Note 16 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

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

16. Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), 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. However, the 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 the 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 detail about those amounts. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods ending after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists”. ASU 2013-11 amends the current guidance to eliminate the diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. The pronouncement is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2013, and retrospective application is permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In April 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-07, “Presentation of Financial Statement (Topic 205), Liquidation Basis of Accounting.” The amendment requires an entity to prepare its financial statements using the liquidation basis of accounting when liquidation is imminent. Liquidation is imminent when the likelihood is remote that the entity will return from liquidation and either (a) a plan for liquidation is approved by the person or persons with the authority to make such a plan effective and the likelihood is remote that the plan execution of the plan will be blocked by other parties or (b) a plan for liquidation is being imposed by other forces. Financial statements prepared using the liquidation basis of accounting are required to 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. The entity should include in its presentation of assets any item it had not previously recognized under U.S. GAAP but that it expects to either sell in liquidation or use in settling liabilities. An entity should recognize and measure liabilities in accordance with U.S. GAAP that otherwise applies to those liabilities. The entity is also required to accrue and separately present the costs that it expects to incur and the income that it expects to earn during the expected duration of the liquidation, including any costs associated with sale or settlement of those assets and liabilities. Additionally, the amendment requires disclosures about 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. The pronouncement is effective for entities that determine liquidation is imminent during annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim reporting periods therein, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360), Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 on Discontinued Operations changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modified related disclosure requirements.  Under the new guidance, a discontinued operation is defined as: (i) a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale that represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results or (ii) an acquired business or nonprofit activity that is classified as held for sale on the date of acquisition.  The standard states that a strategic shift could include a disposal of (i) a major geographical area of operations, (ii) a major line of business, (iii) a major equity method investment, or (iv) other major parts of an entity.  Under the current US GAAP, an entity is prohibited from reporting a discontinued operation if it has certain continuing cash flows or involvement component after the disposal.  The new guidance eliminates these criteria. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” The amendments in this Update create Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. In addition, the amendments supersede the cost guidance in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition—Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts, and create new Subtopic 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with Customers. In summary, the core principle of Topic 606 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendments in this Update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.