Exploring the term “non-financial information”: an academics’ view

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 727-749
Author(s):  
Lara Tarquinio ◽  
Stefanía Carolina Posadas
Keyword(s):  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Corporate Disclosure ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Information Gap ◽  
As Species ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose With the European Union (EU) Directive 2014/95/UE, there is a growing interest in the corporate disclosure of “non-financial information” (NFI). However, no generally accepted definition of this term exists. This paper aims to reflect on the meaning and importance of the NFI definition by investigating how this term is defined in the literature and by exploring scholars’ cognitive perceptions of its meaning. Design/methodology/approach Two different research methods were used. A systematic literature review of NFI definitions was integrated with a survey to a sample of Italian scholars working on the NFI research topic. Findings This study demonstrates that the meaning of NFI is still ambiguous and multifaceted as neither a common understanding nor a single and generally accepted definition of the term exists. As the advent of the EU directive, this term has often referred to information about society and the environment, though most academics define and understand NFI differently, as corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues, intellectual capital information and information that are external to financial statements. These definitions pave the way for conceptualising NFI as a genus and its different understandings (i.e. CSR, ESG information, etc.) as species. Therefore, what constitutes NFI is open to interpretations. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes to enriching the literature on the meaning of NFI and providing further insights into explaining the heterogeneity of the NFI definition. Practical implications This paper provides researchers, practitioners and regulators with some novel insights into the meaning and understanding of NFI. It provides regulators and standard setters with knowledge for building a commonly accepted definition of NFI. Meanwhile, policymakers, regulators, practitioners and academics can contribute to establishing a definition by following three approaches: regulative, open and adaptive. This can help to avoid the risk of an information gap among stakeholder expectations, regulator requests and NFI reporting in practice. Originality/value The literature focussing on the meaning of NFI is still scarce. This study contributes to extending the knowledge of how the term NFI is defined and understood by academics.

The impact of the EU Directive on non-financial information: Novel features of the Italian case

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Lombardi ◽  
Antonietta Cosentino ◽  
Alessandro Sura ◽  
Michele Galeotti
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Purpose This paper aims to examine the European Union (EU) 95/2014 Directive’s impact on large public companies. It chose Italy as a pivotal country that made non-financial information assurance mandatory, going beyond the EU Directive’s original requirements. Specifically, it investigates how the UE Directive fosters institutionalisation of the non-financial reporting (NFR) process in organisations. Design/methodology/approach Two large public companies in Italy are used as case studies. Data are gathered from annual and integrated reports, institutional websites and semi-structured interviews with the managers and employees involved in different organisational positions. The authors adopted the neo-institutional theory as a theoretical lens to identify the organisations’ response to the (external) institutional pressures influencing corporate reporting practices. Findings The findings demonstrate how the EU Directive fostered changes to large public companies’ reporting practices and external pressures contributed to influencing changes to internal organisational practices in terms of new internal processes, procedures and structures. These changes are motivated by the companies’ need to guarantee reliable information to be produced in their non-financial reports. Practical implications This paper helps academics and policymakers to advance NFR practices by understanding regulatory factors that can foster changes in the internal reporting process and responsibility within organisations. Originality/value The findings provide some empirical insights to foster reflections on the EU Directive’s effectiveness in changing reporting practices. This paper contributes to enriching the literature on institutional theory in shaping mandatory non-financial disclosure by identifying the institutional pressures influencing the effectiveness of regulations to change NFR practices.

scholarly journals Performance Evaluation of the Implementation of the 2013/34/EU Directive in Romania on the Basis of Corporate Social Responsibility Reports

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Raluca Gh. Popescu ◽  
Viorel Costin Banța
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Corporate Social

