Sompo Japan, Nipponkoa presidents

Sompo Japan, Nipponkoa presidents

TOKYO, Japan - Kengo Sakurada (L), president of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., and Masaya Futamiya, president of Nipponkoa Insurance Co., shake hands before being jointly interviewed by Kyodo News in Tokyo on April 10, 2012. The presidents of Sompo Japan and Nipponkoa, which will merge under the umbrella of NKSJ Holdings Inc., said synergy effects from the merger are expected to amount to over 20 billion yen a year on a pretax profit base.

NKSJ group officials

NKSJ group officials

TOKYO, Japan - NKSJ Holdings Inc. President Masatoshi Sato (C) shakes hands with the presidents of the company's two key nonlife insurance units -- Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. President Kengo Sakurada (R) and Nipponkoa Insurance Co. President Masaya Futamiya -- after a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2012.

Sompo Japan, Nipponkoa ink deal to integrate under NKSJ Holdings

Sompo Japan, Nipponkoa ink deal to integrate under NKSJ Holdings

TOKYO, Japan - Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. President Masatoshi Sato (L) and Nipponkoa Insurance Co. President Makoto Hyodo attend a news conference in Tokyo on July 29. The two companies signed an agreement the same day to integrate their managements on April 1 next year under a joint holding company, to be called NKSJ Holdings Inc., to provide ''services of the highest quality'' and increase competitiveness. Sato will assume the presidency of NKSJ Holdings and Hyodo the chairmanship.

Sompo Japan, Nipponkoa presidents

Sompo Japan, Nipponkoa presidents

TOKYO, Japan - Kengo Sakurada (L), president of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., and Masaya Futamiya, president of Nipponkoa Insurance Co., shake hands before being jointly interviewed by Kyodo News in Tokyo on April 10, 2012. The presidents of Sompo Japan and Nipponkoa, which will merge under the umbrella of NKSJ Holdings Inc., said synergy effects from the merger are expected to amount to over 20 billion yen a year on a pretax profit base. (Kyodo)

NKSJ group officials

NKSJ group officials

TOKYO, Japan - NKSJ Holdings Inc. President Masatoshi Sato (C) shakes hands with the presidents of the company's two key nonlife insurance units -- Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. President Kengo Sakurada (R) and Nipponkoa Insurance Co. President Masaya Futamiya -- after a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2012. (Kyodo)