The determinants of risk disclosure in the annual reports of listed state-owned
enterprises (SOEs) have yet to be fully explored. This paper examines the potential
impact of the composition of the boards of directors and other company-specific
features on risk disclosure levels. The presence of women on a board made a
significant difference to risk disclosure, as did the age of board members. Board
directors having an accounting or finance/business qualification affected risk
disclosure negatively; company size and an internet visibility were positively related to
risk disclosure. Although an Italian study, the lessons will have application to
academia and to practitioners, policy-makers and standard-setters worldwide