Corporate Governance

Star Micronics has adopted the structure of a company with an audit and supervisory committee in order to strengthen the supervisory function of its Board of Directors and to enhance its corporate governance capabilities.

Furthermore, an executive officer system was introduced to Star Micronics to speed up and raise the efficiency of business execution even further, and ensure that management as an organization is flexible and capable of prompt, rational decisions for executing business.
The Board of Directors is comprised of four Directors (one of whom is an independent Outside Director, excluding Directors who serve as Audit and Supervisory Committee Members) and three Directors who serve as Audit and Supervisory Committee Members (all of whom are independent Outside Directors), and is responsible for appropriate and efficient management decisions while supervising the execution of Directors’ duties from an independent standpoint.

The Audit and Supervisory Committee is comprised of three independent Outside Directors. In addition to auditing the activities of Directors in the general conduct of their duties, the Audit and Supervisory Committee is responsible for auditing the Company’s accounting statements and related documentation and preparing audit reports in accordance with audit policies and plans determined by the Audit and Supervisory Committee. Moreover, the Committee undertakes audits in conjunction with accounting auditors as well as internal audit and related departments.

The Company has put in place the Nomination and Compensation Committee as an arbitrary advisory body to the Board of Directors to increase the transparency and objectivity of procedures related to the nomination and compensation paid to Directors and Executive Officers. The Nomination and Compensation Committee is comprised of five Directors (four of whom are independent Outside Directors) appointed through a resolution of the Board of Directors. The Committee deliberates and reports on matters related to the selection, dismissal and compensation paid to Directors and Executive Officers in line with Board of Directors’ consultations.

The Company and its outside director have entered into agreements on the limitation of liability for damages pursuant to Article 423-1 of the Companies Act of Japan, as stipulated by Article 29 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, in accordance with Article 427-1 of said Act. Based on these agreements, the maximum amount of liability for damages shall be the minimum amount stipulated in Article 425-1 of the Companies Act of Japan.

Star Micronics strives to maintain an internal control system that will enable proper and efficient management to drive a continuous increase in corporate value.
As far as its compliance structure and systems are concerned, in addition to formulating the Star Micronics Group Sustainability Code of Conduct, the Company is working to ensure thoroughgoing compliance through various measures. This includes putting in place rules and organizations. In addition, a department dedicated to promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) spearheads our compliance activities. This department plays a central role in providing reminders and education on compliance to the Group’s directors, executives and employees, and is charged with holding periodic committee meetings and monitoring the status in regard to the Group’s adherence with all relevant laws and regulations.
Star Micronics also has an appropriate internal control and whistleblower system for ensuring the reliability of its financial reporting, as stipulated in the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan.

Star Micronics approaches the management of material risks such as legal issues, natural disasters, environmental considerations and export management in an organized and systematic manner. Departments and individuals are assigned as needed to manage a specific risk, and take responsibility for establishing rules and manuals, etc., for managing the risks. They also implement programs to alert, educate and prepare the Group’s directors, executives and employees against the risks. There is also a committee which meets periodically to monitor and manage risks for the Group.

The director or executive officer that heads the division in charge of each subsidiary obtains the Company’s approval and/or submits to the Company all essential reports of in connection with important decisions made and facts pertaining to the subsidiary in accordance with the Company’s internal rules and regulations.

The Articles of Incorporation stipulate that the Company shall have no more than ten Directors (excluding Directors who serve as Audit and Supervisory Committee Members) and no more than four Directors who serve as Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.

The Articles of Incorporation stipulate that resolutions on the selection of directors shall be adopted by a majority of votes of the shareholders present at a meeting, where such shareholders hold at least one-third of the aggregate number of voting rights held by the shareholders who are entitled to exercise voting rights. The Articles of Incorporation also stipulate that resolutions on the selection of directors shall not be adopted by cumulative voting.

The Articles of Association stipulate that the Company may decide a resolution about Article 459-1 of the Companies Act of Japan in accordance with resolution of the Board of Directors unless otherwise provided for in the laws and regulations. This is to enable agile execution of capital structure policies and dividends polices.

In regard to requirements for special resolutions by the General Meeting of Shareholders in accordance with Article 309-2 of the Companies Act of Japan, the Articles of Incorporation stipulate that resolutions at the General Meeting of Shareholders shall be adopted by at least two-thirds of the voting rights of the shareholders present at the meeting, where such shareholders have at least one-third of the aggregate number of voting rights held by the shareholders who are entitled to exercise voting rights. This is to reduce the quorum for special resolutions by the General Meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of facilitating the efficient operation of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

The Company’s corporate governance system is outlined as follows: