Japan News

Death Toll from Indonesian Volcano Eruption Passes 240

Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most volatile volcano, unleashed another cloud of searing gas as rescuers pulled more bodies from a village smothered a week ago by eruptions. The death toll from a series of blasts passed 240 on Sunday. Saturday’s blast …

Lloyd’s New Director of North America, McGovern, Navigates Turbulent Waters

Addressing Changes in EU and U.S. Regulations; North American Lloyd’s Reorganization Sean McGovern, Lloyd’s general counsel and, since February 2010, the director of Lloyd’s North America, may still have time to pursue his favorite pastime – sailing – but he …

World War I Remembered; Could it Have Been Different?

Armistice Day/Veteran’s Day – the “war to end war;” the dead, the wounded and the missing. Almost faded from memory now – 92 years after it ended – the “Great War,” World War I. The consequences have been unfolding ever …

ING Plans Europe, U.S. Insurance IPOs

Dutch bancassurance group ING said on Wednesday it planned two initial public offerings, rather than one, for its insurance activities as part of a mandatory split-up imposed because of its state bailout. Chief executive Jan Hommen told a conference call …

Report AIG to Sell Asia Real Estate Business to Invesco

American International Group is expected to sell its Asian real estate business to Invesco Ltd later this month, a source said on Tuesday. The source said AIG’s gross property assets were currently worth around $5 billion, although the actual cost …

Treasury Says Taxpayers to Profit from AIG Bailout

Insurer American International Group will get up to $22 billion more in U.S. taxpayer funds in a restructuring that will pay off the Federal Reserve in full and allow taxpayers to begin profiting from the firm’s bailout, the Treasury Department …

Best’s Katsipis Views on Reinsurance, Solvency II and U.S. Equivalence

A.M. Best’s analysts don’t expect to see much change in premium levels in the near future, nor do they expect to see significant changes in rating levels. “We expect the rates to remain stable, and to show some decline in …

U.S. Equivalence for EU’s Solvency II Regulations on Hold; AIA Comments

The European Commission has issued a formal letter on Solvency II equivalence to the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) indicating that it should “carry out equivalence assessments” on Switzerland, Japan and Bermuda. The assessments would determine …

U.N. Nagoya Meeting to Protect Nature Splits on Targets

Environment ministers from around the world tried to wrap up a U.N. meeting to preserve nature on Friday but remained split on targets to fight losses in animal and plant species that support livelihoods and economies. Delegates from nearly 200 …

Ratings Roundup: Dah Sing, Qualitas, Nissan Global

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bermuda-based Dah Sing Insurance Company Limited (DSI), both with stable outlooks. Best said the affirmations reflect “DSI’s solid risk-adjusted capital position, …