated as a percentage of average daily net
assets.
The Example is to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest
$10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then you redeem all
of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that (i)
your investment has a 5% return each year, (ii) the Portfolio's operating
expenses remain the same and are limited to 0.80% for one year with no
limitation thereafter, and (iii) all dividends and distributions are reinvested.
The example is presented on a current and pro forma basis. Your actual costs may
be higher or lower.
------------------------ --------------------------- --------------------------- ---------------------------
Class A Class B Class E
------------------------ --------------------------- --------------------------- ---------------------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Current Pro Forma Current Pro Forma Current Pro Forma
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Management Fee 0.65% 0.75% 0.65% 0.75% 0.65% 0.75%
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
12b-1 Fees --- --- 0.25% 0.25% 0.15% 0.15%
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Other Expenses 1.70% 1.70% 1.70% 1.70% 1.70% 1.70%
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Total Portfolio 2.35% 2.45% 2.60% 2.70% 2.49% 2.59%
Operating Expenses
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Fee Waivers and (1.55%) (1.65%) (1.55%) (1.65%) (1.54%) (1.64%)
Expense Reimbursements
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net Portfolio 0.80% 0.80% 1.05% 1.05% 0.95% 0.95%
Operating Expenses
------------------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Example:
------------------ --------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Class A Class B Class E
------------------ --------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Current Pro Forma Current Pro Forma Current Pro Forma
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
After 1 Year $82 $82 $108 $108 $97 $97
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
After 3 Years $590 $612 $668 $689 $635 $656
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
After 5 Years $1,125 $1,168 $1,255 $1,297 $1,199 $1,242
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
After 10 Years $2,589 $2,685 $2,846 $2,940 $2,735 $2,829
------------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
APPENDIX B
INFORMATION CONCERNING T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
("T. ROWE PRICE")
Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. and its affiliates managed
$156.3 billion for more than eight million individuals and institutional
investor accounts as of December 31, 2001.
The investment management decisions for the Portfolio are made by an
Investment Advisory Committee with the following members: Brian W.H. Berghuis,
Chairman, Anna M. Dopkin, Henry M. Ellenbogen, Eric M. Gerster, Kris H. Jenner,
Joseph Milano, Philip W. Ruedi, John F. Wakeman, and Candler Young. The
committee chairman has day-to-day responsibility for managing the Portfolio and
works with the committee in developing and executing the Portfolio's investment
program. Mr. Berghuis has been chairman of the T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth
Fund's committee since 1992. He joined T. Rowe Price in 1985 and has been
managing investments since 1988.
EXHIBIT A - 1
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
December 8, 2000
Met Investors Advisory Corp.
610 Newport Center Drive
Suite 1350
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Met Investors Series Trust (the "Trust"), a Delaware business trust
created pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust, herewith confirms its
agreement with Met Investors Advisory Corp., a Delaware corporation (the
"Manager"), as follows:
Investment Description; Appointment
The Trust desires to employ its capital by investing and reinvesting in
investments of the kind and in accordance with the limitations specified in its
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time, and in its
registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
on Form N-1A, as amended from time to time (the "Registration Statement"), and
in such manner and to such extent as may from time to time be approved by the
Board of Trustees. The Trust has designated the separate investment portfolios
set forth in Schedule A. The Trust may in the future designate additional
separate investment portfolios. Such existing and future portfolios are
hereinafter referred to as the "Portfolios." Copies of the Registration
Statement and the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, have
been or will be submitted to the Manager. The Manager is registered as an
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is
engaged in the business of rendering investment advisory services to registered
investment companies. The Trust desires to employ the Manager to act as its
investment manager. The Manager accepts this appointment and agrees to furnish
the services described herein for the compensation set forth below. The Manager
will be an independent contractor and will have no authority to act for or
represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent unless expressly
authorized by this Agreement or another writing signed by the Trust and the
Manager.
