The Mitsubishi Estate Group believes that compliance does not simply involve legal compliance, but is also defined as adherence to internal rules and corporate ethics.
After Mitsubishi Estate was found to have violated some stipulations of the Commercial Code of Japan in 1997, the Mitsubishi Estate Group Basic Mission and Mitsubishi Estate Group Code of Corporate Conduct were formulated to reflect the company's resolve to never repeat the same mistakes. The Code of Conduct and Basic Mission were revised in 2006 as part of a serious and humble response to the discovery of soil and groundwater contamination problems at Osaka Amenity Park (OAP) in 2005.
The company regards compliance as one of its most pressing issues to address. Moreover, as the company continues to expand its businesses domestically and internationally, its social responsibilities increase in sophistication and global scale. This has led to a greater need for the whole Group to share a sense of values and a standard of conduct. This is why the Mitsubishi Estate Group Guidelines for Conduct were revised in April 2018 with the hope that they will increase true corporate value by being applied to the daily actions of individual employees and executive officers.
The Mitsubishi Estate Group aspires to build trusting relationships with its stakeholders through a highly transparent management system and reinforced compliance. Not only does the Group comply with laws and regulations but it also works hard to meet all the expectations of clients and society as it strives to achieve its basic mission of contributing to society through urban development. The Group also identifies and responds appropriately to various business risks.
1. Compliance
We comply with all laws and regulations, and respect the social norms in the areas in which we conduct business. We establish and abide by corporate ethics, and respond to the expectations of a changing society. In addition:
Mitsubishi Estate's compliance system has its roots in the determination of its executives and employees to improve their awareness and reform the organization after the company was found in violation of some stipulations of the Commercial Code of Japan in 1997. The Code of Corporate Conduct was formulated to define the company's basic commitment to reform, and was further refined in 2002. Group-wide reform was implemented, with all employees sharing the sense of urgency. In July 2005, a Compliance Advisory Committee consisting of external experts was formed on a temporary basis to review the compliance system in light of the soil and groundwater contamination problems discovered at Osaka Amenity Park. This committee worked to improve the corporate culture, for example, by revising the Code of Conduct.
In April 2018, the Mitsubishi Estate Group Guidelines for Conduct were revised and the company stepped up its compliance practices to meet changing demands in society and an expansion in business areas.
The current compliance promotion system is administered by the Risk Management & Compliance Committee and the Risk Management & Compliance Subcommittee. The Risk Management & Compliance Committee is chaired by the president of Mitsubishi Estate and comprises the executives from respective functional and business groups as well as the Corporate Group and discusses issues concerning Group compliance and risk management. The Risk Management & Compliance Subcommittee, which comprises general managers, holds discussions before the committee meets. In addition, an executive director has been appointed by decision of the Board of Directors as the Executive Director of Compliance to take responsibility for overseeing and promoting compliance. All Mitsubishi Estate departments and Group companies are working closely with the Legal & Compliance Department, which serves as the executive committee, to pursue compliance in a coordinated manner.
Besides the normal reporting lines provided through the help line and other systems for consultation regarding and reporting of compliance violations by Group employees, temporary employees, and part-time employees, and various other part-time staff, the Group has established procedures for direct consultation and reporting to the Legal & Compliance Department at Mitsubishi Estate. Depending on the substance of the inquiries, they are studied and the situation is confirmed with the aim of improving the working environment. When a compliance violation is suspected, a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee is held as needed to take the appropriate action. In an unlikely event of a serious compliance violation, action is taken in accordance with the Emergency Response Manual.
In accordance with the Mitsubishi Estate Group Management Rules, systems for consultation and reporting have been established for any compliance violations that occur at Group companies.
A compliance survey is implemented for all Group officers and employees, including Group employees, temporary employees, part-time employees, and various other part-time staff, every two years to conduct a regular internal review of the status of adherence to the Mitsubishi Estate Group's Basic Mission, the Code of Conduct, and Guidelines for Conduct. In addition, in order to promote understanding of the Code of Conduct, the Group obtains a pledge from employees as an expression of adherence to the guidelines.
In October 2004, the company premises were searched as a result of its violation of the Real Estate Brokerage Act by selling the OAP Residence Tower, a condominium in Osaka with known soil contamination issues, without informing clients. This was known as the OAP Incident.
Although the OAP Incident was legally dismissed in June 2005, the company reflected deeply on its actions and set up the Compliance Advisory Committee in response, under the direct supervision of the company president. The Committee was chaired by Professor Taka of the School of Economics and Business Administration of Reitaku University and was tasked with offering recommendations concerning the checking, strengthening and improving of the compliance system to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. It was also asked to give suggestions on how to improve the corporate culture.
In December of the same year, after seven rounds of deliberation, "Recommendations for Improving the Character of the Mitsubishi Estate Group - Lessons from the OAP Incident" were compiled and issued as a report in January the following year.
An overview of the committee is provided below. Titles and departments stated are as they were at the time.
To obtain recommendations on checking, improving and strengthening the compliance system and advice on improving corporate culture from the objective viewpoints of external experts to prevent a recurrence of the OAP Incident and other incidents.
