Global insurance intermediary Howden has entered Japan’s retail insurance broking and captive consulting markets through the acquisition of Foresight Holdings Co Ltd.
As part of the move, Howden has appointed Takuya Aibe (pictured) as CEO of its Japanese retail operations.
This acquisition forms part of Howden’s broader strategy to grow its retail presence in Japan, incorporating specialty and captive expertise through partnerships with local firms.
Established in 2005, Foresight provides licensed retail brokerage services, allowing Howden to offer risk solutions to clients in Japan. The company also operates captive consulting services domestically and captive management services in locations such as Micronesia, Singapore, and Hawaii.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Foresight employs 17 staff across six locations. Its management team, composed of experienced professionals with backgrounds at major Japanese insurers, currently oversees captive programs for 13 large Japanese corporations.
This deal follows Howden’s earlier acquisition of ARM Holdings in February 2024, one of Europe’s largest independent insurance managers with expertise in captive formation and management.
Following both acquisitions, Howden now manages around 100 captives worldwide.
Howden officially entered the Japanese market in July 2024 by naming Kentaro Tada as CEO of Howden Japan.
The firm also launched Howden Re Japan, a reinsurance brokerage business providing services to life and non-life insurers.
In addition to reinsurance, Howden Re Japan offers strategic consulting based on data and analytics, as well as tailored Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) solutions for local market needs.
Highlighting the significance of the Foresight acquisition in expanding Howden’s offerings, Tada said partnering with Foresight significantly broadens the company’s services for Japanese clients.
“Howden Japan can now offer retail broking and captive management services alongside its reinsurance and ILS capabilities,” he said.
Kenichiro Hamada, CEO of Foresight, described the acquisition as a pivotal moment for his firm.
“After almost 20 years of developing our business, joining with Howden is the next significant step in our growth journey,” he said.
He added that the deal allows Foresight to leverage Howden’s global platform and resources, positioning the company to better serve its clients and strengthen its presence in Japan’s captive market.
Takuya Aibe, who will lead Howden Japan’s retail business, expressed enthusiasm for the company’s potential in the region.
“I look forward to using my experience to serve our Japanese clients and contribute to the expansion of Howden Japan,” he said.
The acquisition is part of Howden’s strategy to build a comprehensive insurance platform in Japan, with a focus on retail, reinsurance, and captive management services.
