Announcing the Investis Online IR Rankings

Investis Online IR Rankings, a unique free feature, aims to help investor relations professionals identify companies that are international leaders in online IR communications. The initial rankings cover major international stock exchanges, including the S&P 100 index of the largest US companies, the FTSE 100 of the largest UK-listed companies, the DAX index of blue chip German companies, the Italian FTSE MIB index, and Finland’s OMXH 25. New indexes will be added in future quarterly updates to eventually cover about 800 companies, which will be reviewed twice per year.

The evaluations are conducted by Investis, a leading corporate website service provider based in London, and validated through random sampling by IR Web Report. Investis has been evaluating corporate websites for its IQ Benchmarking service since 2008. The Online IR Rankings are an offshoot of its corporate website rankings and use an IR-focused scoring system devised by IR Web Report. For more information, see the October 25, 2011 posting “Introducing the Investis Online IR Rankings” by Dominic Jones at IR Web Report online.

About the Global Accounting Alliance

The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) comprises 11 of the world's leading professional accountancy institutes. It represents more than 775,000 professional accountants in over 165 countries from around the globe. The GAA promotes quality services, shares information and collaborates on important international issues. As part of this effort, the GAA publishes a bi-monthly online journal. GAA Accounting includes authoritative yet accessible articles to advance the understanding of theory and practice in accounting, business finance and related subjects for members around the world. The June 2011 edition is available online and also as a Digital Edition.

Confronting Complexity: How business globally is taking on the challenges and opportunities

A new study from KPMG International examines the causes and impact of complexity among businesses globally. The study shows that businesses are taking significant action to address complexity, particularly in the areas of information management, business organization and human resources, but success has been mixed. More than 90% of senior executives say their organization’s success depends on managing today’s complex business issues, but less than half believe the actions they are taking to manage complexity have been very effective. The study, Confronting Complexity: How business globally is taking on the challenges and opportunities, is based on interviews with 1,400 senior executives in 22 countries. The research found that at least 7 out of 10 executives believe complexity can create new opportunities for their businesses, including gaining competitive advantage, creating better strategies, expanding into new markets and improving efficiencies.

PwC - Corporate Reporting Framework

The insights gained from a global research program have been codified into PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) corporate reporting framework. The framework identifies four broad categories of information that all industries and companies share in common: market overview; strategy and structure; managing for value; and performance. All are underpinned by relevant performance measures. Each category encompasses specific elements that, according to the research, both companies and investors consider critical to assessing performance. (Learn more about the PwC Corporate Reporting Framework and download the Framework in Detail.)

The top 10 risks for business 2010

In today’s business environment, conditions remain challenging for many, and risk retains its position high on every organization’s agenda. Businesses themselves are changing, which brings new risk horizons and, at the same time, they are grappling with the changes brought about by a post-downturn economy. The ability to anticipate threats, respond and continually adapt is as critical a part of the risk management process as it ever has been. The Ernst & Young Business Risk Report 2010 is part of an ongoing conversation about business risk — a conversation that has been taking place for several years, asking the question: How frequently are companies scanning their horizons and with what scope?

IBM Global CEO Study 2010

In May 2010, IBM published Capitalizing on Complexity. This study is the fourth edition of IBM's biennial Global CEO Study series. To better understand the challenges and goals of today's CEOs, IBM consultants met face-to-face with the largest-known sample of these executives. Between September 2009 and January 2010, IBM interviewed 1,541 CEOs, general managers and senior public sector leaders who represent different sizes of organizations in 60 countries and 33 industries. Access to the full study findings and case studies are available on the IBM website along with the related press release.

Competitive Alternatives 2010

The KPMG/MMK Consulting study Competitive Alternatives 2010 compares business competitiveness for more than 100 cities in 10 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For 2010, the study expands its coverage of large international business centres, adding a number of major global cities for the first time. International results now reflect business costs in each country's major metropolitan regions. The primary focus is international business costs. The study measures the combined impact of 26 significant cost components that are most likely to vary by location, as applied to 17 different business operations over 10 years.

