Voluntary Non-Financial Disclosure and Performance of Financial Firms Listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Germany
Abstract
A country’s accounting and disclosure system is part of its financial system and more generally its institutional infrastructure. Economic theory suggests that, in well-functioning economies, the elements of the institutional infrastructure evolve to fit and reinforce each other. Thus, the accounting system is likely to be geared towards the informational and contracting needs of the key parties in the economy. Due to the existence of private information channels, financial statements are less important in terms of monitoring economic performance and assume other roles, such as determining dividends. However, for this reason, arm’s length or outside investors relying primarily on public disclosures are not as well informed in the German system as they are in Anglo-American economies. Since 2005, listed German groups have been required to prepare their consolidated accounts under International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRSs. The study was a literature based which sought to empirically assess the effect of voluntary non-financial disclosure on performance of financial firms listed on Frankfurt stock exchange, Germany. The study established that Non-financial reporting by German companies has long been a voluntary matter. As of fiscal year 2017, the CSR Directive Implementation Act makes it mandatory for some 500 large German companies. Non-financial reporting by German companies has long been a voluntary matter. Since the early 2000s, German companies have published non-financial information mostly as CSR or sustainability reports. Publishing comprehensive non-financial information will be mandatory as of fiscal year 2017 for some large German companies as a result of the CSR Directive Implementation Act. The CSR Directive Implementation Act obliges large companies of public interest, in particular, capital market-oriented companies, credit institutions, and insurance companies to publish non-financial information. The study concluded that since stock volatility is linked to information asymmetries and to a higher risk of a company, this analysis implies certain practical implications for both managers and regulators regarding the importance of specific disclosure strategy in capital markets. The study also concluded that the level of disclosed information, the interpretation and the effectiveness of forward-looking information depends on the reputation of a company. Companies disclosing nonfinancial information through sustainability reporting practices provide markets with data on their social, environmental, and governance performance. The study recommended that there is need to have a proper execution of regulatory framework which in turn increases the proper governance disclosures leading to an effective management system.
Keywords: Voluntary, non-financial disclosure, performance, financial firms, listed Frankfurt stock exchange, Germany.
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