BDTI will hold its next English-language Director Boot Camp on Friday, November 16th. Thisintensive programteachesparticipantsthe keylegal and corporate governance knowledgethey need to responsibly serve on, report to, or analyze boards of Japanese companies, both public and private. The course consists of short lectures interspersed with ample time for interactive discussion and questions-and-answers about real-life situations that occur on boards, and how to handle them.
Month: October 2012
Video of Al Gore and David Blood Discussing White Paper on “Sustainable Capitalism” (+ White Paper)
[We recently had the privilege of hearing Al Gore and David Blood of Generation Investment Management speak at the PRI Responsible Investment Symposium here in Tokyo… and were very impressed. An Executive Summary of White Paper follows, and you can find the link to both the video clip andthe WhitePaperbelow.]
Nishimura & Asahi – Nuances of Conducting a Corporate Internal Investigation in Japan
A global company with operations in Japan should remain vigilant in understanding how to effectively conduct an internal investigation associated with a corporate crisis emanating from or linked with Japan.
MOFO: The Serious Fraud Office Releases Updated Guidance on Key Aspects of the UK Bribery Act 2010
The Bribery Act 2010 (the Act), which came into force in July 2011, created a more robust legislative framework allowing for the prosecution of domestic and international bribery offences in the UK. The Serious Fraud Office (the SFO) is the lead agency in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic and overseas corruption.
GMI Analyst: ESG and Accounting Metrics for Investment Use: Prepaid Expense/Operating Expense
The following summary appeared as part of Governance Metrics International’s GMI Blog. GMI is the leading independent provider of global corporate governance and ESG ratings and research. Corporate stakeholders – including leading investors, insurers, auditors, regulators and others – use GovernanceMetrics services to identify and monitor risks related to non-financial measures covering key environmental, social, governance and accounting risk factors.
GE’s Corporate Governance Principles
We've been reading GE's Corporate Governance Principles, which have some excellent provisions. The Principlescan be downloaded below. Here are some excerpts:
10. Self-Evaluation
Materials Related to 10/3 BDTI Event: “Gender Diversity on Boards”
We had a very successful event on 10/3 on the subject of Gender Diversity on Boards – Why it Matters, and How to Increase It, and are very thankful for the support of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ), the ACCJ, the French Chamber, the EBC, and TMI Associates…. not to mention the participation of McKinsey.
GMI Ratings’ Withering Analysis of Sony
Unfortunately, I have to say I agree with much of this excellent analysis by GMI Ratings. A 92 year-old man in charge of Strategy? Almost no one new to the board, most directors having joined in 2005-2010? Mr. Stringer hanging around as Chairman?
My Proposal for Company Law Reform in Japan: Ready To Be Dusted Off in Another Five Years (by Nicholas Benes)
In 2011 and 2012, Idistributed my own personal proposal for amendment of Japan's Company Law to a number of legislators, regulators, members of the MOJ Company Law Subcommittee, and investors.
Skadden Arps – Corporate Finance Alert – Earnings Guidance
Public companies are not required by any law, rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or any stock exchange to issue earnings guidance. However, investors and analysts often expect to receive earnings guidance, especially for companies in certain industries. Should a company give earnings guidance? If so, how often should