Services as Manager
Subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Trust acknowledges and agrees that the Manager may,
at its own expense, select a person or persons to act as investment adviser
(an "Adviser") to render investment advice to each of the Portfolios. Each
such Adviser shall make all determinations with respect to the Portfolio's
assets for which it has responsibility in accordance with the Portfolio's
investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Trust's
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, and the Registration Statement as
from time to time in effect; provided, that any contract with an Adviser (an
"Advisory Agreement") shall be in compliance with and approved as required by
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") or as
otherwise permitted by the SEC.
Subject to the supervision and direction of the Trustees of the Trust, the
Manager will have (i) overall supervisory responsibility for the general
management and investment of each Portfolio's assets; (ii) full discretion to
select new or additional Advisers for each Portfolio; (iii) full discretion to
enter into and materially modify existing Advisory Agreements with Advisers;
(iv) full discretion to terminate and replace any Adviser; and (v) full
investment discretion to make all determinations with respect to the investment
of a Portfolio's assets not then managed by an Adviser. In connection with the
Manager's responsibilities herein, the Manager will assess each Portfolio's
investment focus and will seek to implement decisions with respect to the
allocation and reallocation of each Portfolio's assets among one or more current
or additional Advisers from time to time, as the Manager deems appropriate, to
enable each Portfolio to achieve its investment goals. In addition, the Manager
will monitor compliance of each Adviser with the investment objectives,
policies, and restrictions of any Portfolio or Portfolios (or portions of any
Portfolio) under the management of such Adviser, and review and report to the
Trustees of the Trust on the performance of each Adviser. The Manager will
furnish, or cause the appropriate Adviser(s) to furnish, to the Trust such
statistical information, with respect to the investments that a Portfolio (or
portions of any Portfolio) may hold or contemplate purchasing, as the Trust may
reasonably request. On the Manager's own initiative, the Manager will apprise,
or cause the appropriate Adviser(s) to apprise, the Trust of important
developments materially affecting each Portfolio (or any portions of a Portfolio
that they advise) and will furnish the Trust, from time to time, with such
information as may be appropriate for this purpose. Further, the Manager agrees
to furnish, or cause the appropriate Adviser(s) to furnish, to the Trustees of
the Trust such periodic and special reports as the Trustees of the Trust may
reasonably request. In addition, the Manager agrees to cause the appropriate
Adviser(s) to furnish to third-party data reporting services all currently
available standardized performance information and other customary data.
Subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,
the Manager, at its own expense, will also supply the Trust with (i) office
facilities (which may be in the Manager's own offices), and (ii) necessary
executive and other personnel, including personnel for the performance of
clerical and other office functions, exclusive of those functions: (a) related
to and to be performed under the Trust's contract or contracts for
administration, custodial, accounting, bookkeeping, transfer, and dividend
disbursing agency or similar services by any entity, including the Manager or
its affiliates, selected to perform such services under such contracts; and (b)
related to the services to be provided by any Adviser pursuant to an Advisory
Agreement; and (iii) other information and services required in connection with
the preparation of all registration statements and prospectuses, prospectus
supplements, statements of additional information, all annual, semiannual, and
periodic reports to shareholders of the Trust, regulatory authorities, or
others, and all notices and proxy solicitation materials, furnished to
shareholders of the Trust or regulatory authorities, and all tax returns, except
for (a) services of outside counsel or independent accountants or (b) services
to be provided by any Adviser under any Advisory Agreement.
Subject to the requirement to seek best price and execution, and to the
appropriate policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
reserves the right to direct the Manager to cause Advisers to effect
transactions in portfolio securities through broker-dealers in a manner that
will help generate resources to: (i) pay the cost of certain expenses which the
Trust is required to pay or for which the Trust is required to arrange payment
pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) finance activities that are primarily
intended to result in the sale of Trust shares. At the discretion of the Board
of Trustees, such resources may be used to pay or cause the payment of Trust
expenses or may be used to finance activities that are primarily intended to
result in the sale of Trust shares.
