Project Paper: Vienna University of Economics and Business Master's Program in Finance & Accounting
Project Paper: Vienna University of Economics and Business Master's Program in Finance & Accounting
Project Paper: Vienna University of Economics and Business Master's Program in Finance & Accounting
Supervisor: Students:
Dr. Katrin Hummel Georg Edwin Strohl, BSc. (WU)
Ovidiu-Ioan Haiduc, BSc. (WU)
Table of contents
List of tables.................................................................................................................I
List of abbreviations...................................................................................................II
Abstract.......................................................................................................................III
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................1
2. Literature review......................................................................................................5
2.1 Sustainability Reporting.......................................................................................5
2.1.1 History of Sustainability Reporting................................................................5
2.1.3 CSR...............................................................................................................6
2.1.3 Tripple Bottom Line.......................................................................................6
2.2 Voluntary Disclosure Theory...............................................................................7
2.2.1 Agency Theory..............................................................................................7
2.2.2 Capital needs theory.....................................................................................7
2.2.3 Stakeholder theory........................................................................................7
2.2.4 Legitimacy theory..........................................................................................8
2.2.5 Signalling theory...........................................................................................8
3. Hypothesis Development.......................................................................................9
4. Research Method..................................................................................................10
4.1 Sample Selection...............................................................................................10
4.2 Dependent variable...........................................................................................10
4.3 Independent (control) variables.........................................................................10
5. Results...................................................................................................................12
5.1 Descriptive Statistics.........................................................................................12
5.2 Multiple linear regression...................................................................................12
6. Discussion.............................................................................................................14
7. Conclusion.............................................................................................................15
References.................................................................................................................16
Tables.........................................................................................................................17
Appendix....................................................................................................................18
List of tables
I
List of abbreviations
II
Abstract
The purpose of this working paper is to investigate the value relevance of non-
financial information, the disclosure of the SDGs in the annual reports, for the market
value of firms listed in the STOXX Europe-600 Index. In this study, we answer the
following research question: "Does reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) have an impact on the share price of companies listed in the STOXX Europe-
600 Index"? Therefore, a modified Ohlson (1995) model is implemented to examine
the relationship between SDG disclosure and the share price among companies in
the STOXX Europe-600 index. Our findings suggest that there is no relation between
the disclosure of the SDGs and the company's share price. However, among the
companies that disclose on the SDGs, a higher disclosure level has an influence on
the share price compared to a lower disclosure level.
III
1. Introduction
As part of this working paper, we set the goal of investigating the effect and value
relevance of SDG's voluntary reporting. The studies conducted to date have not yet
revealed any clear understanding of the relationship between sustainable corporate
performance and its disclosure. We are mainly concerned with two theoretical
concepts, the theory of voluntary disclosure theory and legitimacy theory. According
to the voluntary disclosure theory, the effect should be positive, but legitimacy theory
could indicate a possible adverse effect. (Hummel & Schlick, 2016). In general,
transparency and disclosure are among the pillars of corporate governance. Various
interest groups consider corporate disclosure in their decision-making process.
Disclosure in accounting literature is "informing the public through the company's
financial statements" (Ağca & Önder, 2007: 241). Voluntary disclosure is defined by
Meek et al. (1995: 555) as "providing free management choice, accounting and other
information deemed relevant to the decision-making needs of users of their annual
reports." Also, a voluntary disclosure may include disclosure "recommended by a
relevant code or body." (Hassan & Marston, 2010: 7). Legitimacy theory, on the other
hand, is based on the perception of society and says that management is forced to
disclose information so that external users' opinion of their company does not change
to the detriment of the company. (Cormier & Gordon, 2001). Previous research has
not yet provided a consistent understanding of the relationship between sustainability
performance and sustainability information. On the one hand, the theory of voluntary
disclosure predicts that a company with excellent sustainability performance has an
incentive to disclose information about its performance in order to increase its market
value. This stream of research establishes a definite link between sustainability
performance and the amount of sustainability disclosure (i.e., better sustainability
performance discloses more). On the other hand, legitimacy theory argues that
companies use sustainability disclosure to improve public perception of their
sustainability performance. Consequently, researchers find a negative relationship
between sustainability performance and the number of sustainability claims (i.e., poor
sustainability performers reveal more) as an indication of the applicability of the
legitimacy theory. Thus, these two theories provide contradictory predictions about
1
the relationship between sustainability performance and sustainability pricing, and
the mixed empirical results from previous studies have not yet clarified this
relationship (for a positive relationship between sustainability performance and
sustainability pricing (see Al-Tuwaijri et al., 2004; Clarkson et al., 2008; for a negative
relationship see Cho and Patten, 2007; de Villiers and van Staden, 2006).
