The emergence of integrated private reporting

Atkins, J., Solomon, A., Norton, S. D. and Joseph, N. L. (2015) The emergence of integrated private reporting. Meditari Accountancy Research, 23 (1). pp. 28-61. ISSN 2049-372X doi: 10.1108/MEDAR-01-2014-0002

Abstract/Summary

Purpose: Private social and environmental reporting (SER) has grown considerably in recent years, consistent with a rise in institutional investor engagement and dialogue with investee companies. We interpret the emergence of integrated private reporting through the lens of institutional logics. We frame the emergence of integrated private reporting as a merging of two hitherto separate and possibly rival institutional logics. Methodology/Approach: We interviewed 19 companies listed on the FTSE100 and 20 UK institutional investors. The interviews were semi-structured and analysed in an interpretive fashion. Findings and Implications: We provide evidence to suggest that private SER is beginning to merge with private financial reporting and that, as a result integrated private reporting is emerging. This trend is mirroring the international trend in public reporting toward an integrated approach. Specifically, we find that specialist social responsible investment managers are starting to attend private financial reporting meetings whilst mainstream fund managers are starting to attend private meetings on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Further, senior company directors are becoming increasingly conversant with ESG issues. We interpret our findings as two possible scenarios: (i) there is a genuine hybridisation occurring in UK institutional investment such that integrated private reporting is emerging, or; (ii) the financial logic is absorbing and effectively neutralising the responsible investment logic. Originality: This is the first research investigating the evolution of private integrated reporting.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/38971
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting
Uncontrolled Keywords	institutional investment; integrated private reporting; private social and environmental reporting (SER); private financial reporting; institutional logics; paradigm shift.
Publisher	Emerald
Publisher Statement	This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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