American Standard Firm (AG) is one of the country’s largest insurance policies and you may financial qualities groups, composed of about three providers places–old age annuities, user finance, and you can term life insurance. AG’s senior years annuity portion is represented because of the Variable Annuity Lifetime Insurance carrier (VALIC), which focuses primarily on delivering taxation-deferred advancing years plans getting coaches or other teams of perhaps not-for-funds communities and you will shared about 25 percent of company’s doing work income within the 1993. Originating in this new 1980s, American Standard arranged a credibility for buying most other insurers–a practice unprecedented in the market–and you can assimilating all of them productively. This tactic out-of progress compliment of buy turned a business hallmark, and you will AG’s property quadrupled in the mid-eighties.
The annals away from AG , a native of Houston, London pay day loans no bank accoun Texas, which centered the John L. Wortham & Young buck Institution insurance provider with his dad at the beginning of the fresh new twentieth century. Gus are managing the agencies whenever his father died inside the 1924, and you may, next year, the guy formed his own business following Percentage regarding Appeals out-of Colorado influenced you to definitely solitary insurers could mix traces regarding providers, allowing multiple-range underwriting from both fire and you may casualty insurance policies. On the backing of numerous company couples additionally the John L. Wortham & Young man Agency, Gus formed among the many state’s very first multi-line insurance firms toward erican Standard Insurer. Surgery began for the Summer 7, 1926.
With the aid of Wortham’s experience and you will business intuition, AG won an enthusiastic underwriting cash in its first 12 months out-of procedure. The organization paid the basic bonus towards the preferred stock during the their third 12 months, soon until the stock exchange freeze out-of 1929. In spite of the ramifications of the great Depression and numerous economic downturns regarding resulting decades, dividends was repaid on a yearly basis, in the place of avoidance otherwise interruption, toward 1990s.
AG, for instance the town of Houston overall, spotted tremendous gains through the 1930s. The business’s financial support and you can excess topped the $one million draw by the 1936; 3 years later, the organization is actually authorized to run within the nine says, including Texas, along with assets off nearly $2.2 million. From inside the 1939, AG situated the first part, The American Standard Financial support Organization, that was the business’s very first attempt past flame and casualty insurance. Brand new Western General Financial support Enterprise at some point stretched its brand-new products–funding having trucks and you will home systems–in order to become a central connect on the businesses financial and you may genuine property organization segment. In 1945, AG produced their very first buy, implementing the organization technique for which it would later feel book in the market. This new acquired organization, Seaboard Insurance Business, are a profitable Houston-mainly based lifestyle and wellness insurance provider that predated AG of the 1 year.
Within the 1953, AG leased Benjamin N. Woodson from the Federal Connection out of Life Underwriters, in which he was dealing with director. In the AG, Woodson focused on expansion into the national markets, playing with their comprehensive company connections to obtain and obtain others. The business’s focus inside 1960s are on expanding its lifestyle and health insurance portion. Into the one avoid, AG purchased coverage businesses inside the Nebraska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Houston, and additionally a fire and you will casualty team when you look at the Marshall, Tx.
A milestone are attained for the 1964 whenever AG bought the new Maryland Casualty Providers, a Baltimore-mainly based property and you will accountability business dating so you can 1898. Through this purchase, enough time an aim of Gus Wortham, AG doubled its dimensions and you will turned into a primary possessions and you may casualty insurer in most 50 All of us and also in Canada. Furthermore, framework away from a separate 24-facts AG head office strengthening is actually going you to distance west of the downtown area Houston, on the banking companies regarding Buffalo Bayou. This provider moved inside the 1965, which place will include thirty six acres and you may four office buildings from the 1990.