Redrawing the Map: Globalization and the Changing World of Business

This 2010 report by Ernst & Young/Economist Intelligence Unit draws on three sources of original research: an index measuring 60 countries according to their degree of globalization; an online survey of 520 senior business executives worldwide; and a program of in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives and high-level experts. The key findings of the survey Redrawing the Map: Globalization and the Changing World of Business are that: (1) Competing in a new environment: The rise of companies from emerging markets has changed the game and the outlook for business. (2) Expanding internationally: Despite the downturn and concerns over state intervention, companies are still planning geographic expansion. (3) Innovations in innovation: Companies must rethink strategies to ensure that innovations developed in one country are commercially viable in others. (4) Diversifying management: As companies deepen and broaden their presence in international markets, the need for culturally diverse management teams becomes all the more pressing. (5) Policy matters: Business will have to engage with governments and other policymakers on global issues such as protectionism, regulation and trade issues.

6 Ways to Be Innovatively Global

Foreign market entry does not always require a major investment. If you follow these six tips, overseas business will be at your doorstep in no time at all. (Read the article "6 Ways to Be Innovatively Global" at Open Forum online.

A Global View of Risk

The World Economic Forum's Global Risk Network challenges executives to think more broadly about threats to their businesses. Rather than viewing single risks in isolation, executives should try to better understand the connections among a host of global problems that could affect their businesses in the next decade. The World Economic Forum's Global Risks 2010: A Global Risk Network Report, prepared by a team of 200 risk experts from around the world, categorizes risks in five areas: societal, geopolitical, environmental, economic, and technological. (Read the article "A Global View of Risk" at CFO.com online.)

Dissecting the next decade of the new millenium

After the decade of relative peace and prosperity that was the ’90s,expectations were that the good times would carry on into the new millennium. Few could have predicted how different the reality would be: the worst terrorist attack in history, two draining US-led wars that continue today, US$150-a-barrel oil and the near-collapse of the international financial system, which led to a worldwide recession we are just now crawling out of. What are the big concerns confronting Canadian business in the next 10 years? Eight business leaders share their thoughts? (Read the article Dissecting the decade in the April 2010 issue of CA magazine online.)

Global - IFRS in brief / briefing sheets by KPMG

IFRS in brief, provides news and factual information on developments concerning International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It includes summaries of new standards and interpretations, comments on the IASB and IFRIC meetings, the agendas and projects of those bodies, as well as KPMG's views on specific issues when appropriate. IFRS in brief is supplemented by IFRS briefing sheets that consider individual issues or requirements in more depth.

Canada - Practical updates on accounting standards for Canadian companies

The IFRS in Canada newsletter provides practical, thorough and concise updates on changing accounting standards. Written by finance professionals with extensive industry experience, IFRS in Canada is a valuable and relevant resource for finance professionals in industry. With over 4,500 subscribers, it is a source of practical information on IFRS transition issues for public companies, as well as the new Canadian GAAP for private companies. (Subscription is free.)

Canada - IFRS Briefings by KPMG

KPMG publishes a periodic newsletter called IFRS Briefings to keep clients informed about International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) news and developments occurring internationally and in Canada. The newsletter provides commentary on how IFRS will affect Canadian publicly accountable enterprises. (To subscribe, visit the KPMG website.)

Canada - IFRS and Canadian GAAP Differences Series

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Canadian GAAP are both principle-based frameworks. From a conceptual standpoint, many of the general principles are the same, but the application of general principles in IFRS can be significantly different from Canadian GAAP. Therefore, to understand the magnitude of the differences between IFRS and Canadian GAAP, it is essential to look beyond the general principles to the detailed guidance provided in the standards. This series of BDO Canada publications provides detailed information on the key differences between IFRS and Canadian GAAP. (Access the IFRS - Canadian GAAP Differences Series on the BDO Canada website.)