Before we present our research results, we give an overview of the SDG's, the
Sustainable Development Goals. The first question is, what are the SDG's? The
SDGs are the successors of the MDGs (the Millennium Development Goals). The
MDGs set an essential target for development activities. Through the targeted
activities and measures, poverty was combated, and the health and education
system improved. These measures were implemented in developing countries. The
SDGs replaced the MDGs in 2015. The SDGs are much broader in scope than the
MDGs. The SDGs addresses a broader range of related issues, which are mainly
within the three dimensions of sustainability that are economical, social, and
environmental. The elaboration of the SDGs represents a process of inclusion never
before experienced in the history of the United Nations. Valuable contributions came
from all sectors and parts of the world. The SDGs are primarily addressed to
governments, but all organizations are addressed and invited to participate in their
implementation. They have been designed for both developed and developing
countries. The SDGs are developed by a group of participants with a variety of
backgrounds, including contributions from the business community. The goals
developed thus, represent a framework for sustainability. The aspirations and
priorities developed and set in this context give a central role above all to business
and its actors.
2
As a key contributor, business is expected to develop and deliver solutions to
implement the SDGs. This will create new opportunities for all participants to grow
together sustainably, but also to benefit from more favorable risk profiles. The
solutions and innovative business practices developed by companies can contribute
to sustainable development. SDGs encourage companies to minimize their adverse
impacts and eliminate them wherever possible. The SDGS is a suitable framework to
set, develop, steer, and control strategies, goals, and business activities, and now for
us the most relevant aspect how to communicate and report effectively the
company’s contributions regarding the achievement of the SDGS. The SDGs provide
an effective and appropriate communication framework in communicating with
stakeholders about the company's sustainability performance. (SDG Compass)
The SDGs consist of 17 objectives. The sustainability goals of the Rio+20 Summit on
Climate Change play a vital role in the development of the SDGs. The 17 objectives
include 169 objectives for sustainable development. The SDGS are valid for all
countries worldwide and not only for the countries of the Global South, as was the
case with the MDGs. In the SDGs, the human being is more in focus and,
accordingly, the primary concern of the SDGs is to end extreme poverty "in all forms
and everywhere in the world."
3
8. Achieve sustainable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and
productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
and support innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and between countries
11. Make cities and settlements more inclusive, safer, more resilient and more
sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production structures
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
15. Protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of the Earth's ecosystems.
Sustainable management of forests, combating desertification, revitalizing barren
land, and halting the loss of biodiversity.
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide
access to justice for all, and build effective, reliable, accountable and inclusive
institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen means to implement and revitalize the Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development.
(Bebbington and Unerman, 2017)
4
2. Literature review
The term sustainability was first used in the forestry sector in 1713 by Hans Carl von
Carlowitz, head of the Saxon mining industry, in his publication “Sylvicultura
Oeconomica." In his publication, he describes the sustainable use of forests,
whereby only as much wood is felled as it grows back so the forest can always
regenerate. The proposed measures were already innovative in terms of
sustainability at that time. For example, Hans Carl von Carlowitz recommended the
use of energy-saving kitchen stoves, thermal insulation to reduce energy
requirements and the search for alternative energy sources. The initial situation for
this was wood, the primary raw-material, became scarce due to intensive mining or
fleet construction. (Kaminske, G. & Bauer, J., 2008: 155f)
5
way, both current and future possibilities for satisfying needs are improved. (United
Nations 1987: 54)
In political implementation, the concept of sustainable development was
supplemented by the three-pillar model, which means that environmental, social, and
economic goals are implemented simultaneously and on an equal footing.
