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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 |
Commission file number 1-10367
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State of Incorporation) |
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71-0675758
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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914 N Jefferson Street
Post Office Box 1237
Springdale, Arkansas
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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72764
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(479) 756-7400
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
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Title of Each Class: |
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Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered: |
Class A common stock, $.01 par value |
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The Nasdaq Stock Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act. o Yes þ No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. o Yes þ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation
S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer o
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Accelerated filer þ
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Non-accelerated filer o
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Smaller reporting company o |
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). o Yes þ No
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates
computed by reference to the average bid and asked price of such common equity as of the last
business day of the registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $50,453,006 (for
the purposes hereof, directors, executive officers and 10% or greater shareholders have been deemed
affiliates).
Number of shares of common stock outstanding at March 28, 2008: Class A 46,314,250; Class B
1,465,530
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of our Definitive
Proxy Statement for our 2008 Annual Meeting scheduled to be held June 2008,
and expected to be filed within 120 days of our fiscal year end, are incorporated by reference into
Part III.
Disclaimer
Certain of the information contained in this report concerning markets and general
economic activity in regard to the remodeling/renovation and housing industry is derived from U.S.
government statistics and other publicly available information as well as industry sources.
Although we believe this outside information to be reliable, we have not verified the accuracy of
this information. We advise you to read the issues discussed in Managements Discussion and
Analysis and Liquidity and Capital Resources in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements and the notes to the consolidated financial statements included on this Form 10-K as
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. This report includes Risk
Factors that you should consider in connection with any decision to buy or sell our securities.
Item 1. Business.
Summary
Advanced Environmental Recycling
Technologies, Inc. (AERT), founded in 1988, develops, manufactures, and markets composite building materials that
are used in place of traditional wood or plastic products for exterior applications in building and
remodeling homes and for certain other industrial or commercial building purposes. AERT decking
products are sold primarily under the trade names ChoiceDek and MoistureShield and offer an
attractive wood grain appearance in multiple styles and colors. Our products are made primarily
from approximately equal amounts of waste wood fiber, which have been cleaned, sized and
reprocessed, and recycled polyethylene plastics which have been cleaned, processed, and
reformulated utilizing patented and proprietary technologies developed and commercialized by the
Company. Our products have been extensively tested, and are sold by leading national companies
such as the Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhaeuser), Lowes Companies, Inc. (Lowes) and Therma-Tru
Corporation. Since inception, we have sold over $537 million of products into the North American
marketplace. Our products are primarily used in renovation and
remodeling by consumers,
homebuilders, and contractors as a low maintenance, exterior green building alternative for
decking, railing, and trim products. The majority of our business (72%) is in decking, railing
accessories, and trim products through ChoiceDek for the Home
Improvement Warehouse (HIW) market.
Our door component segment comprises 6% of our business. In 2006, we launched our MoistureShield
decking line into the non-HIW market targeted towards professional contractors and large deck
builders. In 2007, we expanded MoistureShield distribution
via a growing network of regional
distributors. As of December 31, 2007 we had 14 distributors covering approximately 70% of the
United States and Canada. The ChoiceDek product was carried nationwide by Lowes Home Improvement
warehouses and distributed by Weyerhaeuser as of December 31, 2007. We also began field testing a
new line of fencing in 2007.
In the fall of 2007, we retained a national
advertising and marketing agency to help us expand
sales and distribution and to initiate a nationwide green-building brand awareness campaign for our
MoistureShield product line. It is our plan to seek additional sales for our decking products
through a combination of increased and expanded distribution
throughout North America, conversion of
builders and contractors from other products, and international sales via export. In 2007, we
initiated our first sales of $18,000 to a new distributor in the Peoples Republic of China and received the
Award for Innovation at the Beijing Builders Show. We plan to
increase our green building
marketing focus in 2008.
Intellectual Property
As of December 31, 2007 AERT held 14 United States Patents, including U.S. Patent 5759680 on
its extruded composite product. The company also sought additional patent protection in 2007, and
has additional patents currently pending in regard to its recycled plastics technologies,
processes, and procedures. We maintain restricted access to our facilities and require
confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.
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Facilities
We operate two extrusion facilities and a plastics recycling facility in Springdale, Arkansas,
and a plastic recycling, warehouse, and reload complex in Lowell, Arkansas. We also maintain a
wood processing and back up facility in Junction, Texas. The Texas
facility is our oldest and least efficient facility is being prepared
for a new product concept in 2008, and is not
needed for extrusion production unless and until product demand
increases substantially. We recently announced construction of an
additional plastics recycling facility in Watts, Oklahoma. Our corporate offices are located at
914 N. Jefferson St, Springdale, Arkansas, 72765, our telephone number is 479-756-7400, and our
internet address is www.aert.com.
Market Overview
Our overall sales for
2007 declined primarily due to significant inventory cut backs by our
customers combined with a significant reduction in the
building materials market during the fourth quarter; however, our HIW decking customers retail
sales of our products increased in 2007 over 2006. Our sales of MoistureShield decking increased as we expanded
distribution over the year. We also elected to discontinue
production of our line of painted window sills at the end
of 2007. This market niche has diminished significantly and is
primarily tied to companies who sell to builders for new home
construction. Our sales of primed/painted components were $1.6 million in 2007.
The Consumer
Confidence Index fell to 88.6 in December, down from 110.2 at the beginning of the year. A Harvard
University Joint Center for Housing study recently reported expenditures for homeowner remodeling
activity totaled approximately $176 billion in 2007, down from $178 billion in 2006.
The primary market for our decking products is renovation and remodeling. Industry estimates show over 4 million decks were built in the U.S. in 2007 with over 80% comprised
of wood. It is estimated that over 3.3 billion lineal feet of wood lumber, in excess of
approximately $4 billion was sold in 2007 for deck surface and
railing products according to industry research by Principle
Partners. Residential non-wood decking and railing products were estimated to be around 590 million lineal
feet.
Approximately 80% of the lumber used for wood decks and railing is pressure treated with
chemicals for decay and insect resistance. The primary species are pine and fir with the balance
being redwood and cedar products. Wood products are sold throughout the U.S. by regional suppliers
directly to lumberyards and home centers. According to the industry
publication Random Lengths the price per MBF (thousand board feet) of
pressure treated lumber (southern yellow pine, composite price) has declined from averaging a high of $514 in April of 2006 to $380 in December of 2007.
The non-wood decking segment is divided between 100% plastic products such as
polyethylene (PE), fiberglass, polypropylene
(PP), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and wood-plastic
composites which are produced from a combination of wood fibers, polyethylene, polypropylene (with
or without thermosets or phenolics), and polyvinyl chloride.
In previous housing or economic downturns, remodeling activity has increased as people tend to
upgrade or improve existing homes rather than purchase a new one. As the majority of our business
is remodeling oriented, we do not believe the decking business is as affected as the new home construction
market. We believe renovation or the addition of decks and railings to existing homes is an
increasing trend and reflects an extension of the home with cost effective outdoor living space.
We believe we have a unique opportunity to capture additional market share with our expanded line
of green decking and railing products in 2008 as consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the
benefits of recycling and green building.
A recent Wal-Mart Live Better Index Benchmark survey
conducted by Harris Service Bureau showed that:
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80% of consumers believe it is important to buy from
green companies and a majority say they
would spend more on green products. PBS Internet Survey Group, 2007 |
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62% of Americans would buy more eco-friendly products when there is no price difference |
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68% of Americans feel recycling at home has an impact on the environment |
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47% of Americans say they feel like a smart consumer when they buy environmentally
friendly products |
With near record petrochemical prices, we believe our investments in recycling technology and
infrastructure will create a significant raw material cost advantage prior to 2009 compared to
several of our virgin resin based competitors while offering a more
competitive green building
product. A major focus in 2008 is to make green more affordable than the competition.
AERT Mission Statement
Our
goal is to be the leader in plastic recycling, wood/plastic extrusion technology, and the
building products we make through customer satisfaction, sales growth, associate development, and
earnings while building shareholder value.
Green Building Products
We
currently sell our ChoiceDek-branded decking products in the HIW market through Weyerhaeuser to Lowes.
This market segment primarily focuses on the
do-it-yourself (DIY) market in which
homeowners buy, build, and install their own decks. ChoiceDek
has been sold in Lowes exclusively from 2001 until 2007.
ChoiceDek is currently stocked in 1500+ Lowes stores in the U.S. and Canada. The
current ChoiceDek product offering for 2008 consists of three colors: grey, woodtone, and redwood
with matching trim boards and accessories. In addition two decking products representing a
tropical hardwood look, spicewood and driftwood, are also available via special order. ChoiceDek
is promoted through in-store displays and an ongoing print and marketing campaign that targets the
residential decking market. We maintain a nationwide sales and customer service group consisting
of 36 associates. Lowes also conducts national print and
television ads for the products it
carries. The loss of Lowes as a customer of AERT products would
have a severe adverse affect on the company.
MoistureShield Decking. In October 2004, we began production of our new MoistureShield brand
line of decking products, which consists of four colors and two
tropical hardwood colors under our Rainforest Collection with a
distinct wood-like embossed surface pattern.
MoistureShield decking is currently sold to select primary distributors, who re-sell it to lumber
dealers and contractor yards for sale to local deck builders and home builders. MoistureShield
decking sales represented about 19% of total Company sales in 2007 up
from 9% in 2006, during which we
had limited production capacity available to serve that market. The MoistureShield decking line
allows us to diversify our customer base. In 2008 we will be presenting additional decking and
handrail products to offer a complete line to this customer segment,
as we move to expand MoistureShield into nationwide distribution. In
addition, the DIY market is also serviced by the Home Depot, as
well as several smaller regional chains. Our decking products are is not currently
carried in Home Depot and the ChoiceDek brand is exclusive to
Lowes.
Privacy Fencing Systems. In January 2007, we announced our newest product, LifeCycle
Fencing. We estimate the privacy fence market to be $5.5 billion annual sales with metal products
comprising 63% of the market and wood/other products at 37%. We believe there is a substantial
market for an aesthetically pleasing fence product that will serve for twenty years or more, which
we expect LifeCycle Fencing to do. In fact, we intend to certify
LifeCycle Fencing for use in
hurricane-prone regions of the U.S. where its strength and durability could give it a clear
competitive advantage over other, less durable, fencing products. We began test marketing
LifeCycle Fencing with several large fencing contractors in 2007 and
intend to launch this product
line in the second half of 2008.
Door Component Products. We sell our MoistureShield industrial products to door manufacturers
for use as component parts in products. For example, we manufacture
door rails built into doors
by Therma-Tru Corporation. In marketing, we emphasize the value-added feature of the
MoistureShield composite product, which unlike competing wood products, can be engineered to
incorporate certain desired end-product characteristics that save our customers time and expense.
Customers also avoid the need for chemical treatments to their final product, which are often
otherwise necessary to prevent rot and sustain durability. The durability of our MoistureShield
composite components allows our customers to extend the lifetime or warranties of their products
while reducing or eliminating warranty claims costs.
Therma-Tru purchases approximately 80% of our industrial products. The loss of this customer
would negatively impact sales and earnings. We are unable to predict the future size of the
markets for MoistureShield industrial products; however, we believe that the national door and
window, commercial and residential trim, and residential decking material markets are large and
growing and will allow us to diversify our customer base over time as we add production capacity
and focus on additional opportunities.
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Marketing and Sales
General Market Strategy. We have manufactured wood plastic composite products since 1988.
Our products are designed for applications where we can add the greatest value and address market
needs, i.e. for external applications where wood is prone to rot and/or requires substantial yearly
maintenance in the form of staining or water sealing. Though we believe there are many possible
applications for our wood/plastic composite technology, we have focused our resources and personnel
on outdoor decking and handrail components, door and exterior trim components, and soon outdoor fencing, which in our view
represent the most attractive market opportunities at this time. Within our chosen markets, we are
constantly working to develop and improve strong customer relationships.
Exterior Trim and Fascia Products. We have marketed an exterior trim and fascia system under
the trade names MoistureShield Trim and MoistureShield CornerLoc. Several national homebuilders
have been specifying and using the product. We believe this product line has significant growth
potential as a Green alternative to PVC and wood trims to be distributed and sold in conjunction
with our MoistureShield distributors. This product line is currently being redesigned to be sold
as an extruded product, eliminating the additional manufacturing steps of milling and priming,
although some limited product quantities are still being sold. The timetable of a full product
launch is scheduled for the second part of 2008.
Sales and Customer Service. We provide sales support and customer service through our own
marketing department, through outside commissioned representatives with an affiliated entity,
through Weyerhaeuser, and through training programs for our customers and their sales associates.
We also promote our decking products through interactive displays at national, regional, and local
home and lawn and garden shows, as well as through in-store displays. Our in-house sales and
customer support team is focused on serving commercial decking contractors and customers and
supporting the sales professionals at our regional building products distributor customers as well
as Weyerhaeuser and Lowes. Information and customer service are provided through the websites
www.choicedek.com and www.moistureshield.com, and through a national toll-free customer assistance
telephone number, 1-800-951-5117. We also use independent, outside sales representatives in some
markets to serve door, window, and decking customers.
Cyclical Nature of Building Products Industry. Our products are used primarily in home
improvement and new home construction. The home improvement and housing construction industries
are subject to significant fluctuations in activity and periodic downturns caused by general
economic conditions. High fuel prices, reduced disposable income, and economic uncertainty in
particular can lead to reduced home improvement activity, such as has
occurred since mid-2006. Reductions in
such activity has an adverse effect on the demand for our products. We have focused a large
portion of our business on the remodel and repair market segment, which we believe is less cyclical
than the new homebuilding market.
Facility Upgrades/Product Innovation. In our constant pursuit to satisfy our customers, and
to keep up with changing trends in the marketplace, we routinely analyze the need to develop new
products and improve existing products. In 2007 we further upgraded and consolidated our
manufacturing and recycling facilities in order to produce a new line of decking and handrail
products for 2008. We have invested significantly in plastic recycling technology and
infrastructure over the last several years, which is also a strategic initiative designed to help
insulate our raw materials purchasing from wide price swings associated with the petrochemical
markets. As technology has improved so has the aesthetics of our products, which are overwhelmingly
composed of recycled materials.
The composite decking business is continuously evolving. The technology used to manufacture
wood/plastic boards has advanced significantly over the last four years and many contemporary
products have much improved aesthetics. Going forward, it will be important for AERT to continue to
innovate and keep in close touch with consumer trends and focus on regional market trends.
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Sales and Innovation
We are committed to becoming the leader in green building products from recycled plastic
materials. In addition, we believe plastic recycling technologies
could lead to new opportunities in
the future.
As manufacturing technology and aesthetics of composite decking improve, market trends are
also shifting. Consumers are demanding more variety and selection compared to prior periods as
demand for multi-color decks appears to be increasing. Also, the evolution toward a more natural
wood look appears to be increasing on the higher end of the market, while decreasing wood prices
have widened the price differential on the lower end. Our MoistureShield decking line has been
upgraded and reintroduced to address these trends in the market.
The MoistureShield decking introduction is targeted toward the commercial contractor
lumberyard, which provides service to large repeat customers. Most of these large customers are
regularly purchasing, or have been exposed to, competing brands of composite decking. On this
higher end segment, we believe success will require converting customers from competing products to
our brands such as MoistureShield or upgrading from wood with ChoiceDek or Basics. Thus, a
significant marketing effort was initiated during the fourth quarter
of 2006 and continued
throughout 2007. The marketing program is focused on green building and converting high volume
customers to our products. To help us achieve these goals, the Company
has retained the services of a national advertising and marketing
agency.
With difficult conditions facing the decking market, AERT is differentiating its products
through a combination of green building features, price point, quality, and outstanding customer
service. We believe we are in a favorable position to increase market share, but maintaining our
low cost model could restrict our ability to grow profit margins over the next year.
From 2001 until earlier this year, Lowes home improvement stores had carried our Weyerhaeuser
ChoiceDek products exclusively in the composite decking category. During 2007, Weyerhaeuser
introduced a store special order program, and third color selection into the ChoiceDek set in the
Lowes home improvement warehouses. In addition, 150 new stores opened in 2007 and 140 stores are
scheduled to open in 2008, which will also carry Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek. Two new tropical hardwood
products are also available in ChoiceDek for Lowes. Lowes started carrying another, though higher
priced, decking brand beginning in 2007, which could limit the strong growth that ChoiceDek has
enjoyed the last three years. Lowes is broadening the decking category and adding more accessories
as it attempts to broaden its customer base and gain market share. We will continue to work toward
more selection combined with innovation and new products in conjunction with our customers.
Advanced Recycling Technologies Mining the Plastic Waste Stream
Over
the last two years, we have invested over $3.1 million in plastic recycling
technology and infrastructure. The benefits to the investment are just starting to take effect. In
addition, we have incorporated a new state of the art plastic analytical laboratory at our Lowell,
Arkansas facility. We have also developed and recently filed a patent application on several new
technologies, which allow us to analyze and blend mixed plastic waste materials into reformulated,
consistent plastic feedstocks. These technologies, combined with recently completed mixing and
blending infrastructure, are now coming into commercial fruition.
Over the last year we have developed and installed a new system to blend the various
polyethylene films that we recycle in order to deliver a homogenous feedstock to our extrusion
plants. This blending system became operational late in the third
quarter 2007, and we expect it to have
a positive impact on throughput and yields at our extrusion plants. We also
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continue to upgrade the equipment at our Lowell plastic recycling facility in order to increase
throughput, lower operating costs, and maximize the return on our investment. This should also have
a positive effect on our cost structure.
Because
of competition from overseas, prevailing prices of easy to access recyclable
plastics have risen to the point that we must increase our efficiencies and find new, lower cost
sources of raw materials. Initial permitting for the new Oklahoma recycling facility has been
cleared and we have recently obtained financing and broken ground on this new facility. The new
facility is designed to allow us to use the less desirable, but low cost, forms of waste
polyethylene and additional sources of waste wood fiber, which should greatly assist us in
regaining a competitive advantage and maintaining a low cost structure. The initial phase of the
Oklahoma project is currently estimated to cost $15 million and take one year to build.
As
worldwide demand increases for oil and petrochemicals, prices of those products continue to
rise. In conjunction with these price increases, prices for consistent, easier to recycle plastics
also increase. Thus, in response to continued price escalation of plastic raw materials, we
initiated a program focused on recovering and recycling polyethylene packaging films from a segment
of the United States waste stream. These films are recycled at a rate of less than 3%, according to
recent United States Environmental Protection Agency statistics. We believe these materials can be
obtained in large quantities for minimal handling and freight charges. Preliminary laboratory
analysis completed within the last year on samples of these materials shows the quality to be
acceptable for our blending technologies and systems. Thus, it is our intent to acquire up to 40%
of our plastic raw materials from these types of sources, and recycle 70% of our plastics
internally.
The
project involves retrofitting a large agriculture hog feedout and finishing facility and its
confinement buildings into a state of the art plastic recycling and washing facility. We
successfully completed a joint development project involving polyethylene film recovery with the
Dow Chemical Company earlier in our history. Based on that project, we intend to build a model,
state of the art plastic recycling and waste management facility at the Watts, Oklahoma location. Once
operational, we believe that further refinement of this technology could lead to additional revenue
opportunities beyond composite decking and building materials. With
petrochemical prices near all time highs, the future sales
opportunities for plastic resin recycled substitutes could be
substantial. We successfully completed a $13.5
million funding for this initial phase during the fourth quarter of 2007, and our goal is to have
the first phase operational by the fourth quarter of 2008.
Our
new Springdale South plant is now operating efficiently, and the installation of the next
three lines will be relatively fast, as most of the infrastructure is in place for four lines, and
we should be able to increase production capacity relatively quickly as demand picks up or new
markets are opened. However, financing will have to be obtained for any further expansion.
Raw Materials
Wood Fiber. The wood fiber we use is waste byproduct generated by hardwood furniture,
cabinet, and flooring manufacturers. Until recently, the cost of acquiring the waste wood has
primarily been the handling and transportation costs involved in getting the material to our
facilities. Costs vary with transportation costs in general, which are related to petroleum prices
and the supply and demand for over-the-road trucking services. Our cost of sourcing waste wood
fiber has increased over the last three years due to transportation costs, but remains a small
proportion of our total costs. The housing slowdown starting in mid-2006 reduced the demand for
hardwood building products and has caused some of our suppliers to temporarily close facilities,
which has forced us to pay higher costs to source wood elsewhere. In addition, we now increasingly
see competition for scrap wood fiber for use as a fuel to replace natural gas or oil burners for
both residential and industrial applications.
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One
of our waste wood fiber suppliers accounted for approximately 45% of
our wood fiber purchases by weight and another accounted for approximately 20%. Based on our discussions with other waste wood fiber suppliers, we believe that if the
arrangements with one or both of these suppliers were terminated we would be able to obtain
adequate supplies of waste wood fiber at an acceptable price from new suppliers. We are currently
evaluating the feasibility of establishing an in-house wood fiber reclamation and cleaning system
in northwest Arkansas or at our Watts, Oklahoma facility.
Cedar Fiber. We are currently sourcing heartwood cedar from ranches surrounding our Texas
facility in Junction, Texas. Earlier in our history our initial products utilized heartwood cedar
fiber sourced from cedar oil mills in the area. Several mills subsequently ceased operations and
supplies diminished. Additional equipment for wood processing has been installed in our Texas
facility in order to process logs, trees, and brush that is currently
being cleared from the ranches. This initiative is designed
to work with a Federal farm program designed to eradicate brush from ranch land and improve surface
water supplies. The initial plan is to process raw cedar and transfer it to Springdale, Arkansas
to reintroduce the natural cedar product line.
Recycled Plastics. We use the following classes of industrial and consumer waste
polyethylene:
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Low density polyethylene (LDPE) poly coatings or linings from recycled bleached
food-board, which are generated from the hydro-pulping process; |
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High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) mixed
plastic grocery bags from supermarket and store collection programs; |
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HDPE ground container material; |
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LLDPE stretch film from warehouses and packing waste; |
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Virgin HDPE and LDPE pellets; and |
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Mixed PE films from industrial and municipal sources. |
The largest
portion of the materials we use is contaminated with paper and other
non-plastic materials, which lessen its value to other plastic recyclers. Our proprietary
recycling process does not require the purity, extensive cleaning, additional washing, and melt
filtration required for conventional plastics manufacturing, and can be conducted faster and more
economically. By primarily sourcing these contaminated waste plastics prior to processing, we
produce a usable but lower cost feedstock for our composite extrusion lines. We also purchase
plastic raw materials from outside sources, including virgin resin producers. These materials are
more expensive and more sensitive to price swings related to the petrochemical industry. We also
are subject to various quality and consistency problems when dealing with third party scrap
suppliers, which increases our costs.
One
supplier accounted for about 48% of our 2007 polyethylene scrap purchases by weight. No
other of our more than 100 polyethylene suppliers accounted for more than 10% of our purchases by
weight.
Over the last several years, we believe three factors have caused an increase in the demand
for scrap polyethylene and, consequently, the cost to us of acquiring raw materials for our
manufacturing process.
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As global political and economic factors have caused an
increase in the price of petroleum, there was a
related rise in the price of virgin plastic, which is a petroleum and natural gas
derivative. This in turn increased the demand for scrap plastics since scrap can be
substituted for virgin plastics in many manufacturing applications. We thus began
competing with scrap plastic consumers that had not previously been in the market. |
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The relative decline in the value of the dollar versus major Asian currencies has
made it economical for Asian manufactures to source scrap plastic in the U.S. for use
in their countries. We have thus encountered significant competition for scrap
plastics from foreign consumers that had not previously been a factor in the market.
Demand for petrochemical products from China, India and other rapidly expanding
economies is expected to increase. |
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As annual sales of wood composite decking products have grown, we and other
composite decking manufacturers have become relatively large consumers of scrap
plastics, which has created increasing competition for raw materials and driven up
prices. |
On the other hand, we believe that the economics of recycling are now such that more private
and public entities will find it attractive to undertake removing plastic scrap from the waste
stream and make it available to consumers like us.
Supply Contracts. We purchase raw materials under both supply contracts and purchase orders.
In 2007, we purchased 45% of our polyethylene scrap and all of our waste wood via purchase orders.
Purchase order acquisitions are one-time transactions that involve no long-term obligation. We
also have both polyethylene and wood supply contracts, with terms that range from one to three
years, which obligate us to purchase materials. The prices under these contracts are renegotiated
semi-annually or annually. In the past three years, the amounts we have been obligated to purchase
under the supply contracts have been significantly less than the amounts of these materials we have
needed for production.
