Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]

2.  RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”): In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance that clarifies the wording used to describe many of the requirements in GAAP for measuring fair value to be consistent with IFRS. In addition, the guidance expands certain disclosure requirements relating to fair value measurements. Specifically, the new guidance requires (i) quantitative information on significant unobservable inputs, (ii) a description of a Company’s valuation processes, (iii) a narrative description of the sensitivity of recurring Level 3 measurements to unobservable inputs, and (iv) the fair value hierarchy level of assets and liabilities that are not carried at fair value but are required to be disclosed at fair value in the footnotes. This guidance is applied prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The new disclosures have been included in Note 12, “Fair Value.” The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2012 did not impact the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements: In April 2011, the FASB issued guidance that amends the accounting for repurchase agreements and other similar agreements that both entitle and obligate a transferor to redeem financial assets before maturity. The guidance modifies the criteria for determining when these transactions would be recorded as financing agreements instead of purchase or sale agreements with a commitment to resell. This guidance is applied prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2012 did not materially impact the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

Testing Goodwill for Impairment: In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance that gives an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the two-step impairment test is necessary. If, after assessing those factors, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is not necessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2012 did not have a material impact on the Company’s process for goodwill impairment testing or financial condition, results of operation, or liquidity.