Corporate Disclosure: Concepts and Practices

Abstract

As financial reporting and disclosure are potentially important means for management to communicate firm’s performance and value to outside investors, increased disclosure practices will help in reducing information gap between firm and its stakeholders. The main reason behind emphasis on this new emerging issue is that enhanced disclosure and transparency are the twin cornerstones for protecting shareholder’s right. Full disclosure practice along with transparency in financial reporting can build a climate of trust and boost confidence of investors’ community. The book emphasizes crucial role of increased corporate disclosure in the current age of information economy. Enhanced disclosure improves efficiency of capital allocation and reduces the cost of capital. Full disclosure and transparency are driving forces for the success of businesses and sustainable performance and helps in maximization of wealth of shareholders.

The book is presented in three sections. The first section includes articles on role of voluntary disclosure, motives for disclosure and non - disclosure, new models for financial reporting, segmental disclosures and accounting standards AS 1 and AS 9. The second section contains articles on empirical study on accounting standards and disclosure practices, corporate disclosure and firm characteristics, factors influencing voluntary disclosure practices, voluntary reporting practices and environmental accounting disclosure. The third section discusses sectoral practices for corporate disclosures by studying ten sectors of economy viz. FMCG, IT, banking, capital goods, power, metal products, and pharmaceuticals, oil, automobile and telecommunications, disclosure practices in Indian software industry and non-mandatory disclosure practices of banking companies in India.

Keywords: Disclosure practices, voluntary disclosure, financial reporting, transparency