defr14a
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OMB APPROVAL |
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OMB Number:
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3235-0059 |
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Expires:
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February 28, 2006 |
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Estimated average burden hours per
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12.75 |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 1)
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Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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o Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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x Definitive Proxy Statement (Amended; Superseding July 8, 2005 filing) |
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o Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Advanced Environmental Recycling
Technologies, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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x No fee required. |
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o
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11. |
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1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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o Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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1) Amount Previously Paid: |
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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SEC 1913 (02-02) |
Persons who are to respond to the collection of information
contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid
OMB control number. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL
RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
914 N Jefferson Street (72764)
Post Office Box 1237
Springdale, Arkansas 72765
(479) 756-7400
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held Thursday, July 28, 2005
To our Stockholders:
The annual meeting of stockholders of Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. will be held at the Northwest
Arkansas Holiday Inn Convention Center, Springdale, Arkansas at
7:00 p.m., local time, Thursday, July 28, 2005, to
consider and act upon the following matters, all as more fully
described in the accompanying proxy statement which is
incorporated herein by this reference:
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1. To elect eleven members to the eleven-person board of
directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until their respective successors shall be elected and
qualify. |
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2. To approve the 2005 Key Associate and Management Equity
Incentive Plan. |
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3. To approve the 2005 Non-Employee Director Equity
Incentive Plan. |
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4. To ratify the appointment of Tullius Taylor
Sartain & Sartain LLP as independent public accountants
of the company for the year ending December 31,
2005; and |
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5. To transact such other business and to consider and take
action upon any and all matters that may properly come before
the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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The board of directors has fixed the close of business on
June 1, 2005, as the record date for the determination of
the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual
meeting and any adjournment thereof.
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Sincerely, |
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Marjorie S. Brooks |
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Secretary |
July 11, 2005
A proxy card and annual report of the company for the year ended
December 31, 2004, are enclosed. It is important that your
shares be represented whether or not you attend the meeting.
Registered stockholders can vote their shares via the Internet
or by using a toll-free telephone number. Instructions for using
these convenient services appear on the proxy card. You can also
vote your shares by marking your votes on the proxy card,
signing and dating it and mailing it promptly using the envelope
provided. Proxy votes are tabulated by an independent agent and
reported at the annual meeting. The tabulating agent maintains
the confidentiality of the proxies throughout the voting
process. We hope that you can attend this meeting in person, but
if you cannot do so please vote your proxy now.
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL
RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
914 N Jefferson Street (72764)
Post Office Box 1237
Springdale, Arkansas 72765
(479) 756-7400
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
July 28, 2005
PROXY STATEMENT
SOLICITATION AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the board of
directors of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), for use
at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the
Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn Convention Center, Springdale,
Arkansas, at 7:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, July 28,
2005, and at any adjournments thereof. The notice of meeting,
proxy statement, and form of proxy are being mailed to
stockholders on or about July 11, 2005.
A proxy may be revoked by delivering a written notice of
revocation to the principal office of the Company or in person
at the meeting at any time prior to the voting thereof.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
At June 1, 2005, the record date, there were
33,767,832 shares of Class A common stock,
1,465,530 shares of Class B common stock and
900 shares of Series B preferred stock issued and
outstanding. There were also 1,860 shares of Series A
and C preferred stock issued and outstanding, but these shares
are non-voting except in those instances where Delaware law
expressly requires otherwise and have no voting rights with
respect to the matters intended to be submitted to a vote of the
stockholders at this upcoming meeting. Each outstanding share of
Class A common stock entitles the holder thereof to one
vote on matters submitted to the stockholders and each share of
Class B common stock entitles the holder thereof to five
votes on matters submitted to the stockholders. The
Series B preferred stock is entitled to vote on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders and has voting rights of
2,500 votes per share of Series B preferred stock. As of
June 1, 2005, the holders of the Class B common stock
are entitled to an aggregate of 7,327,650 votes and the holders
of the Series B preferred stock are entitled to an
aggregate of 2,250,000 votes. The holders of record of the
Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and
Series B preferred stock outstanding on June 1, 2005,
will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to
stockholders and such other matters as may properly come before
the annual meeting and any adjournments.
The enclosed form of proxy provides a method for stockholders to
withhold authority to vote for any one or more nominees (See
Election of Directors for the method of withholding
authority to vote for directors). By withholding authority,
shares will not be voted either for or against a particular
matter but will be counted for quorum purposes. Abstentions and
brokers non-votes, if any, are counted for
purposes of determining a quorum but will have no effect on the
election of directors or other matters intended to be submitted
to a vote of the stockholders.
As of the record date, the Companys executive officers and
directors beneficially own approximately 38.2% of the currently
outstanding shares of Class A common stock, 93.9% of the
shares of Class B common stock, approximately 29.0% of the
currently outstanding shares of Series B voting preferred
stock, and collectively beneficially owned shares representing
approximately 47.8% of the votes entitled to be cast upon
matters submitted at the annual meeting. As of the record date,
Marjorie S. Brooks and corporations controlled by her
beneficially owned shares representing approximately 32.7% of
the votes entitled to be cast and may be in a position to
control the Company.
The following table sets forth, as of June 1, 2005, certain
information with regard to the beneficial ownership of the
Companys capital stock by each holder of 5% or more of the
outstanding stock, by each named executive officer and director
of the Company, and by all officers and directors as a group:
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Number of Shares | |
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Name and Address |
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Title of | |
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of Common | |
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Percentage of Class | |
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Percentage of Total | |
of Beneficial Owner |
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Class(1) | |
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Stock(2) | |
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Outstanding(2)(17) | |
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Voting Power(2)(18) | |
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Marjorie S. Brooks
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Class A |
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11,407,908 |
(3) |
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27.8 |
% |
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32.7 |
% |
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Class B |
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837,588 |
(4) |
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57.2 |
% |
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Preferred- |
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Series A |
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425 |
(5) |
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15.4 |
% |
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Series B |
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400 |
(5) |
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14.5 |
% |
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Joe G. Brooks
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Class A |
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938,397 |
(6) |
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2.8 |
% |
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5.4 |
% |
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Class B |
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284,396 |
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19.4 |
% |
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J. Douglas Brooks
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Class A |
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935,573 |
(7) |
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2.7 |
% |
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3.6 |
% |
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Class B |
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131,051 |
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8.9 |
% |
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Jerry B. Burkett
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Class A |
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290,000 |
(8) |
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* |
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1.0 |
% |
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Class B |
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33,311 |
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2.3 |
% |
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Sal Miwa
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Class A |
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506,963 |
(9) |
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1.5 |
% |
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1.2 |
% |
Stephen W. Brooks
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Class A |
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821,112 |
(10) |
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2.4 |
% |
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2.9 |
% |
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Class B |
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89,311 |
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6.1 |
% |
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Jim Robason
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Class A |
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112,948 |
(11) |
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* |
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* |
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Preferred- Series A |
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80 |
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2.9 |
% |
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Melinda Davis
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Class A |
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149,132 |
(12) |
