TOKYO (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 28, 2006--Japan's nine primary non-life insurers recorded ¥20.2 billion in interim net losses in insurance underwriting, and after-tax profits of ¥100.4 billion as of Sept. 30, 2006, which was down 34.9% from the first half of fiscal 2005 (ended Sept. 30, 2005), according to a report published today by Standard&Poor's Ratings Services. The non-life insurers' net premiums written income increased 0.5%, but profits were constrained by insurance payouts related to a typhoon that hit the island of Kyushu in western Japan, and penalties from an administrative action against 26 non-life insurers for widespread nonpayments of claims to policyholders. However, the Japanese non-life insurers' capitalizations are sound overall, and Standard&Poor's still considers