The paper highlights part of the results of an investigation-based analysis. The research was carried out at the level of the 680 public interest entities with over 500 employees, for the first time enforced by law, together with the financial statements for 2017 reported in 2018, to publish non-financial social responsibility, the environment, and promotion of an ethical and sustainable business with sufficient and measurable care for the employees, the environment, and the local community. The analysis was extended to a representative sample of 246 entities, for which we analyzed both the degree of compliance of entities in Romania with their obligation to make non-financial information public and the determination of the level of compliance of the content of non-financial reports in depending on the minimum requirements of the directive. Thus, the most common published non-financial information has been identified, which has allowed for the definition of a sustainable and competitive business. The degree of compliance was also determined at the territorial, structural, and legal level. Moreover, this scientific study emphasizes the strong connections that exist between key concepts, such as: corporate social responsibility, intellectual capital, environmental protection, sustainability, ethics and integrity in today’s contemporary society.

scholarly journals Combining Financial Information and Corporate Social Responsibility Related Information for Characterizing Corporate Disclosure: Some Insights From Moroccan Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Youssef Saida
Keyword(s):  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Corporate Disclosure ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Corporate Social Responsiblity ◽  
Corporate Websites ◽  
Corporate Social

This paper deals with the corporate disclosure and therefore the option to predict the corporate disclosure through combining financial and non-financial information. In this paper, we study the corporate disclosure characteristics by investigating the predictability strength of specific financial performance indicators and corporate social responsiblity (CSR) related information. The sample of this research contains 58 organizations that had been awarded the label of the CSR in Morocco. A content analysis of corporate websites, financial statements and annual reports are used for each organization. Based on corporate disclosure content, two groups are constructed. We use four financial indicators for measuring the performance (financial information) and particular CSR related information (non-financial information) for these two groups. The discriminant analysis highlights to what extend specific information could predict the nature corporate disclosure content. As results, these indicators and information show different levels of ability to predict corporate disclosure content. Our findings, when confronted to the literature, explicit convergences about the predictability of corporate disclosure content.

Family business valuation in emerging economies: the arcor case

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-52
Author(s):  
Florencia Roca
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Country Risk ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Content Type

Learning outcomes This case can be used to help students achieve the following objectives: To project financial statements and assemble different pieces of financial information to create a valuation model (objective #1, create), To calculate a value for Arcor shares, supporting the estimated value with the chosen assumptions and methodologies (objective #2, evaluate), To draw connections between four different approaches to valuation (DCF, EVA, RV and VI), contrasting them and weighting their advantages and limitations (objective #3, analyze), To examine the relationship between forecasted financial statements and valuation (objective #3, analyze), To discuss the calculation of the Weighted Average Cost of Capital in a new situation as is an emerging economy, with the corresponding country-risk adjustment (objective #4, apply), To discuss the sources of value creation in a family-owned private company in a developing economy (objective #4, apply), To understand the dilemma that the head of a company was facing, identifying the three possible financing alternatives discussed in the text as follows: corporate bonds, earnings reinvestment and an IPO (objective #5, understand). To recall basic facts, as the main character’s opinion on the direction of the local economy or the fact that Arcor already complies with the information requirements of a public company (objective #7, remember). Case overview/synopsis This case is based on the valuation of the world’s largest candy maker, Arcor S.A.I.C., originally a Latin American company, which remains a private family business. The key problem presented by the case is the use of different valuation approaches to price Arcor shares, in view of a possible Initial Public Offer. The case illustrates the application of four main valuation approaches as follows: Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Economic Value Added (EVA), Relative Valuation (RV) and Value Investing (VI). Additionally, it includes a fundamental analysis of eight years of historical financial information and the preparation of forecasted financial statements. Set in a developing economy, the Arcor case introduces the complexities of calculating the cost of capital with the inclusion of country risk, as well as the financial analysis distortions caused by an environment of high inflation. Complexity academic level The Arcor case is appropriate to be used in graduate courses of Corporate Finance, Valuation or Private Equity. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

Developing trust through stewardship

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Dumay ◽  
Matteo La Torre ◽  
Federica Farneti
Keyword(s):  
Agency Theory ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Stewardship Theory ◽  
Extended Model ◽  
Corporate Disclosure ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Management Behaviour ◽  
Corporate Disclosures

