RJ and Makay

The March earthquake in Japan has caused more than a quarter of large U.S. based businesses to experience supply chain disruptions or contingent business interruptions.

Most of these companies have Contingent Business Interruption insurance, known as CBI, which covers such interruptions of normal operations and income.  Some of the covered companies still face significant risk, according to a new Greenwich Market pulse study.

U.S. banks BB&T Corp. (BBT) and PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) are among other lenders showing interest in Royal Bank of Canada’s struggling U.S. consumer banking business, according to a Bloomberg report.

RBC purchased North Carolina based Centura Banks, since renamed RBC Bank, in 2001 for $2.2 billion (C$3.5 billion at the time).  RBC Bank has lost money for 10 straight quarters and been on the sales block since earlier this year.

SNL Financial’s quarterly release of the 50 biggest banks and thrifts in the U.S. by assets revealed just what a takeover can do with to a bank ranking. First Niagara Financial Group’s acquisition of NewAlliance Bancshares, Inc., worth $1.15  billion, propelled the regional bank up from number 46 to number 38 among the largest 50. First Niagara’s acquisition of NewAlliance will increase its balance sheet by 42%, plus expands its presence into Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Currently, First Niagara Financial serves upstate New York and western and eastern Pennsylvania. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2011.