Firm born out of forced merger

Irish Life assurance was born in 1939, when the economy turned and put a hole in the balance sheet of Irish assurance companies.

Four assurance companies had to amalgamate: City of Dublin Assurance Company, Irish Life and General Assurance Company, Irish National Assurance Company and the Munster and Leinster Assurance Company.

The intention was to release the shares on to the market but it took until 1991 to eventually float the company.