Purpose This paper examines the gap between reporting and managers’ behaviour to challenge the current theoretical underpinnings of intellectual capital (IC) disclosure practice and research. The authors explore how the key features from IC and integrated reporting can be combined to develop an extended model for companies to comply with EU Directive 2014/95/EU and increase trust in corporate disclosures and reports. Design/methodology/approach This essay relies on academic literature and examples from practice to critique the theories that explain corporate disclosure and reporting but do not change management behaviour. Based on this critique, the authors argue for a change in the fundamental theories of stewardship to frame a new concept for corporate disclosure incorporating using a multi-capitals framework. Findings We argue that, while the inconsistency between organisations’ reporting and behaviour persists, increasing, renewing or extending the information disclosed is not enough to instil trust in corporations. Stewardship over a company’s resources is necessary for increasing trust. The unanticipated consequences of dishonest behaviour by managers and shareholders compels a new application of stewardship theory that works as an overarching guide for managerial behaviour and disclosure. Emanating from this new model is a realisation that managers must abandon agency theory in practice, and specifically the bonus contract. Research limitations/implications We call for future empirical research to explore the role of stewardship theory within the dynamics of corporate disclosure using the approach. The research implications of those studies should incorporate the potential impacts on management behaviours within a stewardship framework and how those actions, and their outcomes, are disclosed for rebuilding public trust in business. Practical implications The implications for integrated reporting and reports complying with the new EU Directive are profound. Both instruments rely on agency theory to coax managers into reducing information asymmetry by disclosing more. However, agency theory only re-affirms the power managers have over corporate information. It does not change their behaviour, nor to act in the interest of all stakeholders as the stewards of an organisation’s resources. Social implications We advocate that, in business education, greater emphasis is needed on how stewardship has a more positive impact on management behaviour than agency, legitimacy and stakeholder theories. Originality/value We reflect on the current and compelling issues permeating the international landscape of corporate reporting and disclosure and explain why current theories which explain corporate disclosures do not change behaviour or engender trust in business and offer an alternative disclosure model based on stewardship theory.

The effect of managerial and institutional ownership on corporate social responsibility disclosure

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 979-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurleni Nurleni ◽  
Agus Bandang ◽  
Darmawati Darmawati ◽  
Amiruddin Amiruddin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Institutional Ownership ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Managerial Ownership ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the effect of ownership structure that consists of managerial ownership and institutional ownership of the extensive of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure.Design/methodology/approachThe population in this study is manufacturing companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI), as the manufacturing companies are considered to have great potential on environmental damage (Mathews, 2000). The selected sample were the companies which meet certain criteria (purposive sampling) which published the complete annual financial statements from 2011 to 2015. This study used an analysis method using partial least square (WarpPLS) to assess the effect of the structure of ownership consists of managerial ownership and institutional ownership on the extent of the CSR disclosure.FindingsThe results showed that there is a direct effect of a negative and significant correlation between managerial ownership on CSR disclosure, and there is a direct effect of a positive and significant correlation between institutional ownership on CSR disclosure.Originality/valueOriginality of this paper shows PLS (WarpPLS) that applied to determine the effect between variables managerial and institutional ownership on CSR disclosure. This research is collected data financial statements and annual reports of manufacturing companies obtained from the Indonesia Capital Market Reference Center (PRPM), which is located in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), which there has not been research by the methods and the same location.