An advisory committee under the direct supervision of the company president.
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] Kakutaro Kitashiro [Chairman of the Board, IBM Japan, Ltd. Chairman, Japan Association of Corporate Executives] Kenji Koroyasu [Lawyer, Tokyo Eiwa Attorneys at Law. Former superintending prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors" Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] * Also attended by personnel who were not officers in charge of departments as necessary |
July–December 2005 (6 months) Met on average once a month
CSR Department, Planning Division
July 15, 2005 (Fri) 15:00 - 16:40
Main Office Conference Room, Mitsubishi Estate
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
The Committee deliberated on how the Compliance Advisory Committee should proceed and finalized the following items as deliverables.
They also decided to publicize the details of discussions held by the Committee in summary form.
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
August 24, 2005 (Thu) 16:00 - 18:10
Main Office Conference Room, Mitsubishi Estate
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] Kakutaro Kitashiro [Chairman of the Board, IBM Japan, Ltd. Chairman, Japan Association of Corporate Executives] Kenji Koroyasu [Lawyer, Tokyo Eiwa Attorneys at Law. Former superintending prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors" Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
The Executive Committee explained the following issues to committee members and an exchange of ideas was held.
September 27, 2005 (Tue) 13:00 - 16:00
Main Office Conference Room, Mitsubishi Estate
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] Kakutaro Kitashiro [Chairman of the Board, IBM Japan, Ltd. Chairman, Japan Association of Corporate Executives] Kenji Koroyasu [Lawyer, Tokyo Eiwa Attorneys at Law. Former superintending prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors" Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
The Executive Committee explained the following issues to committee members and an exchange of ideas was held.
October 21, 2005 (Fri) 14:00 - 17:00
Main Office Conference Room, Mitsubishi Estate
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] Kakutaro Kitashiro [Chairman of the Board, IBM Japan, Ltd. Chairman, Japan Association of Corporate Executives] Kenji Koroyasu [Lawyer, Tokyo Eiwa Attorneys at Law. Former superintending prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors" Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
The Executive Committee explained the following issues to committee members and an exchange of ideas was held.
November 18, 2005 (Fri) 14:00 - 17:00
Main Office Conference Room, Mitsubishi Estate
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] Kakutaro Kitashiro [Chairman of the Board, IBM Japan, Ltd. Chairman, Japan Association of Corporate Executives] Kenji Koroyasu [Lawyer, Tokyo Eiwa Attorneys at Law. Former superintending prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors" Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
The Executive Committee explained the following issues to committee members and an exchange of ideas was held.
December 22, 2005 (Thu) 15:00 - 18:00
Main Office Conference Room, Mitsubishi Estate
Committee Chairman | Iwao Taka [Professor, School of Economics and Business Administration, Reitaku University] |
Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order) | One Akiyama [President, IntegreX Inc.] Toshiko Katayama [Lawyer, Katayama, Kuroki and Hiraizumi Law Office] Kakutaro Kitashiro [Chairman of the Board, IBM Japan, Ltd. Chairman, Japan Association of Corporate Executives] Kenji Koroyasu [Lawyer, Tokyo Eiwa Attorneys at Law. Former superintending prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors" Office] |
Attendees from the company | Keiji Kimura [President & CEO] Nobuyuki Iizuka [Executive vice-president/corporate officer in charge of Compliance] Seiichiro Suzuki [Senior executive officer/officer in charge of CSR Promotion] |
The Mitsubishi Estate Group has declared that it will carry out equitable, transparent corporate activities with a primary emphasis on earning trust. The Group's Guidelines for Conduct forbid not just actions that could be construed as collusion with government officials or other actions considered illegal, but also entertainment and gift-giving that goes beyond the bounds of social convention.
When providing support related to the activities of political parties and political groups, the Group ensures it is appropriate in accordance with relevant laws and regulations such as the Political Funds Control Act and the Public Offices Election Act, as well as internal regulations such at the Mitsubishi Estate Group Guidelines for Conduct.
Moreover, in 2013, the Group established the Mitsubishi Estate Group Basic Regulations on the Prevention of Corruption to put in place a system to prevent corruption across the organization. In 2018, the Group established and published the Mitsubishi Estate Group Anti-Corruption Guidelines. The Guidelines document expectations of business partners with the aim of ensuring compliance throughout the supply chain based on the cooperation of all of the Group's business partners.
Mitsubishi Estate Group Guidelines for Conduct
Mitsubishi Estate Group Anti-Corruption Guidelines (PDF 245KB)
In addition to establishing a help line as a point of contact for consultation on matters relating to compliance, including corruption prevention, the Mitsubishi Estate Group has set up a help line exclusively for business partners to receive consultations and reports from business partners of Group companies.
The Group has established and operate the Rules on Corruption Risk Assessment and Corruption Due Diligence, which require that the risk of corruption be assessed for each contract and mandate due diligence in the case of counterparties with which transactions are deemed high risk.
