The Role Of Female Characters In Hamlet - 1347 Words

Hamlet is a play about death, revenge, and love. Written by William Shakespeare, this play is famous around the world for its dramatic plot. The central theme of Hamlet is love. The story starts off with a Queen falling in love with the brother of her husband. The Queen decides to quickly marry the brother of her previous husband, when her previous husband suddenly dies. Her son (Prince Hamlet), who loves his biological father and disagrees with his mother’s quick decision to marry, is quite saddened by the turn of events. Suddenly, the ghost of his father comes back to tell him that his brother assassinated him to claim access to the throne. Infuriated, Hamlet decides to take revenge on his uncle and hatches a plan to reveal the truth†¦show more content†¦She is pinned down in a position that forces her to stay silent and absorb all of the insults that have been thrown in her face. To add to the humility, she is being told this by her so-called â€Å"lover.† O phelia, a female character who is of lower rank to the prince has no choice to be silent and listen to what the prince tells her. It is an awkward situation for her to be in. Not only is it awkward, it is also highly sexist. Prince Hamlet would never have said such terms to a male character. In fact, he probably would have never have even considered saying that to a male character. In this way, the female characters in the story are disadvantaged, with no say in the way that they are treated, or want to be treated. In â€Å"Discovering Feminism Through Gertrude and Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet†, Zamila Abdul Rani, Siti Hawa Muhamad, and Siti Masitah Md Zin write, â€Å"‘Get thee to a nunnry’ (3.1.1617). The term nunnery does not mean to have a religious connotation, but is used to disrespect and lash out on innocent Ophelia. In this scene, the hate towards women is amplified† (250). This is a clear representation of how Hamlet refers to Ophelia i n such degrading terms and how he harshly tells her to go get herself impregnated. Unfortunately, Ophelia can not even say anything while being told to become pregnant after being a virgin for so long. This is another representation of how females were normally lower thanShow MoreRelatedThe Profound Impact Of Female Characters Of Shakespeare s Hamlet930 Words   |  4 PagesProfound Impact of Female Characters in Hamlet How much of an impact can the women in a man’s life have on his thoughts and actions? A mother is the first woman her son will come into contact with, and can skew her son’s image of women through her actions. A man’s significant other also has the ability to bring out the best in him, but can also become the target for his anger and stray emotions. In William Shakespeare s Hamlet, although there are only two main female characters, both women†¯possessRead MoreEssay about Ophelia: Harshly Criticized1027 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century, has been subject to evaluation for centuries. Each character has been broken down and analyzed. The psychology of each character has been examined. Every relationship has been studied to find more answer surrounding the play. Harold Bloom and Sigmund Freud have examined it extensively. Scholars have dissected all parts of the play. One character that has recently been analyzed more and more is Ophelia. She has been defended byRead MoreHamlet by Williams Shakespeare: The Women Hidden in the Shadows1154 Words   |  5 Pagesactions. The females in Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude, both play roles with little importance, which demonstrates the lack of independence present; causing these characters to solely rely of the main characters of the play— the men. Although Shakespeare often wrote tragedies, it is no secret that he kept a place in his heart for romance. The female roles in the play are emphasized as weak woman if they lack a companion, and therefore are helpless. Hamlet and Claudius, the main male characters of the playRead MoreFeminism in Hamlet1451 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Feminist Criticism and Its Integration in Hamlet† In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, many controversies arose from the text, one of which was feminism. Feminism in the most general of terms is known as the principle advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. Feminism was a largely debated issue in the context of eighteenth century literature specific to many of Shakespeare’s texts. Feminist Criticism is similar in content but is more specific andRead MoreThe Great Prince Of Denmark, Hamlet, By William Shakespeare1487 Words   |  6 Pagesfreedom led to their diminutive role in literature. In contrast to this degrading trend, Shakespeare introduced femininity in a new light. He created female characters who contradict the stereotypes of his time, impacting both the plot and surrounding characters of his plays. One of his most famous tragedies, Hamlet, revolves around the great prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who encounters the apparition of his deceased father, the former king. T he ghost asks that Hamlet seeks revenge upon Claudius, hisRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis961 Words   |  4 PagesWhen one reads