Articles by Taiga Uranaka and Nao Sano

Japan Casualty Insurers’ Shares Sink on Concerns Over Suspected Price Fixing

A price-fixing scandal at Japan’s biggest casualty insurers is escalating following a media report that the suspected collusion is likely to be wider than initially believed. Shares of Tokio Marine Holdings Inc., MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. and Sompo Holdings …

Here Are 5 Products Offered by Financial Services Providers to De-Risk Heat Waves

Climate change-driven heat waves are impacting everything from nuclear reactors in France to glaciers in Pakistan. As millions of people around the world are forced to cope with more stifling temperatures, some are turning to hacks like air-conditioned clothing. Cities …

Japanese Banks (and Insurers) Face Spotlight for ‘Gender Washing’ Women Managers

Some Japanese banks may soon come under the spotlight for potential “gender washing” over the way they count the number of women in management positions. Japan’s Financial Services Agency found a big discrepancy in responses from a regional bank survey …

Tokio Marine Faces Larger-Than-Expected Exposure to Greensill Capital Meltdown

Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. is facing a larger-than-expected exposure to the Greensill Capital meltdown after finding that reinsurance contracts intended to limit losses didn’t cover its unit that did the most business with Greensill. Tokio’s Australia Bond & Credit Co. …

Japan Post’s Insurance Unit Plans $2.9 Billion Buyback of Shares from Parent

Japan Post Holdings Co.’s insurance unit plans to buy back about 300 billion yen ($2.9 billion) of shares from its parent, giving the insurer more freedom to expand its business, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The holding …

Tokio Marine Looking for Insurance Acquisitions in Asia, Other Markets

Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. is seeking acquisition opportunities in Asian emerging markets and elsewhere as it seeks to double profits from those regions, according to the new chief of Japan’s largest property-and-casualty insurer. “We have group companies in Southeast Asia …

Japan Insurers Eye China Acquisitions in Continuation of Overseas Deal Spree

Japanese insurance companies have spent more than $50 billion on acquisitions over the past five years to become the world’s second-largest buyer of insurance assets, and the deals spree won’t be slowing down any time soon. The cashed-up insurers are …

Japan’s Post Holdings Buys 7% of Insurer Aflac

Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. on Wednesday said it will buy 7 percent of U.S. insurer Aflac Inc. for about $2.4 billion, as the postal and financial conglomerate seeks new profit-drivers to counter weak growth prospects. Japan Post, majority-owned by …

Japan’s MS&AD to Invest $1B in Swiss Re’s UK Unit, ReAssure Jersey One

Japan’s MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc said on Friday it had agreed with Swiss Re AG to invest 800 million pounds ($1.05 billion) to take a stake of up to 15 percent in UK-based ReAssure Jersey One Ltd. MS&AD and …

Nippon Life Eyes Buying MassMutual Japan Unit for Bancassurance Sales: Sources

Japan’s biggest private-sector life insurer, Nippon Life Insurance Co., is in talks to buy a majority stake in the domestic unit of U.S.-based MassMutual Financial Group in an attempt to boost its bancassurance sales, two sources said. Bancassurance, in which …