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* |
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* |
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Preferred- Series A |
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80 |
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2.9 |
% |
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Michael M. Tull
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Class A |
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640,780 |
(13) |
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1.9 |
% |
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3.7 |
% |
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Preferred- Series B |
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400 |
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13.8 |
% |
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Samuel L. Tony Milbank
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Class A |
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552,317 |
(14) |
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1.6 |
% |
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1.3 |
% |
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Preferred- Series A |
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15 |
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* |
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Tim W. Kizer
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Class A |
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Edward P. Carda
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Class A |
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Jim Precht
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Class A |
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407,700 |
(15) |
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1.2 |
% |
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* |
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Edward J. Lysen
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Class A |
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302,000 |
(16) |
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* |
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* |
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Officers and directors
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Class A |
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17,074,830 |
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38.2 |
% |
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47.8 |
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as a group (thirteen persons): |
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Class B |
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1,375,657 |
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93.9 |
% |
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P. O. Box 1237 |
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Preferred- |
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Springdale, AR 72765 |
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Series A |
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600 |
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21.7 |
% |
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Series B |
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800 |
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29.0 |
% |
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(1) |
The Class B common stock is substantially identical to the
Class A common stock, except that each share of
Class B common stock has five votes per share and each
share of Class A common stock has one vote per share. Each
share of Class B common stock is convertible into one share
of Class A common stock. Each share of Preferred Stock is
convertible at the lower of $1.20 and the ten-trading day
average of the Companys Class A common stock, and
would be convertible into 833 shares of Class A common
stock, based upon the trading price prevailing at June 1,
2005. The Series B Preferred Stock (900 shares) has
voting rights of 2,500 votes per share. No other Preferred Stock
carries any voting rights. |
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(2) |
Beneficial ownership of shares was determined in accordance with
Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act and included shares
underlying outstanding warrants and options which the named
individual had the right to acquire within sixty days
(July 31, 2005) of June 1, 2005. |
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(3) |
Includes 3,307,980 shares owned directly, 759,723 in trusts
or corporations controlled by Mrs. Brooks,
450,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options,
3,000 shares issuable upon exercise of bonus warrants,
325,000 shares issuable upon exercise of Class C
Warrants, 3,974,080 shares issuable upon exercise of
Class F and Class G Warrants issued in connection with
a private placement of Class A common stock in May of 1994,
1,771,792 shares issuable upon exercise of Class H
Warrants, 323,000 shares issuable upon exercise of
Series X and Y warrants owned directly and
493,333 shares issuable upon exercise of Series X and
Series Y Warrants owned indirectly through two corporations
controlled by Mrs. Brooks (Razorback Farms, Inc. and Brooks
Investment Company). |
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(4) |
Includes 403,946 shares owned directly by Mrs. Brooks
and 433,642 shares owned by two corporations controlled by
Mrs. Brooks. (Razorback Farms, Inc. is the record owner of
312,320 shares and Southern Mineral and Fibers, Inc. is the
record owner of 121,322 shares, representing approximately
21.3% and 8.3%, respectively, of the Class B common stock).
Excludes additional shares owned by adult children of
Mrs. Brooks, including Joe G. Brooks, Stephen W. Brooks and
J. Douglas Brooks, as to which she disclaims a beneficial
interest. |
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(5) |
Includes 425 shares of Series A preferred stock owned
directly and 400 shares of Series B Preferred Stock
owned indirectly by Mrs. Brooks. Razorback Farms, Inc. is
the record owner of 165 shares. Brooks Investment Company
is the record owner of 235 shares. |
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(6) |
Includes 607,400 shares owned directly, 4,500 shares
owned as custodian for Joe G. Brooks minor child,
38,205 shares owned as custodian for Brooks
Childrens Trust, 1,500 shares issuable upon exercise
of bonus warrants owned as custodian for Mr. Brooks
minor child, 38,250 shares issuable upon exercise of Bonus
Warrants owned as custodian for Brooks Childrens
Trust, 1,875 shares issuable upon exercise of Bonus
Warrants owned directly and 246,667 shares issuable upon
exercise of stock options. |
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(7) |
Includes 443,212 shares owned directly, 84,741 shares
owned indirectly, 7,620 shares issuable upon exercise of
bonus warrants and 400,000 shares issuable upon exercise of
stock options. |
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(8) |
Includes 63,000 shares owned directly, 2,000 shares
owned by Mr. Burkett as custodian for his minor child,
10,000 shares owned by a partnership controlled by
Mr. Burkett and 215,000 shares issuable upon exercise
of stock options. |
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(9) |
Includes 28,000 shares owned directly and
478,963 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. |
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(10) |
Includes 296,112 shares owned directly and
525,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. |
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(11) |
Includes 27,148 shares owned directly, 60,800 shares
issuable upon exercise of Series X and Series Y
warrants, and 25,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock
options. |
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(12) |
Represents 13,332 shares owned directly, 75,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of stock options, and 60,800 shares
issuable upon exercise of Series X and Series Y
warrants. |
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(13) |
Includes 97,447 shares owned directly, 100,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of stock options, and 443,333 shares
issuable upon exercise of Series X and Series Y
warrants. |
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(14) |
Includes 291,130 shares owned directly, 112,697 shares
issuable upon exercise of Series X Warrants,
41,604 shares issuable upon exercise of Series Y
Warrants, 31,886 shares issuable upon exercise of
Class I Warrants, and 75,000 shares issuable upon
exercise of stock options. |
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(15) |
Includes 7,700 shares owned directly and
400,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
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(16) |
Includes 2,000 shares owned directly and
300,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
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(17) |
Class A common stock beneficial ownership was calculated by
dividing the beneficial ownership of each individual by the sum
of: (i) the total shares of Class A common stock
outstanding at June 1, 2005, and (ii) the total shares
underlying outstanding warrants and options which the named
individual had the right to acquire within 60 days
(July 31, 2005) of June 1, 2005. Class B common
stock beneficial ownership is calculated based on
1,465,530 shares outstanding on June 1, 2005.
Preferred stock beneficial ownership is calculated based on
2,760 shares outstanding on June 1, 2005. |
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(18) |
Calculated by dividing the voting rights of the beneficial
ownership of each individual by the sum of: (i) the total
votes available to be cast at June 1, 2005, and
(ii) in footnote (17) above. |
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At June 1, 2005, there were 33,767,832 shares of
Class A common stock and 1,465,530 shares of
Class B common stock issued and outstanding. The previous
table indicates that those directors, officers and 5%
shareholders, as a group, beneficially owned shares representing
approximately 47.8% of the votes entitled to be cast upon
matters submitted to a vote of the Companys stockholders,
and Marjorie S. Brooks and corporations controlled by her
beneficially owned shares representing approximately 32.7% of
the votes entitled to be cast and may be in a position to
control the Company.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The directors and executive officers of the Company as of
June 1, 2005, are as follows:
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Name |
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Age | |
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Position |
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Joe G. Brooks
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50 |
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Chairman of the board of directors, co-chief executive officer
and president |
Sal Miwa
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48 |
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Vice-chairman of the board of directors |
Stephen W. Brooks
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48 |
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Co-chief executive officer and director |
Marjorie S. Brooks
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69 |
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Secretary, treasurer and director |
J. Douglas Brooks
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45 |
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Senior vice-president raw materials |
Alford Drinkwater
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53 |
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Senior vice president administration |
Edward J. Lysen
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67 |
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Senior vice president and chief financial officer |
Jim Precht
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59 |
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Senior vice-president sales and marketing |
Jerry B. Burkett
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48 |
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Director |
Melinda Davis
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62 |
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Director |
Samuel L. Tony Milbank
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65 |
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Director |
Jim Robason
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67 |
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Director |
Michael M. Tull
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51 |
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Director |
The Companys board of directors elected Joe G. Brooks
as its chairman and the Companys co-chief executive
officer in December 1998, and he has served as president since
February 2000. Mr. Brooks has previously served as
president and has been a director since the Companys
inception in December 1988. He was also previously chairman and
CEO from inception until August 1993. He was a member of Clean
Texas 2000, appointed by then Governor George W. Bush in
1995.
