Marks and Spencer
Introduction ----------------------------- > History of Marks and Spencer The M & S Company was a partnership between Michael Marks a polish refugee stall holder and Tom Spencer a cashier. It became a public limited company (PLC) in 1926 which built on the core values of quality, value for money, service, innovation and trust Marks and Spencer do well during the war years and expand opening stores in Southern as well as Northern England. They quickly established a sound reputation for quality, value and corporate responsibility becoming a household name and firm shopper favorites by the 1960's with stores throughout the UK. Marks and Spencer is one of the countries leading company's specializing in clothing, food, home furnishings and financial services. With nearly four hundred M & S stories throughout the UK representing over 12.5 million square feet of prime retail space and serving over ten million customers every week. The group has a turnover in excess of eight thousand million pounds and the company also traded in thirty countries worldwide up until late 2002. > Architecture and competitive advantage: Marks and Spencer Kay argued that the success of M & S was founder in architecture which is defined as the 'network of relational contracts within, or around, the firm'. M & S could be seen as exhibiting both these features as a good employer offering both stability
The Return On Capital Employed ratio (ROCE).
ROCE. The Return on Capital Employed ratio (ROCE) will tell me my Financial performance for my business and how much profit I will earn from the investments the Average Capital that have been made in the company. ROCE = Net Profit for the year * 100 = 25 * 100 = 5% Average Capital 500 Net Profit * 100 22,986.70*100 = 47.12 % Average Capital 48,787 This parentage figure shows to that profits generated by my business in a year are high to pay back from the money invested in my business. These sets of result tell me that I have a good financial performance in the first year of starting my business. The research I have done from the Internet and text books show that the average figure for a ROCE is between 20 -25 % for a business like fast food takes. Comparing my estimate ROCE figure it shows that my estimated ROCE as a percentage is more then double the average percentage for a ROCE figure. This shows to me that I have had excellent sales in the first year of trading. This data helps me to plan and see where my business will be in the future years. Looking from the first year ROCE estimated result it tells me that my business will expand as a business increase sales and investments within the business. Comparing my figures to a another business in the same market selling fast food (Mc Donalds) who are a well
Management are aware of the need to build an e-commerce strategy and are prepared to implement a recommended plan with the proviso that performance can be measured.
Case Report and Presentation Problem Statement To order to remain competitive Bartier Perry needs to utilise the internet in a way that brings the customer into a closer relationship; thus maintaining their client focussed approach. A mix needs to be determined that creates a solid technological platform from which their professional service can be leveraged. Management are aware of the need to build an e-commerce strategy and are prepared to implement a recommended plan with the proviso that performance can be measured. Introduction In operation since 1947, Bartier Perry has built itself to be a leading boutique law firm narrowing its areas of legal focus to ensure it remains highly competitive. The firm is committed to delivering a high level client focussed product with "their finger on the pulse ready to assist with changes". Evolving from a traditional lawyer's club culture of long lunches and high overheads the company has adopted a flatter management structure removing the high cost entities and pouring resources into building a high quality product. Until the introduction of the current general manager six years ago, IT infrastructure was neglected and viewed as a costly expense with the little return on investment. Today implementation of practice management software has allowed closer control on WIP (work in progress), billing targets, budgets and performance
Business Plan
Content . Introduction 2 2. The Point of Proposed Project 2 2.1. Business Idea 2 2.2. Project Idea 3 2.3. Primary Points 3 3. Marketing Plan 4 3.1. Environment Analysis 4 3.1.1. SWOT Analysis 4 3.1.2. PESTLE Analysis 4 3.2. Marketing Set 5 3.2.1. Product 5 3.2.2. Determination of Price 6 3.2.3. Distribution 7 3.2.4. Sponsorship 7 4. Organisational Plan 8 4.1. Organisational Structure 8 4.2. Personnel Selection 9 5. Findings 10 6. Appendixes 11 . Introduction Investment plan is a document where is stated the point of business idea, described the situation of business object in economical, political circumstances, also planned future strategy and perspectives and shown financial information. The structure of investment plan and its details depends on business object, activity field, competitors and current conditions to develop business. The businessman who is creating investment plan must make research, think of the opportunities and perspectives in current economical situation and competition of the country. Besides in the investment plan must be clearly described conditions for oncoming employees of the firm, calculated incomes, outgoings and possibilities of paying dividends. Furthermore must be paid attention to the use and assignment of ready cash. After contemplations these propositions for successful firm existence, businessman has to choose the
Business Valuation of Fiat Co.
