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 fact that institutional investors consider whether a company has zero female board members when voting has led to decrease in the number of companies with zero female board members.</li>
<li>Since fewer companies have zero female board members but a minority of companies have at least two female board members, achieving 30% female board members seems somewhat of a hurdle.</li>
<li>While tenure and concurrent service of female board members are problematic, the starting point is to ensure that women have  a 30% voice on the board and to promote diversity.</li>
</ul>


The fact that institutional investors consider whether a company has zero female board members when voting has led to decrease in the number of companies with zero female board members.
Since fewer companies have zero female board members but a minority of companies have at least two female board members, achieving 30% female board members seems somewhat of a hurdle.
While tenure and concurrent service of female board members are problematic, the starting point is to ensure that women have  a 30% voice on the board and to promote diversity.


The Goal of 30% Female Board Members Is Somewhat Hard to Achieve Given the Current Situation

<ul>
<li>High ratio of female non-regular workers and low ratio of women in management positions are factors behind the gender wage gap. Government expects to correct the gap in individual companies.</li>
<li>Companies should improve making it easier for employees returning jobs after temporary leave for childcare/childbirth, and treating them in the same position they were before leaving after temporary leave.</li>
<li>In order for women to have access to higher education and for women to work without leaving the workforce temporarily, the values that endorse gender inequality must be removed.</li>
</ul>


High ratio of female non-regular workers and low ratio of women in management positions are factors behind the gender wage gap. Government expects to correct the gap in individual companies.
Companies should improve making it easier for employees returning jobs after temporary leave for childcare/childbirth, and treating them in the same position they were before leaving after temporary leave.
In order for women to have access to higher education and for women to work without leaving the workforce temporarily, the values that endorse gender inequality must be removed.


In Addition to Efforts by Individual Companies Values Endorsing Gender Inequality Must Be Removed

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.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. provides containerized cargo handling services. The Company also manages and operates the Manila International Container Terminal and port.

<p>Lucror Analytics' ESG Scores are based on a 3-tiered scale and are adjusted for Controversies (if applicable).<br/> We assess International Container's ESG as "Adequate", in line with its Environmental, Social and Governance scores. Controversies are "Immaterial" and Disclosure is "Adequate". <br/></p>

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

International Container - ESG Report - Lucror Analytics

<ul>
<li>Since Japan's gender gap index ranks 118th out of 146 countries, stagnating in the lower group, it will take a considerable amount of time to resolve the issue.</li>
<li>A shortcut to the improvement of women's status is to greatly improve the gender ratio in the legislature in order to change the current framework for improving women's status.</li>
<li>Behind the lagging 103rd place in the ratio of female managers is the lack of progress in higher education for women.</li>
</ul>


Since Japan's gender gap index ranks 118th out of 146 countries, stagnating in the lower group, it will take a considerable amount of time to resolve the issue.
A shortcut to the improvement of women's status is to greatly improve the gender ratio in the legislature in order to change the current framework for improving women's status.
Behind the lagging 103rd place in the ratio of female managers is the lack of progress in higher education for women.


Women's Empowerment in Japan Will Still Take a Considerable Amount of Time

<ul>
<li>The dissolution of cross-shareholdings and changing environment in which foreign ownership has risen to 30% have changed the view of activist investors. TSE is one such example of big change.</li>
<li>It's convenient that activist investors can use “TSE requested” language that is both easily understood and undeniable by the company when communicating with the portfolio company to improve its issues.</li>
<li>We must determine whether this is a temporary return to shareholders until the activist investors are removed from the shareholder list, or a shift to value-creating management.</li>
</ul>


The dissolution of cross-shareholdings and changing environment in which foreign ownership has risen to 30% have changed the view of activist investors. TSE is one such example of big change.
It's convenient that activist investors can use “TSE requested” language that is both easily understood and undeniable by the company when communicating with the portfolio company to improve its issues.
We must determine whether this is a temporary return to shareholders until the activist investors are removed from the shareholder list, or a shift to value-creating management.


Determine Whether Shareholder Return Is a Temporary Measure or a Shift to Value-Creating Management