In December 1998, the Companys board of directors elected
Sal Miwa as its vice-chairman. Mr. Miwa also served
as chairman of the board between December 1995 and December
1998. He has been an outside director of the Company since
January 1994. From July 2004 to present, Mr. Miwa has been
CEO and director of Greenstone Inc., a chemical technology
company located in New York City primarily serving the building
and construction industry. From April 2000 to June 2004, he was
COO and director of RealRead Inc., an online document service
company. For more than 20 years Mr. Miwa has been
engaged in various international businesses and serves on boards
of several closely held family businesses around the world. He
received his masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Companys board of directors elected Stephen W.
Brooks as co-chief executive officer in December 1998.
Mr. Brooks has served as its chief executive officer and
has been a director since January 1996. Mr. Brooks has
served as CEO and chairman of the board of Razorback Farms, Inc.
from January 1996 to the present. Razorback Farms is a
Springdale, Arkansas based firm that specializes in vegetables
processing. Mr. Brooks also serves on the board of the
Ozark Food Processors Association.
Marjorie S. Brooks has been secretary, treasurer and a
director since the Companys inception in December 1988.
Mrs. Brooks has served as secretary and treasurer of Brooks
Investment Co., a holding company for the Brooks family
investments, for more than thirty years.
J. Douglas Brooks has served as executive
vice-president, has been in charge of raw material sourcing and
strategic relationships since 1998, and has been a senior vice
president since September 2003. Mr. Brooks
4
was vice-president of plastics from 1995 through 1998, was
previously project manager for AERTs polyethylene
recycling program with The Dow Chemical Company, and is a joint
inventor on several of AERTs process patents for recycling
polyethylene film for composites.
Alford Drinkwater has served as senior vice president of
administration since February 2005. Previously he served as
senior vice president of logistics, laboratories, and plastic
operations from September 2003. Beginning May 2000 until
September 2003, Mr. Drinkwater was the assistant to the
chairman. Prior to joining the Company in May 2000,
Mr. Drinkwater had been the Assistant Director for the
Established Industries Division of the Arkansas Department of
Economic Development and was on the Advocacy Team from November
1988 until January 2000. From September 1986 until July 1988, he
owned and operated Town and Country Waste Services, Inc. a waste
services company engaging in the development of waste recycling,
energy recovery, and disposal systems. From April 1981 until
January 1987, Mr. Drinkwater was the Resource Recovery
Manager for Metropolitan Trust Company, and was primarily
involved in waste-to-energy systems development. From July 1974
until April 1981, Mr. Drinkwater worked for the State of
Arkansas as Assistant to the Chief of the Solid Waste Control
Division of the Arkansas Department of Pollution
Control & Ecology and as the Manager of the Biomass and
Resource Recovery Program of the Arkansas Department of Energy.
Edward J. Lysen joined AERT in April 1999 as chief
financial officer and has been a senior vice president since
September 2003. Mr. Lysen has over 30 years experience
in financial management. Prior to entering the private sector,
Mr. Lysen was a consultant in the Management Consulting
Group, KPMG-Peat Marwick from 1966 to 1979. From 1979 to 1992,
Mr. Lysen was senior vice-president, CFO and on the board
of Tuesday Morning, Inc., a publicly traded retailer. From 1993
to 1996, he served as chairman of the board and CFO of
Distribution Data Management Systems, a computer service
provider in the office products industry. In 1996,
Mr. Lysen entered the financial planning industry with AAL,
a leading fraternal benefits society. From 1998 to 1999, he was
the CFO of Hairston Roberson, a leading designer and
manufacturer of womens fashion apparel. He has an MBA in
Finance from Northwestern University and is a certified public
accountant.
Jim Precht has served as executive vice-president of
sales and marketing for the Company since February 2001, and
senior vice president since September 2003. Mr. Precht was
formerly general manager of Weyerhaeuser Building
Materials Pittsburgh Customer Service Center with 32-years
of industry experience.
Jerry B. Burkett has served on the board of directors of
the Company since May 1993. Mr. Burkett has been a rice and
grain farmer since 1979 and has been a principal in other
closely held businesses. He is the past president of the
Arkansas County Farm Bureau. In April 2002, Mr. Burkett was
elected to serve as a director of the Ag Heritage Farm Credit
Services board.
Melinda Davis has served on the board of directors since
July 2001. From December 2000 to the present, Ms. Davis has
provided professional consulting services in the areas of
financial management and cost accounting for manufacturing
operations. Ms. Davis retired as senior vice-president and
treasurer from Allen Canning Co. in December 2000, after serving
for 39 years in various accounting and financial management
positions.
Samuel L. Tony Milbank has served on the
board of directors since July 2000. Mr. Milbank is a
co-founder and owner of Milbank Roy Zanett and Company, an
investment bank focused on M&A, advisory as well as funding
of middle market companies founded on February 1, 2005.
Prior to that, from April 1997 to February 2005,
Mr. Milbank was a managing director of Zanett Securities
Corporation, a company also focusing on investment banking
services to the middle market. From February 1992 to January
1996, Mr. Milbank was a senior vice-president and sales
manager with Lehman Brothers, Inc. in New York, where he managed
a team that provided interest rate and currency risk management
for central banks and other official institutions. From March
1973 to February 1992, Mr. Milbank worked with Salomon
Brothers, Inc. as a director and manager of the international
department. Since January 1990, Mr. Milbank has served as
chairman of Milbank Memorial Fund, a private operating
foundation (established in 1905), concerned with environmental
and public health issues. He has a BS from Columbia University
and a MBA in Finance from The Amos Tuck School of Business
Administration at Dartmouth College.
5
Jim Robason has served on the board of directors since
July 2003. Mr. Robason joined Allen Canning Co. in 1967.
Mr. Robason served as senior vice-president-operations of
Allen Canning Co. from 1974 until his retirement in 2002. As
senior vice-president of operations with Allen Canning Co., he
was responsible for the operation of twelve plants with plant
managers and raw product procurement managers, as well as
special projects engineering, reporting to him. He has a vast
amount of knowledge in all phases of manufacturing including
infrastructure, building, equipment, and engineering; with a
focus on the full production arena from product procurement
through the production process. Mr. Robason is a graduate
of West Texas State University. He has served on the executive
committee and the Allen Canning profit sharing/retirement plan
committee in addition to his operations responsibilities.
Michael M. Tull has served on the board of directors of
the Company since December 1998. Mr. Tull has served since
1990 as the president and majority owner of Tull Sales
Corporation, a manufacturers representative company, which
professionally represents eight manufacturing companies and is
responsible for the sales and marketing of those companies
window and door related components in the southeastern United
States. Mr. Tull serves on boards of several closely held
family businesses and is the chairman and a board of director
member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, which is one of
the largest North American conservation organizations.
