2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates, required by management, include bad debt allowance, recoverability of long-lived assets and the valuation of inventories. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of bank notes receivable, accounts receivable, net, advances to suppliers, VAT tax recoverable, advance to related parties, current portion of equipment loan payables, short term loan payable – related party, accrued liabilities, bank notes payable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, tax payables, advances from customers, and accounts payable - related parties. The fair value of these financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets due to their short-term maturity or by comparison to other instruments with similar terms.

The Company evaluated the fair value of the equipment loans payable – related parties, net of current portion at December 31, 2012 and 2011, and determined that the book value of equipment loans payable approximated the fair market value based on information available as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of balances due from customers for the sale of the Company’s steel products. Accounts receivable is recorded at the net realizable value consisting of the carrying amount less an allowance for uncollectible amounts.

The Company estimates the valuation allowance for anticipated uncollectible receivable balances after taking into consideration industry experience, the current economic climate and facts and circumstances specific to the applicable customer. Account balances are written-off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, as determined on a weighted average basis, or market. Costs of inventories include the purchase price and related manufacturing costs incurred in bringing the products to their present location and condition. Market value is determined by reference to selling prices or to management’s estimates based on prevailing market conditions. Management writes down the inventories to market value if it is below cost and also regularly evaluates the composition of its inventories to identify slow-moving and obsolete inventories to determine if a valuation allowance is required.

Advances to Suppliers and Related Parties

In order to ensure a steady supply of raw materials, the Company is required from time to time to make cash advances when placing its purchase orders. Management regularly evaluates the balance of advances and will record a reserve if necessary.

See Note 11 for advances to related parties in the normal course of business.

Machinery and Equipment and Construction In Progress

Machinery and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The cost of an asset comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its present working condition and location for its intended use.

Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives for significant machinery and equipment are as follows:

Machinery and equipment	10 years
Auxiliary facilities	10 years
Transportation equipment	5 years
Office equipment	3 - 5 years
Electronic equipment	3 - 5 years

Repairs and maintenance costs are normally charged to the statement of operations in the year in which they are incurred. In situations where it can be clearly demonstrated that the expenditure has resulted in an increase in the future economic benefits expected to be obtained from the use of the asset, the expenditure is capitalized as an additional cost of the asset.

Construction in progress includes direct costs of construction or acquisition of equipment and design fees incurred. Capitalization of these costs ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to plant and equipment when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the assets for their intended use are completed. No depreciation is provided until it is completed and ready for its intended use.

Advances from Customers

Customer advances consist of amounts received from customers relating to the sales of the Company’s steel products. The Company recognizes these funds as a current liability until the revenue can be recognized.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when all of the following have occurred: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) the ability to collect is reasonably assured. These criteria are generally satisfied by the Company at the time of delivery, which is the point when risk of loss and title passes to the customer. Revenue is reported net of all value added taxes. The Company does not routinely permit customers to return products and historically, customer returns have been immaterial.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s financial information is presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the US parent company and US subsidiaries is the US dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC is the RMB. Subsidiary transactions, which are denominated in currencies other than RMB, are translated into RMB at the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in a currency other than the RMB are included in statements of income as foreign currency transaction gain or loss.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters”. The financial information is first prepared in RMB and then is translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates for revenue and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transactions occurred. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity.

The foreign exchange rates used in the translation were as follows:

	2012		2011		2010
RMB/US$ exchange rate at period end		0.1605		0.1589		0.1515

Average RMB/US$ exchange rate for the period		0.1585		0.1547		0.1477

The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions must take place through authorized institutions. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at the rates used in translation.

Cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies using the average translation rate. As a result, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets.

Value Added Tax

The Provisional Regulations of the People’s Republic of China Concerning Value Added Tax (“VAT”) promulgated by the State Council came into effect on January 1, 1994. Under these regulations and the Implementing Rules of the Provisional Regulations of the People’s Republic of China concerning Value Added Tax, VAT is imposed on goods sold or imported into the PRC and on processing, repair and replacement services provided within the PRC.

VAT payable in the PRC is charged on an aggregated basis at a rate of 13% or 17% (depending on the type of goods involved) on the full price collected for the goods sold but excluding any amount paid in respect of VAT included in the price. Certain offshore and overseas sales are not subject to VAT tax.

The Company reports revenues and costs net of the PRC’s value added tax for all periods presented in the statements of operations.

