Equitable Life Snapshot
The world's oldest mutual life insurance company isn't aging well. The Equitable Life Assurance Society, founded in 1762, provided life insurance, annuities, pensions, and permanent health insurance to some 650,000 customers in the UK, Germany, and Ireland, until it ceased writing new business in 2000 after a House of Lords ruling that it underpaid some 90,000 guaranteed-annuity policyholders. After losing its court battle, it sought a buyer. Mortgage bank Halifax plc bought much of the troubled company and formed Halifax Equitable (part of Lloyds Banking Group, formerly HBOS plc). Equitable Life has given up hopes of a buyer and intends to just let its business continue until there are no more policy holders.
