UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 Form 10-K
 
 þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009Oro
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)
  Delaware
71-0675758(State of Incorporation)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 914 N Jefferson Street
Springdale, Arkansas
72764(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
 Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
 (479) 756-7400
 
 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 None
 
 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
 Class A common stock, $.01 par value
 (Title of Class)
 
 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes oNo þ
 
 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.  Yes oNo þ
 
 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.  Yes þNo o
 
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit and post such files).  Yes oNo o
 
 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 registrant’s 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.  o
 
 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):
  Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company þ(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).  Yes oNo þ
 
 The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing stock price of such common equity as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $9,843,297 (for the purposes
hereof, directors, executive officers and 10% or greater shareholders have been deemedaffiliates).
 
 Number of shares of common stock outstanding at March 24, 2010: Class A — 48,105,554; Class B — 1,465,530
 
 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
 Portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2010 annual meeting scheduled to be held in May 2010, and expected to be filed within 120 days of our fiscal year end, are incorporated by reference into Part III.
  
  Table of Contents
 
 Page
No.Part IItem 1.
Business
1Item 2.
Properties
5Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
5Part IIItem 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
6Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
7Item 8.
Financial Statements
12Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
13Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
13Item 9B.
Other Information
13Part IIIItem 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
14Item 11.
Executive Compensation
14Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
14Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
14Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
14Part IVItem 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
14Signatures
15Index to Financial Statements
F-1
  
  PartI
 
 Item1.Business.
 
 Summary
 
 Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (AERT), founded in 1988, develops and commercializes technologies to recycle waste polyethylene plastics and develops, manufactures, and markets value added, green building compounds. Our primary products are 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. Our products are made primarily from approximately equal amounts of waste wood fiber that has been cleaned, sized and reprocessed, and recycled polyethylene plastics that have been cleaned, processed, and reformulated utilizing our patented and proprietary technologies. Our products have been extensively tested, and are sold by leading national companies such as the Weyerhaeuser
Company (Weyerhaeuser), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (Lowe’s) and Therma-Tru Corporation. Our products are primarily used in renovation and remodeling by consumers, homebuilders, and contractors as an exterior green (environmentally responsible) building alternative for decking, railing, and trim products.
 
 Products
 
 Building on our base process and materials, we manufacture the following product lines:
 
 ·
Commercial and residential decking planks and accessories such as balusters and handrails (MoistureShield® and ChoiceDek®),
  ·
Exterior door components,
 
 ·
Exterior housing trim (MoistureShield®),
 
 ·
Deck tiles, and
 
 ·
Green, recycled resin compounds.
 
 The wood fiber content of our products gives them many properties similar to all-wood products, but we believe the plastic content makes our products superior to either all-wood or all-plastic alternatives because:
 
 ·
Unlike wood, our products do not require preservatives or treatment with toxic chemicals nor do they require annual water sealing or staining.
 
 ·
Our products are less subject to thermal contraction or expansion and have greater dimensional stability than competing all-plastic products.
 
 ·
Our products are engineered for superior moisture-resistance and will not swell or expand like wood.
 
 ·
Our products can be designed and extruded through dies to a desired shape in accordance with customer specifications, which helps the customer to minimize waste.
 
 ·
Our products are less subject to rotting, cracking, warping, and splintering, insect infestation and water absorption than conventional wood materials.
 
 ·
Our products can be aesthetically enhanced to provide a wood-like or grained surface appearance.
 
 ·
Our products can be combined with coloring agents and/or other additives to provide various colors and aesthetics.
 
 Our latest generation of products offers multidimensional color levels to more closely resemble the natural look of wood. Also, we began to include a mildewcide in our products in 2006 that inhibits the growth of mold.
 
 1
 Based upon our extensive product testing and successful extended field history of over a decade, we offer a limited lifetime replacement warranty on our products against rot and fungal decay, and termite and insect damage.
 
 Marketing and Sales
 
 General Market Strategy.  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 annual 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 and door and other OEM components, 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.
 
 Sales and Customer Service.  We provide sales support and customer service through our own marketing department, contract marketing through outside commissioned representatives, 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 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 distributors, as well as Weyerhaeuser and Lowe’s. 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.
 
 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 have 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. 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 recent startup of our next-generation Watts, Oklahoma recycling facility has allowed us to expand into additional customer driven opportunities.
 
 The composite decking business is continuously evolving. The technology used to manufacture wood/plastic boards has advanced significantly over the last several years, and many contemporary products have much improved aesthetics. Going forward, it will be important for AERT to continue to innovate, keep in close touch with consumer trends
and focus on regional market trends while always remaining competitive with wood decking.
 
 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. Our Watts, Oklahoma facility, which is designed to recover, utilize, and convert lower grades of waste plastics into usable feedstocks, is
an example of our efforts to continually improve our recycling technology. By utilizing technology, we are upgrading the quality and aesthetics of our products made from primarily recycled raw materials to levels comparable to virgin resin based materials.
 
 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 a wider selection of decking colors 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 between composites and wood on the lower end. In addition, we are working with a company to develop and commercialize a new generation of surface coatings. We will continue to work toward more selection combined with innovation and new products in conjunction with our customers.
 
 2
 
 Green Building Products
 
 We have been recycling plastic and manufacturing green building products since our inception in 1988, and we intend to continue building our brands and differentiating AERT as a green building products company.  Listed below are the major categories of products we manufacture and markets we supply.
 
 ChoiceDek®Decking.We currently sell our ChoiceDek®-branded
decking products in the home improvement warehouse (HIW) market through Weyerhaeuser to Lowe’s. We derived most of our revenue from Weyerhaeuser in 2009 and 2008. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of sales in 2009 or 2008. This market segment primarily focuses on the “do-it-yourself” (“DIY”) market in which homeowners buy, build, and install their own decks. The DIY market is also serviced by The Home Depot, as well as several smaller regional chains. Our decking products
are not currently carried in Home Depot, and the ChoiceDek® brand is sold exclusively to Lowe’s. Lowe’s started carrying another higher priced composite decking brand in 2007, which could limit ChoiceDek’s® growth. ChoiceDek® is promoted through
in-store displays and an ongoing print and marketing campaign targeting the residential decking market. We maintain a nationwide sales and customer service group. Lowe’s also conducts national print and television ads for the products it carries.
 
 MoistureShield®Decking.  Our MoistureShield® brand
line of decking products 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. Most of our MoistureShield® 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. The
MoistureShield® decking line allows us to diversify our customer base. We have recently expanded our MoistureShield®products into nationwide distribution.
 
 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 these products, 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. We are unable to predict the future size of the markets for MoistureShield® industrial products; however, we believe that the national
door and window and commercial and residential trim markets are large and will allow us to diversify our customer base over time as we add production capacity and focus on additional opportunities.
 
 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 plastic (i.e., PVC) and wood trims to be distributed and sold in conjunction with our MoistureShield® distributors.
 
 Competition
 
 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 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. Some 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. 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. 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 not only on durability, but also the ability of the customer to order a product that is custom manufactured to its specifications.
 
 3
 Intellectual Property and Proprietary Technology
 
 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 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 currently have 9 patents and six patents pending in the U.S. Our patents cover plastic recycling processes, methods, and apparatus or specially designed equipment as well as the composite product that we manufacture. The composite product patent was issued in 1998
and expires in 2015. This patent covers the unique properties, formulation and processing parameters of our encapsulated wood/polyethylene plastic composite building material.
 
 Three of our patents expired in March 2010, and we have two patents expiring later in 2010.  These patents relate to early stage plastic recycling and extrusion processes and initial apparatus or equipment. We believe the plastic waste stream has diversified and become more complex since the issuance of those patents. We have updated
and continue to refine our recycling processes, procedures, and technologies, and included these in later issued patents or pending patent applications. We have taken additional measures to protect our intellectual property and trade secrets by restricting access to our facilities and maintaining a policy of nondisclosure among our associates, which includes requiring confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements. Our seven other patents expire between 2011 and 2021.
 
 Raw Materials
 
 Wood Fiber.  The wood fiber we use is waste byproduct generated by hardwood furniture, pallet, 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 increases in 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.
 
 Recycled Plastics.  We use both post-industrial and post-consumer waste polyethylene. The largest portion of the plastic materials we use is mixed with paper and other non-plastic materials, which lessen its value to other plastic recyclers. By primarily sourcing these contaminated
waste plastics prior to processing, we produce a usable but lower cost feedstock for our composite extrusion lines. We believe our investments in recycling technology and infrastructure will create a significant raw material cost advantage compared to several of our virgin resin based competitors while offering a more competitive green building product. 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.
 
 Our Watts, Oklahoma plastic recycling facility is designed to allow us to use the less desirable, but low cost, forms of waste polyethylene, which should greatly assist us in regaining a competitive advantage and maintaining a low cost structure. The new recycling facility is based on a successful joint development project involving polyethylene
film recovery with the Dow Chemical Company earlier in our history. We believe that further refinement of this technology could lead to additional revenue opportunities beyond composite decking and building materials. The recycling facility commenced operations in February 2010.
 
