AN ANALYSIS OF THE BUSINESS OBJECTIVES OF THE LARGEST LISTED COMPANIES IN AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

In this research note we analyse the business objectives of the top 100 companies listed on each of the Australian Securities Exchange (the S&P/ASX 100), the London Stock Exchange (the FTSE 100) and the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE 100) to determine to what extent stakeholder interests are taken into account in the objectives. We classify the objectives according to whether the company prioritises the interests of shareholders, prioritises the interests of shareholders but takes into account the interests of other stakeholders, or prioritises the interests of stakeholders. For those companies that prioritise the interests of shareholders, we examine how this objective is described. The ..