Our history
Founded in 1848, Unum celebrated 160 years in business in 2008. Below is a timeline of key dates in the history of Unum and its predecessor companies:
Key dates
1848
Original charter for Union Mutual, Unum's oldest predecessor company, is approved. Union Mutual is founded in Portland, Maine.
1887
Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company is incorporated in Chattanooga, Tenn.
1999
The merger of UNUM Corporation and Provident Companies, Inc., is completed to form UnumProvident Corporation.
2007
UnumProvident changes its name to Unum Group, with three primary subsidiary operations: Unum US, Unum UK and Colonial.
Other important events
- 1919: Provident annual premium income tops $1 million.
- 1942: Union Mutual life insurance inforce exceeds $100 million.
- 1977: Union Mutual assets pass the $1 billion mark.
- 1984: Union Mutual files a Plan of Conversion to change from a mutual to a stock company.
- 1986: The stock conversion takes place and the name of Union Mutual is changed to UNUM Life Insurance Company, owned by the publicly held UNUM Corporation (NYSE:UNM).
- 1990: UNUM expands to England by acquiring the business and assets of National Employers' Life Assurance Holding Company Limited from INVESCO MIM PLC of London.
- 1993: UNUM's merger with Colonial Companies, Inc. is completed.
- 1994: UNUM Corporation is named to S&P's 500 Index of America's major public corporations.
- 1997: Provident completes acquisition of Paul Revere Life Insurance Co. headquartered in Worcester, Mass.
- 1998: Unum and Provident merge to form UnumProvident Corporation.
- 2003: Tom Watjen appointed President and CEO of UnumProvident.
- 2007: Unum unveils new logo and brand.