2.1.3 CSR
“What is the bottom line, when there is no bottom line” (Drucker, 1982)
Reporting for the triple bottom line, which is reporting on financial, ecological, and
social success in companies, is regarded as a groundbreaking innovation within
accounting in recent years. There has been a real boom in sustainability reporting
with competing accounting requirements (e.g., guidelines of the Global Reporting
Initiative for sustainability reporting, Integrated Reporting Framework of the
Integrated Reporting Council, and Directive of the European Commission on the
disclosure of non-financial information). (Theuvsen et al., 2017)
6
2.2 Voluntary Disclosure Theory
In accounting literature, there are several theories which investigate the disclosure
practices of firms. Therefore, the most important ones explaining voluntary disclosure
are provided in the following section:
Because firms target to allure external finance to scale up their debt or equity capital,
capital need theory expresses that the voluntary disclosure of information supports a
company´s attempt to procure capital at a low level of cost (Choi, 1973).
Stakeholder theory is another accounting theory that may be utilized to justify the
reason why companies voluntarily disclose information. Stakeholders are, for
example, the firm's management, shareholders, debt holders, clients, government,
and the general community (Uyar and Kılıç, 2012a). For the stakeholders backing the
companies have to intercommunicate with them (Smith et al., 2005). Conclusively,
7
companies are motivated to disclose information voluntarily in order to satisfy their
stakeholders´ need for further information (Uyar et al., 2013).
Dowling and Pfeffer (1975) and Magnes (2006) stated in their studies that a company
´s right to exist is predicated to its values perceived as matched with the ones of
society in general. Therefore, the notion of the legitimacy theory simulates a social
contract between companies on the one hand and society, on the other hand
(Magness, 2006). Consequently, the management is intended to provide information
that would have a positive impact on the investors' view of the company (Cormier and
Gordon, 2001). Dyball (1998) and O´Donovan (2002) suggested in their studies that
the annual report is a highly relevant source of legitimation. Legitimization can be
found in financial statements as disclosure provided mandatory and in the annual
report as disclosure provided voluntary (Magness, 2006) and (Lightstone and
Driscoll, 2008).
8
3. Hypothesis Development
9
4. Research Method
The sample of companies we use in this paper is from the STOXX-Europe 600 index,
which contains the 600 largest European companies. The reporting period was from
2015 to 2017, which results in 1800 observations. The sample is constituted by a
compound ranking of share price, book value of equity, and earnings per share. The
companies in the sample belong to 11 industry groups, namely Communication
Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Energy, Financials, Health
Care, Industrials, Information Technology, Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities. What
is more, the sample consists of companies from 18 countries. Of these 1800
observations, 1157 times the SDGs are not published, 481 times the SDGs are
published, and 162 times no information regarding publication is given. After
eliminating observations with missing information on one of the variables used for our
analysis, the final sample consists of 1602 observations.
Hence, the regression is estimated, including the following control variables: BVE,
EPSY, AR_SDG_text, AR_SDG_ANY.
BVE: BVE is the book value on equity, particularly, common equity at fiscal year-end,
divided by the number of outstanding shares.
10
EPSY: EPSY is the earnings per share at fiscal year-end.
5. Results
Table 1 shows the descriptive statistics of our analysis. On average, the share price
in our sample is 162.49 (median 20.48) with a maximum of 69,457.92 and a
minimum of 0.36. The book value of equity is 48.10 on average (median 8.42) with a
minimum of -11.75 and a maximum of 14,553.64. The earnings per share have a
maximum of 1643.58 and a minimum of -84.37, with an average of 5.57 (median
1.01). The Variable AR_SDG_text has an average of 0.01 (median 0.00) with a
maximum of 1.00 and a minimum of -0.01.
