(As of July 5, 2023)

1. Principles Items Not to Be Implemented (To Explain) and Reasons for Not Implementing

The Company has implemented all principles (including those for Prime Markets) of the Corporate Governance Code.

2. Principle Items to Be Implemented (To Comply)

The response situations and disclosure scope regarding the following 14 principles of the Corporate Governance Code are as follows:

Principle 1.4 Policy for Strategic Equity Holdings

‹ MS&AD Insurance Group Basic Policy for Reduction of Strategic Equity Holdings ›

Strategic equity holdings is shares held under the assumption of long-term holding for the purpose of maintaining and strengthening comprehensive business relationships.
We have adopted a policy to reduce the aggregate amount of our strategic equity holdings, aiming to build a solid financial base less affected by fluctuations in stock prices and to improve the capital efficiency (Note).
The suitability of holding strategic equities is assessed from the perspective of the equity issuers’ growth potential and profitability for each equity and the medium- to long-term business relationship.
If the rationale is not confirmed, we shall proceed with sales of those strategic equity holdings after obtaining the equity issuers’ understanding. Otherwise, we may sell our holdings, taking into account the market environment and our business and financial strategies.

 

(Note) The Group's strategic equity holdings of JPY206.6 billion have been sold, in FY2022, exceeding the original plan of JPY100 billion (revised to JPY150 billion). The balance of the market value of the Company's strategic holdings as of 31 March 2023 is JPY 2,626.9 billion. The Group has increased the reduction plan from JPY 400 billion to JPY600 billion in the current The Medium -Term Management Plan (FY2022~FY2025) to improve capital efficiency. In the next The Medium-Term Management Plan, we aim to continue the same level of reduction and to reduce the market value of our strategic equity holdings by approximately half compare with the end of September 2022.
 

‹ Verification of propriety of strategic equity holdings and reduction efforts ›

  • Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance shall examine the propriety of their strategic holdings by each equity based on profitability and balance of insurance contract as to whether the purpose of the holding is appropriate and whether the benefits and risks associated with the holding are commensurate with the capital cost. The results of these examinations shall be confirmed by MS&AD’s Board of Directors.
  • Based on the results of the examinations of each equity, constructive dialogue shall take place with regard to equities that do not meet the objective of the rationale and are particularly in need of improvement. The equity will continue to be held in the event that an improvement is anticipated, and sale negotiations will be entered into in the event that an improvement is not anticipated.

 

‹ Criteria for Ensuring Appropriate Handling of the Exercise of Voting Rights Pertaining to Strategic Equity Holdings ›

The basic policy on the exercise of voting rights for strategic equity holdings is as follows.
(a) Basic approach to the exercise of voting rights
The exercise of voting rights is seen to be an important means of influencing the management and improving the enterprise value of investee companies. Therefore, decisions are not made uniformly based on formulaic short-term criteria, but rather in terms of enhancement of enterprise value in the medium-to-long term and improvement in shareholder returns, among others, based on dialogue with investee companies.
(b) The process for exercising voting rights
When exercising voting rights, items such as those listed below are verified for each proposal, with a focus on such aspects as whether the company in question is managed with an emphasis on growth of the company and the interests of shareholders, and whether the company is engaged in any antisocial behavior. Proposals are also judged based on the results of dialogue with the company concerned following a detailed examination of individual issues as required.

<Main evaluation criteria for each type of proposal>

Type of proposal Matters for verification
Appropriation of surplus  Status of shareholder returns
Election of Directors  Status of enhancement of corporate value
 Status of occurrence of scandals, etc.
 Status of election of Independent Outside Directors
 Status of attendance at Board of Directors meetings, etc
Election of Audit & Supervisory
Board Members and Accounting Auditors
 Status of occurrence of scandals, etc.
 Status of attendance at Board of Directors meetings and Audit & Supervisory Board meetings
Officers' remuneration and bonuses
Retirement benefits and condolence money
for officers
 Status of enhancement of corporate value
 Status of attendance at Board of Directors meetings, etc.
 Status of occurrence of scandals ,etc.
Issuance of stock acquisition rights and stock remuneration  Any application of performance-linked remuneration, and recipients
 Any decrease of equity ratio by existing shareholders
Changes to the Articles of Incorporation  Examined individually
Takeover defense measures  Examined individually
Shareholder proposals  Examined individually

 (c) Criteria for judging proposals relating to the exercise of voting rights
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance have established specific evaluation criteria and guidelines for the exercise of voting rights of shares held. In the event that the criteria and guidelines are met, dialogue will take place as necessary with the investee companies, and proposals shall be judged based on the dialogue.

