Risk Management
Environment surrounding corporations is changing by the minute, and the related risks are becoming more complicated and diverse. Early detection and promptly taking measures are keys to effectively addressing risks. At SoftBank, we work to mitigate and prevent risks by identifying risks company-wide, building organizational structures to implement preventive measures and executing periodical risk management cycles.
Risk management structure
In order to identify and prevent materialization of risks, we adopt a management system to carry out internal analysis from various angles. Along with each department conducting reviews including risk reviews upon devising various measures and policies, the Risk Management Division conducts periodic identification of company-wide / comprehensive risks and checks on the status of measures taken and reports to the Risk Management Committee (which includes the President, COO, CFO, etc. as members and in which the Corporate Auditors and heads of the relevant departments also participate) that meets twice a year. The Risk Management Committee determines the level of importance and the risk manager (risk owner) for each risk, gives instructions to take measures, etc. and reports the status to the Board of Directors. The Internal Audit Division conducts an independent review of these risk management system / status.
In addition, we establish a reporting system for affiliates, and conduct periodic checks of business-related risks identified by each affiliate and countermeasure status from the standpoint of risk management for the group overall.
Risk management methods
We manage risks as a whole by executing a PDCA cycle that consists of (1) comprehensively identifying potential risks by carrying out annual risk assessment and determining prioritized risks and management policies at the Risk Management Committee, (2) implementing measures based on the management policies, (3) the Risk Management Division monitoring the status of the measures and (4) making improvements on the measures.
Yearly schedule
In order to manage and mitigate risks, we take the following steps over the course of the year to manage the PDCA cycle.
Addressing substantial risks
SoftBank selects substantial risks by taking a holistic view of risks through risk assessments of each division, interviews of risk owners, etc. and more and engage in risk management.
We work on a daily basis to identify, mitigate, and prevent risks by timely and holistically recognizing and addressing risks that can significantly obstruct business activities as a result of the rapidly changing external environment, etc.
- [Note]
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- *The Risk Management Committee supervises substantial risks with a Director having experience in the information security field (CEO Miyakawa) playing a central role.
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1. Risk related to management strategy
Risk items | Typical risk examples | Risk reduction measures |
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a. Changes to economic conditions, regulatory or market environments, and competition with other companies | ||
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b. Adapting to technology and business models | ||
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Risk of the SoftBank group being unable to respond appropriately or in a timely manner to changes in the market such as the emergence of new technologies or business models | Research the newest technology and market trends, conduct verification testing to introduce technically superior services, consider alliances with other companies, etc. |
c. Leakage or mishandling of information (including privacy information) and inappropriate use of products and services provided by the SoftBank group | ||
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d. Stable provision of network services | ||
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e. Corporate acquisition, business alliances, establishment of joint ventures, etc. | ||
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Risk of investee companies being unable to perform as expected; risk of business partnerships and joint ventures not producing expected results | Conduct sufficient due diligence when considering each investment to make investment decisions in accordance with the prescribed approval process |
f. Dependence on other companies' management resources | ||
(a) Outsourcing
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Conduct periodic audits of outsourced companies' work |
(b) Use of other companies' facilities
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Risk of becoming unable to continue using communication line facilities owned by other operators | Use multiple operators' communication line facilities |
(c) Procurement of various equipment
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Risk of supply disruptions, delivery delays, etc. in the procurement of telecommunication equipment, etc. | Build networks by procuring equipment from multiple suppliers |
g. Use of the SoftBank brand | ||
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Risk that our actions negatively impact the trust or interests of SoftBank Group Corp. and we become unable to use the SoftBank brand | Bolster the system for checking prior to using the brand, release materials related to brand use, and conduct training |
h. Service interruption or degradation due to related system failure | ||
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Risk of becoming unable to continuously provide service for customer-facing systems, the PayPay smartphone payment system, etc. due to human error, equipment/system problems, cyber attack by a third party, hacking, or other unauthorized access | Add redundancy to the network and clarify recovery procedures in case of failure or other accidents |
i. Training and securing human resources | ||
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2. Risk related to laws, regulations,
and compliance
Risk items | Typical risk examples | Risk reduction measures |
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a. Laws, regulations, systems, etc. | ||
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b. Lawsuits, etc. | ||
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Risk of negatively impacting the SoftBank group's corporate image due to infringing upon the rights of a third party | Confirm laws, regulations, systems, and agreement terms on contracts, etc. |
3. Risk related to finance and accounting
Risk items | Typical risk examples | Risk reduction measures |
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a. Fund procurement and leasing | ||
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Risk of increased fund procurement cost due to rising interest rates, etc. | Build a financial base to hold sufficient funds by diversifying means of fund procurement |
b. Changes to accounting and tax systems | ||
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Risk of impact to the SoftBank group's business development, financial condition, and performance due to additional tax burden caused by changes to accounting/tax systems, etc. | Consult with external experts such as tax advisors as necessary |
c. Impairment loss | ||
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Risk of impact to the SoftBank group's business development, financial condition, and performance due to impairment loss | Build a system for periodic monitoring |
4. Other
Risk items | Typical risk examples | Risk reduction measures |
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a. Leadership team | ||
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Risk of impact to the SoftBank group's business development if unforeseen circumstances affect the leadership team | Build an organizational structure that can take over work duties |
b. Relationship with the parent company | ||
Parent company control or substantial influence over matters to be resolved at a general meeting of shareholders
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Possibility of the parent company having substantial influence over matters to be resolved at a general meeting of shareholders | Exercise the option to establish a Special Committee, nominating committee and compensation committee in order to ensure independence |
Emerging risks
In addition, SoftBank also reviews risks on a periodic basis to identify and manage emerging risks that can potentially have a substantial impact on the business*1. We consider these identified emerging risks from short-term and medium- to long-term standpoints*2 and take measures to address them.