 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 more contaminated polyethylene limits the number of competitors.
Nonetheless, we expect to continue to encounter new entrants into the plastics reclamation business. We increased our capacity for processing waste plastic in recent years, which reduced our dependence on outside suppliers and gave us more control over our costs, but our costs are still not to our desired levels.
 
 Industry Standards
 
 Building codes exist to provide for safe and effective structures and consistency of structures and construction practices. Our decking and railing products comply with the International Building Code and the International Residential Code as well as the 1997
 
 4
 Uniform Building CodeTM (UBC) and the BOCA® National Building Code/1999 (BNBC). The International Code Council – Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) publishes evaluation reports for building products. These reports tell the consumer, commercial or residential,
that the products listed in the report comply with code when they are used in the prescribed application and installed according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. In 2009, we converted from the legacy evaluation report, NER-596, to ESR-2388 from ICC-ES. In Canada, compliance of our products to code is documented in evaluation report CCMC 13191-R from the Canadian Construction Materials Center. We utilize independent, third-party auditors to ensure continuing compliance of our products to
code.
 
 The ICC-ES is working toward the establishment of new environmentally responsible standards, which we believe will be advantageous to us given the green aspects of our products. We plan to ensure that our products meet those standards.
 
 Employees
 
 During 2009, we reduced our workforce by approximately 60 as we continued to restructure our operations to improve efficiencies and lower costs. At December 31, 2009, we employed 462 associates, 454 of whom were full-time associates.
 
 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.
 
 Item2.Properties.
 
 We have downsized operations, subleased facilities, idled excess manufacturing capacity, and reduced headcount as a result of the economic downturn in the U.S. We currently manufacture all of our composite products at extrusion facilities in Springdale, Arkansas. We also lease office space in Springdale used as our corporate offices.
 
 We suspended extrusion operations at our Junction, Texas facility in October 2007. We determined at the end of 2008 that we would not resume operations at the facility, and accordingly recorded an impairment charge for fixed assets at the facility of $3.9 million in 2008. We are currently evaluating the move of extrusion equipment from
the Texas facility to our Arkansas facilities for additional surge capacity and new product development work.
 
 We operate a facility in Lowell, Arkansas that is used for plastic recycling, blending, and storage. Additionally, we lease warehouses and land in Lowell for inventory storage.
 
 In December 2007, we entered into a related party lease for the use of 60 acres in Watts, Oklahoma where we commenced construction of an additional plastics recycling facility in September 2008. This facility commenced operations in February 2010, and is intended to recycle lower grades of polyethylene plastic scrap in order to reduce
our costs of recycled plastics and value added compounds and to allow for potential sales of recycled plastics to third parties.
 
 Item3.Legal Proceedings. – See Note 12: Commitments and Contingencies
  5
  PARTII
 
 Item5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities.
 
 Our Class A common stock was traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol AERT from January 1, 2009 to December 28, 2009. Due to the Company's inability to demonstrate compliance with the Nasdaq Stock Market’s continued listing requirements, the
Company’s shares ceased to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 29, 2009, at which time the OTC Bulletin Board began providing quotes for the Company’s shares. The Company’s shares will continue to trade under the symbol AERT. As of March 24, 2010, there were approximately 1,400 holders of record of our Class A common stock and 11 holders of record of our Class B common stock. The closing price
of our common stock was $0.32 on December 31, 2009. We have not previously paid cash dividends on our 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, 2008 and 2009.
 
 Sales Price Range of Class A Common Stock

High


LowFiscal 2008First Quarter

$
1.39


$
0.72Second Quarter


0.91



0.50Third Quarter


0.68



0.27Fourth Quarter


0.44



0.03Fiscal 2009First Quarter


0.35



0.12Second Quarter


0.75



0.26Third Quarter


0.70



0.20Fourth Quarter


0.58



0.30
 
 No repurchases of common stock took place during 2008 or 2009.
 
 Equity Compensation Plan Information
 The following table provides information as of December 31, 2009, regarding shares outstanding and available for issuance under our existing stock option plans.
 
 Number of securities





Number of securities remainingto be issued


Weighted average


available for future issuanceupon exercise of


exercise price of


under equity compensation plansoutstanding options,


outstanding options,


(excluding securities reflected inPlan Category

warrants and rights


warrants and rights


the first column of this table)*Equity compensation plansapproved by security holders


1,174,000


$
1.74



3,968,015Equity compensation plansnot approved by security holders


-



-



-Total


1,174,000


$
1.74



3,968,015
 ____________________
 * The amount in this column represents the sum of restricted stock units available for grant (2,464,745) and restricted stock units granted but only issuable upon satisfaction of vesting or other conditions (1,503,270 units with a weighted average grant date fair value of $0.71).
  6
  Item7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
 2009 Summary
 
 2009 continued to be a challenging year for the building materials industry and for AERT, marked by lower sales to our distributors, who maintained low inventory levels, and a decline in sales at the retail level. However, our efforts to reduce costs and improve manufacturing efficiencies allowed us to overcome lower sales and record
net income for the year before a $5.1 million class action lawsuit accrual.
 
 Results of Operations
 
 Two Year Comparison (in thousands)
 
 2009


2008


% ChangeNet sales

$
71,073


$
87,398



-18.7
%Cost of goods sold


55,223



78,317



-29.5
%% of net sales


77.7
%


89.6
%Estimated liability for claims from class action settlement


5,100



2,870



77.7
%% of net sales


7.2
%


3.3
%Gross margin


10,750



6,211



73.1
%% of net sales


15.1
%


7.1
%Selling and administrative costs


11,924



20,530



-41.9
%% of net sales


16.8
%


23.5
%(Gain) loss from asset impairment and disposition


(92
)


5,516



*Operating loss


(1,082
)


(19,835
)


-94.5
%% of net sales


-1.5
%


-22.7
%Other expenses:Estimated liability from expected class action settlement


-



(1,963
)


-100.0
%Late registration fees


273



(682
)


*Net interest expense


(3,396
)


(3,781
)


-10.2
%Loss before dividends and income tax


(4,205
)


(26,261
)


-84.0
%% of net sales


-5.9
%


-30.0
%Dividends on preferred stock


(805
)


(826
)


-2.5
%Loss before income tax


(5,010
)


(27,087
)


-81.5
%% of net sales


-7.0
%


-31.0
%Income tax provision


-



8,831



-100.0
%% of net sales


0.0
%


-10.1
%Net loss applicable to common stock

$
(5,010
)

$
(35,918
)


-86.1
%% of net sales


-7.0
%


-41.1
%
 ____________
 * Not meaningful as a percentage change
 
 Sales
 
 For the year ended December 31, 2009, net sales decreased 19% from 2008. While consumer purchases were off year over year, our sales reduction is attributable, in part, to a reduction of stock inventory carried by Weyerhaeuser in its vendor managed inventory program for Lowe’s combined with a significant reduction and/or elimination
of inventory carried by lumber distributors due to fears related to the economy. We anticipated much of this slowdown and had reduced capacity and spending.
 
 While our sales are down from last year, we believe that we have increased our share of the total market by adding distributors to our growing MoistureShield® customer base and by having our ChoiceDek® brand
stocked in all of our largest retailer’s growing store base.
 
 7
 Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin
 
 Cost of goods sold before the class action settlement accrual decreased 30% in 2009 from 2008. The decrease was due to lower sales in 2009 and our cost-cutting measures implemented in 2008 and 2009. We have taken steps to reduce costs by idling excess manufacturing capacity, consolidating operations, subleasing warehouses, reducing benefit
costs, optimizing utilization of raw materials and reducing our labor force among other cost-cutting measures. In the third quarter of 2009, we revised our estimated class action claims resolution liability, resulting in an additional accrual of $5.1 million. In 2008, we recorded $2.9 million for estimated claims resolution costs arising from our then-expected settlement of our class action lawsuit. Despite the additional accrual in 2009, our gross margin increased as a percentage of sales to 15% in 2009 from
7% in 2008. Excluding class action accruals, our gross margin increased to 22% in 2009 from 10% in 2008.
 
 Selling and Administrative Costs
 
 Selling and administrative costs were down $8.6 million in 2009 compared to 2008. The decrease was due to cost reductions implemented in 2008 and a continued focus on reducing costs in 2009. We have significantly reduced our advertising and sales spending, restricted travel and reduced our selling and administrative headcount, among other
cost reductions. Additionally, we incurred significant legal fees in 2008 related to a class action lawsuit. The primary components of selling and administrative costs are compensation and benefits, advertising and promotion, travel, professional fees, and commissions.
 
 Asset Impairment and Other Expenses
 
 Infrequent charges recorded during 2008 and 2009 include the following:
 
 ·
In 2008, we recorded impairment charges for fixed assets at our Junction, Texas facility of $3.9 million. We have suspended operations at the facility and have no plans to resume operations there.  Additionally, we recorded impairment charges of $1.5 million in 2008 for certain assets not in use at our Springdale and Lowell facilities.
 
