Brand Names - Audit Process
Few companies in current years have placed valuations on the brand names of the goods such they sell. On the balance sheet the valuation is shown. The reason for responsibility that is the brand name is valuable to the company such it helps to sell the company's goods. Assume an example, may people would quite buy a 'branded' tin of soap powder, quite than the 'own make' offered through a supermarket. So IAS 38 not allows recognition of internally created brands.
The auditor must consider for purchased brands:
(i) Is the brand name valued corresponding to an acceptable procedure, and not just 'guessed' through the directors?
(ii) Is the value being amortized over an acceptable time such relates to the future or further sales of the brand?
(iii) Has the credit entry for the debit been adequately display as a non-distributable reserve upon the balance sheet?
(iv) Is there adequate disclosure in the financial statements of the accounting policy?