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4 - OTHER ASSETS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block] 4  -  OTHER ASSETS
Other assets is summarized as follows:

   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Investment in securitites
  $ 423,000     $ 68,000  
Investment in joint venture - Taiteam Technology
    147,000       147,000  
Investment in joint venture - Grand Shine Mgmt
    703,000       637,000  
Other
    24,000       22,000  
  Other Assets
  $ 1,297,000     $ 874,000  

Our $423,000 investment in securities as of December 31, 2012 relates to our ownership of 154,808 common shares and 1,007,902 preferred shares of Zowie Technology Corporation (Taipei Hsien, Taiwan), a supplier of electronic component products (see Part I: Item 1 – Business – Suppliers).  Our investment relates to 3.3% of their total outstanding shares and we do not have significant influence or control.  This investment is accounted for under the cost method basis of accounting.  See also Note 14 – Subsequent Events.

Our $147,000 investment in joint venture as of December 31, 2012 relates to our 49% ownership of Taiteam (Yangzhou) Technology Corporation Limited (Yangzhou, China), a joint venture with its 51% owner, Full Harvest Development Limited.  This joint venture is not considered to be a “Variable Interest Entity”, and as such, is accounted for under the equity method basis of accounting.  This joint venture is not operational and as such, there has been no material activity in this joint venture since 2009.

Our $703,000 investment in joint venture as of December 31, 2012, relates to our 49% ownership of Grand Shine Management Limited (Dong Guan, China), an electronic device contract manufacturer, and joint venture with its 51% owner, Teamforce Company Limited.  This joint venture is not considered to be a “Variable Interest Entity”, and as such, is accounted for under the equity method basis of accounting.