What is an annual report?
An annual report is the summary of the financial year that every Swedish limited company is required to prepare under the Annual Accounts Act. It must be filed with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, at which point it becomes a public document that anyone can request.
What it contains
An annual report consists of a directors' report, an income statement, a balance sheet and notes. Larger companies must also provide a cash flow statement. The directors' report is often the most informative part: it is where the board describes the business, significant events during the year, and the proposed dividend.
Why it matters for unlisted investments
A company with unlisted shares has no continuous reporting obligation towards a marketplace, so the annual report is often the only public source of information. Reading several years in sequence shows how revenue, profit and equity have developed, and is a natural starting point for your own company analysis ahead of a purchase.