Towards better disclosure of corporate risk: A look at risk disclosure in periodic reporting

Disclosure is a primary form of investor protection and is fundamental to market efficiency. Knowledge of the risks facing them is integral to the successful operation of business enterprises and is also of benefit to their investors. Whilst continuous disclosure is a policy that should provide a good basis for risk disclosure, periodic disclosure of risk has received significantly less attention. This is because periodic disclosure is more traditionally an area for disclosure in financial accounts than for management discussion and analysis. However, this may be changing, particularly due to the enactment of s 299A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in 2004 and ASIC?s more recent interpretations of that section.