18. Informed shareholders and stakeholders—disclosure and the limited company

Most disclosure comes in the form of company accounts and reports focusing on the financial position and the activities of the company. Increasingly, mandated disclosures for public companies extend widely beyond the financial statements to a narrative account of the company’s activities, business strategy, and risks. Considerable emphasis is now placed, for public companies, on addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. The chapter discusses the statutory provisions governing company accounts and considers the obligations of the directors with respect to preparing, circulating, and filing accounts. The chapter also addresses the regulatory framework for audit, the need in larger companies for an auditors’ report, and considers the extent of the auditor’s duty of care as well as the potential auditor liabilities arising from a negligent audit report.