Horizontal Keiretsu

Horizontal Keiretsu

In Japan, a number of independent but related companies centered on and financed by a single bank and/or a joint stock company. A horizontal keiretsu is essentially a diversified conglomerate; that is, it may have companies in several completely unrelated industries so as to reduce the risk of loss if one industry or other has a bad year. A horizontal keiretsu is thought to promote sustainability over quick profits; however, critics of this system contend that it is inefficient.