Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co., one of Japan's largest insurers with over JPY6.596 trillion (USD62.5 billion) in assets, is looking to boost its portfolio of single-name credit-linked notes in the coming months. "Basically with the Japanese economy improving, these types of products are performing well and I think management will increase the size of investments," said Manabu Tamaru, head of the credit investment department in Tokyo. The insurer is currently planning its investment strategy for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in April.
Tamaru said the bank will likely increase its investments in CLNs on domestic names by 30-40%. He declined to elaborate on the size of the firm's fixed income portfolio.