For our regression analysis, we use a modified model which is based on Ohlson
(1995). The aim is to evaluate whether the reporting on the SDGs is related to share
prices in the period of 2015-2017. The model of Ohlson (1995) is based on the
condition that the equity value is a result of book value, financial accounting
information, and non-accounting information. The model of Ohlson (1995), or
modified versions thereof has been used comprehensively in the CSR research (e.g.,
Clarkson et a., 2013, De Klerk & De Villiers, 2012)
11
To assess the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable, a
multiple linear regression model was performed. The multivariate test is evaluated on
the following model:
Table 2 presents the results of the multiple linear regression and shows that the
regression model is highly significant. Moreover, the adjusted coefficient of
determination (R2) explains 98.18% of the relation between the dependent variable
and the independent variables. The coefficients for BVE and EPSY are highly
significant. The coefficient for AR_SDG_ANY is not statistically significant, while the
coefficient for AR_SDG_text is significant.
6. Discussion
The results of the regression that are displayed in Table 2 show that the F-ratio is
21592.69 and significant. Thus, the result statistically maintains the significance of
the regression model. The adjusted coefficient of determination (R 2) of 0.9818
indicates that the four independent variables explain 98.18% of the variance in the
share prices. This high value indicates that the model executed is reasonable to
explain the sample companies’ share price. The empirical evidence inferred from the
regression model suggests that AR_SDG_ANY is insignificant, and thus, the
hypothesis is not provided. However, the sign of AR_SDG_text is positive and
significant. This indicates that companies that disclose more on the SDGs have a
higher share price that the ones that have a lower disclosure practice on the SDGs.
BVE and EPSY are also found to be significant.
12
7. Conclusion
13
could analyze the development of the share price following the first publication of the
SDGs and in subsequent years.
14
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19
Iubiti Arhierei, Preoti si Diaconi, cinstit Cler a lui Hristos,
Noi care facem parte din Biserica Cea Vazuta si Luptatoare ne cerem iertare si cerem putere
de la Dumnezeu pentru a ne pocai autentic si a ne schimba viata in bine, ascultand si
implinind poruncile lui Dumnezeu!!!
Ne cerem iertare caci ne vedem pe noi, care facem parte dun poporul dreptcredincios ca
vinovati pentru apostazia si lepadarea de credinta in care am cazut incepand din clipa aderari
miscari ecumeniste, acceptand sa devenim membri ai consiliului mondial al "Bisericilor" desi
corect ar fi sa fie numit consiliul mondial al ereziilor. Intreg procesul de apostazie generala de
la dreapta credinta si-a continuat de a lungul aniilor traseul prin devieri de la dreapta credinte
care s-au semnat in cadrul mai multor intruniri precum Balamand, Chambessy, Geneva si
altele. Devierea treptata de la dreapta credinta si-au atins apogeul prin textele ambigue, eretice
si rastalmacitoare de la Sinodul din Creta din anul 2106 care au fost semnate de majoritatea
episcopilor participanti dar care nu au fost semnate de majoritatea episcopilor Bisericii, caci
majoritatea episcopilor Bisericii de pretutindeni nu a participat.
Ca consecinta si urmare duhovniceasca a caderii, lepadarii de credinta care a avut loc la
sinodul talharesc din Creta, Biserica se afla acum intr-o stare profund de trista, aflandu-se in
pericol de o noua mare Schisma caci Biserica din Rusia nu se mai afla in comuniune cu
Biserica din Constantinopol. Iar toata starea aceasta nu este decat rodul apostaziei generale ( a
clerului si a poporului). Caci toti ne-am abatut si netrebnici ne-am facut.
