Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

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                            W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

                                       TO

                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

                    ----------------------------------------

                        FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO
                        INDENTURE DATED FEBRUARY 14, 2003
                            (SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES)

                             Dated as of May 9, 2005

                    ----------------------------------------

                           5.60% Senior Notes due 2015
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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                                    ARTICLE I

                       Relation to Indenture; Definitions

Section 1.1.   RELATION TO INDENTURE......................................     1
Section 1.2.   DEFINITIONS................................................     1

                                   ARTICLE II

                            The Series of Securities

Section 2.1.   TITLE OF THE SECURITIES....................................     2
Section 2.2.   LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT...................     2
Section 2.3.   PRINCIPAL PAYMENT DATE.....................................     2
Section 2.4.   INTEREST AND INTEREST RATES................................     2
Section 2.5.   PLACE OF PAYMENT...........................................     3
Section 2.6.   REDEMPTION.................................................     3
Section 2.7.   DENOMINATION...............................................     5
Section 2.8.   CURRENCY...................................................     5
Section 2.9.   FORM OF NOTES..............................................     5
Section 2.10.  REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT FOR THE NOTES...................     5
Section 2.11.  SINKING FUND OBLIGATIONS...................................     5
Section 2.12.  DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE.........................     5
Section 2.13.  PAYMENT OF TAXES...........................................     5
Section 2.14.  LIMITATION ON LIENS ON STOCK OF PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES.....     5
Section 2.15.  LIMITATIONS ON ISSUE OR DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK OF
                 PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES...................................     6
Section 2.16.  IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FUNDS................................     6

                                   ARTICLE III

                            Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 3.1.   TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS.......................     6
Section 3.2.   PAYMENT OF EXPENSES UPON RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL............     7
Section 3.3.   ADOPTION, RATIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION....................     7
Section 3.4.   COUNTERPARTS...............................................     7
Section 3.5.   GOVERNING LAW..............................................     7
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                            W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

                        FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO
                        INDENTURE DATED FEBRUARY 14, 2003
                            (SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES)

                                  $200,000,000

                           5.60% Senior Notes due 2015

            FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of May 9, 2005 between W. R.
BERKLEY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and THE BANK OF NEW
YORK, a trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, as
Trustee (the "Trustee").

                                    RECITALS

            The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an
indenture for senior debt securities, dated as of February 14, 2003 (the
"Indenture"), providing for the issuance from time to time of series of the
Company's Securities.

            Section 3.1 of the Indenture provides for various matters with
respect to any series of Securities issued under the Indenture to be established
in an indenture supplemental to the Indenture.

            Section 9.1(4) of the Indenture provides for the Company and the
Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the Indenture to establish
the form or terms of Securities of any series as provided by Sections 2.1 and
3.1 of the Indenture.

            NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

            For and in consideration of the premises and the issuance of the
series of Securities provided for herein, it is mutually agreed, for the equal
and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities of such series, as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                       RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS

            Section 1.1. RELATION TO INDENTURE. This Fourth Supplemental
Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.

            Section 1.2. DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this Fourth
Supplemental Indenture:

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            (a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
meanings specified in the Indenture;

            (b) All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise
specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Fourth
Supplemental Indenture; and

            (c) The terms "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

            (d) "Fair Value," when used with respect to Common Stock, means the
fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

                                   ARTICLE II

                            THE SERIES OF SECURITIES

            Section 2.1. TITLE OF THE SECURITIES. There shall be a series of
Securities designated the "5.60% Senior Notes due 2015" (the "Notes").

            Section 2.2. LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT. The aggregate
principal amount of the Notes shall initially be limited to $200,000,000. The
Company may, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, issue additional
Securities having the same interest rate, maturity date and other terms as
described in the related prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any additional
Securities, together with the Notes offered by the related prospectus
supplement, will constitute a single series of Securities under the Indenture.
No additional Securities may be issued if an Event of Default under the
Indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities.

            Section 2.3. PRINCIPAL PAYMENT DATE. The principal amount of the
Notes outstanding (together with any accrued and unpaid interest) shall be
payable in a single installment on May 15, 2015, which date shall be the
Stated Maturity of the Notes Outstanding.

            Section 2.4. INTEREST AND INTEREST RATES. The rate of interest on
each Note shall be 5.60% per annum, accruing from May 9, 2005, or from the most
recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable semiannually in
arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year commencing November 15, 2005
until the principal thereof shall have become due and payable, and until the
principal thereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment.
The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest
payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event
that any date on which interest is payable on any Note is not a Business Day,
then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay). The interest installment so payable in respect of
any Note, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name such
Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the

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close of business on May 1 or November 1 prior to such Interest Payment Date.
Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for in
respect of any Note shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder
on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name
such Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders of the
Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any
time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as
may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

            Section 2.5. PLACE OF PAYMENT. The Place of Payment where the Notes
may be presented or surrendered for payment, where the Notes may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demand to or upon
the Company in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be served shall be the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

            Section 2.6. REDEMPTION.