Competition for Raw Materials. As the wood/plastic composites industry grows, we sometimes
compete for raw materials with other plastic recyclers or plastic resin producers. We believe that
our ability to use highly contaminated polyethylene limits the number of competitors because most
recycling processes require cleaner waste plastic sources. Nonetheless, we expect to continue to
encounter new entrants into the plastics reclamation business. These new entrants may have greater
financial and other resources than we do, and may include domestic and foreign beverage bottlers,
manufacturers, distributors and retailers, forestry product producers, petrochemical and other
companies. We increased our capacity for processing waste plastic in
recent years, which reduced our
dependence on outside suppliers and reduces our overall costs but it is still not to our desired
levels. There is no assurance that we will be able to control the effect that increasing waste
plastic costs has on our profitability. (see Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis
Liquidity and Capital Resources.)
Patented and Proprietary Technology
Our composite manufacturing process and our development efforts in connection with waste
plastics reclamation technologies involve patents and many trade secrets that we consider to be
proprietary. We have also developed certain methods, processes, and equipment designs for which we
have sought additional patent protection. We have taken measures to safeguard our trade secrets
by, among other things, entering into confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, and restricting
access to our facilities. We also have installed advanced security systems, including limited
access and cameras, at all facilities including on-site security personnel. Should our trade
secrets be disclosed notwithstanding these efforts, our business and prospects could be materially
and adversely affected.
We have filed nineteen patent applications and have received issuance from the United States
Patent and Trademark Office for fourteen patents, five of which relate to our composite materials
manufacturing operations and product, and nine of which relate to waste plastics reclamation
technologies. The patents cover our composite product, extrusion process and apparatus, our
continuous down-stream cooling and forming conveyor system and our plastic reclamation process and
equipment. The cost of patent protection and, in particular, patent litigation is extremely high.
It can also strain resources and inhibit growth.
9
Industry Standards
Local building codes often require that building materials meet strength and safety standards
developed by the International Code Commission and that, in order to qualify, the materials be
evaluated by an independent testing organization. Our decking, handrails and stair applications
are covered in a National Evaluation Report (NER) under NER-596, which provides local building
inspectors and code officials with independent testing and installation information regarding our
products. We believe that the NER listing has helped to increase sales and market acceptance of
our decking products. We have renewed our building code listing
during the end of 2007 and are currently in the
process of upgrading and increasing the number of products covered for additional building code
approval in this expanded listing application.
Regulation
AERT is subject to federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Environmental
discharges and impacts from our manufacturing facilities, including air, solid waste, and
wastewater discharges, must meet the standards set by environmental regulatory authorities in
Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Compliance with environmental laws has not had a material effect on
our operating results or financial condition.
Our operations are also subject to workplace safety regulation by the U.S. Occupational Safety
and Health Administration and the states of Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. We provide safety
awareness and training programs for all associates who work in a manufacturing environment.
Competition
Competition for Sales. Our products compete with high-grade western pine, cedar and other
premium woods, aluminum, high-performance plastics, and an increasing number of composites and
other construction materials. We believe that our products have superior physical characteristics,
which make them a better value for the consumer; however, they are
more expensive initially than traditional wood products. Manufacturers of some competing products,
however, have long-established ties to the building and construction industry and have
well-accepted products. Many of our competitors are larger and have research and development
budgets, marketing staffs, and financial and other resources that surpass our resources.
Sales
of non-wood decking products to date represent a small portion of the decking market.
According to an independent research report from Principal Partners,
the wood-alternative market share was 19% in 2006. Pressure treated pine, cedar, redwood and other traditional woods constitute
the vast majority of annual decking sales. We thus view wood decking as our principal competitor.
The wood decking industry is highly segmented with many small to medium sized manufacturers. Wood
decking is principally a commodity that competes as the low-priced product, whereas the more
expensive non-wood products must compete on features and performance.
Among manufacturers of alternative decking materials, we view Trex Company, TimberTech Ltd.,
Tamko Building Products and Fiber Composites LLC as our primary
competitors. Louisiana Pacific exited the business and sold its Weather best
grand and one of its plants to Fiberon during 2007. Certainteed also
announced exiting the business in 2007.
The market for door products is highly segmented, with many competitors. We believe that our
MoistureShield industrial products have superior characteristics and are competitively priced. We
emphasize durability, which means that manufacturers and homebuilders using our products should see
reduced warranty callbacks and higher customer satisfaction. Our product competes on durability
and the ability of the customer to order a product that is custom manufactured to its
specifications.
Employees
On December 31, 2007, we employed 662 people on a full-time basis. We reduced associates at
the Texas facility to 17. The Arkansas facilities, including our corporate office and field sales
team, employed 645 full-time associates, of
10
which 4
were executives, 125 were sales or office personnel and 516 were full-time factory
personnel. From time-to-time, we hire part-time employees to supplement our workforce.
Available Information
We
make available free of charge on our website (www.aert.com) our periodic reports filed with
the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we
electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to the following:
Risks Related to Operating Our Business
The demand for our products is influenced by general economic conditions and may be adversely
affected by general economic downturns or declines in construction activity.
Our products are sold in the home improvement and new home construction markets. These
markets are subject to significant fluctuations in activity and periodic downturns caused by
general economic conditions, as has been the case since mid-2006,
which contributed substantially to the decline in our revenues from
$98 million in 2006 to $82 million in 2007 and to the resulting net
losses we experienced. Slowdowns in the economy or
construction activity may result in a reduction of the demand for our products and adversely affect
our profitability. A worsening of the current economic climate, including further deterioration of
the credit markets and/or consumer confidence, will negatively impact the Companys sales and
profitability.
The loss of one or more of our key customers could cause a substantial reduction in our revenues
and profits.
We could be materially adversely affected if we were to lose one or more of our large existing
customers. Our principal customer for our decking material is Weyerhaeuser, which accounted for
75% and 81% of our sales in 2007 and 2006, respectively. A few large door and window construction
companies have historically purchased substantially all of our industrial component products. A
loss of any one of our large customers would adversely affect our sales and profitability.
We may be unable to secure an adequate quantity of quality raw materials at economical prices.
Our products are constructed primarily from scrap wood fiber and scrap polyethylene. The
markets for such scrap materials are dynamic. The global demand for these materials has increased
significantly and we expect demand to continue to increase. The largest component of our raw
material costs is scrap polyethylene. The price that we must pay for these materials is related to
the market prices of natural gas and petroleum, which have been rising and volatile in recent
years. Our future profitability is contingent on us being able to manage raw material costs under
these circumstances.
Weather
Sales of decking and accessories are subject to weather and seasonality trends associated with
outdoor construction. Our current product mix is sold year round but experiences significant
higher retail sales during the second and third quarters which run from April through September.
Thus, adverse or bad weather during the first or fourth quarters could result in a negative impact
on sales.
High
fuel prices
Near record gasoline and diesel prices may reduce consumers disposable income unless driving
is curtailed, substitutions are made, or fuel prices retreat. This may substantially reduce funds
available for home improvement or remodeling.
11
We are highly leveraged and if we are unable to comply with certain debt covenants, our financial
position and operations could be adversely affected.
Our
$24.7 million outstanding bond agreements, including our 2003 bonds and our $13.5 million of new bond
indebtedness incurred in December 2007 for the development of a new facility in Oklahoma, contain
certain financial covenants. The 2003 bonds included the following covenants at December 31,
2007: (1) a current ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00, (2) that not more than 10% of accounts
payable be in excess of 75 days past the invoice date, (3) that not more than 20% of accounts
receivable be in excess of 90 days past the invoice or billing date (unless contested in good faith
or written off), (4) a requirement that we maintain a long-term debt service coverage ratio for the
preceding four quarters of at least 2.00 to 1.00 and (5) a debt-to-equity ratio of not more than 3.00
to 1.00 as of any year-end. Our 2007 bonds have substantially the
same covenants as our 2003 bonds,
except that the accounts payable percentage is 20% and the debt service coverage ratio requirement
is 1.5 to 1 through December 31, 2008, and moves to 2 to 1 beginning with the quarter ended March
31, 2009. We were not in compliance with the accounts payable and
debt service coverage ratio
covenants at December 31, 2007; however, the debt service
coverage covenant was waived by the bondholder as of
December 31, 2007 through, and including, March 31, 2008, and
the accounts payable covenant was waived by the bondholder as of
December 31, 2007 through, and including, December 31, 2008.
In September 2007, the Company renewed its $15.0 million bank line of credit through June
2008. The revolving credit facility includes covenants substantially similar to those under our
2003 bond agreements and customary restrictions on dividends and the incurrence of additional debt
or liens, among other matters. The bank has waived any past noncompliance with those covenants in
connection with the September 2007 renewal through June 2008.
There is no assurance that we will be able to comply with these debt covenants in the future,
or that the bondholder or bank lender will waive or modify the covenants in the future. If we are
unable to comply with any of the covenants or obtain a waiver or modification of the covenants in
the future, except the debt service coverage covenant, then the bond debt, in the amount of $24.7
million at December 31, 2007, or bank loan, in the amount of $12.3 million at December 31, 2007,
could immediately become due and payable, the bondholder or bank lender could foreclose on the
property used to secure the debt, which consists of substantially all
of our material operating assets, and the bondholder could claim our revenues pledged as part of
the bond agreement. If we are unable to comply with the debt service covenant, then we could be
required to retain a consultant to make recommendations to increase the debt service coverage ratio
to required levels, and to follow those recommendations.
If we do not effectively manage our growth, our business resources may become strained and our
results of operations may be adversely affected.
Though our sales decreased $15.6 million in 2007, we increased our sales by $10.5 million in
2006, $23.7 million in 2005 and $20.1 million in 2004. Our products have seen significant growth,
and our customers have significant established expansion plans. We expect significant future
growth. This growth may provide challenges to our organization and may strain our management and
operations. We expect to expand our manufacturing capabilities and to
automate while we continue to become more efficient with our
facilities. Our ability to effectively manage growth depends on our success in attracting and
retaining highly qualified personnel and our ability to finance and implement additional production
equipment and manufacturing facilities. We may be unable to accurately predict the amount of time
or resources that will be required to effectively manage any anticipated or unanticipated growth in
our business. We may not be able to attract, hire and retain sufficient personnel or acquire and
implement sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet our needs. If we cannot scale our business
appropriately, maintain control over expenses, or otherwise adapt to anticipated and unanticipated
growth, our business resources may become strained, we may not be able to deliver products in a
timely manner and our results of operations may be adversely affected.
Our growth is limited by the availability of human capital resources.
Future
profitable growth will require us to recruit and retain qualified
associates. We have recently hired a new President and named a new
V.P. of Operations, both of whom have significant prior industry
experience; however, we
compete with many larger companies in the labor market, many of whom offer more attractive
compensation packages than we are able to
12
economically provide. Though we have adopted equity compensation plans to aid in our efforts
to recruit and retain qualified associates, our compensation offerings may not be as attractive as
our competitors and the accounting treatment for such equity plans results in a reduction in our
earnings.
We have recently been sued by plaintiffs alleging defects in our decking products
We have recently been sued by two separate groups seeking class action status and alleging
defects in our decking products that make them susceptible to mold or mildew growth. Although the
Company denies the allegations and intends to vigorously defend itself, the costs of litigation is
always high and can strain the resources of and an unfavorable litigation outcome could have a
material adverse affect on the Company. See Item 103 Legal Proceedings.
Fire disruptions may adversely affect our ability to operate our business.
Our raw materials and manufacturing processes involve a greater than average risk of fire loss
or disruption. Through the Companys history, we have experienced several fires, some of which
severely disrupted our manufacturing operations. There was an accidental fire at our Junction,
Texas facility in March 2003, which caused substantial damage and temporarily shut down plant
operations. Although we have increased security and increased fire protection equipment at our
facilities, another major fire could occur and materially adversely affect our operations.
Our strategy of using recycled plastic and waste wood to create a competitive cost advantage
involves significant risks, the occurrence of which may materially adversely affect our
profitability.
Our business strategy is to provide an environmentally friendly product at a competitive
price. To achieve our business objectives we must recycle plastic and process waste wood on a
cost-effective basis and efficiently convert these materials into high-quality finished goods. This
strategy involves significant risks, including the risks that:
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Our profitability may be materially diminished. The intrinsic variability of our raw
material sources can result in considerable reduction in our operating rates and yields,
which may more than offset any savings we realize from the purchase price of the materials. |
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We may not produce a sustainable return on investment. Because our production model
requires backward integration in plastic recycling operations, as well as customized
solutions for material preparation, compounding and extrusion, our model is significantly
more capital intensive on a per-unit-basis than the models of our typical competitors. Our
plants must convert our raw materials at high rates and net yields to generate the profit
margins and cash flows necessary to sustain our business. |
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We may be limited in the markets in which we can effectively compete. Successfully
expanding our business beyond decking would require applying our formulation and process
technology to increasingly more challenging applications, such as high-end railing systems
and fencing. The greater complexity and tighter design tolerances of such profiles require
a level of process control that is more stringent than the level involved in deck board
production. Our raw materials and process technology may not permit us to develop new
applications on a cost-effective basis. |
Environmental regulation exposes us to potential liability for response costs and damages to
natural resources.
We are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. The
environmental laws and regulations applicable to our operations establish air quality standards for
emissions from our manufacturing operations, govern the disposal of solid waste, and regulate
wastewater and storm water discharge. As is the case with manufacturers in general, we may be held
liable for response costs and damages to natural resources if a release or threat of release of
hazardous materials occurs on or from our properties or any associated offsite disposal location,
or if contamination from prior activities is discovered at any properties we own or operate.
Identification of certain weaknesses in our internal controls.
Our management identified three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2007, two of which were also cited
weaknesses in our internal controls as of December 31, 2006. Management concluded that the Company did not have an adequate
process in place to assess potential impairment of fixed assets, that the Companys inventory
costing system was not adequately documented nor were there adequate procedures for an independent
review of the costing analysis to ensure completeness and accuracy of
13
the
calculated costs, all of which were rated as weaknesses last year and
which we have been in the process of remediating. Additionally, at
the entity level, the Company has not properly allocated resources to
ensure that necessary internal controls are implemented and followed
throughout the Company. We are in the process of remediating the weaknesses
in our internal controls; however, there can be no assurance at this time that our remediation
plans and the actions we take will effectively remediate the material weaknesses.
Maintaining product innovation at competitive costs
With
ever increasing competition and with an increasing number of new products entering the
marketplace, we must maintain the quality and performance of our products while constantly
addressing the needs of our customers in the marketplace. This involves offering a broader
selection of high quality products on a routine basis, while being able to maintain acceptable
manufacturing rates and yields at competitive costs. If we can not maintain acceptable
manufacturing costs in producing new products in a timely manner, our costs may be higher. This
could impede our introduction of new products and negatively affect our profitability.
Maintaining product quality and performance at acceptable costs
Our
ability to grow and continue to gain market share is dependent on our ability to maintain
the quality and performance of our products at reasonable costs. We have invested heavily in
technology and infrastructure since inception to process and reformulate recycled materials in to
high quality building products. However, if we should experience any negative problems or
perceptions with product quality, it could have a negative impact on net sales. We were recently
sued in federal district court in Washington in regard to an alleged
surface cleaning defect with
one of our product lines. See Item 103 Legal Proceedings.
Lack of Product Diversification
Our current product lines are based exclusively on our wood/plastic composite formulas and
manufacturing process for AERT composite products. With an increasing number of PVC and other non
wood alternatives entering the marketplace, any market shift away from wood/plastic composites in
general could have a reduced or negative impact on our sales growth.
Risks Related to Financing Our Business
Our
indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to compete and
produce net income
As
of December 31, 2007 we had
$49 million of total indebtedness. This
will require a substantial portion of our cash flow to be used for
interest and debt repayment. If we cannot attain substantial
improvements in operating efficiencies and cost reductions, our
ability to generate net income will be greatly impaired.
We may have insufficient working capital to achieve our growth objectives.
At
December 31, 2007, we had a working capital surplus of $2,226,615 and at December 31, 2006,
we had a working capital deficit of $3,466,130. The prior years
working capital deficit was the result of
losses from operations, our decision to finance capital projects with cash generated from
operations, and our need to fund rapid growth in sales. Our current
positive working capital is attributable to new preferred equity and
bond financings we completed in the fourth quarter of 2007,
aggregating $23.5 million. There is no assurance that we will be able
to maintain a working capital surplus.
We will likely need to raise additional capital in the future. If we need additional funding, but
fail to obtain it, we may not be able to adequately develop and commercialize our products or
improve or expand our operations.
We may need to raise additional outside financial resources in the future to effectively
compete in the composite building materials marketplace, finance
increased inventories, execute our current and future business
plans and/or further develop and commercialize our current and future product offerings. Inability
to raise sufficient outside capital would likely materially adversely impact our business,
operations and profitability.
Our failure to maintain Nasdaq listing requirements could cause our common stock to be delisted.
On December 21, 2007, our Class A common stock closed at $0.78 and at that date had closed
below $1.00 per share for thirty consecutive trading days resulting in a notice to us on that day
that we had failed to satisfy the Nasdaq minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share and could be
subject to Nasdaq delisting procedures if such noncompliance
14
is not
rectified on or before June 18, 2008. If the stock price does
not increase to $1.00 or
more for at least 10 consecutive trading days to re-establish compliance with Nasdaqs listing
requirement, the Company intends to present a plan to NASDAQ for additional time to
regain compliance and/or seek stockholder approval for a reverse stock split to
re-establish compliance.
The
loss of our Nasdaq listing would likely reduce trading activity in our common stock and
make it more difficult for stockholders to sell their shares, and the threat of such a result could
have a negative or dampening effect on our trading activity until such matter is resolved. Any
decreased trading activity and added difficulty in trading our stock could have a negative impact
on our stock price. In addition, failure to maintain our Nasdaq
listing, or to then be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board, would also result in the Series D preferred stockholders having an option to require
us to redeem all of the outstanding Series D preferred stock at
a price equal to 120% of its
stated value plus accrued dividends. The redemption amount is payable
at our option in either Class A common stock (valued at the
lower of the then applicable conversion price or an average price
based upon the 30 trading days preceding the redemption) or cash.
We currently have a significant number of derivative
equity securities outstanding, the conversion
of which could adversely impact the market price of our Class A common stock and our ability to
obtain additional needed outside capital.
The
conversion of a significant number of our outstanding derivative securities into Class A
common stock could adversely affect the market price of the stock. At December 31, 2007, there
were warrants outstanding for 3,787,880 shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of
$1.38, shares of Series D convertible preferred stock
convertible into 7,575,760 shares of Class A common stock
(disregarding contractual restrictions that prevent any one of the
holders of such warrants and convertible preferred stock from
acquiring more than 4.99% of the outstanding equity except upon at
least 61 days prior notice, and disregarding additional shares
of common stock that may be issued as paid-in-kind dividends on the
Series D preferred stock), options outstanding for 1,521,500 shares of Class A common stock at an average exercise
price of $1.59, and 502,633 restricted stock awards subject to issuance without additional
consideration upon satisfaction of vesting conditions. The issuance, exercise or conversion of a
material amount of such securities will result in a dilution in interest for our other security
holders. The convertible securities, whether converted into stock or not, could impair our ability
to obtain additional capital because of the potential for dilution. Also, the holders of such
securities may be expected to exercise their rights at a time when we would in all likelihood be
able to obtain needed capital through a new offering of our securities on terms more favorable than
those provided by the outstanding securities.
If we raise additional funding, the terms
of such transactions may cause dilution to existing
shareholders or contain terms that are not favorable to us.
We
may seek to raise additional funding through private placements or public offerings of our
equity or debt securities. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on
acceptable terms, or at all. To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity
securities, our shareholders may experience significant dilution. Any debt financing, if available,
may involve restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional
indebtedness and operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our
business. Furthermore, any new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and
privileges senior to those of our existing equity holders.
Covenants in our bond agreements could
restrict our ability to borrow, which could impair our
ability to execute our business plan.
Certain
covenants in our bond agreements restrict the types and amounts of additional
indebtedness that we may incur, including a requirement that, with certain exceptions, we may only
incur additional indebtedness to the extent it would satisfy a debt incurrence coverage ratio of
250% of income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to debt service. Those
restrictions could inhibit our ability to execute our business plan, including the improvement and
expansion of our operations and facilities. Additionally, our ability to secure adequate working
capital to support our day-to-day operations as we grow could be limited by the covenants in our
bond agreements.
Management may be in a position to control the Company.
Directors
and officers of the Company currently own approximately 36% of the outstanding Class
A common stock and stock representing approximately 43% of the combined voting power of the Class A
and Class B common
15
stock, including approximately 32%
of the Class A common stock and 40% of the combined voting
power which are owned by members of the Brooks family.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
Our proprietary rights may not adequately protect our technologies or products.
Our
commercial success will depend, in part, on our ability to obtain patents and maintain
adequate protection for our technologies and products. We will be able to protect our proprietary
rights from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that our proprietary technologies
and products are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as
unpatented proprietary technology. If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property,
competitors may be able to use our technologies and erode or negate any competitive advantage we
may have, which could harm our business and ability to achieve profitability. Our ability to
maintain and solidify our proprietary position for our products will depend on our success in
obtaining effective claims and enforcing those claims once granted.
We
also rely on trade secrets to protect some of our technology, especially where we do not
believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to
maintain. While we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our employees, consultants,
contractors or other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our proprietary information
to competitors. Enforcement of claims that a third party has illegally obtained and is using trade
secrets is expensive, time consuming and uncertain. In addition, non-U.S. courts are sometimes less
willing than U.S. courts to protect trade secrets. If our competitors independently develop
equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how, we would not be able to assert our trade secrets
against them and our business could be harmed.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
We
received a comment letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission dated December 21,
2007 as a result of our filing an S-3 registration statement, certain
of which comments were addressed to our most recent 10K and 10Q
filings. We responded to those comments on
February 6, 2008, indicating to the Commission staff how we
propose to respond to each such comment, and received additional comments from the SEC
on February 21, 2008 including with respect to the appropriate
accounting treatment of the Series D preferred stock and
warrants issued in an October 2007 private placement transaction. Though we
have not yet responded to the most recent comment letter, because
with the passage of time it had become necessary to complete our 2007
audit before continuing with the registration statement, we believe
that we have in this 10-K responded to the staffs prior
comments in a manner consistent with our prior discussions with the
staff as to such matters other than their comments as to (i) whether
the existence of financial covenants defaults required a
classification of our bond debt to short-term, and (ii) the
appropriate accounting treatment for the preferred stock and warrants
and, as to the latter two items, we believe the existence of waivers
that we have obtained from such bondholder as well as its concurrent
actions during the fourth quarter 2007 in extending substantial
additional bond financing to us resulted in the continuing long term
classification of such debt being appropriate, and we have in this
10-K responded to and accounted for such preferred stock and warrants
in a manner that we believe to be consistent with the guidance and
accounting principles to which the Commission staff was directing us,
subject to our further discussion with the Commission staff.
Item 2. Properties.
We operate the following manufacturing and recycling facilities:
We
manufacture our MoistureShield and Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek brand lines of decking products
at our two Springdale, Arkansas extrusion plants, Springdale North and Springdale South. The
Springdale North facility also produces door and housing trim components. Springdale North had
four extrusion lines and a plastic recycling facility throughout
2007. The Springdale North plant consists of a 103,000
square feet facility located on ten-acres with a rail siding in the Springdale industrial district.
We lease an office, storage building, and parking lot adjacent to the Springdale facility.
The lease is renewable yearly. The office and storage facility is comprised of 10,000 square feet
on 2.36 acres and houses our corporate offices.
Until
the fourth quarter of 2007, our Junction, Texas facility manufactured primarily
Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek and Basics decking products; however, we suspended extrusion operations at
the facility in October 2007. The raw materials department at
the facility is being prepared for a new
product concept for 2008. The Junction plant consists of a 49,000 square foot manufacturing and
storage facility on a seven-acre site.
We
operate a 45,000 square foot facility at Lowell, Arkansas, which is used for plastic
recycling, blending, and
16
storage, and includes a railroad loading/unloading spur, truck scale, receiving station, and
finished goods storage.
