Analysis of Intellectual Capital Disclosure Practices of the Annual Reports of Listed Companies in Sri Lanka

Author(s):  
S. D. Jayasooriya ◽  
Kennedy Gunawardana ◽  
Weerakoon Banda Yatiwella
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-149
Author(s):  
Nimalathasan Balasundaram ◽  

In the today’s knowledge based economy, intellectual capital (IC) is considered as a strategic asset which determines the value of the company. Different practices of disclosing IC information in annual reports that do not show the real financial position of a company, is a main problem in Sri Lankan companies. The objective of this study was to find out the impact of audit committee characteristics on Intellectual Capital Disclosure (ICD) of listed companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) for a period of five- years from 2012/2013 to 2017/2018. The ICD index comprised of 30 items in terms of Relational Capital Disclosure (RCD), Structural Capital Disclosure (SCD) and Human Capital Disclosure (HCD). The data was analyzed using correlations and regression analysis. Most of the Sri Lankan Listed companies disclosed ICD in text, sentences, pictures, tables and graphs in line with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines in their annual reports. ICD was measured by a disclosure index score. The independent variables comprised various forms of audit committee characteristics: audit committee size, frequency of audit committee meetings and audit committee independence. The study confirms that the size of the audit committee and audit committee meetings are important attributes to explain ICD in Sri Lanka. However, the study found a negative significant relationship between ICD and audit committee independence. Keywords: audit committee independence, audit committee meeting, audit committee size, intellectual capital disclosure


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Nicolò ◽  
Natalia Aversano ◽  
Giuseppe Sannino ◽  
Paolo Tartaglia Polcini

Purpose This study aims to analyse the extent and type of online intellectual capital (IC) disclosure provided by a sample of 117 Italian listed companies. The study also seeks to identify possible determinants of the extent and type of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) practiced by Italian listed companies via the Web. Design/methodology/approach A content analysis is conducted to investigate the extent and type of online ICD provided through websites by a sample of 117 Italian listed companies. Two multivariate ordinary least squares regression models are applied to estimate the associations proposed in the research hypotheses. Findings The results show that Italian listed companies are exploiting the potential of websites to satisfy the information needs of investors and other stakeholders in relation to strategic IC-based corporate resources, with a particular focus on external capital. For the most part, ICD is conveyed in narrative form. Moreover, while the size and board independence positively affect both the extent and type of ICD, profitability exerts a positive influence only on the extent of online ICD. Originality/value Unlike previous ICD studies, which focussed on annual reports, this study explores an emerging and innovative tool to convey ICD, namely, the website. In today’s world, websites are considered to be the most expedient and effective tools for sharing and transmitting information, including IC; they are a vehicle that can shift the IC focus from the organisation to the wider ecosystem.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mishari M. Alfraih

Purpose Drawing on market efficiency theory and studies on intellectual capital (IC) disclosure, this study aims to examine if IC information provided in the corporate annual reports of Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) listed companies in 2013 is value-relevant. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is divided into two parts. First, the level of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) of KSE-listed companies is examined using the content analysis method. Second, the value relevance of financial reporting is examined empirically using Ohlson’s (1995) valuation model. Findings The results reveal that ICD is positively and significantly associated with market value, suggesting that greater ICD is valued by KSE market participants, who incorporate it into their valuation models. Practical implications Given the importance of ICD in enhancing equity valuation, a practical implication of this study is to make managers aware of its positive and significant effect on equity valuation, which may encourage companies to increase their level of disclosure. Originality/value This is the first study of the association between the level of ICD and the value relevance of financial reporting for market participants in Kuwait. It therefore extends and confirms the prior literature by broadening its scope to include frontier markets. Furthermore, it provides empirical evidence in support of recent calls from regulators and professional bodies for information that supplements and complements traditional financial reporting.