 ·
In 2008, $0.7 million was expensed for penalties related to the late registration of shares underlying our Series D preferred stock offering that took place in the fourth quarter of 2007. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on September 5, 2008, at which time the penalties ceased to accrue.  Of those tentative
penalties, $0.3 million were subsequently waived by one of the holders of the preferred stock and that expense was reversed in 2009.
 
 ·
In 2008, a one-time charge of $1.9 million for plaintiff attorney fees and notice costs was recorded in connection with the class action lawsuit. An additional $2.9 million was expensed in 2008 and $5.1 million in 2009 as part of cost of goods sold (discussed previously) for the claim resolution process.
 
 Loss Before Taxes
 
 The operating loss for 2009 decreased to $1.1 million from $19.8 million in 2008. We incurred a pre-tax loss of $5.0 million, or $0.10 per share, in 2009 compared to a pre-tax loss of $27.1 million, or $0.57 per share, in 2008.
 
 Valuation Allowance
 
 At December 31, 2009, we had net operating loss carryforwards of $45.5 million for federal income tax purposes, which are available to reduce future taxable income.  If not utilized, $4.3 million of the net operating loss carryforwards will expire in 2010, with the remaining $41.2 million expiring between 2016 and 2029.
As there is insufficient evidence that we will be able to generate adequate future taxable income to enable us to realize our net operating loss carryforwards prior to expiration, we increased our valuation allowance by $0.5 million to $20.5 million at December 31, 2009 to recognize our deferred tax assets only to the extent of our deferred tax liabilities. In 2008, we increased our valuation allowance by $18.5 million, resulting in an income tax provision of $8.8 million, which comprised 52% of our after-tax
loss.
 
 Net Loss Applicable to Common Stock
 
 Excluding the class action accruals in 2009 and 2008, our earnings improved to net income of $0.1 million in 2009 compared to a net loss of $31.1 million in 2008. Including the class action accrual, we reduced our net loss to $5.0 million, or $0.10 per share, in
 
 8
 2009 compared to a net loss of $35.9 million, or $0.75 per share, in 2008. Our earnings improvement is due primarily to the cost reductions and infrequent charges discussed above.
 
 Summary of Infrequent Charges in 2008
  $ Millions


% of LossClass action claims resolution


2.9



8
%Plaintiff attorney and notice costs


1.9



5
%Class action defense costs


0.8



2
%MoistureShield marketing campaign


2.0



6
%Asset impairment


5.4



15
%Preferred stock registration penalties


0.7



2
%Tax valuation allowance


18.5



52
%Total


32.2



90
%
 
 Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
 As a result of closely managing our costs and working capital, we funded our business with cash generated from operations in 2009. The expenditures on our Watts facility, totaling $10.3 million during 2009, were funded primarily by proceeds from our Watts industrial development bond. As discussed in the debt section below, we may require
additional financing to support our operations, resume growth, introduce new products, and service our debt obligations as they come due.
 
 Cash Flows
 
 Cash Flows from Operations
 
 Cash provided by operations in 2009 was $7.3 million as compared to $9.0 million in 2008. In 2009, cash used in the reduction of accounts payable and in the increase of accounts receivable was offset somewhat by cash provided by sales of inventory. The increase in accounts receivable was due primarily to a large increase in December 2009
sales compared to December 2008 sales. In 2008, net cash provided by operations was due primarily to sales of inventory.
 
 Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 Cash used in investing activities increased $3.9 million to $10.3 million in 2009 from $6.4 million in 2008. The increase in capital expenditures was due to the construction of our Watts plastic recycling facility.
 
 Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 Cash provided by financing activities was $1.9 million in 2009 compared to cash used in financing activities of $3.2 million in 2008. The $5.1 million change in cash from financing activities was due primarily to the following:
 
 ·
In 2008, we decreased our debt by $1.2 million more than in 2009 due primarily to a bond refinancing that required we pay down or pay off certain loans.
 
 ·
In 2008, we paid a net of $0.4 million for debt issuance costs, primarily related to our bonds.
 
 ·
We were able to use $3.5 million more in restricted cash in 2009 than in 2008. In 2009, we received $7.6 million from our bond project fund for the construction of our Watts plastic recycling facility, whereas in 2008 we received $2.8 million from our bond project fund. Additionally, in 2008 we received $1.0 million as part of our first quarter 2008 bond
refinancing through the lowering of debt service reserve fund requirements and $0.3 million from our debt service reserve fund for the payment of interest on our bonds.
 
 Working Capital
 
 At December 31, 2009, we had a working capital deficit of $22.8 million compared to a deficit of $20.7 million at December 31,
 
 9
 2008. The increase in our deficit in 2009 was primarily the result of the use of restricted cash to construct our Watts facility and the additional accrual of expected claims costs related to our class action settlement, which was offset somewhat by the refinancing of a $6.0 million note payable. Components of working capital that fluctuated
significantly include restricted cash, accounts receivable, inventory, accrued liabilities and our line of credit.
 
 The decrease in restricted cash of $7.6 million was due to the use of our Watts bond project fund to pay for the intended construction of our Watts plastic recycling facility. The total inventory decrease in 2009 was $3.8 million. The decrease was due to our efforts to maintain lower levels of inventory in 2009 and due to higher sales in
December 2009 than December 2008. Accounts receivable increased due to higher December 2009 sales compared to December 2008. The primary reason for the increase in accrued liabilities was the $5.1 million accrual of additional costs expected to be incurred for the resolution of claims related to our class action settlement. We made payments of $2.8 million to decrease the balance of our line of credit in 2009.
 
 Debt
 
 We paid down our debt by $3.4 million in 2009. We did not receive any additional long-term financing; however, we extended and refinanced a portion of our debt as discussed below.
 
 Loan Extensions
 
 Our $0.8 million, 19.75% note payable to Allstate Insurance Company had an original maturity date of July 1, 2009, but was extended to July 15, 2010. We also received from Allstate an extension to December 15, 2011 to repay our $6.0 million, 10% note payable, which originally matured July 1, 2009. The refinancing of the $6.0 million note
is the primary reason for the decrease in current maturities of long-term debt and the increase in long-term debt in 2009. Additionally, a $1.7 million loan from Liberty Bank with an extended maturity date of January 15, 2010 was extended again to April 15, 2010.
 
 Line of Credit
 
 The maturity date of our line of credit agreement with Liberty Bank of Arkansas was extended from January 15, 2010 to April 15, 2010. The line, which had a balance of $7.8 million at December 31, 2009, is secured by inventory, accounts receivable, chattel paper, general intangibles and other current assets, as well as by fixtures and equipment,
and bears interest at a rate of 9%. The full amount of the line is guaranteed as to payment by our largest stockholder, Marjorie Brooks, and by Joe Brooks and Steve Brooks, two of our executive officers. Ms. Brooks is collateralized by a subordinate lien on all of our assets subject to priority liens of Allstate and Liberty Bank. The credit facility includes a debt service coverage ratio, current ratio, and accounts payable and accounts receivable aging covenants substantially similar to those under our 2007
and 2008 bond agreements, and customary restrictions on dividends and the incurrence of additional debt or liens, among other matters.
 
 Bonds
 
 We are required to make monthly payments to bond principal and bond interest funds from which semi-annual interest and annual principal payments are made on the bonds. Additionally, we are required to make payments to our debt service reserve funds for the bonds, if necessary, in order to maintain a minimum balance in the reserve funds. Failure
to make the required payments to our bond funds is an event of default under our bond agreements, which would give the bond trustee the option of demanding immediate repayment of the bonds. The Company has not made certain monthly payments to these funds during 2009, as discussed below; however, the bond purchaser waived the event of default concerning loan payments through March 31, 2010.
 
 In 2009, semi-annual interest payments made on the bonds totaled $1.9 million, and annual principal payments totaled $0.9 million. Of those amounts, $1.9 million was paid from the debt service reserve funds, which had a balance of $0.2 million at December 31, 2009. We are currently developing a plan to replenish the reserve funds in the future.
Maintaining reserve funds and continuing payments will allow us to shorten the term of the bonds. The establishment of reserve funds when the bonds were originally sold was also designed to allow us to endure difficult times if necessary.
 
 Debt Covenants
 
 Under our 2007 and 2008 bond agreements, AERT covenants that it will maintain certain financial ratios. Those ratios are listed in the chart of covenants below. If we fail to comply with, or to secure a waiver for, certain of the covenants, 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,
 
 10
 which would give the bond trustee the option to take us into bankruptcy. Our line of credit contains all of the financial covenants listed below, with the exception of the debt to equity covenant. In the case of noncompliance with certain of the covenants, the bank loan could also immediately become due and payable at any time and the bank
lender could foreclose on the property used to secure the debt, which could force us into a bankruptcy proceeding before we can refinance this indebtedness.
 
 We were not in compliance with the debt service coverage, current ratio, debt to equity and accounts payable covenants as of December 31, 2009. The bond purchaser waived these covenants through January 1, 2011. The bank lender for our line of credit, Liberty Bank, has not waived the covenants, and as such could
enforce all remedies available to it under the loan agreement. However, as previously discussed, Liberty Bank has continued to work with us and has executed the tenth extension of the line of credit to April 15, 2010. We paid down the balance on the line of credit by $2.8 million in 2009.
 