We operate two 100,000 square foot warehouses in Lowell, Arkansas that are connected by rail
spurs and are used for raw materials storage. We also operate a 125,000 square foot warehouse in
the same complex, which is used for finished goods processing and distribution. We have signed a
lease for a 150,000 square foot warehouse, also in the Lowell complex, which will be used for both
raw material and finished goods handling. We also lease ten acres of land adjacent to our Lowell
plastic plant for storage and load-out of finished goods; this operation is designed to load up to
five railcars and ten trucks at a time.
In December 2007, the Company entered into a related party lease for the use of
60 acres in Watts, Oklahoma where we plan to build an additional
plastic recycling facility.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
Class Action Lawsuits
On February 26, 2008, plaintiffs filed a purported class action lawsuit seeking to recover on
behalf of the purchasers of ChoiceDek composite decking for damages allegedly caused by mold and
mildew. (Pelletz v. Weyerhaeuser Company, Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. and Lowes Companies, Inc. pending
in US District Court, Western District of Washington at Seattle.) The plaintiffs filing suit on behalf of the purported class, have sued AERT, Weyerhaeuser
Company, and Lowes Companies, Inc., asserting causes of action for violation of the Washington
Consumer Protection Act, unfair competition or unfair and deceptive trade practices in various
states, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of express warranty, and violation of
the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. By agreement, the deadline for AERT to answer or otherwise respond
to plaintiffs complaint is April 18, 2008. Weyerhaeuser has requested a defense and
indemnification from AERT. AERT denies the allegations in this lawsuit and intends to
vigorously defend itself.
On March 10, 2008, additional plaintiffs filed a purported class action lawsuit seeking to
recover on behalf of the purchasers of ChoiceDek composite decking for damages allegedly caused by
mold and mildew. (Joseph Jamruk et al vs. Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Company in U.S.
District Court, Western District of Washington.) Plaintiffs filing suit on behalf of the purported class have sued AERT and
Weyerhaeuser Company, asserting causes of action for misrepresentation, violation of the Washington
Consumer Protection Act, unjust enrichment, and breach of express warranty. By agreement, the
deadline for AERT to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiffs complaint is April 18, 2008.
Weyerhaeuser has requested a defense and indemnification from AERT. AERT denies the allegations in
this lawsuit and intends to vigorously defend itself.
17
Energy
Unlimited, Inc. vs. AERT, Inc.
This
case originally started as a suit on account by Energy Unlimited Inc
against AERT to collect the balance it asserts to be owed on work
performed on the Springdale South facility material handling and
drying systems. The claim was in the original amount of $196,868.60.
AERT contends that the design and installation by Energy Unlimited
Inc. was faulty resulting in a series of explosions and the
subsequent need to undertake refabrication of the material handling
and drying system. AERT has filed a counter claim for its out of
pocket loss relating to an explosion occurring on April 2, 2007 and for the cost to fix and complete the
material handling and drying systems properly in the amount of $1.2
million. This matter is in the early phase of discovery. AERT intends
to vigorously defend the initial claim and pursue its counter claim
based on the faulty design, improper installation, and serious safety
defects of the material handling and drying systems by Energy
Unlimited, Inc.
Other Matters
AERT
may be involved from time to time in other litigation arising from the normal course of business. In
managements opinion, this litigation is not expected to materially impact the Companys results of
operations or financial condition.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our Class A common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market System under the symbol AERT.
As of March 31, 2008, there were approximately 1,500 holders of record of Class A common stock and
11 holders of record of Class B common stock. The price of our common stock was $0.73 on December
31, 2007. We have not previously paid cash dividends on the common stock and there are currently
restrictions under various debt obligations and our Series D
preferred stock designation that would prevent the payment of such dividends for
the foreseeable future. The following table sets forth the range of high and low quarterly sales
prices (as reported by NASDAQ) of our Class A common stock for the years ended December 31, 2007
and 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales price range of Class A common stock |
|
High |
|
Low |
Fiscal 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
2.56 |
|
|
$ |
1.58 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
|
3.71 |
|
|
|
1.95 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
|
3.32 |
|
|
|
2.10 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
2.37 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
|
2.07 |
|
|
|
1.38 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
|
1.82 |
|
|
|
1.31 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
|
1.72 |
|
|
|
1.27 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
1.34 |
|
|
|
.70 |
|
No repurchases of common stock took place during 2007.
18
|
|
|
Item 6. |
|
Selected Financial Data. |
The following tables set forth selected historical data for the years ended December 31, 2003
through 2007, derived from our audited financial statements for each such year and should be read
in conjunction with such financial statements and the footnotes attached thereto as well as the
discussion contained herein in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the
current period presentation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2003 |
|
Statements of Operations Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
82,209,963 |
|
|
$ |
97,840,126 |
|
|
$ |
87,312,560 |
|
|
$ |
63,637,285 |
|
|
$ |
43,520,563 |
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary gain, accrued
dividends on preferred stock and income taxes |
|
|
(12,530,850 |
) |
|
|
968,585 |
|
|
|
3,583,370 |
|
|
|
1,369,983 |
|
|
|
(665,921 |
) |
Preferred
stock dividends from beneficial conversion feature |
|
|
(943,838 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued
dividends on preferred stock |
|
|
(136,957 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(235,367 |
) |
|
|
(276,000 |
) |
|
|
(276,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary gain and income
taxes |
|
|
(13,611,645 |
) |
|
|
968,585 |
|
|
|
3,348,003 |
|
|
|
1,093,983 |
|
|
|
(941,921 |
) |
Net income tax benefit |
|
|
3,662,082 |
|
|
|
835,937 |
|
|
|
4,449,682 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary gain |
|
|
(9,949,563 |
) |
|
|
1,804,522 |
|
|
|
7,797,685 |
|
|
|
1,093,983 |
|
|
|
(941,921 |
) |
Extraordinary gain, net of income tax |
|
|
432,403 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
173,536 |
|
|
|
2,962,041 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock |
|
$ |
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
$ |
1,804,522 |
|
|
$ |
7,797,685 |
|
|
$ |
1,267,519 |
|
|
$ |
2,020,120 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per common share
before extraordinary gain (1) (Basic) |
|
$ |
(0.21 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per common share
before extraordinary gain (1) (Diluted) |
|
$ |
(0.21 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extraordinary gain per common share
(Basic) |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extraordinary gain per common share (Diluted) |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.00 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per common share
after extraordinary gain (Basic) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per common share
after extraordinary gain (Diluted) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding (Basic) |
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
41,990,150 |
|
|
|
35,861,060 |
|
|
|
31,815,067 |
|
|
|
30,017,661 |
|
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding (Diluted) |
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
45,881,498 |
|
|
|
40,475,244 |
|
|
|
41,070,289 |
|
|
|
30,017,661 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working
capital surplus (deficit) |
|
$ |
2,226,615 |
|
|
$ |
(3,466,130 |
) |
|
$ |
(687,039 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,470,971 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,915,695 |
) |
Total assets |
|
|
93,758,803 |
|
|
|
72,049,966 |
|
|
|
56,952,673 |
|
|
|
43,340,793 |
|
|
|
36,406,601 |
|
Long-term debt less current maturities. |
|
|
26,504,264 |
|
|
|
16,827,717 |
|
|
|
17,010,889 |
|
|
|
15,571,068 |
|
|
|
16,659,241 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
63,683,674 |
|
|
|
44,493,361 |
|
|
|
35,835,369 |
|
|
|
31,610,279 |
|
|
|
27,458,156 |
|
Stockholders equity |
|
|
30,075,129 |
|
|
|
27,556,605 |
|
|
|
21,117,304 |
|
|
|
11,730,514 |
|
|
|
8,948,445 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The net income (loss) per share of common stock is based on the combined weighted average
number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding during the period. See Note
2 to the financial statements for a reconciliation of the basic and diluted weighted average
number of shares outstanding. |
19
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
2007 Summary
2007
was a very challenging year for the building materials industry and for AERT, marked by lower
sales in our overall decking segment as customer inventories were reduced toward year end 2007. The
inventory reduction was mandated despite year over year growth in
sales of AERT products in the HIW segment via the end customer, Lowes. The combination of lower sales and higher cost of
materials decreased factory utilization, increased over costs, and led
to a significant loss for the year.
Current Business Environment
With the current economic uncertainties and the negatives surrounding homebuilding, following
are the factors we believe will drive AERTs business in 2008.
Sales
The
slowdown in the residential real estate industry has negatively impacted, and will
continue to negatively impact, sales of building materials in the U.S. There is some evidence that
in weak home sales markets, homeowners will spend on remodeling instead of moving up to a larger
home. Outdoor decks have historically been one of the most popular home remodeling projects. We
expect this trend to continue as contemporary deck designs are making outdoor decks an extension of
the home, with many projects involving multiple levels, outdoor kitchens, spas, flower boxes, and
so forth.
Sales
of ChoiceDek decking and railing to Weyerhaeuser were
$58.9 million in 2007 down from $78.1 million in 2006. As a
percentage of overall sales product mix, $58.9 million 2007 sales
were 71%
compared to $78.1 million 2006 sales, or 80%. Although retail sales of
ChoiceDek increased in 2007 compared to 2006, it was at a reduced
rate compared to
prior years and general economic conditions required Weyerhaeuser,
our customer, to reduce inventories at year end. Sales of
MoistureShield decking in 2007 were $16 million, up from
$9.1 million in 2006, a 76% increase. MoistureShield decking
sales were 20% of total sales in 2007 compared to 9% in 2006. Sales of MoistureShield
decking increased in 2007 as the company continued to increase
distribution and add lumber dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Sales
of OEM or industrial components were $7.3 million in 2007
compared to
$10.6 million in 2006, a 31% decrease. Sales to Therma Tru Doors were
$4.2 million in 2007, or 58% of total sales for that niche.
As manufacturing technology and aesthetics of composite decking improve, market trends
continue to shift. Consumers are demanding more variety and selection as construction of
multi-color decks appears to be increasing. Also, the evolution toward a more natural wood look is
increasing on the higher end of the market, while decreasing wood prices have widened the price
differential on the lower end. Thus, a smaller profile deck board, under the brand
BasicsTM, was introduced in 2007 in limited colors, and targeted to a wood upgrade
segment for light residential construction. We believe this will allow us to broaden our customer
base and appeal to a wider market segment than in prior periods.
The MoistureShield decking introduction was targeted toward the commercial contractor
lumberyard, which provides service to large repeat customers. Most of these large customers are
regularly purchasing, or have been exposed to, competing brands of composite decking. On this
higher end segment, we believe success will continue to require converting customers away from
competing products to our brands such as MoistureShield or ChoiceDek. Thus, a significant
marketing effort, through a national advertising agency, was initiated during the fourth quarter of
2007, and will continue throughout 2008. The marketing program is aimed at converting high end
customers to our products.
With difficult conditions facing the decking market, AERT is differentiating its products
through a combination of low price point, quality, and outstanding customer service. We believe we
are in a favorable position to increase market share, but maintaining our low cost model could
restrict our ability to grow profit margins over the next year.
The composite decking business is continuously evolving. The technology used to manufacture
wood/plastic boards has advanced significantly over the last four years and many contemporary
products have much improved aesthetics. Going forward, it will be important for AERT to continue
to innovate and keep in close touch with consumer trends.
Four new regional building products distributors began carrying MoistureShield decking in 2007
and as of December 31, 2007 we had 14 regional distributors with twenty-five locations carrying our
products. We anticipate additional new distributors
20
coming on
board in 2008, and we expect to see continued growth in that brand. In
late 2007, we brought
on a new customer that will be the exclusive distributor of
MoistureShield in China. We are preparing to ship our second order of
containers, and we are working to establish distribution throughout
China. The Chinese
economy is strong, with a growing middle class that aspires to Western-style homes and amenities
such as composite decks. We expect that these factors will continue to drive AERT sales despite a
continued weak outlook for the U.S. homebuilding industry.
Costs
Our
materials costs are higher compared to prior years, 37.0% as a
percentage of sales in 2007 compared to 35.6% in 2006 and 32.2% in
2005, as we have begun using expensive
additives and additional equipment designed to increase color and improve aesthetics on decking
boards, both of which are increasingly demanded by customers. As our volume grows, we believe we
will be able to purchase and use these additives on more favorable terms, or possibly produce some
of them in-house. We intend to improve yield and throughputs over time. We also intend to continue
to utilize technology to source and reclaim increased volumes of lower cost plastic materials
in-house.
We have invested significantly in plastic recycling infrastructure over the last several
years. As technology has improved so have the aesthetics of our products, which are overwhelmingly
comprised of recycled materials. Green building is an ever increasing trend and we intend to
capitalize on that trend with a new slogan: AERT We Make Green Look Good.
The slowdown in the building products industry has dealt a harsh blow to cabinet and hardwood
flooring manufacturers, from whom we acquire scrap wood fiber. The use of wood pellets as an
alternative fuel source has also grown in the last few years. These two forces are acting to raise
the cost of our wood raw materials, and we are looking at alternative sources of wood fiber.
Longer Term Factors Driving Our Business
AERTs core competency is extracting value from Americas waste stream. As the market matures
for our current slate of products made from recycled plastics, AERT will pursue new products and
new markets. Given the many commercial uses of polyethylene, we believe that AERT has abundant
growth opportunities. We have recently filed a new patent application relating to our
advanced plastic recycling technologies, which we expect to result in the issuance of several
patents. Additionally, we expect to file more applications over the next year. However, there is no
assurance that patents will ultimately be issued, or if issued, that our claims will be granted as
submitted.
In
late 2007, we completed the financing required to build a new plastic recycling facility in
Oklahoma. We are preparing to start construction
in the second quarter 2008. The new facility is designed to allow us to use the less desirable,
but also less costly, forms of waste polyethylene as well as additional sources of waste wood fiber, which will
ensure our ability to maintain a low cost structure and possibly address additional sales and revenue opportunities.
We
started the first line at the Springdale South plant during 2007, and it is now our best
performing facility. We also upgraded our existing Springdale North plant during the fourth
quarter of 2007, and expect to see further efficiencies there in 2008 versus prior periods. The
installation of the next three lines at South will be relatively fast and we should be able to
increase production capacity relatively quickly as demand picks up or new markets are opened.
As the decking market matures, some of our competitors with high cost processes are falling by
the wayside; however, several new vinyl based products are entering the market. We are monitoring
the activities of our competitors and moving into markets where our competitors are failing.
Managements Focus for 2008
|
|
|
Complete the expansion of the distribution network for our MoistureShield decking
product line to nationwide distribution by the summer of 2008 |
21
|
|
|
Expand our business in China and explore opportunities in other growing international
markets |
|
|
|
|
Continue to expand sales in the HIW segment through Lowes |
|
|
|
|
Decrease operating costs relative to sales revenue: |
|
|
|
Complete modifications to our plastic blending processes to increase throughput
and increase yield at extrusion factories |
|
|
|
|
Increase our ability to use more low cost raw materials |
|
|
|
|
More aggressive raw materials purchasing strategies |
|
|
|
|
Improve training and associate development |
|
|
|
|
Increase automation to improve yield and lower labor costs |
|
|
|
|
Streamline logistics and manufacturing operations |
|
|
|
|
Complete installation of the new enterprise resource planning system to improve
management information |
|
|
|
|
Balance sales, general and administrative overhead expenses to match growth rate |
|
|
|
Reduce leverage and strengthen the balance sheet |
Growth Objectives
Our long term goal is to become the premier manufacturer and producer of exterior green
building products. To accomplish this we are focused on the following:
|
1. |
|
Technological Innovation |
|
|
|
|
Investments in leading edge recycling technologies have now entered the commercial phase with
recent additions at our Lowell, Arkansas and Springdale, Arkansas manufacturing facilities.
Additional technology is also underway with the Companys Watts, Oklahoma facility which is
designed to recover, utilize, and convert lower grades of waste plastics into usable
feedstocks. By utilizing technology, we are upgrading the quality and aesthetics of our
products to levels equal to or better than virgin resin based materials from primarily a
low end stream base of raw materials. |
|
|
2. |
|
Green Marketing and Branding Focus |
|
|
|
|
We have been recycling plastic and building green building products since our inception in
1988. We have recently retained the services of a national advertising and marketing firm,
Nicholson-Kovac of Kansas City, Missouri to help build brand awareness for our MoistureShield
product line. This involves expanded internet marketing, trade publications, and consumer
and media marketing. We intend to continue building our brands and differentiating AERT as a
green building products company. |
|
|
3. |
|
Quality and Continuous Improvement |
|
|
|
|
Our products are built for hostile, external environmental conditions. Our recycling
processes focus on intensive cleaning and reformulating of our raw materials prior to
extrusion. Our extrusion process is unique and focuses on total encapsulation of the wood
fibers. Our products are covered under U.S. Patent #5759680. |
|
|
|
|
Since inception, we have focused on continuous improvement in our processes, products, and
customer service. |
22
|
|
|
With our latest technological advances in plastic recycling, we are taking recycled plastics
up to performance levels of new plastics, while also continuing to improve the surface
aesthetics and other properties of our finished products. In the
future, commercial implementation of our latest plastic recycling
technologies may provide additional revenue opportunities beyond
composites. |
|
|
4. |
|
Distribution, Sales, and New Products |
|
|
|
|
We are broadening our distribution and sales beyond the HIW market in 2008 and further
expanding into the commercial contractor and international markets. In addition to
increased MoistureShield distribution, we have added several new tropical hardwood colors and
are prepared to introduce a new line of matching embossed handrail kits. We are also
finalizing field testing of a new line of exterior fencing which we intend to launch in the
second half of 2008. |
|
|
|
|
We have recently begun exporting decking products beyond North America with shipments to
China and the Middle East. Exportation of our green building product is a major focus for
our future. |
|
|
5. |
|
Cost Improvements |
|
|
|
|
We have invested substantially over the last several years in facilities and equipment in
order to attain increased sales capabilities. In addition, we have implemented several cost
reduction programs involving process and automation improvements and the consolidation or
closing of less efficient facilities. We have recently hired a new
President and named a V.P. of
Operations, both of whom are focused on the implementation of lean manufacturing and other efficiency
processes while attaining improved cost efficiencies. Our focus is to utilize technology and
infrastructure to convert low cost waste materials in to high
quality, outdoor green building
products with a significant cost advantage. |
23
We believe the selected sales data, the percentage relationship between net sales and major
categories in the Statements of Operations and the percentage change in the dollar amounts of each
of the items presented below is important in evaluating the performance of our business operations.
We operate in one business segment and believe the information presented in our Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition provides an understanding
of our business segment, our operations and our financial condition.
Results of Operations
Three Year Comparison
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
82,209,963 |
|
|
|
-16.0 |
% |
|
$ |
97,840,126 |
|
|
|
12.1 |
% |
|
$ |
87,312,560 |
|
Cost of goods sold |
|
|
74,340,601 |
|
|
|
-4.2 |
% |
|
|
77,594,965 |
|
|
|
16.9 |
% |
|
|
66,389,964 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
90.4 |
% |
|
|
11.1 |
% |
|
|
79.3 |
% |
|
|
3.3 |
% |
|
|
76.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
7,869,362 |
|
|
|
-61.1 |
% |
|
|
20,245,161 |
|
|
|
-3.2 |
% |
|
|
20,922,596 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
9.6 |
% |
|
|
-11.1 |
% |
|
|
20.7 |
% |
|
|
-3.3 |
% |
|
|
24.0 |
% |
Selling and administrative costs |
|
|
16,368,725 |
|
|
|
-0.2 |
% |
|
|
16,407,400 |
|
|
|
12.4 |
% |
|
|
14,595,854 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
19.9 |
% |
|
|
3.1 |
% |
|
|
16.8 |
% |
|
|
0.1 |
% |
|
|
16.7 |
% |
Research and development |
|
|
265,881 |
|
|
|
-7.0 |
% |
|
|
285,858 |
|
|
|
159.6 |
% |
|
|
110,134 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal |
|
|
16,634,606 |
|
|
|
-0.4 |
% |
|
|
16,693,258 |
|
|
|
13.5 |
% |
|
|
14,705,988 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
20.2 |
% |
|
|
3.2 |
% |
|
|
17.1 |
% |
|
|
0.3 |
% |
|
|
16.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
(8,765,244 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
3,551,903 |
|
|
|
-42.9 |
% |
|
|
6,216,608 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
-10.7 |
% |
|
|
-14.3 |
% |
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
-3.5 |
% |
|
|
7.1 |
% |
Other income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net litigation contingency |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-100.0 |
% |
|
|
(610,206 |
) |
Gain (loss) on disposition of equipment |
|
|
7,920 |
|
|
|
-86.4 |
% |
|
|
58,285 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
(26,122 |
) |
Net interest expense |
|
|
(3,773,526 |
) |
|
|
42.8 |
% |
|
|
(2,641,603 |
) |
|
|
32.3 |
% |
|
|
(1,996,910 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary item,
accured premium on preferred stock
and taxes |
|
|
(12,530,850 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
968,585 |
|
|
|
-73.0 |
% |
|
|
3,583,370 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
-15.2 |
% |
|
|
-16.2 |
% |
|
|
1.0 |
% |
|
|
-3.1 |
% |
|
|
4.1 |
% |
Preferred stock dividends from beneficial conversion feature |
|
|
(943,838 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Accrued premium on preferred stock |
|
|
(136,957 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-100.0 |
% |
|
|
(235,367 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary item
and taxes |
|
|
(13,611,645 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
968,585 |
|
|
|
-71.1 |
% |
|
|
3,348,003 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
-16.6 |
% |
|
|
-17.6 |
% |
|
|
1.0 |
% |
|
|
-2.8 |
% |
|
|
3.8 |
% |
Net income tax benefit |
|
|
3,662,082 |
|
|
|
338.1 |
|
|
|
835,937 |
|
|
|
-81.2 |
% |
|
|
4,449,682 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
4.5 |
% |
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
0.9 |
% |
|
|
-4.2 |
% |
|
|
5.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary item |
|
|
(9,949,563 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
1,804,522 |
|
|
|
-76.9 |
% |
|
|
7,797,685 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
-12.1 |
% |
|
|
-13.9 |
% |
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
-7.1 |
% |
|
|
8.9 |
% |
Extraordinary gain on involuntary conversion
of non-monetary assets due to fire |
|
|
432,403 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) applicable to common
stock |
|
$ |
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
|
* |
|
|
$ |
1,804,522 |
|
|
|
-76.9 |
% |
|
$ |
7,797,685 |
|
% of net sales |
|
|
-11.6 |
% |
|
|
-13.4 |
% |
|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
-7.1 |
% |
|
|
8.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Not meaningful as a percentage change |
24
Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006
Net Sales
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 dropped 16% compared to 2006. Our
MoistureShield decking sales were up 76% in 2007 compared to 2006 as a result of our aggressive
plans to diversify our customer base. However, our ChoiceDek sales, which comprise the largest
portion of our sales, were down 24%, resulting in an overall decline in our sales. Sales of
ChoiceDek were lower in 2007 than in 2006 as a result of Weyerhaeuser reducing their system-wide
ChoiceDek inventory levels compared to average levels kept on hand in 2006, even though unit sales
of ChoiceDek products to end users were higher in 2007 than 2006. We expect higher ChoiceDek sales
in 2008 than in 2007 because we believe that Weyerhaeusers inventory adjustment is complete and
that 2008 sales of ChoiceDek to end users will be comparable to 2007.
MoistureShield sales were significantly higher in 2007 than 2006 as we were successful in
adding new distributors and gaining market share. Several new distributors joined the program in late 2007, so we expect
higher MoistureShield sales in 2008 than in 2007, provided that the
economy, and building and remodeling activity in particular, does not suffer
significant further deterioration.
Sales of our OEM products decreased 31% from 2006 to 2007, as the slowdown in the homebuilding
industry negatively impacted our OEM customers. We have ceased production of window components and
reduced factory overhead, and we do not expect increased sales of OEM products in 2008 versus 2007. Sales of primed window components were approximately $1.6 million in 2007.
Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin
Cost of goods sold, as a percent of sales, increased to 90% for the year ended December 31,
2007 from 79% for 2006. The increase in costs resulted from higher material costs and a lower
level of production that did not allow us to fully utilize our facilities; i.e. we were carrying
too much overhead in relation to our sales and the added overhead costs lowered our overall
margins. The decrease in sales combined with higher costs as a percent of sales led to a decrease
in gross profit margin to 10% for 2007 from 21% in 2006.