William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is easy to overlook the female characters as powerless and subservient. However, things are not always what they seem at first glance, as a further analysis of Gertrude and Ophelia suggests. Although the plot centers around Hamlet’s quest for revenge, these two female characters have a profound influence on what transpires. These women certainly play more significant roles than they seem at first. In Act I, Gertrude appears to be an unfaithful wifeRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Hamlet 1021 Words   |  5 PagesOchoa1 Daniela Ochoa English Mrs. Levine 19 April 2016 Women’s Roles in Hamlet â€Å"There’s a remarkable amount of sexism on TV. When male characters are flawed, they’re interesting, deep and complex, but when women characters are flawed, they’re just a mess.† Ellen Pompeo. In â€Å"Hamlet† Ophelia and Gertrude are the only females mentioned throughout the Shakespeare’s tragic play. The two women are unappreciated and are considered fragile andRead MoreEssay about Women’s Roles in Hamlet1033 Words   |  5 PagesWomen’s Roles in Hamlet In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare, the author, creates female characters that occupy very different roles than in his other plays. In this play, Hamlet plays opposite two women who are used by the men around them in order to further their own interests. One woman is named Ophelia. In many of Shakespeare’s other plays, he creates women that are very strong and play a very real role in the life of the protagonist. In Hamlet, however, Ophelia occupies a very different role-she exemplifiesRead MoreWomen s Tragedy : Hamlet And King Lear1185 Words   |  5 PagesTinsley Anderson Dr. Pitchford ENGL 4037 24 November 2015 Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies: Hamlet and King Lear While William Shakespeare’s Tragedies are well known for their violence, tragic heroes, and fatal flaws, the method in which Shakespeare portrays his female characters in a negative light is seldom expressed. The women of Shakespeare’s Tragedies are represented unfavorably, no matter if they are virtuous or evil. â€Å"Shakespeare’s plays are not lacking in women with positive human qualitiesRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Hamlet 1061 Words   |  5 PagesKylie Kwiatt Jaime Jordan Reading Shakespeare October 29, 2014 Hamlet through Feminist Lens In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character of Ophelia may be looked at and analyzed through a Feminist perspective. By using a Feminist lens, readers may observe the impact of patriarchal society and misogyny on the mind of a young lady doing her best to fit into the role of a Shakespearian-era woman. Women were expected to be virginal, yet sexual, subservient and inferior to men, and possessions

EST1 310.2.3-08 Essays - 2136 Words

EST1 - 310.2.3-08 Creating an Ethics Program for Specialty Sports, Inc. Thank you for joining Specialty Sports, Inc. (the Company). We believe that you have a special contribution to make to our organization, and that you will find your employment with us a rewarding learning experience. We believe that you will feel that your employment with us will be one that is mutually gratifying and beneficial. We think you will find your future at the Company to be full of new opportunities, challenges, learn experience, new friends and become part of a great family. In any organization, it is important to have the written procedures, standard policies, and general rules of behavior to serve as the ground work for a great relationship.†¦show more content†¦The Company asks for your assistance in maintaining a secure and safe work environment for all. The Company’s pledge to provide a safe and healthy work environment bans smoking on Company properties, including but not limited to break areas, bathrooms, and work areas. Employees who smoke will be able to do so only on break and lunch times. They will have to go outside of the Company’s facility in the designated smoking areas on the property. The Company is pledged to providing a work environment that is free from any acts of violence. In upholding this pledge, the Company has established a rule that provides â€Å"zero tolerance† for any acts of violence against customers, visitors, employees, or any other person who has contact with employees while performing their duties. The Company’s goal is to have zero work-related illnesses or injuries. However, in order to attain this goal, it will require a team effort involving both the Company and the employees. Only through such a coordinated effort can this safety plan be established and sustained. Policy Against Harassment The Company commits to provide a workplace where all employees can work together productively and comfortably. Each individual has the right to work in a professional environment that prohibits unfair practices and encourages equal opportunity. The Company will not tolerate harassmentShow MoreRelatedEst1 Wgu - Ethics Program for Nonprofit Management Consulting Services1246 Words   |  5 PagesEthics Program for Nonprofit Management Consulting Services Ethics Program for Nonprofit Management Consulting Services Assessment: EST1 310.2.3-08 Ethics Program for Nonprofit Management Consulting Services Code of Conduct Our business relies