Author: Admin

Brunswick Review Journal: ”The Boardroom Issue”

2016-04-20 posted by

Brunswick Review is a Journal of Communication and Corporate Relations that features insights from global business leaders, policy makers, political critical and journalists as well as Brunswick consultants.

In this edition, the Journal features diverse topics on Directors and Boardroom issues. Among them is an Interview with Mr. Osamu Nagayama titled ‘The View from Outside’ on page 16. Mr. Nagayama is the Chairman and CEO of Chugai Pharmaceutical. He is also a member of the Enlarged Corporate Executive Committee of Rochel besides being a member of board of directors at Sony.

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Transparency International: ”ASIA-PACIFIC ANTI-CORRUPTION RANKINGS FOR 2015”

2016-04-20 posted by

According to Transparency International as reflected in this article, most Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores for Asia-Pacific did not change much compared to the previous rankings of 2014  despite the general improvement elsewhere.  Countries that showed improvement include Mongolia, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor-Lestor, China, Indonesia and South Korea.

Japan dropped 3 places from 15th in 2014 to 18th in 2015.  With the introduction of the Corporate Governance Code and introduction of Independent Directors on Boards in Japan, it is expected that the scores will improve with time. Others that notably dropped include The Phillipines, Malaysia together with New Zealand and Australia which declined by two places though still at the top end.

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Sonoko Noda and Nobuhiro Sato: ”Japan’s rate of independent directors is one of world’s lowest”

2016-04-19 posted by

Background: 

Last year, Japan introduced codes designed to work together to increase corporate value and investor return in Japanese companies. The Corporate Governance Code and the Stewardship Code are supposed to work hand-in-hand to promote transparency and sustainable growth. Part of the Corporate Governance Code calls for companies to have at least two independent directors. Having outsiders on board, it was hoped would bring discipline as companies reach for higher profits.

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Hoang C. C. et al : ”Institutional Investors and Trends in Board Refreshment”

2016-04-18 posted by

”As many institutional investors have concluded, prevailing governance policies and practices have not produced desired board refreshment, which these investors would support in order to strengthen expertise, promote diversity and provide fresh perspectives in the board room. At the same time, companies and investors alike appreciate that term and age limits, as they have been typically applied, may not be the solutions, because they force the arbitrary retirement of valuable directors.

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Lexology: ”U.S. Bill Would Prioritize Cybersecurity at the Board Level”

2016-04-15 posted by

”In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency and sophistication of cybersecurity attacks on both businesses and governments. There has also been an increased interest in government regulation of cybersecurity to protect the public from data breaches. Recently, two American Senators – one Democrat and one Republican – introduced a bill that would require publicly traded companies to have a cybersecurity expert on their board, or explain why having such a board member is unnecessary.

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Kato Takao and Kodama Naomi: ”Corporate Social Responsibility and Gender Diversity in the Workplace: Evidence from Japan”

2016-04-15 posted by

”Abstract: Using panel data on corporate social responsibility (CSR) matched with corporate proxy statement data for a large and representative sample of 1,492 publicly-traded firms in Japan over 2006-2014, we provide rigorous econometric evidence on the effects of CSR on gender diversity in the workplace. Our fixed effect estimates point to positive and significant effects on gender diversity of CSR, yet the effects are felt only after two to three years.

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VIDEO – ”Assessing Abe’s Third Arrow: Corporate Governance Reform in Japan”

2016-04-10 posted by

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”As doubts persist about the progress of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “third arrow” structural reforms to lift the Japanese economy, corporate governance is one area where change has been visible over the past three years: a new Stewardship Code for institutional investors, a Corporate Governance Code for companies themselves, a new JPX-Nikkei 400 index with minimum ROE and independent director requirements for inclusion, and efforts to increase the number of women on corporate boards and in senior management. How will these changes affect the performance of Japanese companies? What are the implications for the Japanese economy and for the success of Abenomics? What more could be done? As part of our continuing examination of major trends in the world’s third-largest economy, the CSIS Simon Chair will host experts from government, business, and academia to discuss Japan’s recent corporate governance reforms………..”

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