Corporate social responsibility, market reaction and accounting conservatism

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xixi Shen ◽  
Kung-Cheng Ho ◽  
Lu Yang ◽  
Leonard Fong-Sheng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Market Reaction ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Accounting Conservatism ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Financial Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose Non-financial information disclosure may reflect the quality of corporate financial reports or disclosure policy choices. The authors examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and accounting conservatism and also investigate channels through which such effects are transmitted. The purpose of this paper is to explore how CSR, as non-financial information that has received widespread attention, affects choices regarding corporate financial policy. Design/methodology/approach Using ordinary least squares regression, the authors analyze China CSR Score data for 2010–2018. They control certain influencing variables related to the nature and characteristics of enterprises and discover that CSR can effectively increase accounting conservatism. Then, they extract the components of market reactions to CSR and study the market reaction path of CSR as it affects financial policy. They also conduct a robustness test to ensure that the results are not accidental in a complex environment. Findings The results reveal the influence of non-financial information on firms’ financial policy. In addition, the results confirm the attraction of liquidity and investor attention as the major market reaction channels by which CSR significantly promotes accounting conservatism. Additionally, other critical paths of influence deserve further exploration. The results remain robust for alternate measures of accounting conservatism, different components of CSR, other proxies on CSR, endogenous testing and alternate estimation methods. Originality/value The study represents the first analysis of the influence of CSR information disclosure on accounting conservatism in emerging markets, and it undertakes a preliminary exploration to clarify the mechanism of CSRs’ role in accounting conservatism. The results also provide a policy reference for external supervision and internal governance of enterprises. Thus, the results can help company managers maintain a favorable corporate image and establish a high-level investor protection mechanism.

Rebuilding trust: sustainability and non-financial reporting and the European Union regulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 701-725
Author(s):  
Matteo La Torre ◽  
Svetlana Sabelfeld ◽  
Marita Blomkvist ◽  
John Dumay
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Accounting Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
The Eu

Purpose This paper introduces the special issue “Rebuilding trust: Sustainability and non-financial reporting, and the European Union regulation”. Inspired by the studies published in the special issue, this study aims to examine the concept of accountability within the context of the European Union (EU) Directive on non-financial disclosure (hereafter the EU Directive) to offer a critique and a novel perspective for future research into mandatory non-financial reporting (NFR) and to advance future practice and policy. Design/methodology/approach The authors review the papers published in this special issue and other contemporary studies on the topic of NFR and the EU Directive. Findings Accountability is a fundamental concept for building trust in the corporate reporting context and emerges as a common topic linking contemporary studies on the EU Directive. While the EU Directive acknowledges the role of accountability in the reporting practice, this study argues that regulation and practice on NFR needs to move away from an accounting-based conception of accountability to promote accountability-based accounting practices (Dillard and Vinnari, 2019). By analysing the links between trust, accountability and accounting and reporting, the authors claim the need to examine and rethink the inscription of interests into non-financial information (NFI) and its materiality. Hence, this study encourages research and practice to broaden mandatory NFR practice over the traditional boundaries of accountability, reporting and formal accounting systems. Research limitations/implications Considering the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis, this study calls for further research to investigate the dialogical accountability underpinning NFR in practice to avoid the trap of focusing on accounting changes regardless of accountability. The authors advocate that what is needed is more timely NFI that develops a dialogue between companies, investors, national regulators, the EU and civil society, not more untimely standalone reporting that has most likely lost its relevance and materiality by the time it is issued to users. Originality/value By highlighting accountability issues in the context of mandatory NFR and its linkages with trust, this study lays out a case for moving the focus of research and practice from accounting-based regulations towards accountability-driven accounting change.

Embedding corporate governance and corporate social responsibility in emerging countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigufta Hena Uzma
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Emerging Countries ◽  
Corporate Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Enforcement ◽  
The Government ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This paper aims to examine how the governance structure incorporates corporate social responsibility (CSR) into corporate behaviour in the perspective of the external environment within emerging countries. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the various CSR legislations enacted in the global context and in particular reference to the Indian Companies Act 2013. Findings The embedded relationship between CSR and corporate governance (CG) is an outcome of extensive dimensions such as ownership structure, stakeholder approach and other external environmental factors such as the government regulations and legislation, legal enforcement and corporate disclosure culture. Originality/value The enactment of the Companies Act 2013 in India has infused a new direction for the corporations in implementing CSR and CG practices. This paper throws light on the coverage of the Companies Act 2013 and various challenges faced by the companies in the applicability of the CSR and CG framework in the Indian context.

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