Dar cei mai vinovati suntem noi poporul care are botezul cel dreptcredincios dar nu si faptele,
caci faptele noastre sunt uraciune si spurcaciune inainte lui Dumnezeu si dupa faptele noastre
nu suntem vrednici nici a ne numi oameni dar indeosebi cum vom indrazni a ne chema
crestini, caci dupa cum ne invata sfinti Biserici care sunt adevarati dascali si crestini, crestin
este acela care este Botezat corect in Numele Adevaratei Sfintei Treimii in Biserica Ortodoxa
si care are simtirea Harului Dumnezeiesc si care il ajuta pe credincios sa implineasca
poruncile si voia lui Dumnezeu.
Spunand toate acestea ne cerem iertare inaintea clerului care a apostaziat prin semnarea sau
acceptarea textelor de la sinodul din Creta.
Ne cerem iertare fiindca este vina noastra in primul rand caci clerul a ajuns in situatia de a se
lepada de credinta in mod constient sau inconstient. Noi suntem vinovati pentru caderea si
20
apostazia in care ne aflam, noi suntem vinovati caci decenii de a randul v-am constrans mereu
sa incalcati sfintele canoane, sa scurtati din randuiala slujbelor, caci v-am fortat mereu sa
faceti pogoraminte nepermise amenintandu-va de multe ori ca daca nu faceti cum dorim noi
mergem la eretici (greco-catolici sau altii) care sunt dispusi sa faca slujbele precum dorim noi
dar spre a noastra pierzare, rusine sa ne fie!!! Sa ne fie rusine si motiv de pocainta faptul ca
v-am bruscat mereu si am dat dovada de multa lipsa de credinta, rabdare, dragoste si
ascultare. Caci nu am ascultat invataturile voastre cat timp voi ati predicat cuvantul
Adevarului, nu l-am ascultat ci L-am lepadat prin ignoranta, superficialitatea, lenea,
nepasarea, nesimtirea dar mai ales necredinta noastra. Este vina voastra caci din cauza noastra
vi-s-a alterat constiinta cea ortodoxa care cunostea si aplica cu iubire sfintele dogme si
sfintele canoane. Este vina noastra ca v-am virusat cu gandirea noastra lumeasca,
superstitioasa si eretica. Este firesc, este omeneste ca clerul cu trecerea timpului sa se
molipseasca si sa se conforme credintei poporului. Clerul este oglinda noastra a poporului.
Timp de zeci de ani de zile la randul prin pacatele noastre, prin comportamentul nostru am
adus clerul in starea aceasta jalnica in care se afla acum. Noi suntem cei care din iubire de
sine, din egoism, din necredinta sau iubire de arginti avem zeci de milioane de avorturi stiute,
tot din aceleasi motive am parasit multi dintre noi tara noastre si ne-am incurcat cu neamurile
pagane si eretice. Pentru noi ati fost nevoiti si voi, membri clerului bisericesc sa parasiti tara,
si tot pentru noi a trebuit sa faceti enorm de multe compromise si sa va umiliti in fata
ereticilor, acceptand sa faceti slujbe, conferinte si tot felul de intalniri si evenimente impreuna
cu ei doar ca sa avem si noi un loc unde sa ne adunam. Tot noi suntem de vina ca ingaduiti
casatoriile cu ereticii ( cu catolici, protestanti, musulmani sau chiar si cu atei). Si pentru cate
altele nu suntem noi responsabili caci dintr-u inceput voi nu erati asa. Aduceti-va aminte de
starea cea dintai, de dragostea dintai fata de Dumnezeu si sfintele Sale Dogme, Canoane si
Porunci, aduceti-va aminte de juramintele depuse, marturisind ferm si hotarat supunerea,
credinta si fidelitatea fata de dogmele, canoanele si poruncile Bisericii. Noi ne aducem aminte
cat de mult va straduiati sa urmati calea Sfintiilor Parinti in credinciosie fata de invataturile
sfinte ale Biserici. Dar din nefericirea noi poporul nu v-am ascultat si v-am impins spre
prapastie, pana cand ati cazut si voi. Iar daca si voi si noi am cazut cine ne va ma ridica? Ne
va ridica Mila lui Dumnezeu care nu ne paraseste niciodata daca ne vom intoarce din calea
noastra cea rea si ne vom pocai de nelegiuirile noastre. Ne va ridica Dumnezeu pentru
rugaciunile Preacuratei, Stapanei noastre de Dumnezeu Nascatoarea si Pururea Fecioara
Maria care se roaga pentru noi toti impreuna cu intreg soborul Bisericii Biruitoare din Cer!!!
