The essay topic should be such that it requires students to undertake research into the topic, enables students
to analyse and assess the researched material and then uses the data to provide a well written response to the
topic. The topic will be made available to students in week 1. A new essay topic is to be used for each offering of
the subject. The essay should be a maximum of 1,500 words excluding any appendices. The topic MUST
ensure that students’ comprehension and application of concepts studied are applied to a set of
financial statements approved by the lecturer. Students can access information on group work at
http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/content.php?pid=544237&sid=4477749
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Essay Topic SP23 Brisbane 2014
Many of the largest international firms including Microsoft, Google, Coca Cola and Apple identify substantial intangible assets which may be quite different from the more traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ type organisations including BHP. Technological developments have resulted in intangible assets become an important part for many businesses of all sizes. An important accounting question for any business is whether they are able to recognise intangible assets in terms of AASB 138 and the basis of their measurement after initial recognition.
You are required to electronically access the Annual Financial Report (AFR) of TWO ASX listed companies, one reporting substantial intangibles capitalised (e.g. most radio, television, electronic development and gambling companies) and the other reflecting small proportions of total assets as intangible assets (e.g. retail, mining and construction)a.
Using the AFRs you have acquired, identify and compare the recognition of and subsequent measurement of ‘Intangibles’ in terms of the ‘AASB Framework for the preparation and presentation of Financial Statements’ and ‘AASB138 Intangible Assets’. (Hint most of this analysis and commentary will stem from the notes – including the note on Intangible assets and the note on Accounting Policies).
You are also required to calculate ratios, to be reported in tabular format, which reflect the ‘before and after position’ of the two firms for two comparative consecutive years (figures that will be available in the annual reports), to reflect the effect of the removal of intangible assets from the financial statements. (Note: the workings should be provided in an appendix.)
In undertaking the above analysis, you must assume that all intangible assets would have been expensed over time and thus account for such. As this could not be attributed to a single financial period through the Income Statement, you can reflect this in your analysis through a reduction in retained earnings, other reserves and finally as a reduction in Equity. The ratios you use should reflect the impact that this de-recognition of ‘Intangibles’ would have on the ratios as viewed by a financier (e.g. bank), not an equity investor. These ratios could include, but are not limited to return on assets, return on equity, debt to equity ratio and debt to total assets ratio.
Based on the comparative ratio analysis undertaken and assuming management has discretionary power over the treatment of intangible assets (capitalise or expense) under the accounting standards, which method do you expect management to choose when recording intangibles? You need to justify your response from the point of view of management and provide appropriate evidence from academic and professional journals.
It is critical that you supply your lecturer with electronic copies of the two companies’ Annual Reports that you analyse. If you do not supply these at the time of submission of the essay, then you will be deemed to have not completed this piece of assessment.
It will be important that you plan your essay very carefully so that you make good use of appendices (which do not count in the word limit). Good referencing is also important which is not included in the word limit.
Note:
a How to find the financial statements of ASX listed firms?
• Go to ASX home page: http://www.asx.com.au/,
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• Go to the ‘Price and research’ tab the click the ‘company information’ button.
• Under the ‘Company information lookup’ click ‘Detailed search’.
• Then in the last row of ‘GICS Industry Group’, select the industry you are looking for (e.g.
media, retailing).
• Then under the list of company information, select a listed firm.
• Go to ‘announcements’ and select ‘Annual Report to Shareholders’ to download the latest report. If it is not in the front page of list, click ‘search for past company announcements’ and go to the page of announcement. Using the ASX Code of the firm search announcements released during 2014 and select the latest ‘Annual Report to Shareholders’. Check the financial year of two reports to ensure comparability.