The disclosure of events after the reporting period. The example of listed companies from selected European countries

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present a practical study of disclosures of events after the reporting period in the financial reports of listed companies from selected European countries. The paper presents the results of empirical research based on the source material in the form of financial statements for the year 2018 of listed companies included on the following stock exchange indices: DAX, PSI-20, OMX25, BUX, WIG20, which comprise companies listed on the stock exchanges in Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Hungary and Poland. Methodology/approach: The research sample includes 110 companies. Content analysis of full versions of individual financial statements was performed. Findings: The results show that listed companies comply with the International Financial Reporting Standards regarding the disclo-sure of events after the reporting period. The occurrence of such events in the business practice of com-panies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange is much more frequent than in other European countries. The results of the study also present the diversity of events disclosed by respective companies included in the sample after the reporting period. Originality/value: The research allowed us to compare the scope of financial reporting disclosures of events after the reporting period in companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and in other European companies. Comparisons of this kind have not yet been carried out in international empirical research, which makes this article all the more valuable.