Note 9 - New Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Text Block]

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Text Block]

(9)           NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-01, “Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”.  This ASU clarifies that ordinary trade receivables and receivables are not in the scope of ASU 2011-11. ASU 2011-11 applies only to derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse purchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in accordance with specific criteria contained in the Codification or subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU 2013-01 does not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income”. The amendments do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. These amendments require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional details about those amounts. For public entities, the amendments are effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 does not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-04, “Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date”. These amendments provide guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing guidance in GAAP. Examples of obligations within this guidance are debt arrangements, other contractual obligations, and settled litigation and judicial rulings. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments are applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented for those obligations within the scope of this ASU that exist at the beginning of an entity's fiscal year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-04 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity”. These amendments provide guidance on releasing Cumulative Translation Adjustments when a reporting entity (parent) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. In addition, these amendments provide guidance on the release of Cumulative Translation Adjustment in partial sales of equity method investments and in step acquisitions. For public entities, the amendments are effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments must be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. Prior periods should not be adjusted. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2013-05 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-07, “Liquidation Basis of Accounting”. These amendments require an entity to prepare its financial statements using the liquidation basis of accounting (LBA) when liquidation is imminent. Among the requirements of LBA financial statements is that they present relevant information about an entity's expected resources in liquidation by measuring and presenting assets at the amount of the expected cash proceeds from liquidation; include in its presentation of assets any items not previously recognized under U.S. GAAP but that it expects to either sell in liquidation or use in settling liabilities; recognize and measure an entity's liabilities in accordance with U.S. GAAP that otherwise applies to those liabilities; and disclose an entity's plan for liquidation, the methods and significant assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities, the type and amount of costs and income accrued, and the expected duration of the liquidation process. These amendments are effective for entities that determine liquidation is imminent during annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013, and interim reporting periods therein. Entitles should apply the requirements prospectively from the day that liquidation becomes imminent. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2013-07 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.