AVALON HOLDINGS CORP

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect reported amounts. Significant accounting policies used in the preparation of Avalon’s Consolidated Financial Statements are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. Estimates are used when accounting for, among other things, the allowance for credit losses, estimated useful lives of property and equipment used to depreciate and amortize the assets, asset impairments, compensation costs relating to stock options granted, contingencies and administrative proceedings, environmental matters and taxes.

The majority of Avalon’s accounts receivable is due from industrial and commercial customers. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. The amounts due are stated at their net realizable value. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses to provide for the estimated amount of receivables that will not be collected. Customer accounts that are outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. Avalon determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, Avalon’s previous accounts receivable loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to Avalon and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. Bankruptcy or economic challenges of a particular customer represent uncertainties that are not controllable by management. If management’s assessments change due to different assumptions or if actual collections differ from management’s estimates, future operating results could be impacted. Avalon writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible. Payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for credit losses, or to income, as appropriate under the circumstances.

Avalon recognizes share-based compensation expense related to stock options issued to employees and directors. Avalon estimates the fair value of the stock options granted using a Monte Carlo simulation. The Monte Carlo simulation was selected to determine the fair value because it incorporates six minimum considerations; 1) the exercise price of the option, 2) the expected term of the option, taking into account both the contractual term of the option, the effects of employees’ expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior, as well as the possibility of change in control events during the contractual term of the option agreements, 3) the current fair value of the underlying equity, 4) the expected volatility of the value of the underlying share for the expected term of the option, 5) the expected dividends on the underlying share for the expected term of the option and 6) the risk-free interest rate(s) for the expected term of the option.

The expected term, or time until the option is exercised, is typically based on historical exercising behavior of previous option holders of a company’s stock. Prior to 2018, due to the fact that the Company has had no historical exercising activity, we estimated the expected term using the simplified method.

Avalon amortizes the fair value of the stock options over the expected term which approximates the requisite service period. If accelerated vesting occurs based on the market performance of Avalon’s common stock, the compensation costs related to the vested stock options that have not previously been amortized are recognized upon vesting.

Certain events or changes in circumstances may indicate that the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets should be assessed. Such events or changes may include a significant decrease in market value, a significant change in the business climate in a particular market, or a current-period operating or cash flow loss combined with historical losses or projected future losses. If an event occurs or changes in circumstances are present, Avalon estimates the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the applicable groups of long-lived assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying value, Avalon would recognize an impairment loss to the extent the carrying value of the groups of long-lived assets exceeds their fair value. Avalon would determine the fair value by using quoted market prices, if available, for such assets; or if quoted market prices are not available, Avalon would discount the expected estimated future cash flows.

The ability to accurately predict future cash flows may impact the determination of fair value. Avalon’s assessments of cash flows represent management’s best estimate at the time of the impairment review. Avalon estimates the future cash flows expected to result from the use and, if applicable, the eventual disposition of the assets. The key variables that management must estimate include, among other factors, sales, costs, inflation and capital spending. Significant management judgment is involved in estimating these variables and they include inherent uncertainties. If different cash flows had been estimated in the current period, the value of the long-lived assets could have been materially impacted. Furthermore, Avalon’s accounting estimates may change from period to period as conditions in markets change, and this could materially impact financial results in future periods.

When Avalon concludes that it is probable that an environmental liability has been incurred, a provision is made in Avalon’s financial statements for Avalon’s best estimate of the liability based on management’s judgment and experience, information available from regulatory agencies, and the number, financial resources and relative degree of responsibility of other potentially responsible parties who are jointly and severally liable for remediation of that site, as well as, the typical allocation of costs among such parties. If a range of possible outcomes is estimated and no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, then Avalon provides for the minimum amount within the range, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The liability is recognized on an undiscounted basis. Avalon’s estimates are revised, as deemed necessary, as additional information becomes known. Such revisions may impact future operating results. Although Avalon is not currently aware of any environmental liability, there can be no assurance that in the future an environmental liability will not occur.

Avalon recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Avalon also records tax benefits when it believes that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained by the tax authority. Avalon regularly reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability and establishes a valuation allowance based upon historical taxable income, projected future taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences to reduce its deferred assets to the amount that it believes is more likely than not to be realized. Avalon has considered future taxable income in assessing the need for the valuation allowance. The $1.7 million of deferred tax liabilities will reverse in the same period and jurisdiction and is of the same character as the temporary differences giving rise to the $1.8 million of deferred tax assets. Avalon has not provided a valuation allowance on the amount of deferred tax assets that it estimates will be utilized. Should Avalon ascertain in the future that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will be realized in excess of the net deferred tax assets, all or a portion of the $3.0 million valuation allowance as of December 31, 2024, would be reversed as a benefit to the provision for income taxes in the period such determination was made.

C o n s o l i d a t e d ** B a l a n c e** ** S h e e t s**

(in thousands, except for share data)

C o n s o l i d a t e d S t a t e m e n t s o f O p e r a t i o n s

(in thousands, except for per share amounts)

C o n s o l i d a t e d S t a t e m e n t s o f C a s h F l o w s

(in thousands)

For supplemental cash flow information regarding income taxes, see Note 10.

C o n s o l i d a t e d S t a t e m e n t s o f S h a r e h o l d e r s ’E q u i t y

(in thousands, except for share data)

N o t e s t o C o n s o l i d a t e d F i n a n c i a l S t a t e m e n t s

Note 1. Description of the Business

Avalon Holdings Corporation (“Avalon” or the “Company”) was formed on April 30, 1998 as a subsidiary of American Waste Services, Inc. (“AWS”). On June 17, 1998, AWS distributed, as a special dividend, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Avalon to the holders of AWS common stock on a pro rata and corresponding basis.

Avalon provides waste management services to industrial, commercial, municipal and governmental customers in selected northeastern and midwestern U.S. markets, captive landfill management services and salt water injection well operations. Avalon also owns and operates a hotel and its associated resort amenities, four golf courses and related country clubs and a multipurpose recreation center.

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies of Avalon, which are summarized below, are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and reflect practices appropriate to the businesses in which they operate. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.