SUSTAINABLE-INVESTING practice question 1 of 35

If a Japanese company's board does not have committees, it most likely:

Full set: 802 questions
Answer options
A: Has a cross-shareholding practice.
B: Follows a statutory auditor approach. Correct answer
C: Is in breach of the national Corporate Governance Code.
Correct Answer:
B. Follows a statutory auditor approach.
Explanation

Many Japanese companies use a statutory auditor system (Option B) instead of board committees for oversight. In this approach: A statutory board of auditors (kansayaku) monitors management rather than a traditional audit or governance committee. This structure is legally permitted in Japan and is different from Western corporate governance models that require independent board committees.
Option A (cross-shareholding practice) refers to companies holding each other’s shares to maintain business stability but does not directly explain the lack of board committees.
Option C is incorrect because Japan’s Corporate Governance Code allows the statutory auditor model.
Reference: Japan’s Corporate Governance Code (2021 Revision) Tokyo Stock Exchange: Corporate Governance Reports OECD Corporate Governance Factbook

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