The emerging risks for FY 2022 are as follows.
- [Notes]
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- *1Risks that do not currently exist or are not recognized, but may appear or change due to changes in the external environment, etc. and can potentially have a substantial impact on the business that requires changes to business strategy or business models.
- *2In general, we consider “medium- to long-term” to be a timeframe of three to five years or longer.
- *1
International affairs
(including economic security, etc.)
Risk definition | Risk of restrictions on or difficulty continuing SoftBank business due to worsening political, social, military, or cultural relations or rising tension between countries |
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Typical risk examples |
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Impact on business |
SoftBank has offices and affiliated companies in Europe, America, Asia, and around the world, provides products and services to domestic and international customers, and procures telecommunications equipment, products for our customers, and development materials from a wide range of domestic and international suppliers. We work with many international suppliers in the telecommunications business in particular, creating the potential for substantial business impacts from issues such as confrontation between countries on the international stage, regional conflicts, terrorism, and military action. In addition, our telecommunications business uses large amounts of electricity at base stations, network facilities, data centers, etc. to provide our customers with a high-quality communication environment, and 5G requires more power than 4G. Based on these conditions: In the short term, there is a possibility of global shipping delays for telecommunications-related equipment due to aviation or marine shipping restrictions imposed by countries in conflict or related countries, shortages of semiconductors for mobile devices, etc. due to logistical delays in affected regions, supply chain disruptions due to delays or suspension of suppliers' business activities caused by cyber attacks in retaliation for sanctions on countries in conflict, etc. These may have a large impact on SoftBank's telecommunications business. In the medium- to long-term, there is a possibility of costs involved in changing suppliers or equipment for base stations or network equipment as a result of conflict increasing crude oil prices and leading in turn to cost increases for shipping, etc. in the supply chain, or changes in the international political landscape leading to changes to national policy or regulations. There is also a possibility that SoftBank's business development, financial condition, and performance will be impacted in the event that changes in the international political landscape lead to regulations or restrictions on suppliers and combine with global increases in crude oil prices, etc. to result in continued increases in power prices, or in the event that obstacles to energy procurement will lead to difficulty in providing a stable supply of services and products. |
Countermeasures |
We are monitoring and gathering information on international situations, and laws and regulations in countries where it provides services as well as countries where suppliers are based, as well as consult with external experts as necessary to: |
Climate change
Risk definition | Risk of financial losses from adoption of carbon taxes and renewable energy and increased restoration/maintenance costs due to frequency and severity of natural disasters; risk of damage to society's trust and confidence in SoftBank as a result of insufficiently responding to environmental issues |
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Typical risk examples |
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Impact on business |
SoftBank's telecommunications business uses large amounts of electricity at base stations, network facilities, data centers, etc. to provide our customers with a high-quality communication environment, and 5G requires more power than 4G. As we work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions: In the short term, there is a possibility that our business development, financial condition, and performance will be impacted by increased power costs due to the shift to renewable energy. In addition, there is a possibility that business operations will be impacted in the event that the SoftBank group's efforts or disclosures related to climate change are seen as insufficient, or in the event that we are unable to win the understanding of customers, employees, suppliers, investors, communities, nations, government agencies, etc. In the medium- to long-term, there is a possibility of increased tax burden due to adoption of carbon taxes, etc. as well as a possibility of increased restoration/maintenance costs due to frequency and severity of natural disasters and resulting equipment damage. In the event that energy procurement costs continue to rise as a result of increased demand due to the shift toward renewable energy, there is a possibility that power procurement costs for base stations, data centers, etc. will be affected, impacting our business development, financial condition, and performance. |
Countermeasures |
We aim to switch the power used for business activities to 100% virtual renewable energy*1 by 2030*2, the year targeted for achievement of SDGs. We are also working toward “Carbon Neutral 2030” to achieve virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions through the use of AI, IoT, and other cutting-edge technologies for energy conservation. In the short term, we bolster our efforts and promote energy conservation by using renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions for base station power consumption (which makes up the majority of the electrical power used in our business activities), transitioning to energy-saving equipment, and improving the efficiency of energy use by expanding the use of IoT and AI. We are making progress on greenhouse gas emission reduction by implementing energy conservation in steps, from 30% renewable energy for base station power consumption in FY 2020 to 50% in FY 2021 and 70% in FY 2022. We also offer information about our CO2 reduction efforts to help promote understanding of our efforts. In the medium- to long-term, we continue to work to promote redundancy in the core network and secure communications during disasters using a moored balloon radio relay system in order to bolster efforts to prevent and mitigate disasters. In addition, as one initiative aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in 2030, we are currently working on the joint development of large-capacity, high specific energy density, and lightweight lithium ion batteries. |
- [Notes]
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- *1Refers to electricity that is essentially 100% renewable energy that utilizes non-fossil fuel certificates that specify renewable energy.
