Any of the following will disqualify an individual from serving as an independent Director of the Company:
- Is an executive of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as "the Group") or has served as such within the last 10 years (Note 1)
- Is a current major shareholder of the Company (ratio of voting rights: 10% or higher) or has been such a shareholder within the last five years (Note 2)
- Is an executive of a corporation in which the Company is currently a major shareholder
- Is an executive of a major business partner (including its parent company and subsidiaries) of the Group that has made payments to the Group that exceed 2％ of the Company’s consolidated total sales in the most recent fiscal year or in any of the preceding three fiscal years.
- Is an executive of a major business partner (including its parent company and subsidiaries) of the Group, which may be defined as any company that has received payments from the Group that exceed 2% of said business partner’s consolidated total sales in the most recent fiscal year or in any of the preceding three fiscal years (Note 3)
- Is an executive of a public interest incorporated foundation, public interest incorporated association, non-profit corporation or other body that has received an annual average of 10 million yen or more in donations or subsidies from the Group during the previous three years, or donations or subsidies that have covered more than 30% of the organization's operating costs during that period, whichever amountis higher
- Is an executive of a corporation that has appointed a Director from the Group
- Is an executive of a major lender for the Group or has served in such a role during the preceding three years (Note 4)
- Is the Group's accounting auditor or is involved in the Group's auditing firm, etc., or has served in such a capacity during the preceding three years (Note 5)
- Is a lawyer, certified accountant, certified tax accountant, or other consultant who does not fall under (9) above and has received an annual average of 10 million yen or more in compensation (other than that for duties as an officer) during the preceding three years
- Is with a law firm, auditing firm, tax accounting firm, or consulting firm that does not fall under (9) above and for which the Group is a major business partner (billings to the Group account for over 2% of average annual revenues over the past three fiscal years) (Note 6)
- Is a relative of a person who falls under any of (1) to (11) above [except (6)] (spouse, relative within the second degree of kinship, or family member who is living in the same household with the person)
- Has served for over eight years as an independent officer
Note 1: An executive Director, vice president & executive officer, officer or some other person who serves in an executive capacity (referred to as "executives" in these standards).
Note 2: The Company's major shareholder at present or in the last five years. In cases where the major shareholder is a corporation, an executive of that major shareholder or its parent company or principal subsidiary.
Note 3: If the business partner does not perform consolidated accounting, the annual non-consolidated sales shall be used as the basis instead of the annual consolidated total sales.
Note 4: A provider of loans whose total outstanding amount exceeds 2% of the Company's consolidated total assets. Applies to executives of the lending institution and all fellow institutions in a consolidated financial group.
Note 5: The Group's accounting auditor or an employee or partner of the Group's auditing firm, or a person who was served in such a capacity within the past three years (including those who have already retired).
Note 6: A partner, associate, or employee of that firm.