            (a) The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any
time at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount of such Securities to be redeemed or (ii) an amount, as determined by an
Independent Investment Banker, equal to the sum of the present values of the
remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the securities to
be redeemed (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as
of the date of redemption) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual
basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the
Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 25 basis points, plus, in either of the above
cases, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption
Date.

            (b) For the purposes of this Section 2.6,

            "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date:

            -     the yield, under the heading which represents the average for
                  the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently
                  published statistical release designated "H.15(519)" published
                  by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or
                  any successor publication which is published weekly by the
                  Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which
                  establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury
                  securities adjusted to constant maturity) under the caption
                  "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding
                  to the Comparable Treasury Issue. If no maturity is within
                  three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for
                  the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the
                  Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted
                  Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or

                                       3
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                  extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis,
                  rounding to the nearest month; or

            -     if such release (or any successor release) is not published
                  during the week preceding the calculation date or does not
                  contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the
                  semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
                  Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable
                  Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal
                  amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
                  Redemption Date.

            The Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business
Day preceding the Redemption Date.

            "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity
comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be
utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial
practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of such securities ("Remaining Life").

            "Comparable Treasury Price" means (i) the average of three Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest
and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent
Investment Banker obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

            "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury
Dealers appointed by us.

            "Reference Treasury Dealer" means:

            -     each of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Merrill Lynch,
                  Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and their respective
                  successors; provided that, if any of the foregoing ceases to
                  be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United
                  States (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall
                  substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and

            -     any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

            "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the
Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00
p.m., New York City Time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption
Date.

            The Company will mail a notice of redemption at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of the notes to
be redeemed. If less than all

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of the notes are to be redeemed, the trustee will select, by such method as it
will deem fair and appropriate, including pro rata or by lot, the notes to be
redeemed in whole or in part.

            Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on
and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or
portions thereof called for redemption.

            Section 2.7. DENOMINATION. The Notes shall be issuable only in
registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.

            Section 2.8. CURRENCY. Principal and interest on the Notes shall be
payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

            Section 2.9. FORM OF NOTES. The Notes shall be substantially in the
form attached as EXHIBIT A hereto.

            Section 2.10. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT FOR THE NOTES. The Trustee
shall serve initially as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.

            Section 2.11. SINKING FUND OBLIGATIONS. The Company has no
obligation to redeem or purchase any Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous requirement or upon the happening of a specified event or at the
option of a Holder thereof.

            Section 2.12. DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE. The Company has
elected to have both Section 4.2(2) of the Indenture (relating to defeasance)
and Section 4.2(3) (relating to covenant defeasance) applied to the Notes.

            Section 2.13. PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Company will pay or discharge or
cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company
or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any
Subsidiary, and lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies, which, if
unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any
Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment or
governmental charge whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such
payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

            Section 2.14. LIMITATION ON LIENS ON STOCK OF PRINCIPAL
SUBSIDIARIES. The Company will not, and it will not permit any Subsidiary of the
Company to, at any time directly or indirectly create, assume, incur or permit
to exist any Indebtedness secured by a pledge, lien or other encumbrance (any
pledge, lien or other encumbrance being hereinafter in this Section referred to
as a "lien") on the voting securities of Principal Subsidiaries, or the voting
securities of a Subsidiary that owns, directly or indirectly, the voting
securities of any of the Principal Subsidiaries without making effective
provision whereby the Notes then Outstanding (and, if the Company so elects, any
other Indebtedness of the Company

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that is not subordinate to the Notes and with respect to which the governing
instruments require, or pursuant to which the Company is otherwise obligated or
required, to provide such security) shall be equally and ratably secured with
such secured Indebtedness so long as such other Indebtedness shall be secured.
For purposes of this Section 2.14 only, "Indebtedness", in addition to those
items specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture, shall include any obligation
of, or any such obligation guaranteed by, any Person for the payment of amounts
due under a swap agreement or other similar instrument or agreement or foreign
currency hedge exchange or similar instrument or agreement.

            If the Company shall hereafter be required to secure the Notes
equally and ratably with any other Indebtedness pursuant to this Section, (i)
the Company will promptly deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate
stating that the foregoing covenant has been complied with, and an Opinion of
Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel the foregoing covenant has
been complied with and that any instruments executed by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company in the performance of the foregoing covenant comply
with the requirements of the foregoing covenant and (ii) the Trustee is hereby
authorized to enter into an indenture or agreement supplemental hereto and to
take such action, if any, as it may deem advisable to enable it to enforce the
rights of the holders of the Notes so secured.

