CFO World reviews Black Sun's latest research into corporate reporting trends of the FTSE 100, in light of the FRC's 'Cutting the Clutter' paper and changing regulation. The findings from Black Sun's research shows that the average Annual Report has increased to 175 pages in length (up from 164 pages in 2009), with six reports weighing in at over 300 pages.

Regardless of the increasing length of the Annual Reports though the findings show “emerging signs” of better governance, clarity on strategy, and value creation as well as a greater link between financial and non-financial data and forward-looking areas, where reporting has traditionally been weak.

In addition the quality of the strategic narrative has however improved with 72% of FTSE 100 companies including a detailed discussion of their strategy in their narrative, and 24% providing a detailed description of their business model in their latest Annual Reports (up from only 12% in the previous year).

Sallie Pilot, Black Sun's Director of Research and Strategy, said, “This year the FTSE 100 has very much risen to the challenge of the new Code as well as a greater desire to demonstrate transparency to all stakeholders. We see many corporates working hard to tell the story as completely as possible, linking the different threads to make it more meaningful.”

To see the full article please go to CFO World: FTSE 100 struggle to keep reports short