The services of the Manager to the Trust hereunder are not to be deemed
exclusive, and the Manager shall be free to render similar services to others
and to engage in other activities, so long as the services rendered to the Trust
are not impaired.
Compensation
In consideration of services rendered pursuant to this Agreement, the
Trust will pay the Manager a fee at the respective annual rates of the value of
each Portfolio's average daily net assets set forth in Schedule A hereto as such
schedule may be amended from time to time. Such fees shall be accrued daily and
paid monthly as soon as practicable after the end of each month. If the Manager
shall serve for less than the whole of any month, the foregoing compensation
shall be prorated. For the purpose of determining fees payable to the Manager,
the value of the Portfolios' net assets shall be computed at the times and in
the manner specified from time to time in the Registration Statement.
Expenses
The Trust shall pay all expenses other than those expressly assumed by
the Manager herein, which expenses payable by the Trust shall include, but are
not limited to:
Fees to the Manager;
Charges for the services and expenses of the independent
accountants and legal counsel retained by the Trust,
for itself and its independent trustees;
Fees and expenses related to the registration and
qualification of the Trust and its shares for
distribution under federal and state securities laws;
Expenses of the Trust's administrator, transfer agent,
registrar, custodian, dividend disbursing agent, and
shareholder servicing agent;
Salaries,fees and expenses of Trustees and executive officers
of the Trust who are not "affiliated persons" of the
Manager or the Advisers within the meaning of the
1940 Act;
Taxes (including the expenses related to preparation of tax
returns) and corporate or other fees levied against
the Trust;
Brokerage commissions and other expenses associated with the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the
Trust;
Expenses, including interest, of borrowing money;
Expenses incidental to meetings of the Trust's shareholders,
Board of Trustees and the maintenance of the Trust's
organizational existence;
Expenses of printing certificates representing shares of the
Trust and expenses of preparing, printing and mailing
notices, proxy material, reports to regulatory
bodies, and reports to shareholders of the Trust;
Expenses of preparing and typesetting of prospectuses of the Trust;
Expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses to direct
or beneficial shareholders of the Trust;
Association membership dues;
Premiums for fidelity insurance, directors and officers
liability insurance and other insurance coverage;
Charges of an independent pricing service to value the
Portfolios' assets;
Expenses related to the purchase or redemption of the
Trust's shares; and
Such nonrecurring expenses as may arise, including those
associated with actions, suits, or proceedings to which
the Trust is a party and arising from any legal
obligation which the Trust may have to indemnify its
officers and Trustees with respect thereto.
Use of Name
The Manager hereby consents to the Trust being named the Met Investors
Series Trust. The Trust shall not use the name "Met Investors Series Trust",
"Met", "MetLife", and any of the other names of the Manager or its affiliated
companies and any derivative or logo or trade or service mark thereof, or
disclose information related to the business of the Manager or any of its
affiliates in any prospectus, sales literature or other material relating to the
Trust in any manner not approved prior thereto by the Manager; provided,
however, that the Manager shall approve all uses of its name and that of its
affiliates which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or
which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and provided,
further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld. The
Manager shall not use the name of the Trust or any of its affiliates in any
material relating to the Manager in any manner not approved prior thereto by the
Trust; provided, however, that the Trust shall approve all uses of its name
which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Manager hereunder
or which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and,
provided, further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably
withheld.
The Trust recognizes that from time to time directors, officers and
employees of the Manager may serve as directors, trustees, partners, officers
and employees of other corporations, business trusts, partnerships or other
entities (including other investment companies) and that such other entities may
include the name "Met", "MetLife", or any derivative or abbreviation thereof as
part of their name, and that the Manager or its affiliates may enter into
investment advisory, administration or other agreements with such other
entities.
Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Trust shall
cease within 30 days all use of the name and mark "Met Investors Series Trust."