- *2Targets Scope 1 (direct emissions of greenhouse gas by SoftBank) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions through use of electricity, heat, and steam provided by other companies) for SoftBank Corp.
- *1
Addressing emergency
In a major disaster, personnel from each company will gather and analyze information on the damage in their areas of responsibility. Based on the impact of the damage, an Emergency Response Headquarters will be established and take action to rapidly restore the telecommunications network.
Emergency response headquaters structure
Structure based on disaster response agreements
To assist swift restoration efforts in the event of a major disaster or emergency, SoftBank has signed “Disaster Response Agreements” with Japan's Ministry of Defense and the Japan Coast Guard for the purpose of securing communications and mutually cooperating in a wide range of areas.
As communications are a necessary means of assisting life-saving activities following a disaster, SoftBank provides satellite mobile phones, SoftBank mobile phones and other communication equipment to the Ministry of Defense and the Japan Coast Guard. Furthermore, the Ministry and Coast Guard provides SoftBank with logistics assistance and the ability to use their facilities and equipment so SoftBank can better secure communications and conduct restoration activities in affected areas.
SoftBank will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Defense, Coast Guard and other related institutions in disaster preparedness and carry out its responsibilities to society as a communications carrier.
Emergency operational plans
SoftBank Corp. is working to ensure the provision of stable telecommunications services and to ensure the safety of customers in emergency situations such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks or pandemics.
Disaster operational plan
Japan's Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act was established for the purpose of protecting national land as well as citizens' lives, livelihoods and property, and to maintain social order and secure public welfare in the event of a disaster. The Act's disaster management system stipulates the roles and responsibilities of the national government, local governments and designated public corporations.
Under the Act, SoftBank is designated public corporations as set out by the national government, and thus formulate Disaster operational plans. The company has established systems for disaster prevention and preparedness, and in the case of disasters, respond in accordance with their Disaster operational plans while working closely with relevant government organizations and public corporations.
Civil protection
operational plan
The Law concerning the Measures for Protection of the People in Armed Attack Situations etc. (“the Civil Protection Law”) was formulated with the aim of protecting the lives, health and assets of citizens in the event of an armed attack and minimizing the impact of an armed attack on citizens' lives and on the nation's economy. The Civil Protection Law allocates roles to the national government, prefectural and municipal governments, cities, towns and villages, defines the roles of designated public institutions and delineates an organizational framework for protecting civilians.
SoftBank, which is designated public institutions, has developed a Civil protection operational plan based on the Civil Protection Law. In the event of the threat or occurrence of a terrorist attack, the company will coordinate with other relevant institutions in accordance with the Civil protection operational plan.
New flu strains countermeasure
operational plan
In its Guidelines on Measures against New Flu Strains, the Japanese government sets out strengthened measures to counter new strains of influenza for the purpose of protecting citizens' lives and health, and to minimize any potential impact on daily life and the economy. The Guidelines stipulate the roles and responsibilities of designated public companies and a management system for emergencies.
Under the Guidelines, SoftBank, which is designated public corporation as set out by the national government, is formulating Operational Plans in line with the government's action plan. Incorporating systems for before an outbreak occurs and after an outbreak occurs outside Japan, infection countermeasures and other items into the Operational Plans, SoftBank will work closely with relevant government organizations and public corporations to respond to an outbreak.