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Note 3 - Summary of significant accounting policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
3.     Summary of significant accounting policies

a)  
Basis of presentation

The consolidated interim financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and VIEs. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The consolidated interim financial information as of September 30, 2011 and for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 have been prepared without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have not been included. The interim consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, previously filed with the SEC.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2011, its consolidated results of operations for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and its consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, as applicable, have been made. The interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

b)  
Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of all the subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company. All transactions and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries and VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation. According to the agreements between Beijing CNET Online and Shanghai Borongdingsi, although Beijing CNET Online legally owns 51% of Shanghai Borongdingsi’s interests, Beijing CNET Online only controls the assets and liabilities related to the bank kiosks business, which has been included in the financial statements of Beijing CNET Online, but does not control other assets of Shanghai Borongdingsi, thus, Shanghai Borongdingsi’s financial statements were not consolidated by the Company.

c)  
Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of these consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company continually evaluates these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, historical experience and various other assumptions that the Company believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.

d)  
Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been regrouped to conform to the current period presentation, which did not have any impact to the Company’s prior period’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows

e)  
Foreign currency translation and transactions

The functional currency of the Company’s US holding company is United States dollars (“US$”), and the functional currency of China Net HK is Hong Kong dollars (“HK$”).  The functional currency of the Company’s PRC operating subsidiary and VIEs is Renminbi (“RMB”), and PRC is the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

For financial reporting purposes, the financial statements of the Company’s PRC operating subsidiary and VIEs, which are prepared using the RMB, are translated into the Company’s reporting currency, the United States Dollar (“U.S. dollar”). Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date.  Revenue and expenses are translated using average rates prevailing during each reporting period, and stockholders’ equity is translated at historical exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from the translation are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.

Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.  The resulting exchange differences are included in the determination of net income of the consolidated financial statements for the respective periods.

The exchange rates used to translate amounts in RMB into US$ for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements are as follows:

   
September 30,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
             
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts
  6.4018     6.6118  
             
   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
    2011     2010  
Items in the statements of income and comprehensive income, and statements cash flows
  6.5060     6.8164  
             
   
Three months ended September 30,
 
    2011     2010  
Items in the statements of income and comprehensive income, and statements cash flows
  6.4231     6.7803  
             

No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be converted into US$ at the above rates.

f)  
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use.  The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

g)  
Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value consisting of the carrying amount less an allowance for uncollectible accounts as needed. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on aging data, historical collection experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.  The Company did not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure relating to its customers, suppliers or others.

h)  
Investment in equity investment affiliates

Investee companies that are not consolidated, but over which the Company exercises significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting in accordance to ASC Topic 323 “Equity Method and Joint Ventures”. Whether or not the Company exercises significant influence with respect to an investee depends on an evaluation of several factors including, among others, representation on the investee companies’ board of directors and ownership level, which is generally a 20% to 50% interest in the voting securities of the investee companies. Under the equity method of accounting, an investee company’s accounts are not reflected within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and statements of income and comprehensive income; however, the Company’s share of the earnings or losses of the investee company is reflected in the caption “Share of earnings (losses) in equity investment affiliates” in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. The Company’s carrying value (including loan to the investee) in equity method investee companies is reflected in the caption “Investment in and loan to equity investment affiliates” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

When the Company’s carrying value in an equity method investee company is reduced to zero, no further losses are recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements unless the Company guaranteed obligations of the investee company or has committed additional funding. When the investee company subsequently reports income, the Company will not record its share of such income until it equals the amount of its share of losses not previously recognized.

i)  
Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method after taking into account their respective estimated residual values over the following estimated useful lives:

Vehicles
5 years
Office equipment
3-5 years
Electronic devices
5 years

Depreciation expenses are included in selling expenses, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses.

When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, resulting gain or loss is included in net income or loss in the year of disposition for the difference between the net book value and proceeds received thereon.  Maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the expected useful lives of the assets are charged to expenses as incurred.

j)  
Intangible assets, net

Purchased software and software platform is initially recorded at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic life.

Intangible assets other than goodwill acquired through various acquisitions (see Note 4) are amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives.

If an acquired intangible asset is determined to have an indefinite useful life, it should not be amortized until its useful life is determined to be no longer indefinite.  The Company reviews intangible assets' remaining useful lives in each reporting period.  If such an asset is later determined to have a finite useful life, the asset will be tested for impairment.  That asset will then be amortized prospectively over its estimated remaining useful life and accounted for in the same way as intangible assets subject to amortization.

The Company accounted for website development costs in accordance with ASC Topic 350-50, which requires that certain costs related to the development or purchase of internal-use software and systems as well as the costs incurred in the application development stage related to its website be capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software or system. ASC Topic 350-50 also require that costs related to the preliminary project stage, data conversion and post implementation/operation stage of an internal-use software development project be expensed as incurred.

Based on the Company analysis of its website development cost which is subject to capitalization in accordance with ASC Topic 350-50 incurred for the development of www.liansuo.com and www.chuangye.com, the Company didn’t capitalize such cost, as the amount was considered immaterial, which was mainly the labor cost of its R&D staff.

k)  
Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets, which include tangible long-lived assets and intangible long-lived assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.  If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value.

For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not record any impairment losses associated with long-lived assets.

l)  
Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as a result of the Company's acquisitions of interests in its subsidiaries.

Goodwill is not depreciated or amortized but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least on an annual basis, and between annual tests when an event occurs or circumstances change that could indicate that the asset might be impaired.  The test consists of two steps. First, identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered impaired. Second, if there is impairment identified in the first step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, in accordance with Topic 805, “Business Combinations.”