Beginning in the second half of 2007, when it became apparent that the economy was weak and
not improving, management undertook a broad move to realign the Companys overhead and cost
structure with current economic conditions, and staffing levels were
reduced. In response to higher transportation costs and slower sales
growth, we suspended extrusion operations at the
Junction extrusion plant and moved the productive assets from the Alexandria facility to our main
recycling facility at Lowell, Arkansas. Also, to improve margins, and in response to growing raw
material costs, we raised prices on our ChoiceDek and MoistureShield products effective January 1,
2008. We are also working to reduce plastic raw material costs with the addition of a new plastic
recycling facility near Watts, Oklahoma, which we intend to bring on line by the end of 2008.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling and administrative costs decreased slightly in 2007 compared to 2006 as the result of
an effort to reduce excess overhead that had been added to support our rapid growth through the
first half of 2006. As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative costs increased to
20% from 17%. The categories of salaries and benefits, advertising and promotion, travel and
entertainment, professional fees, and commissions together made up approximately 75% of total
selling and administrative expenses in 2007. Professional fees were lower in 2007 than 2006,
though we may have substantial legal fees again in 2008 due to lawsuits that were initiated in 2008
(see Litigation).
25
Income (loss)
The
operating loss for 2007 was 11% of sales as compared to the operating income of 4% in
2006. We incurred a net loss of $9.5 million, or $0.21 per share, in 2007, compared to net income
of $1.8 million, or $0.04 per share, in 2006. We recorded an extraordinary gain net of tax in the
amount of $432,403 for the receipt of insurance proceeds related to a fire at our Junction, Texas
facility in 2003. Additionally, we recorded $943,838 in preferred stock dividends for the beneficial
conversion feature of the Series D preferred stock.
Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005
Net Sales
Despite
the second half slowdown, AERT net sales were up 12.1% over 2005, the
tenth consecutive year of sales growth. Prices were approximately
8.5% higher than prices prevailing in 2005, helping both our
Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek and MoistureShield decking sales register
double digit growth. ChoiceDek sales increased $12.4 million
(19%) and MoistureShield sales increased $1.4 million (18%).
Sales of our OEM products, which are primarily associated with new
home construction, fell off significantly in the second half of 2006,
resulting in a decrease of OEM sales by $3.3 million (24%).
Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin
Cost
of goods sold, as a percent of sales, increased to 79% for the year ended December 31,
2006 from 76% for 2005. Labor costs were down, as a percent of sales, due to increased automation
and efficiency initiatives. Manufacturing overhead costs were up slightly, as a percent of sales,
versus 2005 as increased employment and utility costs offset gains from increased scale. Raw
material costs were up significantly due to higher costs of polyethylene scrap prices in the first
half of the year. Prices eased in the second half.
Gross
profit margin decreased to 21% for 2006 from 24% in 2005 as higher raw material and
overhead costs outweighed the effects of lower direct labor.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Selling
and administrative costs increased approximately $1.8 million
(12.4%), in 2006 compared to 2005 as a result of increases
in personnel expenses and general increases in
corporate costs to manage our growing business. Personnel expenses
increased approximately $1.16 million, accounting for about 64%
of the increase; travel expenses, primarily for sales and customer
service, increased approximately $430,000, accounting for about 24%
of the increase; and a mixture of other expenses accounted for the
remaining 12% of the increase.
As
a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative costs increased
to 17.1% from 16.7%. The categories of salaries and benefits,
advertising and promotion, travel and entertainment, professional
fees, and commissions together made up 77% of total selling and
administrative expenses in 2006. Professional fees were lower in 2006
than 2005.
Operating Income
Operating
income was 4% of sales for 2006, down from 6% of sales in 2005 as higher raw
material and overhead costs outweighed the effect of lower direct labor.
Net Income
Net
income decreased to $1.8 million, or $0.04 per share, in 2006 from $7.8 million, or $0.19
per share, in 2005. Income before income taxes for 2006 was $968,585, down from income of
$3,348,003 in 2005. We recorded a net income tax benefit of $835,937 in 2006, which consisted of
the current tax provision for the year of $128,380 and a deferred tax benefit of $964,317. The
deferred tax benefit was the result of temporary differences between amounts recorded for financial
reporting purposes and amounts recorded for tax purposes, including amounts for net operating loss
carryforwards and net property, plant and equipment.
26
Contingencies
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At
December 31, 2007, we had a working capital surplus of $2,226,615 compared to a working
capital deficit of $3,466,130 at December 31, 2006 attributable
to our fourth quarter 2007 preferred stock and bond financings. Our working capital at December 31, 2007
included total current liabilities of approximately $37 million, of which $4.9 million was for
accrued expenses, $9.6 million was in payables and $22.5 million was a combination of short-term
notes payable, secured by inventory and receivables, and the current portion of long-term debt. We
spent approximately $6 million on capital expansion during 2007. Expenditures were primarily for
construction at our Springdale South manufacturing site and additional equipment at our Lowell
plastic processing facility.
Unrestricted
cash decreased $448,051 to $1,716,481 at December 31, 2007 from December 31,
2006. Significant components of that decrease were: (i) cash used in operating activities of
$14,076,928, which consisted of the net loss for the period of
$9,517,160 increased by depreciation
and amortization of $5,068,789 and decreased by other uses of cash of approximately $11,180,289;
(ii) cash used in investing activities of $3,826,559; and (iii) cash provided by financing
activities of approximately $17,455,436. Payments on notes during the period were $5,022,017,
including approximately $1,750,000 to Brooks Investment Company, a related party. Proceeds from
the issuances of notes amounted to $19,265,000, including $750,000 from Brooks Investment Company,
and net borrowings on our line of credit were $2,243,378. At
December 31, 2007, we had bonds, capital leases, and
notes payable in the amount of $48,999,856, of which $22,495,592 was current notes payable and the
current portions of long-term debt and capital lease obligations.
At the end of the first quarter of 2006, we entered into a new $15.0 million bank line of
credit, replacing the factoring agreement with Brooks Investment Co. that was in use during 2005
and the first quarter of 2006. No amounts were borrowed under the line of credit until April 1,
2006. The line is a one year revolving credit facility that was renewed in September 2007, and
will mature in June 2008, secured by our inventory, accounts receivable, chattel paper, general
intangibles and other current assets, as well as by fixtures and equipment, and is provided by
Liberty Bank of Arkansas at a variable interest rate of prime plus one hundred basis points, which
was 8.25% at December 31, 2007. The maximum amount that may be drawn on the line at one time is
the lesser of $15.0 million and the borrowing base, of which approximately $1.9 million was available
to borrow at December 31, 2007. The borrowing base is equal to the sum of approximately 85% of our
qualifying accounts receivable, 75% of finished goods inventory and 50% of all other inventory.
The full amount of the line is guaranteed as to payment by our largest stockholder, Marjorie S.
Brooks, who also guarantees $4 million on our 2003 industrial development bond owned by Allstate
Investments. When the line of credit matures, the Company intends to seek a line of credit that
does not require a personal guarantee. The revolving credit facility includes debt service
coverage ratio, current ratio, and accounts payable and accounts receivable aging covenants
substantially similar to those under our 2003 bond agreements and customary restrictions on
dividends and the incurrence of additional debt or liens, among other matters (see Note 4: Line of
Credit). There is no assurance that we can receive a more favorable
line of credit or that our existing working capital line of credit
will be renewed when it matures in
June 2008.
A prolonged period of reduced sales resulting from weakness in the building products industry
or otherwise, however, could require us to slow or close production at some of our less efficient
facilities and/or to seek additional funding in the form of debt or equity. There is no assurance
that we would be successful in securing additional capital if required.
In addition to the construction of our Watts plastic recycling
facility, our capital improvement budget for 2008 is currently estimated at $4 million, of which we
believe we can finance half from our recent equity placement; the balance of required
funds must come from cash flow. The 2008 capital improvement program will emphasize operating
efficiency and improving our gross profit margin and cash flow, including automation projects and
installing an enterprise resource planning system.
Under our 2003 and 2007 bond agreements, AERT covenants that it will maintain certain
financial ratios. If we fail to comply with certain of the covenants, or to secure a waiver
therefrom, the bond trustee would have the option of demanding immediate repayment of the bonds.
In such an event, it could be difficult for us to refinance the bonds, which would give the bond
trustee the option to take us into bankruptcy.
27
We were not in compliance with the debt service coverage and accounts payable covenants as of
December 31, 2007. The bond trustee waived the debt service
coverage covenant as of December 31, 2007 through, and
including, March 31, 2008, and waived the accounts payable
covenant as of December 31, 2007 through, and including,
December 31, 2008. Our line of credit contains all of the financial covenants listed
below, with the exception of the debt to equity covenant, and the bank lender has also waived any
noncompliance with such covenants. None of our other loans contain financial covenants.
Our Allstate notes payable and $1.6 million Regions Bank note payable have cross-default
provisions that caused them to be in technical default at December 31, 2007 due to our
non-compliance with the loan covenants discussed above. The covenants were waived by Allstate
Investments, which is the investor in the bonds and the holder of the
Allstate loans. As the Regions Bank loan was paid in full in February
2008, it has been classified as a current liability at
December 31, 2007, and a waiver was not needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
Bonds payable and Allstate Notes Payable Debt Covenants |
|
2007 |
|
Compliance |
Long-term debt service coverage ratio for last four quarters of at least 2.00
to 1.00 |
|
|
-1.48 |
|
|
No Waived |
Current ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00 |
|
|
1.06 |
|
|
Yes |
Debt to equity ratio of not more than 3.00 to 1.00 |
|
|
1.63 |
|
|
Yes |
Not more than 10% of accounts payable in excess of 75 days past invoice date |
|
|
23.2 |
% |
|
No Waived |
Not more than 20% of accounts receivable in excess of 90 days past invoice date |
|
|
5.4 |
% |
|
Yes |
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported on our financial statements. The estimates made in applying the
accounting policies described below are material to the financial statements and notes thereto due
to the level of judgment involved in arriving at those estimates.
Accounts Receivable
Trade accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect from
outstanding balances. Delinquency fees are not assessed. Payments of accounts receivable are
allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customers remittance advice. Accounts
receivable are carried at the original invoice amount less an estimated reserve made for returns
and discounts based on quarterly review of historical rates of returns and expected discounts to be
taken. The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced, if needed, by a valuation allowance
that reflects managements best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Management
individually reviews all accounts receivable balances that exceed thirty days from the invoice
date, and based on an assessment of current creditworthiness, estimates the portion, if any, of the
balance that may not be collected. Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through
a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation based on its assessment of the current status of
the individual accounts. Balances that remain outstanding after management has used reasonable
collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to
trade accounts receivable. Changes in the valuation allowance have not been material to the
financial statements. Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded when
received. Due to the nature of our business and our association with large national corporations,
our collection of receivables has stayed at a constant level with very few uncollectible accounts.
Buildings and Equipment
Property additions and betterments include capitalized interest and acquisition, construction
and administrative costs allocable to construction projects and property purchases. Provision for
depreciation of buildings and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated
useful lives of the assets. Gains or losses on sales or other dispositions
28
of property are
credited or charged to income in the period incurred. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to
income in the period incurred, unless it is determined that the useful life of the respective
asset has been extended.
We account for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets in accordance with the
provisions of the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144). SFAS 144 requires an assessment of the
recoverability of our investment in long-lived assets to be held and used in operations whenever
events or circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such
assessment requires that the future cash flows associated with the long-lived assets be estimated
over their remaining useful lives. An impairment loss may be required when the future cash flows
are less than the carrying value of such assets.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104,
Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements (SAB 104). Under SAB 104, revenue is recognized when
the title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an
arrangement, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the sales price is determinable
and collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company typically recognizes revenue at the time of
shipment or segregated and billed under a bill and hold agreement. The terms of this agreement
qualify for revenue recognition under SAB 104. Sales are recorded net of discounts, rebates, and
returns.
Estimates of expected sales discounts are calculated by applying the appropriate sales
discount rate to all unpaid invoices that are eligible for the discount. The Companys sales
prices are determinable given that the Companys sales discount rates are fixed and given the
predictability with which customers take sales discounts.
Contractual Obligations
The following table represents our contractual obligations outstanding as of December 31,
2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due by Period |
|
|
|
|
Less than |
|
1 to 3 |
|
3 to 5 |
|
More than |
|
|
Total |
|
1 year |
|
years |
|
years |
|
5 years |
Long-term
debt and capital lease obligations |
|
$36,311,249 |
|
$9,806,985 |
|
$5,470,339 |
|
$3,963,925 |
|
$17,070,000 |
Operating leases |
|
12,337,256 |
|
2,873,535 |
|
4,378,243 |
|
3,323,289 |
|
1,762,189 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$48,648,505 |
|
$12,680,520 |
|
$9,848,582 |
|
$7,287,214 |
|
$18,832,189 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our waste wood and scrap polyethylene supply contracts have varying terms and pricing
structures. The contracts generally obligate us to take whatever waste the supplier generates as
long as the waste meets our standards. Pricing for these contracts can generally be renegotiated
every twelve months, however, so determining our precise future liability is not reasonably
estimable.
In July 2006, AERT entered into a lease contract whereby it has agreed to lease up to $3 million of equipment
for seven years. Lease payments will begin in April 2008.
Until that time, interim interest payments are being made on the amount of equipment subject to the
lease that has been purchased by the leasing company, which totaled approximately $2.8 million at
December 31, 2007. The lease payments are not included in the table above due to the uncertainty
of the commencement of those payments.
29
Uncertainties, Issues and Risks
There are many factors that could adversely affect AERTs business and results of operations.
These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, decline in demand for
our products, business or industry changes, critical accounting policies, government rules and regulations, environmental
concerns, litigation, new products / product transition, product obsolescence, competition, acts of
war, terrorism, public health issues, concentration of customer base, loss of a significant
customer, availability of raw material (plastic) at a reasonable price, managements failure to
execute effectively, inability to obtain adequate financing (i.e. working capital), equipment
breakdowns, low stock price, and fluctuations in quarterly performance.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
We have no material exposures relating to our long-term debt, as most of our long-term debt
bears interest at fixed rates. We depend on the market for favorable long-term mortgage rates to
help generate sales of our product for use in the residential construction industry. Should
mortgage rates increase substantially, our business could be impacted by a reduction in the
residential construction industry. Important raw materials that we purchase are recycled plastic
and wood fiber, which are subject to price fluctuations. We attempt to limit the impact of price
increases on these materials by negotiating with each supplier on a term basis.
Forward-looking Information
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Prior to making an
investment, prospective investors should carefully consider the following factors, among others,
and seek professional advice. In addition, this Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange
Act. Such forward-looking statements, which are often identified by words such as believes,
anticipates, expects, estimates, should, may, will and similar expressions, represent
our expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Numerous assumptions, risks, and
uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. Prospective purchasers of our securities should carefully consider the
information contained herein or in the documents incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing discussion contains certain estimates, predictions, projections and other
forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that involve various risks and uncertainties.
While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in
good faith and reflect managements current judgment regarding the direction of the business,
actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions,
projections, or other future performance suggested herein. Some important factors (but not
necessarily all factors) that could affect the sales volumes, growth strategies, future
profitability and operating results, or that otherwise could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement include the following: market,
political or other forces affecting the pricing and availability of plastics and other raw
materials; accidents or other unscheduled shutdowns affecting us, our suppliers or their
customers plants, machinery, or equipment; competition from products and services offered by other
enterprises; our ability to refinance short-term indebtedness; state and federal environmental,
economic, safety and other policies and regulations, any changes therein, and any legal or
regulatory delays or other factors beyond our control; execution of planned capital projects;
weather conditions affecting our operations or the areas in which our products are marketed;
adverse rulings, judgments, or settlements in litigation or other legal matters. We undertake no
obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements
that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
30
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Summary Quarterly Financial Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
|
|
First |
|
Second |
|
Third |
|
Fourth |
|
First |
|
Second |
|
Third |
|
Fourth |
|
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
|
Quarter |
Net sales |
|
$ |
27,665,249 |
|
|
$ |
28,105,770 |
|
|
$ |
20,800,859 |
|
|
$ |
21,268,248 |
|
|
$ |
22,367,040 |
|
|
$ |
25,342,796 |
|
|
$ |
24,797,778 |
|
|
$ |
9,702,349 |
|
Gross margin |
|
|
5,954,316 |
|
|
|
8,480,538 |
|
|
|
4,132,310 |
|
|
|
1,677,997 |
|
|
|
2,838,452 |
|
|
|
3,989,802 |
|
|
|
2,065,163 |
|
|
|
(1,024,055 |
) |
Net income
(loss) |
|
|
905,942 |
|
|
|
1,723,097 |
|
|
|
(305,595 |
) |
|
|
(518,922 |
) |
|
|
(1,171,659 |
) |
|
|
(383,919 |
) |
|
|
(1,529,444 |
) |
|
|
(6,432,138 |
) |
Income (loss) per share (Basic) |
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
Income (loss) per share (Diluted) |
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
The financial statements portion of this item is submitted in a separate section of this
report.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, who is our principal
executive officer, our Chief Operating Officer, and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, who is our principal financial officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934) as of December 31, 2007. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive
Officer, our
Chief Operating Officer, and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as a result of material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2007 described
below
under Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, our disclosure controls
and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2007. We have initiated the implementation of
measures to remediate these material weaknesses as described below under Remediation of Material
Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We, as members of the management of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (the
Company), are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting. The Companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
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 Companys assets that could have
a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness 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.
We
assessed the Companys internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2007,
based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission. Based on this assessment, management identified three material weaknesses (as defined by
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) as of
December 31, 2007.
31
First,
the Company did not have an adequate process in place to assess potential impairment of fixed
assets. Without a formal, periodic assessment process, material overstatements of the net book value of fixed
assets could remain undetected. Second, the Companys inventory costing system was not adequately
documented nor were there adequate procedures for an independent review of the costing analysis to
ensure completeness and accuracy of the calculated costs. Without a formally documented, approved
costing process, combined with an independent review of the spreadsheet inputs and formulas used to
calculate inventory costs, material misstatements of inventory and cost of goods sold could remain
undetected. Third, the Company, at the entity level, has not properly
allocated resources to ensure that necessary internal controls are
implemented and followed throughout the Company. Without the proper
allocation of resources and sufficient priority given to internal
controls, material misstatements could occur and remain undetected. Accordingly, management has determined that, because of these material weaknesses, the
Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2007 based on the specified criteria.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ JOE G. BROOKS
|
|
|
Joe G. Brooks, |
|
|
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ STEPHEN W. BROOKS
|
|
|
Stephen W. Brooks, |
|
|
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ ROBERT A. THAYER
|
|
|
Robert A. Thayer, |
|
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
Remediation of Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The
Company is in the process of developing systems and procedures to remediate each of the
material weaknesses identified in Managements assessment of internal controls as of December 31,
2007. Management believes that these new procedures, in combination with the implementation of a
new enterprise resource planning system now underway, will provide controls sufficient to identify
and prevent material misstatements in the Companys financial
statements.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Other
than the matters described in this Item 9A under Remediation of Material Weakness in
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, during the fourth
quarter ended December 31, 2007,
there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially
affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
32
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The
directors and executive officers of the Company as of December 31, 2007, are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe G. Brooks
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
Chairman, chief executive officer and president |
Stephen W. Brooks
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
Vice chairman and chief operating officer |
Marjorie S. Brooks
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
Secretary, treasurer and director |
J. Douglas Brooks
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
Senior vice president |
Alford Drinkwater
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
Senior vice president |
Jim Precht
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
Senior vice president sales and marketing |
Robert A. Thayer
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
Senior vice president and chief financial officer |
Eric E. Barnes
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
Chief accounting officer and controller |
Jerry B. Burkett
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
Director |
Edward P. Carda
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
Director |
Melinda Davis
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
Director |
Tim W. Kizer
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
Director |
Peter S. Lau
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
Director |
Sal Miwa
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
Director |
Jim Robason
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
Director |
Michael M. Tull
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
Director |
The
Companys board of directors elected Joe G. Brooks as its chairman and the Companys
co-chief executive officer in December 1998, and he has served as president since February 2000.
In July 2005, Mr. Brooks became chief executive officer. Mr. Brooks has served as president or in
other executive office capacities and has been a director since the Companys inception in December
1988, including service as chairman and CEO from inception until August 1993. He was a member of
Clean Texas 2000, appointed by then Governor George W. Bush in 1995. Mr. Brooks is a listed inventor on 13 of the
Companys patents with additional patents pending, and is a founder of AERT.
The
Companys board of directors elected Stephen W. Brooks as co-chief executive officer in
December 1998 until July 2005 when he became vice chairman and chief operating officer. Mr. Brooks
has served as its chief executive officer and has been a director since January 1996. Mr. Brooks
has served as CEO and chairman of the board of Razorback Farms, Inc. from January 1996 to the
present. Razorback Farms is a Springdale, Arkansas based firm that specializes in vegetables
processing. Mr. Brooks also serves on the board of the Ozark Food Processors Association.
Marjorie
S. Brooks has been secretary, treasurer and a director since the Companys inception
in December 1988. Mrs. Brooks has served as secretary and treasurer of Brooks Investment Company, a
holding company for the Brooks family investments, for more than thirty years.
J.
Douglas Brooks has served as executive vice-president from inception to September 2003, has
been in charge of raw material sourcing and strategic relationships since 1998, and has been a
senior vice president since September 2003. Mr. Brooks was vice-president of plastics from 1995
through 1998, was previously project manager for AERTs polyethylene recycling program with The Dow
Chemical Company, and is a joint inventor on several of AERTs process patents for recycling
polyethylene film for composites.
Robert
A. Thayer was named by the board of directors to succeed Edward J. Lysen as chief
financial officer in September 2005, at which time he was also named as a senior vice president.
Mr. Thayer has submitted his resignation effective
April 11, 2008 in order to take a new position. From October 2002 until September 2005,
Mr. Thayer served as the assistant to AERT chairman Joe G.
Brooks, during which time he had executive assignments in
33
all aspects of AERTs business including finance, operations, and administration. From
January 1997 to October 2002, Mr. Thayer was a principal at Madison Research, Denison, Texas where
he conducted independent financial research under contract to banks and financial publishers. From
January 2001 to July 2002 he also served as Vice President of Finance for Asia Teletech Company,
Ltd., a Thailand headquartered voice-over-internet company where he was responsible for raising the
companys startup capital. Prior to 1997, Mr. Thayer spent twenty-one years in the software and
investment banking industries with financial, systems and executive responsibilities. He received
a BA in Economics from the University of Colorado and studied graduate economics at the University
of Wisconsin, Madison. Mr. Thayer is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Alford Drinkwater has served as senior vice president of logistics, laboratories, and plastic
operations since September 2003. Prior to joining the Company in May 2000, Mr. Drinkwater had been
the Assistant Director for the Established Industries Division of the Arkansas Department of
Economic Development and was on the Advocacy Team from November 1988 until January 2000. From
September 1986 until July 1988, he owned and operated Town and Country Waste Services, Inc. a waste
services company engaging in the development of waste recycling, energy recovery, and disposal
systems. From April 1981 until January 1987, Mr. Drinkwater was the Resource Recovery Manager for
Metropolitan Trust Company, and was primarily involved in waste-to-energy systems development.
From July 1974 until April 1981, Mr. Drinkwater worked for the State of Arkansas as Assistant to
the Chief of the Solid Waste Control Division of the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control &
Ecology and as the Manager of the Biomass and Resource Recovery Program of the Arkansas Department
of Energy.
Jim Precht served as executive vice-president of sales and marketing for the Company since
February 2001, and as senior vice president since September 2003. Mr. Precht was formerly general
manager of Weyerhaeuser Building Materials Pittsburgh Customer Service Center with 32-years of
industry experience.
Eric E. Barnes, who the board of directors appointed as chief accounting officer in September
2005, also heads up the AERT accounting and control team. Mr. Barnes joined AERTs accounting
department in November 1997 after graduating from the University of Arkansas with a BS in
Accounting and an MA in Economics. He was named AERTs controller in January 2000. Mr. Barnes is
a Certified Public Accountant.
Jerry B. Burkett has served on the board of directors of the Company since May 1993. Mr.
Burkett has been a rice and grain farmer since 1979 and has been a principal in other closely held
businesses. He is the past president of the Arkansas County Farm Bureau. In April 2002, Mr.
Burkett was elected to serve as a director of the Ag Heritage Farm Credit Services board.
