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.

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.

<ul>
<li>The speed of management reform in Japanese companies is usually slower than investors and shareholders expect. In case of small- to mid-cap stocks, the speed is much slower.</li>
<li>In small-to-mid-cap stocks, foreign ownerships are often lower than the average for listed companies, and older companies are often protected by cross-shareholdings. Therefore, engagement should be prepared for sluggish response.</li>
<li>The way to resolve this situation is for the company to break the silent shareholder structure or increase shareholders who can exercise their voting rights based on rational decisions.</li>
</ul>


The speed of management reform in Japanese companies is usually slower than investors and shareholders expect. In case of small- to mid-cap stocks, the speed is much slower.
In small-to-mid-cap stocks, foreign ownerships are often lower than the average for listed companies, and older companies are often protected by cross-shareholdings. Therefore, engagement should be prepared for sluggish response.
The way to resolve this situation is for the company to break the silent shareholder structure or increase shareholders who can exercise their voting rights based on rational decisions.


Patience Is Often Needed for Small- And Mid-Cap Company Engagements

Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Nexans S.A. manufactures cables.  The Company produces power transmission and distribution cables, wire rods, bare wires, winding wires, and copper and fiber optic telecommunications cables.  Nexans markets its products to the telecommunications, energy generation, aeronautics, construction, automobile, information technology, petrochemicals, and medical equipment industries.

Lucror Analytics' ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable). We assess Nexans' ESG as "Adequate", in line with its "Adequate" Social and Governance scores. The company has a "Strong" score for the Environmental pillar. Controversies are "Immaterial" and Disclosure is "Strong".

Lucror Analytics' ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable).  We assess Nexans' ESG as "Adequate", in line with its "Adequate" Social and Governance scores. The company has a "Strong" score for the Environmental pillar. Controversies are "Immaterial" and Disclosure is "Strong". 

<ul>
<li>The increase in net profit from the previous year outpaced the growth in dividends, which increased cash on hand for listed companies to a record high level. </li>
<li>Since the equity ratio of manufacturing sector is over 40% and there's little room for debt repayment, there's room for a considerable increase in dividends in conjunction with share repurchases.</li>
<li>If free cash flow isn't used to invest in growth and return profits to shareholders, rather than to pay small dividends to shareholders, cash on hand will continue to increase.</li>
</ul>


The increase in net profit from the previous year outpaced the growth in dividends, which increased cash on hand for listed companies to a record high level. 
Since the equity ratio of manufacturing sector is over 40% and there's little room for debt repayment, there's room for a considerable increase in dividends in conjunction with share repurchases.
If free cash flow isn't used to invest in growth and return profits to shareholders, rather than to pay small dividends to shareholders, cash on hand will continue to increase.


Cash on Hand Has Built up to a Level Where Small Shareholder Returns Are No Longer Sufficient

ams AG delivers a broad range of technology solutions for consumer electronics and communication device manufacturers. The Company develops intelligent light sensors, MEMS microphone ICs, NFC solutions, active noise-cancelling ICs, and ultra-low power solutions. ams serves the industrial, medical, and automotive markets with global headquarters in Unterpremstatten, Austria.

Lucror Analytics' ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable). We assess AMS Osram's ESG as "Strong", in line with its Social and Governance scores. The Environmental score is "Adequate". Controversies are "Immaterial" and Disclosure is "Strong".

Lucror Analytics' ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable).  We assess AMS Osram's ESG as "Strong", in line with its Social and Governance scores. The Environmental score is "Adequate". Controversies are "Immaterial" and Disclosure is "Strong".  

AMS Osram - ESG Report - Lucror Analytics

<ul>
<li>The increase in foreign ownership and the decline in cross-shareholdings have encouraged management reform. In order for engagement to be effective, it is essential to further reduce cross shareholdings.</li>
<li>Reasonable explanation of the reasons for such transfers as changes in the purpose of policy shareholding or contributions to retirement benefit trust must be provided in the annual securities report.</li>
<li>Rising stock prices increase the value of policy shareholdings. To accelerate the reduction of policy shareholdings, numerical targets should be published, such as by setting milestones.</li>
</ul>


The increase in foreign ownership and the decline in cross-shareholdings have encouraged management reform. In order for engagement to be effective, it is essential to further reduce cross shareholdings.
Reasonable explanation of the reasons for such transfers as changes in the purpose of policy shareholding or contributions to retirement benefit trust must be provided in the annual securities report.
Rising stock prices increase the value of policy shareholdings. To accelerate the reduction of policy shareholdings, numerical targets should be published, such as by setting milestones.


Amidst Changes in Purpose of Policy Shareholdings, We Should Note Whether They Are Really Decreasing