For listed SMEs, the annual report is a regulatory requirement. It must be published every year and provide financial and non-financial information about the company.
But the annual report is much more than just a constraint. It is an invaluable communication tool that enables the company to present itself to investors, analysts, customers and other stakeholders at the crossroads between financial and non-financial communication.
The market's focus on the annual report
The annual report is often the first point of entry for assessing the value of investing in a company. Some investors who are starting to take an interest in one of our client companies ask us for 10 or 15 years’ worth of annual reports. It is therefore essential that the annual report is clear, concise and informative (and archived over several years);
To meet the expectations of the regulator and the various stakeholders, the content of the annual report is very broad. In particular, it must include:
- financial statements: parent company and consolidated financial statements and notes,
- a description of the company’s business, its corporate governance structure and the risks it faces,
- extra-financial elements: business model, CSR approach, extra-financial risk management, green taxonomy, etc,
- legal and statutory information and draft resolutions submitted to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
Increasing regulatory constraints
Regulatory requirements for annual reports are constantly evolving. The company must therefore keep abreast of the latest developments to ensure that its annual report complies with current requirements.
The main recent regulatory developments concern the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) and the green taxonomy for extra-financial communication.
The Calyptus offer
Calyptus offers a complete range of financial publishing services, including:
- design and drafting of annual reports and URDs,
- layout of annual reports,
- training in collaborative publishing tools,
- support in bringing annual reports into line with regulatory requirements.
Publishing beyond the annual report
In addition to the annual report, Calyptus also offers a range of financial publishing services, covering:
- letters to shareholders,
- investor web modules,
- corporate websites or brochures.
Contact us to find out more about our financial publishing offer.