Edward P. Carda was elected to the board of directors in July 2005. Mr. Carda began his
37-year business career with Weyerhaeuser Company in June 1967, ending with his retirement in
December 2003. While at Weyerhaeuser, he served in various management positions, including
statutory reporting, heading large accounting departments, interacting with external and internal
auditors and all types of management. Mr. Carda spent the last 10 years of his career as the
business controller for the distribution business of Weyerhaeuser. While in this capacity, he
received many awards for his performance for profit and working capital improvement initiatives.
Mr. Carda attended the University of Montana and graduated with a degree in accounting. He has
served for 25 years on the board of directors of the Woodstone Credit Union in Federal Way,
Washington and is currently its Vice Chairman. He also serves on the credit unions audit
committee.
Melinda Davis has served on the board of directors since July 2001. From December 2000 to the
present, Ms. Davis has provided professional consulting services in the areas of financial
management and cost accounting for manufacturing operations. Ms. Davis retired as senior
vice-president and treasurer from Allen Canning Co. in December 2000, after serving for 39 years in
various accounting and financial management positions.
Tim W. Kizer was elected to the board of directors in July 2005. Since December 2004, Mr.
Kizer has served as president and partner of Bentonville Global Associates, a global consultancy
firm specializing in collaborative commerce.
34
Mr. Kizer is executive director of the Doing Business in Bentonville Series seminar level
program series in Bentonville Arkansas. From April 2001 to December 2004, Mr. Kizer was director
of the Center for Management and Executive Development and the Donald W. Reynolds Center for
Enterprise Development, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. From January
2000 to April 2001, Mr. Kizer was managing director of Information Technology Research Center, Sam
M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. Mr. Kizer was a business and industry
specialist for the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Arkansas from October 1996
until January 2000. He has a BA from the University of Louisville and is a member of the Board of
Advisors of RFID Global Solution in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Peter S. Lau has served on the board of directors since July 2007. Mr. Lau is a co-founder and owner of Greenstone Holdings, a boutique investment banking firm in New York City founded in 2001. Previously, he was Senior Managing Director of Corporate Finance for American Frontier, and Managing Director of Corporate Finance at Ridgewood Capital. Mr. Lau
started his career as a CPA with Deloitte Touche, and was later employed by Squibb Corporation. Mr. Lau holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MS in Accounting from the University of Hartford.
Sal Miwa has been an outside director of the Company since January 1994. He served as
chairman of the board between December 1995 and December 1998, and as vice chairman from December
1998 through July 2005. From January 2005 to present, Mr. Miwa has been chairman of Greenstone
Holdings, Inc.(OTC GSHG), a chemical technology company located in New York City primarily
serving the building and construction industry. From July 2004 to December 2005, he was CEO of
Greenstone Inc. of Delaware, a predecessor of Greenstone Holdings, Inc. From April 2000 to June
2004, he was COO and director of RealRead Inc., an online document service company. For more than
20 years Mr. Miwa has been engaged in various international businesses and serves on boards of
several closely held family businesses around the world. He received his masters degree in
Aerospace Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.
Jim Robason has served on the board of directors since July 2003. Since January 2005, Mr.
Robason has been a consultant to and supervisor of the Companys plant operations on an interim
basis. Mr. Robason joined Allen Canning Co. in 1967. Mr. Robason served as senior
vice-president-operations of Allen Canning Co. from 1974 until his retirement in 2002. As senior
vice-president of operations with Allen Canning Co., he was responsible for the operation of twelve
plants with plant managers and raw product procurement managers, as well as special projects
engineering, reporting to him. He has a vast amount of knowledge in all phases of manufacturing
including infrastructure, building, equipment, and engineering; with a focus on the full production
arena from product procurement through the production process. Mr. Robason is a graduate of West
Texas State University. He has served on Allen Cannings executive committee and profit
sharing/retirement plan committee in addition to his operations responsibilities.
Michael M. Tull has served on the board of directors of the Company since December 1998. Mr.
Tull has served since 1990 as the president and majority owner of Tull Sales Corporation, a
manufacturers representative company, which professionally represents eight manufacturing
companies and is responsible for the sales and marketing of those companies window and door
related components in the southeastern United States. Mr. Tull serves on boards of several closely
held family businesses. Additionally, he is a board of director member of Greenstone, Inc. and the
National Wild Turkey Federation, which is one of the largest North American conservation
organizations.
Joe G. Brooks, Stephen W. Brooks, and J. Douglas Brooks are brothers and sons of Marjorie S.
Brooks. There are no other familial relationships between the current directors and executive
officers.
35
Each of the Companys directors has been elected to serve until the next annual meeting of
stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers serve at the discretion
of the Board of Directors.
The audit committee of the board of directors consists of outside directors: Edward P. Carda (chairman), Melinda Davis, Peter S. Lau, and Jerry B. Burkett. The audit committee is directly responsible for the engagement of the Companys independent
auditors and is responsible for approving the services performed by the Companys independent auditors and for reviewing and evaluating the Companys accounting principles and its system of internal accounting controls. The board of directors has determined that Edward P. Carda qualifies as an audit committee financial expert; as such term is defined in rules of the SEC implementing requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, Edward P. Carda, and the other members of the audit committee are independent, as that term is defined
under the listing standards of the National Association of Securities Dealers.
The compensation committee consists of Edward P. Carda (chairman), Sal Miwa, Jim Robason, and Tim Kizer. The compensation committee establishes and administers the Companys compensation and equity incentive plans on behalf of the board of directors and approves restricted stock grants thereunder.
The corporate governance and nominating committee consists of Sal Miwa (chairman), Linda Davis, Jerry Burkett, and Ed Carda. The nominating committee evaluates the efforts of AERT and its board of directors to maintain effective corporate governance practices. The committee identifies candidates for election to the board of directors.
The company also maintains a legal affairs committee consisting of Tim Kizer (chairman), Sal Miwa, and Peter Lau, and a capital expenditure committee consisting of Peter Lau (chairman), Steve Brooks, Edward Carda, and Jim Robason.
Code of Ethics
We adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all our directors and
associates, including our chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer
and principal accounting officer or controller, which is a code of ethics as defined by
applicable rules of the SEC. This code has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, and is publicly available on our website at
www.aertinc.com. A copy may also be obtained upon written request to our secretary, Marjorie S.
Brooks, Post Office Box 1237, Springdale, Arkansas 72765. If we make any amendments to this code
other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments or grant any waivers,
including implicit waivers, from a provision of this code that applies to our chief executive
officer, chief financial officer or principal accounting officer or controller and relates to an
element of the SECs code of ethics definition, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or
waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies on our website or in a report on Form 8-K filed
with the SEC.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires AERTs executive officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten-percent of a registered class of the Companys
securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and National Association of Securities Dealers. Officers, directors and greater than
ten-percent shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all
forms filed pursuant to Section 16(a). Based on a review of the copies of such forms received by
it and written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 4 or Forms 5 were
required for those persons, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007; all Section 16(a) filing requirements were met.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the Companys
definitive proxy statement for its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.
36
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
The information required by Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the Companys
definitive proxy statement for its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the Companys
definitive proxy statement for its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the Companys
definitive proxy statement for its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a1) and (a2). The Financial Statements listed in the accompanying Index to Financial
Statements are filed as part of this report and such Index is hereby incorporated by reference.
All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation on the Securities
and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and
therefore have been omitted.
(a3) and (c). The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits are filed or
incorporated by reference as part of this report and such Index is hereby incorporated by
reference.
37
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL
RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
|
|
|
/s/ JOE G. BROOKS |
|
|
Joe G. Brooks, |
|
|
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President (principal executive officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ STEPHEN W. BROOKS |
|
|
Stephen W. Brooks, |
|
|
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ ROBERT A. THAYER |
|
|
Robert A. Thayer, |
|
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ ERIC E. BARNES |
|
|
Eric E. Barnes, |
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (principal accounting officer) |
|
|
Date:
April 7, 2008
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The
undersigned directors and officers of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
hereby constitute and appoint Joe G. Brooks our true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with
full power to execute in our name and behalf in the capacities indicated below any and all
amendments to this report on Form 10-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
hereby ratify and confirm all that such attorney-in-fact and agent shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ JOE G. BROOKS
Joe G. Brooks
|
|
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President
|
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ STEPHEN W. BROOKS
Stephen W. Brooks
|
|
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ MARJORIE S. BROOKS
Marjorie S. Brooks
|
|
Secretary, Treasurer and Director
|
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ JERRY B. BURKETT
Jerry B. Burkett
|
|
Director
|
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ EDWARD P. CARDA
Edward P. Carda
|
|
Director
|
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ MELINDA DAVIS
Melinda Davis
|
|
Director
|
|
April 7, 2008 |
38
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ TIM W. KIZER
Tim W. Kizer
|
|
Director |
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ JIM ROBASON
Jim Robason
|
|
Director |
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ MICHAEL M. TULL
Michael M. Tull
|
|
Director |
|
April 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
PETER S. LAU
Peter S. Lau
|
|
Director |
|
April 7, 2008 |
39
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
Page |
Financial Statements: |
|
|
|
|
F-2 F-3 |
|
|
F-4 F-5 |
|
|
F-6 |
|
|
F-7 |
|
|
F-8 |
|
|
F-9 F-29 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
We have audited the balance sheets of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An
audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with
the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Incs internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal
ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO). Our report dated April 7, 2008 expressed an opinion that Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. had not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework
issued by COSO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ TULLIUS TAYLOR SARTAIN & SARTAIN LLP |
|
Fayetteville, AR
April 7, 2008
F-2
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have audited Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.s (the Companys) internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in
Internal
ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO). The Companys management is responsible for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting included in the accompanying Managements Report on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Companys internal control
over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was
maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing
and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed
risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A
companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 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 companys assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or
detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness 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 or procedures may deteriorate.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over
financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of
the companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely
basis. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in managements
assessment: 1) the Company did not have a process in place to assess potential impairment of fixed
assets. Without a formal, periodic assessment process, material overstatements of the net book
value of fixed assets could remain undetected. 2) the Companys inventory costing system was not
adequately documented nor were there adequate procedures for an independent review of the costing
analysis to ensure completeness and accuracy of the calculated costs. Without a formally
documented, approved costing process, combined with an independent review of the spreadsheet inputs
and formulas used to calculate inventory costs, material misstatements of inventory and cost of
goods sold could remain undetected. 3) the Company, at the entity
level, has not properly allocated
resources to ensure that necessary internal controls
are implemented and followed throughout the Company. Without the
proper allocation of resources and sufficient priority
given to internal controls, material misstatements could occur and remain undetected. These
material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests
applied in our audit of the 2007 financial statements, and this report does not affect our report
dated April 7, 2008 on those financial statements.
In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described above on the achievement
of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal
ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO).
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the balance sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related
statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2007 of Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. and our report dated
April 7, 2008
expressed an unqualified opinion.
/s/
TULLIUS TAYLOR SARTAIN & SARTAIN LLP
Fayetteville, AR
April 7, 2008
F-3
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Balance Sheets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
ASSETS |
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
1,716,481 |
|
|
$ |
2,164,532 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
11,461,950 |
|
|
|
787,191 |
|
Restricted certificate of deposit |
|
|
871,468 |
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,162,500 at December 31, 2007 and
$374,894 at December 31, 2006 |
|
|
640,668 |
|
|
|
3,789,302 |
|
Other accounts receivable |
|
|
63,453 |
|
|
|
760,970 |
|
Inventories |
|
|
23,622,586 |
|
|
|
14,515,845 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
892,462 |
|
|
|
1,018,657 |
|
Deferred tax asset |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,163,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
39,269,068 |
|
|
|
24,199,514 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land, buildings and equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land |
|
|
1,988,638 |
|
|
|
1,988,638 |
|
Buildings and leasehold improvements |
|
|
10,008,257 |
|
|
|
5,979,223 |
|
Machinery and equipment |
|
|
51,690,169 |
|
|
|
39,475,682 |
|
Transportation equipment |
|
|
1,148,046 |
|
|
|
1,243,556 |
|
Office equipment |
|
|
1,169,213 |
|
|
|
801,231 |
|
Construction in progress |
|
|
4,218,303 |
|
|
|
14,762,153 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total land, buildings and equipment |
|
|
70,222,626 |
|
|
|
64,250,483 |
|
Less accumulated depreciation |
|
|
31,380,005 |
|
|
|
26,728,540 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net land, buildings and equipment |
|
|
38,842,621 |
|
|
|
37,521,943 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax asset |
|
|
8,851,412 |
|
|
|
4,293,912 |
|
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,052,949 at December 31, 2007
and $790,532 at December 31, 2006 |
|
|
3,042,645 |
|
|
|
2,814,390 |
|
Debt service reserve fund |
|
|
3,391,500 |
|
|
|
2,040,000 |
|
Restricted certificate of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
829,961 |
|
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $421,310 at December 31, 2007 and
$392,736 at December 31, 2006 |
|
|
361,557 |
|
|
|
350,246 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other assets |
|
|
15,647,114 |
|
|
|
10,328,509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
93,758,803 |
|
|
$ |
72,049,966 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Balance Sheets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable trade |
|
$ |
9,274,134 |
|
|
$ |
10,861,648 |
|
Accounts payable related parties |
|
|
350,882 |
|
|
|
494,831 |
|
Current maturities of long-term debt |
|
|
9,582,145 |
|
|
|
1,580,357 |
|
Current
maturities of capital lease obligations |
|
|
224,840 |
|
|
|
93,255 |
|
Accrued payroll expense |
|
|
553,376 |
|
|
|
575,782 |
|
Litigation loss payable |
|
|
655,769 |
|
|
|
655,769 |
|
Other accrued liabilities |
|
|
3,712,700 |
|
|
|
1,933,821 |
|
Working capital line of credit |
|
|
12,303,378 |
|
|
|
10,060,000 |
|
Notes payable related parties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
Notes payable other |
|
|
385,229 |
|
|
|
410,181 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
37,042,453 |
|
|
|
27,665,644 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, less current maturities |
|
|
25,707,959 |
|
|
|
16,803,644 |
|
Capital
lease obligations, less current maturities |
|
|
796,305 |
|
|
|
24,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,504,264 |
|
|
|
16,827,717 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued dividends on convertible preferred stock |
|
|
136,957 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, 757,576 shares issued
and outstanding at December 31, 2007 |
|
|
7,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
Class A common stock, $.01 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 46,314,250 and
43,041,164 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively |
|
|
463,143 |
|
|
|
430,412 |
|
Class B convertible common stock, $.01 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized;
1,465,530 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006 |
|
|
14,655 |
|
|
|
14,655 |
|
Warrants outstanding; 3,787,880 at December 31, 2007 and 4,606,132 at December 31, 2006 |
|
|
1,533,578 |
|
|
|
2,519,389 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
50,872,462 |
|
|
|
37,891,274 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(22,816,285 |
) |
|
|
(13,299,125 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity |
|
|
30,075,129 |
|
|
|
27,556,605 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
$ |
93,758,803 |
|
|
$ |
72,049,966 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
82,209,963 |
|
|
$ |
97,840,126 |
|
|
$ |
87,312,560 |
|
Cost of goods sold |
|
|
74,340,601 |
|
|
|
77,594,965 |
|
|
|
66,389,964 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
7,869,362 |
|
|
|
20,245,161 |
|
|
|
20,922,596 |
|
Selling and administrative costs |
|
|
16,368,725 |
|
|
|
16,407,400 |
|
|
|
14,595,854 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
265,881 |
|
|
|
285,858 |
|
|
|
110,134 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,634,606 |
|
|
|
16,693,258 |
|
|
|
14,705,988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
(8,765,244 |
) |
|
|
3,551,903 |
|
|
|
6,216,608 |
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net litigation contingency |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(610,206 |
) |
Gain (loss) on disposition of equipment |
|
|
7,920 |
|
|
|
58,285 |
|
|
|
(26,122 |
) |
Interest income |
|
|
183,409 |
|
|
|
202,724 |
|
|
|
90,908 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(3,956,935 |
) |
|
|
(2,844,327 |
) |
|
|
(2,087,818 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net other expense |
|
|
(3,765,606 |
) |
|
|
(2,583,318 |
) |
|
|
(2,633,238 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary item, income taxes and accrued
dividends on preferred stock |
|
|
(12,530,850 |
) |
|
|
968,585 |
|
|
|
3,583,370 |
|
Preferred stock dividends from beneficial conversion feature |
|
|
(943,838 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued dividends on preferred stock |
|
|
(136,957 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(235,367 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary item and income taxes |
|
|
(13,611,645 |
) |
|
|
968,585 |
|
|
|
3,348,003 |
|
Income tax benefit |
|
|
(3,662,082 |
) |
|
|
(835,937 |
) |
|
|
(4,449,682 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before extraordinary item |
|
|
(9,949,563 |
) |
|
|
1,804,522 |
|
|
|
7,797,685 |
|
Extraordinary gain on involuntary conversion of non-monetary assets
due to fire (net of income tax) |
|
|
432,403 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock |
|
$ |
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
$ |
1,804,522 |
|
|
$ |
7,797,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) per share of common stock before extraordinary item (Basic) |
|
$ |
(0.21 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) per share of common stock before extraordinary item (Diluted) |
|
$ |
(0.21 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extraordinary gain per share of common stock (Basic) |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extraordinary gain per share of common stock (Diluted) |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) per share of common stock after extraordinary item (Basic) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) per share of common stock after extraordinary item (Diluted) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (Basic) |
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
41,990,150 |
|
|
|
35,861,060 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (Diluted) |
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
45,881,498 |
|
|
|
40,475,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A |
|
|
Class B |
|
|
Warrants |
|
|
Additional |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock |
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Outstanding |
|
|
Paid-in |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Number |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Capital |
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance December 31, 2004 |
|
$ |
2,760 |
|
|
$ |
2,760 |
|
|
$ |
32,032,123 |
|
|
$ |
320,322 |
|
|
$ |
1,465,530 |
|
|
$ |
14,655 |
|
|
$ |
14,890,867 |
|
|
$ |
6,917,544 |
|
|
$ |
27,376,565 |
|
|
$ |
(22,901,332 |
) |
|
$ |
11,730,514 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of stock in payment of accrued premium
on preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
229,994 |
|
|
|
2,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
273,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
276,000 |
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
387,600 |
|
|
|
3,876 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
203,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
207,076 |
|
Exercise of Consulting warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,738,946 |
|
|
|
17,389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,016,332 |
) |
|
|
(1,120,815 |
) |
|
|
1,389,382 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
285,956 |
|
Expiration of Consulting warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,379,926 |
) |
|
|
(784,532 |
) |
|
|
784,532 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of Class C warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
3,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(325,000 |
) |
|
|
(96,098 |
) |
|
|
442,223 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
349,375 |
|
Exercise of Series X warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,564 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,564 |
) |
|
|
(3,485 |
) |
|
|
11,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,877 |
|
Exercise of Class I warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,142 |
|
|
|
211 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(21,142 |
) |
|
|
(8,220 |
) |
|
|
24,604 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,595 |
|
Expiration of Class I warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(42,997 |
) |
|
|
(13,478 |
) |
|
|
13,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of Series Z warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(300,000 |
) |
|
|
(106,898 |
) |
|
|
403,898 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
Exercise of Extension warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
310,000 |
|
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(310,000 |
) |
|
|
(183,310 |
) |
|
|
296,460 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
116,250 |
|
Expiration of Bonus warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,312,664 |
) |
|
|
(111,289 |
) |
|
|
111,289 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of preferred stock |
|
|
(2,760 |
) |
|
|
(2,760 |
) |
|
|
2,300,000 |
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,240 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred equity compensation for restricted stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,976 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,976 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,797,685 |
|
|
|
7,797,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance December 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,651,369 |
|
|
|
376,514 |
|
|
|
1,465,530 |
|
|
|
14,655 |
|
|
|
9,176,242 |
|
|
|
4,489,419 |
|
|
|
31,340,363 |
|
|
|
(15,103,647 |
) |
|
|
21,117,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of stock in payment of accrued premium
on preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
195,965 |
|
|
|
1,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
233,407 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
235,367 |
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
741,000 |
|
|
|
7,410 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
443,245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,655 |
|
Exercise of Class F warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
987,040 |
|
|
|
9,870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(987,040 |
) |
|
|
(485,637 |
) |
|
|
1,077,861 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
602,094 |
|
Exercise of Class G warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,987,040 |
|
|
|
29,870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,987,040 |
) |
|
|
(1,167,901 |
) |
|
|
3,886,107 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,748,076 |
|
Exercise of Series X warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
478,750 |
|
|
|
4,788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(596,030 |
) |
|
|
(316,492 |
) |
|
|
711,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
Deferred equity compensation for restricted stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
198,587 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
198,587 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,804,522 |
|
|
|
1,804,522 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance December 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,041,164 |
|
|
|
430,412 |
|
|
|
1,465,530 |
|
|
|
14,655 |
|
|
|
4,606,132 |
|
|
|
2,519,389 |
|
|
|
37,891,274 |
|
|
|
(13,299,125 |
) |
|
|
27,556,605 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of
Series D preferred stock, net of issuance costs |
|
|
757,576 |
|
|
|
7,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,186,044 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,193,620 |
|
Issuance of
Series W stock warrants, net of issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,787,880 |
|
|
|
1,533,578 |
|
|
|
(1,533,578 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuances of restricted stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
160,641 |
|
|
|
1,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,607 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,333,130 |
|
|
|
13,331 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
662,038 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
675,369 |
|
Exercise of Series H warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,771,792 |
|
|
|
17,718 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,771,792 |
) |
|
|
(1,142,060 |
) |
|
|
1,958,448 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
834,106 |
|
Exercise of Series X warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,523 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(508,989 |
) |
|
|
(270,251 |
) |
|
|
270,176 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expiration of Series X warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,304,082 |
) |
|
|
(692,412 |
) |
|
|
692,412 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expiration of Series Y warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,021,269 |
) |
|
|
(414,666 |
) |
|
|
414,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred equity compensation for restricted stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
388,751 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
388,751 |
|
Preferred stock dividends from beneficial conversion feature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
943,838 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
943,838 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
|
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance December 31, 2007 |
|
|
757,576 |
|
|
$ |
7,576 |
|
|
|
46,314,250 |
|
|
$ |
463,143 |
|
|
|
1,465,530 |
|
|
$ |
14,655 |
|
|
|
3,787,880 |
|
|
$ |
1,533,578 |
|
|
$ |
50,872,462 |
|
|
$ |
(22,816,285 |
) |
|
$ |
30,075,129 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-7
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock |
|
$ |
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
$ |
1,804,522 |
|
|
$ |
7,797,685 |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
5,331,206 |
|
|
|
4,324,913 |
|
|
|
4,352,445 |
|
Preferred
stock dividends from beneficial conversion feature |
|
|
943,838 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends accrued on preferred stock |
|
|
136,957 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
235,367 |
|
Provisions for returns |
|
|
787,606 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
266,793 |
|
Deferred tax benefit |
|
|
(3,662,082 |
) |
|
|
(822,047 |
) |
|
|
(4,634,882 |
) |
Extraordinary gain on involuntary conversion of non-monetary assets due
to fire |
|
|
(432,403 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Gain) loss on disposition of equipment |
|
|
(7,920 |
) |
|
|
(58,285 |
) |
|
|
26,122 |
|
(Increase) decrease in other assets |
|
|
(1,432,889 |
) |
|
|
(937,889 |
) |
|
|
16,761 |
|
(Increase) decrease in cash restricted for letter of credit and interest costs |
|
|
(450,067 |
) |
|
|
(88,157 |
) |
|
|
42,708 |
|
Changes in current assets and current liabilities |
|
|
(4,792,670 |
) |
|
|
(6,202,868 |
) |
|
|
(784,790 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
|
(13,095,584 |
) |
|
|
(1,979,811 |
) |
|
|
7,318,209 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of land, buildings and equipment |
|
|
(4,526,559 |
) |
|
|
(6,841,889 |
) |
|
|
(5,907,695 |
) |
Proceeds from disposition of equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,400 |
|
|
|
94,596 |
|
Insurance proceeds from involuntary conversion of non-monetary assets
due to fire |
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(3,826,559 |
) |
|
|
(6,824,489 |
) |
|
|
(5,813,099 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net borrowings on line of credit |
|
|
2,243,378 |
|
|
|
10,060,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of notes-related party |
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
3,303,225 |
|
|
|
1,900,000 |
|
Proceeds from issuance of notes other |
|
|
18,515,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments on notes-related party |
|
|
(1,750,000 |
) |
|
|
(3,050,000 |
) |
|
|
(1,753,225 |
) |
Payments on notes other |
|
|
(3,150,627 |
) |
|
|
(2,734,847 |
) |
|
|
(2,447,524 |
) |
Payments on capital lease obligations |
|
|
(121,390 |
) |
|
|
(76,916 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Increase in cash restricted for payment of long-term debt |
|
|
(10,224,692 |
) |
|
|
(30,691 |
) |
|
|
(31,417 |
) |
Increase (decrease) in outstanding advances on factored receivables |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,450,788 |
) |
|
|
353,235 |
|
Debt acquisition costs |
|
|
(490,672 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19,821 |
) |
Proceeds
from preferred stock placement, net |
|
|
9,193,620 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants, net |
|
|
1,509,475 |
|
|
|
4,200,826 |
|
|
|
1,163,129 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
16,474,092 |
|
|
|
9,220,809 |
|
|
|
(835,623 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
(448,051 |
) |
|
|
416,509 |
|
|
|
669,487 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
|
2,164,532 |
|
|
|
1,748,023 |
|
|
|
1,078,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
1,716,481 |
|
|
$ |
2,164,532 |
|
|
$ |
1,748,023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-8
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1: Description of the Company
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (AERT) develops, manufactures and markets
composite building materials that are used in place of traditional wood or plastic products for
exterior applications in building and remodeling homes and for certain other industrial or
commercial building purposes. Its products are made from approximately equal amounts of waste wood
fiber and reclaimed polyethylene plastics, which have been extensively tested, and are sold by
leading national companies such as the Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhaeuser), Lowes Companies, Inc.
