Tokio Marine started undertaking marine insurance business in Belgium back in 1930, through “G. SIMONS & CO.”, a leading Underwriting Agent on the Antwerp market. Property and LOP were written much later, as of 1952, through “LES ASSURANCES BELGES”. Both companies were acting as Underwriting Agents on behalf of THE TOKIO MARINE AND FIRE INSURANCE CY LTD, represented in London by WILLIS FABER & DUMAS.
The first formal Agency Agreements with G. SIMONS & CO and LES PROPRIETAIRES REUNIS (PR 1821), who had meanwhile acquired LES ASSURANCES BELGES, were issued in 1972. These two companies were taken over in 1977 by Belgium’s foremost insurance carrier AG, who merged ten years later with AMEV, to form the FORTIS GROUP.
Mr. Gentaro OHTSUKI opened TMF’s first Representative Office in Belgium in 1973. It was located in the centre of Brussels, rue du Marquis, within the premises of PR 1821, close to the St Michael Cathedral. In 1980, TMF’s Representative Office moved to AG headquarters on boulevard Emile Jacqmain, where TMEI’s Belgium Branch Office is still now established, albeit in recently completely rebuilt premises.
In 1991, TMF (UK) replaced TMF (Japan) as insurance carrier in Belgium and the business written became limited to Japanese risks, i.e. Japanese firms established in Belgium or marine covers bearing on Japanese products, mainly imported cars. New Agency Agreements were issued to enact such important changes, with the Underwriting Agents concerned. In 1992, a local employee joined the Branch Office to assist the Japanese Representative in controlling and following up the handling of our portfolio entrusted with the Underwriting Agents.
Since the 1st January 2000, a new single Agency Agreement has replaced both previous ones, as all our insurance business is now being handled by FORTIS CORPORATE INSURANCE (FCI), in Brussels for non-marine and in Antwerp for marine covers. This has been renewed in 2006.
Our Staff
Today, TMEI Belgium Branch has 5 staff. Mr Keita Furukawa is our general manager. Mr Gedeon Horvath is our local Manager and Mr. Marc Claessens is our Senior Underwriter. Our executive secretary is Mrs Chieko Hishinuma and Mrs Ariane Degen is mainly dealing with the administrative duties. Our agent is Fortis Corporate Insurance and they are helping us with the daily handling of our insurance policies, both underwriting and claims handling and with our accounting.
Our Brussels Office also houses a Japanese Account Coordinator appointed by TMNF HO for our Toyota portfolio, Mr. Nakao.