WEATHERNEWS INC.
4825・Prime Market・Information & Communication
Governance
The company has a Board of Corporate Auditors. The Board of Directors consists of 6 directors (3 internal, 3 outside), and there are 3 corporate auditors (1 internal, 2 outside). The outside director ratio is 50%. A Nomination Committee and a Compensation Committee have been established as advisory bodies to the Board of Directors; both committees are chaired by an outside director, and outside officers constitute a majority in each. All directors serve one-year terms.
Risk Management
The company maintains a standing Compliance and Risk Management Committee, chaired by the CEO, structured under two subcommittees (the Compliance Subcommittee and the Risk Management Subcommittee), and conducts BCP development and scenario-based drills. Climate change-related risks are managed and reviewed by the Sustainability Committee, with the content also shared with the Risk Management Committee under a two-tier structure. The company operates an internal whistleblowing system, the "WNI Helpline," through multiple channels, and the Internal Audit Office regularly reports on the development and operational status of internal controls to the Executive Management meeting and the Board of Directors.
Shareholder Returns
Annual dividend for FY2026 (ending May 2026) is ¥107.50 per share (interim ¥45 + year-end ¥62.50, including a ¥40 commemorative dividend), with a payout ratio of 99.1%. The forecast for FY2027 (ending May 2027) is an annual dividend of ¥50 (payout ratio of 58.3%). No share buybacks were conducted.
Dividend Policy
The company determines long-term stable dividends by comprehensively considering the optimal capital level, investment environment, profits, and other factors, while prioritizing strategic business investments to advance its medium- to long-term business. In addition, the company considers flexible additional shareholder returns taking into account the business environment, capital efficiency, and share price levels. The basic policy is to pay dividends from retained earnings twice a year (year-end and interim). The annual dividend for FY2026 (ending May 2026) is ¥107.50 per share (interim ¥45 + year-end ¥62.50, with the year-end breakdown consisting of a regular dividend of ¥22.50 and a commemorative dividend of ¥40), a payout ratio of 99.1%, and a dividend on equity ratio of 16.6%. The forecast for FY2027 (ending May 2027) is an annual dividend of ¥50 (interim ¥25 + year-end ¥25), with a payout ratio of 58.3%.
ESG
In June 2022, the company expressed its support for the TCFD recommendations and disclosed scenario analyses for both 1.5°C and 4°C scenarios. As SBTi-certified targets, it has set a goal of reducing Scope 1+2 GHG emissions by 50% by FY2030 (versus FY2022) and Scope 3 emissions by 25%, and has additionally set net-zero Scope 1+2 emissions as its own independent target. On the human capital front, under the “Weather HR” model, the company has set a target of 20% for the ratio of female managers by 2030, and has achieved a male childcare leave uptake rate of 82.3% and a 100% return-to-work rate after childcare leave. It has established a global D&I promotion structure bringing together diverse talent from approximately 30 countries worldwide, and has set up a Diversity Committee (ERG).
Last updated: August 26, 2025