on getting our customer to know and trust us during the initial stage of our relationship such that they will continue working with us for the long term. To accomplish this we must treat our clients with respect and provide a high level of serviceRead MoreGroup Principles And Standards Of Conduct1583 Words   |  7 PagesStudent ID 000539879 Business IT Degree Program EST1 310.2.3-08 BULSHO GROUP PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT Bulsho Group’s commitment to equal opportunity and treatment is not up for discussion regardless of religion, race, age, gender, disability, the nation of origin, or any other class protected in consistent with acceptable international, national or local government laws. Make sure all common curtesy between employees and advocacy culture is expressed and demonstrated. Distribute trainings

History of Alcohol Free Essays

Alcohol: Past, Present, and Future Karl Ballenger Mrs. Hines Communication Arts 200 period 7 February 20, 2007 The beginning of Alcohol While no one knows when alcohol was first used as a beverage (or even created) we do know that it has been used for over ten thousand years. Archeologists to this day are discovering old beer mug containers from the B. We will write a custom essay sample on History of Alcohol or any similar topic only for you Order Now C period. Some other archeologist and a few scientists believe it was created in an experimental accident. Like most failed experiments alcohol was soon to be one of the most popular drinks in America. Not only was it going to impact America it impacted the whole world. Everyone would you alcohol in many different ways medicinal purposes, in South America and in the Middle East. They would use it for celebrations any type of celebration and it would be used in sacrifices or offering rituals too. As alcohol caught on people realized what a problem it could be. Everyday people would use alcohol as an everyday beverage not knowing what the affect could be or do; it wasn’t long until everyone was catching on to the harmful effects of the alcohol. Soon after Americans and people all over the world soon were able to control alcohol not before alcohol had gone through prohibition and much other banishment in countries and cultures. Alcohol is considered a drug though some people may not agree we all that once you had too much alcohol you’re not yourself. Although Americans were no always getting to the point where they were unconscious and becoming â€Å"drunk†, there was a lot tolerance for the type of people who would drink alcohol everyday they just knew how to control their selves. Alcohol in Early America Alcohol in early America was highly accepted, everyone would have their fair share of drinks. Alcohol can be easily found in the old days because it was so easy to make, before bars there were pubs and before that people would just drink in their own homes instead of going out to drink. It was so easy to make because alcohol back then would mostly be wine, wine was the typical form of alcohol to be found because it is made up fruits, any kind of fruits but if you wanted stronger tastier wine you would specific types of fruits. The most commonly type of fruit that people would use are grapes, after you pick them you would press them then add in some sugar and water basically and then some yeast. Then allow for fermentation to proceed. As time goes by you would have yourself some tasty drinkable wine. And from their you would end up having your many liquors and eventually beer. It wasn’t long until alcohol played a big role in American history which begun in the 1920s, which was when alcohol became prohibited for a time. Americans have always drunk alcohol especially beer liquor in the 1900s, they would drink daily â€Å"since the availability and purity of water supplies and other drinkable liquids were uncertain† (Clayton Rivers 94). Drinking was used as a social activity everyone would feel a little more comfortable than usually with a little wine or beer in their system; it would be breaking the social barrier at gathering for the shy people so that they can interact more. At the same time there has always been a passionate opposition towards alcohol many people would think it is evil and created by the â€Å"devil† because of the nasty effects and the illness’s that it caused. It would even ruin people financially in some cases because of the addiction people would have with it, â€Å"it was typical to see people in saloons night and day†(Karen F Balken04) for weeks just drinking or trying to get the bartender to give them a free drink. So there would be a huge conflict between the alcoholic supporters â€Å"wets† and the non supporters â€Å"dry’s† (Adam Wong03) has existed throughout American history, since the 20th century. It wasn’t until 1919 when the â€Å"dry movement† (Adam Wong03) achieved its greatest victory by banding alcohol nationwide. In 1919 a majority of states ratified the eighteen amendment to the constitution, which states: â€Å"After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within the importation thereof into, or the exportation hereof from the U. S and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is here by prohibited† (Adam Wong03). This banishment, called Prohibition, went into effect in 1920: it was accompanied by