What financial statements do group accounts present to the parent shareholders?

Group accounts are designed to present the financial position and performance of a parent company and its subsidiaries as a single economic entity. This is important for providing shareholders with a clear understanding of the overall health and profitability of the group as a whole, rather than focusing on individual companies.

The correct choice emphasizes the presentation of consolidated results, which includes combining the financial performance and net assets of all group entities. This consolidation allows shareholders to assess the total income earned, expenses incurred, and overall equity position of the entire group, reflecting the economic reality of the group’s operations and financial health. This approach ensures that intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated, providing a clearer picture of the group's financial situation.

The other options do not align with the primary purpose of group accounts. Presenting separate financial statements for each member company could obscure the overall economic performance of the group, as it wouldn’t reflect the interrelationships and synergies among subsidiaries. Similarly, individual performance metrics for each subsidiary would not provide a holistic view that shareholders seek. Lastly, projected financial statements for the next year do not represent actual historical performance and are not typical components of group account presentations, which focus on actual results for a reporting period.