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>It's unlikely that the transition to ‘company with audit committee’ will enhance the supervisory function, but it's likely to speed up the decision-making process by delegating authority to executive directors.</li>
<li>Instead of achieving 30% female board member and moving to Company with US-type 3 Committees at once, Toyota will implement Toyota's way firmly with BOD that is half independent directors.</li>
<li>The only way for Toyota, which faces several governance challenges, to uphold tradition of Toyoda family being at the top of management is to make the returns expected by investors.</li>
</ul>


It's unlikely that the transition to ‘company with audit committee’ will enhance the supervisory function, but it's likely to speed up the decision-making process by delegating authority to executive directors.
Instead of achieving 30% female board member and moving to Company with US-type 3 Committees at once, Toyota will implement Toyota's way firmly with BOD that is half independent directors.
The only way for Toyota, which faces several governance challenges, to uphold tradition of Toyoda family being at the top of management is to make the returns expected by investors.


The Toyota Way Is Not to Rush, but to Gain a Foothold and Proceed with Caution

Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Taiwan server revenue and shipment forecast for 2025 is expected to increase, reflecting growth in the IT industry. </li><li>Japanese government plans to invest $1 billion in Space Strategy Fund projects, highlighting a push for innovation and exploration in the aerospace sector. </li><li>SoftBank's $6.5B Ampere acquisition is a strategic move in the AI chip market with Arm, positioning the company for future technological advancements.</li></ul>

Taiwan server revenue and shipment forecast for 2025 is expected to increase, reflecting growth in the IT industry. Japanese government plans to invest $1 billion in Space Strategy Fund projects, highlighting a push for innovation and exploration in the aerospace sector. SoftBank's $6.5B Ampere acquisition is a strategic move in the AI chip market with Arm, positioning the company for future technological advancements.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (21-Mar-2025): Taiwan server revenue forecast 2025.

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The global auto industry faces significant tariff exposure. Option implied volatility offers a forward-looking assessment of risk.</li>
<li>Chinese car makers started to increase in implied volatility more than the other markets at the beginning of February. They now show the highest risk.</li>
<li>Recent implied volatility trends, asymmetric pricing (skew), and the term structure all seem to indicate that the Indian auto sector is the least exposed to international trade relations.</li>
</ul>


The global auto industry faces significant tariff exposure. Option implied volatility offers a forward-looking assessment of risk.
Chinese car makers started to increase in implied volatility more than the other markets at the beginning of February. They now show the highest risk.
Recent implied volatility trends, asymmetric pricing (skew), and the term structure all seem to indicate that the Indian auto sector is the least exposed to international trade relations.


EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a> announced a new Shareholder Benefit Program (株主優待 or <em>kabunushiyutai</em>). Often these programs are designed to give small unknown companies a way to build shareholder awareness/loyalty. </li>
<li>Toyota, needless to say, is not a small, unknown company building awareness. So this is a bribe or inducement to own shares or get people to use higher value product.</li>
<li>This is not a great look, and not great for shareholders. It smells of Toyota trying to buy votes as crossholders sell. But below we look at the math.</li>
</ul>


Today, Toyota Motor (7203 JP) announced a new Shareholder Benefit Program (株主優待 or kabunushiyutai). Often these programs are designed to give small unknown companies a way to build shareholder awareness/loyalty. 
Toyota, needless to say, is not a small, unknown company building awareness. So this is a bribe or inducement to own shares or get people to use higher value product.
This is not a great look, and not great for shareholders. It smells of Toyota trying to buy votes as crossholders sell. But below we look at the math.


Toyota's New Shareholder Benefit Program - Either a Bribe for Retail or Odd Advertising

<ul>
<li>Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's meeting with US President Trump shines the spotlight on potential US tariffs on Japanese cars. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor's (7203 JP)</a> high implied volatility expresses elevated risk.</li>
<li>Risk analysis suggests a range of option strategies. Implementation is challenging due to low liquidity in the Japanese market.</li>
<li>Option liquidity is higher in the US traded <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp-spon-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8245:1" rel="noopener">Toyota Motor Corp Spon ADR (TM US)</a> which is the preferred route of implementation.</li>
</ul>


Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's meeting with US President Trump shines the spotlight on potential US tariffs on Japanese cars. Toyota Motor's (7203 JP) high implied volatility expresses elevated risk.
Risk analysis suggests a range of option strategies. Implementation is challenging due to low liquidity in the Japanese market.
Option liquidity is higher in the US traded Toyota Motor Corp Spon ADR (TM US) which is the preferred route of implementation.


EQD | Toyota (7203 JP // TM US) - Option Opportunities Amid Tariff Tension

Japan

Toyota Motor Corporation manufactures, sells, leases, and repairs passenger cars, trucks, buses, and their related parts worldwide. The Company also operates financing services through their subsidiaries. Toyota Motor builds homes, produces pleasure boats, and develops intelligent transportation systems including radar cruise control and electronic toll collection systems.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Toyota Motor (7203 JP)

The Toyota Way Is Not to Rush, but to Gain a Foothold and Proceed with Caution

I would like to discuss the issues on the 26 February Nikkei newspaper "Toyota, half of its board members are outside directors, ‘challenging’...

Metrical Inc

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (21-Mar-2025): Taiwan server revenue forecast 2025.

Taiwan server revenue forecast, Japan's $1B Space Strategy Fund, SoftBank's Ampere acquisition, China's Empyrean Technology acquires Xpeedic,...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...

Gaudenz Schneider

Toyota's New Shareholder Benefit Program - Either a Bribe for Retail or Odd Advertising

Toyota today announced a Shareholder Benefit Program. It gifts money to small shareholders who hold a long time. This is portrayed as "thank you"...

Travis Lundy

EQD | Toyota (7203 JP // TM US) - Option Opportunities Amid Tariff Tension

Toyota Motor's high implied volatility indicates elevated risk due to potential US tariffs but offers opportunity as well.

Gaudenz Schneider

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

The Toyota Way Is Not to Rush, but to Gain a Foothold and Proceed with Caution

I would like to discuss the issues on the 26 February Nikkei newspaper "Toyota, half of its board members are outside directors, ‘challenging’...

Metrical Inc

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (21-Mar-2025): Taiwan server revenue forecast 2025.

Taiwan server revenue forecast, Japan's $1B Space Strategy Fund, SoftBank's Ampere acquisition, China's Empyrean Technology acquires Xpeedic,...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

​Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...

Gaudenz Schneider

Toyota's New Shareholder Benefit Program - Either a Bribe for Retail or Odd Advertising

Toyota today announced a Shareholder Benefit Program. It gifts money to small shareholders who hold a long time. This is portrayed as "thank you"...

Travis Lundy

EQD | Toyota (7203 JP // TM US) - Option Opportunities Amid Tariff Tension

Toyota Motor's high implied volatility indicates elevated risk due to potential US tariffs but offers opportunity as well.

Gaudenz Schneider

Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...