Originally founded in 1821, Guardian had been a provider of life insurance and pension products in the UK for more than 190 years. Cinven acquired Guardian from AEGON in November 2011 and the business grew to become one of the most active life insurance consolidators in the UK and Irish markets and the UK’s largest privately owned life insurance company
In June 2012, Guardian acquired £5 billion of in-payment pension annuities from Phoenix Group. In December 2013 it acquired Ark Life Assurance Company and in July 2014 Guardian acquired a further £1.7 billion of in-payment pension annuities from Phoenix.