the† Volstead Act† (Clayton rivers94), congressional legislation that provided specific rules for enforcing the ban. So for the n ext 13 years prohibition remained in place, President Calvin Coolidge called it â€Å"the greatest social experiment of modern times† (President Calvin Coolidge). Prohibition in the 1920s Although Prohibition continued until 1933 it remains most closely associated with the 1920. in the 1920s â€Å"it was a colorful period in history† (Adam Wong03) bracketed on both ends by tragedy and misfortune. At the start of the twenties, America was just recovering from the devastation and deprivation of World War 1. At the decade’s end the stock market crashed of 1929 which then fell into the great depression and years of hardship. Then in between the 1920s it was a time of unusual prosperity, the economy seemed to be on an endless climb. That no one can believe, it was a type of miracle people had enough money to buy amazing new devices like radios, refrigerators and washing machines. Even the poorest family of the towns and states were able to afford a car, it was also an era of significant social change and great fun, â€Å"it was so fun that it was nicknamed the roaring twenties† and the â€Å"Jazz Age† (Adam Wong03). Everyone was relived and could relax after all the harsh full events that America had went through that now they were able to kick back and relax. People would listen to the radio dance in the nightclubs and saw â€Å"talkies† (which are present day movies) everyone was just happy to have their freedom back. Although the 1920s was a fun-loving atmosphere the people would still have to sustain the ban of liquor. But finally the anti alcohol forces succeeded and they were able to get across the eighteenth amendment and the Volstead act. The advocates who wrote and backed these new laws assumed that a majority of Americans would go along with it. They thought that even though you didn’t like the new law you would have to follow it because it was law of the land. But nonetheless law abiding citizens were still able to secretly drink liquor and beer by home brewing it. These illegal drinking parlors were called â€Å"speakeasies† (Adam Wong03). Criminal gangs and known thieves would smuggle the liquor and beer and they made a fortune each one of these â€Å"speakeasies† had their own little illegal organization by selling the illegal liquor. The law enforcement like nowadays would be corrupted by these small organizations with either money or liquor as a bribe and so there wasn’t really a stop to these guys. Prohibition Gone the Right to Drink Prohibition affected millions of Americans but it even went into deeper meaning than just not being able to drink, it touched onto a fundamental issue in American life. The role of government in regulating private lives. â€Å"Many Americans felt that a degree of federal control is justified for the good of the majority† (Adam Wong03). However others argued that the rights of each individual American citizen and states should not be limited by the federal government. This particular group argued that the federal government had no right to mandate something as personal and as trivial compared with serious crimes as drinking habits. â€Å"it was incredible to many people that the federal government, which had thoughtfully left their murders, lynching’s, adulteries, discriminations, frauds, and other transgressions to the disciplines of their state legislatures, would ever take a primary and oppressive interest in what American citizens might want to drink† (Historian Norman H. Clark). The conflict over liquor was a long hard-fought battle. But in the end everyone had their right to drink. Alcohol in modern days and future Present day alcohol is still considered somewhat of a menace to society, because alcohol by itself does no harm or damage to anyone, it is our actions and alcohol combined that make it a threat to anyone. In today’s society there have been over millions of alcohol related accidents involving car accidents and suicides and homicides. Every time someone gets into a problem with the police they blame the alcohol they had that it was to strong or they didn’t know what it had in it either way they blame it on the alcohol. Although alcohol does have a affects on you and your body it disrupts your nervous system and disrupts your brain waves so that you don’t have full control of your body. But you should already know that, you learn about alcohol your whole life on television school your parents. Alcohol does not change people; the people change their selves by drinking the alcohol, alcohol is a gateway drug which means that it leads to more drugs and more suffering to you and to the people who care about you. Alcohol should be thought up of in moderation like everything, everything and anything is bad for you in moderation so you must be able to control yourself when comes to things like alcohol and drugs alcohol is not as nearly serious as drug but it can lead up to either doing drugs or addiction. Alcohol addiction or an alcoholic is a person who must have some type of alcohol in their system their body won’t function well without the alcohol so they must drink every day. But there is special rehabilitation centers to help those kind of people who want to change their life and stop drinking. These