Business Abbreviations

AGM

Annual general meeting

AOB

Any other business

APC

Area partnership company

APR

Annual percentage rate

ASAI

Advertising standards authority of Ireland

ASTI

Association of secondary teachers of Ireland

ATM

Automatic teller machine

BEP

Breakeven point

BES

Business expansion scheme

BIK

Benefit in kind

BOP

Balance of payments

CAD

Computer aided design

CAI

Consumer association of Ireland

CAM

Computer aided manufacturing

CAP

Common agricultural policy

CAT

Capital acquisitions tax

CCPC

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (formerly NCA)

CEB

County enterprise boards

CEO

Chief executive officer

CFF

Cash flow forecast

CFP

Common fisheries policy

CGT

Capital gains tax

CIM

Computer integrated manufacturing

CPI

Consumer price index

CPT

Corporation profit tax

CRO

Companies registration office

CSO

Central statistics office

CV

Curriculum vitae

DD

Direct debit

DIRT

Deposit interest retention tax

EA

Equality authority

EAT

Employment appeals tribunal

ECB

European central bank

EDI

Electronic data interchange

EGM

Extraordinary general meting

EIA

Environmental impact assessment

EMU

European monetary union

EPA

Environmental protection agency

EPOS

Electronic point of sale

ERDF

European regional development fund

ESF

European social fund

EU

European union

FC

Fixed costs

FDI

Foreign direct investment

GNP

Gross national product

HP

Hire purchase

HRM

Human resource management

IBEC

Irish business and employers’ confederation

ICT

Information and communications technology

ICTU

Irish congress of trade unions

IDA

Industrial development agency

IFA

Irish farmers association

IFSC

International financial services centre

ISDN

Integrated services digital network

ISME

Irish small and medium enterprises

ISO

International standards organisation

IT

Information technology

ITAA

Irish travel agents association

JIC

Joint industrial council

JIT

Just in time

JLC

Joint labour committee

LAN

Local area network

LRC

Labour relations commission

LTD

Private limited company

MBO

Management buy out

MD

Managing director

MEP

Member of European parliament

NAFTA

North American free trade area

NAMA

National assets management agency

NCA

National consumer agency

P&L

Profit and loss account

PAYE

Pay as you earn

PC

Personal computer

PLC

Public limited company

PR

Public relations

PPSN

Personal public service number

PRO

Public relations officer

PRSI

Pay related social insurance

R&D

Research and development

ROCE

Return on capital employed

ROI

Return on investment

SEM

Single European market

SIPTU

Services, industrial, professional and technical union

SMART

Specific, measurable, agreed, realistic ,timed objectives

SME

Small and medium sized enterprises

SO

Standing order

SRCOP

Standard rate cut-off point

SWOT

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

TC

Total costs

TNC

Transnational company

TQM

Total quality management

TR

Total revenue

TUI

Teachers union of Ireland

USC

Universal social charge

USP

Unique selling point

VAT

Value added tax

VC

Variable costs

VDU

Visual display unit

VHI

Voluntary health insurance