(Lowes) and Therma-Tru Corporation. The Companys customers are primarily regional and national
door manufacturers, Weyerhaeuser, our primary decking customer, and various building
product distributors. Its composite building materials are marketed as a substitute for wood and
plastic filler materials for standard door components, fascia board, and
decking under the trade names LifeCycle®, MoistureShield®, Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek® Premium,
ChoiceDek®, ChoiceDek® Premium Colors and
MoistureShield® outdoor decking. The Company operates manufacturing and recycling
facilities in Springdale and Lowell, Arkansas. It also operates a warehouse and reload
complex in Lowell, Arkansas.
The Companys Junction, Texas manufacturing facility suspended extrusion operations in October
2007. The raw materials department at the facility is working on a new product concept for 2008.
In late 2007, the Company closed its plastic recycling facility in Alexandria, Louisiana,
removing its recycling equipment and relocating it to its Lowell, Arkansas recycling facility. Also
in 2007, the Company paid out the remainder of its lease for the Alexandria facility, which was set
to expire in May 2008.
Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenue Recognition Policy
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104,
Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements (SAB 104). Under SAB 104, revenue is recognized when
the title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of an
arrangement, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the sales price is determinable
and collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company typically recognizes revenue at the time of
shipment or segregated and billed under a bill and hold agreement. The terms of this agreement
qualify for revenue recognition under SAB 104. Sales are recorded net of discounts, rebates, and
returns, which were $3,516,318 in 2007, $2,277,893 in 2006, and $2,211,835 in 2005.
Estimates of expected sales discounts are calculated by applying the appropriate sales
discount rate to all unpaid invoices that are eligible for the discount. The Companys sales
prices are determinable given that the Companys sales discount rates are fixed and given the
predictability with which customers take sales discounts.
Shipping and Handling
In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 00-10, Accounting for Shipping and
Handling Fees and Costs, the Company records shipping fees billed to customers in net sales and
records the related expenses in cost of goods sold.
F-9
Operating Costs
The
cost of goods sold line item in the Companys statements of operations includes costs
associated with the manufacture of our products, such as labor, depreciation, repair and
maintenance, utilities, leases, and raw materials, including the costs of raw material delivery,
warehousing and other distribution related costs. The selling and administrative costs line item
in the Companys statements of operations includes costs associated with sales, marketing, and
support activities like accounting and information technology. The types of costs incurred in
those areas include labor, advertising, travel, commissions, outside professional services, leases
and depreciation.
Statements of Cash Flows
In
order to determine net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, net income (loss)
has been adjusted by, among other things, changes in current assets and current liabilities,
excluding changes in cash, current maturities of long-term debt and current notes payable. Those
changes, shown as an (increase) decrease in current assets and an increase (decrease) in current
liabilities, are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
Receivables |
|
$ |
3,058,545 |
|
|
$ |
(1,556,571 |
) |
|
$ |
(705,900 |
) |
Inventories |
|
|
(9,106,741 |
) |
|
|
(4,767,102 |
) |
|
|
(2,355,905 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other |
|
|
1,654,972 |
|
|
|
1,257,433 |
|
|
|
1,219,421 |
|
Accounts payable trade and related parties |
|
|
(2,155,919 |
) |
|
|
(1,265,529 |
) |
|
|
835,910 |
|
Accrued income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(116,754 |
) |
|
|
117,200 |
|
Accrued liabilities |
|
|
1,756,473 |
|
|
|
245,655 |
|
|
|
104,484 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(4,792,670 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,202,868 |
) |
|
$ |
(784,790 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
3,380,690 |
|
|
$ |
2,573,679 |
|
|
$ |
2,458,323 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
285,824 |
|
|
$ |
68,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
Notes payable for financing of insurance policies |
|
$ |
1,528,777 |
|
|
$ |
1,569,789 |
|
|
$ |
1,339,084 |
|
Accounts / notes payable for equipment |
|
|
1,437,664 |
|
|
|
3,409,523 |
|
|
|
3,936,561 |
|
Accrued dividends on preferred stock paid with
Class A common stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
235,367 |
|
|
|
276,000 |
|
Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments, those with a maturity of three months or
less when purchased, to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, restricted cash
included $859,367, and $523,194, respectively, that was restricted for payment of principal and
interest on the Companys bonds payable. At December 31, 2007, restricted cash included
$10,353,930 that was restricted for payment of construction and equipment costs at our planned
Watts, Oklahoma plastic recycling facility (see Note 5: Notes Payable and Long-term Debt).
Additionally,
F-10
restricted cash at December 31, 2007 and 2006 included $248,653 and $263,998, respectively, which
served as collateral for letters of credit with respect to purchases on credit from certain
vendors.
Buildings and Equipment
Buildings and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful life of
each asset using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are: buildings 15 to 30
years, leasehold improvements 2 to 6 years, transportation equipment 3 to 5 years, office
equipment 3 to 6 years and machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years. Depreciation expense
recognized by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was approximately
$4.7 million, $3.9 million, and $4.1 million, respectively.
Gains or losses on sales or other dispositions of property are credited or charged to income
in the period incurred. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to income in the period
incurred, unless it is determined that the useful life of the respective asset has been extended.
The Company accounts for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets in accordance with
the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144). SFAS 144 requires an assessment of the
recoverability of the Companys investment in long-lived assets to be held and used in operations
whenever events or circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such
assessment requires that the future cash flows associated with the long-lived assets be estimated
over their remaining useful lives. An impairment loss may be required when the future cash flows
are less than the carrying value of such assets.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market.
Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
Parts and supplies |
|
$ |
2,423,766 |
|
|
$ |
2,007,535 |
|
Raw materials |
|
|
7,182,551 |
|
|
|
5,072,734 |
|
Work in process |
|
|
3,906,810 |
|
|
|
3,928,442 |
|
Finished goods |
|
|
10,109,459 |
|
|
|
3,507,134 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
23,622,586 |
|
|
$ |
14,515,845 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Assets
Debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of the related debt. Amortization of debt
issuance costs charged to interest expense was $267,476 for 2007 and $241,276 for 2006.
The net costs for the preparation of patent applications of $64,438 and $93,012 as of December
31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are amortized using the straight-line method over 17 years.
Amortization expense for patents was $28,573 for each of 2007 and 2006. The amortization of
intangible assets resulted in aggregate expense of $296,049 for 2007 and $269,849 for 2006.
The debt service reserve fund is restricted for the life of the bonds payable (see Note 5:
Notes Payable and Long-term Debt) for payment of principal and interest on the bonds in the case
the Company is unable to make those payments.
F-11
As a result of the judgment against the Company in the ACS lawsuit (see Note 12: Commitments
and Contingencies), the Company purchased a certificate of deposit that was restricted for payment
of any final judgment that might have been levied after the appeals process was complete. The
certificate of deposit was recorded in the other assets section of the Companys balance sheet at
December 31, 2006. In February 2008, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected our appeal of the case,
and the judgment will be paid from the certificate of deposit in 2008. As a result, the Company
recorded the certificate of deposit in current assets at December 31, 2007.
As of December 31, the Company had the following amounts related to intangible assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
Gross Carrying |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Gross Carrying |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Amortization |
|
Debt issuance costs |
|
$ |
4,095,594 |
|
|
$ |
1,052,949 |
|
|
$ |
3,604,922 |
|
|
$ |
790,532 |
|
Patents |
|
|
485,748 |
|
|
|
421,310 |
|
|
|
485,748 |
|
|
|
392,736 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,581,342 |
|
|
$ |
1,474,259 |
|
|
$ |
4,090,670 |
|
|
$ |
1,183,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table represents the total estimated amortization of intangible assets for the
five succeeding years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated |
|
|
Amortization |
2008 |
|
$ |
318,998 |
|
2009 |
|
|
314,043 |
|
2010 |
|
|
292,762 |
|
2011 |
|
|
285,470 |
|
2012 |
|
|
285,470 |
|
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms
generally requiring payment within thirty days from the invoice date. Trade accounts are stated at
the amount management expects to collect from outstanding balances. Delinquency fees are not
assessed. Payments of accounts receivable are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the
customers remittance advice.
Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amounts less an estimated reserve made for
returns and discounts based on quarterly review of historical rates of returns and expected
discounts to be taken. The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced, if needed, by a
valuation allowance that reflects managements best estimate of the amounts that will not be
collected. Management individually reviews all accounts receivable balances that exceed thirty
days from invoice date, and based on an assessment of current creditworthiness, estimates the
portion, if any, of the balance that will not be collected. Management provides for probable
uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation account based on its
assessment of the current status of the individual accounts. Balances that remain outstanding
after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the
valuation allowance and a credit to trade accounts receivable. Recoveries of trade receivables previously
written off are recorded when received.
Earnings Per Share
The Company calculates and discloses earnings per share (EPS) in accordance with SFAS No. 128,
Earnings Per Share (SFAS 128). SFAS 128 requires dual presentation of basic and diluted EPS on the
face of the statements of operations and requires a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator
of the basic EPS computation to the numerator
F-12
and denominator of the diluted EPS computation.
Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by
the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the
potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were
exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then
shared in the earnings of the Company.
In computing diluted EPS, only potential common shares that are dilutivethose that reduce
earnings per share or increase loss per share are included. Exercise of options and warrants or
conversion of convertible securities is not assumed if the result would be antidilutive, such as
when a loss from continuing operations is reported. The control number for determining whether
including potential common shares in the diluted EPS computation would be antidilutive is income
from continuing operations. As a result, if there is a loss from continuing operations, diluted
EPS would be computed in the same manner as basic EPS is computed, even if an entity has net income
after adjusting for discontinued operations, an extraordinary item or the cumulative effect of an
accounting change. The Company incurred a loss from continuing operations for the year ended
December 31, 2007. Therefore, basic EPS and diluted EPS are computed in the same manner for that
year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before |
|
|
After |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extraordinary |
|
|
Extraordinary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item |
|
|
Item |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock (A) |
|
$ |
(9,949,563 |
) |
|
$ |
(9,517,160 |
) |
|
$ |
1,804,522 |
|
|
$ |
7,797,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed exercise of stock options and warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,231,993 |
|
|
|
11,160,603 |
|
Application of assumed proceeds toward repurchase
of stock at average market price |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,340,645 |
) |
|
|
(6,546,419 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net additional shares issuable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,891,348 |
|
|
|
4,614,184 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustment of shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
41,990,150 |
|
|
|
35,861,060 |
|
Net additional shares issuable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,891,348 |
|
|
|
4,614,184 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted shares outstanding (B) |
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
47,030,850 |
|
|
|
45,881,498 |
|
|
|
40,475,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per common share Diluted (A)
divided by (B) |
|
$ |
(0.21 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.20 |
) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antidilutive and/or non-exercisable options |
|
|
1,521,500 |
|
|
|
1,521,500 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
682,500 |
|
Antidilutive and/or non-exercisable warrants |
|
|
3,787,880 |
|
|
|
3,787,880 |
|
|
|
1,021,269 |
|
|
|
1,021,269 |
|
The Company has additional options and warrants that were not included in the calculation of
diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, as indicated in
the above table. Those options and warrants were antidilutive and/or not exercisable during those
periods. Although the above financial instruments were not included due to being antidilutive
and/or not exercisable, such financial instruments may become dilutive and would then need to be
included in future calculations of diluted EPS.
Concentration Risk
Credit Risk
The Companys revenues are derived principally from Weyerhaeuser, the Companys primary
decking customer, regional building materials dealers, and a number of regional and national door
and window manufacturers. The
Company extends unsecured credit to its customers. The Companys concentration in the
building materials industry has the potential to impact its exposure to credit risk because changes
in economic or other conditions in the construction
F-13
industry may similarly affect the customers.
Weyerhaeuser is the only customer from which the Company derived more than 10% of its revenue in
2007, 2006 and 2005. The following table presents sales to Weyerhaeuser and the percentage of
gross sales that those sales represent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Sales (in millions) |
|
$ |
64.4 |
|
|
$ |
81.1 |
|
|
$ |
68.5 |
|
% of total sales |
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
81 |
% |
|
|
77 |
% |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company maintains bank accounts which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) up to $100,000. At times, cash balances may be in excess of the FDIC insurance
limit. The Company believes no significant concentrations of risk exist with respect to its cash.
Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of
financial instrument held by the Company:
Current assets and current liabilities The carrying value approximates fair value due to
the short maturity of these items.
Long-term debt The fair value of the Companys long-term debt has been estimated by the
Company based upon each obligations characteristics, including remaining maturities, interest
rate, credit rating, and collateral and amortization schedule. The carrying amount approximates
fair value.
Stock-Based Compensation
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R). SFAS 123R is a revision of SFAS
123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for
Stock Issued to Employees, and its related implementation guidance. This statement requires a
public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity
instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions) and requires
that cost to be recognized in the financial statements. In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, which includes interpretations that
express views of the SEC staff regarding the interaction between SFAS 123R and certain SEC rules
and regulations and provide the staffs views regarding the valuation of share-based payment
arrangements for public companies. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement effective
January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective method of transition provided in SFAS 123R. Under
modified prospective application, this statement applies to new awards and to awards modified,
repurchased, or cancelled after the effective date. Compensation cost for the unvested portion of
awards at the effective date is to be recognized as the awards vest. The grant-date fair value of
those awards is to be used to calculate compensation cost under SFAS 123R. The adoption of SFAS
123R did not have a material effect on the Companys financial statements and related disclosures.
In 2005, the Company modified its employee/director equity compensation policies to generally
provide restricted stock awards rather than stock options. Restricted stock awards are expensed as
earned as a portion of compensation costs.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and
F-14
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.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are charged to expense in the period incurred. Advertising expense was
approximately $1,772,249, $1,785,467, and $1,481,000 in 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.
Research and Development Costs
Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvement are
charged to expense as incurred. Such expenditures amounted to $265,881, $285,858, and $110,134 in
2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 48,
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48).
This interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an
enterprises financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income
Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial
statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax
return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties,
accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The
Company adopted the provisions of this statement effective
January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a
material effect on the Companys financial statements and related disclosures.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The issuance of this standard is
meant to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective
for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not expect the adoption of
SFAS 157 to have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.
F-15
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
(SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain
other items at fair value, and establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to
facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar
types of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November
15, 2007. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 159 to have a material effect on its
financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities an
amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (SFAS 161). SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about an
entitys derivative and hedging activities, including qualitative disclosures about objectives and
strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains
and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features
in derivative agreements. SFAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning
after November 15, 2008.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years financial statements to conform to
the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the Companys net income.
Note 3: Related Party Transactions
Transfer of Receivables
During the first quarter of 2006, the Company accounted for transfers of receivables, with
recourse, to a related party (Brooks Investment Co.) under the guidelines of SFAS No. 140,
Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities (SFAS
140). This statement provides accounting and reporting standards for, among other things, the
transfer and servicing of financial assets, such as transfers of receivables with recourse, and
provides standards for distinguishing transfers of financial assets that are sales from transfers
that are secured borrowings. Based on the requirements of SFAS 140, the receivables transferred to
the related party with recourse were accounted for as a secured borrowing because the Company was
not considered to have surrendered control over the transferred assets. The Company discontinued
the agreement with Brooks Investment Co. on March 31, 2006.
The
terms of the agreement with Brooks Investment Co., controlled by Marjorie S. Brooks,
allowed the Company to transfer certain of its trade receivables as collateral, which Brooks
Investment Co. deemed acceptable, up to $4.0 million at any one time. Upon acceptance of a
transfer of a receivable, Brooks Investment Co. remitted to the Company 85% of the receivable, as
defined in the agreement. Upon collection of the receivable, the Company remitted to Brooks
Investment Co. 1.25% of the receivable as a factoring charge. The remaining receivable, less
interest costs, which were based on the time period over which the receivable was outstanding, was
remitted to the Company. The Company indemnified Brooks Investment Co. for any loss arising out of
rejections or returns of any merchandise, or any claims asserted by the Companys customers.
During 2006 and 2005, the Company transferred an aggregate of approximately $28.6 million and $89.5
million, respectively, in receivables under this agreement, none of which remains to be collected.
Costs associated with the factoring agreement of $347,392 and $669,718 were included in selling and
administrative costs for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Lease
In
December 2007, the Company entered into a 20-year lease for an existing 16 building complex on 60 acres
in Adair County, Oklahoma near the town of Watts, for construction of a waste plastic washing, recycling,
and reclamation facility. The property is being leased from a corporation controlled by Marjorie S. Brooks,
our major shareholder, with payments of .0075 cents per pound of plastic recycled, commencing on January 1,
2009 on a pounds of production, or net throughput of recycled plastic produced, basis with a minimum rent of
$1,000.00 per month. The throughput or production rent is due quarterly and is capped throughout the term
of the lease not to exceed $450,000 per year.
Beginning
in 2011, from January 1 to March 1, 2011 for a 60-day period and every three years thereafter, the
company shall have the right to purchase the site and any adjoining property of 891 acres required for the
operation of its facility at fair market value.
F-16
Commissions
The
Company employs the services of a related party, Tull Sales, Inc., as an outside sales
representative. Tull Sales is owned by Michael M. Tull, one of our directors. Commission costs
incurred by the Company for services performed by Tull Sales were $679,390 in 2007, $786,971 in
2006, and $677,794 in 2005.
In
addition to the related party transactions discussed above, Joe
Brooks, our Chairman and CEO, personally
guarantees repayment of the Companys automobile loans, which had a balance of $76,888 at December
31, 2007.
At
December 31, 2007, accounts payable-related parties included the following amounts:
|
|
|
Sales commissions of $63,501 owed to Tull Sales Co., which is owned by Michael M.
Tull, one of our directors, |
|
|
|
|
Loan guarantee fees of $155,268, equipment rental of $27,344 and miscellaneous
charges of $70,101 owed to Marjorie S. Brooks, one of our directors, or companies
controlled by her, and |
|
|
|
|
Deferred compensation of $20,667 and out-of-pocket expenses of $15,000 owed to Joe G.
Brooks |
Note 4: Line of Credit
In
September 2007, the Company renewed its $15.0 million bank line of credit. The line is a
revolving credit facility maturing June 2008, secured by inventory, accounts receivable, chattel
paper, general intangibles and other current assets, as well as by fixtures and equipment, and is
provided by Liberty Bank of Arkansas at a variable interest rate of prime plus one hundred basis
points which was 8.25% at December 31, 2007. The maximum amount that may be drawn on the line
at one time is the lesser of $15.0 million and the
borrowing base, of which approximately $1.9 million was
available to borrow at December 31, 2007. The borrowing base is
equal to the sum of approximately 85% of our qualifying accounts
receivable, 75% of finished goods inventory and 50% of all other
inventory. The full
amount of the line is guaranteed as to payment by our largest stockholder, Marjorie Brooks. The
credit facility includes debt service coverage ratio, current ratio, and accounts payable and
accounts receivable aging covenants substantially similar to those
under our 2003 bond agreements,
and customary restrictions on dividends and the incurrence of additional debt or liens, among other
matters. The Company expects to either renew its line of credit for one year at the June 2008
maturity date, or seek a larger working capital line of credit.
Note 5: Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt
Notes Payable Related Parties
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes payable to related parties consisted of the following at December 31: |
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
9.25% note payable to Brooks Investment Company, which is controlled by
Marjorie S. Brooks, an officer and director of the Company; unsecured; due
on demand; no periodic principal or interest payments required; paid
in 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Notes Payable Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes payable other, consisted of the following at December 31: |
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Various notes payable to finance insurance policies bearing interest at rates of 10.5%
and 11.25%; secured by insurance policies; principal and interest payable monthly |
|
$ |
385,229 |
|
|
$ |
398,181 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
385,229 |
|
|
$ |
410,181 |
|
F-17
Long-term Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, less current maturities consisted of the following at December 31: |
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
8% bonds payable to Bank of Oklahoma; principal payable annually beginning December 15,
2009; interest payable semi-annually; subject to mandatory sinking fund redemption;
secured by real estate and improvements, fixed assets, patents and trademarks,
inventory, and pledged revenues; maturing on December 15, 2023(a) |
|
$ |
13,515,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
7% bonds payable to Regions Bank; principal payable annually; interest payable
semi-annually; subject to mandatory sinking fund redemption; secured by real estate and
improvements, fixed assets, patents and trademarks, inventory, pledged revenues, and a
personal guarantee on $4 million of the outstanding balance by Marjorie S. Brooks, the
major shareholder; maturing on October 1, 2017(a) |
|
|
11,200,000 |
|
|
|
12,100,000 |
|
10% note payable to Allstate Insurance Company, secured by subordinated interest in the
collateral securing the bonds payable; principal and interest due October 1, 2008 |
|
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
19.75% note payable to Allstate Insurance Company, secured by subordinated interest in
the collateral securing the bonds payable; interest payable semiannually; principal due
on October 1, 2017 |
|
|
2,600,000 |
|
|
|
2,600,000 |
|
Variable rate note payable bearing
interest at the Wall Street Journal prime rate plus 1% (8.25% at
December 31, 2007);
secured by certain real estate and equipment purchased
with proceeds from the note; principal and interest payable monthly; maturing on
September 28, 2009 |
|
|
1,900,799 |
|
|
|
1,925,679 |
|
Variable rate note payable bearing
interest at LIBOR plus 3.1% (7.6% at
December 31, 2007); secured by equipment
purchased with proceeds from the note;
principal and interest payable monthly;
maturing on May 1, 2009 |
|
|
997,416 |
|
|
|
1,623,092 |
|
Other |
|
|
76,889 |
|
|
|
135,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
35,290,104 |
|
|
|
18,384,001 |
|
Less current maturities |
|
|
(9,582,145 |
) |
|
|
(1,580,357 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, less current maturities |
|
$ |
25,707,959 |
|
|
$ |
16,803,644 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
Our 2007 bonds have substantially the same covenants as our
2003 bonds, except that the accounts payable percentage is 20% and
the debt service coverage ratio requirement is 1.5 to 1 through
December 31, 2008, and moves to 2 to 1 beginning with the
quarter ended March 31, 2009. We were not in compliance with the
accounts payable and debt service coverage covenants at
December 31, 2007; however, the debt service coverage covenant
was waived by the bondholder as of December 31, 2007 through,
and including, March 31, 2008, and the accounts payable covenant
was waived by the bondholder as of December 31, 2007 through,
and including, December 31, 2008. |
F-18
The aggregate maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2007 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
Amount |
|
|
2008 |
|
$ |
9,582,145 |
|
2009 |
|
|
3,383,723 |
|
2010 |
|
|
1,647,863 |
|
2011 |
|
|
1,781,373 |
|
2012 |
|
|
1,825,000 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
17,070,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
35,290,104 |
|
|
|
|
|
On February 21, 2008, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. completed a
refunding of a prior 2003 industrial development bond obligation. On February 21, 2008, the City of
Springdale, Arkansas Industrial Development Refunding Revenue Bonds (Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. Project), Series 2008 (the Series 2008 Bonds) were issued pursuant
to an indenture, dated as of February 1, 2008, by and between the City of Springdale, Arkansas, as
Issuer, and Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., as Trustee. The proceeds received from the sale of the
Series 2008 Bonds were loaned by the Issuer to AERT, pursuant to the terms of a loan agreement,
dated as of February 1, 2008, between AERT and the Issuer. The Series 2008 Bonds are special
obligations of the Issuer, payable solely from the revenues assigned and pledged by the indenture
to secure such payment. Those revenues will include the loan payments required to be made by AERT
under the loan agreement.
