Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- MetLife Inc., the biggest U.S. life insurer, sold a 50 percent stake in Wells Fargo Plaza in Houston to New York State Common Retirement Fund.

MetLife retains management responsibilities and half ownership of the 71-story office building, the New York-based insurer said today in a statement distributed by Business Wire.

--Editor: Dan Reichl.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Frye in New York at afrye@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dan Kraut at dkraut2@bloomberg.net