Author(s):  
Kesara Prabhashwary Hewage

Purpose - This paper aims to examine financial ratio disclosure in annual reports, and the degree to which the primary ratio components differ between and within the firms, and the stability of ratios over a period of time, moreover the relationship between the companies’ profitability, leverage and liquidity. Design/Methodology/Approach - Out of 297 public listed companies in Colombo Stock Exchange, financial ratios which are presented voluntarily in the annual reports of 18 public listed companies in Plantations Industry in Sri Lanka, from 2013 to 2017 were examined. Findings - Findings indicate that there is a significant variation in financial ratio component composition through firms in Plantations Industry. Further Earnings per Share, Interest Cover and Net Asset per Share are stable over a period of time across firms while Current Ratio, Debt to Equity and Return on Equity are not and that there is a positive relationship between Leverage and Liquidity with profitability in firms. Practical Implications - The significant variation in financial ratio component composition might imply the incompetency of Financial Statement preparers in selection of proper components in calculation of financial ratios and as well might imply the intended manipulation by them through deliberate wrong selection of components. Originality/Value - This paper provides support to those financial analysts and investors who rely much on financial ratios presented in companies’ annual reports. Further identification of factors affecting to profitability of companies will enrich companies with useful information for decision making purpose. KEYWORDS - Financial Ratios; Ratio Analysis; Annual Reports


Author(s):  
Mishari M. Alfraih

Purpose Motivated by the increased attention on intellectual capital reporting (ICR) from regulatory bodies, practitioners, and researchers and the recent calls for companies to supplement and complement their traditional financial statements with intellectual capital (IC) disclosure, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the drivers of ICR among the companies listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE). Design/methodology/approach Content analysis was applied to the annual reports of all companies listed on the KSE in 2013. A multiple regression analysis was employed to explore the ICR drivers. Findings Despite the growing importance of ICR in capital markets, the study findings reveal an overall relatively low level of ICR among KSE-listed companies. In addition, the level of ICR varies significantly between companies. The results show that the level of ICR for all KSE-listed companies in 2013 ranged from 0 to 96 percent and the mean was 28 percent. The multiple regression analysis suggests that older, highly leveraged, larger, and profitable KSE-listed companies are associated with higher levels of ICR. Industrial sector is a partial driver. Practical implications Surprisingly, many of the KSE-listed companies do not disclose any IC information in their annual reports. Given the increasingly important role that IC information plays in capital markets, regulatory bodies should encourage, stimulate, and guide companies to report IC information. The findings offer insights as to the drivers of ICR that should improve efforts to develop recommendations that push for greater IC disclosure in corporate annual reports. Originality/value The study is the first examination of ICR drivers in Kuwait. It contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence about ICR in a market with specific economic, social, and cultural characteristics. It enhances our understanding of ICR by revealing some of its drivers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Assunta Baldini ◽  
Giovanni Liberatore

Intellectual capital (IC) as well as disclosure of information on IC has in recent years gained importance. IC is the key issue in strengthening a firm’s competitive position and in achieving its objectives. The purpose of this study is to investigate some determinants of the disclosure of IC in annual reports. In particular the aim of this research is to analyse the internal mechanisms of corporate governance (board composition, role duality, ownership structure, auditor type and size of audit committee), which influence the intellectual capital disclosure in corporate annual reports for a sample of all listed Italian firms at 31st December 2010. It has been used a disclosure index as a dependent variable, (ICD), and the method used to measure it is content analysis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed M. Shamil ◽  
Junaid M. Shaikh ◽  
Poh-Ling Ho ◽  
Anbalagan Krishnan

Purpose – Drawing on agency theory and legitimacy theory perspectives, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of board characteristics on sustainability reporting of listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 148 listed companies was drawn from the CSE using stratified random sampling method and data were collected from the 2012 annual reports. The proposed hypotheses were tested using a hierarchical binary logistic regression. Findings – This study documents that board size and dual leadership are positively associated with sustainability reporting and boards with female directors are negatively associated with sustainability reporting. This study also found that sustainability reporting is likely to be influenced by firm size and firm growth. Additionally, the study also reveals that younger firms are likely to adopt sustainability reporting. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine the influence of board characteristics on sustainability reporting in Sri Lanka, considered as a developing economy with an emerging equity market.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 206-214
Author(s):  
S D Jayasooriya ◽  
K D Gunawardana

There is no any common method available in the financial reporting practices to disclose the intellectual capital in the financial statements. In this study it was aimed to examine the managerial perception of intellectual capital disclosure practices in the listed companies in Sri Lanka. The main problem was to find out the issues of existing intellectual capital disclosure practices and how managerial perceptions affecting to the disclosure practices of intellectual capital in listed companies of Colombo Stock Exchange. The sample was taken as 20% from the total companies covering all the sectors. It was found that the neediness of disclosing the intellectual capital to get the clear picture of the organizations wealth and success. According to the managerial perception, at the initial stage, it is fair to produce a common method to disclose intellectual capital rather going to value them. Further, it is a must to investigate the total scope of intellectual capital to identify the common variables.


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