 Our Allstate notes payable have cross-default provisions that caused them to be in technical default at December 31, 2009 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.
 
 December 31,
2009

ComplianceBonds Payable and Allstate Notes Payable Debt CovenantsLong-term debt service coverage ratio for last four quarters of at least 2.00 to 1.00


0.9

No – WaivedCurrent ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00


0.3

No – WaivedDebt to equity ratio of not more than 3.00 to 1.00


(4.5
)
No – WaivedNot more than 20% of accounts payable in excess of 75 days past invoice date


27
%
No – WaivedNot more than 20% of accounts receivable in excess of 90 days past invoice date


0
%
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. 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. Management reviews
all overdue accounts receivable balances and estimates the portion, if any, of the balance that may not be collected and provides an allowance. Balances that remain outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a reduction in trade accounts receivable. Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded when received.
 
 Inventories
 
 Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company's cost is based on standard cost or FIFO (first-in, first-out). Standard costs approximate actual costs on a first-in, first-out basis. Material, labor, and factory overhead necessary to produce the inventories
are included in their cost.
 
 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 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 assesses the recoverability of its 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
 
 11
 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 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 product is shipped
or when segregated and billed under a bill and hold agreement. 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 Company’s sales prices are determinable given that the Company’s sales discount rates are fixed and given the predictability with which customers take sales discounts.
 
 Uncertainties, Issues and Risks
 
 There are many factors that could adversely affect AERT’s 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, management’s failure to execute effectively, inability to obtain adequate financing (i.e. working capital), equipment breakdowns, low stock price, and fluctuations in quarterly performance.
 
 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 management’s 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 our 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.
 
 Item8.Financial Statements.
 
 The financial statements portion of this item is submitted in a separate section of this report.
 12
 
 Item9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
 
 See report on Form 8-K/A dated January 21, 2009, disclosing the merger of our predecessor auditing firm into our current auditing firm.
 
 Item9A.Controls and Procedures.
 
 Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
 Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, who is our principal executive officer and our 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, 2009. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2009, we have an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures and an effective means for timely communication of information required to be disclosed in this Report.
 
 Management’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, 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 our assessment, we have concluded that such internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
 
 This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by its registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit it to provide
only management’s report in this annual report.
 
 Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
 During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 Item9B.Other Information.
 
 None.
  13
  PARTIII
 
 Item10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
 
 The information required by Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
 
 Item11. Executive Compensation.
 
 The information required by Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
 
 Item12. 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 Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
 
 Item13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
 
 The information required by Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
 
 Item14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
 
 The information required by Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
 
 
 PartIV
 
 Item15.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 of 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.
  14
  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. BROOKSJoe G. Brooks,
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
(principal executive officer)/s/J. R. BRIAN HANNA
J. R. Brian Hanna,
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)/s/ERIC E. BARNES
Eric E. Barnes,
Chief Accounting Officer
(principal accounting officer)
 
 Date: March 26, 2010
 
 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 and Chief Executive Officer
March 26, 2010/s/ Stephen W. Brooks
Stephen W. Brooks

Vice Chairman, Chief Operating
Officer and Secretary
March 26, 2010/s/ Timothy D. Morrison
Timothy D. Morrison

President and Director
March 26, 2010/s/ Jerry B. Burkett
Jerry B. Burkett

Director
March 26, 2010/s/ Edward P. Carda
Edward P. Carda

Director
March 26, 2010
  15
  ADVANCEDENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 PageFinancial Statements:Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2Balance Sheets
F-3 – F-4Statements of  Operations
F-5Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
F-6Statements of Cash Flows
F-7Notes to Financial Statements
F-8 – F-22
  F-1
 REPORTOF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
 Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
 
 We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2009.  These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Company's 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. We were not engaged to examine management’s assessment
of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, included in Item 9A. and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and 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, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
 The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.’s recurring losses from operations, stockholders’ deficit, and inability
to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its financial obligations raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans concerning these matters are also discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
 /s/ HOGANTAYLOR LLP
 
 
 Fayetteville, Arkansas
 March 26, 2010
  F-2
 ADVANCEDENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 BALANCE SHEETS
 (in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 December 31,


December 31,2009


2008AssetsCurrent assets:Cash and cash equivalents

$
243


$
1,238Restricted cash and cash equivalents


-



7,631Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $7 at December 31, 2009and $616 at December 31, 2008


5,163



1,574Inventories


6,795



10,551Prepaid expenses


707



933Total current assets


12,908



21,927Land, buildings and equipment:Land


1,989



1,989Buildings and leasehold improvements


8,903



9,213Machinery and equipment


45,296



46,680Transportation equipment


830



1,125Office equipment


2,396



2,801Construction in progress


16,006



5,810Total land, buildings and equipment


75,420



67,618Less accumulated depreciation


36,240



33,004Net land, buildings and equipment


39,180



34,614Other assets:Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,538 at December 31, 2009and $1,328 at December 31, 2008


2,941



3,151Debt service reserve fund


222



2,101Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $478 at December 31, 2009and $450 at December 31, 2008


1,087



371Total other assets


4,250



5,623Total assets

$
56,338


$
62,164
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
  F-3
 ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 BALANCE SHEETS
 (in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 December 31,


December 31,2009


2008Liabilities and Stockholders' DeficitCurrent liabilities:Accounts payable – trade

$
9,078


$
10,700Accounts payable – related parties


636



487Current maturities of long-term debt


2,878



8,490Current maturities of capital lease obligations


244



215Accruals related to expected settlement of class action lawsuit


7,245



4,650Other accrued liabilities


6,578



6,305Working capital line of credit


7,829



10,579Notes payable


1,238



1,167Total current liabilities


35,726



42,593Long-term debt, less current maturities


28,260



23,244Capital lease obligations, less current maturities


401



58228,661



23,826Accrued dividends on convertible preferred stock


948



143Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12)Stockholders' deficit:Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, 748,772 sharesissued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 788,182 at December 31, 2008;aggregate liquidation preference of $19,768 at December 31, 2009 and $20,808 atDecember 31, 2008


7



8Class A common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 48,105,554shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 47,423,680 at December 31, 2008


481



474Class B convertible common stock, $.01 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized;1,465,530 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008


15



15Warrants outstanding; 3,787,880 at December 31, 2009 and 2008


1,533



1,533Additional paid-in capital


52,711



52,306Accumulated deficit


(63,744
)


(58,734
)Total stockholders' deficit


(8,997
)


(4,398
)Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit

$
56,338


$
62,164
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
  F-4
 ADVANCEDENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 Year Ended December 31,2009


2008Net sales

$
71,073


$
87,398Cost of goods sold


55,223



78,317Estimated liability for claims from class action settlement


5,100



2,870Gross margin


10,750



6,211Selling and administrative costs


11,924



20,530(Gain) loss from asset impairment and disposition


(92
)


5,516Operating loss


(1,082
)


(19,835
)Other expenses:Estimated liability from expected class action settlement


-



(1,963
)Late registration fees


273



(682
)Net interest expense


(3,396
)


(3,781
)Loss before dividends and income tax


(4,205
)


(26,261
)Dividends on preferred stock


(805
)


(826
)Loss before income tax


(5,010
)


(27,087
)Income tax provision


-



8,831Net loss applicable to common stock

$
(5,010
)

$
(35,918
)Loss per share of common stock (basic and diluted)

$
(0.10
)

$
(0.75
)Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)


49,309,251



47,937,520
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
  F-5
 ADVANCEDENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 (in thousands, except share data)
 
 AdditionalPreferred Stock


Class A Common Stock


Class B Common Stock


Warrants Outstanding


Paid-in


AccumulatedShares


Amount


Shares


Amount


Shares


Amount


Number


Value


Capital


Deficit


TotalBalance - December 31, 2007


757,576


$
8



46,314,250


$
463



1,465,530


$
15



3,787,880


$
1,533


$
50,872


$
(22,816
)

$
30,075Issuances of Series D preferred stock in paymentof dividends on Series D preferred stock


30,606



-



-



-



-



-



-



-



404



-



404Issuances of restricted stock


-



-



50,414



1



-



-



-



-



(1
)


-



-Issuances of Class A common stock in paymentof dividends on Series D preferred stock


-



-



1,059,016



10



-



-



-



-



406



-



416Deferred equity compensation for restricted stock


-



-



-



-



-



-



-



-



625



-



625Net loss


-


-



-



-



-



-



-



-



-



(35,918
)


(35,918
)Balance - December 31, 2008


788,182



8



47,423,680



474



1,465,530



15



3,787,880



1,533



52,306



(58,734
)


(4,398
)Issuances of restricted stock


-



-



287,774



3



-



-



-



-



(7
)


-



(4
)Deferred equity compensation for restricted stock


-



-



-



-



-



-



-



-



415



-



415Conversion of Series D preferred stock


(39,410
)


(1
)


394,100



4



-



-



-



-



(3
)


-



-Net loss


-


-



-



-



-



-



-



-



-



(5,010
)


(5,010
)Balance - December 31, 2009


748,772


$
7



48,105,554


$
481



1,465,530


$
15



3,787,880


$
1,533


$
52,711


$
(63,744
)

