Asahi Kasei has confirmed that a former employee was arrested today by the Aichi Prefectural Police on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (UCPA) for purloining confidential information related to the company’s latent curing agent while employed and divulging such information to a third party, a Chinese company.
Asahi Kasei deeply regrets the concern caused by this matter to its business contacts, shareholders, and other stakeholders. As the investigation by the police is currently underway, Asahi Kasei is unable to disclose further information at this time. Moving forward, Asahi Kasei will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities.
Business contact information
Based on the investigation and confirmation performed by Asahi Kasei, the confidential information divulged in this case does not include any technical documents or personal information received from business contacts.
Prevention of recurrence
As Asahi Kasei believes that rigorous compliance in information management is critical, and has continuously implemented preventive measures and employee training, the company finds it profoundly disappointing that a former employee was arrested for purloining and divulging confidential information. Asahi Kasei is now applying the following additional measures to prevent the recurrence of such an incident.
1) Reinforced management of confidential information
- Strengthening group-wide measures to prevent technology divulgence
- Clear identification and categorization of confidential information; thorough application of stricter management procedures
- Adopting new IT tools for rigorous information management
- Reviewing permissions to access confidential information
2) Tighter policies related to departing employees, including mandatory pledges and stricter handling of company-issued computers
3) Thorough training of all Executives and employees regarding the management of confidential information
Asahi Kasei will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent recurrence while ensuring thorough compliance education for all employees, etc.
Future actions
Investigation by Asahi Kasei has confirmed that the former employee purloined confidential information related to the company’s latent curing agent while employed, and divulged such information to Shandong Shengquan New Materials Co., Ltd. (Shandong Shengquan), a Chinese company, after no longer being employed by Asahi Kasei. To protect its confidential information, Asahi Kasei plans to institute civil proceedings against the former employee and Shandong Shengquan seeking cessation of use of, and destruction of, the confidential information, as well as other remedies.
Furthermore, Asahi Kasei will continue to investigate whether the divulged confidential information has been improperly used, and should such use be identified, take similar firm measures against the parties involved.