Joe G. Brooks, Stephen W. Brooks, and J. Douglas Brooks are
brothers and sons of Marjorie S. Brooks. There are no other
familial relationships between the current directors and
executive officers.
Each of the Companys directors has been elected to serve
until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their
successors are elected and qualified. Officers serve at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Independence of Directors
The board of directors has determined that Sal Miwa, Jerry B.
Burkett, Samuel L. Tony Milbank and Melinda Davis
are independent under the NASDAQ Stock Markets
(NASDAQ) corporate governance listing standards, and
that Marjorie S. Brooks, secretary and treasurer, Joe G. Brooks,
chairman, Co-CEO and president, Stephen W. Brooks, Co-CEO,
Michael M. Tull and Jim Robason are not independent under such
listing standards. However, Tim W. Kizer and Edward P.
Carda, who have been nominated for election to the board of
directors, are also independent and will satisfy the NASDAQ
corporate governance listing standards to have a majority of
independent directors. Mr. Robason served as an independent
director throughout fiscal 2004, but because the Company has
determined to make use of Mr. Robasons expertise in
manufacturing and plant operations in the capacity of a
consultant supervising the Companys plant operations on an
interim basis, Mr. Robason no longer qualifies as an
independent director.
During fiscal 2004, the Company held six executive sessions of
the board of directors in which only independent members of the
board are present. The chairpersons of the audit committee,
compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance
committee each presided over the meetings on a rotating basis.
The Company encourages, but does not require, directors to
attend annual meetings of stockholders. All members of the board
attended the Companys 2004 stockholder meeting.
Board Meeting and Certain Committees Reports and Meetings
During the Companys fiscal year ended December 31,
2004, the board of directors held ten meetings. All directors
attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the
board of directors and its committees on which he or she served.
During 2004 and through June 1, 2005, the audit committee
of the board of directors consists of three independent
directors under NASDAQs director and audit committee
independence standards: Jerry B. Burkett, Melinda Davis
(chairperson), and Sal Miwa. The audit committee is directly
responsible for the
6
engagement of the Companys independent accountants and is
responsible for approving the services performed by the
Companys independent accountants and for reviewing and
evaluating the Companys accounting principles and its
system of internal accounting controls. The audit committee met
six times in 2004. Melinda Davis serves as the financial expert
of the audit committee.
During 2004 and through June 1, 2005, the compensation
committee consisted of Samuel L. Tony Milbank
(chairperson), Sal Miwa, and Jim Robason. In a board meeting on
June 21, 2005, the compensation committee was revised to
consist of Samuel L. Tony Milbank
(chairperson) and Sal Miwa, two independent directors. The
compensation committee establishes and administers the
Companys compensation plans on behalf of the board of
directors and makes recommendations to the board of directors as
to stock options, restricted stock awards or other awards
granted thereunder and other compensation matters. The
compensation committee met one time in 2004.
During 2004 and through June 1, 2005, the nominating and
corporate governance committee consisted of Jerry B. Burkett
(chairperson), Linda Davis, and Jim Robason. The nominating and
corporate governance committee evaluates the efforts of AERT and
its board of directors to maintain effective corporate
governance practices and identifies candidates for election to
the board of directors. The nominating and corporate governance
committee met one time in 2004. In a board meeting on
June 21, 2005, the nominating and corporate governance
committee was revised to consist of Jerry B. Burkett
(chairperson) and Melinda Davis, two independent directors.
The nominating and corporate governance committee believes that
candidates for director should have certain minimum
qualifications, including being able to read and understand
basic financial statements and having the highest personal
integrity and ethics. The committee also considers such factors
as relevant expertise and experience, ability to devote
sufficient time to the affairs of the Company, demonstrated
excellence in his or her field, the ability to exercise sound
business judgment and the commitment to rigorously represent the
long-term interests of the Companys stockholders.
Candidates for director will be reviewed in the context of the
current composition of the board, the operating requirements of
the Company and the long-term interests of stockholders.
The nominating and corporate governance committee does not have
a formal process for identifying and evaluating nominees for
directors. Instead, it uses its network of contacts to identify
potential candidates. The committee will conduct any appropriate
and necessary inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications
of possible candidates after considering the function and needs
of the board. The committee will meet to discuss and consider
such candidates qualifications and then select a nominee
for recommendation to the board by majority vote.
Although the nominating and corporate governance committee has
not established procedures for considering nominees recommended
by stockholders, the committee will consider director candidates
recommended by stockholders, and those candidates will receive
substantially the same consideration that candidates recommended
by the nominating and corporate governance committee receive.
Stockholders wishing to recommend director candidates for
consideration by the committee may do so in writing to the
corporate secretary at least 180 days in advance of the
annual meeting, giving the recommended nominees name,
biographical data, and qualifications, accompanied by the
written consent of the recommended nominee.
The charters of the audit, compensation, and nominating and
corporate governance committees are available on the corporate
website at www.aertinc.com. The Company has implemented a
corporate Hotline through which the audit committee,
the board of directors, and the corporate compliance officer may
be contacted, as appropriate. This service and number is
available on our corporate website.
7
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following report of the audit committee for fiscal year
2004 does not constitute soliciting material and should not be
deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company
filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company
specifically incorporates this report by reference therein.
The audit committee of the Company is composed of three
non-employee directors, and each member of the committee is
independent in accordance with the policy of the National
Association of Security Dealers applicable to NASDAQ listed
companies. The committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the board of directors.
Management is responsible for the Companys internal
controls and the financial reporting process. The independent
auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of
the Companys financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report
thereon. The committees responsibility is to engage
independent public accountants for the Company and to monitor
and oversee the Companys financial reporting process and
report its findings to the board of directors.
The committee fulfills its responsibilities through periodic
meetings with management and independent auditors. The committee
reviewed and discussed with management and independent auditors
the audited financial statements in the Companys annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004. The committee also discussed with the independent auditors
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61. In addition, the committee has received
and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the
independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees, and has discussed with the auditors the
auditors independence.
On the basis of these reviews and discussions, the audit
committee recommended to the board of directors that the board
approve the inclusion of the Companys audited financial
statements in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The audit committee has also considered whether the provision of
non-audit services by the independent registered public
accounting firm, Tullius Taylor Sartain & Sartain LLP
(TTS&S), is compatible with maintaining auditor
independence. No non-audit related services were provided by
TTS&S during fiscal year 2004.
Submitted by the audit committee,
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Jerry B. Burkett |
Melinda Davis, Chairperson |
Sal Miwa |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The following report of the compensation committee for fiscal
year 2004 does not constitute soliciting material and should not
be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other
Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the
Company specifically incorporates this report by reference
therein.
The compensation committee of the board of directors is
responsible for administering incentive plans and reviewing and
making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to
the compensation of AERT executive officers and key executives.
The following is the compensation committees report to
shareholders on the Companys executive compensation
policies with respect to compensation reported for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004.
