The Copenhagen Centre Conference June 27-29 2001 Copenhagen

1. Creating Value Through Reporting and AssuranceMaria SillanpääKPMGSustainability Advisory Services The Copenhagen Centre Conference June 27-29 2001 Copenhagen

2. N A T S I O N N A A R T L C S O N R O I P T O A R Why Reporting? How to Maintain ‘Licence to Operate’, Succeed and Continuously Add Value in a Rapidly Changing World environmental protection non-renewable resources advocacy/NGO pressure human rights/equity investor expectations knowledge economy employee expectations globalisation regulatory changes governance media scrutiny

3. FTSE 100 Companies* by sector: Sector No. of Companies Resources 4 Utilities 11 General Industrial 12 Consumer Goods 11 Services 38 Financials & Investment Trusts 22 *Only 98 companies included in study Reporting Trends FTSE 100 Companies Reporting on Social Issues (beyond statutory disclosure)

4. The Changing Nature of Reporting Old economy (now) • Focus on financial performance • Narrow OFR • Resistance to corporate governance statements • “Splatter gun” approach to additional reporting New economy (the future) – stakeholder approach • Focus on a broader range of performance measures • Holistic, integrated reports • Financial reports relegated to a “sheet anchor”; prime purpose now custodial

5. New Economy Reporting Drivers • Information needs of broad range of stakeholders on corporate impacts and behaviour • An increasing focus on the importance of governance and the ‘triple bottom line’ accountability of the management team; and • A growing awareness amongst analysts and investors that there is a much broader range of drivers of value than those currently reported on

6. A Vision for the Future • Widespread reporting of social and environmental performance • Increased integration of corporate reports to give an integrated performance report • Web reporting, probably increasingly taking place in real time • A requirement for attestation of non-financial information • A non-financial reporting standard

7. Continuous improvement Innovation Target setting Learning Measurement Standards, Codes, Guidelines New economy reporting: Rear-view mirror and crystal ball • Added value perspective

8. Future Implications? “Only 15 % of British people trust multinationals to be honest and fair.” MORI “Audits are needed when accountability can no longer be sustained by informal relations of trust alone but must be formalised, made visible and subject to independent validation.” Audit Explosion, M. Power The debate means companies are reluctant to participate. This implies that there is innate distrust in businesses to report reliably 16

9. The solution – assurance? “The objective of an assurance engagement is for a professional accountant to evaluate a subject matter (data, systems and processes, behaviour) that is the responsibility of another party using identified suitable criteria, and to express a conclusion that provides the intended user with a level of assurance about that subject matter.” IFAC

10. Traditional financial audit Who? Single auditor What? Finance Data accuracy Management systems Report assertions How? Legally defined standards Emerging ‘sustainability audit’ Who? Alliances What? Dimensions of sustainability Data accuracy Management systems Report assertions Performance Methodology and scope How? Many different standards guiding different aspects Stakeholder perspectives on priorities The Changing Face of Audits

11. Traditional financial audit Time frame Focus on the past Public outcome One limited, legally defined opinion Audience Primarily shareholders Contents Single report Credibility Status of accounting profession Emerging ‘sustainability audit’ Time frame Towards understanding past, present and future Public outcome Number of statements, opinions and views Audience Broad range of stakeholders Contents Possibly multiple reports including development status Credibility No single acknowledged profession embracing reputational, technical and auditing skills The Changing Face of Audits

12. Traditional financial audit Engagement Shareholders, analyst, (employees)post-report Emerging ‘sustainability audit’ Engagement All significant groups in the assurance process itself ‘stakeholder inclusive’ The Changing Face of Audits

13. Modelling Reporting and Assurance Domains for Standard Development Stakeholder engagements standard Performance and systems standards Corporate sustainability report Audit standards Reporting standards

14. Should I Wait for Standards? • Innovation has mostly been driven by companies • Innovation mostly via alliances • Multi-sector alliances bring credibility • Innovators influence standards