$
(8,997
)
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
  F-6
 ADVANCEDENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 (in thousands)
 
 Year Ended December 31,2009


2008Cash flows from operating activities:Net loss applicable to common stock

$
(5,010
)

$
(35,918
)Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided byoperating activities:Depreciation and amortization


5,730



5,981Dividends on preferred stock


805



827Deferred tax provision


-



8,851(Gain) loss from fixed asset impairment and disposition


(92
)


5,516Increase in accounts receivable allowance


-



616Decrease in other assets


1,890



833Decrease in cash restricted for interest costs


-



997Changes in current assets and current liabilities


4,004



21,346Net cash provided by operating activities


7,327



9,049Cash flows from investing activities:Purchases of land, buildings and equipment


(10,312
)


(6,442
)Proceeds from disposition of equipment


56



122Net cash used in investing activities


(10,256
)


(6,320
)Cash flows from financing activities:Net payments on line of credit


(2,750
)


(1,724
)Payments on notes


(2,730
)


(4,980
)Payments on capital lease obligations


(216
)


(225
)Decrease in cash restricted for payment of debt and construction


7,630



4,125Debt acquisition costs


-



(403
)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities


1,934



(3,207
)Decrease in cash and cash equivalents


(995
)


(478
)Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period


1,238



1,716Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$
243


$
1,238
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
  F-7
 ADVANCEDENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 Note 1:  Description of the Company
 
 Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (AERT or the Company), founded in 1988, recycles polyethylene plastic and 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. The Company’s 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 our patented and proprietary technologies. Its products have been extensively tested, and are sold by leading national companies such as Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhaeuser), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (Lowe’s) and
Therma-Tru Corporation. The Company’s products are primarily used in renovation and remodeling by consumers, homebuilders, and contractors as an exterior green (environmentally responsible) building alternative for decking, railing, and trim products.
 
 The Company currently manufactures all of its composite products at extrusion facilities in Springdale, Arkansas. The Company suspended extrusion operations at its Junction, Texas composite extrusion facility in October 2007, and determined at the end of 2008 that it would not resume operations at the facility, and accordingly
recorded impairment charges for fixed assets at the Junction facility of $3.9 million in 2008. Additionally, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.5 million for certain assets not in use at its Springdale and Lowell facilities in 2008.
 
 The Company operates a plastic recycling, blending and storage facility in Lowell, Arkansas, and leases warehouses and land for inventory storage. In December 2007, the Company entered into a related party lease for the use of 60 acres in Watts, Oklahoma where it began construction of an additional plastics recycling facility
in September 2008. This facility commenced operations in February 2010, and is intended to recycle lower grades of polyethylene plastic scrap in order to reduce the Company’s costs of recycled plastics and value added compounds and to allow for potential sales of recycled plastics to third parties.
 
 Note 2:  Future Operations
 
 The financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  At December 31, 2009, the Company had a working capital deficit of $22.8 million
and a stockholders’ deficit of $9.0 million. It incurred losses from operations of $1.1 million and $19.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company has limited additional financial resources available to support its operations and has relied over the last two years on extensions of certain of its financings by its lenders. The Company may require additional financial resources in order to fund maturities of debt and other obligations as they become due. These factors,
among others, raise doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the ongoing support of its creditors, investors and customers, and its ability to successfully mass produce and market its products at economically feasible levels. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that
might result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
 
 The Company plans to resolve its current liquidity issue and structure its operations to grow its business, improve its margins and generate net income for 2010 in order to maximize shareholder value. The Company’s immediate liquidity issue is being addressed by:
 
 1)
Implementing additional cost reductions:  A substantial amount of cost has already been eliminated from the Company’s operations and additional cost reductions are being identified and implemented.
 
 2)
Seeking additional sources of revenue:  The Company is pursuing additional distribution of its current product line and is introducing new products in order to increase its sales.
 
 3)
Pursuing additional funding to provide liquidity while restructuring the business:  In addition to continuing to seek potential sources of financing, the Company is pursuing government loan guarantees and investigating grants and low interest loans for companies that produce environmentally
responsible green products, as well as seeking alternative less traditional debt and equity financing opportunities.
  F-8
 4)
Restructuring existing debt to improve short-term liquidity:  The Company’s line of credit has been extended by Liberty Bank through April 15, 2010, and its mortgage loan with Liberty Bank has been extended through April 15, 2010. Additionally, the Company has extended its $6
million bridge loan from Allstate, the holder of the Company’s bonds, until December 2011.
 
 5)
Starting its Watts recycling facility:  The Company expects its Watts recycling facility to reduce raw material costs and generate additional sales of recycled materials in 2010.
 
 Note 3:  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
 Revenue Recognition Policy
 
 The Company recognizes revenue 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 product is
shipped or when segregated and billed under a bill and hold agreement. Sales are recorded net of discounts, rebates, and returns, which were $1.5 million in each of 2009 and 2008.
 
 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 Company’s sales prices are determinable given that the Company’s sales discount rates are fixed and given the predictability with which customers take sales
discounts.
 
 Shipping and Handling
 
 The Company records shipping fees billed to customers in net sales and records the related expenses in cost of goods sold.
 
 Operating Costs
 
 The cost of goods sold line item in the Company’s statements of operations includes costs associated with the manufacture of our products, such as labor, depreciation, repairs 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 Company’s 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 operating activities, net 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 (in thousands):
 
 Year Ended December 31,2009


2008Receivables

$
(3,589
)

$
(323
)Inventories


3,757



13,071Prepaid expenses and other


2,391



2,165Accounts payable — trade and related parties


(1,473
)


1,562Accrued liabilities


2,918



4,871$
4,004


$
21,346Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized of $1,080 in 2009 and $1,081 in 2008

$
1,934


$
3,762Cash paid for income taxes

$
-


$
-
  F-9
 Supplemental Disclosures of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities (in thousands):
 
 Year Ended December 31,2009


2008Notes payable for financing of insurance policies

$
1,025


$
1,448Notes payable for equipment


104



—Dividends on preferred stock paid in stock


—



820Investment tax credit related to construction of fixed assets


754



—Amortized discount on Allstate note payable


193



91Accrued interest transferred to note payable balance


—



668Accounts payable transferred to notes payable


440



—Accrued liability transferred to note payable


508



—
 
 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, 2008, restricted cash included $7.6 million that was restricted for payment of construction and equipment costs at our Watts, Oklahoma plastic recycling facility (see Note 6:
Notes Payable and Long-term Debt).
 
 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, 2009 and 2008 was $5.1 million and $5.0 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.  Interest costs incurred on debt issued to
construct facilities are capitalized during the construction period as part of the project cost.  The net amount of capitalized interest in 2009 and 2008 was $1.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
 
 The Company assesses the recoverability of its 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.
 
 The Company recorded impairment losses totaling $5.4 million for 2008 (see “(Gain) loss from fixed asset impairment and disposition” line item in the Statement of Operations). Impairment charges for fixed assets at the Company’s Junction, Texas facility totaled $3.9 million. The Company suspended operations at the
facility and has no plans to resume operations there.  Additionally, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.5 million for certain assets not in use at its Springdale and Lowell facilities.
 
 At December 31, 2009 and 2008, office equipment included $1.0 million related to assets under capital leases, and machinery and equipment included $0.1 million related to assets under capital leases at December 31, 2009. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, accumulated depreciation included $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively, related
to assets under capital leases.
 
 Inventories
 
 Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company's cost is based on standard cost or FIFO (first-in, first-out). Standard costs approximate actual costs on a first-in, first-out basis. Material, labor, and factory overhead necessary to produce the
inventories are included in their cost. Inventories consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
 
 2009


2008Parts and supplies

$
1,470


$
1,794Raw materials


2,416



3,607Work in process


1,041



2,093Finished goods


1,868



3,057$
6,795


$
10,551
  F-10
 Other Assets
 
 Debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of the related debt. Amortization of debt issuance costs charged to interest expense was $0.2 million for 2009 and $0.3 million for 2008.
 
 The net costs for the preparation of patent applications are amortized using the straight-line method over 17 years. The amortization of intangible assets resulted in aggregate expense of $0.2 million for 2009 and $0.3 million for 2008.
 
 The debt service reserve fund is restricted for the life of the bonds payable (see Note 6: 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.
 
 As of December 31, the Company had the following amounts related to intangible assets (in thousands):
 
 2009


2008Gross Carrying
Amount


Accumulated
Amortization


Gross Carrying
Amount


Accumulated
AmortizationDebt issuance costs

$
4,479


$
1,538


$
4,479


$
1,328Patents


486



478



486



450$
4,965


$
2,016


$
4,965


$
1,778
 
 The following table represents the total estimated amortization of intangible assets for the five succeeding years (in thousands):
 
 Estimated
Amortization2010

$
2172011


2102012


2102013


2102014


210
 
 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. 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 a 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 management’s best estimate
of the amounts that will not be collected. Management individually reviews all overdue accounts receivable balances 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 an allowance 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.
 
