Annual report

All companies whose owners have a limited liability to the financial obligations of their company must publish an annual report, which is sent to the owners and lodged with a central authority for public inspection. For companies whose shares are listed on a recognised stock exchange, the annual report will almost certainly contain a mix of statutory information and information given voluntarily by the management. The statutory information includes a profit and loss account (income statement in the United States), balance sheet (statement of financial position in the United States) and cash flow statement, together with explanatory notes to these.