Nissan says it’s ‘cooperating fully’ with inquiry by US Securities and Exchange Commission

TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. says it has received an inquiry from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Japanese automaker said in a statement Monday that it “can confirm that we have received an inquiry from the SEC, and are cooperating fully. We cannot provide further details.”

The statement followed reports by both Japanese and foreign media that the U.S. financial markets watchdog was considering investigating Nissan over its pay to executives in the United States.

Nissan’s ex-chairman Carlos Ghosn is facing charges in Japan of falsifying financial statements by under-reporting his compensation and of breach of trust related to his handling of investment losses and payments to a Saudi businessman.

Ghosn has been detained since his arrest on Nov. 19. He has said he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

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