Fiat Group Strategy analysis Fiat group deals with automobile manufacturing, engine manufacturing, agricultural and construction equipment, trucks and commercial vehicles, components and production systems and other businesses.. We can say that contemporary these areas of businesses play a big role in the world. The key profit drivers is without any doubt a automobile manufacturing because Fiat group has three powerful brand such as Fiat, Maserati and Ferrari. With regards to Maserati and Ferrari, they are luxuries brands. A key risk will be very big competition within middle class car, where Fiat cars are segmented. The segment is very profitable because there is enormous demand for cars from that segment due to their prices. Currently Fiat Group's performance is really good because the group continuously is making progresses which are expressed by new products, in this case these are cars. Future performance will depend upon how Fiat group will handle with the strategic businesses because controlling so many areas is not easy but thanks to diversification Fiat Group can survive hard times if one business fails. With regard to cost of capital, it is determined by cost of equity and cost of debt. The cost of equity is some return rate which Fiat group has to offer to a shareholder in order to receive capital. With regards to cost of debt, in case of Fiat it will be cost of
An Evaluation of Barclays Acquisition of Absa 2005
An Evaluation of Barclays Acquisition of Absa 2005 01 - June - 2007 Edward Whiteley The Deal The acquisition of Absa by Barclays marked Barclays' return to South Africa, SA, having left in 1986 due to the political environment and issues concerning apartheid. At the time of the deal Barclays had no presence in SA's retail banking sector having previously had over 1,000 branches prior to 1986. The deal became SA's largest inward investment and Barclay's biggest overseas move. Announced on the 9th May 2005 Barclays paid Absa shareholders R82.5 per share plus a 2% dividend. Company Overviews Absa Their dominant position of the Big Four (Standard Bank, Nedbank, First Rand) had long resulted in high fees being passed on to the customer: an issue that had been raised by SA finance officials. It had been considered by finance officials, that the entry of a better capitalised competitor could bring changes to a sector relatively free from foreign presence1. Once complete the deal involved the merging of Barclays' current SA operations with those of Absa, who would continue to operate under the Absa brand, and Barclays assuming control of the group's corporate and wholesale operations from regional head offices. Barclays would hope to use its financial strength and vast credit knowledge to increase Absa's current product range. An adaptation of the Ansoff Matrix (1965) shows
FINACIAL ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE NETWORK PLC
THE UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH LONDON, UK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS EQUITY REPORT ON ALTERNATIVE NETWORK PLC PREPARED BY MD KHAN M.S.C FINANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM COURSE LEADER (ACCO-1079): Ms Iwona A Vellam DATE OF SUBMISSION: 5TH MAY 2009. Table of Contents Introduction 3 Background of the company 3 Justification for selecting the company 4 SWOT analysis 4 Risk factors 6 Share Price Performance 6-7 Valuation of the company 7-8 Financial Performance 9-16 Analysis of Profit and Loss Account 9-12 Analysis of Cash Flow 12-14 Analysis of Balance Sheet 14-16 Segmental Analysis 16 Limitations 16 Conclusion 17 References 18-19 Appendix 20-22 INTRODUCTION Alternative Network Plc is one of the listed companies in London Stock Exchange in the Fixed Line Telecommunication categories. It's a company under Alternative Network Group. Though Alternative Network Group has three companies named ad Alternative Network Plc, Alternative Networks TS Ltd, and Echo Communications Ltd, the most profitable company under this group is Alternative Network Plc (Alternative Network Group, 2009). Alternative Network Plc mainly supplies four services. Those are managed network services, non-geographic number services, mobile phone and data services, and
The past two to three years may be characterised as the most serious period of ethical scandal on the part of businesses.
ABSTRACT The past two to three years may be characterised as the most serious period of ethical scandal on the part of businesses. In most respects, the current environment of fraud and corruption is far worse than the insider trading scandals as the current situation has caused such significant financial harm for tens-of-thousands of employees and millions of investors. Greed and dishonesty has caused the top management, accountants and auditors to falter in the ethical context for these are the people who control the decisions of the company and have the knowledge of what is going on. Basically, there is a rise in the number of people who have failed to adhere to ethical codes of conduct and behaviour. With this in mind, this paper is indeed timely and relevant for it discusses an accounting scandal, highlights the stakeholders who would be affected by the decision taken, the chain of reaction that would follow, the ethical issues involved, as well as the proposed resolution towards overcoming the problem. INTRODUCTION It is difficult to define ethics in a precise manner. In a general sense, ethics is the code of moral principles and values that govern the behaviours of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong (Daft, 2003). Ethics set standards as to what is good or bad in conduct and decision making. Business ethics deal with internal values that
A Comprehensive Financial Analysis of TOYS R US.
A Comprehensive Financial Analysis Of TOYS R US TABLE OF CONTENTS Company Overview ....................................................... 4 Key Facts........................................................................ 4 Business Description.................................................... 5 History ............................................................................ 6 Key Employees .............................................................. 7 Major Products And Services..................................... 12 Products And Services Analysis................................ 13 SWOT Analysis ............................................................ 14 Top Competitors .......................................................... 18 Company View ............................................................. 19 Locations and Subsidiaries........................................ 24 HISTORY Toys "R" Us was established in 1948 as a baby furniture store in Washington DC, by Charles Lazarus at the young age of 25 . Mr. Lazarus began a business totally dedicated to kids and their needs just in time for the post-war baby boom era. The store started off by selling baby toys first, and then toys for older children, as it responded to customer demand. In 1957, Lazarus opened the first toy supermarket, which combined specialty retailing and off-price
Is Political Pressure From Producer Groups, Rather Than Consideration Of Market Failure, That Explains Governmental Reliance On Regulation. Discuss
It Is Political Pressure From Producer Groups, Rather Than Consideration Of Market Failure, That Explains Governmental Reliance On Regulation. Discuss... Regulation is a state-imposed limitation on the discretion that may be exercised by individuals or organisations, which is supported by the threat of sanctions.i It is common knowledge that politicians have an incentive to get re-elected and to maintain power and control. So, while the Government likes taxation and depending on ideology, nationalisation. It must consider the backlash of its decision, concerning the welfare of all parties concerned. Taxation tends to affect the welfare of both consumers and producers. Regulation on the other hand still allows for the allocative and productive efficiency of any firm is co-determined by market forces and administrative processes. It does not really constrain firm pricing behaviour. It is in some ways "the lesser of two evils" and may be an advantage for firms. Why? Regulated firms report improved internal efficiency, lower prices, a wider range of services, and increased profitability.ii The answer lies in the fact that regulation may enable a firm to yield economic rent. Economic rent is 'wage' for some fixed resource, which is necessary for, and valuable in a transaction but in monopolistic possession of some trader.iii Firms may earn economic rent since price is set above