AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BETWEEN EXETER REASSURANCE COMPANY, LTD. (a Delaware Insurance Company), AND METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY USA (a Delaware Insurance Company)

Exhibit 2.3

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BETWEEN

EXETER REASSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.

(a Delaware Insurance Company),

AND

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY USA

(a Delaware Insurance Company)

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 14, 2014, between Exeter Reassurance Company, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (“Exeter”), and MetLife Insurance Company USA, a Delaware corporation (f/k/a MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut) (“MICUSA”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Exeter is a captive insurance company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

WHEREAS, MICUSA is an insurance company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Exeter and the Board of Directors of MICUSA deem it advisable to merge Exeter with and into MICUSA so that MICUSA is the surviving corporation on the terms provided herein (the “Merger”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

MERGER

1.1 The Merger. After satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger, and subject to the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Exeter will merge with and into MICUSA and MICUSA shall file a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required by Delaware law in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at 5:39 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 14, 2014 as provided for in such Certificate of

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Merger (the “Effective Time”). Upon the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Exeter shall cease and MICUSA shall be the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”).

1.2 Conditions to the Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver (except as provided in this Agreement) of the following conditions:

(a)    This Agreement shall have been adopted by the sole stockholder of MICUSA, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of MICUSA; and

(b)    This Agreement shall have been adopted by the sole stockholder of Exeter, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Exeter.

1.3 Transfer, Conveyance and Assumption. At the Effective Time, MICUSA shall continue in existence as the Surviving Corporation and, without further transfer, succeed to and possess all rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Exeter, and all of the assets and property of whatever kind and character of Exeter shall vest in MICUSA, as the Surviving Corporation, without further deed; thereafter, MICUSA, as the Surviving Corporation, shall be liable for all of the liabilities and obligations of Exeter, and any claim or judgment against Exeter may be enforced against MICUSA, as the Surviving Corporation, in accordance with Section 259 of the DGCL.

1.4 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of MICUSA shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

(b) From and after the Effective Time, the Bylaws of MICUSA shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

1.5 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time, the directors and officers of MICUSA serving as directors or officers of MICUSA immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation.

1.6 Tax Treatment. The parties intend that the Merger qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and will report it as such for federal, state and local income tax purposes.  This Agreement is intended to constitute a “plan of reorganization” with respect to the Merger for United States federal income tax purposes.

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ARTICLE II

CANCELLATION OF STOCK

2.1 Cancellation of Stock.

(a) Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Exeter (the “Exeter Common Stock”), each share of Exeter Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and no consideration shall be issued in respect thereof.

(b) Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any outstanding share of Series A preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Exeter (the “Exeter Series A Preferred Stock”) or any outstanding share of Series B preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Exeter (“Exeter Series B Preferred Stock”, and together with the Exeter Series A Preferred Stock, the “Exeter Preferred Stock”), each share of Exeter Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and no consideration shall be issued in respect thereof.

(c) Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any outstanding share of common stock, par value $25,000.00 per share, of MICUSA (the “MICUSA Common Stock”), each share of MICUSA Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain unchanged and continue to remain outstanding as one share of MICUSA Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation.

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of Exeter. Exeter hereby represents and warrants that it:

(a) is a captive insurance company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted;

(b) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign person, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary;

(c) is not in violation of any provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; and

(d) has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, assuming the adoption of this Agreement by the sole stockholder of Exeter in accordance with the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Exeter, consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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3.2 Representations and Warranties of MICUSA. MICUSA hereby represents and warrants that it:

(a) is an insurance company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted;

(b) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign person, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary;

(c) is not in violation of any provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; and

(d) has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, assuming the adoption of this Agreement by the sole stockholder of MICUSA in accordance with the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of MICUSA, consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

TERMINATION

4.1 Termination. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned for any reason whatsoever by the Board of Directors of Exeter or the Board of Directors of MICUSA, notwithstanding the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Exeter or MICUSA.

ARTICLE V FURTHER ASSURANCES

5.1 Further Assurances as to Exeter. If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any further assignment, conveyance or assurance in law or any other acts are necessary or desirable to (i) vest, perfect or confirm in the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties or assets of Exeter acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger, or (ii) otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement, Exeter and its proper officers shall be deemed to have granted to the Surviving Corporation an irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver all such proper deeds, assignments and assurances in law and to do all acts necessary or proper to vest, perfect or confirm title to and possession of such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation and otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement; and the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are fully authorized in the name of Exeter or otherwise to take any and all such action.

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ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS

6.1 Amendment. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by the Board of Directors of Exeter and the Board of Directors of MICUSA, whether before or after the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Exeter and MICUSA; provided, however, that after any such adoption, there shall not be made any amendment that by law requires the further approval by such stockholders of Exeter or MICUSA without such further approval.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of Exeter and MICUSA.

6.2 No Waivers. No failure or delay by any party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

6.3 Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement, nor any right, interest or obligation hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits upon any person other than the parties hereto.

6.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted by, and construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with and pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware.

6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

6.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, and are intended as a complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions of that agreement, and there are not other agreements or understandings, written or oral, among the parties, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

EXETER REASSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.

By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx

Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx

Title: President

METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY USA

By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx

Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx

Title: President and CEO

[Signature Page to Exeter-MICUSA Merger Agreement]