8
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
Key compensation-related responsibilities of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors:
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To establish and periodically review AERTs compensation
philosophy and the adequacy of compensation plans and programs
for directors, executive officers and other AERT employees and
make recommendations to the board of directors with respect
thereto; |
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To establish compensation arrangements and incentive goals for
executive officers and to administer compensation plans and make
recommendations to the board of directors with respect thereto; |
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To review the performance of the executive officers and award
incentive compensation and adjust compensation arrangements as
appropriate based upon performance; |
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To review and monitor management development and succession
plans and activities; and |
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To prepare the report on executive compensation for inclusion in
AERTs annual proxy statement in accordance with Securities
Exchange Commission rules and regulations. |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the
Committees activity focused on the key elements of the
total direct compensation program for executive officers, which
included base pay, quarterly incentive awards, discretionary
incentive awards, and long-term incentives. Elements reviewed as
part of the quarterly incentive and discretionary plans were
minimum threshold, target objectives, the payout formula, and
the performance measurements of operating income and net income.
Elements reviewed as part of the long-term incentives to
executive officers included type and level of award distribution.
The Companys executive compensation program is designed to:
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Attract, motivate and retain executive officers who can make
significant contributions to the Companys long-term
success; |
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Align the interests of executive officers with those of
shareholders; and |
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Place a significant portion of an executive officers total
compensation at risk by tying it to the Companys financial
performance. |
The primary components of the Companys executive
compensation programs are: base salary, quarterly incentive
awards, discretionary awards, and long-term incentive awards:
Base Salary
Base salaries are generally targeted at the middle of the
competitive marketplace (the median).
The market rate for an executive position is
determined through an assessment by the Companys human
resources personnel under the guidance and supervision of the
compensation committee. This assessment considers relevant
industry salary practices, the positions complexity, and
level of responsibility, its importance to the Company in
relation to other executive positions, and the competitiveness
of an executives total compensation.
Subject to the Committees approval, the level of an
executive officers base pay is determined on the basis of:
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Relevant comparative compensation data; and |
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The Chief Executive Officers assessment of the
executives performance, experience, demonstrated
leadership, job knowledge and management skills. |
Quarterly Incentive Awards
These cash awards are intended to provide a linkage among
executive performance, quarterly performance measures, and
long-term shareholder value.
9
Quarterly incentive awards are earned as the Company meets
specific objectives for cash flow and net income. The quarterly
incentive awards are designed to reward executive performance
with cash incentive awards that are comparable to those found in
the marketplace in which the Company competes for executive
talent. The Company may defer payment of quarterly incentive
awards in accordance with cash flow requirements. The
compensation committee reviews the structure and specific
objectives of the program from time to time and makes
adjustments as it deems appropriate.
Discretionary Awards
The compensation committee may, at its discretion, authorize
periodic cash awards to executives. Discretionary awards are
designed to give the compensation committee the flexibility to
provide incentives that are comparable to those found in the
marketplace in which the Company competes for executive talent.
In determining the extent and nature of discretionary awards,
the compensation committee considers the Companys cash
flow, net income, progress toward short and long term business
objectives, and competitive compensation programs.
When considering discretionary awards, the compensation
committee identifies the employees who are eligible to
participate and computes and certifies the size of the
discretionary pool based on financial information supplied by
the Companys officers. The award made to each eligible
participant is based on the opportunity level assigned to the
participant and an assessment of his or her performance and the
performance of their business unit versus corporate objectives.
Long-term incentive awards
Long term executive incentives are designed to promote the
interests of AERT and its shareholders by attracting and
retaining eligible directors, executives and other key employees.
The compensation committee has the authority to determine the
participants to whom awards shall be granted. The awards under
prior Company plans could be made in the form of stock options,
restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based
awards. Consistent with the views of the board of directors and
compensation committee that the interests of employees and
directors are more likely to be aligned with stockholders to the
extent that such employees and directors are stockholders of the
Company, the Company has determined for the foreseeable future
to provide incentive equity compensation in the form of
restricted stock awards rather than options or other forms of
equity compensation. The 2005 Key Associate and Management
Equity Inventive Plan and the 2005 Non-Employee Director Equity
Incentive Plan submitted for stockholder approval herewith are
reflective of this shift in compensation policy.
2004 Awards
Directors
Each non-employee director was granted 25,000 common stock
options.
Chief Executive Officer compensation
In determining CEO compensation, the Committee considered:
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The Companys financial performance and peer group
compensation data; and |
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CEO leadership, decision-making skills, experience, knowledge,
communication with the Board and strategic recommendations, as
well as the Companys positioning for future performance. |
The Committee considered many factors and did not place any
particular relative weight on one over another, but the
Companys financial performance is generally given the most
weight.
The Committees recommendations regarding CEO compensation
and other related matters are reported to the Board and, in the
case of each specific recommendation during 2004, were approved
by the Board.
10
For fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the
Committees decisions regarding CEO compensation included
the following:
Co-CEO Joe Brooks was awarded a cash bonus of $30,000 under the
quarterly incentive plan.
During 2004, Co-CEO Joe G. Brooks undertook primary
responsibility for day-to-day operations at the Company. Co-CEO
Steve Brooks served in a strategic advisory role. In light of
the relative roles of the Co-CEOs, the compensation
committee did not award incentives to Co-CEO Steve Brooks.
Before arriving at its final decision regarding the amount of
CEO annual incentive award, the Committee confirmed that the
Companys compensation program is consistent with
marketplace practices linking pay for performance.
Deductibility of Compensation:
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, AERT may
not deduct compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid to
AERTs Chief Executive Officer or to each of the named
executive officers unless the compensation meets specific
criteria for performance-based compensation. Awards under the
short-term incentive compensation plan do not meet the criteria
of being performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and, therefore,
would not qualify as a deduction to the extent in excess of
Section 162(m) limits. Certain awards under the long-term
incentive plan, such as stock options or restricted stock
awards, could satisfy the criteria of being performance based
under Section 162(m) to qualify as deductible under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Companys
historical levels of compensation have not presented issues of
deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986. The compensation committee reserves the right to
approve non-deductible compensation if the Committee believes it
is in the best interests of the shareholders.
2005 Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive Plan
The compensation committee has reviewed and approved a
compensation plan for the Companys management and
associates that is designed to reward focus on increasing
throughputs, reducing costs, and increasing efficiencies. The
Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive plan, which is
administered by the committee, gives the Company flexibility to
provide incentives that are comparable to those found in the
marketplace in which the Company competes for management and
associate talent. In determining the extent and nature of
awards, the compensation committee considers the Companys
cash flow, net income, progress toward short and long term
business objectives, and competitive compensation programs.
Conclusion Regarding Executive Compensation:
Based upon its review of the Companys executive
compensation program, the Committee has concluded that the
programs basic structure is appropriate, competitive, and
effective to serve the purposes for which it was established.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:
Samuel L. Tony Milbank, Chairperson
Sal Miwa
Jim Robason
Employment Agreements
The Company has no written employment agreements with its key
executives.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who are also employees of the Company are not entitled
to any additional compensation by virtue of service as a
director, except for reimbursement of any specific expenses
attributable to such service. Non-employee directors have
through fiscal 2004 been entitled to receive cash compensation
for serving on
11
the Companys board of directors, as follows: board meeting
fee - $1,000 per diem, $500 for
1/2
day, committee meeting fee - $500 and teleconference fee -$250.