            Section 2.15. LIMITATIONS ON ISSUE OR DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK OF
PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES. As long as any of the Notes remain outstanding, the
Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, issue, sell, assign,
transfer or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the Common
Stock of any Principal Subsidiary (except to the Company or to one or more
Subsidiaries or for the purpose of qualifying directors); provided, however,
that this covenant shall not apply if (i) the issuance, sale, assignment,
transfer or other disposition is required to comply with the order of a court or
regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction, other than an order issued at
the request of the Company or of one of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the entire Common
Stock of a Principal Subsidiary then owned by the Company or by its Subsidiaries
is disposed of in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions,
for consideration consisting of cash or other property which is at least equal
to the Fair Value of such Common Stock; or (iii) after giving effect to the
issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition, the Company and its
Subsidiaries would own directly or indirectly at least 80% of the issued and
outstanding Common Stock of such Principal Subsidiary and such issuance, sale,
assignment, transfer or other disposition is made for consideration consisting
of cash or other property which is at least equal to the Fair Value of such
Common Stock.

            Section 2.16. IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FUNDS. All payments of principal
and interest shall be made in immediately available funds.

                                   ARTICLE III

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

            Section 3.1. TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS. The recitals
herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee
assumes no

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responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation
as to the validity or sufficiency of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

            Section 3.2. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES UPON RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL. Upon
termination of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or the
removal or resignation of the Trustee, unless otherwise stated, the Company
shall pay to the Trustee all amounts accrued to the date of such termination,
removal or resignation.

            Section 3.3. ADOPTION, RATIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION. The Indenture,
as supplemented and amended by this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, is in all
respects hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed.

            Section 3.4. COUNTERPARTS. This Fourth Supplemental Indenture may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but
such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

            Section 3.5. GOVERNING LAW. THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND
EACH NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourth
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed on the day and year first above
written.

                                               W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

                                               By:___________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:

                                               THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

                                               By:___________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:

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                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                             (FORM OF FACE OF NOTE)

            This Note is a global Note within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depository or a
nominee of a Depository. This Note is exchangeable for Securities registered in
the name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the
limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Note
(other than a transfer of this Note as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of
the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another
nominee of the Depository) may be registered except in limited circumstances.

            Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Note issued
is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an
authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon
is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co.,
has an interest herein.

Certificate No. 4                                                   $200,000,000
Dated: May 9, 2005                                           CUSIP No. 084423AM4

                            W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

                           5.60% Senior Notes due 2015

            W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company,"
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or
registered assigns, the principal sum of TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND NO
CENTS ($200,000,000.00) on May 15, 2015. The Company further promises to pay
interest on said principal sum outstanding from May 9, 2005, or from the most
recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually (subject to
deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year
commencing November 15, 2005 at the rate of 5.60% per annum, until the principal
hereof shall have become due and payable and, until the principal hereof is paid
or duly provided for or made available for payment. The amount of interest
payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any partial
period shall be computed on the basis of the number of actual days elapsed in a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on this Note is not a Business Day, then payment of interest
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business
Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay). A
"Business Day," with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, shall
mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking
institutions in such

                                      A-1
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Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law,
regulation or executive order to close. The interest installment so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on May 1
or November 1 prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest installment
not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to
the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the
Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the
Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, notice whereof shall be
given to the Holder of this Note not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent
with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Note may be
listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more
fully provided in the Indenture.

            The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Note
shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that
purpose in the United States in such coin or currency of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address
as shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long
as the Holder of this Note is Cede & Co., the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on this Note will be made at such place and to
such account as may be designated by Cede & Co. All payments of principal and
interest hereunder shall be made in immediately available funds.

            Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

            Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid for any
purpose.

                                      A-2
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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be
executed.

