Intellectual property disclosure and corporate value in Japan

Objectives: This study quantitatively examines the relationship between intellectual property (IP) information disclosure—based on the 2021 revision of Japan’s Corporate Governance Code—and the financial performance and market valuation of Japanese companies. As the foundation of corporate value and competitiveness continues to shift from tangible assets to IP and other intangible assets (IA), companies’ strategies for investing in and utilizing these assets have become increasingly important. Methods/Approach: The analysis targets companies listed on the Prime and Standard Markets of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It applies two-group comparison tests to assess differences in financial performance between a disclosure (comply) group and a non-disclosure (explain) group, classified in accordance with Supplementary Principles 3.1.3 and 4.2.2 of the 2021 revised Corporate Governance Code. Both accounting-based and market-based performance indicators are examined to evaluate the relationship between IP information disclosure and corporate value. Results: The results indicate that the comply group, which discloses IP information, engages in more active R&D investment, achieves higher profit margins, and exhibits greater market capitalization than the explain group. However, no significant difference was observed in market-based indicators such as the price-to-book ratio (PBR), suggesting that investor evaluations do not fully reflect the business advantages associated with IP disclosure. Conclusions: These findings suggest that companies disclosing IP information tend to be more innovation-oriented and financially competitive. Nonetheless, such advantages are not sufficiently captured in market-based valuations, likely due to structural characteristics of Japanese companies, particularly in manufacturing sectors with large tangible asset bases. These structures reduce total asset turnover, thereby constraining return on equity (ROE) and PBR. The results underscore the need for improved IP/IA disclosure practices to enhance transparency, reduce information asymmetry, and foster better recognition of intangible value in capital markets.