C-Suite Survey: 2009 in Review and the Challenges of 2010 and Beyond

This quarterly C-Suite Survey of over 158 chief executive officers, chief financial officers and chief operating officers was conducted between November and December 2009 by the Gandalf Group. It was published by The Globe and Mail and Business News Network, with sponsorship by KPMG Canada. The report covers their views on: a look back on 2009, the year ahead, executives’ salaries, federal finances and managing with deficits, and U.S. and Canadian leadership. A review of 2009 sees executives’ assessments of the economy completely turn around. In February 2009, executives were in the grips of a recession. Now most are predicting modest economic growth for 2010. The majority agree the markets rallied faster than expected in 2009. One in three now predict strong growth for their companies. Most expect their companies to pay out bonuses, yet the majority also agree that the recession demonstrated executive pay had become too generous. (Read the C-Suite Survey: 2009 in Review and the Challenges of 2010 and Beyond.)

Global Risk Report 2010

The World Economic Forum has published Global Risk Report 2010. The document provides political and business leaders with a framework for further discussion of a risk landscape that is increasingly complex and urges a consideration of the longer term, global implications of risks in areas beyond their immediate focus. The key findings are as follows:

• The events of the past year have revealed a fundamental need to change thinking on global risks and how they are managed. With unprecedented levels of interconnectedness between all areas of risk, the report stresses that the need to combat governance gaps globally is greater than ever. It argues that this can only be addressed by an overhaul of current values and behaviours by decision-makers to improve coordination and supervision.
• Fiscal crises and unemployment, underinvestment in infrastructure – especially in energy and agriculture – and chronic disease are identified as the pivotal areas of risk over the next years.
• Other risks identified as equally systemic in nature, and requiring better global governance, are transnational crime and corruption, biodiversity loss and cyber-vulnerability.

CICA/RBC Business Monitor (Q4 2009)

This CICA/RBC Joint Report interviews chartered accountants (CAs) working in senior executive positions for Canadian businesses, to determine their views regarding the economic prospects for their company, province and Canada in the upcoming year. The key findings are as follows:

• After two consecutive quarters of significant growth in optimism, the final quarter of 2009 was virtually unchanged from the previous quarter - 48% of respondents expressed optimism in the economy over the next twelve months, compared to 46% from Q3 2009. Of the remaining Q4 2009 respondents, 39% were neutral while 13% were pessimistic about the year ahead.
• On average revenues (+ 3.3%), profits (+3.2%) and employment numbers (+0.8%) are expected to increase in the next twelve months. In the same quarter a year ago, projections called for decreases in all three categories.
• In summary, 23% of respondents stated that their company’s profits did not decline during the recession.

(Read the CICA Media Release and Background Papers on the Survey.)

Canada - World Economic Forum 2010

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in Zurich, Switzerland attending the World Economic Forum in the ski resort town of Davos. Harper, who is president of the G8 this year, is accompanied by International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan and by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Harper's stay begins with a roundtable discussion with business leaders from around the world, where he is expected to argue that the world's banks must adhere to Canadian-style banking regulations to avoid another catastrophic economic crash. On Thursday, January 28, 2010, Harper will deliver a keynote address to the World Economic Forum, where he is expected to outline his desire to turn Canada's presidency of the G8 into an opportunity to improve the health of women and children in some of the world's poorest nations. The annual meeting in Davos has become a favorite stop for key players in the global economy and attracts more than 2,500 CEOs, heads of state, celebrities and representatives from leading non-governmental organizations. (For more information, read the National Post article Harper to G8: 'Less promises, more results'.)

Taking on the World – Positioning Canadian Private Companies for Global Success

To gain an understanding of the growing trend to global expansion and gauge what Canadian private companies are up against in foreign markets, KPMG undertook its second annual national survey to explore Canadian private companies’ success. Private company executives were asked about their current experiences and future plans for expansion. The KPMG report documents the extent of private companies' foreign operations to date; sheds light on the benefits of global expansion for private companies, and the key challenges and risks of doing so; and provides information about local employee and supply resources in foreign markets. (Read the KPMG report Taking on the World – Positioning Canadian Private Companies for Global Success.)