text: A company's internal control over Ñnancial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable 
  assurance regarding the reliability of Ñnancial reporting and the preparation of Ñnancial statements for external 
  purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over 
  Ñnancial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, 
  in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reÖect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; 
  (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of Ñnancial 
  statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of 
  the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the 
  company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized 
  acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material eÅect on the Ñnancial 
  statements. 
  
  Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over Ñnancial reporting may not prevent or detect 
  misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of eÅectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that 
  controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the 
  policies and procedures may deteriorate. 