Protective Life

Protective Life traces to Birmingham, Alabama, where it was founded in 1907, with early leadership associated with former Governor William D. Jelks.[1] The company grew from a regional insurer into a national provider, a trajectory described in historical summaries that note its early mergers and its later reach across the U.S.[1] Over time Protective became known not only for selling new policies but also for acquiring and managing blocks of existing life and annuity business - an approach that benefits from scale in administration and long-duration asset management.[1][2] In 2015, Japan's Dai-ichi Life acquired Protective, making the company part of a larger global life insurance group.[2] That ownership change reflected a post-crisis era in which cross-border insurers sought diversification, and U.S. platforms with stable cash flows were attractive.[2] Protective's product mix spans term and permanent life as well as annuities, and its distribution has blended independent agents with institutional relationships, matching its strategy of both organic growth and block acquisitions.[1][2] For companies that take on in-force portfolios, reinsurance can play an important role in smoothing mortality, longevity, and lapse risk; public histories emphasize acquisitions and capital strength rather than highlighting specific reinsurers.[1][2] A recurring theme in Protective's success has been finding opportunity in complexity - using disciplined pricing and operational efficiency to support long-term guarantees across economic cycles.[1][2]

Sources: [1] https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/protective-life-corporation/ (Encyclopedia of Alabama - Protective Life Corporation) ; [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protective_Life (Wikipedia: Protective Life)