| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance |
| Founded |  Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1923 |
| Headquarters | Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
Key people | Leslie C. Herr, President and CEO, Duncan N.R. Jackman, Chairman of the Board of Directors |
| Products | Insurance, Investment |
Number of employees | 700 |
| Parent | E-L Financial Corporation |
| Website | http://www.empire.ca/ |
The Empire Life Insurance Company (Empire Life or Empire Vie) is a Canadian life insurance and financial services company with its headquarters in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It was incorporated in 1923 and is a subsidiary of E-L Financial Services Limited of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Company provides individual life, health and investment products as well as group life and health products through independent distribution partners including financial advisors, management general agents, national account firms and employee benefit producers.
History and ownership
editFounded in 1923 by Milton Palmer Langstaff, The Empire Life Insurance Company has grown to become one of the top 10 life insurance companies in Canada [1].
In 1929, Empire Life merged with The Commonwealth Life and Accident Insurance Company. This merger was followed by the acquisition of The Canadian Order of Odd Fellows insurance portfolio in 1934, and a subsequent merger with the Mutual Relief Life Insurance Company in 1936. Following the acquisition of the Mutual Relief Life Insurance Company, the Company's head office moved from Toronto, Ontario to Kingston, Ontario.
In 1968, E-L Financial Corporation Limited [2] ({{TSX|ELF}} {{TSX|ELF.PR.F}} {{TSX|ELF.PR.G}}) acquired 94% of the outstanding shares of Empire Life. In 1987, E-L Financial acquired The Montreal Life Insurance Company, as well as the life insurance operations of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, and adopted the marketing name of Empire Financial Group.
As part of this acquisition, Empire Life became a subsidiary of the holding company, E-L Financial Services Limited which owns 98.3% of the company. The remaining 1.7% of Empire Life common shares are widely held by various individual shareholders. E-L Financial Services Limited is 81% owned by E-L Financial Corporation Limited and 19% owned by Guardian Assurance plc. [3]
In 1992, Empire Life acquired a block of group insurance business from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and in 1993 acquired the non-participating individual insurance policies of The Citadel Life Assurance Company. In 1995, Empire Life agreed to administer and assume a block of deferred annuity and Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) policies of Confederation Life Insurance Company. In 1997, Empire Life assumed a block of deferred annuity policies from Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada. In 2000, Empire Life assumed a block of annuity and RRIF policies from Coopérants, Mutual Life Insurance Society.
On December 31, 1997, Empire Life acquired all the shares of Colonia Life Insurance Company and subsequently changed the name of the company to Concordia Life Insurance Company a year later. On January 1, 2002, Empire Life and Concordia amalgamated as one company under the name of The Empire Life Insurance Company (or L'Empire, Compagnie d'Assurance-Vie). From 1987 to 2005, Empire Life used the marketing name of Empire Financial Group but re-branded as Empire Life in 2006.[4]
Products
editIndividual Insurance
Universal life insurance, Term life insurance, Permanent life insurance and Critical illness insurance
Wealth Management
Segregated funds, Portfolio funds, Guaranteed Interest Options (GIOs), Registered Retirement Income Fund including a Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) product, Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Group Benefits
Small business group life and health insurance plans, group life and health insurance plans for 20+ employees, Administrative Services Only (ASO) contracts, cost plus arrangements and disability management
Sponsorships and Philanthropy
edit- An Imagine® Caring Company since 1989, Empire Life invests at least 1% of annual pre-tax profits in communities across the country through charitable donations, employee volunteer hours, in-kind contributions and community sponsorships.
- Empire Life boosts Sports & Entertainment Centre Fund [5]
- The Kingston Kids Triathlon[6]
Corporate management
editLes Herr, MBA, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., President and Chief Executive Officer
Mike Schneider, FSA, FCIA, Executive Vice-President, Finance
Drew Wallace, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., Executive Vice-President, Retail
Deborah Frame, MBA, CFA, Senior Vice-President & Chief Investment Officer
Gary McCabe, CA, Senior Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer
Richard Cleaver, Senior Vice-President, Information Technology
Timo Hytonen, MBA, CHRP, FCIP, CRM, Senior Vice-President, Strategy, Human Resources and Corporate Initiatives
Steve Pong, B.A.Sc., Senior Vice-President, Group Products
Anne Butler, BA, LLB, Senior Vice-President and General Counsel
Edward Gibson, FSA, FCIA, Senior Vice-President and Chief Actuary
Board of Directors
editChairman of the Board: Duncan N.R. Jackman
Directors: Leslie C. Herr, Mark J. Fuller, Robert G. Long, James W. McCutcheon, Richard E. Rooney, Deanna Rosenswig, Clive P. Rowe, Stephen J.R. Smith, Mark M. Taylor, Douglas C. Townsend, Manon R. Vennat, Paul R. Weiss
Honorary Chairman: The Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman
Honorary Director: Rt. Hon John N. Turner
Director Designate: Edward M. Iacobucci
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ Empire Life ranked 10th in the Financial Post Business FP500: "Top 20 Life Insurers", June 2008, based on revenue
- ^ E-L Financial Corporation Limited (E-L)
- ^ Guardian Assurance plc
- ^ New Brand Name for The Empire Life Insurance Company
- ^ Empire Life boosts Sports & Entertainment Centre Fund
- ^ The Kingston Kids Triathlon