Each data set consisted of four elements: • scores and data sources for questions 1–13 on anti-corruption programmes • scores and data sources for questions 14–21 on organisational transparency • country-by-country data (questions 22–26) • list of countries of operations The companies were asked to review the collected data in order to verify their completeness and accuracy. Of the 100 companies, 17 provided feedback. All requests for corrections were carefully analysed and discussed by the research team. Whenever necessary, further information, substantiation or documentation was requested and obtained from companies. This process resulted in a number of data point adjustments and in updates of some data sources which led to improvements in the scores for 12 of the 17 companies that provided feedback. For purposes of scoring, all sources that were published on corporate websites on or before 18 March 2013 were taken into account. Corrections were most often the result of one or more of the following: • the publication of new corporate documents or policies • changes to or updates of policies • identification of documents or sources that had been missed and therefore omitted by the initial review • clarification of specific terminology The following companies provided feedback during the data review process: Alfa, América Móvil, Bharti Airtel, Brasil Foods, Emirates Airlines, Gedeon Richter, Gazprom, Gerdau, Koç Holding, Mabe, Mahindra & Mahindra, Natura, Petrobras, Petronas, Saudi Basic Industries, Tata Communications, Votorantim Group. Transparency International greatly appreciates company engagement in this process as it contributes to the high quality of the data. As a result of this dialogue, a better overview and understanding of diverse reporting practices and standards was gained.
QUESTIONNAIRE STRUCTURE AND SCORING The questionnaire covers a broad spectrum of issues influencing corporate transparency. It was constructed in the same manner as the questionnaire used for the most recent report Transparency in Corporate Reporting: Assessing the World’s Largest Companies in 2012. It focuses on three dimensions: 1. reporting on anti-corruption programmes 2. organisational transparency 3. country-by-country reporting The first dimension is derived from the UN Global Compact – Transparency International Reporting Guidance on the 10th Principle Against Corruption. It includes 13 questions; each one is allocated a score of 0, 0.5 or 1. The maximum score is 13 points. The final score for this dimension for each company is then expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible score (between 0 and 100 per cent). The second dimension includes eight questions. It evaluates the level of disclosure of material, fully and non-fully consolidated entities. Reporting on names, percentages owned by the parent company, countries of incorporation and countries of operations is reviewed for all such entities. Again, each question is awarded a score of 0, 0.5 or 1.
Transparency in Corporate Reporting: Assessing Emerging Market Multinationals
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