On an ongoing basis for fiscal 2005 and thereafter (subject to
any subsequent modifications), the board of directors has
adopted a compensation plan for all directors who are not
salaried employees of the Company under which each such
non-employee director will receive annual compensation for board
service of $15,000 in cash plus annual restricted stock awards
of shares with $30,000 market value measured on an average
closing sale price basis over a 50-business day period preceding
the award. Such restricted stock awards will vest over a
three-year period, with 20% of a particular award vesting on the
first anniversary thereof, an additional 30% of such award (50%
cumulatively) vesting on the second anniversary of the award,
and the 50% balance of the award vesting on the third
anniversary of the award. In addition, non-employee board
committee members will receive annual cash compensation as
follows: audit committee: $8,000 (chairperson) and $3,000
(other members); compensation committee: $5,000
(chairperson) and $3,000 (other members); and nominating
committee: $4,000 (chairperson) and $2,000 (other members).
Directors also are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in
connection with their attendance at meetings.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid
by the Company during the three years ended December 31,
2004, to the co-chief executive officers and to each of the next
four most highly compensated executive officers of the Company
whose aggregate annual salary and bonus in 2004 exceeded
$100,000.
Summary Compensation Table
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Annual Compensation | |
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(e) | |
(a) |
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(b) | |
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(c) | |
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(d) | |
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Other Annual | |
Name and Principal Position |
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Year | |
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Salary($) | |
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Bonus($) | |
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Compensation($)(1) | |
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Stephen W. Brooks
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2004 |
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52,000 |
(2) |
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0 |
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Co-CEO
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2003 |
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52,000 |
(2) |
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0 |
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2002 |
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0 |
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0 |
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Joe G. Brooks
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2004 |
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157,500 |
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193,500 |
(3) |
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48,775 |
(4) |
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Co-CEO
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2003 |
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157,500 |
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15,000 |
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2002 |
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201,154 |
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51,500 |
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Jim Precht
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2004 |
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102,521 |
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30,000 |
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20,188 |
(6) |
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Senior-vice president
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2003 |
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73,750 |
(5) |
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10,000 |
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16,590 |
(7) |
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- sales and marketing
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2002 |
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49,500 |
(5) |
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68,915 |
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12,000 |
(8) |
J. Douglas Brooks
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2004 |
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87,288 |
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16,570 |
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Senior-vice president
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2003 |
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84,000 |
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5,000 |
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- raw materials
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2002 |
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82,769 |
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17,500 |
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Edward J. Lysen
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2004 |
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85,000 |
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16,570 |
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Senior-vice president
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2003 |
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85,000 |
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5,000 |
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and chief financial officer
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2002 |
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85,000 |
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12,500 |
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(1) |
Excludes perquisites less than $50,000 and that do not exceed
10% of salary and bonus. |
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(2) |
Paid pursuant to a non-employee consulting agreement with the
Company. |
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(3) |
Includes $130,000 awarded to Mr. Brooks by the Board of
Directors and $63,500 awarded in quarterly performance
incentives which Mr. Brooks voluntarily did not take until
2004. |
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(4) |
Includes 48 months of $1,000 for a non-accountable expense
allowance which Mr. Brooks voluntarily did not take until
2004. |
12
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(5) |
In 2002 and the first six months of 2003 there was an agreement
between AERT and Weyerhaeuser where each paid one-half of
Mr. Prechts salary. The amounts above account for
AERTs portion of the annual salary. |
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(6) |
Includes $14,000 for a non-accountable expense allowance and
$6,188 for the value of a company-provided vehicle. |
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(7) |
Includes $12,000 for a non-accountable expense allowance and
$4,590 for the value of a company-provided vehicle. |
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(8) |
Represents a non-accountable expense allowance. |
Aggregated Option/ SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and FY-End Option/ SAR Values
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Number of Securities | |
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Value of Unexercised | |
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Underlying Unexercised | |
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In-the-Money | |
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Shares | |
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Options/SAR at | |
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Options/SAR at | |
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Acquired | |
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December 31, 2004 | |
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December 31, 2004($) | |
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On | |
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Value | |
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Name |
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Exercise($) | |
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Realized($) | |
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Exercisable/Unexercisable | |
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Exercisable/Unexercisable | |
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Stephen W. Brooks
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0 |
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0 |
|
|
|
525,000/0 |
|
|
|
350,175/0 |
|
Joe G. Brooks
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
246,667/0 |
|
|
|
175,192/0 |
|
Jim Precht
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
300,000/100,000 |
|
|
|
500/0 |
|
J. Douglas Brooks
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
500,000/0 |
|
|
|
392,625/0 |
|
Edward J. Lysen
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
300,000/0 |
|
|
|
0/0 |
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as of December 31,
2004, regarding shares outstanding and available for issuance
under the Companys existing stock option plans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
to be issued | |
|
Weighted-average | |
|
Number of | |
|
|
upon exercise of | |
|
exercise price of | |
|
securities | |
|
|
outstanding options, | |
|
outstanding options, | |
|
remaining available | |
|
|
warrants and rights | |
|
warrants and rights | |
|
for future issuance | |
Plan Category |
|
(a) | |
|
(b) | |
|
(c) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
4,595,230 |
|
|
$ |
1.06 |
|
|
|
13,537 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
4,595,230 |
|
|
$ |
1.06 |
|
|
|
13,537 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
The board of directors, as a whole, reviews, and acts upon
personnel policies and executive compensation matters, based
upon recommendations of the compensation committee. Joe G.
Brooks and Stephen W. Brooks serve as executive officers of the
Company; however, such individuals do not participate in
compensation decisions or in forming compensation policies in
which they have a personal interest or in any deliberations of
the board of directors concerning such matters, nor do they vote
on any such matters, although Messrs Joe G. and Stephen W.
Brooks did participate in compensation deliberations and
decisions with respect to other executive officers.
Limited Liability of Officers and Directors
The Delaware Supreme Court has held that a directors duty
of care to a corporation and its stockholders requires the
exercise of an informed business judgment. Having become
informed of all material information reasonably available to
them, directors must act with requisite care in the discharge of
their duties. The
13
Delaware general corporation law permits a corporation through
its certificate of incorporation to exonerate its directors from
personal liability to the corporation or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a
director, with certain exceptions. The exceptions include a
breach of the directors duty of loyalty, acts or omissions
not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
knowing violations of law, improper declarations of dividends
and transactions from which the directors derived an improper
personal benefit. The Companys certificate of
incorporation exonerates its directors, acting in such capacity,
from monetary liability to the extent permitted by this
statutory provision. The limitation of liability provision does
not eliminate a stockholders right to seek non-monetary,
equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission to redress
an action taken by directors. However, as a practical matter,
equitable remedies may not be available in all situations and
there may be instances in which no effective remedy is available.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires AERTs executive officers and directors, and
persons who own more than ten-percent of a registered class of
the Companys securities to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and National Association of Securities Dealers. Officers,
directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders are required
by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all
forms filed pursuant to Section 16(a). Based on a review of
the copies of such forms received by it and written
representations from certain reporting persons that no
Forms 4 or Forms 5 were required for those persons,
the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 all Section 16(a) filing
requirements were met.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
During 2004, the Company had an agreement with Brooks Investment
Co., controlled by Marjorie S. Brooks, which allows the Company
to transfer as collateral certain of its trade receivables,
which Brooks Investment Co. deemed acceptable, up to
$4.0 million at any one time. Upon acceptance of a transfer
of a receivable, Brooks Investment Co. remits to the Company 85%
of the receivable. Upon collection of the receivable, the
Company remits to Brooks Investment Co. 1.25% of the receivable
as a factoring charge, and the receivable less interest costs,
which are based on the time period over which the receivable is
outstanding is remitted to the Company. The Company indemnifies
Brooks Investment Co. for any loss arising out of rejections or
returns of any merchandise, or any claims asserted by the
Companys customers. During 2004, the Company transferred
an aggregate of approximately $65.9 million in receivables
under this agreement, of which $2.5 million remained to be
collected as of December 31, 2004. During 2003 and 2002 the
Company transferred an aggregate of approximately
$45 million and $42.8 million, respectively, in
receivables under this agreement, none of which remains to be
collected. Costs of $826,248, $512,233, and $343,752 associated
with the factoring agreement were included in selling and
administrative costs at December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002,
respectively.