Ne va ridica Dumnezeu prin cei care inca nu au cazut, care inca nu s-au lepadat de El!!! Caci
precum pe vremea Sfantului Prooroc Ilie Dumnezeu isi are inca oameni sai care nu si-au
plecat genunchii si grumazi lui Baal, adica ecumenismului si tuturor ereziilor din zilele
noastre!!! Ne cerem iertare mai ales si fata de acestia, de ramasita aleasa de Dumnezeu care
nu L-a tradat pe Dumnezeu! Ne cerem iertare pentru prigoanele si intristarile care le sufera
din pricina noastra! Nadajduim ca bunul Dumnezeu pentru rugaciunile tuturor Sfintiilor prin
acestia ne va ridica!!! Ramane doar ca noi, cler si popor sa ne dorim lucrul acesta!!! Fiecare
dintre noi sa dea dovada de putina smerenie si sa isi recunoasca partea lui de vina pentru
starea in care ne aflam noi si intreaga lume astazi!!! Daca insasi Biserica lui Hristos este in
mare tulburare atunci sa nu ne miram ca lumea veacului acesta este intr-o si mai mare
tulburare! Asadar insistam, staruim si apelam la inima, constiinta si mila fiecaruia dintre noi:
Sa ne fie mila cu adeverat de sufletele noastre si sa incepem sa ne pocaim! Sa incepem prin a
recunoaste fata de noi insine si inaintea lui Dumnezeu in inimile noastre si in fata intregii lumi
ca am gresit! Am gresit Doamne iarta-ne! Nu este Iuda singur vinovat ci in primul rand noi!
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Noi te-am tradat cu toti! Ne pare rau ajuta-ne sa facem roade vrednice de pocainta! Ajuta-ne
si nu lasa pe noi in voia noastra cea rea! Te-am parasit, Te-am tradat, Te-am vandut, Te-am
batjocorit, Te-am scuipat si Te-am rastignit! Dar Te rugam Doamne nu ne lasa in voia noastra
cea rea! Ca vrem ori nu vrem Tu intoarce-ne la Tine! Lumineaza-ne sa ne vedem gresealele
noastre si daruieste-ne pocainta autentica si roade vrednice de ea! Doamne, Dumnezeul
minunilor fa minunea aceasta si daruieste-ne pocainta cea aducatoare de bucuria unirii in Duh
si Adevar cu Tine! Ca Tu esti Dumnezeul nostru si Tie Slava Inaltam Tatalui si Fiului si
Sfantului Duh. Amin.
Tables
Table 1
Share Price BVE EPSY Text
Max 69457,92 14553,64 1643,58 1,00
Min 0,36 -11,75 -84,37 -0,01
Average 162,49 48,10 5,57 0,01
Median 20,48 8,42 1,01 0,00
Table 2
Regression Statistics
Multiple R 0,990881236
R Square 0,981845624
Adjusted R Square 0,981800153
Standard Error 346,1387291
Observations 1602
ANOVA
df SS MS F
Regression 4 10348256619 2587064155 21592,69295
Residual 1597 191339795,6 119812,0198
Total 1601 10539596414
Coefficients Standard Error t Stat P-value
Intercept -55,67078489 10,35378309 -5,376854468 8,70262E-08
BVE 3,083520737 0,090532718 34,05973898 1,3482E-191
EPSY 11,99195972 0,800538546 14,97986546 1,44215E-47
AR_SDG_text -420,8206171 148,5823946 -2,832237414 0,004680354
AR_SDG_ANY 28,06334353 19,94196011 1,407251012 0,15954756
22