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>Although few shareholder proposals will be passed, companies that receive shareholder proposals and don't like the attention are likely to seek compromise and come to terms with shareholders before AGM.</li>
<li>Companies with low valuations have significantly lower ROE, ROA, market capitalization, and foreign ownership. In order to raise valuations, the first step should be to increase return on capital.</li>
<li>Companies with higher valuations can be expected to have begun to steer their board operations in an improved direction. Policy shareholding reductions can be considered as seriousness toward management improvement.</li>
</ul>


Although few shareholder proposals will be passed, companies that receive shareholder proposals and don't like the attention are likely to seek compromise and come to terms with shareholders before AGM.
Companies with low valuations have significantly lower ROE, ROA, market capitalization, and foreign ownership. In order to raise valuations, the first step should be to increase return on capital.
Companies with higher valuations can be expected to have begun to steer their board operations in an improved direction. Policy shareholding reductions can be considered as seriousness toward management improvement.


Reducing Policy Shareholdings May Be a Sign of Seriousness to Improve Management

<ul>
<li>Companies with the ROE over 15% have higher market capitalization, foreign ownership, and Tobin's Q, and naturally higher ROA, while the opposite tends to be true companies with low ROE.</li>
<li>Groups with ROE above 15% have generally improved their corporate governance practices, but they still need to address their use of cash in order to further improve return on capital.</li>
<li>It's clear that companies with low ROE have the form of board practices but not the substance, and that they don't have a clear policy for increasing return on capital.</li>
</ul>


Companies with the ROE over 15% have higher market capitalization, foreign ownership, and Tobin's Q, and naturally higher ROA, while the opposite tends to be true companies with low ROE.
Groups with ROE above 15% have generally improved their corporate governance practices, but they still need to address their use of cash in order to further improve return on capital.
It's clear that companies with low ROE have the form of board practices but not the substance, and that they don't have a clear policy for increasing return on capital.


Companies with Low ROEs Have Corporate Governance Practices that Only Make It So

<ul>
<li>Toyota Group and non-life insurances, which recently announced reductions in their policy shareholdings, are well-known for their large holdings, but a look at total asset ratios reveals a different aspect.</li>
<li>Companies with high policy shareholdings relative to total assets have lower ROE and ROA as well as foreign ownership, market capitalization, and valuations.</li>
<li>These companies with inconspicuously held policy shares are reluctant to take corporate governance initiatives and face many challenges in both board practices and key actions.</li>
</ul>


Toyota Group and non-life insurances, which recently announced reductions in their policy shareholdings, are well-known for their large holdings, but a look at total asset ratios reveals a different aspect.
Companies with high policy shareholdings relative to total assets have lower ROE and ROA as well as foreign ownership, market capitalization, and valuations.
These companies with inconspicuously held policy shares are reluctant to take corporate governance initiatives and face many challenges in both board practices and key actions.


Looking at Policy Shareholdings as a Percentage of Total Assets Reveals a Different Aspect

<ul>
<li>The "30% female board member goal" appears to be more about matching numbers with results rather than discussing the positive impact of diversity on the board.</li>
<li>Over the past year, corporate governance improved only modestly for all listed companies, but few that improved their corporate governance raised the percentages of female board members and independent directors.</li>
<li>Given the strong influence between improvements in governance and return on capital and foreign ownership, it's difficult for a company to transform itself without the reach of overseas investor engagement.</li>
</ul>


The "30% female board member goal" appears to be more about matching numbers with results rather than discussing the positive impact of diversity on the board.
Over the past year, corporate governance improved only modestly for all listed companies, but few that improved their corporate governance raised the percentages of female board members and independent directors.
Given the strong influence between improvements in governance and return on capital and foreign ownership, it's difficult for a company to transform itself without the reach of overseas investor engagement.


Challenge Is to Raise Governance and Return on Capital for More Companies Beyond Matching Numbers

<ul>
<li>Even with the 9% increase in share repurchases, the high level of cash on hand will likely be further built up, given the increase in cash flow.</li>
<li>Companies that have increased their valuations over the past year have further increased their valuations by growing their traditionally high valuations and ROE and ROA.</li>
<li>Cash allocation is a major challenge for all companies. Many companies have a payout ratio of 30%, and they have too much cash on hand relative to sales.</li>
</ul>


Even with the 9% increase in share repurchases, the high level of cash on hand will likely be further built up, given the increase in cash flow.
Companies that have increased their valuations over the past year have further increased their valuations by growing their traditionally high valuations and ROE and ROA.
Cash allocation is a major challenge for all companies. Many companies have a payout ratio of 30%, and they have too much cash on hand relative to sales.


Higher Valuations Require Increased Return on Capital to Attract the Attention of Overseas Investors

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)

Reducing Policy Shareholdings May Be a Sign of Seriousness to Improve Management

I would like to discuss the issues on the May 1 Nikkei Newspaper article, "Shareholder Proposals Have Sustained Strength in Share Prices Longer...

Metrical Inc

Companies with Low ROEs Have Corporate Governance Practices that Only Make It So

I would like to discuss the issues on the May 1 Nikkei Shimbun article, "70% of Listed Companies (120 companies) Increased Profits in FY3/2024,...

Metrical Inc

Looking at Policy Shareholdings as a Percentage of Total Assets Reveals a Different Aspect

I would like to discuss the issues on the April 26 Nikkei article, "ACGA Recommends Zero Policy Shareholdings in Principle."

Metrical Inc

Challenge Is to Raise Governance and Return on Capital for More Companies Beyond Matching Numbers

I would like to discuss the issues on the May 1 Nikkei Newspaper article, "Female Board Members: 30% or More, Only 10% of Companies Listed on Prime...

Metrical Inc

Higher Valuations Require Increased Return on Capital to Attract the Attention of Overseas Investors

I would like to discuss the April 23 Nikkei article, In summary, I have considered the April 23 Nikkei article, "Listed Companies Buy Back 10...

Metrical Inc