Principle 1.7 Procedures for related Party Transactions

a. With respect to transactions between the Company and a related party, to ensure that they do not harm the common interests of the Company and the Company’s shareholders, such transactions as competition transaction by a director, transactions between a corporate officer and the Company, and other  transactions with conflict-of-interest characteristics, such transactions will require prior deliberation and approval of a Board of Directors’meeting with the attendance of multiple outside directors, and in the case of similar transactions by executive officers will require a report to the Board of Directors.
b. Transactions falling under Related Party Transactions as set forth in the Companies Act and the Ordinance on Financial Statements, etc. are noted in the Securities Report. Note that preparation of the Securities Report is a matter to be reported to the Board of Directors.

Principle 2.4.1 Ensuring the diversity of core human resources of the Company

Please see to III 3. “Measures to Ensure Due Respect for Stakeholders” in the “Corporate Governance Report”.

Principle 2.6 Exercise of functions as an asset owner of a corporate pension plan

  • The Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Corporate Pension Fund and the Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Corporate Pension Fund have been established in order for Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, which are the main operating companies of the Group, to implement defined-benefit corporate pension plans and manage the pension assets separately from the companies.
  • Decisions regarding asset management of each Corporate Pension Fund are made by the Board of Representatives based on deliberations by the Asset Management Committee. Personnel in the asset management, accounting, and human resources departments in each company who possess appropriate qualities shall be appointed to the Asset Management Committee and the Board of Representatives, and labor union executives are appointed as representatives of the beneficiaries.
  • Personnel who have extensive experience in asset management shall undertake asset management operations of each corporate pension fund. In addition, both funds accepted the Stewardship Code.
  • For each corporate pension fund, the incorporation of shares and the exercise of voting rights by investees are in accordance with the evaluation criteria of the party to whom asset management has been delegated, and there are no matters that constitute a conflict of interest.

Principle 3.1 Full Disclosure

(ⅰ) Aspiration of the Group (Mission etc.) and business strategies and business plans;

‹Business Objectives , etc.›

Please see “Aspiration of the MS&AD Insurance Group” on our company web site.

 

‹Business strategies and business plans›

Please see our group's Medium-Term Management Plan, “FY2022-2025” on our company web site. 

(ⅱ) Basic policy and guidelines on corporate governance;

1. In line with its Corporate Philosophy (Mission), MS&AD, as a holding company overseeing all group businesses, has established a management framework that ensures transparent, fair, swift and decisive decision-making that takes into account the standpoint of all stakeholders. The Company’s objectives are to sustain stability and consistent growth over the long term by using corporate resources efficiently and managing risks properly and ultimately, to further increase corporate value.
2. The “MS&AD Insurance Group Corporate Philosophy (Mission), Corporate Vision and Code of Conduct (Values)” were formulated as something all officers and employees of the Group should adhere to in all situations. In addition to working to disseminate these principles among all officers and employees of the Company and its Group companies, the Company positions corporate governance, compliance and risk management as important management issues in the Medium-term Management Plan and actively promotes that Plan.

(ⅲ) Board policies and procedures in determining the remuneration of the senior management of Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members;

Please see to II.1 “Disclosure of Policy on Determining Remuneration Amounts and Calculation Methods <Remuneration Determination Processes>” in the “Corporate Governance Report”.

(ⅳ)Board policies and procedures in the appointment and dismissal of the senior management and the nomination of directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members candidates;

(ⅴ)Explanations with respect to the individual appointments, dismissals and nominations.