Records
The records relating to the services provided under this Agreement
shall be the property of the Trust and shall be under its control; however, the
Trust shall furnish to the Manager such records and permit it to retain such
records (either in original or in duplicate form) as it shall reasonably require
in order to carry out its duties. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement, such records shall promptly be returned to the Trust by the Manager
free from any claim or retention of rights therein. The Manager shall keep
confidential any information obtained in connection with its duties hereunder
and disclose such information only if the Trust has authorized such disclosure
or if such disclosure is expressly required or lawfully requested by applicable
federal or state regulatory authorities.
Standard of Care
The Manager shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the services
hereunder. The Manager shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake
of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to
which this Agreement relates, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
protect or purport to protect the Manager against liability to the Trust or to
the shareholders of the Trust to which the Manager would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the
performance of its duties or by reason of the Manager's reckless disregard of
its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Term
This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated as
hereinafter provided, for a period of two years from the date hereof and
indefinitely thereafter provided that its continuance after such two year period
as to each Portfolio shall be specifically approved at least annually by vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio or by vote of
a majority of the Trust's Board of Trustees; and further provided that such
continuance is also approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees
who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of the Trust or the
Manager. This Agreement may be terminated as to any Portfolio at any time,
without payment of any penalty, by the Trust's Board of Trustees or by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio upon 60 days'
prior written notice to the Manager, or by the Manager upon 90 days' prior
written notice to the Trust, or upon such shorter notice as may be mutually
agreed upon. This Agreement may be amended at any time by the Manager and the
Trust, subject to approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees and, if required by
applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of a majority of the Trust's
outstanding voting securities. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and
immediately in the event of its assignment. The terms "assignment" and "vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have the meaning set
forth for such terms in the 1940 Act.
Limitation of Trust's Liability
The Manager acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the
limitations upon the Trust's liability set forth in its Agreement and
Declaration of Trust. The Manager agrees that the Trust's obligations hereunder
in any case shall be limited to the Trust and to its assets and that the Manager
shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the
Trust nor from any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust.
Force Majeure
The Manager shall not be liable for delays or errors occurring by
reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of
civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood,
catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of communication
or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, the
Manager shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions but shall
have no liability with respect thereto.
Severability
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
12. Miscellaneous
This Agreement constitutes the full and complete agreement of the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Each party agrees to
perform such further actions and execute such further documents as are necessary
to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware
and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. The captions in this Agreement
are included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, all of which together shall
for all purposes constitute one Agreement, binding on all the parties.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, kindly
indicated your acceptance hereof by signing and returning to us the enclosed
copy hereof.
Very truly yours,
MET Investors Series Trust
By: /s/ Elizabeth M. Forget
Elizabeth M. Forget
President
Accepted:
Met Investors Advisory CORP.
By: /s/ Elizabeth M. Forget
Elizabeth M. Forget
President
SCHEDULE A
Portfolio Percentage of average daily net assets
--------- --------------------------------------
J.P. Morgan Quality Bond Portfolio 0.55% of first $75 million of such assets plus 0.50% of such
assets over $75 million
J.P. Morgan Small Cap Stock Portfolio 0.85%
J.P. Morgan Enhanced Index Portfolio 0.60% of first $50 million of such assets plus 0.55% of such
assets over $50 million
J.P. Morgan Select Equity Portfolio 0.65% of first $50 million of such assets plus 0.60% of such
assets over $50 million
J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio 0.80% of first $50 million of such assets plus 0.75% of such
assets over $50 million up to $350 million plus 0.70% of such
assets over $350 million
Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio 0.60%
Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value Portfolio 0.70% of first
$200 million
of such assets
plus 0.65% of
such assets
over $200
million up to
$500 million
plus 0.625% of
such assets
over $500
million
Lord Abbett Developing Growth Portfolio 0.75%
Lord Abbett Growth and Income Portfolio 0.60% of first $800 million of such assets plus 0.55% of such
assets over $800 million up to $2 billion plus 0.50% of such
assets over $2 billion
Firstar Balanced Portfolio 1.00%
Firstar Equity Income Portfolio 1.00%
Firstar Growth & Income Equity Portfolio 1.00%
BlackRock Equity Portfolio 0.65%
BlackRock U.S. Government Income Portfolio 0.55%
EXHIBIT A - 2
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 4 to the Management Agreement dated December 8, 2000 as
amended on February 12, 2001, October 1, 2001 and May 1, 2002 (the "Agreement"),
by and between Met Investors Series Trust and Met Investors Advisory Corp. (now
known as Met Investors Advisory LLC) (the "Manager"), is entered into effective
the 1st day of January, 2003.