Application of a goodwill impairment test requires significant management judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value of each reporting unit. The judgment in estimating the fair value of reporting units includes estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates and making other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit.

m)  
Deconsolidation

The Company accounts for deconsolidation of a subsidiary in accordance with ASC Topic 810 “Consolidation”.

 In accordance with ASC Topic 810-10-40-5, the parent shall account for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary by recognizing a gain or loss in net income attributable to the parent, measured as the difference between:

a. The aggregate of all of the following:

1. The fair value of any consideration received;

2. The fair value of any retained noncontrolling investment in the former subsidiary at the date the subsidiary is deconsolidated;

3. The carrying amount of any noncontrolling interest in the former subsidiary (including any accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest) at the date the subsidiary is deconsolidated.

b. The carrying amount of the former subsidiary’s assets and liabilities.

n)  
Changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary

The Company accounted for changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary in accordance with ASC Topic 805 Business Combination, subtopic 10, which requires the transaction be accounted for as equity transactions (investments by owners and distributions to owners acting in their capacity as owners). Therefore, no gain or loss shall be recognized in consolidated net income or comprehensive income. The carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest shall be adjusted to reflect the change in its ownership interest in the subsidiary. Any difference between the fair value of the consideration received or paid and the amount by which the noncontrolling interest is adjusted shall be recognized in equity attributable to the parent and reallocated the subsidiary’s accumulated comprehensive income, if any, among the parent and the noncontrolling interest through an adjustment to the parent’s equity.

o)  
Revenue recognition

The Company's revenue recognition policies are in compliance with ASC Topic 605 “Revenue Recognition”. In accordance with ASC Topic 605, revenues are recognized when the four of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the service has been rendered, (iii) the fees are fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

Sales include revenues from internet advertising generated from the Company’s portal websites, reselling of internet advertising spaces and other internet advertisement related resources purchased from other portal websites, reselling of advertising time purchased from TV stations and brand management and sales channel building services. No revenue from advertising-for-advertising barter transactions was recognized because the transactions did not meet the criteria for recognition in ASC Topic 605, subtopic 20.  Advertising contracts establish the fixed price and advertising services to be provided.  Pursuant to advertising contracts, the Company provides advertisement placements in different formats, including but not limited to banners, links, logos, buttons, rich media and content integration. Revenue is recognized ratably over the period the advertising is provided and, as such, the Company considers the services to have been delivered. The Company treats all elements of advertising contracts as a single unit of accounting for revenue recognition purposes.  Based upon the Company’s credit assessments of its customers prior to entering into contracts, the Company determines if collectability is reasonably assured.  In situations where collectability is not deemed to be reasonably assured, the Company recognizes revenue upon receipt of cash from customers, only after services have been provided and all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.

p)  
Cost of sales

Cost of sales primarily includes the cost of media advertising time, internet advertisement related resources and other technical services purchased, director labor cost and PRC business tax.

q)  
Advertising costs

Advertising costs for the Company’s own brand building are not includable in cost of sales, they are expensed when incurred or amortized over the estimated beneficial period and are included in “selling expenses” in the statement of income and comprehensive income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, advertising expenses for the Company’s own brand building were approximately US$1,193,000 and US$1,534,000, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, advertising expenses for the Company’s own brand building were approximately US$170,000 and US$585,000, respectively.

r)  
Research and development expenses

Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Expenses for research and development for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were approximately US$1,100,000 and US$605,000, respectively. Expenses for research and development for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were approximately US$376,000 and US$276,000, respectively.

s)  
Income taxes

The Company adopted ASC Topic 740 “Income taxes” and uses the liability method to account for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect in the period in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance to offset deferred tax assets if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income statement in the period that includes the enactment date.

t)  
Uncertain tax positions

The Company adopted ASC Topic 740-10-25-5 through 740-10-25-7 and 740-10-25-13, which prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures.  For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with tax positions and did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.

u)  
Share-based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation to employees in accordance with ASC Topic 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation” which requires that share-based payment transactions be measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instrument issued and recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period, or vesting period.

v)  
Noncontrolling interest

The Company accounts for noncontrolling interests in accordance with ASC Topic 810-10-45, which requires the Company to present noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interests) as a separate component of total shareholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated income and comprehensive income statement. ASC Topic 810-10-45 also requires that losses attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary be attributed to those interests even if it results in a deficit noncontrolling interest balance.

w)  
Comprehensive income

The Company accounts for comprehensive income in accordance with ASC Topic 220 “Comprehensive Income”, which establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components in the consolidated financial statements. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding transactions resulting from investments from owners and distributions to owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income, as presented on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.

x)  
Earnings / (loss) per share

Earnings / (loss) per share are calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Common shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible preferred shares are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share on an “if-converted” basis when the impact is dilutive. The dilutive effect of outstanding common stock warrants is reflected in the diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method when the impact is dilutive.

y)  
Commitments and contingencies

The Company has adopted ASC 450 “Contingencies” subtopic 20, in determining its accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability have been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred.

z)  
Fair value measurements

The Company’s financial instruments primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other receivables, prepayment and deposits, investment in and loan to equity investment affiliates, accounts payable, advances from customers, accruals and other payables. The carrying values of these financial instruments approximate fair values due to their short maturities.

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires classification based on observable and unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter.

aa)  
Recent accounting pronouncements affecting the Company

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other” (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This ASU is intended to simplify goodwill impairment testing by adding a qualitative review step to assess whether the required quantitative impairment analysis that exists today is necessary. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is permitted to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is concluded that this is the case, it is necessary to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. 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. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations upon adoption.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations upon adoption.