Executive Director, Metrical Inc

Aki Matsumoto

Executive Director

Independent Leading Corporate Governance Research

Metrical Inc

METRICAL INC. is an independent leading Corporate Governance research firm in Japan where Corporate Governance is increasingly recognized as an important element on corporate management in these days. Thus, CG research and solutions would become an essential component of global capital markets and play important to contribute to transparency of the markets and maximize shareholders’ value in Japan. 

METRICAL INC. provides Corporate Governance research and analysis including rating services, and  also offers investment research and IR services with solutions and customized profound research on CG and IR issues.

<ul>
<li>Regarding "ESG Funds Performance" featured in Rapid Response, I would like to consider it in conjunction with an article on ESG funds that was published in Nikkei on February 6.</li>
<li>In fact, ESG funds are already underperforming when it comes to active funds. It is believed that there have been issues with stock picks.</li>
<li>As far environment, Metrical doesn’t believe in excluding it because it is in energy/commodities sector. We look at how the company is thinking and acting and moving forward on ESG.</li>
</ul>


Regarding "ESG Funds Performance" featured in Rapid Response, I would like to consider it in conjunction with an article on ESG funds that was published in Nikkei on February 6.
In fact, ESG funds are already underperforming when it comes to active funds. It is believed that there have been issues with stock picks.
As far environment, Metrical doesn’t believe in excluding it because it is in energy/commodities sector. We look at how the company is thinking and acting and moving forward on ESG.


Japan's Governance: ESG Fund Considerations

<ul>
<li>I would like to explore again how companies that have chosen the prime market have improved their corporate governance practices by the degree of improvement in ROA.</li>
<li>Improvements in corporate governance practices for companies that improved ROA by more than 2% were advanced in many of the criteria other than items that newly stated in listing criteria.</li>
<li>Companies that have improved their profitability may have confirmed that they have begun to move toward more effective use of cash and assets. If so, there are signs of hope.</li>
</ul>


I would like to explore again how companies that have chosen the prime market have improved their corporate governance practices by the degree of improvement in ROA.
Improvements in corporate governance practices for companies that improved ROA by more than 2% were advanced in many of the criteria other than items that newly stated in listing criteria.
Companies that have improved their profitability may have confirmed that they have begun to move toward more effective use of cash and assets. If so, there are signs of hope.


Japan's Governance: Improvement in Governance of Companies that Chose Prime Market in ROA Change

<ul>
<li>According to data disclosed by TSE, the number of companies participating in the electronic voting platform increased 530 companies from 1,010 in June 2021 to 1,540 as of March 4.</li>
<li>Looking at the 1,540 companies by new market-segment, 92.8% of the companies chose the prime market, which is greatly influenced by "electronic voting platform" requirement in prime market listing criteria.</li>
<li>Based on the selected market results published by TSE, 77.7% of the companies that chose prime market are participating in the electronic voting platform, while 22.3% are not yet participating.</li>
</ul>


According to data disclosed by TSE, the number of companies participating in the electronic voting platform increased 530 companies from 1,010 in June 2021 to 1,540 as of March 4.
Looking at the 1,540 companies by new market-segment, 92.8% of the companies chose the prime market, which is greatly influenced by "electronic voting platform" requirement in prime market listing criteria.
Based on the selected market results published by TSE, 77.7% of the companies that chose prime market are participating in the electronic voting platform, while 22.3% are not yet participating.


Japan's Governance: Electronic Voting Platform

<ul>
<li>This article discuss the degree of improvement in corporate governance practice initiatives over the past year, focusing on companies that have chosen a new market segment, particularly the prime market.</li>
<li>Many companies that chose prime market have made progress in addressing the listing standards, and as a result, have made improvements primarily in board practice criteria specified in those standards.</li>
<li>Retirement of treasury stock is also related to the listing criteria. For the other key actions, no significant trends were found, as it depends on the situation of each company.</li>
</ul>


This article discuss the degree of improvement in corporate governance practice initiatives over the past year, focusing on companies that have chosen a new market segment, particularly the prime market.
Many companies that chose prime market have made progress in addressing the listing standards, and as a result, have made improvements primarily in board practice criteria specified in those standards.
Retirement of treasury stock is also related to the listing criteria. For the other key actions, no significant trends were found, as it depends on the situation of each company.


Japan's Governance: Has Corporate Governance of Companies that Have Chosen Prime Market Improved?

<ul>
<li>This article analyzes the corporate governance status of 1,713 companies in the Metrical Universe that have disclosed their new market selection.</li>
<li>Companies that chose Prime Market were more advanced than those that chose the other markets in the % of independent directors and the independence of their nominating and compensation committees.</li>
<li>Key actions show that companies that chose Prime Market outperform those that chose other markets in growth policy, dividend policy, frequency of share retirement and AGM disclosure, excluding policy-shares/total assets.</li>
</ul>


This article analyzes the corporate governance status of 1,713 companies in the Metrical Universe that have disclosed their new market selection.
Companies that chose Prime Market were more advanced than those that chose the other markets in the % of independent directors and the independence of their nominating and compensation committees.
Key actions show that companies that chose Prime Market outperform those that chose other markets in growth policy, dividend policy, frequency of share retirement and AGM disclosure, excluding policy-shares/total assets.


Japan's Governance: Prime Market Selection and Corporate Governance Initiatives

Japan

The TOPIX, also known as the Tokyo Stock Price Index, is a capitalization-weighted index of all companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The index is supplemented by the subindices of the 33 industry sectors. The index calculation excludes temporary issues and preferred stocks, and has a base value of 100 as of January 4, 1968.

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX (TPX INDEX)

Japan's Governance: ESG Fund Considerations

Regarding "ESG Funds Performance" featured in Rapid Response, I would like to share my thoughts on it in conjunction with an article on ESG funds...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: Improvement in Governance of Companies that Chose Prime Market in ROA Change

This analysis revealed something that could not be found in the overall analysis of the firms that selected the prime market by focusing on the...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: Electronic Voting Platform

On March 4, Tokyo Stock Exchange disclosed "Update on Participating Companies of Electronic Voting Platform". This article would like to discuss...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: Has Corporate Governance of Companies that Have Chosen Prime Market Improved?

In relation to TOPIX reforms along to TSE's market reclassification, this article examines how companies that chose Prime Market have improved...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: Prime Market Selection and Corporate Governance Initiatives

Companies have disclosed their market choice as to which of the new markets they will list on. This article will discuss the status of corporate...

Metrical Inc