New accounting pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements

New accounting pronouncements

Note 11 - New accounting pronouncements:

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2008, the Accounting Standards Codification issued 944.20.15, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts-and interpretation of Accounting Standards Codification 944.20.05”. Accounting Standards Codification 944.20.15 clarifies how Accounting Standards Codification 944.20.05 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including the recognition and measurement of premium revenue and claims liabilities. This statement also requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee insurance contracts. Accounting Standards Codification 944.20.15 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. Accounting Standards Codification 944.20.15 has no effect on the Company’s financial position, statements of operations, or cash flows at this time.

In March 2008, the Accounting Standards Codification issued 815.10.15, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of Accounting Standards Codification 815.10.05.  This standard requires companies to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under 815.10.15 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. The Company has not yet adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 815.10.15, but does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2007, the Accounting Standards Codification 815.10.65, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Standards Codification 810.10.65.  This statement amends Accounting Standards Codification 810.10.65 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. Before this statement was issued, limited guidance existed for reporting noncontrolling interests. As a result, considerable diversity in practice existed. So-called minority interests were reported in the consolidated statement of financial position as liabilities or in the mezzanine section between liabilities and equity. This statement improves comparability by eliminating that diversity. This statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008 (that is, January 1, 2009, for entities with calendar year-ends). Earlier adoption is prohibited. The effective date of this statement is the same as that of the related Accounting Standards Codification 805.10.10 (revised 2007). The Company will adopt this Statement beginning March 1, 2009. It is not believed that this will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2007, the Accounting Standards Codification, issued Accounting Standards Codification 805.10.10 (revised 2007), Business Combinations.’  This Statement establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: (a) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; (b) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and (c) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. This statement applies prospectively to 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, 2008. An entity may not apply it before that date. The effective date of this statement is the same as that of the related Accounting Standards Codification 810.10.65, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.  The Company will adopt this statement beginning March 1, 2009. It is not believed that this will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2007, the Accounting Standards Codification, issued Accounting Standards Codification 810.10.65, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities—Including an Amendment of Accounting Standards Codification 320.10.05.  This standard permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This option is available to all entities. Most of the provisions in Accounting Standards Codification 810.10.65 are elective; however, an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification 320.10.05 Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities applies to all entities with available for sale or trading securities. Some requirements apply differently to entities that do not report net income. Accounting Standards Codification 810.10.65 is effective as of the beginning of an entities first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the previous fiscal year provided that the entity makes that choice in the first 120 days of that fiscal year and also elects to apply the provisions of ASC 810 Fair Value Measurements.  The Company will adopt Accounting Standards Codification 810 beginning March 1, 2008 and is currently evaluating the potential impact the adoption of this pronouncement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the Accounting Standards Codification issued Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements.  This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this statement does not require any new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application of this statement will change current practice. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is encouraged, provided that the reporting entity has not yet issued financial statements for that fiscal year, including financial statements for an interim period within that fiscal year. The Company will adopt this statement March 1, 2008, and it is not believed that this will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.