Please see [Reasons for selection as a candidate] in the “Notice of Convocation of Annual Shareholders Meeting” (page 10-20)

Supplementary Principle 3.1.3 Initiatives for sustainability, etc.;

a. Initiatives for sustainability
Please see our “Sustainability Report”.
b. For information on the impact of climate change risks and opportunities on our business activities and earnings,
please see our “TCFD Report”.
c. Impact of natural capital risks and opportunities on business activities, earnings, etc.
By providing solutions and products that help improve the sustainability of natural capital, our group will build a sustainable relationship between natural capital and business activities and contribute to coexistence with the global environment.
For more information, please visit our company website here.
d. Investment in human capital and intellectual property
(a) Human capital
Please see page 85-88 in  “Integrated Report 2022”.
(b) Intellectual property
Regarding investment in intellectual property in our group, base on CSV × DX, we are developing new services that come before and after coverage and protection using digital data. In addition, Digitalization Committee has been set up as a task group to regularly discuss the promotion of digitalization.
In addition, through investment in startup companies, we are collaborating with these companies to make use of cutting-edge  technology  to provide  new  services  and  enhance business  operations.  The  main  activities  are  as follows.
・Providing new services for individuals and companies that contribute to risk measurement (quantification) and security and safety measures for customers
*Our  company  provides  Climate  Change  Risk  Analysis  Venture  Jupiter  Intelligence  Launches  TCFD Quantitative Assessment Service for Climate Change Impact ~ Global Assessment of the Impact of Natural Disaster Risks Due to Climate Change ~
・Enhancing  and  streamlining  operations  such  as  product  development,  insurance  underwriting,  and  claims services.

Supplementary Principle 4.1 ① Scope and content of the matters delegated to the management

Please see Chapter 3. 2 “Role of the Board of Directors” in the “Basic Policies on Corporate Governance.

Principle 4.9 Criteria of determining the independence of outside directors

Please see 1. (1) “Eligibility” and 1. (3) “Independence” of “Criteria for the Selection of Director Candidates and Audit & Supervisory Board Member Candidates.

Supplementary Principle 4.10.1 Policy, authority and role, etc. regarding the independence of the Committee structure

Please see the following;
・II1.  [Directors] ”Committee’s Name, Composition and Attributes of Chairperson”  and its Supplementary Explanation
・Chapter 3. 10. Nomination Process and 11. Process of Determining Remuneration in the attached “Basic Policies on Corporate Governance”

Supplementary Principle 4.11 ① Policies on the Board of Directors' Overall Balance of Expertise, Experience, Capabilities, Diversity, and Scale

  • 5 of the 11 Directors (8 men and 3 women) and 2 of the 4 Audit & Supervisory Board Members (2 men and 2 women) have been appointed from outside the Company to incorporate perspectives independent from management, strengthen monitoring and oversight functions, and conduct highly transparent management. Our company selects the skills necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the Board of Directors, creates a skills matrix, and confirms that the Board as a whole has the necessary skills. The Board of Directors as a whole strives to ensure diversity, including gender, race and nationality, while considering the balance of knowledge, experience and abilities of the Board of Directors as a whole.
  • In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements under the Companies Act and the Insurance Business Act, outside directors are selected based on their skills in areas such as corporate management, human resources, human resource development and legal affairs, which are generally required. In addition, outside directors are selected based on their skills based on the characteristics of our group's business, such as insurance business and internationality, as well as their knowledge and experience in areas such as IT and digital sustainability.
  • Director candidates other than Outside Director candidates must meet legal eligibility requirements. In addition, with the goal of selecting candidates able to accurately and fairly supervise the overall management of insurance companies, candidates are selected based on consideration of specialized expertise, such as that stemming from extensive experience working as a manager in an insurance company as well as on consideration of varied experience, highly specialized experience, and the ability to exercise leadership in accordance with the Company's corporate philosophy.
  • At least one candidate for Audit & Supervisory Board Member must have sufficient knowledge of accounting or finance.
  • Please note that there are no concerns that the interests of these Outside Directors and Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members of the various companies will be in conflict, in terms of human, capital, transactions, or other relationships, with the interests of shareholders in general. These Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members are independent, and their names as independent outside officers have been filed with the Tokyo Stock Exchange Co., Ltd., and Nagoya Stock Exchange Co., Ltd.
  • Skills Matrix of the Board
    ・The Company deliberated regarding skills necessary to assure the effectiveness of the Board of Directors (knowledge, experience, and capability), and from the standpoint of supervising the decisions made and execution of duties on matters required for management strategy, we set forth the following.
    1. Base skills that are generally required
      “Corporate management”,  “human resources and human asset development”, “legal affairs and compliance”, “risk management” and “finance and accounting”
    2. Skills complementing the fact that the core business of the MS&AD Group is insurance, and that we engage in business globally
    “Insurance business” and “internationality”
    3. Skills that take into account our current business environment and that are necessary to address business reform and issues considered important by the market  “IT and digital” and “sustainability”
    ・Furthermore, regarding Audit & Supervisory Board Members, we also consider “finance and accounting” to be important skills.
    ・As demonstrated in the “Skills Matrix of Director, Audit & Supervisory Board Member and Executive Officer” we believe that the Board of Directors as a whole has the necessary skills.
    *Please see to “Skills Matrix of Director, Audit & Supervisory Board Member and Executive Officer”in the “Corporate Governance Report”  
     

