18. Andrew Ltd is moving through a process of external growth and has decided to purchase Byron Ltd. Byron Ltd is a smaller company that could increase the profitability of the group. For year 2019 Andrew Ltd reported the following ratios: Gross Margin 32% Net profit margin 10% ROCE (Return on Capital Employed) 14% Current ratio 1.7 Quick ratio 1.1 Interest cover 12 Below are the summarised financial statements for Byron Ltd. Income Statements Byron Ltd for years 2017, 2018 and 2019 2017 2018 2019 Sales 16,064 16,080 16,200 Cost of sales 11,248 11,652 12,072 Gross Profit 4,816 4,428 4,128 Expenses 3,752 3,772 3,496 Operating profit (PBIT) 1,064 656 632 Interest 96 104 120 Profit before tax 968 552 512 Tax 184 132 104 Profit after tax 784 420 408 Preference dividends 64 72 72 Ordinary dividends 108 128 140 Retained profit for year 612 220 196 Statement of Financial Position Byron Ltd for years 2017, 2018 and 2019 2017 2018 2019 2,500 3,880 6,380 2,500 2,500 3,740 4,216 6,240 6,716 216 968 240 1.424 7,804 360 544 1,040 1,072 168 72 1.568 1.688 7,808 8,404 Non-current assets Land Property, plant & equipment Total Non-current Assets Current assets Inventory Receivables Cash at bank Total Current Assets Total assets Capital Ordinary shares 1 Preference shares 1 Share premium Retained profits Total capital Non-current liabilities Long term loan 10% Total Non-current liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable Tax Other current liabilities Total Current liabilities Total Capital and Liabilities 2,400 2,400 2,400 800 800 800 96 134 2.206 2.426 2.622 5,502 5,760 6,022 200 960 960 1040 1040 1200 1200 414 538 596 184 132 104 744 338 482 1,342 1.008 1,182 7,804 7,808 8,404 Required (a) Calculate for Byron Ltd the following ratios: Gross profit margin; Net profit margin: Current ratio; Quick ratio; Interest cover for all three years. (10 marks) (b) Comment on each ratio calculated above in (a) and its implications. Advise Andrew Ltd about the performance of Byron Ltd in the three years' period examined. (10 marks)