Deloitte has released the third edition of its Channel Islands Listed Funds Annual Report Survey.
The analysis reviewed 99 of the 2017 annual reports of companies incorporated in Guernsey and Jersey that are listed on the London markets, to assess their compliance with corporate reporting requirements.
Of the companies surveyed, 72 per cent are listed on the main market, and the spread of asset type reviewed includes equity and fixed interest funds, private equity, real estate, asset leasing, fund of funds and debt funds.
The survey focuses on current requirements in reporting, the changes coming into force over the next year or so and current regulatory hotspots. Its findings and insights aim to help boards identify key regulatory challenges and opportunities to enhance their reports whilst avoiding potential pitfalls.
FRC developments
The research has focused on new and developing areas highlighted by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). It stated in its most recent Annual Review of Corporate Reporting that a good annual report should go beyond basic legal and accounting compliance.
The council set out key themes to follow – a strong narrative to open the report; an explanation of the business model and salient points about the company’s performance; the board’s concerns over risks should be noted, descriptions of KPIs and consistency in those measures.
Clear explanations of change, doing away with clutter and using clear language were also highlighted as best practice.
As well as gathering intelligence that will be useful for boards to consider their own reporting standards, the report includes examples of best practice from local company reports.
Key insights
• Companies display a high level of compliance with accounting and corporate reporting requirements. The quality of reporting continues to improve.
• The average length of local reports is growing – but most are still some way short of the average report length of UK listed companies.
• More companies, particularly those in real estate, now disclose a broader set of Alternative Performances Measures (APMs), though some of these fall short of the FRC guidelines.
Deloitte Partner David Becker commented: "It is clear from the findings that very few, if any, companies can be considered in full compliance with the letter of the FRC guidelines on APMs.
"Only one in three companies explicitly identified what metrics they consider to be their KPIs and only one in four companies have identified APMs. Clearly, there are improvements to be made in this area."
Disclosures and judgements
For disclosure of critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty, the level of documentation varies. While some companies have made efforts to tailor these disclosures, there continues to be less clarity over the distinction between a critical accounting judgement and an estimation of uncertainty.
"There still appears to be a significant amount of standard or boilerplate principal risks and uncertainties disclosure in the strategic reports, with only 28 per cent tailoring disclosures, and we anticipate this will be an area of focus by the FRC in the future," said Mr Becker.
The survey also highlights that more companies will start to include disclosures around new accounting standards. Companies have displayed mix levels of compliance in this regard and these currently fall short of what’s expected by the FRC.
"Overall we found that the companies surveyed displayed a high level of compliance with the extensive accounting and corporate reporting requirements. However, keeping up with changes in reporting requirements and marketplace best practice is a common challenge for preparers of annual reports, particularly as the needs of the company, regulators, investors and the wider public evolve," said Mr Becker.
• A full copy of the Annual Report Insights can be obtained by emailing davireed@deloitte.co.uk