The accountant of Cornett Chocolates Ltd, Ms Fraulein, has been advised by her auditors that the entity's investment in Concertina's Milk Ltd should be accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Cornett Chocolates Ltd holds only 20.2% of the voting shares currently issued by Concertina's Milk Ltd. Since the investment was undertaken purely for cash flow reasons based on the potential dividend stream from the investment, Ms Fraulein does not believe that Cornett Chocolates Ltd exerts significant influence over the investee.

Required Discuss the factors that Ms Fraulein should investigate in determining whether an investor-associate relationship exists, and what avenues are available so that the equity method of accounting does not have to be applied.