                                    W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

                                    By:_______________________________
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

            This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:  May 9, 2005

THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee

By:_____________________________
   Authorized Signatory

                                      A-3
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                            (FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE)

            This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company, designated as its 5.60% Senior Notes due 2015 (herein referred to as
the "Securities"), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of
February 14, 2003 between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee
(herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under
the Indenture), as supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of
May 9, 2005, between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon
which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

                  All terms used in this Note that are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                  The Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at
any time at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount of such Securities to be redeemed or (ii) an amount, as determined by an
Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining
scheduled payments of principal of and interest thereon on the securities to be
redeemed (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued to the
date of redemption) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis
assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate, plus 25 basis points, plus, in either of the above cases, accrued
and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

            "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date:

            -     the yield, under the heading which represents the average for
                  the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently
                  published statistical release designated "H.15(519)" published
                  by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or
                  any successor publication which is published weekly by the
                  Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which
                  establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury
                  securities adjusted to constant maturity) under the caption
                  "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding
                  to the Comparable Treasury Issue. If no maturity is within
                  three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for
                  the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the
                  Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted
                  Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such
                  yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest
                  month; or

            -     if such release (or any successor release) is not published
                  during the week preceding the calculation date or does not
                  contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the
                  semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the

                                      A-4
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                  Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the
                  Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its
                  principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for
                  such Redemption Date.

            The Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business
Day preceding the Redemption Date.

            "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity
comparable to the remaining term of the securities to be redeemed that would be
used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial
practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of such securities ("Remaining Life").

            "Comparable Treasury Price" means (i) the average of three Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest
and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent
Investment Banker obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

            "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury
Dealers appointed by us.

            "Reference Treasury Dealer" means:

            -     each of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Merrill Lynch,
                  Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and their respective
                  successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing
                  shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer
                  in the United States (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the
                  Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury
                  Dealer; and

            -     any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

            "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the
Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00
p.m., New York City Time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption
Date.

            The Company will mail a notice of redemption at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of the
securities to be redeemed. If less than all of the securities are to be
redeemed, the Trustee will select, by such method as it will deem fair and
appropriate, including pro rata or by lot, the securities to be redeemed in
whole or in part.

            Unless we default in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after
the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the securities or portions
thereof called for redemption.

                                      A-5
<PAGE>
            If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series
shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series
may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to
the conditions provided in the Indenture.

            The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction, discharge and
defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note upon compliance
by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

            The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of
each series at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture
also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages in
principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on
behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults
under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon
all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. No reference herein
to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture (other than
Section 4.2 of the Indenture) shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company to pay the principal and interest on the Note at the times, place and
rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

            As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office
or agency of the Company maintained under Section 10.2 of the Indenture duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the
Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon
one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for
the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee
or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

            Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

            This global Note is exchangeable for Securities in definitive form
only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. Securities
of this series so issued are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and

                                      A-6
<PAGE>
therein set forth, Securities of this series so issued are exchangeable for a
like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

            The Company and, by its acceptance of this Note or a beneficial
interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial
interest in, this Note agree that for United States federal, state and local tax
purposes it is intended that this Note constitute indebtedness.

            THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE
INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS
THEREOF.

                                      A-7<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                  AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE METLIFE DEFERRED
                         COMPENSATION PLAN FOR OFFICERS
                (As amended and restated as of November 1, 2003)

      WHEREAS, the MetLife Deferred Compensation Plan for Officers, as last
amended and restated November 1, 2003 (the "PLAN"), was adopted to permit
certain eligible employees voluntarily to defer the payment of certain types of
compensation;

      WHEREAS, certain other nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements
have been entered into with employees who are eligible to participate in the
Plan, which arrangements either expressly or implicitly incorporate aspects of
the Plan, and/or are otherwise administered, in whole or in part, in a manner
consistent with the administration of the Plan;

      WHEREAS, to facilitate the administration of such other arrangements, it
has been recommended that such arrangements be incorporated into the Plan
(cognizant of the need to preserve the differences from the Plan terms mandated
by such arrangements, including, but not limited to, in order to avoid
subjecting the amounts deferred under such arrangements and the Plan to the
additional taxes imposed under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended);

      WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 20 of the Plan, the Plan Administrator has
reserved the right to amend the Plan;

      NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended in the manner set forth below:

      1.    Section 2 is amended to add a new Section 2.7 at the end thereof, to
read as follows:

            2.7. The Plan Administrator may permit other non-qualified deferred
      compensation arrangements between an Eligible Associate and any MetLife
      Company or an affiliate of any MetLife Company, whether or not elective,
      to be administered under and treated as part of the Plan. The Plan
      Administrator shall establish a separate Alternative Compensation Account
      for an Eligible Associate who is party to a non-qualified deferred
      compensation arrangement treated as part

<PAGE>

      of the Plan. Unless otherwise specified herein, on Annex I or by the Plan
      Administrator in writing, the general provisions of the Plan shall apply
      to any such Alternative Compensation Account, including without
      limitation, those provisions related to (i) the value of the Alternative
      Contribution Account (including the Investment Tracking of such Account),
      (ii) the timing, number and form of payments from such Account and (iii)
      the designation of any beneficiary(ies) to receive payment from such
      Account upon the death of the Participant. Notwithstanding the immediately
      preceding sentence, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the
      applicable non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement as in effect on
      October 3, 2004, no distribution shall be made from any Alternative
      Contribution Account pursuant to Section 12, 13 or 14 of the Plan.

