7-Eleven to accept JFTC’s order

July 28, according to Nihon Keizai Shinbun, Seven-Eleven Japan is set to accept JFTC’s order to cease discount banning and allow its franchise stores sell food products close to their expiry at discount prices.

Seven-Eleven is biggest convenience store in Japan, so the decision will affect rivals.

Hitachi to plan to buyout minority shareholders in listed units

July 27, according to broadcasting, Hitachi plans to buyout minority shareholders in five listed subsidiaries.

In Japan, listed parent-subsidiaries are practice and  Hitachi is not an exception. Hitachi has 16 listed subsidiaries.

The practice is criticized because it means lax corporate governance.

Hitachi is one of the biggest traditional Japanese company, so the plan could influence other Japanese company to follow.

Singaporean fund “Effissimo” sued Nissan Shatai to stop loans to a controlling company

Singaporean investment fund Effissimo Capital Management Pte. has filed a legal complaint against Nissan Shatai Co. which is Nissan Motor Co. group firm and loans to group firms with low interest.

Effissimo is major shareholder of Nissan Shatai.

In Japan, to list controlled company is not uncommon, so it is said that minor shareholders’ interest are deprived by controlling company in such listed controlled company.

It seems that Effissimo’s sue is revolt of minor shareholders.

Honda won trademark suit in China

July 10(JST), Honda Motor Co. won major Chinese motorcycle maker Chongqing Lifan Industry Group Co. in Beijing district court.

Chinese firm’s trademark is “Hongda”.

The pronunciation of  “Hongda” is almost the same to “Honda”.

But Kanji character of Hongda is completely different.

So Chinese government committee had rejected Honda’s claim.

The court acknowledged that Hongda is confusing  with emphasizing the similarity of pronunciation.