(provisional translation)
Basic Operating Policies for the Financial Reconstruction 
Commission
Financial Reconstruction Commission
January 20, 1999 
Finance plays an important function in the economy by smoothly supplying the funds 
required for economic activities. For it to adequately fulfill this role, however, the 
financial system must be stable and enjoy the confidence of domestic and foreign 
participants. The facilitation of financial functions is therefore an indispensable 
prerequisite to the revitalization of the economy, which itself is one of the most 
pressing needs facing Japan.
Financial institutions sustained heavy damage during the collapse of the bubble economy 
and have been left with large amounts of non-performing debts. These debts have yet to be 
adequately disposed of, but institutions are already faced with even more severe economic 
conditions. This has been undermining domestic and foreign confidence in the financial 
system. We cannot procrastinate coming to grips with the bad debt issue any further. It 
must be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, international financial transactions are becoming more active and financial 
institutions are experiencing stiffer international competition. Japan must respond to 
these developments by moving forward with its financial system reform that will create 
dynamic financial markets on which free, market-based competition reigns. Accomplishing 
this will require financial institutions to abandon their tendency to follow each other 
and develop more distinctive business styles. Similarly, regulators will also have to do 
away with “convoy-style” regulation in favor of clearly articulated rules and more 
transparent administration.
The Financial Reconstruction Commission advocates that the following measures be put in 
place quickly and intensively. The goal of these measures is aiming to ensure a 
substantial completion of disposition of the bad debt, at least at the largest banks, by 
the end of March 1999, and to rebuild the financial system into a strong, unshakably 
competitive system during the period ending March 2001, i.e., during which the thorough 
protection for depositors is legally committed to.
 
  
    | I. | Assurance of the soundness of the financial positions of 
    financial institutions | 
  - Building firm trust in the financial statements of financial institutions is the first 
    step to restoring domestic and foreign confidence. Rigorous assessment of asset quality 
    and reserve provisions at financial institutions, coupled with timely and appropriate 
    disclosure, will ensure the soundness of the financial positions of financial 
    institutions.
 
 
- Financial institutions will be asked to clarify the exact situation of their bad debts 
    and carry out appropriate write-offs and provisioning so as to complete the bad debt clean 
    up as quickly as possible.
 
 
 
  
    | II. | Early strengthening of financial functions (capital injections) | 
  - Institutions must have sufficient capital to proceed with the write-offs of and the 
    provisioning against bad debts, provide smooth flows of credit, and cope with risks that 
    may be encountered in the future. When it is difficult for institutions to raise this 
    capital on their own from the private sector, they will, under the provisions of the Early 
    Strengthening Law, be encouraged to use government guarantees to seek capital injections 
    of sufficient size. 
 
 
- Restoring domestic and foreign confidence in the financial system will require the 
    rebuilding and restructuring of businesses and the realignment of financial institutions. 
    Financial institutions that fail to make these efforts will not be provided with capital 
    injections, while those that do endeavor to boldly rebuild their businesses and 
    rationalize their management will be given priority in the size and terms of capital 
    injections. This will improve the competitiveness and profitability of individual 
    financial institutions so that the government will be able to recover invested funds by 
    selling preferred shares and other capital instruments in the markets.
 
 
- One means of taking bad debts off balance sheets is to relinquish the credit, and there 
    are cases in which this is rational because it will help the borrowing company to rebuild 
    and therefore improve the certainty with which remaining credits can be collected. The 
    Commission will therefore allow capital injections to be furnished to financial 
    institutions that relinquish their credits, provided this is done in such a way as to 
    clarify the locus of managerial responsibility at the borrowing company.
 
 
 
  
    | III. | Resolution of failed institutions | 
  - Financial institutions that are judged on the basis of objective inspections by the 
    authorities to be unable to achieve sound management will not be allowed to continue to 
    exist and, as mandated under the Financial Reconstruction Law, will be resolved in a 
    precise and transparent manner that conforms to global standards.
 
 
- In doing this, care will be taken to protect depositors and sound borrowers in 
    good-faith. Steps will also be taken to maintain the efficiency of the financial system by 
    transferring the financial functions and corporate value of the failed institution to 
    other sound financial institutions, and financial advisors as intermediaries will have a 
    significant role to play in this process. Meanwhile, the management of the failed 
    institution and bad-faith borrowers will be held to strict responsibility for their 
    actions.
 
 
 
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