 The table below presents a rollforward of our allowance for sales returns and bad debts for 2009 and 2008 (in thousands).
  Balance at


Charged to


Charged to





Balance atBeginning


Costs and


Other





End ofof Period


Expenses


Accounts


Deductions1


Period2009

$
616


$
82





$
691


$
72008


-



616



-



-



616
  ____________
 1. Charges to the accounts are for the purposes for which the reserve was created.
  F-11
 Warranty Estimates
 
 The Company offers a limited warranty on its products. Estimates of expected warranty claims are recorded as liabilities and charged to income in the period revenue is recognized. Amounts accrued for warranty claims totaled $1.1 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
 Earnings Per Share
 
 When applicable, the Company provides dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per shares (EPS) on the face of the statements of operations, and provides a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic EPS computation to the numerator 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 dilutive — those that reduce earnings per share or increase loss per share — are included. The 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. 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 losses from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. Therefore, basic EPS and diluted EPS were computed in the same manner for those years.
 
 Although not included in a diluted EPS calculation due to being antidilutive, the Company had potentially dilutive securities outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008 (see Notes 7 – 9). The following schedule presents antidilutive securities for the years ended December 31.
  2009


2008Options


1,174,000



1,274,000Warrants


3,787,880



3,787,880Restricted common stock


1,503,270



1,738,087Series D preferred stock


7,487,720



7,881,820
 
 Although these financial instruments were not included due to being antidilutive, such financial instruments may become dilutive and would then need to be included in future calculations of diluted EPS.
 
 Concentration Risk
 
 Credit Risk
 
 The Company’s revenues are derived principally from national and regional building products distributors and Weyerhaeuser, the Company’s primary decking customer. The ChoiceDek® brand of decking
products sold to Weyerhaeuser are in turn sold exclusively to Lowe’s. The Company extends unsecured credit to its customers. The Company’s 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 industry may similarly affect the Company’s customers. The Company derived most of its revenue from Weyerhaeuser in 2009 and 2008. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of sales
in 2009 or 2008.
 
 Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
 The Company maintains bank accounts which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000. 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.
  F-12
 Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
  The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt has been estimated by the Company based upon each obligation’s characteristics, including remaining maturities, interest rate, credit rating, and collateral and amortization schedule. The carrying amount approximates fair value.
 
 Share-Based Payments
 
 The Company measures the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognizes that cost in the financial statements. Compensation cost is recognized as the awards vest. Since 2005, the Company has used restricted stock awards as
its exclusive form of stock-based compensation.
 
 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 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 $0.6 million and $3.6 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Costs in 2008 were high due primarily to a marketing campaign intended to increase sales of our MoistureShield® decking
products.
 
 Research and Development Costs
 
 Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvement are charged to expense as incurred. Such expenditures amounted to $0.3 million in each of 2009 and 2008.
 
 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
 In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued additional guidance requiring enhanced disclosures about derivative instruments 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. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2009, which did not have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.
 
 In April 2009, FASB issued guidance requiring disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. The guidance also requires those disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods. The Company adopted
the guidance as of April 1, 2009, which did not have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.
 
 In June 2009, FASB issued guidance identifying its Accounting Standards Codification as the source of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States. The Company adopted the guidance as of July 1, 2009, which did not have a material effect on its financial statements and related disclosures.
 
 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 Company’s net income.
  F-13
 Note 4:  Related Party Transactions  
 Leases
 
 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 Razorback Farms, a corporation controlled by Marjorie
S. Brooks, the Company’s largest stockholder and a former director, 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 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. Rent expense recorded under this lease totaled $12,000 in 2009.
 
 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.
 
 The Company leased manufacturing equipment from Razorback Farms in 2008. Lease payments for the equipment totaled $0.1 million. The lease term expired in October 2008.
 
 Commissions
 
 The Company employs the services of Tull Sales, Inc. (Tull Sales), as an outside sales representative. Tull Sales is owned by Michael M. Tull, who was a director before leaving the board on June 2, 2009. Commission costs incurred by the Company for services performed by Tull Sales were $0.4 million in 2009 and $0.5 million in 2008.
 
 Guarantees
 
 Marjorie Brooks; Joe Brooks, the Company’s chairman and chief executive officer; and Steve Brooks, the Company’s chief operating officer; personally guarantee repayment of our bank line of credit, which had a balance of $7.8 million at December 31, 2009. Marjorie Brooks also guarantees the Company’s $6.0 million
Allstate note. The Company recorded loan guarantee fees of $0.4 million in 2009 and $0.3 million in 2008 to compensate Ms. Brooks for her guarantees.
 
 Other
 
 The balance of accounts payable-related parties included the following amounts:
 
 •
Loan guarantee fees of $0.5 million and $0.2 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, owed to Marjorie S. Brooks
 
 •
Sales commissions of $0.1 million at December 31, 2008 owed to Tull Sales
 
 •
Lease, contract employee and other charges of $0.1 million at each of December 31, 2009 and 2008 owed to Razorback Farms
 
 Note 5:  Line of Credit
 
 The maturity date of the Company’s line of credit agreement with Liberty Bank of Arkansas was extended from January 15, 2010 to April 15, 2010. The line is secured by inventory, accounts receivable, chattel paper, general intangibles and other current assets, as well as by fixtures and equipment, and bears an interest rate of
9%. The maximum amount that may be drawn on the line at one time is the lesser of $8.9 million and the borrowing base. At December 31, 2009, the line of credit balance of $7.8 million exceeded the borrowing base of $7.3 million, leaving no funds available to borrow on the line of credit at December 31, 2009. 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, excluding parts and supplies. The full
amount of the line is guaranteed as to payment by our largest stockholder, Marjorie Brooks, and by Joe Brooks, the Company’s chairman and chief executive officer, and Steve Brooks, the Company’s chief operating officer.
 
 The credit facility includes a debt service coverage ratio, current ratio, and accounts payable and accounts receivable aging covenants substantially similar to those under our 2007 and 2008 bond agreements, and customary restrictions on dividends and the
  F-14
 incurrence of additional debt or liens, among other matters. We were not in compliance with the debt service coverage, current ratio, and accounts payable covenants as of December 31, 2009. Liberty Bank has not waived the covenants, and as such could enforce all remedies available to it under the loan agreement.
However, as previously discussed, Liberty Bank has continued to work with us and has executed the tenth extension of the line of credit to April 15, 2010. We paid down the balance on the line of credit by $2.8 million in 2009.
 
 Note 6:  Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt
 
 Notes Payable
 
 2009


2008Notes payable consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):19.75% note payable to Allstate, secured by subordinated interest in the collateral securing the bonds payable; principal and interest originally due July 1, 2009 (see “Loan Extensions” below)

$
800


$
8006% note payable to plaintiff attorneys in class action lawsuit; unsecured; principal payable weekly and interest payable at maturity, which was originally February 2010, but an extension is being negotiated


353



-10% note payable to State of Arkansas; unsecured; principal and interest payable monthly; maturing February 2010


85



-Various notes payable to finance insurance policies bearing interest at rates between 8.0% and 8.5%; secured by insurance policies; principal and interest payable monthly; matured in 2009


-



367Total

$
1,238


$
1,167
 
 Long-term Debt
 2009


2008Long-term debt, less current maturities consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):8% bonds payable (2007 bonds) 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)

$
13,015


$
13,5158% bonds payable (2008 bonds) 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)


10,220



10,61010% note payable to Allstate, secured by subordinated interest in the collateral securing the bonds payable and a personal guarantee by Marjorie S. Brooks, our major stockholder; principal and interest originally due July 1, 2009(b) (see “Loan Extensions” below)


5,951



5,7597.5% note payable to Liberty Bank of Arkansas; secured by certain real estate and equipment purchased with proceeds from the note; principal and interest payable monthly; maturing on January 15, 2010 (see “Loan Extensions” below)


1,703



1,817Other


249



33Total


31,138



31,734Less current maturities


(2,878
)


(8,490
)Long-term debt, less current maturities

$
28,260


$
23,244
 ____________
 
 (a)
Our 2007 and 2008 bonds have the same covenants. The Company was not in compliance with the debt service coverage, current ratio, accounts payable, and debt to equity covenants as of December 31, 2009. The bond trustee waived these covenants through January 1, 2011. The Company’s Allstate notes payable have cross-default
provisions that caused them to be in technical default at December 31, 2009 due to non-compliance with the loan covenants discussed above. The covenants were waived by Allstate Insurance Company, which is the investor in the bonds and the holder of the Allstate loans. Additionally, the Company did not make certain required payments into its bond principal, interest and reserve funds in 2009. Allstate waived through March 31, 2010 the default provision of the loan agreements of the bonds concerning failure
to make loan payments.(b)
The face amount of the note is $5.7 million and a 5% premium on the note was due at the original maturity date of July 1, 2009. At December 31, 2008, there was $0.2 million of unamortized discount on the note.
  
