Note 4 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

4. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The carrying amount of goodwill is not amortized but subject to annual impairment testing at the reporting unit level. We evaluate goodwill for impairment on October 1, or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceed its implied fair value. The first step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the reporting unit and then compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill. We determined that the market capitalization approach is the most appropriate method of measuring fair value of the reporting unit, assuming a controlling interest. Under this approach, fair value is calculated based on the market price of common stock, multiplied by the number of outstanding shares. A control premium, which is representative of premiums paid in the marketplace to acquire a controlling interest in a company, is then added to the market capitalization to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further action is required and no impairment loss is recognized. We monitor changes in our closing market price and its effect on fair value and the relationship to the carrying value. Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if we encounter events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that, more likely than not, the carrying value of goodwill has been impaired. At December 31, 2011, the Company did not identify any potential impairment related to its goodwill.

The components and estimated useful lives of intangible assets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are stated below. Amortization is provided on a straight line method, or in the case of customer relationships, on an accelerated method, over the following estimated useful lives (in thousands):

	2011
	Gross		Accumulated		Net		Estimated
	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Useful Life
Tradenames	$	304	$	81	$	223	15 years
Proprietary technology		620		248		372	10 years
Non-compete agreement		25		25		-	3 years
Customer relationships		170		123		47	10 years
Domain name and related website		23		7		16	15 years
	$	1,142	$	484	$	658

	2010
	Gross		Accumulated		Net		Estimated
	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Useful Life
Tradenames	$	304	$	60	$	244	15 years
Proprietary technology		620		186		434	10 years
Non-compete agreement		25		25		-	3 years
Customer relationships		170		101		69	10 years
Domain name and related website		23		7		16	15 years
	$	1,142	$	379	$	763

Amortization expense related to intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $105 thousand and $122 thousand, respectively. Annual amortization expense, in thousands, for intangible assets over the next five years ending December 31 is summarized as follows:

2012	$ 99
2013	95
2014	92
2015	89
2016	88
Thereafter	195

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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