VALLEY NATIONAL GASES (VLG)

 

The preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts we report in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We describe the significant accounting policies and methods that we use to prepare our consolidated financial statements in Note 3 to the financial statements for the year end June 30, 2006. The most critical accounting matters in which we use estimates include our determination of the net carrying value of our trade receivables, our inventories, our goodwill, our other intangible assets and our employee health care benefit reserves. If our estimates have to be revised, we may be required to adjust the carrying value of these assets and the reserves, affecting our results of operations during the period when the adjustment is recorded, and affecting our net assets and equity. The following critical accounting policies are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.