MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS  OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS  Excess and Obsolete Inventory The Company records allow- ances for excess and obsolete inventory based on historical and estimated future demand and market conditions. Additional inventory allowances may be required if future demand or market conditions are less favorable than the Company has estimated. The allowance for excess and obsolete inventory was $9.6 million and $9.4 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. and forecasts are required to determine sales returns and reserves, rebate reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts, reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, investments in unconsolidated affiliates, workers’ compensation liabilities, employee benefit related liabilities, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, any impairments of assets, anticipated transactions to be hedged, reserves and contingencies. These matters that are subject to judgments and estimation are inherently uncertain, and different amounts could be reported using different assumptions and estimates. Management uses its best estimates and judgments in determining the appropriate amount to reflect in the financial statements, using historical experience and all available information. The Company also uses outside experts where appropriate. The Company applies estimation methodologies consistently from year to year. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” whereby goodwill is no longer amortized, but instead is subject to a periodic impairment review. As the Company’s operations are comprised of one reporting unit, the Company reviews the recoverability of its goodwill by comparing the Company’s fair value to the net book value of its assets. If the book value of the Company’s assets exceeds the Company’s fair value, the goodwill is written down to its implied fair value.  The Company believes the following are the critical accounting policies, which could have the most significant effect on the Company’s reported results and require subjective or complex judgments by management. Revenue Recognition Sales are generally recorded when all of the following have occurred: an agreement of sale exists, product delivery and acceptance has occurred or services have been rendered, and collection is reasonably assured. Management is required to make judgments about whether or not collectibility is reasonably assured. For certain products, the Company maintains consigned inventory at customer locations. For these products, revenue is recognized at the time the Company is notified that the customer has used the inventory. The Company reduces revenue with reserves for estimated price concessions and sales returns. Allowances, which are recorded at the time revenue is recognized, in accordance with SFAS No. 48, “Revenue Recognition When Right of Return Exists,” are based upon historical price concessions and sales returns. Additionally, management reviews the carrying amounts of goodwill and other intangibles whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment indicators include, among other conditions, cash flow deficits, historic or anticipated declines in revenue or operating profit and adverse legal or regulatory developments. If it is determined that such indicators are present and the review indicates that the assets will not be fully recoverable, based on undiscounted estimated cash flows over the remaining amortization periods, their carrying values are reduced to estimated fair market value. Estimated fair market value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. For the purpose of identifying and measuring impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there is identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows generated by other asset groups. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company records allowances for doubtful accounts based on customer-specific analysis and general matters such as current assessments of past due balances and economic conditions. Additional allowances for doubtful accounts may be required if there is deterioration in past due balances, if economic conditions are less favorable than the Company has anticipated, or for customer-specific circumstances, such as financial difficulty. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $5.5 million and $4.3 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for under the cost method and have been designated as available-for-sale in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.” These investments are carried at fair market value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in stockholders’ equity as Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. Gains or losses on investments sold are based on the specific identification S43 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation