Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CTI Industries Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries CTI Balloons Limited, CTF International S.A. de C.V., and CTI Helium, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries, Flexo Universal, CTI Mexico Corporation and CTI Europe, as well as the accounts of Venture Leasing S. A. de R. L. and Venture Leasing L.L.C. The last two entities have been consolidated as variable interest entities. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Variable Interest Entities

The determination of whether or not to consolidate a variable interest entity under U.S. GAAP requires a significant amount of judgment concerning the degree of control over an entity by its holders of variable interest. To make these judgments, management has conducted an analysis of the relationship of the holders of variable interest to each other, the design of the entity, the expected operations of the entity, which holder of variable interests is most “closely associated” to the entity and which holder of variable interests is the primary beneficiary required to consolidate the entity. Upon the occurrence of certain events, management reviews and reconsiders its previous conclusion regarding the status of an entity as a variable interest entity. Upon the adoption of amended accounting guidance applicable to variable interest entities on January 1, 2010, management continually reconsiders whether we are deemed to be a variable interest entity’s primary beneficiary who consolidates such entity. The Company has two entities that have been consolidated as variable interest entities.

Foreign Currency Translation

The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities, the historical exchange rate for stockholders’ equity, and a weighted average exchange rate for each period for revenues and expenses. Translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as the local currencies of the subsidiaries are the functional currencies. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recognized in the period incurred and are included in the consolidated statements of operations.

Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include valuation allowances for doubtful accounts, lower of cost or market of inventory, deferred tax assets, and recovery value of goodwill.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and short term investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable

Trade receivables are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate for doubtful receivables based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying troubled accounts, evaluating the individual customer receivables through consideration of the customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions and use of historical experience applied to an aging of accounts. A trade receivable is considered to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for a period over the customer’s normal terms. Trade receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded when received.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using standard costs which approximates costing determined on a first-in, first-out basis, to reflect the actual cost of production of inventories.

Production costs of work in process and finished goods include material, labor and overhead. Work in process and finished goods are not recorded in excess of net realizable value.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated useful life or the lease term. The estimated useful lives range as follows:

Building	25 - 30 years
Machinery and equipment	3 - 15 years
Projects that prolong the life and increase efficiency of machinery	3 - 5 years
Light Machinery	5 - 10 years
Heavy Machinery	10 - 15 years
Office furniture and equipment	5 - 8 years
Leasehold improvements	5 - 8 years
Furniture and equipment at customer locations	1 - 3 years

Light machinery consists of forklifts, scissor lifts, and other warehouse machinery. Heavy machinery consists of production equipment including laminating, printing and converting equipment. Projects in process represent those costs capitalized in connection with construction of new assets and/or improvements to existing assets including a factor for interest on funds committed to projects in process of $25,000 and $17,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Upon completion, these costs are reclassified to the appropriate asset class.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock-based incentive plans which may grant stock option, restricted stock, and unrestricted stock awards.  The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the award and the related vesting terms.  The fair value of stock-based awards is determined using the Black-Scholes model, which incorporates assumptions regarding the risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected option life, and dividend yield.  See Note 18 for additional information.

Fair Value Measurements

GAAP USA defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires disclosures about fair value measurements required under other accounting pronouncements.  See Note 4 for further discussion.

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with GAAP USA, which requires that all derivative instruments be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. We enter into interest rate swaps to fix the interest rate on a portion of our variable interest rate debt to reduce the potential volatility in our interest expense that would otherwise result from changes in market interest rates. Our derivative instruments are recorded at fair value and are included in accrued liabilities of our consolidated balance sheet. Our accounting policies for these instruments are based on whether they meet our criteria for designation as hedging transactions, which include the instrument’s effectiveness, risk reduction and, in most cases, a one-to-one matching of the derivative instrument to our underlying transaction. Gains and losses from changes in fair values of derivatives that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. We have no derivative financial instruments designated as hedges. Therefore, changes in fair value for the respective periods were recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

Goodwill

The Company applies the provisions of GAAP USA, under which goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment. Goodwill on the accompanying balance sheets relates to the Company’s acquisition of Flexo Universal in a prior year as well as the investment in CTI Europe during the current reporting period. It is the Company’s policy to perform impairment testing for Flexo Universal annually as of December 31, or as circumstances change. An annual impairment review was completed and no impairment was noted for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 (see Note 16). While the Company believes that its estimates of future cash flows are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such cash flows could materially affect these evaluations.

Valuation of Long Lived Assets

The Company evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred which indicate that the carrying amounts of long-lived assets (principally property, plant and equipment) may be impaired or not recoverable. The significant factors that are considered that could trigger an impairment review include: changes in business strategy, market conditions, or the manner of use of an asset; underperformance relative to historical or expected future operating results; and negative industry or economic trends. In evaluating an asset for possible impairment, management estimates that asset’s future undiscounted cash flows and appraised values to measure whether the asset is recoverable. The Company measures the impairment based on the projected discounted cash flows of the asset over its remaining life.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized on a straight line basis over the term of the loan. Upon a refinancing, existing unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. As such, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amount used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the anticipated reversal of these differences is scheduled to occur. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, management cannot determine, in its opinion, that it is more likely than not that the Company will recover that recorded value of the deferred tax asset. The Company is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local taxes as well as foreign taxes in the United Kingdom, Germany and Mexico. U.S. income tax expense and foreign withholding taxes are provided on remittances of foreign earnings and on unremitted foreign earnings that are not indefinitely reinvested.

Unrecognized tax benefits are accounted for as required by GAAP USA which prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement presentation and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  See Note 11 for further discussion.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when title transfers upon shipment. Revenue from a transaction is not recognized until (i) a definitive arrangement exists, (ii) delivery of the product has occurred or the services have been performed and legal title and risk are transferred to the customer, (iii) the price to the buyer has been fixed or is determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. In some cases, product is provided on consignment to customers. For these cases, revenue is recognized when the customer reports a sale of the product.

Research and Development

The Company conducts product development and research activities which include (i) creative product development and (ii) engineering. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, research and development activities totaled $728,000 and $443,000, respectively.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expenses amounted to $63,000 and $203,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.