New Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Implemented Standards

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Update No. 2010-29 (Topic 805) Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This update provides clarity on the presentation of comparable proforma financial statements for business combinations. Revenues and earnings of the combined entity should be disclosed as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. Additionally, this update requires the disclosure to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported proforma revenue and earnings. The disclosure guidance provided in this ASC update is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company has implemented this guidance as of January 1, 2011. Implementing this guidance did not have an effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations upon adoption; however, it will likely have an impact on the Company's future business combinations, but the effect is dependent upon the specific acquisitions made in future periods.

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2010-28 (Topic 350) When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This update modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for companies with zero or negative carrying amounts to require Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test to be performed if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. This ASC update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company has implemented this guidance as of January 1, 2011. The effect of implementing this guidance was not material to the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In July 2010, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2010-20 (Topic 310) Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses. This ASC update is applicable for financing receivables recognized on a company's balance sheet that have a contractual right to receive payment either on demand or on fixed or determinable dates. This update enhances the disclosure requirements about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses, at disaggregated levels. The disclosure guidance provided in the update relating to those required as of the end of the reporting period was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The effect of implementing the guidance was not significant to the Company's financial statement disclosures. The disclosure guidance related to activity that occurs during the reporting period is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The implementation of the disclosure guidance related to activity was not significant to the Company's financial statement disclosures.

Recently Issued Standards

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASC Update 2011-05 (Topic 220) Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This ASC update requires companies to present net income and other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of income and other comprehensive income. The option to present items of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity is eliminated. This ASC update should be applied retrospectively and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company expects that the implementation of this guidance will not have a significant impact to its financial statement presentation.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASC Update 2011-04 (Topic 820) Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This ASC update results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The new guidance includes changes to how and when the valuation premise of highest and best use applies, clarification on the application of blockage factors and other premiums and discounts, as well as new and revised disclosure requirements. This ASC update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company is currently evaluating its fair value measurements to determine which, if any, of the measurement techniques that the Company uses will have to change as a result of the new guidance, and what additional disclosures will be required.

In October 2010, the FASB issued ASC Update 2010-26 (Topic 944) Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This update provides clarity in defining which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral, commonly known as deferred acquisition costs. Additionally, this update specifies that only costs associated with the successful acquisition of a policy or contract may be deferred, whereas current industry practice often includes costs relating to unsuccessful contract acquisitions. This ASC Update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this guidance to its financial position and results of operations, and expects that amounts capitalized under the updated guidance will be less than under the Company's current accounting practice.