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 the debate over the elimination of quarterly disclosures has resurfaced, it is likely that quarterly disclosures will continue by consolidating financial disclosure documents into a single document.</li>
<li>There were concerns that TSE stock trading volume would decline if quarterly disclosure were abolished, based on the poorly reasoned argument that "quarterly disclosure encourages short termism among investors."</li>
<li>Financial Summary is required to disclose information promptly for "importance of disclosing information on investment decisions." Quarterly Securities Report is required as a legal document for "reliability of financial statements."</li>
</ul>


Although the debate over the elimination of quarterly disclosures has resurfaced, it is likely that quarterly disclosures will continue by consolidating financial disclosure documents into a single document.
There were concerns that TSE stock trading volume would decline if quarterly disclosure were abolished, based on the poorly reasoned argument that "quarterly disclosure encourages short termism among investors."
Financial Summary is required to disclose information promptly for "importance of disclosing information on investment decisions." Quarterly Securities Report is required as a legal document for "reliability of financial statements."


Japan's Governance: About an Article on Quarterly Disclosure Controversy

<ul>
<li>I would like to consider the issues in the Nikkei article regarding outside directors, based on a survey by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.</li>
<li>Compensation for outside directors is on the rise, but it’s higher for larger companies and differs from that of medium-sized companies. There are also issues regarding the disclosure of compensation.</li>
<li>Personal ties to management is the motivation for 22% of respondents to become outside directors. There is also gap between what the company seeks and what the outside director thinks.</li>
</ul>


I would like to consider the issues in the Nikkei article regarding outside directors, based on a survey by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Compensation for outside directors is on the rise, but it’s higher for larger companies and differs from that of medium-sized companies. There are also issues regarding the disclosure of compensation.
Personal ties to management is the motivation for 22% of respondents to become outside directors. There is also gap between what the company seeks and what the outside director thinks.


Japan's Governance: About the Article on Outside Directors

<ul>
<li>Regarding the Nikkei's article on the survey of companies with December fiscal year end shows that companies shifting to prime market have noticeably improved corporate governance, I considered the issues.</li>
<li>The reason of lifting % independent directors is because the prime market listing criteria included the ratio be at least 1/3, and many companies have raised it to that minimum.</li>
<li>The objective of the skills matrix isn't to create a skills matrix, but rather that it's a means to identify and recruit the human resources required for the future growth.</li>
</ul>


Regarding the Nikkei's article on the survey of companies with December fiscal year end shows that companies shifting to prime market have noticeably improved corporate governance, I considered the issues.
The reason of lifting % independent directors is because the prime market listing criteria included the ratio be at least 1/3, and many companies have raised it to that minimum.
The objective of the skills matrix isn't to create a skills matrix, but rather that it's a means to identify and recruit the human resources required for the future growth.


Japan's Governance: About the Article on the March Shareholders' Meeting Companies Update

<ul>
<li>This article will explore the differences in Metrical Universe 1,798 companies depending on whether the board of directors is chaired by an independent director referred to Nikkei's report. </li>
<li>Companies where an independent director chairs the board of directors have had mixed responses, with some practices considered not always positive in board practices.</li>
<li>In key practices, these companies are commendable in their approach, but many of them are not linked to profitability in terms of ROE and ROA, which doesn’t enhance the valuation.</li>
</ul>


This article will explore the differences in Metrical Universe 1,798 companies depending on whether the board of directors is chaired by an independent director referred to Nikkei's report. 
Companies where an independent director chairs the board of directors have had mixed responses, with some practices considered not always positive in board practices.
In key practices, these companies are commendable in their approach, but many of them are not linked to profitability in terms of ROE and ROA, which doesn’t enhance the valuation.


Japan's Governance: About an Article on Board Chair

<ul>
<li>Trust banks enhance their services to support IR-disclosure for mid-sized companies. These services include surveying institutional investors and reporting their opinions to the company, as well as searching substantial shareholder.</li>
<li>Medium-Sized companies have been reluctant to make IR disclosures and are eager to deepen their access to institutional investors. </li>
<li>This is due to the fact that companies that have not been able to meet the prime market listing criteria are faced with the need to increase their market capitalization.</li>
</ul>


Trust banks enhance their services to support IR-disclosure for mid-sized companies. These services include surveying institutional investors and reporting their opinions to the company, as well as searching substantial shareholder.
Medium-Sized companies have been reluctant to make IR disclosures and are eager to deepen their access to institutional investors. 
This is due to the fact that companies that have not been able to meet the prime market listing criteria are faced with the need to increase their market capitalization.


Japan's Governance: About an Article on IR Disclosure

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: About an Article on Quarterly Disclosure Controversy

On March 25, the Nikkei Shimbun published an article titled "Considering unification of financial disclosure documents; government to maintain...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: About the Article on Outside Directors

I would like to consider the issues in the Nikkei article regarding "the level of demands on outside directors is rising," based on a survey by...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: About the Article on the March Shareholders' Meeting Companies Update

Regarding the Nikkei's article on the updated survey of companies with December fiscal year end, this article will discuss the issues on %...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: About an Article on Board Chair

This article will discuss the differences in 1,798 companies depending on whether the board of directors is chaired by an independent director in...

Metrical Inc

Japan's Governance: About an Article on IR Disclosure

The Nikkei reported that trust banks will strengthen IR disclosure support for listed mid-sized companies on March 340. This article would like to...

Metrical Inc