
1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

General

As used in this report, the terms “Valero,” “we,” “us,” or “our” may refer to Valero Energy Corporation, one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole.

These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 included in these Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 has been derived from our audited financial statements as of that date. For further information, refer to our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

We have evaluated subsequent events that occurred after September 30, 2011 through the filing of this Form 10-Q. Any material subsequent events that occurred during this time have been properly recognized or disclosed in these financial statements.

Noncontrolling Interests

In connection with the acquisition of the Pembroke Refinery (see further discussion in Note 2), we acquired an 85 percent interest in Mainline Pipelines Limited (MLP). MLP owns a pipeline that distributes refined products from the Pembroke Refinery to terminals in the United Kingdom.

On January 21, 2011, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Darling Green Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Darling International, Inc., to form Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC (DGD Holdings). DGD Holdings, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Diamond Green Diesel LLC (DGD), will construct and operate a biomass-based diesel plant having a design feed capacity of 10,000 barrels per day that will process animal fats, used cooking oils, and other vegetable oils into renewable green diesel. The plant will be located next to our St. Charles Refinery. The aggregate cost of this facility is estimated to be approximately $368 million and the construction is expected to be completed in late 2012. The joint venture agreement requires that contributions be made to DGD Holdings based on the percentage of units held by each member, which is currently on a 50/50 basis. In addition, on May 31, 2011, we agreed to lend DGD up to $221 million in order to finance 60 percent of the construction costs of the plant.

Because of our controlling financial interests in MLP and DGD Holdings, we have included the financial statements of MLP and DGD Holdings in these consolidated financial statements and have separately disclosed the related noncontrolling interests.

Significant Accounting Policies

Reclassifications

As discussed in Note 2, we sold our Paulsboro Refinery in December 2010. As a result, the results of operations of the Paulsboro Refinery have been reclassified to discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

In addition, credit card fees previously recognized in 2010 in retail operating expenses have been reclassified to cost of sales as such fees are directly and jointly related to the sale transaction. This reclassification resulted in an increase in cost of sales and a decrease in retail operating expenses of $23 million and $68 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, we review our estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220, “Comprehensive Income,” were amended to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, the entity is required to present reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statements for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement where those components are presented. These provisions are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2011, and are to be applied retrospectively, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2012 will not affect our financial position or results of operations because these requirements only affect disclosures.

In May 2011, the provisions of ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” were amended to clarify the application of existing fair value measurement requirements and to change certain fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. Amendments that change measurement and disclosure requirements relate to (i) fair value measurement of financial instruments that are managed within a portfolio, (ii) application of premiums and discounts in a fair value measurement, and (iii) additional disclosures about fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. These provisions are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2012 will not affect our financial position or results of operations, but may result in additional disclosures.

In January 2011, the provisions of ASC Topic 310, “Receivables,” were amended to delay temporarily the effective date of disclosures relating to troubled debt restructurings, which were previously amended in July 2010, in order to allow the Financial Accounting Standards Board time to complete its deliberations on what constitutes a troubled debt restructuring. In April 2011, the provisions of ASC Topic 310 were amended to clarify the guidance on a creditor’s evaluations of whether it has granted a concession to the debtor and whether the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. These provisions are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011. The new guidance should be applied retrospectively to restructurings occurring on or after the beginning of the annual period of adoption, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance effective July 1, 2011 did not affect our financial position or results of operations.