WHEREAS the Agreement provides for the Manager to provide certain services
to the Trust for which the Manager is to receive agreed upon fees; and
WHEREAS the Manager and the Trust desire to make certain changes to the
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Manager and the Trust hereby agree that the Agreement
is amended as follows:
1. Schedule A of the Agreement hereby is amended to changed the Manager's
fee with respect to the Portfolio listed below to the following:
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Percentage of average daily net assets
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Lord Abbett Growth and Income Portfolio 0.60% of first $800
million of such
assets plus 0.55%
of such assets over
$800 million up to
$1.5 billion plus
0.45% of such
assets over $1.5
billion
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Met/Putnam Research Portfolio 0.80% of first $250 million of such assets plus 0.70%
of such assets over $250 million
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
PIMCO Innovation Portfolio 0.95%
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio 0.75%
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
2. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full
force in effect. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be executed on the 1st day of January, 2003.
MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name: Elizabeth M. Forget
Title: President
MET INVESTORS ADVISORY LLC
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name: Elizabeth M. Forget
Title: President
EXHIBIT B
MANAGERS AND OFFICERS OF MET INVESTORS ADVISORY LLC
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Name and Address Office Principal Occupation
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Michael K. Farrell Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Officer, MetLife
Harborside Financial Center Manager Investors Group and MetLife Resources
600 Plaza II
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
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Elizabeth M. Forget President, President, Investment Advisory
One Madison Avenue Manager Series, Met Investors Advisory LLC
Area 23A and Executive Vice President, MetLife
New York, New York 10010 Investors Distribution Company
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Richard C. Pearson General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, MetLife
22 Corporate Plaza Drive Secretary, Investors Group and Affiliates
Newport Beach, California 92660 Manager
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James Bossert Chief Financial Officer Vice President and Chief Financial
22 Corporate Plaza Drive Officer, MetLife Investors Group and
Newport Beach, California 92660 Affiliates
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Alan Leland Treasurer Vice President, Annuity Product
501 Boylston Street Development, New England Financial
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Life Insurance Company
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Anthony Dufault Vice President Vice President, Investment Advisory
22 Corporate Plaza Drive Services, Met Investors Advisory LLC
Newport Beach, California 92660
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PROXY
MFS MID CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
OF
MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
December 30, 2002
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned shareholder(s) of
the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust (the "Trust")
hereby appoints Elizabeth M. Forget, Richard C. Pearson and Jeffrey Tupper, or
any one of them true and lawful attorneys with power of substitution of each, to
vote all shares which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the Special
Meeting of Shareholders of the Portfolio to be held on December 30, 2002, at the
offices of the Trust, 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660,
at 9:00 a.m. local time, and at any adjournment thereof ("Meeting"), as follows:
1. To approve an Amendment to the Management Agreement between the Trust and Met
Investors Advisory LLC.
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
Discretionary authority is hereby conferred as to all other matters as
may properly come before the Meeting.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE VOTED AS INDICATED OR FOR THE PROPOSAL IF
NO CHOICE IS INDICATED.
