Note 14 - New Authoritative Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

14.           New Authoritative Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-03, which amends the authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 860 “Transfers and Servicing.”  The amendments in this update remove from the assessment of effective control (1) the criterion requiring the transferor to have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even in the event of default by the transferee and (2) the collateral maintenance implementation guidance related to that criterion.  The amendments in this update are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively to transactions or modifications of existing transactions that occur on or after the effective date. Early adoption is not permitted. Adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, which amends the authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurement.”  The amendments in this update clarify how to measure and disclose fair value under ASC Topic 820. The amendments in this update are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively to transactions or modifications of existing transactions that occur on or after the effective date. Early adoption is not permitted. Adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, which amends the authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 220 “Comprehensive Income.”  The amendments eliminate the option to present components of other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders’ equity. Instead, the new guidance requires entities to present all nonowner changes in stockholders’ equity either as a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or as two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments in this update are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011 and must be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition. See the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, which amends the authoritative accounting guidance under ASC Topic 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.”  The amendments in the update permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. The amendments in this update are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity’s financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued. Adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.