The Series 2008 Bonds were issued in an aggregate principal amount of $10.61 million, bear
interest at a rate of 8% per annum and, subject to sinking fund obligations, mature on December 15,
2023.
Proceeds of the bonds were used, along with other funds of AERT, to refund, pay and discharge
the $11.2 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers Series 2003 Industrial Development
Refunding Revenue Bonds. Pursuant to the loan agreement, AERT will be obligated to make payments on
the dates and in the amounts necessary to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on
the Series 2008 Bonds when due. The proceeds received from the sale of the Series 2003 Bonds were
applied to refund a prior Series 1999 City of Springdale, Arkansas Industrial Development Revenue
Bonds, which Series 1999 Bonds were in turn used, along with other funds of AERT, to finance and
refinance costs of acquiring, constructing and equipping certain solid waste disposal and related
facilities, used in connection with AERTs manufacturing facilities located in Springdale,
Arkansas.
At substantially the same time as the issuance of the Series 2003 Bonds, the Company delivered
a promissory note (the taxable note) in the principal amount of $2,600,000 and bearing interest
at the rate of 19.75%, payable to Allstate Insurance Company, the holder of the Series 2003 Bonds
(and now the holder of the Series 2008 Bonds). Proceeds of the Taxable Note were applied to the
repayment of certain related-party indebtedness of the Company and to the payment of certain
capital improvements of the Company.
As a condition to the purchase of the Series 2008 Bonds by Allstate, the Company was required
to make an $800,000 prepayment of the taxable note on the date of issue of the bonds. The remaining
$1,800,000 principal balance of the taxable note is due and payable on May 1, 2008. A failure to
pay the taxable note when due shall constitute an event of default under the loan agreement. In
connection with the issuance of the Series 2008 Bonds, the Company also repaid an approximately
$1.0 million loan to Regions Bank, without prepayment penalty.
In May 2007, the Company also entered into a loan arrangement with Allstate Insurance Company,
providing a $5,000,000 loan (the Allstate Note), payable on October 1, 2008, and bearing interest
a the rate of 10% per annum. The Series 2008 Bonds are secured on a parity with the taxable note
and the 2007 Allstate note, and with the Adair County (Oklahoma) Industrial Authority Solid Waste
Recovery Facilities Revenue Bonds Series 2007 (the Adair County Bonds), issued on December 19,
2007, in the principal amount of $13,515,000. The proceeds received from the sale of the Adair
County Bonds were loaned by the Adair County Industrial Authority to AERT, pursuant to the terms of
a loan agreement, dated as of December 1, 2007, between AERT and the Adair County Industrial
Authority, and are being used to develop and complete new recycling facilities located in Watts,
Oklahoma, approximately 35 miles east of Springdale, Arkansas.
Note 6: Stockholders Equity
Preferred Stock
Series A, B and C
The Company issued 1,500 Series A preferred shares, 900 Series B preferred shares and 500
Series C preferred shares at a price of $1,000 per share in 1998. Such stock was purchased by the
major stockholder, a 5% holder and accredited institutional investors. The preferred stock had an
interest premium of 10% per year payable in cash or common stock. The Company converted $235,367
and 276,000 of accrued premiums to common stock in 2006 and 2005, respectively. These transactions
are considered non-cash financing activities for statement of cash flow purposes.
On November 7, 2005, the seventh anniversary date of the issuance of the preferred stock, the
remaining 2,760 shares of all series of preferred stock were automatically converted into shares of common stock
according to the mandatory conversion feature of the preferred stock. The conversion price was
$1.20, the lower of the average of the closing bid prices for the common stock for the five trading
days immediately preceding the conversion date and the fixed conversion price of $1.20. The
preferred stock was originally issued with two classes of warrants, Series X and Y, which can be
exercised at $1.20 and $2.50 per share, respectively, as described in the warrants section below.
Series D
On October 29, 2007, the Company sold for $10 million cash (i) an aggregate 757,576 shares of
a newly established Series D Convertible Preferred Stock , convertible initially at a conversion
price of $1.32, and (ii) accompanying five-year warrants to acquire an aggregate of 3,787,880
shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $1.38. The Series D preferred stock has an
8% cumulative dividend rate. For the first two quarters following the closing, the Company may pay
dividends in additional shares of Series D preferred stock. Beginning in the third quarter
following the closing, dividends may be paid in either cash or in shares of common stock, at the
option of the Company. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders
of the Series D preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidation preference equal to two times
the original purchase price plus all accrued but unpaid dividends. In addition to separate
protective voting rights as to certain customary matters, the holders of the Series D preferred
stock will be entitled to vote on an as-converted basis together with the holders of the Companys
common stock on all other matters submitted to a vote of the Companys stockholders.
Beginning 18 months after closing, the Company may cause a mandatory conversion of the Series
D preferred stock if there is a currently effective resale registration statement and the closing
price of the Companys common stock for the preceding 20-trading day period has been at least 200%
of the conversion price and the average daily trading volume for such period has been at least
100,000 shares.
The preferred shares and warrants are subject to a full ratchet anti-dilution adjustment
during the initial two-year period following closing in the event, with certain customary
exceptions, that the Company issues additional equity securities at a lower per share price, and
thereafter are subject to a weighted average anti-dilution adjustment in such circumstances.
The Company intends to seek before July 2008 such stockholder approval as may be required
under NASDAQ Capital Market rules for the issuance of underlying common shares upon conversion or
exercise, to the extent any such anti-dilution adjustments could cause the issuance of in excess of
19.99% of the currently outstanding number of shares of the Companys common stock at a price below
the prevailing price on the date of original issuance. The Company has undertaken not to make any
issuances of securities that would cause an anti-dilution adjustment to the Series D preferred
stock or warrants unless such stockholder approval has been first obtained. The preferred share
designation and the warrants contain blocker provisions prohibiting the conversion of the
preferred shares or the exercise of the warrants if as a result an investor or its affiliates would
beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the Companys outstanding common stock. The blocker
provision may be waived by the investor upon 61 days prior written notice.
In the event of certain mergers, consolidations or other business combinations to which the
Company is a party, the holders of the Series D preferred stock will be entitled at their option to
have such preferred stock redeemed at 100% of its stated value plus accrued dividends. In the event
of certain specified triggering events such as a lapse of the registration statement, suspension
of its listing, deregistration under the Exchange Act, completion of a going private transaction,
failure to comply with certain conversion procedures and timing, or breaches of the Companys
representations , covenants and other obligations to the investors, the holders of the Series D
preferred stock will be entitled at their option to have such preferred stock redeemed at 120% of
the stated value plus accrued dividends. In the event holders elect such a redemption in the case
of a major transaction or triggering event, the Company has the option to make the redemption
payment in either cash or stock for those redemption events not in
its control, valued at the lesser of the conversion price or the then-current
30-day volume-weighted average price of the common stock. The Company
could be required to make redemption payments in cash for certain
redemption events that are within its control. Also in the event of such a merger,
consolidation or business combination, the Company will have the option to redeem the Series D
preferred stock at an amount equal to the liquidation preference plus any accrued and unpaid
dividends and liquidated damages, if any.
The investors were granted a right of first offer during the 12 months following closing with
respect to any proposed issuance by the Company, with certain customary exceptions, of common stock
or other debt or equity securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for the Companys
common stock. The Company agreed not to issue variable-priced equity or variable-priced equity
linked securities while the Series D preferred stock remains outstanding.
The Company and the investors also entered into a registration rights agreement under which,
among other things, the Company agreed to use its best efforts to (i) file a registration statement
with the SEC for the resale of the common stock underlying the Series D preferred stock and the
warrants within 30 days following the closing, and (ii) cause such registration statement to become
effective within 120 days after closing. If the registration statement is not filed within 30 days
after closing or declared effective within 120 days after closing, the Company must pay the
investors liquidated damages of 1.5% of the amount invested for an initial 30-day period and 1.0%
of the amount invested for each 30-day period thereafter until the registration statement is filed
or effective, as the case may be. In addition, for certain delays in processing a trade or the
reissuance of stock certificates, the Company could be liable for additional partial liquidated
damages of between $10-20 per trading day per $2,000 of securities so delayed, subject to a cap so
that such damages will not exceed 1.5% of the stated value of the preferred stock held by the
investor affected by such delays during any 30 day period.
The
proceeds are being used to pay approximately $ 3.0 million of existing indebtedness, to
implement operating and manufacturing efficiencies designed to improve the Companys waste plastic
recycling process and allow it to better control its supply costs, for marketing initiatives
designed to promote the green building, environmentally-conscious features of its products, and
for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The shares and warrants were sold to
three private equity firms and certain affiliates that are accredited investors in a private
placement exempt from registration under Rule 506 and/or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. In
connection with the issuance of the preferred stock, the Company recorded $943,838 in preferred stock dividends for the
beneficial conversion feature of the preferred stock.
Common Stock
The Class A common stock and the Class B common stock are substantially similar in all
respects except that the Class B common stock has five votes per share while the Class A common
stock has one vote per share. Each share of Class B common stock is convertible at any time at the
holders option to one share of Class A common stock and, except in certain instances, is
automatically converted into one share of Class A common stock upon any sale or transfer.
Warrants
The Company has reserved 4,606,132 shares of the Companys Class A common stock for issuance
under warrant agreements.
Class C Warrants
In June 1993, 650,000 detachable Class C warrants were issued to Marjorie S. Brooks, an
officer and director of the Company, and four other individuals, in connection with the issuance of
bridge notes in the amount of $650,000. Each Class C warrant was exercisable into one share of
Class A common stock at an exercise price of $1.075 per share. During 1998, the Company received
net proceeds of $330,000 from the exercise of 275,000 Class C warrants. One Bonus warrant
(described below) was granted to the holder for each warrant exercised. On February 12, 1999,
50,000 Class C warrants expired. The remaining 325,000 Class C warrants were set to expire in June
2003, but the expiration date was extended to June 2005. In June 2005, the remaining 325,000 Class
C warrants were exercised for proceeds of $349,375.
F-19
Class F Warrants
In May 1994, the Company completed a private placement offering at market price to certain
bridge note holders and affiliated stockholders, including Marjorie S. Brooks, an officer and
director of the Company. As part of the private placement, 3,468,400 shares of Class A common
stock, 3,468,400 Class F warrants, and 3,468,400 Class G warrants (see below) were issued. Net
offering proceeds of approximately $2,065,000 consisted of $2,020,000 conversion of debt and
accrued interest and $45,000 in cash. In 1999, 350,864 Class F warrants were exercised at a price
of $0.61 per share, resulting in proceeds of $214,027. The remaining 987,040 Class F warrants were
exercised at a price of $0.61 per share resulting in proceeds of $602,094.
Class G Warrants
In 1999, 481,810 Class G warrants were exercised at prices ranging from $0.91 to $0.92 per
share, resulting in proceeds of $441,956. The remaining 2,987,040 warrants were exercised at a
price of $0.92 per share, resulting in proceeds of $2,748,077.
Class H Warrants
In 1995, in connection with a note payable to Marjorie S. Brooks and accounts payable to a
company controlled by her (see Note 3), the Companys Board of Directors authorized the issuance of
up to 2,000,000 Class H warrants on a one-for-one basis for each dollar advanced under the
agreement and having an exercise price equal to the per share market value of the Companys Class A
common stock on the date of such advances. The warrants were exercisable at prices from $0.39 to
$0.49 per share of Class A common stock for each Class H warrant exercised. In 2000, 228,208
shares of Class H warrants were exercised at prices ranging from $0.39 to $0.49 per share,
resulting in proceeds of $100,000. In 2007, the remaining 1,771,792 Class H warrants were
exercised at an average price of $0.47 per share, resulting in proceeds of $834,106.
Class I Warrants
In June 1996, the Company completed an offering to qualified foreign investors under
Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933 with the issuance of 1,666,893 shares of Class A common
stock. Net offering proceeds consisted of $1,146,000 in cash. As part of the offering, the
Company issued 242,878 Class I warrants to the stock placement distributor. The Class I warrants
were to expire three years from the date of issue and were exercisable at prices ranging from
$0.9375 to $1.125 per share of Class A common stock for each Class I warrant exercised. In May
1997, an additional 150,466 Class I warrants were issued in connection with the December 1996
Regulation S Offering, as described below, at exercise prices ranging from $0.31 to $0.56 per share
of Class A common stock for each Class I warrant exercised.
In December 1996, the Company received $185,000 in cash relating to an offering to qualified
foreign investors under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933 with the issuance of 228,571 and
134,454 shares of Class A common stock in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Also, in 1997, $228,999 was
received and 977,367 shares of Class A common stock were issued. In 1999, the remaining Class I
warrants were extended to June 22, 2003, and were later extended again to June 22, 2005. All Class
I warrants were either exercised or expired in June 2005.
The following table sets forth the exercises and expirations of Class I warrants and the
proceeds received for those exercises:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class I |
|
|
|
Warrants |
|
|
Range of Exercise |
|
|
Proceeds |
|
|
Warrants |
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
|
Prices |
|
|
Received |
|
|
Expired |
|
2005 |
|
|
21,142 |
|
|
$ |
0.5613 to $0.9375 |
|
|
$ |
16,596 |
|
|
|
42,997 |
|
2004 |
|
|
116,249 |
|
|
$ |
0.31 to $1.125 |
|
|
|
79,469 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
95,107 |
|
|
$ |
0.31 to $1.125 |
|
|
|
62,881 |
|
|
|
|
|
2001 |
|
|
56,727 |
|
|
$ |
0.31 to $1.125 |
|
|
|
34,548 |
|
|
|
|
|
1999 |
|
|
29,367 |
|
|
$ |
0.9375 |
|
|
|
27,532 |
|
|
|
42,866 |
|
F-20
Series X and Series Y Warrants Issued in Connection with Preferred Stock
In connection with the issuance of preferred stock in 1998, 2,416,665 Series X warrants and
1,021,269 Series Y warrants were issued. The warrants are exercisable at $1.20 and $2.50 per
share, respectively. Each of the warrants has cashless exercise features that are based on various
conversion amounts and terms. The expiration date of the warrants was extended from November 2005
to November 2007. In 2002, 1,000 Series X warrants were exercised at a price of $1.20 per share,
resulting in proceeds of $1,200. In 2006, 333,333 Series X warrants were exercised at a price of
$1.20, resulting in proceeds of $400,000. Also in 2006, 8,325 Series X warrants were exercised
using the cashless exercise feature, resulting in an issuance of 5,418 shares of stock. In 2007,
352,425 Series X warrants were exercised using the cashless warrant exercise feature, resulting in
an issuance of 5,209 shares of stock. The remaining 1,304,082 Series X and 867,500 Series Y
warrants expired in November 2007.
Series X and Series Y Warrants to Placement Agent
The Series A preferred stock shares were placed through a placement agent. The placement
agent and certain officers of the placement agent were given Series X warrants to purchase, in the
aggregate, 278.33 shares of the Companys common stock for each $1,000 of purchase price (417,495
shares) and Series Y warrants to purchase, in the aggregate, 102.7 shares of the Companys common
stock for each $1,000 of purchase price (154,050 shares). The Series X warrants were originally
exercisable for a period of six years from the first anniversary of the date of issuance at a price
per share equal to $1.20 and the Series Y warrants were originally exercisable for a period of five
years from the second anniversary of the date of issuance at a price per share equal to $2.50. The
exercise period for both the Series X and Series Y warrants was extended by two years. No
placement agent was used for the Series B and C preferred stock. In 2005, 6,564 Series X warrants
were exercised at $1.20, resulting in proceeds of $7,877. In 2006, 254,372 Series X warrants were
exercised using the cashless exercise feature, resulting in an issuance of 139,999 shares of stock.
In 2007, the final 156,564 Series X warrants were exercised using the cashless warrant exercise
feature, resulting in an issuance of 2,314 shares of stock. The remaining 153,769 Series Y warrants
expired in November 2007.
Bonus Warrants
In connection with the exercise of the Class B and C Warrants during 1998 and 1999, the
Company granted a new warrant on a one-for-one basis for each Class B and C Warrant exercised. The
Bonus warrants, 1,054,670 and 257,994 issued in 1998 and 1999, respectively, were originally to
expire February 12, 2001, but were extended to June 22, 2003, and later extended to June 22, 2005.
They were exercisable at a price of $3.00 per share of Class A common stock for each Bonus warrant
exercised. All of the Bonus warrants expired unexercised in June 2005.
Consulting and Placement Warrants
In 1997 and 1998, the Company obtained bridge financing of $3.2 million. In connection with
the financing, 6,314,926 Consulting warrants and 378,895 Placement warrants were issued at an
exercise price of $0.375. The expiration dates for all warrants were extended by two years in
2002. Since the issuance of the warrants, all of the Consulting and Placement warrants were either
exercised or expired, as shown in the table below.
F-21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
Expired |
|
|
Consulting |
|
Placement |
|
Consulting |
|
Placement |
Year Exercised/Expired |
|
Warrants |
|
Warrants |
|
Warrants |
|
Warrants |
2005 |
|
|
2,016,332 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,379,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
1,573,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
416,667 |
|
|
|
195,605 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prior to 2002 |
|
|
928,668 |
|
|
|
173,890 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,935,000 |
|
|
|
378,895 |
|
|
|
1,379,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
Extension Warrants
In connection with the extension of an October 30, 1997 bridge financing, 310,000 extension
warrants were issued at an exercise price of $0.375 per share of Class A common stock for each
warrant exercised. The stock warrants were originally to expire on November 5, 2003, but the
expiration date was extended to November 5, 2005. All 310,000 warrants were exercised in November
2005 for proceeds of $116,250.
Series Z Placement Warrants
In 1998, the Company issued 300,000 Series Z Placement warrants in connection with the
issuance of the Series C preferred stock. These warrants are exercisable at a price of $1.00 per
share of Class A common stock for each warrant exercised, and were originally to expire on November
12, 2003, but the expiration date was extended to November 12, 2005. All 300,000 warrants were
exercised in October 2005 for proceeds of $300,000.
Series W Warrants Issued in Connection with Preferred Stock
In connection with the
issuance of Series D preferred stock in 2007, the Company issued
3,787,880 Series W warrants. These warrants are exercisable at
$1.38 per share and will expire on October 29, 2012. Each of the
warrants also has a cashless exercise feature.
At December 31, 2007, the Company had warrants outstanding as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants Outstanding |
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants |
|
|
for Class A |
|
Average |
|
Expiration |
|
Exercised |
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Exercise Price |
|
Date |
|
in 2007 |
Class H warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.47 |
|
|
|
02/21/07 |
|
|
|
1,771,792 |
|
Series X warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.20 |
|
|
|
11/10/07 |
|
|
|
352,425 |
|
Series Y warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.50 |
|
|
|
11/10/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
Series X warrants placement agent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.20 |
|
|
|
11/10/07 |
|
|
|
156,564 |
|
Series Y warrants placement agent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.50 |
|
|
|
11/10/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
Series W warrants |
|
|
3,787,880 |
|
|
|
1.38 |
|
|
|
10/29/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals |
|
|
3,787,880 |
|
|
$ |
1.38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,280,781 |
|
Effective June 30, 2001, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board SFAS No.
133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS 133), with no effects on
its financial statements except for warrants that are indexed to and potentially settled in the Companys common stock, which includes
all of the Companys warrants. These warrants have been accounted for under the provisions of
Emerging Issues Task Force abstract 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed
to, and Potentially Settled in, a Companys Own Stock (EITF 00-19). The Company modified certain
of its warrant related registration rights agreements as of June 30, 2001, so that
F-22
those warrants would be classified as equity rather than debt in its balance sheet under the provisions of EITF
00-19. As a result of these modifications, there was no impact on earnings.
In accounting for its derivative contracts at June 30, 2001, the Company recorded $8,419,345
in warrants outstanding in the equity section of its balance sheet and decreased its additional
paid-in capital by the same amount, leaving its total stockholders equity amount unaffected. The
warrant valuation was determined as of June 30, 2001 using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model,
with the following details and assumptions. The underlying stock price was $0.87. Exercise prices
of the warrants ranged from $0.31 to $3.00. The volatility of the stock underlying the warrants
ranged from 46.42% to 87.27%, and the risk-free rates of return ranged from 3.63% to 4.82%.
Note 7: Stock Option Plans
The Companys stock option plans (the 1997 Plan, 1994 Plan, Director Plan, Chairman Plan and
the 1989 Plan, collectively the Plans) authorize the issuance of 7,600,000 shares of the
Companys Class A common stock to its directors, employees and outside consultants. The option
price of the stock options awarded must be at least equal to the market value of the Class A common
stock on the date of grant. Stock options may not be granted to an individual to the extent that
in any calendar year in which options first become exercisable, the shares subject to options first
exercisable in such year have a fair market value on the date of grant in excess of $100,000. No
option may be outstanding for more than ten years after its grant. The purpose of the Plans is to
enable the Company to encourage key employees, directors and outside consultants to contribute to
the success of the Company by granting such persons incentive stock options (ISOs) and/or
non-incentive stock options (nonqualified stock options). The ISOs are available for employees
only. In order to provide for disinterested administration of the Plans for purposes of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Director Plan also provides that outside directors
will automatically receive annual awards of nonqualified stock options; however, no more options
will be issued from the Director Plan, as all options authorized for issuance under the Director
Plan have been issued, and the Company has adopted a separate non-employee director equity
incentive plan (see Note 8).
The Companys stockholders approved the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the Director
Plan), in June 1994. The Director Plan provides for the issuance of options to purchase up to an
aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Companys Class A common stock to eligible outside directors of
the Company. Each eligible outside director was granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of
common stock annually commencing in 1995 and each year thereafter through 2004. The plan expired
in 2004, and options can no longer be issued under this plan.
In June 1994, stockholders of the Company approved the adoption of the Amended and Restated
Stock Option Plan (the 1994 Plan), which superseded and replaced the Companys 1990 Stock Option
Plan. The 1994 Plan provides for the granting of options to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of the
Companys Class A common stock by recipients of incentive stock options or nonqualified stock
options as granted by the Companys Board of Directors. The 1994 Plan has expired, and no more
stock options can be issued under that plan.
Also, in June 1994, stockholders of the Company approved the Chairman Stock Option Plan. This
plan provided for a grant of options to purchase up to 500,000 shares of the Companys Class A
common stock. Those options have all been issued.
In July 1997, stockholders of the Company approved the adoption of the Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. 1997 Securities Plan (the 1997 Plan). The 1997 Plan provides for
certain awards to be given to senior and executive management of the Company to encourage and
reward superior performance. The awards can be in the form of stock options, restricted stock, and
other performance awards to be given. The aggregate number of shares which
may be offered pursuant to incentive stock options under the 1997 Plan originally was not to exceed
3,000,000, but this amount was increased by approval of the stockholders to 5,000,000 in July 1999.
The aggregate number of shares which may be offered for purchase pursuant to non-qualified stock
options shall not exceed 500,000 shares. The stock options may not be granted with an exercise
price less than the fair market value of a share on the date the option is granted,
F-23
unless granted to a 10% shareholder, then the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value per
share on the date such option is granted. The Incentive Stock Options may not be exercised after
ten years from the date the option is granted unless the option is given to a 10% shareholder, and
then the expiration date is five years from the date the option is granted. The options must be
exercised within three months after termination of employment.