Supplementary Principle 4.11 ② A status for concurrent positions of Outside Directors and Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members

Please see [Important Concurrent Positions] in the “Notice of Convocation of Annual Shareholders Meeting” (page 15-20, page 45,46)

Supplementary Principle 4.11 ③ A summary of the results from analysis and evaluation of overall effectiveness of the Board of Directors.

1. Analysis and Evaluation Process

・As noted in Chapter 3.5 of the attached “Basic Policies on Corporate Governance,” an analysis and evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the Board of Directors is conducted annually.

An outline of the analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board of Directors for FY 2022 is as follows.
(1) Questionnaires conducted for all Directors’ self-evaluation and board evaluation

  • In order to incorporate external perspectives into the evaluation of the Board of Directors, we exchanged views with a consulting firm on the evaluation of the Board of Directors in fiscal 2021. A 12-item questionnaire reflecting the results of the exchange of views and a gap analysis on the importance and adequacy of the proposed Board of Directors meeting were distributed in advance, and the questionnaire was conducted in the form of an interview conducted by the secretariat.
  • With regard to the improvement measures (measures to improve functions in FY 2022) outlined in the board evaluation for FY 2021, we also checked to see if initiatives were being implemented.

(2) Exchange of opinions at the Outside Director Council

  • At a meeting of the Outside Director Council (consisting of all the Outside Directors), Outside Directors exchanged opinions about analysis and evaluation based on the results of the questionnaire.

(3) Summary of analysis and evaluation by the Governance Committee

  • The Governance Committee (consisting of all the Outside Directors, Chairman & Director, Vice Chairman & Director and President) conducted analysis and evaluation based on the results of the exchange of views at the meetings of the Outside Directors. In addition, based on the opinions of the consulting firms, the committee compiled measures to improve the functions of the board in fiscal 2023.

(4) We will promptly commence and strengthen measures for improving capabilities in fiscal 2022, and link them to a PDCA cycle aimed at enhancing effectiveness.

2. Summary of the Results of Analysis and Evaluation

Based on the content of discussions and the performance of functions at the Board of Directors meetings in fiscal 2022, as well as operational aspects and the training and information provided to outside officers, the performance of functions at the Board of Directors meetings was generally well received. The following is a summary of the activities and results of the evaluation of the Board of Directors in fiscal 2022 and the measures to improve functions in fiscal 2023.
(1)Fiscal 2022 Initiatives and Board of Directors Evaluation Results

  • All directors strongly recognize that the Medium-Term Management Plan is a commitment to internal and external stakeholders, and they check the progress in a timely manner. The Board of Directors discusses issues and measures and makes the best efforts to realize the plan.
  • Through dialogues with employees of operating companies and hearing their ideas and opinions directly from the workplace, we have deepened our understanding of the state of penetration of management principles, etc. in operating companies.
  • Important issues related to sustainability, such as efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions involving stakeholders and efforts to respect human rights involving employees, should be discussed in greater depth. 
    Gap analysis also indicated that it would be better to enhance discussions on sustainability and ESG.

(2)Measures to improve functions in fiscal 2023

  • Provide opportunities to discuss business investment projects from the early stages of consideration (In addition to discussions at the Board of Directors meetings, opportunities such as executive study sessions will be utilized.).
  • Expand opportunities to discuss important sustainability issues such as initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions involving stakeholders and initiatives to respect human rights involving employees.
  • Provide opportunities for outside officers to exchange frank views with internal officers (including executive officers of operating companies).

Supplementary Principle 4.14 ② Criteria for Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members Training

Please see Chapter 3. 8 “Support Systems for Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members” in the “Basic Policies on Corporate Governance.

Principle 5.1 Policies concerning the measures and organizational structures aimed at promoting constructive dialogue with shareholders.