places change people’s lives into a good path redirect them to a healthier long lasting life. One of the most important things that alcohol affects could be ones family, alcohol affects about 95 percent families in the United States. And especially affects the kids alcoholics lead to divorces in their family and can ruin sometimes child’s lives and lead them down that same path. There has always so many domestic violence around in America because of alcoholics and what they do to their wives and their children. After they realize what they have done its almost always too late they lose their job their belongings and their families so they basically ruin their lives. Now in the future who knows how bad alcohol and peoples actions will be with all of these new types of drinks they are creating everyday people will just continue drinking without getting any help and lives will be ruined the percentage of alcohol related deaths will probably increase , there is no telling on how bad alcohol will go. Bibliography http://www. drugrehab. net/the-history-of-alcohol-in-america/ http://www2. potsdam. edu/hansondj/Controversies/1114796842. html Alcohol Abuse: Clayton Rivers Prohibition Banning Alcohol: Adam Wong How to cite History of Alcohol, Papers

Accounting and Finance Australian Retail Company

Question: Describe about the Accounting and Finance for Australian Retail Company. Answer: Summary Woolworths ltd is an Australian retail company listed on the ASX, and has more than 3000 customers diversified across New Zealand and Australia. In terms of revenue, it is regarded as the second largest company after Wesfarmers ltd. Furthermore, it functions with 3729 stores across New Zealand and Australia that aims to serve premium quality services to their customers, under brands like Woolworths, Foodtown, Thomas Dux, and Countdown. Its primary activities comprise of supermarkets under Woolworths brand and Countdown brand, liquor retailing, pubs and hotels under the (ALH Group) Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, and discount department stores (Knight, 2014). It also provides home improvement services including procurement of improvement of home goods. In relation to performance, Woolworths delivered a 0.1% enhancement in net profit after tax in 2015, reporting at $2453.3 million. However, it represented a decline in sales by 0.2% due to alterations in Woolworths-Caltex alli ance (Woolworths Limited, 2015). If sales of petrol were to be ignored, its sales depicted an increment of 2.5% in 2015 compared to the last year. As a result, it also declared a 1.5% increment in its dividend per share (DPS) to 139 cents in 2015, up from 137 cents in 2014. Board of Directors Name Age Gender Education Career history Gordon Cairns Male MA (Hons) (Edin) Cairns has held Australian and international experience as CEO of Lion Nathan Ltd, senior management positions in marketing, senior executive, and finance with Nestle, Cadbury, and PepsiCo. Grant OBrien Male Completed Advanced Management Program from Harvard Grant started as an accountant in Tasmania, wherein he was appointed CEO and MD. He also held roles of CEO Designate, Deputy CEO, COO Australian Food and Petrol, General Manger, Marketing and Merchandise Manager etc. He is also a director of Consumer Goods Forum and Avner Nahmani Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. Jillian Rosemary Broadbent Female Jillian has a Bachelor of Arts degree (math majors and economics). Jillian is a member of Risk Management, Audit, Compliance, and Nomination Committee since February 2011. She is the Chair of the Swiss Re Life and Health Australia Ltds Board, Chancellor of Wollongong University, and Chair of Clean Energy Finance Corporation. She has also served as a director of ASX Ltd, Qantas Airways Ltd, Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd etc. Christine Cross Female Cross has a BEd (Bachelor Education) and MSc in Food Science together with a management diploma. Christine started her executive career with Tesco Plc. She has experienced the role of Consumer Advisor and Chief Retail and was a member of PwC advisory board. Carla Hrdlicka Female Carla has a BA (Hons) degree in Maths and Economics together with a MBA degree. Carla is a member of the Nomination and People Policy Committee. She is the CEO of Jetstar Group but before such position, she was the Qantas Group Executive of Strategy, Technology, and Transformation. Before her executive career, she was a senior partner with Bain and Company, a management-consulting firm. Earlier she ran consumer-products businesses in the marketing and publishing industries. Allan Douglas Mackay Male Allan holds a BBA degree (Bachelor of Business Administration) Allan had a long career with the Kelloggs company as the CEO and president. He was also the member of Kelloggs board and global leadership team. Furthermore, he was a non-executive chairperson and independent director of Beam, Inc, Former Director and board member of Australias Grocery manufacturers, and MD of Sara Lee Bakery. Scott Redvers Perkins Male Perkins has a degree of Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from Auckland University Perkins was recently Head of Corporate Finance for Deutsche Bank New Zealand and Australia. He was also a member of the Asia Pacific Corporate and Investment