PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
Activist Investors in This Year's Shareholder Meetings
Nicholas Benes, CEO, The Board Director Training Institute of Japan (BDTI)

12:00-13:30 Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English.

Not too long ago, corporate Japan treated stockholders as an afterthought, and those who spoke out at shareholder meetings were missing a joint on one finger. Times have changed as the country has embraced investor activism in hopes of improving returns on the pensions that pay for its greying population. Ever since Japan rewrote its corporate governance rules in 2015, shareholders have raised their profile, with activist proposals rising from two to 66 last year.

We are now a decade into Japan's great experiment with revitalizing its capitalism, and this year's June season of annual shareholders meetings looks to be more energetic and contentious than ever. Management will be expected to answer for its performance as never before, with some of the biggest names in corporate Japan likely to face shareholder criticism if not outright mutinies. 

To walk us through the changes and what to expect during this year's shareholders meetings, we are pleased to welcome one of Japan's leading experts in corporate governance and investor activism. Nicholas Benes has worked in M&A and investment his entire career, and is now CEO of the Board Director Training Institute of Japan, which promotes the country's new wave in corporate governance and responsiveness to stockholders. Please join for what an informative and insightful dive into Japan's changing version of capitalism.

Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. To attend this event, the lunch charge for members is 2,500 yen (include tax) and for non-members 3,000 yen (include tax) and reservation/cancellation deadlines are at noon on June 3, Wednesday. Reservations and cancellations are not complete without confirmation. Please note lunch will not be served after the speech begins and working journalists and student members can attend the event after the meal service for free.

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live 　
Livestream will start at 12:30 after the lunch. 

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/XKMg7SALKrzRAUzW9 

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. 

As of May 19, 2025, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan will only allow its members to live-stream Club events. Non-members will no longer be allowed to live-stream. Live-streaming of most events will be available to watch to the public on the Club's Youtube channel. 

Professional Activities Committee