TOKYO, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Japan's MS&AD Insurance ( MSADF )

will acquire an 18% stake in U.S. asset manager Barings

for $1.44 billion from parent company MassMutual, the Nikkei

business daily reported on Monday.

With the investment, the Japanese insurer aims to strengthen its

management of unlisted assets expected to yield high returns,

the paper said. Baring reports investment returns of 9.9%, the

Nikkei said.