Dated: , 2002
------------------------------
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
Name of Insurance Company
Name and Title of Authorized Officer
Signature of Authorized Officer
MFS MID CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Name(s) of Separate Account(s)
Of the Insurance Company
Owning Shares in this Portfolio:
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
Separate Account One
2 EASY WAYS TO VOTE MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
MFS MID CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
1. Return this voting instruction form using the enclosed 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660
postage-paid envelope.
2. Vote by Internet - see instructions in Proxy Statement VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM FOR THE
*** CONTROL NUMBER: *** Special Meeting of Shareholders
December 30, 2002, 9:00 a.m.
MFS MID CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The undersigned hereby instructs [insert name of insurance company that issued
the variable insurance contract or policy] (the "Company") to vote the shares of
the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a series of Met Investors
Series Trust (the "Trust"), as to which the undersigned is entitled to give
instructions at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Portfolio to be held
at the offices of the Trust, 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California
92660, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 30, 2002, and at any adjournments
thereof.
The Trust and the Board of Trustees of the Trust solicit your voting
instructions and recommend that you instruct us to vote "FOR" the Proposal. The
Trust will vote the appropriate number of Portfolio shares pursuant to the
instruction given. If no instruction is set forth on a returned form as to the
Proposal, the Trust will vote FOR the Proposal.
Date ________________, 2002
PLEASE SIGN IN BOX BELOW
Signature - Please sign
exactly as your name
appears at left. Joint
owners each should sign.
When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please
give full title as such. If
a corporation, please sign
in full corporate name by
president or authorized
officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership
name by authorized person.
Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing.
TO VOTE FOR, AGAINST OR ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THE PROPOSAL, CHECK THE
APPROPRIATE BOX BELOW.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
To approve an amendment to the management agreement between the Trust and Met
Investors Advisory LLC with respect to the Portfolio.
MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
22 Corporate Plaza Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be Held on December 30, 2002
To the Shareholders of Met Investors Series Trust:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a Special Meeting of the Shareholders of
the MFS Mid Cap Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust (the "Trust"), a
Delaware business trust, will be held at the offices of the Trust, 22 Corporate
Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660 on December 30, 2002 at 9:00 a.m.
Pacific Time and any adjournments thereof (the "Special Meeting") for the
following purposes:
1. To approve or disapprove an amendment to the management
agreement between the Trust and Met Investors Advisory LLC,
the manager of the Trust.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on October 31,
2002 as the record date for determination of shareholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Special Meeting.
By order of the Board of Trustees
Richard L. Pearson
Secretary
November 25, 2002
CONTRACT OWNERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO
COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FORM IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES, OR
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MATERIALS RELATING TO INTERNET VOTING.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER EXECUTION OF THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FORM ARE SET
FORTH IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS NOTICE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FORM BE
RETURNED PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FORMS
The following general rules for signing voting instructions forms may
be of assistance to you and avoid the time and expense to the Trust involved in
validating your vote if you fail to sign your voting instruction form properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the
registration on the voting instruction form.
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party
signing should conform exactly to the name shown in the registration on
the voting instruction
form.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the
voting instruction form should be indicated unless it is reflected in
the form of registration. For example:
Registration Valid Signature
Corporate Accounts
(1) ABC Corp.................................ABC Corp.
(2) ABC Corp.................................John Doe, Treasurer
(3) ABC Corp.
c/o John Doe, Treasurer..................John Doe, Trustee
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan..........John Doe, Trustee
Trust Accounts
(1) ABC Trust...................................Jane B. Doe,
Trustee
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d
12/28/78................................Jane B. Doe
Custodial or Estate Accounts
(1) John B. Smith, Cust.
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA............John B. Smith
(2) Estate of John B. Smith.....................John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING OVER THE INTERNET
To provide voting instructions via the Internet follow the four easy steps
below.
1. Read the accompanying proxy information and voting instructions form.
2. Go to HTTP://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM.
3. Enter the "CONTROL NO." from the upper left hand corner of your voting
instructions form.
4. Follow the simple online instructions.
You do not need to return your voting instructions form if you vote via an
Internet site.