The finance department also provides the numbers needed to make informed decisions, for both inside management and outside sources, like stockholders and the banking community. Money is considered a commodity at Tyson, like any of its raw materials. The ongoing partnerships Tyson has built with the banking community have always enabled the food giant to acquire money at favorable terms and interest rates in order to expand production and distribution facilities in nineteen states and enter joint ventures in China and Mexico. And that bottom line is what attracts investors. For the past ten years, Tyson has reported the highest returns on investments among all the Fortune 500 companies.
Information is given on a firm's line of business, net worth, and credit rating.
It is also possible to obtain a more extensive credit report that includes all of the above plus additional information on a firm's sales, assets, debts, bank balances, number of employees, and facts relating to whether the firm is behind on its bills or not. Finally, there is a section on the company's history with background information on its officers. You have never sold to this retailer before, and you have no idea whether the customer will pay for the merchandise. Copyright Houghton Mifflin Company . All Rights Reserved.