A summary of the activity in the Companys stock option plans during the years ended December
31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Price |
|
Outstanding, beginning of year |
|
|
2,872,130 |
|
|
$ |
1.09 |
|
|
|
3,688,130 |
|
|
$ |
1.01 |
|
|
|
4,595,230 |
|
|
$ |
1.06 |
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
|
(1,333,130 |
) |
|
|
0.49 |
|
|
|
(791,000 |
) |
|
|
0.60 |
|
|
|
(377,600 |
) |
|
|
0.49 |
|
Forfeited |
|
|
(17,500 |
) |
|
|
1.06 |
|
|
|
(25,000 |
) |
|
|
2.00 |
|
|
|
(529,500 |
) |
|
|
1.79 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, end of year |
|
|
1,521,500 |
|
|
$ |
1.59 |
|
|
|
2,872,130 |
|
|
$ |
1.09 |
|
|
|
3,688,130 |
|
|
$ |
1.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable, end of year |
|
|
1,521,500 |
|
|
$ |
1.59 |
|
|
|
2,872,130 |
|
|
$ |
1.09 |
|
|
|
3,638,130 |
|
|
$ |
1.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the Companys
stock option plans as of December 31, 2007. All options were exercisable at December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Outstanding and Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wtd. Avg. |
|
|
Wtd. Avg. |
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
Exercise |
|
Range of Exercise Prices |
|
at 12/31/07 |
|
|
Contract Life |
|
|
Price |
|
$0.86 $0.94 |
|
|
224,000 |
|
|
2.42 years |
|
$ |
0.89 |
|
$1.10 $1.75 |
|
|
790,000 |
|
|
3.55 years |
|
|
1.24 |
|
$2.25 $2.75 |
|
|
507,500 |
|
|
3.26 years |
|
|
2.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,521,500 |
|
|
3.29 years |
|
$ |
1.59 |
|
The weighted-average fair value of options granted during 2004 was $0.93.
Note 8: Equity Incentive Plans
2005 Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive Plan
The purpose of the Associate Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company by
providing, through ownership of stock of the Company, an incentive to officers and other key
associates (each of whom are employees of the Company for tax purposes) who are in a position to
contribute materially to the prosperity of the Company including, but not limited to, all salaried
personnel of the Company, to increase such persons interests in the Companys welfare, to
encourage them to continue their services to the Company, and to attract individuals of outstanding
ability to enter the employment of the Company.
The Associate Plan is currently administered by the compensation committee (the Administrator) of
the board of directors. The Administrator has the power and authority to select and grant to
participants restricted stock awards pursuant to the terms of the Associate Plan. Any employee of
the Company is eligible to receive an award under the 2005 Associate
F-24
Plan. No director who is not also an employee will be eligible to receive an award under the Associate Plan.
The stock available for awards under the Associate Plan are shares of the Companys authorized
but unissued, or reacquired, common stock. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued
pursuant to awards granted under the Associate Plan may not exceed 1,500,000 shares of common
stock. In the event that any outstanding award for any reason expires, is forfeited or is
terminated, the shares of common stock allocable to the unvested portion of the award will again be
available for awards under the Associate Plan as if no award had been granted with respect to such
shares.
The terms and conditions of the restricted stock purchase agreements or award may change from
time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate restricted stock purchase agreements need
not be identical, but each restricted stock purchase agreement will include the substance of each
of the following provisions:
|
(a) |
|
Purchase Price. The purchase price of restricted stock awards shall be
determined by the Administrator, and may be stated as cash, property or prior services
performed. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Consideration. The consideration for common stock acquired pursuant to the
restricted stock purchase agreement will be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of
purchase; or (ii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the
Administrator in its discretion including, without limitation, a recourse promissory
note, property or a stock-for-stock exchange or prior services that the Administrator
determines have a value at least equal to the fair market value of such common stock. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Vesting. Shares of common stock acquired under the restricted stock purchase
agreement or awards may, but need not, be subject to a restricted period that specifies
a right of repurchase in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to
be determined by the Administrator, or forfeiture in the event the consideration was in
the form of prior services. In general, it is anticipated that, except as the
Administrator may otherwise determine in its discretion, awards will vest (and prior
thereto shall be subject to such a restricted period) over a three-year period, with 20%
of a particular award vesting on the first anniversary thereof, an additional 30% of
such award (50% cumulatively) vesting on the second anniversary of the award, and the
50% balance of the award vesting on the third anniversary of the award. |
In 2006, seventeen associates were granted a total of 225,000 shares of restricted stock
pursuant to the Associate Plan. In 2005, one employee was granted 50,000 shares under the plan.
The total dollar value of the 2006 and 2005 awards was $708,750 and $78,750, respectively, and was
initially recorded as deferred equity compensation. The value of the awards is amortized over the
vesting period of the awards and charged to compensation expense.
There were no restricted stock grants to employees in 2007.
2005 Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan
The purpose of the Director Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company by
providing, through ownership of stock of the Company, an incentive to non-employee directors to
encourage them to continue their director services to the Company, and to attract individuals of
outstanding ability to accept director positions for the Company. The Director Plan will initially
be administered by the compensation committee (the Administrator) of the board of directors, and
thereafter by such committee as the board may from time to time designate (or by the board itself,
if it shall so designate).
Each director of the Company who is not also an employee of the Company is eligible to
receive, and will automatically receive, an annual award under the Director Plan. There were, as
of December 31, 2005, nine non-employee directors who are eligible to participate in the Director
Plan (including non-employee directors who are not independent directors). The stock available for awards under the Director Plan are shares of
the Companys authorized but unissued, or reacquired, common stock. The aggregate number of shares
which may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the Director Plan will not exceed 500,000
shares of common stock. In the event that any outstanding award under the Director Plan for any
reason expires, is forfeited or is terminated, the shares of common stock allocable to the
F-25
unexercised portion of the award shall again be available for awards under the Director Plan as if
no award had been granted with respect to such shares.
The major terms of the restricted stock awards are as follows:
(a) Restricted Stock
Awards. Effective as of the third business day each year following the
earlier of (i) the Companys announcement by press release or other widely disseminated means of
its results of operations (including both definitive revenue, net income, and earnings per share
data) for the preceding fiscal year of the Company, or (ii) the Companys filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the preceding fiscal year
of the Company, each eligible director then serving shall be granted pursuant hereto, in
consideration of his or her services as a director to that point and as an inducement to further
services in such capacity, a restricted stock award equal to the number of shares of common stock
determined by dividing thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) by the fair market value, which for such
purposes shall be deemed to be the average closing sale price of the common stock over the
50-business day period immediately preceding the effective date of such awards, to vest (and prior
thereto shall be subject to a restricted period as defined herein) over a three-year period, with
20% of a particular award vesting on the first anniversary thereof, an additional 30% of such award
(50% cumulatively) vesting on the second anniversary of the award, and the 50% balance of the award
vesting on the third anniversary of the award; provided, however, as an inducement for new
directors to serve, in the event new non-employee directors are elected or added to the board after
the date of the annual award in any fiscal year, such new directors will be entitled to an initial
restricted stock award equal to a pro rated (by fiscal quarters) portion of the usual $30,000
annual award, such that the new director will be credited for such pro rating purposes with one
fiscal quarter of service for every fiscal quarter of the Company, or any portion thereof, during
which such person will serve as a director in such initial fiscal year of service, divided in such
case by the average closing sale price of the common stock over the 50-business day period
immediately preceding such new directors election or appointment to the board of directors. Such
initial restricted stock awards to new directors shall vest over a three-year period in the same
manner as other awards pursuant to the Director Plan.
(b) Termination of Participants Continuous Service. In the event a participants continuous
service as a director terminates for any reason, the Company may exercise its right of repurchase
or otherwise reacquire, or the participant shall forfeit unvested shares acquired in consideration
of services performed or performable.
In
2007, 17,341 shares each were granted to nine directors, one of
whom forfeited said grant upon his retirement from the board of
directors in June 2007, and 14,516 shares were granted to one
director for a total of 153,244 shares net of forfeits. In 2006,
nine directors were each granted 15,000 shares of restricted
stock pursuant to the Director Plan, for a total of
135,000 shares. In 2005, seven directors were each granted
20,848 shares pursuant to the Director Plan, and two directors
were each granted 11,278 shares for a total of
168,492 shares. The total dollar value of the 2007, 2006, and
2005 awards were $262,500, $270,000, and $240,000, respectively, and
were initially recorded as deferred equity compensation. The value of
the awards is amortized over the vesting period of the awards and
charged to director compensation expense.
Note 9: Leases
In July 2006, AERT entered into a lease contract whereby it has agreed to lease up to $3
million of equipment for seven years. Lease payments will begin in the second quarter of 2008.
Until that time, the Company made interim interest payments on the amount of equipment subject to
the lease that had been purchased by the leasing company, which totaled approximately $2.8 million
at December 31, 2007.
At December 31, 2007, the Company was obligated under various operating leases covering
certain buildings and equipment. Rent expense under operating leases for the years ended December
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $4,306,006, $3,688,178, and $3,381,404, respectively. These amounts
for rent expense are considerably higher than the future
minimum lease payments each year shown in the table below due to many of our operating
equipment leases having a duration of less than one year.
During
2007, the
Company also leased certain ERP software, computer equipment, and
production equipment under four individual, non-cancelable capital
leases. One of the production equipment leases expired in 2007. The remaining leases have various terms but all include a bargain
purchase option upon expiration, with the production equipment lease
expiring first, in 2008, the computer equipment lease in 2010, and
finally the software lease in 2012. Lease payments for capital lease
obligations in 2007 totaled approximately $133,000, with the software
and computer leases not beginning until December.
F-26
Future minimum lease payments required under operating and
capital leases as of December 31, 2007, are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
Year
|
|
Leases
|
|
|
Leases
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
285,610
|
|
|
$
|
2,873,535
|
|
2009
|
|
|
261,330
|
|
|
|
2,366,448
|
|
2010
|
|
|
256,161
|
|
|
|
2,011,795
|
|
2011
|
|
|
199,303
|
|
|
|
1,926,455
|
|
2012
|
|
|
182,695
|
|
|
|
1,396,834
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,762,189
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total minimum payments required
|
|
|
1,185,099
|
|
|
$
|
12,337,255
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less amount representing interest
|
|
|
163,954
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present value of future minimum lease payments
|
|
|
1,021,145
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less current obligations under capital leases
|
|
|
224,840
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term obligations under capital leases
|
|
$
|
796,305
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 10: Income Taxes
The Company records income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.
Under this method, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the
amounts used for income tax purposes.
The Companys income tax provision (benefit) consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Current: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
14,639 |
|
|
$ |
80,000 |
|
State |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
14,639 |
|
|
|
185,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
$ |
(2,824,724 |
) |
|
|
(645,696 |
) |
|
|
(4,823,917 |
) |
State |
|
$ |
(569,761 |
) |
|
|
(204,880 |
) |
|
|
189,035 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,394,485 |
) |
|
|
(850,576 |
) |
|
|
(4,634,882 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income tax benefit |
|
|
(3,394,485 |
) |
|
$ |
(835,937 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,449,682 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
income tax benefits for 2007, 2006, and 2005 differ from the amounts computed by applying
the US federal statutory rate of 34% to income taxes as a result of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Percent |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Percent |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Percent |
|
Income tax at the U.S.
federal statutory rate |
|
$ |
(4,389,959 |
) |
|
|
(34.0 |
) |
|
$ |
329,319 |
|
|
|
34.0 |
|
|
$ |
1,138,321 |
|
|
|
34.0 |
|
Net operating loss carryforwards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(25,664 |
) |
|
|
(2.6 |
) |
|
|
(1,024,489 |
) |
|
|
(30.6 |
) |
State income taxes |
|
|
(570,834 |
) |
|
|
(4.4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
105,200 |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
Dividends on
preferred stock |
|
|
423,672 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
276,000 |
|
|
|
8.2 |
|
Change in
valuation allowance |
|
|
1,486,354 |
|
|
|
11.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
(4,634,882 |
) |
|
|
(138.4 |
) |
Update
estimate for prior year deferred taxes |
|
|
|
) |
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
(796,907 |
) |
|
|
(82.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
Stock option exercises |
|
|
(251,184 |
) |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
|
(349,561 |
) |
|
|
(36.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
Other |
|
|
(92,534 |
) |
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
|
|
6,876 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
(309,832 |
) |
|
|
(9.3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(3,394,485 |
) |
|
|
(26.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(835,937 |
) |
|
|
(86.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,449,682 |
) |
|
|
(133.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-27
The
tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and
liabilities were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
Current |
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
Current |
|
|
Long-Term |
|
Deferred tax assets- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net operating loss carryforwards |
|
$ |
146,702 |
|
|
$ |
11,476,946 |
|
|
$ |
1,394,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,068,918 |
|
|
$ |
2,036,962 |
|
|
$ |
5,193,366 |
|
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward |
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,838 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,308 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,000 |
|
Allowance for sales returns |
|
|
455,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
147,408 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
12,434 |
|
|
|
239,201 |
|
|
|
22,145 |
|
|
|
239,933 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred compensation |
|
|
150,553 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charitable contribution |
|
|
47,966 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory overhead capitalization |
|
|
107,299 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
(570,809 |
) |
|
|
(915,545 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deferred tax assets |
|
|
349,845 |
|
|
|
10,876,440 |
|
|
|
1,563,553 |
|
|
|
6,379,159 |
|
|
|
2,036,962 |
|
|
|
5,257,366 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liability- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,025,028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,085,247 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,659,446 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
349,845 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
349,845 |
|
|
|
2,025,028 |
|
|
|
400,536 |
|
|
|
2,085,247 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,659,446 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
8,851,412 |
|
|
$ |
1,163,017 |
|
|
$ |
4,293,912 |
|
|
$ |
2,036,962 |
|
|
$ |
2,597,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
of December 31, 2007, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$32.6 million for federal income tax purposes, which are available to reduce future taxable income
and will expire in 2008 through 2027. The
Company evaluated the need for a valuation allowance as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, and 2005, and in 2006 and 2005 determined it was more
likely than not that it would generate enough taxable income to fully
utilize the net operating loss carryforwards prior to their expiration. In eliminating the
valuation allowance in 2005, the Company recorded a deferred tax asset of $7.3 million for its net
operating loss carryforwards, reduced by a deferred tax liability of approximately $2.7 million for
the difference between its net property, plant and equipment for income tax purposes and financial
reporting purposes. The current portion of the net operating loss
carryforward in 2006 and 2005 represents the
portion that we expected to utilize in the subsequent year. The net impact of eliminating the
valuation allowance is reflected as an income tax benefit on the statement of operations for the
year ended December 31, 2005.
The Company determined that it is more likely than not that it will not generate enough
taxable income to fully utilize its net operating loss carryforwards expiring in 2008 and 2009,
and, as a result, recorded a valuation allowance of $1,486,354 as of December 31, 2007 to reduce
its deferred tax asset to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company
determined that it is more likely than not that it will fully utilize the net operating loss
carryforwards that expire subsequent to 2009. In evaluating the need for and amount of a valuation
allowance, the Company considered the following criteria to have the most significant impact on its
determination:
|
|
|
|
Future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences |
|
|
|
|
Recent historical utilization of net operating loss carryforwards |
|
|
|
|
The timing and extent of expected net margin increase from
recently implemented and planned changes to operations and projected sales growth |
|
|
|
|
Current and expected future economic conditions |
Note 11: Extraordinary Item
On March 28, 2003, the Company had an accidental fire at its Junction, Texas plant, which
damaged or destroyed much of its equipment. The Company received $700,000 in a settlement from one
of its insurance companies related to this fire in August 2007 (see Note 12: Commitments and
Contingencies).
Note 12: Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
Lloyds of London
On July 31, 2007, the Company and certain underwriters at Lloyds, London agreed to the terms
of a settlement resolving litigation that arose in early 2005 concerning losses related to a fire
in 2003. Under the settlement, Lloyds, London paid the Company $700,000 in August 2007, and the
parties provided mutual releases to one another.
F-28
Advanced Control Solutions
On February 7, 2008, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected our appeal in the Advanced Control
Solutions (ACS) case, and affirmed the judgment of the circuit court, where a jury in March 2006
found us liable for interfering with a non-compete agreement, causing ACS to lose future business
opportunities and for missing equipment. The Arkansas Supreme Court also denied ACSs appeal of the
$45,562 plus attorneys fees awarded to us in March 2006 on our counterclaim against ACS for breach
of contract. We do not intend to appeal the case further.
Our liability for the original judgment in the amount of $655,769 was recorded in 2005. The
judgment will be paid from funds we set aside in a restricted certificate of deposit in 2006.
Class Action Lawsuits
On February 26, 2008, plaintiffs filed a purported class action lawsuit seeking to recover on
behalf of the purchasers of ChoiceDek composite decking for damages allegedly caused by mold and
mildew. (Pelletz v. Weyerhaeuser Company, Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. and Lowes Companies, Inc. pending
in US District Court, Western District of Washington at Seattle.) The plaintiffs filing suit on behalf of the purported class, have sued AERT, Weyerhaeuser
Company, and Lowes Companies, Inc., asserting causes of action for violation of the Washington
Consumer Protection Act, unfair competition or unfair and deceptive trade practices in various
states, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of express warranty, and violation of
the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. By agreement, the deadline for AERT to answer or otherwise respond
to plaintiffs complaint is April 18, 2008. Weyerhaeuser has requested a defense and
indemnification from AERT. AERT denies the allegations in this lawsuit and intends to
vigorously defend itself.
On March 10, 2008, additional plaintiffs filed a purported class action lawsuit seeking to
recover on behalf of the purchasers of ChoiceDek composite decking for damages allegedly caused by
mold and mildew. (Joseph Jamruk et al vs. Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Company in U.S.
District Court, Western District of Washington.) Plaintiffs filing suit on behalf of the purported class have sued AERT and
Weyerhaeuser Company, asserting causes of action for misrepresentation, violation of the Washington
Consumer Protection Act, unjust enrichment, and breach of express warranty. By agreement, the
deadline for AERT to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiffs complaint is April 18, 2008.
Weyerhaeuser has requested a defense and indemnification from AERT. AERT denies the allegations in
this lawsuit and intends to vigorously defend itself.
Energy
Unlimited, Inc. vs. AERT, Inc.
This
case originally started as a suit on account by Energy Unlimited Inc
against AERT to collect the balance it asserts to be owed on work
performed on the Springdale South facility material handling and
drying systems. The claim was in the original amount of $196,868.60.
AERT contends that the design and installation by Energy Unlimited
Inc. was faulty resulting in a series of explosions and the
subsequent need to undertake refabrication of the material handling
and drying system. AERT has filed a counter claim for its out of
pocket loss relating to an explosion occurring on April 2, 2007 and for the cost to fix and complete the
material handling and drying systems properly in the amount of $1.2
million. This matter is in the early phase of discovery. AERT intends
to vigorously defend the initial claim and pursue its counter claim
based on the faulty design, improper installation, and serious safety
defects of the material handling and drying systems by Energy
Unlimited, Inc.
Other Matters
AERT
may be involved from time to time in other litigation arising from the normal course of business. In
managements opinion, this litigation is not expected to materially impact the Companys results of
operations or financial condition.
Construction Agreement
The Company has entered into an agreement with a construction contractor to construct part of
its Watts plastic recycling plant. The contractor will manage the grading, drainage, on-site road
construction, and building pad construction, and will have an opportunity to propose designs for
buildings and certain infrastructure needed to support operations on the site. The agreement does
not contain a minimum purchase amount for the work to be performed by the contractor.
Marketing Agreement
The Company has entered into an exclusive sales and marketing agreement in the amount of $2
million with Nicholson-Kovac, an integrated marketing communications agency, to support its
MoistureShield decking products. The agreement includes a national trade and consumer media
schedule, national advertising, revamped website, online lead generation tool for builders,
national public relations campaign and market research. At December 31, 2007, approximately $1.8
million was remaining under this commitment.
Note 13: 401(k) Plan
The Company sponsors the A.E.R.T. 401(k) Plan (the Plan) for the benefit of all eligible
employees. The Plan qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code thereby allowing
eligible employees to make tax-deferred contributions to the Plan. The Plan provides that the
Company may elect to make employer-matching contributions equal to a percentage of each
participants voluntary contribution. The Company may also elect to make a profit sharing
contribution to the Plan. The Company has never made any matching or profit sharing contributions
to the Plan.
F-29
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
No. |
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
Certificate of Incorporation, including Certificate of Amendment filed on June 12, 1989 (a), and Certificate
of Amendment filed on August 22, 1989 (b), and Certificate of Amendment filed on December 29, 1999 |
3.2 |
|
Certificate of Designation of Class B common stock. (a) |
3.3 |
|
Bylaws of Registrant. (a) |
3.4 |
|
Form of Class A common stock Certificate. (c) |
3.5 |
|
Certificate of Designation of
Series D Preferred Stock filed October 29, 2007 (i) |
4.2.1 |
|
Form of Class B common stock Certificate. (a) |
10.1 |
|
Form of Right of Refusal Agreement among Class B common stockholders. (a) |
10.2 |
|
Amended and Restated Stock Option
Plan. (d) |
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
No. |
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (d) |
10.4 |
|
Chairman Stock Option Plan. (d) |
10.5 |
|
2005 Key Associate and Management
Equity Incentive Plan (l) |
10.6 |
|
2005 Non-Employee Director Equity
Incentive Plan (l) |
10.7 |
|
Indenture of Trust between City of Springdale and Regions Bank, Trustee, as of October 1, 2003. (n) |
10.8 |
|
Mortgage and Loan Agreement between City of Springdale and Company, as of October 1, 2003.(n) |
10.9 |
|
Assignment of Mortgage and Loan Agreement between City of Springdale and Regions Bank. (n) |
10.10 |
|
Note Purchase Agreement between Company and Allstate Insurance Company dated October 9, 2003. (n) |
10.11 |
|
Promissory Note made by Company dated October 9, 2003. (n) |
10.12 |
|
Wood-Plastic Composite Decking Agreement between AERT and Weyerhaeuser Company, et al.
effective October 12, 2004.* (Redacted in accordance with confidential treatment request, as
filed October 15, 2005) (q) |
10.13 |
|
Loan Agreement. (r) |
10.14 |
|
Promissory Note. (r) |
10.15 |
|
Loan Agreement. (s) |
10.16 |
|
Promissory Note. (s) |
10.17 |
|
Series D Convertible Preferred
Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 29, 2007 (i) |
10.17 |
|
Form of Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued October 29, 2007 (i) |
10.17 |
|
Registration Rights Agreement (i) |
10.18 |
|
Loan Agreement dated
December 19, 2007 related to Series 2007 8% Bonds. (j) |
10.18 |
|
Indenture of Trust dated
December 19, 2007 related to Series 2007 8% bonds. (j) |
10.19 |
|
Indenture of Trust between City of
Springdale, Arkansas, and Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Trustee, relating
to the issuance of $10,610,000 City of Springdale, Arkansas
Industrial Development Refunding Revenue Bonds (Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. Project) Series 2008;
dated as of February 1, 2008. (k) |
10.19 |
|
Loan Agreement between City of
Springdale, Arkansas, and Advanced Environmental Recycling
Technologies, Inc., related to $10,610,000 City of Springdale, Arkansas
Industrial Development Refunding Revenue Bonds (Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. Project) Series 2008;
dated as of February 1, 2008. (k) |
23.1 |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. *** |
31.1 |
|
Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 302) by the Companys chairman, chief executive
officer and president.*** |
31.2 |
|
Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 302) by the Companys
chief financial officer.*** |
32.1 |
|
Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 906) by the Companys chairman, chief executive
officer and president.*** |
32.2 |
|
Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 906) by the Companys chief financial officer.*** |
|
|
|
* |
|
Confidential treatment was granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission for certain portions of this agreement. The confidential
portions were filed separately with the Commission. |
|
|
|
The Registrant has no exhibits corresponding to Exhibits 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, through 23,
or 26 through 29. |
|
*** |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
(a) |
|
Contained in Exhibits to Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-29595, filed June 28, 1989. |
|
(b) |
|
Contained in Exhibits to Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-29595,
filed August |
|
|
|
|
|
24, 1989. |
|
(c) |
|
Contained in Exhibits to Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-29595,
filed
November 8, 1989. |
|
(d) |
|
Filed with Form 10-K for December 31, 1994. |
|
(e) |
|
Filed with Form 10-Q for September 30, 2003. |
|
(f) |
|
Filed with Form 10-Q/A for September 30, 2004. |
|
(g) |
|
Filed with Form 10-Q for September 30, 2005. |
|
(h) |
|
Filed with Form 10-Q for September 30, 2006. |
|
(i) |
|
Contained in exhibits to Form 8-K filed November 1,
2007. |
|
(j) |
|
Contained in exhibits to Form 8-K filed December 21,
2007. |
|
(k) |
|
Contained in exhibits to Form 8-K filed February 29,
2008. |
|
(l) |
|
Contained in exhibits to DEFR14A filed July 11,
2005. |