  F-15
 The aggregate maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2009 were as follows, as adjusted for loans extended subsequent to December 31, 2009 (see "Loan Extensions" below) (in thousands):
 
 Year

Amount2010

$
2,8782011


6,9952012


1,1232013


1,2132014


1,314Thereafter


17,615$
31,138
  Loan Extensions
 
 Our $0.8 million, 19.75% note payable to Allstate Insurance Company had an original maturity date of July 1, 2009, but in March 2010 was extended to July 15, 2010. In March 2010, we also received from Allstate an extension to December 15, 2011 to repay our $6.0 million, 10% note payable, which originally matured July 1, 2009.  Payments
on the $6.0 million loan of $63,000 per month begin April 2011, with the balance of the loan due at maturity.  Additionally, our $1.7 million loan from Liberty Bank with an extended maturity date of January 15, 2010 was extended to April 15, 2010.
 
 Note 7:  Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
 
 Series D Preferred Stock
 
 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 paid dividends in additional shares of Series D preferred stock, which was allowed under the agreement. Beginning in the third quarter following the closing, dividends were paid in shares of common stock.  Dividends paid in 2008 totaled $0.8 million. Dividends of $0.8 million were accrued in 2009 but not paid, as the Company
has been in a stockholders’ deficit position since December 31, 2008, and Delaware law does not allow the payment of dividends when a company has negative equity. In the future, the Company has the option to pay the dividends in either cash or Class A common stock. 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 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 addition to separate protective voting rights as to certain customary matters, the holders of the Series D preferred stock are entitled to vote on an as-converted basis, as amended, together with the holders of the Company’s
common stock on all other matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders.
 
 In 2009, 39,410 shares of preferred stock were converted to common stock, leaving a total of 748,772 shares of preferred stock outstanding at December 31, 2009.
 
 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 holder’s 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.
 
 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. There were 3,787,880 shares of Class A common stock reserved
for potential issuance pursuant to Series W warrants at December 31, 2009.
  F-16
 Note 8:  Stock Option Plans
 
 Additional stock options are not issuable under the Company’s stock option plans, as the plans have expired. However, there are options outstanding that were issued under the plans.
 
 A summary of the activity of the Company’s stock options during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 follows:
 
 2009


2008Shares


Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value at
December31,
2009


Shares


Weighted
Average
Exercise
PriceOutstanding, beginning of year


1,274,000


$
1.67






1,521,500


$
1.59Granted


—



—






—



—Exercised


—



—






—



—Forfeited


(100,000
)


0.94






(247,500
)


1.17Outstanding, end of year


1,174,000


$
1.74


$
—



1,274,000


$
1.67Exercisable, end of year


1,174,000


$
1.74


$
—



1,274,000


$
1.67
 
 The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the Company’s stock option plans as of December 31, 2009. All options were exercisable at December 31, 2009.
 
 Options Outstanding and ExercisableRange of Exercise Prices

Number
at 12/31/09

Wtd. Avg.
Remaining
Contract Life

Wtd. Avg.
Exercise
Price$0.86


124,000

1.31 years

$
0.86$1.12 - $1.75


550,000

2.81 years


1.29$2.25 - $2.75


500,000

1.30 years


2.451,174,000

2.01 years

$
1.74
 
 Note 9:  Equity Incentive Plans
 
 2005 and 2008 Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive Plans
 
 The purpose of the Associate Plans 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 Company’s welfare, to encourage them to continue their services to the Company, and to attract individuals of outstanding ability to enter employment with the Company.
 
 The Associate Plans are 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 Associate Plans. No director who is not also an employee is eligible to receive an award under the Associate Plans.
 
 The stock available for awards under the Associate Plans are shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued, or reacquired, common stock. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the Associate Plans may not exceed 3,000,000 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 Plans.
 
 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:
  F-17
 (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.
 
 2005 and 2008 Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plans
 
 The purpose of the Director Plans 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
with the Company. The Director Plans is administered by the compensation committee (the Administrator) of the board of directors.
 
 Pursuant to the Director Plans, 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. However, directors waived their right to receive awards in 2008 and 2009. There were, as of December 31, 2009, four non-employee
directors eligible to participate in the Director Plans. The stock available for awards under the Director Plans are shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued, or reacquired, common stock. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the Director Plans will not exceed 1,500,000 shares of common stock. In the event that any outstanding award under the Director Plans for any reason expires, is forfeited or is terminated, the shares of common stock allocable
to the unexercised portion of the award shall again be available for awards under the Director Plans.
 
 Although the Administrator has authority under the Director Plans to change the timing, number of restricted stock units, vesting and crediting provisions and other features of restricted stock unit awards which may be made under the Director Plans, it has been the Company’s practice, and is its expectation to resume in the
future, that effective as of the third business day each year following the earlier of (i) the Company’s 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 Company’s 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 is granted, 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 unit award for that number of shares of common stock determined by dividing $32,000 by the fair market value of the common stock. The restricted stock award is then credited to the account of each eligible director over a vesting period; and such award would be further subject to the condition that the award would vest only upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of director services by such director (to the extent of credited awards), and (ii) the completion of the required service period. The award of shares of restricted stock to the director would then be made upon and to the extent of satisfaction of all crediting and vesting conditions. Restricted stock awards or restricted stock unit awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for
the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose during the period of vesting and crediting conditions as the Administrator shall determine. However, the unvested portion of any award will automatically vest upon the occurrence of any “change in control” (defined in the same manner as in the 2008 Associate Plan).
 
 Restricted Stock Award Summary
 
 A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2009, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2009, follows:
 
 F-18
 Shares


Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair ValueNon-vested at January 1, 2009


1,590,849


$
0.93Granted


100,000



0.35Vested


(496,569
)


1.27Forfeited


(33,511
)


1.89Non-vested at December 31, 2009


1,160,769


$
0.71
 
 The total fair value of the 2009 awards was $35,000 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. As of December 31, 2009, there was $0.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested
restricted stock awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years. There were no restricted stock grants to directors in 2009.
 
 The total fair value of shares vested in 2009 and 2008 was $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Costs recognized for the vested portion of restricted stock awards totaled $0.4 million in 2009 and $0.6 million in 2008. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock granted in 2008 was $0.72.
 
 Note 10:  Leases
 
 At December 31, 2009, the Company was obligated under various operating leases covering certain buildings and equipment. Rent expense under operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $3.8 million and $4.7 million, 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 durations of less than one year. The Company recorded $0.7 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to warehouses that it subleases to another company under noncancelable subleases.
 
 During 2009, the Company also leased certain ERP software, computer equipment, and production equipment under three individual, non-cancelable capital leases. The leases have various terms but all include a bargain purchase option upon expiration. The computer equipment lease expires in 2010 and the software and production equipment
leases expire in 2012. The principal portion of lease payments for capital lease obligations totaled $0.2 million in each of 2009 and 2008, with the production equipment lease not beginning until December 2009.
 
 Future minimum lease payments required under operating and capital leases as of December 31, 2009, are as follows (in thousands):
 
 Year

Capital
Leases


Operating
Leases2010

$
281


$
2,8152011


224



2,5252012


206



1,8802013


—



1,5112014


—



1,027Thereafter


—



106Total minimum payments required*


711


$
9,864Less amount representing interest


66Present value of future minimum lease payments


645Less current obligations under capital leases


244Long-term obligations under capital leases

$
401
 
 *  Minimum payments for operating leases have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of $0.3 million due in the future under noncancelable subleases.
 
 Note 11:  Income Taxes
 
 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.
 
 F-19
 The Company’s income tax provision consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 Year Ended December 31,2009


2008Current:Federal

$
—


$
—State


—



——



—Deferred:Federal


—



8,374State


—



457—



8,831Net income tax provision

$
—


$
8,831
 
 The income tax provisions for 2009 and 2008 differ from the amounts computed by applying the US federal statutory rate of 34% to income taxes as a result of the following (in thousands):
 
 2009


2008Amount


Percent


Amount


PercentIncome tax at the U.S. federal statutory rate

$
(1,703
)


34.0


$
(9,210
)


34.0State income taxes


(261
)


5.2



(1,409
)


5.2Dividends on preferred stock


315



(6.3
)


324



(1.2
)Change in valuation allowance


508



(10.1
)


18,516



(68.4
)Late registration penalties


(107
)


2.1



267



(1.0
)Expiration of net operating loss carryforwards


1,340



(26.7
)


147



(0.5
)Other


(92
)


1.8



196



(0.7
)$
—



0.0


$
8,831



(32.6
)
 
 The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
 
 2009


2008Current


Long-Term


Current


Long-TermDeferred tax assets —Net operating loss carryforwards

$
1,470


$
15,717


$
1,340


$
15,815Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward


—



76



—



76Asset impairment


—



2,124



—



2,118Inventory reserve


155



—



273



—Allowance for sales returns


3



—



241



—Accrued expenses


3,543



—



2,535



—Restricted stock


(147
)


—



(103
)


—Deferred compensation


557



—



394



—Charitable contribution


53



—



52



—Inventory overhead capitalization


25



—



42



—Valuation allowance


(5,382
)


(15,128
)


(4,408
)


(15,593
)Total deferred tax assets


277



2,789



366



2,416Deferred tax liability —Depreciation


—



2,789



—



2,416Prepaid expenses


277



—



366



—Total deferred tax liabilities


277



2,789



366



2,416Net deferred tax

$
—


$
—


$
—


$
—
 
 As of December 31, 2009, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of $45.5 million for federal income tax purposes, which are available to reduce future taxable income. If not utilized, $4.3 million of the net operating loss carryforwards will expire in 2010, with the remaining $41.2 million expiring between 2016
and 2029. As there is insufficient evidence that the Company will be able to generate adequate future taxable income to enable it to realize its net operating loss carryforwards prior to expiration, it increased its valuation allowance by $0.5 million to $20.5 million at December 31, 2009 to recognize its deferred tax assets only to the extent of its deferred tax liabilities.
 