In 2017, an external organization assessed the Mitsubishi Estate Group's corruption prevention system as a whole. The Group has been working to further strengthen the corruption prevention system by responding to the issues identified through the assessment.
The Risk Management & Compliance Committee monitors the operational status of the corruption prevention system as needed, and the status of monitoring by the Risk Management & Compliance Committee is also reported to the Board of Directors. Also, in order to maintain and continue the effectiveness of the corruption prevention system, the Group implements internal audits to assess and review the corruption prevention management system.
The Mitsubishi Estate Group conducts varied training to ensure that the rules on corruption prevention are thoroughly understood. The Group provides training on corruption prevention to officers and employees and obtains pledges on the Guidelines on the Prevention of Corruption from officers and employees. The Group also holds annual lectures on corruption prevention, particularly for departments and Group companies engaged in international business.
The Group was not subject to any fines or penalties for corruption in fiscal 2022.
See the following for information about violation of laws and regulations on corruption.
ESG Data > G: Governance data > (2) Other > 2. Risk Management and Compliance
The Mitsubishi Estate Group clearly stipulates its refusal to countenance any relationship whatsoever with organized criminal elements in its Guidelines for Conduct. Mitsubishi Estate's Legal & Compliance Department serves as a special department to take resolute measures for the Group, in cooperation with the police, in the event of any contact from criminal elements.
The Mitsubishi Estate Group has established a confidential compliance help line to receive inquiries and consultations on compliance issues. Officers and employees can consult the help line about suspected compliance violations or other issues of concern that have to be addressed, such as harassment, human relationships in the workplace, labor relations, and corruption. Group company employees, temporary employees, part-time employees, and various other part-time staff can also use the help line. In 2018 the Mitsubishi Estate Group help line center was unified with external organizations to make it possible for it to receive calls on weekday evenings and weekends and holidays as well. In addition, the Group set up the Global Help Line in 2022 for officers and employees attached to overseas subsidiaries, compatible with the laws and regulations in each country as well as other factors such as languages and time zones. To ensure that employees know about the help line, information is provided in the Compliance Newsletter and on posters.
The Group responds appropriately to the reports received by studying and confirming the situation based on the consultations and improve the workplace environment.
See the following for the number of reports to the help line.
ESG Data > G: Governance data > (2) Other > 2. Risk Management and Compliance
The Mitsubishi Estate Group has also established help lines at individual Group companies and regularly collates data to confirm trends.
In addition, a help line exclusively for business partners has been set up to receive consultations and reports on compliance from the business partners of Group companies.
In the event of compliance violations, the Mitsubishi Estate Group takes disciplinary action against the offender in accordance with the nature of the violation.
See the following for occurrences of serious compliance violations.
ESG Data > G: Governance-related data > (2) Other > 2. Risk Management and Compliance
To accompany the revision of the Mitsubishi Estate Group Guidelines for Conduct in April 2018, the Compliance Guidebook was revised and published as a training tool. The Guidebook uses illustrations and a Q&A format to explain the Mitsubishi Estate Group's five most important values in an easy-to-follow format. It was distributed to all Group officers and employees and helps to increase knowledge and understanding of what compliance involves.
The Mitsubishi Estate Group uses opportunities such as training sessions for new hires and new managers to provide training to ensure risk management and compliance awareness among all executives and employees.
In particular, new hires from major Group companies participate in joint training together to learn about the Code of Conduct and basic compliance issues.
Moreover, Mitsubishi Estate provides compliance education during training for newly appointed managers and level 2 professional career hires, and also provides all employees and officers, including outside directors, with training in risk management and compliance via e-learning.
See the following for the risk and compliance e-learning attendance rate.
ESG Data > G: Governance-related data > (2) Other > 2. Risk Management and Compliance
Every year, Mitsubishi Estate holds risk management and compliance lectures for managers and executives, including those at Group companies. The lecture topic is chosen from genres related to risk management and compliance, in light of social conditions during that particular year. Mitsubishi Estate is working to strengthen risk management and compliance through this lecture initiative as well as the training described above.
The Mitsubishi Estate Group gives compliance surveys every two years to its executive officers and full-time, temporary, and part-time employees to ascertain the extent to which they are aware of compliance issues. The Group analyzes the survey results to identify overall trends and characteristics of each business group and company, and provide feedback to each workplace to help maintain and strengthen the compliance system as well as reporting the results to management.
In order to ensure that each and every employee has aware of compliance and risk management and acts with integrity as a member of the Mitsubishi Estate Group, we have included evaluation criteria related to compliance and risk management in our personnel evaluations. Specifically, in accordance with the The Spirit of Mitsubishi: The Three Principles and The Mitsubishi Estate Group Code of Conduct, the achievement levels are defined for each position and grade, including whether the employee is acting with an awareness of compliance, identifying and avoiding risks, and preventing recurrence. All employees are evaluated once a year on the status of achievement, and the results are taken into consideration for salary increases.
Through these personnel evaluations, each and every employee will strengthen their awareness and consciousness as a member of the Mitsubishi Estate Group, and by acting in a fair and transparent manner, we will strive to earn the trust of our many stakeholders.