Investor Relations and Corporate Reporting

Book excerpt: Inhaltsangabe:Introduction: Nowadays, deregulated and globalized financial markets force companies into competition for investors. The challenges capital market-oriented companies have to meet are increasing information needs of investors and rigid rules and regulations. Well implemented and managed Investor Relations and Corporate Reporting activities that gain the trust of the financial market could assist in facing up to competition. Financial and Corporate Reporting is all about communicating the long-term strategic alignment, quality and experience of the management as well as other factors that determine the value of the company, e.g. a sustainable, solid business development associated with a transparent corporate communication. From investor s and analyst s points of view, which are geared to a forward-looking approach in case of an investment decision, the information value of traditional and predominately retrospective financial statements encounters its limits. The ambition of legislator and standard setter to make the group management report to a value- and future-oriented instrument is a signpost in the right direction. The group management report should additionally facilitate estimates about the future development of the company by a stronger consideration of the management s view. Numerous empirical studies provide evidence that the capital market is affected by imperfect and unequally distributed information (asymmetric information distribution) as well as by conflict of objective and interest between the management (agent) and shareholder (principal). Modern Investor Relations and Corporate Reporting activities go beyond the mere communication of facts and figures. Investor Relations and Corporate Reporting reduce skepticism and create transparency by building up a direct relationship to the investor. The present master thesis examines interdependencies between companies and investors as well as the organizational integration in the company s structure by means of scientific theories. In addition, a primary research of 10-DAX companies regarding their Investor Relations and Corporate Reporting activities ascertains how several communication measures are effectively applied in practice and how much importance companies attach to well managed capital market communication. The survey reveals strengths and weaknesses of today s capital market communication and outlines future prospects of Corporate Reporting. The present master [...]