Corporate Governance

Basic Policy for Corporate Governance

The aim of the Basic Policy for Corporate Governance of MEDICAL & BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES CO., LTD. (the “Company”) is to establish a management system that functions efficiently and transparently in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

Company Organization and Current Status

The Company designs and operates its internal control systems for the whole group as necessary for decision-making concerning the execution of important Company business, to oversee the execution of duties by the Director(s), and to ensure that Company operations are carried out properly. The Company has continuously strengthened the function of management supervision, improved efficiency in decision making and execution of business duties, and enhanced the transparency and soundness of business management through the introduction of an officer system.
The Corporate Auditor plays a central role in monitoring management and provides auditing by collaborating with accounting auditors and the Internal Audit Department to establish and carry out effective auditing. Corporate Auditor may monitor Directors’ execution of duties sufficiently by attending important meetings.

Basic Policy for Internal Control Systems and its Current Status

The Company shall establish internal control systems to ensure appropriate operations of the Company (the “Internal Control Systems”) in accordance with the Companies Act of Japan and the Company Law Enforcement Regulations, as follows:

(1)Systems to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and the Articles of Incorporation in the execution of duties by Directors, Company employees, and Company subsidiaries

The Company shall establish internal rules related to compliance, including “Corporate Ethical Standards”, “Corporate Code of Conduct”, and “Compliance Regulations”, to secure compliance with laws, regulations and Articles of Incorporation, and to foster a sense of ethics concerning the execution of duties by Directors and Company employees. The Company shall disseminate the above rules to all Executive Officers and Company employees.
The Company shall establish an Internal Control Committee to promote the verification of, and compliance with, laws and regulations particularly relevant to Company business.
The Company shall establish a whistleblowing system and a compliance hotline for people working at the Company and its subsidiaries, to facilitate the appropriate handling of whistleblowers’ reports on actions that could be viewed as breaching laws or manifesting an equivalent wrongdoing.
• The Internal Audit Department shall periodically conduct an audit of the Company concerning the execution of duties, to verify the status of compliance with laws, regulations, Articles of Incorporation and internal rules, and shall report the results to the President and Corporate Auditor.

(2)Systems governing the storage and management of information concerning the execution of duties by Directors

The Company shall establish document management rules for the recording and storage of important information related to the execution of duties by Directors, in the form of paper documents or by electronic means, to enable inspection by Directors and Corporate Auditors at any time.

(3)Rules and other systems governing the management of various risks of Company and subsidiary losses

Various risks related to Company operations shall be handled by the responsible department of the Company and its subsidiaries. As necessary, the responsible Director and/or Officer shall appropriately take countermeasures and manage various risks, including the review of risk management rules, establishment of related regulations and guidelines, provision of risk-management training, and preparation of related manuals. For management of risks that may affect the Company’s business activities negatively and severely, the responsible Director and/or Officer shall manage such risks by implementing countermeasures as discussed during, and approved in, an Executive Officers Meeting.

(4)Systems to ensure the effective execution of duties by Director

The Company shall, in principle, hold Executive Officers Meetings monthly to enable sufficient discussion concerning important management issues and facilitate quick managerial decision-making. The Executive Officers Meetings shall consist of Directors, Officers, Corporate Auditor(s), and other employees who play a significant role in Company operations.
The Company shall establish systems to ensure that duties are executed effectively and appropriately in accordance with its own internal rules and parent company’s internal control system policy on authority and decision-making.
Each fiscal year, the Company shall formulate a mid-term business plan and theExecutive Officers Meeting shall be authorized to provide approval for such plans. During the year, progress concerning operating results shall be reviewed on monthly and quarterly bases. The responsible Director and/or Officer shall provide forward-looking reports and suggest measures for improving business performance to the Executive Officers Meeting based on the analysis results.

(5)Systems to ensure the appropriateness of operations by the Corporate Group consisting of the Company and its subsidiaries

Company shall appoint a responsible Director and/or Officer to ensure that operations by the Company’s subsidiaries are carried out appropriately. The Director x shall ensure the effective operation of the Internal Control System by supporting and providing advice concerning systems for financial reporting, compliance, and risk management to persons in charge at subsidiaries.
The responsible Director and/or Officer shall analyze the financial results of each subsidiary quarterly and report them to the Executive Officers Meetingof the Company.
The Internal Audit Department shall implement an internal audit of both the Company and its subsidiaries, and report the details to the Corporate Auditors and the responsible Director and Officers.

(6)Matters concerning employees who assist Corporate Auditors upon request, their independence from Directors, and ensuring effective communication from Corporate Auditors to such employees

Corporate Auditors may provide necessary instructions for auditing to Internal Audit Department employees. Upon consultation with Corporate Auditors, the Internal Audit Department shall implement an internal audit concerning matters requested by Corporate Auditors and report the results to the Director.
Transfers, evaluations, and disciplinary measures applied to Internal Audit Department employees shall be carried out with the consent of the Corporate Auditor.

(7)Systems for reporting to Corporate Auditors; Applicable to Directors and Company employees, Applicable to Directors, Corporate Auditors, and employees of its subsidiaries, and other matters on reporting to Corporate Auditors

Directors and employees shall promptly report to the Corporate Auditor if there are matters that caused or may cause serious damage to the Company or its subsidiaries, if illegal or dishonest actions perpetrated by Directors or employees are detected, or if there are other conditions requiring reports to the Corporate Auditor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Auditor may ask Directors and employees to report as necessary at any time.
The Company shall establish a system to ensure that no disadvantage to Executive Officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries occurs due to whistleblowing to Corporate Auditors.

(8)Other Systems to ensure the effective implementation of audits by Corporate Auditors

The Corporate Auditor shall periodically meet with the Company’s accounting auditors, President(Director) and Internal Audit Department employees to exchange views.
If necessary, the Corporate Auditor may consult with lawyers or certified public accountants to ask for advice from experts concerning auditing. For expenses or debts incurred from a Corporate Auditor’s execution of duties, the Company shall respect the views of the Corporate Auditor and bear such expenses or debts promptly and appropriately.

Basic Policy for Elimination of Antisocial Forces and its Current Status

The Company shall take a resolute attitude at the company level toward any antisocial forces, based on the following systems. In addition, the Company maintains normal contacts and associations with external specialized organizations, to acquire appropriate advice and cooperation to cope with antisocial forces.

(1)Establishment of Internal Rules, etc.

The Company shall clearly state, “We maintain a resolute attitude toward any antisocial forces that threaten the safety of the social order or sound corporate activities and shall never offer illegal inducements to such forces, irrespective of the pretext.” in its Corporate Code of Conduct. The Company strives to eliminate any antisocial forces involvement in its business, and categorically rejects any request from antisocial forces. In addition, the Company is developing internal rules to safeguard a rigorous implementation of this policy.

(2)Establishment of Internal Systems

The General Affairs Department is in charge of efforts to eliminate antisocial forces and the Manager of the General Affairs Department is the person in charge of handling issues concerning the prevention of unjust claims.
Through collaboration with external specialized organizations, the Company collects and manages information concerning antisocial forces. The gathered information is managed by the General Affairs Department and distributed to the related departments.
The Company has developed manuals on how to respond appropriately to contacts from antisocial forces.
As part of training, the Company provides briefings on compliance and internal rules targeting all Company employees. During such training, participants also obtain tips on how to respond appropriately to antisocial forces.