      2.    Section 10 is amended to add a new Section 10.3.11 at the end of
Section 10.3 thereof, to read as follows:

            10.3.11. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.3 to the
      contrary, payment in respect of any Alternative Compensation Account shall
      not be accelerated from the date payment would have been made under the
      corresponding nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement, as
      identified on Annex I or as otherwise specified in writing by the Plan
      Administrator.

      3.    Section 21 is amended to new Sections 21.2 and 21.3 thereto, to read
as follows, and to appropriately renumber all other sections thereof to reflect
the addition of such Section:

      21.2  "Alternative Compensation Account" means a record-keeping account
            established for the benefit of an Eligible Associate in which is
            credited such amounts of compensation as are deferred under the
            nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement to which such Account
            relates.

      21.3  "Annex I" means the schedule established by the Plan Administrator,
            as the same may be amended by the Plan Administrator at any time and
            from time to time, on which is specified the terms of any
            non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement that is to be
            administered as part of the Plan that deviate from the general terms
            of the Plan. Annex I, as in effect from time to time, is expressly
            incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      4.    Section 21 is further amended to add a new second sentence to
Section 21.11 (as renumbered pursuant to item 3 of this Amendment), "Deferred
Compensation Account", to read as follows:

      To the extent the context so requires, the term Deferred Compensation
      Account, as applied to any Participant, shall also include any Alternative
      Compensation Account established for the benefit of such Participant.

      5.    Section 21 is further amended to add a new second sentence at the
end of Section 21.23 (as renumbered pursuant to item 3 of this Amendment),
"Participant", to read as follows:

      To the extent that the context so requires, the term Participant shall
      also include any Eligible Associate for whose benefit an Alternative
      Compensation Account has been established under the Plan.

      6.    The Plan is further amended to add at the end thereof of a new Annex
I, as is attached hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof.

      7.    Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Plan shall
continue in full force and affect, without amendment. For the avoidance of
doubt, nothing in this amendment shall, or shall be construed to, amend or
modify any provision or term of the Plan with respect to amounts otherwise
credited thereunder immediately prior to the execution of this Amendment.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the amendment to the MetLife Deferred Compensation
Plan has been executed by the Plan Administrator thereof, on this 4th day of
May, 2005.

PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

/s/ Graham Cox
__________________________

                                       3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             EFFECTIVE DATE OF
                                ARRANGEMENT                                                   TIMING OF DISTRIBUTIONS
   NAME OF ELIGIBLE         AND INITIAL DEFERRED          INVESTMENT TRACKING, IF                 FROM ALTERNATIVE
       ASSOCIATE                   AMOUNT                   DIFFERENT FROM PLAN                 COMPENSATION ACCOUNT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                     <C>                           <C>                                <C>
Robert Benmosche        July 20, 1995 (Sign-on bonus  Investment tracking to be based    Lump sum distribution upon
                        subject to 5 year vesting     solely on interest rate            retirement from service as an
                        condition)                    credited under MetLife SIP         employee of the MetLife Companies
                                                      Fixed Income Fund (as referenced
                                                      in Section 6.2 of the Plan) at
                                                      time of deferral

                        $400,000

Robert Benmosche        April 1, 1996 (elective       Investment tracking to be based    10 approximately equal annual
                        deferral of portion of        solely on interest rate credited   installments (adjusted for
                        future 1996 monthly salary)   under MetLife SIP Fixed Income     interest accrued) commencing in
                                                      Fund (as referenced in Section     June, 2009
                                                      6.2 of the Plan) at time of
                                                      deferral

                        $12,000 per month (aggregate
                        deferral of $108,000)

Robert Benmosche        January 1, 1997 (elective     Investment tracking to be based    10 approximately equal annual
                        deferral of portion of        solely on interest rate credited   installments (adjusted for interest
                        future 1997 monthly salary)   under MetLife SIP Fixed Income     accrued) commencing in June, 2009
                                                      Fund (as referenced in Section
                                                      6.2 of the Plan) at time of
                                                      deferral

                        $22,000 per month (aggregate
                        deferral of $264,000)

Lisa Weber              February 4, 1998 (Sign-on     N/A -- Investment Tracking in      In five annual installments
                        bonus subject to 5 year       accordance with terms of the Plan  commencing upon termination of
                        vesting condition)                                               service as an employee of the
                                                                                         MetLife Companies
                        $750,000
</TABLE>

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