AR is an all-inclusive report on a company's activities
throughout the foregoing year. It is a statement
by the Top Management to the investors who invest money in growth and expansion
ride in a company More significantly, it is the way the company wants it to be seen by its clients, Partners, Vendors, employees and
of course rest of the world. The information
in the Annual Report is worthwhile for those who
are from Market Analyst, Research,
Pre-Sales, Core Sales and Competitive Strategy Planning Group etc.
In broader facet, Annual Report offers information on several topics and I have attempted to list some of them, but
perhaps not entirely. These may differ from report of one company to another.
·
Interviews:
o Interview
with Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President of the Group. It
outlines overall company strategy ordained to meet market expectations in the
foregoing year and how strategy will concentrate in the upcoming year.
o Interview
of CEO relates to innovative and exclusive services to all its clients. It
sheds light upon operation strategy and service line strategies.
·
Profile :
o A
brief profile of the company generally consists of what the company is all
about, its mission statement, key figures
depicting company revenue and customer base and often some profile coverage of
employees
·
Operational strategy:
o This
section deals about how the company overall operates. It generally talks about
the company moving fast, in an ever evolving marketplace by taking up new
technology to retain its hold and outlining organization’s readiness to adapt
and convert Besides, how the regulatory body decision is impacting the
financial results.
·
Market strategy :
o The
section usually projects the capability of the company in terms of its
strategy. For example, how quickly the company is
in accepting innovation to stay ahead of competition. Its overall preparedness
of tackling an ever fiercer competitive landscape
·
Customers' delight:
o This
concentrates on various products and services company offers to its distinguished
clients. It plays up the image of being simply best in the line of work,
bringing more satisfaction to the consumers and showcasing the ability to look
for customer needs.
·
Activities:
o This
may cater on information related to activities in foregoing year varying from
positive impact on economic, technological and social progress but also winning
the trust of interest groups. It may also relate to some major operational undertakings making positive impact on service
lines, towards organic and inorganic growth.
·
Community responsibility:
o It
showcases company initiatives supporting communities, nurturing, positive work
culture, enabling a low carbon society and so on
·
Shareholder information:
o The
section where a company puts great importance on securing a coherent and a
transparent information towards the investors. Through a regular and candid
dialog with investors and financial analysts, it tries to keep them informed of
important news and outcomes as well as updates on the company's strategy for
long-term.
·
Governance :
o It
consists of Corporate governance statement. The purpose of this statement is to
specify a set of rules and behaviors, according to which society is properly
handled and controlled, with the objective of increasing transparency. It is a
scheme of checks and balances between the shareholders, the Board of Directors
and management. Information on Board of Directors, changes in the composition
of the Board of Directors, if any etc. is also provided.
·
Financial Statements:
o This
section consists mainly of key Financial figures, consolidated management
report, consolidated financial statements and in case of a report for a Group,
the non -consolidated financial statements are also included.
·
Glossary
o This
section provides an alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of
knowledge with the definitions for those terms and expansions of abbreviations
commonly used in the Annual Report.
Hope you will find this bit of information useful. Next time
when you read an Annual Report, do not be jaded seeing the number of pages in
it J. Hope you will likewise try to
simplify your targeted Annual Report