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## Accounting Audit 

Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC serves as the Company’s Accounting Auditor. The Accounting Auditor and the Company’s Corporate Auditors maintain close cooperation by meeting several times a year. At these meetings, they discuss their annual audit plans and the results of audits, and they share important audit information. Furthermore, to ensure the reliability of financial reporting, the Company has established and is operating an internal control system for financial reporting that complies with standards generally accepted in Japan, and assesses the effectiveness of the system as appropriate. 

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## Measures to Improve the Internal Control System 

The Company has put into practice a group-wide system to promote honest corporate activities firmly rooted in a disciplined and sound corporate culture. The Company has established an internal control system in every part of the group and will further establish, develop and enhance sys- tems, such as the system to improve work efficiency, the risk management system, the system for compliance with laws and other matters, and the internal audit system, as well as promote systems and an environment for ensuring that audits by Corporate Auditors are carried out effectively. Through these efforts, the Company is working to ensure that the entire Astellas group’s business is duly executed. 

Details on this system of internal controls are available on the Company’s Web site, and in the reports concerning corporate governance submitted to the stock exchanges, etc. 

## Efforts to Invigorate the General Shareholders’ Meeting and Facilitate Smooth Exercise of Voting Rights 

Seeking to invigorate its General Shareholders’ Meeting, the Company sends out convocation notices three weeks in advance of its annual General Shareholders’ Meeting. We also hold such meetings on days when there is no concentration of other companies’ shareholders’ meetings. To enhance the environment for the exercise of voting rights, meanwhile, we utilize an electronic voting platform operated by a joint venture in which the Tokyo Stock Exchange and other entities own equity stakes. 

Astellas also prepares an English translation of its con- vocation notices and makes both the Japanese original and its English translation available on its corporate website. 

## Disclosure of Information 

Astellas recognizes that the timely and appropriate disclo- sure of corporate information underpins the creation of a healthy capital market. The Company has established the Disclosure Policy based on its policy to make timely and fair disclosure of accurate corporate information concern- ing financial results and other matters to participants of capital markets and the news media in accordance with laws, regulations and listing regulations. 

The Company has established the IR Committee, with the aim of implementing proper IR activities for investors. The IR Committee discusses matters, such as the disclosure of material information, pursuant to the Disclosure Policy. 

The Company’s main IR activities in fiscal 2013 included holding regular briefings on financial results for securities analysts, institutional investors and news media, as well as participation in conferences held by securities companies both in Japan and overseas. In Japan, we also held briefings for individual shareholders and other individual investors. 

