Why Study Debenhams?

In fact, this is not really a case study of Debenhams, it's a case study of accounting trickery. Debenhams was under pressure, and it resorted to accounting tricks to show its financial performance in the best possible light. That makes it a great case study for those seeking to avoid a repetition of the Debenhams loss, for investors in the retail sector, and for students/fans of accounting (fans might be in a small minority).

The next section explains the structure of the case study, which is not a comprehensive analysis of every ratio in the Debenhams accounts, but the more relevant ones. There are lessons to be drawn not just about retail, but much more widely, and you will finish this course with a toolbox full of tips, tools and techniques for studying investment opportunities.