Compliance

For the SoftBank Group to continue to grow and bring happiness to people around the world for the next 300 years and beyond through the Information Revolution, it is essential that we conduct our business in accordance with not only the law but also the highest ethical standards.

Compliance and integrity must be the foundation for all our business activities. We always take action as we ask ourselves “Is this the right thing to do?” “Am I doing anything to deceive others?” and “Can I hold my head high when talking to my family?”

The SoftBank Group appoints a Group Compliance Officer (GCO) who is ultimately responsible for compliance on a Group-wide basis, and a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) who has responsibility for compliance at each Group company. Concentrating the authorities makes it possible to address compliance issues quickly and with flexibility. The GCO and CCOs plan and execute the necessary initiatives for the establishment and strengthening of the compliance structure to engage in corporate activities that adhere to high social ethics, in cooperation with compliance chiefs who undertake monitoring and education of each department in day-to-day operations.

The GCO and CCOs regularly share information at CCO Meeting, and also cooperate as appropriate to promote the establishment of a system or initiatives that raise compliance awareness and enables the identification and resolution of compliance-related issues.

A Hotline has been established to facilitate the early discovery, prevention and handling of compliance risk in business activities. All officers and employees of Group companies have access to this Hotline to report and consult if they become aware of any violation of compliance or any possibility of violation. Persons using the Hotline are protected against retaliation, and actions with regard to any reported compliance issues are taken as appropriate upon investigation of each issue.

Access is available to several hotlines. In addition to hotlines at each Group company, a Group Hotline has been established as a channel for reports and issues arising from all Group companies’ officers and employees. The Group Hotline has two contact points, with one staffed by internal compliance department personnel, and the other staffed by external lawyers. Reports may be made directly through face-to-face meetings, or by telephone, email or post, and can be made anonymously. For officers and employees in overseas subsidiaries, we also accept reports in English and Korean.

SoftBank Group companies conduct compliance training at the officer, manager, new recruit and mid-career hire levels, and by department on varying themes. As an initiative to foster Group-wide compliance awareness, we hold training sessions for Group companies’ directors and officers and Compliance Awareness Month for officers and employees annually.

Providing an opportunity for directors and officers to reaffirm their compliance responsibilities, the Group company directors and officer training sessions are led by external lawyers in a group discussion format that uses case studies.

Compliance Awareness Month is held annually for all Group companies’ officers and employees to raise compliance awareness. Throughout the month, in addition to e-learning lectures based on relevant case studies, officers and employees can test their knowledge and understanding of compliance matters through a “Compliance Test” on the intranet. Every year many Group companies’ officers and employees participate in the program.