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AIG boosts its Japan presence

AIG Chairman Maurice “Hank” Greenberg is beefing up his company’s presence in one of its traditional markets, Japan. It recently bought GE Edison Life, GE’s life insurance company in Japan, and according to a Tokyo newspaper Asahi Shimbun, Zurich’s operations in the Japanese market are next.

Asahi Shimbun said last week that Zurich’s risk operations in the country are for sale for about $320 million. While Zurich and AIG haven’t commented, the move would be in line with Zurich’s strategy of selling off non-core assets.

The Swiss company sold its British asset management business two weeks ago and has recently also sold its US life and Dutch personal lines operations.