Resolution Life Insurance Company Highlights
The following timeline details the history of the Resolution brand across its three distinct corporate structures ("vehicles") founded by Clive Cowdery: Resolution plc (2003–2008), Resolution Limited (2008–2015), and the current Resolution Life Group (2013–Present).
Era 1: Resolution plc (2003 – 2008)
- 2003: Clive Cowdery establishes Resolution Life Group to manage closed life insurance funds.
- 2004: Acquires the life insurance operations of Royal & Sun Alliance.
- 2004: Acquires Swiss Life’s UK business.
- 2005: Merges with Britannic Group plc; rebrands as Resolution plc and lists on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 100).
- 2006: Acquires Abbey National plc’s life businesses, adding the Scottish Mutual and Scottish Provident brands.
- 2008 (May): Resolution plc is acquired by Pearl Group for £5 billion.
- 2008 (Dec): Clive Cowdery retains the brand and relaunches as Resolution Limited, a new investment vehicle.
Era 2: Resolution Limited (2008 – 2015)
- 2009 (Aug): Acquires Friends Provident for £1.86 billion.
- 2010 (Jun): Acquires the majority of AXA’s UK life business for £2.75 billion.
- 2011: Consolidates acquisitions under the brand Friends Life Group.
- 2013: Launches Resolution USA (marking the start of the current US/Global operations).
- 2014 (Apr): Resolution Life Holdings (US) acquires Lincoln Benefit Life Company from Allstate for approx. $600 million.
- 2015 (Apr): The UK-based Friends Life Group (formerly Resolution Limited) is acquired by Aviva for £5.6 billion, concluding the second vehicle.
Era 3: Resolution Life Group (Current Era)
- 2018: Resolution Life relaunches as a global private platform, raising $3 billion in capital.
- 2019: Nippon Life Insurance Company enters strictly as an investor.
- 2020 (Jul): Completes acquisition of AMP Life in Australia and New Zealand for A$3 billion; rebrands it as Resolution Life Australasia.
- 2021 (Jan): Completes acquisition of Voya Financial’s individual life in-force business; creates Resolution Life US.
- 2021: Signs reinsurance agreement with Lincoln National Corporation (Security Life of Denver).
- 2021: Enters reinsurance agreements with Allianz Suisse and Allianz Life (North America).
- 2022: Enters reinsurance agreement with Symetra Life Insurance Company.
- 2025 (Jan): Completes acquisition of Asteron Life New Zealand from Suncorp Group for NZ$410 million.
- 2025 (Oct): Nippon Life completes the acquisition of 100% of Resolution Life, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- 2025 (Nov): Acenda Group is formally established, merging Resolution Life Australasia with Nippon Life’s Australian business (formerly MLC Life Insurance).