 F-20
 The Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2006, except in the State of Texas, for which the 2005 tax year is still subject to examination. The Company is not currently the subject of any income tax examinations by any tax authorities.
 
 Based upon a review of its income tax filing positions, the Company believes that its positions would be sustained upon an audit and does not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to its financial position. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded. The Company recognizes
interest related to income taxes as interest expense and penalties as operating expenses.
 
 Note 12:  Commitments and Contingencies
 
 Legal Proceedings
 
 Class Action Lawsuits
 
 The U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (Seattle Division) approved a class action settlement on January 9, 2009 related to a purported class action lawsuit seeking to recover on behalf of purchasers of ChoiceDek® composite
decking for damages allegedly caused by mold and mildew stains on their decks. The settlement includes decking material purchased from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2007, along with decking material purchased after December 31, 2007 that was manufactured before October 1, 2006, the date a mold inhibitor was introduced in the manufacturing process.
 
 As part of the settlement, the defendants have agreed not to use the terms “minimum maintenance,” “low maintenance,” “easy to maintain,” or “virtually maintenance free” in ChoiceDek® marketing
materials. AERT is required to provide additional cleaning instructions on the ChoiceDek® website to assist customers with cleaning their decks. AERT has provided national notice of the settlement to putative class members and has established a call center to answer customer questions regarding ChoiceDek®. AERT is self-administering a claim resolution
process whereby eligible deck owners were allowed to file a claim for significant mold spotting by September 10, 2009 pursuant to the settlement agreement. If eligible, deck owners who timely file a claim for significant mold spotting may receive relief such as deck cleanings and applications of a mold inhibitor, gift cards for use at Lowe’s, replacement materials, and/or refunds under certain criteria. An arbitration provision is included in the settlement agreement, which provides for disputes arising
from the claim resolution process.
 
 At December 31, 2009, AERT had a total remaining balance in accrued expenses and notes payable of $7.6 million associated with the settlement of the class action lawsuit. The estimate included $6.7 million remaining for the claims resolution process and $0.9 million remaining to be paid for plaintiffs’
attorney fees in 2010. In 2008, the Company accrued an estimated $2.9 million for resolving claims. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company increased its estimate of costs to be incurred in resolving claims under the settlement by $5.1 million. The estimate was revised due to events that occurred and information that became available after the second quarter of 2009 concerning primarily the number of claims received. The deadline for submitting new claims has now passed. Though the Company has recorded what
it believes to be the most likely liability for the class action settlement, the Company estimates that the range of additional liability could be up to $2.2 million. The claim resolution process will have an annual net cost limitation to AERT of $2.0 million until the claim resolution process is completed.
 
 Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. v. American International Specialty Lines Insurance Company
 
 On April 18, 2008, AERT filed suit against its umbrella liability insurer, American International Specialty Lines Insurance Company (“AISLIC”), to obtain a defense against the then-pending class action lawsuits (discussed above) (the “Jamruk/Pelletz Lawsuits”) under one or more
umbrella liability insurance policies issued by AISLIC and to recover AERT’s past defense costs, interest, and other damages and attorneys’ fees relating to AISLIC’s denial of coverage for the Jamruk/Pelletz Lawsuits. After the settlement of the Jamruk/Pelletz Lawsuits was approved in January 2009, AERT amended its claims against AISLIC to also seek recovery for amounts to be paid by AERT in connection with the settlement. In September 2009, the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Texas – Dallas Division denied AERT’s claims. AERT filed an appeal of the court’s decision in January 2010.
 
 Energy Unlimited, Inc. vs. AERT, Inc.
 
 Energy Unlimited, Inc. originally brought suit against AERT to collect an asserted $0.2 million balance in relation to work performed on the Springdale South facility material handling and drying systems. AERT contended 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
 
 F-21
 material handling and drying systems. AERT 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. In September 2009, the case was settled. AERT was awarded $0.2 million
and was required to pay Energy Unlimited $0.1 million.
 
 Nicholson Kovac, Inc. v. Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
 
 Nicholson Kovac, Inc., AERT’s previous advertising agency, initiated a suit in Superior Court of Washington for King County against AERT in March 2009 for non-payment of fees totaling $0.9 million. AERT disputed the allegations and a settlement was reached in July 2009 in which AERT agreed to pay $0.7 million of the fees. A
note payable due without interest in December 2010 was issued for $0.2 million of the fees.
 
 Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. v. Fort Mason Master, L.P. and Fort Mason Partners, L.P.
 
 On August 19, 2009, AERT filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the Court) against Fort Mason Master, L.P. and Fort Mason Partners, L.P. (the Funds), requesting that the Court enter an order that AERT has no obligation to redeem its Series D preferred stock held by
the Funds and that the Funds be required to comply with the terms of the preferred stock agreements. Prior to AERT filing a complaint, the Funds indicated to the Company their belief that they were entitled to have their stock redeemed (representing $4.0 million of initial investment) because of the Company’s accruing but not paying cumulative dividends, allegedly misrepresenting their redemption rights, and/or failing to pay late registration penalties. The Company denies and disputes these allegations.
AERT is also seeking a ruling to clarify its obligation with respect to late registration penalties attributable to delays in getting its S-3 resale registration statement for the preferred stock effective as a result of circumstances beyond its control. At December 31, 2009, the Company had $0.4 million accrued relating to these late registration penalties.
 
 On January 15, 2010, the Funds filed with the Court an answer to the Company’s complaint and a counterclaim against AERT. The Funds denied any allegations made by AERT and claimed that AERT had breached certain terms of the Series D preferred stock agreements, including that AERT failed to pay required dividends, AERT falsely
represented that it was not prohibited from redeeming the preferred stock, and AERT failed to timely make effective a registration statement and failed to pay the related late registration penalties. The Funds are seeking damages and attorneys’ fees from AERT for the alleged breaches of contract.  Additionally, the Funds have requested that the Court require AERT to redeem the preferred stock, claiming that the alleged breaches of contract give the Funds the right to require redemption under the
preferred stock agreements.
 
 AERT responded to the counterclaims on February 4, 2010. In its response, AERT denied the allegations of the Funds and requested that the Court enter an order dismissing the counterclaims, declaring that AERT has no current obligation to redeem the preferred stock, requiring the Funds to comply with the rights and obligations in connection
with the Series D preferred stock, and awarding AERT its attorneys’ fees and expenses related to this lawsuit.
 
 Other Matters
 
 AERT is involved from time to time in other litigation arising from the normal course of business.  In management's opinion, this other litigation is not expected to materially impact the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
 
 Note 13: Listing of Class A Common Stock
 
 Due to the Company's inability to demonstrate compliance with the Nasdaq Stock Market’s continued listing requirements without substantially diluting the ownership of existing stockholders, the Company’s shares ceased to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 29, 2009, at which time the OTC Bulletin Board began
providing quotes for the Company’s shares. The Company’s shares will continue to trade under the ticker symbol “AERT”.
 
 Note 14:  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 participant’s 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-22
 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
 Exhibit
No.

Description of Exhibit3.1

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, 19993.2

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(e)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)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(h)10.6

2005 Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan(h)10.9

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)(i)10.10

Liberty Bank Real Estate Loan Agreement.(j)10.11

Liberty Bank Real Estate Promissory Note.(j)10.12

Liberty Bank Line of Credit Loan Agreement.(k)10.13

Liberty Bank Line of Credit Promissory Note.(k)10.14

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 29, 2007(e)10.14

Form of Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued October 29, 2007(e)10.14

Registration Rights Agreement(e)10.15

Loan Agreement dated December 19, 2007 related to Series 2007 8% Bonds.(f)10.15

Indenture of Trust dated December 19, 2007 related to Series 2007 8% bonds.(f)10.16

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.(g)10.16

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.(g)23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.**31.1

Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 302) by the Company’s chairman and chief executive officer.**31.2

Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 302) by the Company’s chief financial officer.**32.1

Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 906) by the Company’s chairman and chief executive officer.**32.2

Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 906) by the Company’s 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)
Contained in exhibits to Form 8-K filed November 1, 2007.(f)
Contained in exhibits to Form 8-K filed December 21, 2007.(g)
Contained in exhibits to Form 8-K filed February 29, 2008.(h)
Contained in exhibits to DEFR14A filed July 11, 2005.(i)
Filed with Forms 10-Q for September 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005.(j)
Filed with Form 10-Q for September 30, 2005.(k)
Filed with Form 10-K for December 31, 2005.