Latest Japan Headlines

All the headlines from our Japan Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Report China Fund Seeks Stake in AIG Unit

Nov 21 2008 // A consortium led by sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp is in talks to buy a 49 percent stake in American Life Insurance Co (Alico), a unit of AIG, in a deal that could be worth up to $10.6 billion, Japan’s...

Japan Approves Tokio Marine Acquisition of Philadelphia Insurance

Nov 21 2008 // Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. reported that the Financial Services Agency of Japan has approved its acquisition by Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. Tokio Marine is acquirinsg all outstanding shares of the insurer for...

Somali Pirates Release Ship after $1.1 Million Ransom is Paid

Nov 17 2008 // Somali pirates have released a chemical tanker, the Stolt Valor, after they received a $1.1 million ransom, a regional maritime official said on Sunday. Two other ships could be released before Nov. 25 because negotiations...

Global Crisis Claims Japan Life Insurer, Markets Panic

Oct 10 2008 // The global credit crisis claimed its first Japanese financial institution on Friday and the government looked to prop up smaller banks, as Tokyo shares suffered their biggest rout since a 1987 crash. Government ministers...

AIG to Sell 3 Japanese Life Insurance Companies

Oct 6 2008 // Embattled insurer American International Group Inc. said it will sell three of its Japanese life insurance businesses. As part of its effort to pay off a massive U.S. government loan, AIG has decided to unload Alico Japan,...

AIG: Picking at the Pieces

Oct 6 2008 // Speculation Abounds as AIG Readies to Sell Off Assets For the moment, giant American International Group (AIG) lives on government life support, for which it’s paying 850 basis points (8.5 percent) over LIBOR,...

AIG’s Japan Unit Gets Capital for Stock Price Fall

Oct 2 2008 // A Japanese insurer that is a unit of troubled American International Group Inc. has received 90.7 billion yen (US$872 million) in additional funds to bolster its financial strength, the company said Tuesday. Alico Japan...

U.S. Bailout Faces Delays as Goldman Gets $5B Boost from Buffet

Sep 23 2008 // Architects of a $700 billion bailout plan urged U.S. lawmakers to act swiftly or face dire economic consequences as global stock markets fell for a second day on growing concern the rescue may be delayed. But financial...

Japan Insurers, QBE Seen Eyeing AIG Assets; China Less Likely

Sep 17 2008 // Japan’s well-capitalized and acquisitive insurers and Australia’s top player are seen as potential buyers if reeling U.S. heavyweight AIG sells assets, analysts and fund managers said. However, China’s...

Ratings Roundup: Stoneheath Re, Insurance Australia, Toa Re

Aug 26 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the debt rating of “bb+” on $350 million non-cumulative perpetual preferred securities (preferred securities) issued by...

Japan: Risk and Rewards

Aug 21 2008 // In Japan, agencies write 93 percent of P/C insurance. The Japanese property and casualty insurance market is ripe for opportunities, but there also are significant risks in the country, according to Keiji Fukasawa of...

‘Dramatic’ WTO Farm Deal Close If Talks ‘Can Be Revived’

Aug 14 2008 // A world trade deal that dramatically opens livestock markets in the European Union, Canada and Japan is within grasp, if talks that collapsed last month in Geneva can be revived. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab...

Best Affirms Tokio Marine/Nichido Fire ‘A++’ Ratings

Aug 7 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A++’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa+” of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (TMNF) with a...

Business Moves

Aug 4 2008 // Tokio Marine, Philadelphia Insurance Japan’s Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. has agreed to acquire Philadelphia Consolidated, a U.S. property/casualty insurance company offering specialty commercial property and casualty...

Business Moves

Aug 4 2008 // Tokio Marine, Philadelphia Insurance Japan’s Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. has agreed to acquire Philadelphia Consolidated, a U.S. property/casualty insurance company offering specialty commercial property and casualty...

Tokio Marine to Acquire Philadelphia Insurance for $4.7 Billion

Jul 23 2008 // Japan’s Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. reported that it has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Philadelphia Consolidated, a U.S. property/casualty insurance company offering specialty commercial property and...

Strong Quake Shake Northern Japan Coast But No Tsunami Danger

Jul 22 2008 // A strong earthquake with a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the northern Japanese coast Monday, but there was no danger of a tsunami, the nation’s weather agency said. The quake occurred at 8:30 p.m., about 20...

Japan: Risk and Rewards

Jul 7 2008 // A Glimpse into Japan’s Property and Casualty Market The Japanese property and casualty insurance market is ripe for opportunities, but there also are significant risks in the country, according to Keiji Fukasawa of...

White House Says G8 Can’t Set Global Climate Goals Alone

Jul 2 2008 // The Group of Eight major industrialized countries (G8) meeting next week in Japan cannot by themselves set effective long-term world goals on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, the White House said on Tuesday. “With...

Tokio Marine Seeks U.S., Europe Acquisitions

Jul 1 2008 // Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. Japan’s largest non-life insurer, is looking at opportunities to acquire U.S. and European competitors as part of its overseas growth strategy, Chief Executive Shuzo Sumi said on...