Bank Management Committee. Michael James Ullmer Male Michael pursues a BSc (Maths) (Hons) degree from University of Sussex James started as a Deputy Group Chief Executive at NAB (National Australia Bank). Before joining NAB, he was the CFO and then Group Executive at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Before this, he was a partner at Coopers and Lybrand and KPMG. From the above table, the characteristics of the Board are that most of them pursue a history of relationship with different companies prior to working in Woolworths. Furthermore, the Board possesses huge demonstrated leadership skills that assist in better operational effectiveness. Due to their impeccable character and prior business experience, they are able to contribute towards the well-being of the company (Choi Meek, 2011). Few board members even pursue strong banking experience that assists in providing a strong commitment to the bank. Corporate Governance Recommendations of ASX Corporate Governance Council Recommendations Principles Recommendation 1. Act ethically and responsibly The company must possess a code of conduct for all its members and disclose such code in summary to them. 2. Safeguard integrity in corporate reporting The Board must have an audit committee that must undertake a key role in corporate reporting. If the board does not have an audit committee, it must independently verify and safeguard the integrity of its reporting. 3. Make balanced and timely disclosure Company must have a written policy for adhering to its regular obligations under the listing rules and it must make ways to disclose such policy to all its members. The auditor of Woolworths Ltd in the year 2015 is Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. During the year 2015, these auditors have not only performed their assigned regulatory duties, but have also assisted in performing certain other kinds of services that is non-audit services (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Besides, even the board of Woolworths is also satisfied that performing such services in addition to their statutory responsibilities have not compromised their independence requirements set in the Corporations Act 2001 or as set out in APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants. Other auditors comprise of international associates of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. The remuneration received by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in the year 2015 for review or audit of the financial report stands at $2518000, for compliance and regulatory associated services $13,000, for non-audit related services $687,000, and for tax compliance services $85,000 (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Furthermore, other auditors of Woolworths received $172,000 for review or audit of financial reports, $525,000 for other non-audit associated services, and $101,000 for tax compliance related services. This makes the total remuneration of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and its international associates report at $4101000 in the year 2015 ($3303000 + $798000). Throughout the process of audit, external auditors add credibility to the financial statements of the management that permits investors, creditors, bankers, and owners to utilize them with greater confidence. Furthermore, such auditors are entrusted with attaining a thorough understanding of the operations, environment, and internal controls of the company (Albrecht et. al, 2011). After thorough understanding, external auditors prepare ways to collect evidence in order to form an opinion regarding the financial statements. However, it is notable that this can be achieved only if there is no lack of independence because lack of independence restricts an external auditor to address the audit problems that in turn minimizes the assurance and credibility of an external audit. Financial statement analysis Ratio Formula Woolworths Limited-2015 Woolworths Limited-2014 PROFITABILITY RATIO Return on Assets Ratio Net Income 2137.4 = 0.084 8.4% 2458.4 = 0.102 10.2% Total Assets 25336.8 24136.5 Net Profit Margin Ratio Net Income 2137.4 = 0.035 3.5% 2458.4 = 0.040 4% Sales 60679.1 60772.8 Gross Profit Margin ratio Gross Profit 16688.6 = 0.275 16447.6 = 0.271 Sales 60679.1 60679.1 LIQUIDITY RATIO Current Ratio Current Assets 7660.9 = 0.836 7106.1 = 0.949 Current Liabilities 9168.6 7489.5 Quick Ratio Quick Assets* 7660.9-4872.2-9.9 = 0.303 7106.1-4693.2-13.2 = 0.320 Current Liabilities 9168.6 7489.5 SOLVENCY RATIO Debt to Equity ratio Total Liabilities 14204.8 = 0.561 13611.1 = 0.564 Total Assets 25336.8 24136.5 Return on Equity Net income 2146 = 0.197 2452 = 0.208 Shareholders equity 10834.2 10252.5 EFFICIENCY RATIO Inventory turnover ratio Sales 60679.1 = 12.69 60772.8 = 13.66 Average inventory 4693.2+4872.2/2 4205.4+4693.2/2 Accounts receivable turnover sales 60679.1 = 61.693 60772.8 = 62.318 Average accounts receivable 965.2+1001.9/2 985.2+965.2/2 Asset turnover Sales 60679.1 = 2.395 60772.8 = 2.52 Total assets 25336.8 24136.5 Liquidity Ratio Liquidity ratio assists in depicting the company skills in meeting its debt obligations. The most common acceptable current ratio is 2:1 while the most commonly acceptable quick ratio is 1:1. From the above table, it is identifiable that