introduction
No matter what size they are, all companies need to control their finances. This includes everything from keeping track of how much the company is selling, though to analysing profit and company expenditure.
Cadbury was a public limited company (PLC), which means that shares in it were traded on the stock exchange and could be bought by members of the public. Someone who owned a share owned a small part of Cadbury.
As a PLC, Cadbury were required by law to publish annual accounts and to hold an Annual General Meeting, where the accounts were discussed and approved and shareholders could vote on important issues. As shareholders own a part of the company they have a say in how the company is run. They are given the opportunity to attend, speak and vote at company general meetings. In this way they can monitor and influence what the management is doing.
Before the meeting, shareholders receive a copy of the annual report. This gives details of the company’s performance over the previous year and includes financial data such as the profit and loss account and the balance sheet.
As a PLC, Cadbury were required by law to publish annual accounts and to hold an Annual General Meeting, where the accounts were discussed and approved and shareholders could vote on important issues.
Download the Cadbury annual report for 2006
