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Preliminary findings reveal 77% of companies identify KPIs in annual report.

30 April 2008

Our initial findings within this summary publication are based on statistics from 80% of the FTSE 100's 2007 corporate reports, with the complete sample group being included within the full document. Areas of annual reports which were surveyed include: content and design, online reporting, strategy, management commitment, corporate governance, risk management, future prospects, business activities, business performance.

Preliminary results confirm that the new and improved disclosure, reporting and communications regime continues to gain momentum. The areas that have been the most challenging in the past for companies (risk, business performance through KPIs and forward looking information) continue to show the greatest improvement with greater depth and transparency in reporting.

"A few years ago hardly anyone reported KPIs; moreover, the vast majority of companies said they never would. In recent years, however, this area has witnessed the greatest improvements; the number of companies disclosing KPIs has more than tripled in four years" says Sallie Cooke Pilot, Director of Corporate Reporting at Black Sun Plc.

"The research also reveals that companies setting this year’s best practice benchmarks are articulating business strategies in a clearer and more coherent manner."

 

"Moreover, they introduce strategy early on in the report and use it to underpin the entire narrative; making strong linkages to business objectives, KPIs, risks and future prospects" concludes Cooke Pilot.

Other key findings from the research include:
 

• 52% of companies are providing html versions of their annual report, compared with only 28% in 2006.
• 43% of companies are specifically linking KPIs to business strategy.
• 68% of companies explain how they are mitigating against risk, compared with only 57% in 2006.
• 68% of CEO or Chairman's statements set up the strategic themes for the remaining narrative.

Black Sun will be releasing the full research report on the 1st of June 2008.

For more information or to obtain a copy, contact tennor@blacksunplc.com.

Notes to Editors

Black Sun Plc
Black Sun is one of the UK’s leading corporate reporting agencies. We help companies- from FTSE small caps to large global organisations- to build greater trust and confidence with their investors and other corporate stakeholders by growing, developing and creating value from their corporate reporting programmes.

As corporate reporting specialists, we are committed to exploring and understanding the area of narrative reporting to provide practical and intelligent advice on the approach to structure, content, and messaging of reports at a time of changing legislative and regulatory requirements, public policy discussion, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

We have an unrivalled depth of knowledge and experience of producing annual reports and reviews, CR reports, online reports and interactive corporate websites. Our current clients include: Acergy, Alliance & Leicester, Arla Foods, Atrium, BAE Systems, BG Group, Carphone Warehouse, Centrica, George Wimpey, Hanson, Hays, Imperial Tobacco, Legal & General, Punch Taverns, Standard Chartered, and United Utilities.

For further information about Black Sun:
David Christopherson
Black Sun Plc
T: 020 7736 0011
E: christophersond@blacksunplc.com
 

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