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History
The timeline of financial sense.

Since Henry Ridge and Joseph Degge met in a London coffee house and decided to launch a friendly society, the Royal London Group has gone through some dramatic changes. The time line below picks out some of the most important.

1861

Royal London founded as a Friendly Society in a London coffee shop by Henry Ridge and Joseph Degge

1881

Scottish Life founded in Edinburgh as a Proprietary Company

1908

United Friendly founded in Southwark by Edwin Richard Balding

Royal London becomes a Mutual

1968

Scottish Life converts from a proprietary company, becoming a Mutual

1987

Royal London Asset Management established as separate company

1996

Scottish Life International launched in Douglas, Isle of Man

United Friendly and Refuge Assurance merge to form United Assurance Group

2000

Royal London acquires United Assurance Group for £1.6bn

2001

Scottish Life demutualises. Royal London acquires Scottish Life for £1.1bn

2003

Bright Grey is launched. Bright Grey is a new business specialising in protection insurance.

2007

Ascentric and Fundsdirect joins Royal London Group in November 2007.

2008

Acquisition of new businesses including Scottish Provident, Scottish Provident International and Phoenix Life Assurance limited.

2009

Royal London 360° was established in 2008 through the coming together of Scottish Life International Insurance Company Limited and Scottish Provident International Life Assurance Company Limited



The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited. Registered Office: 55 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0RL United Kingdom. Registered in England No 99064.

Royal London Group consists of The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and its subsidiaries. The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited provides life assurance and pensions and is a member of the Association of British Insurers and the Association of Financial Mutuals. Royal London Savings Limited provides the Individual Savings Account. Royal London Unit Trust Managers Limited provides unit trusts. All these companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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