MetLife announced Wednesday that four of its life insurancesubsidiaries approved an aggregate payment amount of approximately$1.36 billion in policy dividend payments to eligible lifeinsurance policyholders for 2012.

Those subsidiaries include Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company, New England Life InsuranceCompany and General American Life Insurance Company.

“Despite the uncertainty in the financial markets, MetLife’slong-standing disciplined practices continue to create benefitsthat we can pass on to our eligible policyholders. This significantdividend pay-out reinforces our commitment to providingpolicyholders with value,” said Gene Lunman, senior vice president,MetLife. “MetLife continues to focus on bringing competitive lifeinsurance products to market and managing its business for thelong-term performance, as demonstrated by the company’s financialstrength and stability.”

Life insurance policy dividends are based on the performance ofparticipating policies, including investment returns, mortality,persistency, and expenses, among other factors, and are thereforenot guaranteed. Eligible life insurance policyholders includeMetLife clients with certain in-force permanent life insurancepolicies, primarily whole life, and certain term life insurancepolicies.