Shipping Costs

Shipping costs include shipping and handling costs. Shipping costs are expensed as incurred. The freight-in costs are included in the cost of revenue. The freight-out costs are usually incurred by the customers and, as such, there were no significant shipping costs for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Advertising

Advertising is expensed as incurred and is included in selling expenses. The Company did not incur significant advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) arose from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted net income per share is computed similarly to basic net income per share except that it includes the dilutive securities (warrants) outstanding and potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities were converted. Such securities (2,580,022 warrants at $4.50 per share and 1,000 warrants at $2.00 per share), had an anti-dilutive effect and, as such, were excluded from the calculation for all periods presented.

Risks and Uncertainties

The operations of the Company are located in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business and financial condition may be influenced by the political, economic, and legal environments in the PRC, as well as by the general state of the PRC economy. The Company’s operations in the PRC are subject to special considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environment and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in the political, regulatory and social conditions in the PRC, and by changes in governmental policies or interpretations with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion, remittances abroad, and rates and methods of taxation. The current management team (specifically the CEO) of the Company and the majority owner of the Company through YBS are also the majority owners of the controlled variable interest entity in the PRC, Hongri. The US parent company (or CIS) only controls Hongri through certain agreements which obligated CIS to absorb a majority of expected losses of Hongri or enabled CIS to receive a majority residual returns from Hongri and granted CIS the power to direct the activities of Hongri that most significantly impact Hongri’s economic performance. As such, there is a risk that the majority shareholders of the Company and, or Hongri could cancel these agreements. If such action was to be taken, the Company would no longer retain control of Hongri, the operating subsidiary. Although the Company has not experienced losses from these risks and believes that they are in compliance with existing laws and regulations including the organization and structure disclosed in Note 1, this may not be indicative of future results. In addition, the management of CIS currently intends to either reinvest or retain all of the income generated by Hongri for strategic expansion purposes and operations into the foreseeable future.

The Company has significant exposure to the fluctuation of raw materials and energy. The Company does not enter into any commodity contracts or other financial derivatives to hedge these risks. In addition, the Company is subject to the cyclical nature of the steel industry and the current economic and political environment as it relates to steel production in China. There are many factors of the business which are impacted by prevailing market conditions, specifically, a change in the raw material and energy product pricing environment, rise or decline, will influence inventory levels, purchasing decisions and will, ultimately, all have an impact on the Company’s gross profit and operating results. Excessive steel production capacities, lack of demand for steel products and higher iron ore, coking coal and material costs are major challenges that the Chinese steel industry can occur and have begun to be encountered by the Company. In addition, a significant portion of the Company’s assets have been advanced to a related party supplier (see Note 11). These advances have been or are expected to be used to purchase raw materials for production of molten iron, which is a major raw material of the Company, equivalent to four months of cost of sales of the Company currently. In the event that the steel products market demand is lower, or there are further price reductions on raw materials already purchased, such asset could be impaired and/or the gross profit margin may be negatively impacted.

The Company provides credit in the normal course of business. Management continues to take appropriate actions to perform ongoing business and credit reviews of customers to reduce exposure to new and recurring customers who have been deemed to pose a high credit risk based on their commercial credit reports, the Company’s collection history, and perception of the risk posed by their geographic location. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited because a large number of geographically diverse customers make up the Company’s customer base.

The Company is potentially exposed to risks of losses that may result from business interruptions, injury to others (including employees) and damage to property. These losses may be uninsured, especially due to the fact that the Company’s operations are in China, where business insurance is not readily available. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has not experienced any uninsured losses from injury to others or other losses.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Topic 210 - Balance Sheet: Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”). ASU 2011-11 requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. ASU 2011-11 will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, with retrospective application for all comparable periods presented. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Topic 220 – Comprehensive Income: Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). ASU 2013-02 changes the presentation requirements of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in their entirety and their corresponding effect on net income. For other significant amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety, the standard requires the company to cross-reference to related footnote disclosures. ASU 2013-02 became effective for the company on January 1, 2013. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05 Topic 830 – Foreign Currency Matters (“ASU 2013-05”). ASU 2013-05 resolves the diversity in practice about whether Subtopic 810-10, Consolidation—Overall, or Subtopic 830-30, ASU 2013-05 applies to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) within a foreign entity. In addition, the amendments in this Update resolve the diversity in practice for the treatment of business combinations achieved in stages (sometimes also referred to as step acquisitions) involving a foreign entity. ASU 2013-02 became effective for the company prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

+ References+ Details

China Industrial Steel Inc. 10-K