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Examining risk reporting in UK public companies

Examining risk reporting in UK public companies Purpose This paper examines risk information disclosed by UK public companies within their annual reports. The types of risk information disclosed are analyzed and the authors examine whether a relationship exists between company size or level of risk and risk disclosure totals.Designmethodologyapproach No prior empirical studies of the risk information content of annual reports have been undertaken. To analyze the risk disclosures, a sentencebased approach was used.Findings Overall the results indicate that the companies sampled are not providing a complete picture of the risks they face. There is minimal disclosure of quantified risk information and a significant proportion of risk disclosures consist of generalized statements of risk policy. More usefully directors are releasing forwardlooking risk information. The principal driver affecting levels of risk disclosure is company size and not company risk level.Research limitationsimplications Further risk disclosure research is possible in many different areas. Crosscountry studies could be undertaken as could risk disclosure studies within specific industry sectors. A limitation of the sentencebased methodology is that it does not measure the quality of the risk disclosures and therefore different methods may be adopted in future studies.Practical implications Professional bodies attempting to improve risk reporting have not convinced directors of the benefits associated with greater voluntary risk disclosure. In the UK this has led to a mandatory requirement to provide better risk information being forced upon companies through legislation enacted by the UK government.Originalityvalue The area this paper researches is of particular importance given recent accounting scandals that have occurred. No previous risk disclosure studies have been published, therefore this exploration is also valuable in linking risk management and transparency. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journal of Risk Finance Emerald Publishing

Examining risk reporting in UK public companies

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References (9)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1526-5943
DOI
10.1108/15265940510613633
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose This paper examines risk information disclosed by UK public companies within their annual reports. The types of risk information disclosed are analyzed and the authors examine whether a relationship exists between company size or level of risk and risk disclosure totals.Designmethodologyapproach No prior empirical studies of the risk information content of annual reports have been undertaken. To analyze the risk disclosures, a sentencebased approach was used.Findings Overall the results indicate that the companies sampled are not providing a complete picture of the risks they face. There is minimal disclosure of quantified risk information and a significant proportion of risk disclosures consist of generalized statements of risk policy. More usefully directors are releasing forwardlooking risk information. The principal driver affecting levels of risk disclosure is company size and not company risk level.Research limitationsimplications Further risk disclosure research is possible in many different areas. Crosscountry studies could be undertaken as could risk disclosure studies within specific industry sectors. A limitation of the sentencebased methodology is that it does not measure the quality of the risk disclosures and therefore different methods may be adopted in future studies.Practical implications Professional bodies attempting to improve risk reporting have not convinced directors of the benefits associated with greater voluntary risk disclosure. In the UK this has led to a mandatory requirement to provide better risk information being forced upon companies through legislation enacted by the UK government.Originalityvalue The area this paper researches is of particular importance given recent accounting scandals that have occurred. No previous risk disclosure studies have been published, therefore this exploration is also valuable in linking risk management and transparency.

Journal

The Journal of Risk Finance – Emerald Publishing

Published: Sep 1, 2005

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