In addition, members of the Brooks family provide the following
to the Company without receiving any financial consideration:
|
|
|
|
|
Marjorie S. Brooks personally guaranteed repayment of up to
$4 million of the 2003 bonds; |
|
|
|
Joe G. Brooks personally guarantees repayment of the
Companys American Express account, the outstanding balance
of which is sometimes in excess of $100,000; and, |
|
|
|
Joe G. Brooks personally guarantees repayment of the
Companys automobile loans, which have a current balance of
$116,563. |
At December 31, 2004, accounts payable-related parties
included advances on factored receivables of approximately
$2.1 million assigned to Brooks Investment Co. and sales
commissions of $132,759 owed to I. W. Tull Sales Co., which is
owned by Michael M. Tull, one of our directors.
14
STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH
This graph shows the Companys cumulative total stockholder
return during the last five fiscal years ended December 31,
2004, with the cumulative total returns of the CoreData Industry
Group 63-Materials and Construction and the Nasdaq Market Index.
The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31,
1999 in AERT common stock and in each of the indices shown and
assumes that all of the dividends were reinvested.
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1999 | |
|
2000 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
Advanced Environmental
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
24.24 |
|
|
|
37.17 |
|
|
|
38.79 |
|
|
|
50.75 |
|
|
|
41.05 |
|
Materials and Construction
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
102.90 |
|
|
|
115.87 |
|
|
|
100.75 |
|
|
|
150.54 |
|
|
|
189.84 |
|
Nasdaq Market Value Index
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
62.85 |
|
|
|
50.10 |
|
|
|
34.95 |
|
|
|
52.55 |
|
|
|
56.97 |
|
15
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Fees
The information below sets forth the fees charged by Tullius
Taylor Sartain & Sartain LLP during 2004 and 2003 for
services provided to the Company in the following categories and
amounts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit fees
|
|
$ |
81,500 |
|
|
$ |
80,250 |
|
Audit-related fees
|
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
Tax fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All other fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
90,000 |
|
|
$ |
87,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-Approval Policy
All of TTS&Ss fees for 2004 and 2003 were pre-approved
by the audit committee through a formal engagement letter with
TTS&S. The audit committees policy is to pre-approve
all services by AERTs independent accountants.
Item 1: Election of
Directors
The bylaws of the Company provide that the number of directors
constituting the board of directors shall be determined from
time to time by resolution of the board of directors. Following
the change in Mr. Robasons status from independent
director to non-independent director and in order to comply with
the requirement that the Company have a majority of independent
directors in order to comply with NASDAQ listing standards, the
board of directors has now set the number of directors at
eleven. The Company currently has nine directors and at the
meeting eleven directors are to be elected by the holders of
shares of outstanding Class A and Class B common stock
and Series B preferred stock voting together as a single
class including two new independent directors. To be elected,
each director must receive a plurality of the votes cast at the
annual meeting. All directors serve for a term of one year and
until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each
outstanding share of Class A common stock entitles the
holder thereof to one vote with respect to the election of each
of the eleven director positions to be filled, each outstanding
share of Class B common stock entitles the holder thereof
to five votes with respect to the election of each of the eleven
director positions to be filled, and each outstanding share of
Series B preferred stock is entitled to 2,500 votes per
share.
The enclosed form of proxy provides a method for stockholders to
withhold authority to vote for any one or more of the nominees
for director while granting authority to vote for the remaining
nominees. If you wish to grant authority to vote for all
nominees, check the box marked FOR. If you wish to
withhold authority to vote for all nominees, check the box
marked WITHHOLD. If you wish your shares to be voted
for some nominees and not for one or more of the others, check
the box marked FOR and indicate the names(s) of the
nominee(s) for whom you are withholding the authority to vote by
drawing a line through the name(s) of such nominee(s). If you
withhold authority to vote your shares, such vote will be
treated as an abstention and, accordingly, your shares will
neither be voted for or against a director but will be counted
for quorum purposes.
The eleven nominees for director are: Joe G. Brooks, Marjorie S.
Brooks, Stephen W. Brooks, Jerry B. Burkett, Melinda Davis,
Samuel L. Tony Milbank, Sal Miwa, Jim Robason,
Michael M. Tull, Tim W. Kizer and Edward P. Carda. All of the
nominees except Mr. Kizer and Mr. Carda are presently
directors of the Company. Joe G. Brooks is chairman, co-chief
executive officer and president, Sal Miwa is vice-chairman of
the board of the Company and Stephen W. Brooks is currently
co-chief executive officer.
Tim W. Kizer (age 40) has been nominated for election to the
board of directors at the 2005 Annual Meeting. Since December
2004 until the present, Mr. Kizer has served as president
and partner of Bentonville Global Associates, a global
consultancy firm specializing in collaborative commerce.
Mr. Kizer is executive director of the Doing Business in
Bentonville Series seminar level program series
in Bentonville Arkansas. From April 2001 to December 2004,
Mr. Kizer was director of Center for Management and
Executive Development and the Donald W. Reynolds Center for
Enterprise Development, Sam M. Walton College of
16
Business, University of Arkansas. From January 2000 to April
2001, Mr. Kizer was managing director of Information
Technology Research Center, Sam M. Walton College of Business,
University of Arkansas. Mr. Kizer was a business and
industry specialist for the Division of Continuing Education at
the University of Arkansas from October 1996 until January 2000.
He has a BA from University of Louisville Kentucky and is a
member of the Board of Advisors of RFID Global Solution in
Bentonville, Arkansas.
Edward P. Carda (age 65) has been nominated for election to
the board of directors at the 2005 Annual Meeting.
Mr. Carda began his 37-year business career with
Weyerhaeuser Company in June 1967, ending with his retirement in
December 2003. While at Weyerhaeuser, he served in various
management positions, including statutory reporting, heading
large accounting departments, interacting with external and
internal auditors and all types of management. Mr. Carda
spent the last 10 years of his career as the business
controller for the distribution business of Weyerhaeuser. While
in this capacity, he received many awards for his performance
for profit and working capital improvement initiatives.
Mr. Carda attended the University of Montana and graduated
with a degree in accounting. He has served for 25 years on
the board of directors of the Woodstone Credit Union in Federal
Way, Washington and is currently its Vice Chairman. He also
serves on the credit unions audit committee.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE ELEVEN NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE. PROXY CARDS EXECUTED
AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE
INDICATED THEREON.
In the event one or more nominees become unavailable for
election, votes will be cast, pursuant to authority granted by
the enclosed proxy, for such substitute nominees as may be
designated by the board of directors. The board of directors has
no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve,
if elected.
