TOKYO, Aug. 27, 2009 (Kyodo News International) -- Sony (NYSE:SNE) Life Insurance Co. and major Dutch insurer Aegon (NYSE:AEG) Group said Thursday their joint venture in Japan has got a life insurance business license from the Financial Services Agency and will start business operations in December.

Aegon Sony Life Insurance Co. will sell variable annuity insurance products, they said.

The joint venture had originally planned to start the sales in 2008. But the global financial crisis has prompted the FSA to adopt tougher regulations, forcing the venture to postpone its business operations.