Collection GB 0074 CLC/B/079-02 - EQUITABLE REVERSIONARY INTEREST SOCIETY

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/B/079-02

Title

EQUITABLE REVERSIONARY INTEREST SOCIETY

Date(s)

  • 1835-1976 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

85 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Equitable Reversionary Interest Society was formed under a Deed of Settlement of 1835 to purchase reversionary interests in real and personal property of whatever kind, to purchase or grant loans at interest secured on life insurance policies, and also to borrow or raise and secure the repayment of money, in particular by the issue of debentures or debenture stock.

The Society was similar in its aims and organisation to the successful Reversionary Interest Society which had been established 12 years previously. The reversionary interest societies were popular because they allowed clients to exchange the certainties of wealth in the future for cash in the present, or to raise loans on them. The societies wished to purchase reversions with a view to making a profit between purchase and recovery (when the reversion had "fallen in" and the property was "recovered"). The profit would be appropriated to the payment of dividends or to reserves (as would that gained from loans etc.)

In 1879, the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society became a company limited by shares. The Society was acquired in 1920 by the Equitable Life Assurance Society which had also purchased the Reversionary Interest Society in the previous year. Thereafter the fortunes of the two reversionary interest societies were complementary. New business was brought to an end in 1977, although the Equitable Life Assurance Society continues to look after current business.

The Society's head office was located as follows: 10 Lancaster Place (1835-1920); 30 Coleman Street (1920-4); 19 Coleman Street (1924-66); and 4 Coleman Street (1966 onwards).

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/B/079-02 1835-1976 Collection 85 production units. Equitable Reversionary Interest Society

The Equitable Reversionary Interest Society was formed under a Deed of Settlement of 1835 to purchase reversionary interests in real and personal property of whatever kind, to purchase or grant loans at interest secured on life insurance policies, and also to borrow or raise and secure the repayment of money, in particular by the issue of debentures or debenture stock.

The Society was similar in its aims and organisation to the successful Reversionary Interest Society which had been established 12 years previously. The reversionary interest societies were popular because they allowed clients to exchange the certainties of wealth in the future for cash in the present, or to raise loans on them. The societies wished to purchase reversions with a view to making a profit between purchase and recovery (when the reversion had "fallen in" and the property was "recovered"). The profit would be appropriated to the payment of dividends or to reserves (as would that gained from loans etc.)

In 1879, the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society became a company limited by shares. The Society was acquired in 1920 by the Equitable Life Assurance Society which had also purchased the Reversionary Interest Society in the previous year. Thereafter the fortunes of the two reversionary interest societies were complementary. New business was brought to an end in 1977, although the Equitable Life Assurance Society continues to look after current business.

The Society's head office was located as follows: 10 Lancaster Place (1835-1920); 30 Coleman Street (1920-4); 19 Coleman Street (1924-66); and 4 Coleman Street (1966 onwards).

The main body of the records (Ms 24926 and Ms 25051- 25062) was deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library by the Equitable Life Assurance Society on 25 March and 18 June 1992.

In November 2006, the Actuarial Profession (comprising the Faculty of Actuaries and the Institute of Actuaries) funded the purchase acquisition of all the records of the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society and the Reversionary Interest Society (with the exception of Ms 19030), together with the pre-1950 records of the Equitable Life Assurance Society itself. These records are therefore held as a deposit from the Actuarial Profession, and enquiries relating to publication should be addressed to the Librarian at the Institute of Actuaries, Staple Inn, High Holborn, WC1V 7QJ.

The volumes comprising Ms 19030 were previously in the possession of an employee of the Society whose widow gave them to the Society of Genealogists which donated them to Guildhall Library on 23 July 1980.

The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records of the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society including out-letter books; deeds of settlement; minute books; annual reports; ledgers; registers of valuations of reversions; registers of recoveries; and registers of debentures.

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

November 2010 to January 2011. Business records Service industries Financial service industries Insurance services Interest Finance Insurance Life insurance Information sources Documents Insurance records Insurance policies Assurance companies Companies Enterprises Equitable Reversionary Interest Society City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The main body of the records (Ms 24926 and Ms 25051- 25062) was deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library by the Equitable Life Assurance Society on 25 March and 18 June 1992.

In November 2006, the Actuarial Profession (comprising the Faculty of Actuaries and the Institute of Actuaries) funded the purchase acquisition of all the records of the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society and the Reversionary Interest Society (with the exception of Ms 19030), together with the pre-1950 records of the Equitable Life Assurance Society itself. These records are therefore held as a deposit from the Actuarial Profession, and enquiries relating to publication should be addressed to the Librarian at the Institute of Actuaries, Staple Inn, High Holborn, WC1V 7QJ.

The volumes comprising Ms 19030 were previously in the possession of an employee of the Society whose widow gave them to the Society of Genealogists which donated them to Guildhall Library on 23 July 1980.

The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society including out-letter books; deeds of settlement; minute books; annual reports; ledgers; registers of valuations of reversions; registers of recoveries; and registers of debentures.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area