both these ratios have depicted a decline when compared to the last year (Northington, 2011). This signifies poor liquidity position prevailing in the company and therefore, it is highly required that it must take proper corrective actions to get rid of such crunch. Profitability Ratio This ratio assists in determining how effectively the company is utilizing its assets for generating profits in future (Graham Smart, 2012). From the above table, it is observable that the return on assets ratio has depicted a decline in comparison to the last year that indicates the company has not effectively utilized its assets and therefore, the management must give due attention towards it (Parrino et. al, 2012). Furthermore, the net profit margins have also witnessed a decline in comparison to the last year due to immense competition from competitors like Wesfarmers ltd. Therefore, due to significant drop in sales, the net profit margin also declined. In contrast to this, Woolworths have improved its financial health in comparison to the last year and it is evident from the slight increase in its gross profit margin ratio. Solvency Ratio From the above table, observable that the debt to equity ratio of the company has declined indicates lesser debt utilized by the company while the return on equity ratio has also declined (Williams, 2012). This means that the company has utilized more of investors financing in the year 2015 but it has failed to utilize such funds effectively, thereby leading to various problems in future. Efficiency Ratio From the above figures, it is observable that the inventory turnover ratio, asset turnover ratio, and accounts receivable turnover ratio have significantly declined in the current year. A decline in inventory turnover ratio of the company indicates that Woolworths is holding its inventories for more period than it used to hold before (Horngren, 2013). Furthermore, decline in accounts receivable turnover ratio indicates that Woolworths has significantly failed to collect its dues from the customers, thereby resulting in crunch of cash and working capital management. Distribution of major shareholders Name Number of FPO Shares HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 207,407,841 JP Morgan Nominees Australia Limited 128,923,967 National Nominees Limited 123,973,450 Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 43,557,520 BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd 35,391,163 HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 8,265,514 Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 7,997,012 AMP Life Limited 6,407,380 Australian Foundation Investment Company Limited 5,595,000 RBC Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Limited 5,115,620 Woolworths Custodian Pty Ltd 4,509,791 Argo Investments Limited 4,133,026 BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd 3,673,219 UBS Wealth Management Australia Nominees Pty Ltd 3,461,113 UBS Nominees Pty Ltd 3,313,592 Questor Financial Services Limited 3,036,845 Milton Corporation Limited 2,903,973 Navigator Australia Ltd 2,888,661 RBC Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Limited 2,332,146 Nulis Nominees (Australia) Limited 2,175,760 Significance of ownership stake The above-mentioned shareholders have proved to be a significant tool in the alignment of managements interest and firm ownership. Furthermore, these shareholders play a key role in the performance of Woolworths as they contribute for its effectiveness of corporate sector and the development of economy as a whole (Davies Crawford, 2012). This in turn assists in the efficient utilization of assets within the company because these shareholders are the efficient monitors and with their ownership stake can force the management to operate according to their will. This permits them to overturn or veto decisions made by the present board members of the company (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Moreover, since these shareholders do not hold more than 50% shares of the company, this relationship between the company and shareholders is irreversible. In the event of acquisition or merger, such major stakeholders also gain an advantage to enhance their stake of shareholding in the new company (Heffer nan, 2015). This implies that, in case of a strategic merger that involves swap of shares, these major shareholders gain a significant opportunity to structure the deal in such a manner that they continue to pursue majority of voting power in the new formed entity. Conclusion From the above report, it is clear that Woolsworth has faced acute problem in its operations and is evident from the poor recoding of ratios. The liquidity ratio is poor and is a strong alert for the management. Similarly, decline in asset turnover ratio portrays that the company is not growing into its capacity. On a whole, Woolworths is in a critical situation and must take corrective actions immediately. References Albrecht, W., Stice, E. Stice, J 2011, Financial accounting, Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western. Brealey, R., Myers, S. Allen, F 2011, Principles of corporate finance, New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Choi, R.D. Meek, G.K 2011, International accounting, Pearson . Davies, T. 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