New survey: extra-financial information in corporate communication

(12 Aug '07)

The European Centre for Corporate Engagement (ECCE) has completed its survey research on the use of extra-financial information in corporate communication, covering more than 300 hundred European companies. The report, entitled "Extra-Financial Information in Financial Communication of European Companies", is available at the ECCE website.

In an earlier study this year, ECCE surveyed more than 850 European sell-side research analysts and buy-side portfolio managers and analysts in an attempt to discover how they incorporate extra-financial information involving ESG issues into their analysis, valuation and investment decisions. Our work would be incomplete without taking a step back by looking at ESG issues from the perspective of a company and its interaction with investors and other stakeholders. Hence, the current survey can be seen as a natural extension of ECCE previous work. The following aspects received particular attention in the follow-up survey: 

• How and why companies include ESG issues in their financial communication.
  Who in companies typically deals with requests for information and concerns regarding ESG issues.
• To what extent do various types of investors and research analysts require information about ESG issues from companies.
• What is the perceived impact of ESG factors on companies.

The report can be downloaded from the publications section.