The Linde Group - Initial Thoughts

Good evening readers, 

The company I have been allocated is 'The Linde Group'. I thought I would share with you my initial insights on the companies' website. Through a quick skim of the website I can provide a brief synopsis of the companies' operations and activities. The Linde Group is a German company, that is the world leading supplier of industrial, process and specialty gases.  It is one of the most profitable engineering companies, with products and services found in nearly every industry. The company spans over 100 countries, with 65,000 employees. Overall, this is not a small company I have been given. 

The website itself is user friendly, easy to navigate (especially when finding the 'Investor Relations' section) and has a concise domain. 

The link below will direct you on where to find the annual reports for each year, The Linde Group Annual Reports are at 31 December each year: 
Financial Publications Archive

Some questions that formed whilst reading the 2014 Annual Report were: 

• What is EBIT?
• What is the profit to attributable non-controlling interest mean?
• What is the other comprehensive income statement really telling me? 
• Why is this so long?

It appeared to me that for the 2014 year, the company had wanted to keep tackling the 'cleaner energy' challenge by continuing research on hydrogen as zero-emissions method of transport, this was a challenge and a critical area to the company in my eyes. As a result, the 2014 year spent €106 million, on research and development. An increase from the 2013 year where €92 million was spent.   

The group has put an apparent strategy in place that covers the following aspects: becoming a world leader in key financial figures and market reputation, using an earnings-based growth, sustainability through clean energy, high performance organisation and the setting of measurable medium-term targets.

The key things, in regards to figures, I noted were:

• An increase in revenue since 2013.
• An increase in cost of sales since 2013.
• Gross profit, and overall profit was higher in 2013.
• There was an increase in current & non-current liabilities and assets, as well as an increase in equity since 2013.  

In conclusion, I am feeling okay about the company I have been given. Many people who have completed this assignment said it was easy for them because they had an Australian company. Although, I am more daunted by it because of the product and service the company provides as I have limited to no knowledge about 'gases'.

Hope to start reading about all of your companies and thoughts in regards to your allocated company. 

Thanks for reading everyone,
Mia