Japan's Meiji Yasuda to raise return rate for corporate pensions

TOKYO -- Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance will raise its assumed rate of return for defined-benefit pension plans managed on behalf of corporations to 1.3% from 1.25% in April 2025, a first for a major Japanese insurer following the Bank of Japan's lifting of its negative interest rate policy.

The company had lowered the fixed interest rate for corporate pensions to 0.50% from 1.25% in order to be able to respond flexibly even if interest rates dropped again, while also guaranteeing yields of 0.8% for three years, effectively bringing returns to 1.3%.