From dangerous gaps in wealth and pervasive bribery and corruption, today we face multiple, critical global challenges that represent serious risks. No one country, company, or individual can redress these risks alone. Reducing and otherwise mitigating them requires collective action and partnerships among government, business, and the NGO community.
Month: December 2013
GPIF Panel Report: “Panel for Sophisticating the Management of Public/Quasi-public Funds”
This can be downloaded at the link at the bottom. Here is the TOC:
I Introduction ………………………….. 1
II Revising investment in view of the post-deflationary economy
1 Objectives of investment ……………………………………………………… 3
2 Investment targets and policies …………………………………………………… 3
(1) Revising portfolios that heavily invest in domestic bonds
“To Catch a Thief: Can Forensic Accounting Help Predict Stock Returns?”
Messod D. Beneish, Charles M.C. Lee, D. Craig Nichols August 15, 2011 Abstract: An earnings manipulation detection model based on forensic accounting principles (Beneish 1999) has substantial out-of-sample ability to predict crosssectional returns. We show that the model correctly identified, ahead of time, 12 of the 17 highest profile fraud cases in the period 1998-2002.
“Fraud Detection and Expected Returns”
ByMessod D. Beneish, Charles M.C. Lee, D. Craig Nichols; January 31, 2012 Abstract: An accounting-based model has strong out-of-sample power not only to detectfraud, but also to predict cross-sectional returns.
“How Pervasive is Corporate Fraud?”
February 2013, ABSTRACT We estimate what percentage of firms engage in fraud and the economic cost of fraud. Our estimates are based on detected frauds, and frauds that we infer are started but are not caught.
Spencer Stuart: Japan Board Index (2013 results)
Main items from the Summary: Eighty-two percent of TOPIX 100 companies have appointedexternal directors. The trend is more pronounced in companieswith a high ratio of foreign investors. In this regard, whencompanies do not have any external directors on their boards,they can still meet the Tokyo Stock Exchange requirement thatcompanies appoint independent directors by ensuring thattheir audit & supervisory board members2 are independent.
“Is Japan Really a “Buy”? The Corporate Governance, Cash Holdings, and Economic Performance of Japanese Companies”
Abstract; April 2011; revised, June 2012 –
Over the past ten years there has been much discussion about whether corporate governance in Japan has improved and, if so, whether this results in improved corporate performance. We investigate whether observed changes in Japanese firms’ cash holdings and payout policy are consistent with improved governance.
Nishimura & Asahi: “Lessons Learned from Recent Japanese M&A Contract Interpretation Cases”
Nisshimura & Asahi have created this useful presentation on Lessons Learned from Recent JapaneseM&A Contract Interpretation Cases, which covers recent legal history in this area and the following topics:
Emancipation of Japanese M&A Contract Drafting
Buyer’s Knowledge
Liquidated Damages
Entire Agreement Clause
Indemnification Claims
Possible English Course on “Reading Financial Statements in Japan”
Some of our past Director Boot Campparticipants have asked if we could provide an English-language course on “reading financial statements as a board member” as a follow-up to their “Boot Camp” experience.