Comparison of two companies (financially)

Essay by Anonymous UserA+, October 1996

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22nd October 1996

Interpretation of Accounts for Tasker Lynch plc.

By Louise Rhodes

Company Accountant

1/ Terms of Reference

As the company's accountant I have been asked by the board of directors to appraise the financial company of my choice. The appraisal was requested by the chairman who would like to invest a sum of money on behalf of the employees of Tasker Lynch plc.

This report has been prepared to analyse the financial performance of The Booker Group, the company I am looking into, with regards to its worthiness for investment by Tasker Lynch plc, and The Nurdin & Peacock Group, to incorporate the companies profitability, efficiency and liquidity for the historical period 1993-1995 and to provide a comparison between the two. Bookers financial structure will then be examined and the advantages and disadvantages of the company, as a recipient of investment funds will be discussed.

2/ Procedure

To obtain the correct analysis, a detailed breakdown of the figures given was necessary, comparing various ratios over the three year period, to see the progress (or otherwise), of the companies involved.

To do this, the companies profit and loss accounts and balance sheets were used.

The financial information relating to the Booker Group has been extracted from the audited accounts for the three financial years end 30th December 1995. The financial information relating to the Nurdin and Peacock Group has been extracted from: for 1995, the audited accounts for the fifty two weeks ended 29th December1995 and for 1994 and 1993 the comparative figures shown in the audited accounts for the fifty two weeks ended 29th December and 30th December 1994 respectively. (See Appendices1)

3/ Introduction

a) Background to Booker

Booker is a UK based international food group active in three main business areas:

Food Distribution - cash and...