Item 2: Approval of 2005
Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive Plan
The board of directors asks stockholders to approve the adoption
of the 2005 Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive Plan
(the 2005 Associate Plan). Effective June 21,
2005, the board adopted the 2005 Associate Plan. The 2005
Associate Plan sets forth the terms pursuant to which restricted
stock awards of Common Stock may be granted by the board of
directors, or a committee designated by the board, to associates
(employees) of the Company. The discussion which follows is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2005 Associate
Plan, a copy of which is attached to the Proxy Statement as
APPENDIX A.
Purpose
The purpose of the 2005 Associate Plan is to further the growth
and development of the Company and any future subsidiaries 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 or any future subsidiaries,
for tax purposes) who are in a position to contribute materially
to the prosperity of the Company including, but not limited to,
all salaried personnel of the Company, to increase such
persons interests in the Companys welfare, to
encourage them to continue their services to the Company or its
subsidiaries, and to attract individuals of outstanding ability
to enter the employment of the Company or its subsidiaries.
The material features of the 2005 Associate Plan are summarized
below. Such summary does not, however, purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the 2005
Associate Plan.
Administration
The 2005 Associate Plan will be initially administered by the
compensation committee of the board of directors, and thereafter
by such committee as the board may from time to time designate
(or by the board itself, if it shall so designate) (the body
that administers the 2005 Associate Plan is referred to as the
Administrator). Except when the entire board is the
2005 Associate Plan Administrator, the committee administering
the 2005 Associate Plan shall consist solely of two or more
persons who are both nonemployee directors within
the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and
outside directors within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the
Code) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
17
The Administrator will have the power and authority to select
and grant to participants restricted stock awards pursuant to
the terms of the 2005 Associate Plan. In particular, the
Administrator will have the authority: (a) to construe and
interpret the 2005 Associate Plan and apply its provisions;
(b) to promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the administration of the 2005 Associate Plan;
(c) to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the
Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of
the 2005 Associate Plan; (d) to determine when awards are
to be granted under the 2005 Associate Plan; (e) from time
to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this
2005 Associate Plan, those participants to whom restricted stock
awards will be granted; (f) to determine the number of
shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each award;
(g) to prescribe the terms and conditions of each award,
including, without limitation, the purchase price or exercise
price and medium of payment, vesting provisions and right of
repurchase provisions, and to specify the provisions of the
award agreement relating to such grant or sale; (h) to
amend any outstanding awards for the purpose of modifying the
time or manner of vesting, the purchase price or exercise price,
as the case may be, subject to applicable legal restrictions. In
addition, if any such amendment impairs a participants
rights or increases a participants obligations under his
or her award, such amendment will also be subject to the
participants consent (provided, however, a cancellation of
an award where the participant receives a payment equal in value
to the fair market value of the vested award will not be deemed
an impairment of the participants rights that requires
consent); (i) to determine the duration and purpose of
leaves of absences which may be granted to a participant without
constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the
2005 Associate Plan; and (j) to make any and all other
determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable
for administration of the 2005 Associate Plan.
Eligibility.
Any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will be
eligible to receive an award under the 2005 Associate Plan. A
participant may receive more than one award under the 2005
Associate Plan. No director who is not also an employee will be
eligible to receive an award under the 2005 Associate Plan. As
of June 1, 2005, there were approximately
120 associates of the Company who might be eligible to
participate in the 2005 Associate Plan.
Shares Subject to
Awards.
The stock available for awards under the 2005 Associate Plan
will be shares of the Companys authorized but unissued, or
reacquired, Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares which
may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2005
Associate Plan may not exceed 1,500,000 shares of Common
Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment for any stock split,
stock dividend, reverse stock split, reorganization or
comparable transaction). 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 2005
Associate Plan as if no award had been granted with respect to
such shares.
Terms of Awards.
The Administrator may from time to time award for services (or
sell at a purchase price determined by the Administrator) Common
Stock under the 2005 Associate Plan to eligible participants.
Restricted stock 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 for such period (the
Restricted Period) as the
Administrator determines. Each restricted stock purchase
agreement or award will be in such form and will contain such
terms, conditions and Restricted Periods as the Administrator
deems appropriate. 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 (through incorporation of
provisions hereof by reference in the award agreement or
otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
|
|
|
(a) Purchase Price. The purchase price of restricted
stock awards shall be determined by the Administrator, and may
be stated as cash, property or prior services performed. |
|
|
(b) Consideration. The consideration for Common
Stock acquired pursuant to the restricted stock purchase
agreement will be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of
purchase; or (ii) in any other form of |
18
|
|
|
legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Administrator
in its discretion including, without limitation, a recourse
promissory note, property or a stock-for-stock exchange or prior
services that the Administrator determines have a value at least
equal to the fair market value of such Common Stock. |
|
|
(c) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under
the restricted stock purchase agreement or awards may, but need
not, be subject to a Restricted Period that specifies a right of
repurchase in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting
schedule to be determined by the Administrator, or forfeiture in
the event the consideration was in the form of prior services;
in general, it is anticipated that, except as the Administrator
may otherwise determine in its discretion, awards will vest (and
prior thereto shall be subject to such a Restricted Period) over
a three-year period, with 20% of a particular award vesting on
the first anniversary thereof, an additional 30% of such award
(50% cumulatively) vesting on the second anniversary of the
award, and the 50% balance of the award vesting on the third
anniversary of the award. In general, except as otherwise
expressly provided, the unvested portion of any award will vest
upon a change in control; however, the Administrator
in its discretion may provide that no acceleration of vesting
with respect to a particular award shall occur in the event of a
change in control. |
A change in control for purposes hereof shall
mean:
|
|
|
(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity or any other corporate
reorganization or the sale of stock of the Company, if more than
50% of the combined voting power (which voting power shall be
calculated by assuming the conversion of all equity securities
convertible (immediately or at some future time) into shares
entitled to vote, but not assuming the exercise of any warrant
or right to subscribe to or purchase those shares) of the
continuing or surviving entitys securities outstanding
immediately after such merger, consolidation, reorganization or
sale of stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by persons who
were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of stock;
provided, however, that in making the determination of ownership
by the shareholders of the Company, immediately after the
reorganization, equity securities which persons own immediately
before the reorganization as shareholders of another party to
the transaction shall be disregarded; |
|
|
(ii) Incumbent directors cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of the board of directors; or |
|
|
(iii) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Companys assets. |
|
|
(iv) A transaction shall not constitute a change in control
if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Companys
incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned
in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held
the Companys securities immediately before such
transaction. |
|
|
|
(d) Termination of Participants Continuous
Service. Unless otherwise provided in a restricted stock
purchase agreement or award or in an employment agreement the
terms of which have been approved by the Administrator, in the
event a participants continuous employment with the
Company or a subsidiary terminates for any reason, the Company
may exercise its right of repurchase or otherwise reacquire, or
the participant shall forfeit unvested shares acquired in
consideration of prior services, and any or all of the shares of
Common Stock held by the participant which have not vested as of
the date of termination under the terms of the restricted stock
purchase agreement will be forfeited and the participant will
have no rights with respect to the award. |
|
|
(e) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of
Common Stock under the restricted stock purchase agreement or
award will be transferable by the participant only upon such
terms and conditions as are set forth in the restricted stock
purchase agreement, as the Administrator shall determine in its
discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the restricted
stock purchase agreement remains subject to the terms of the
restricted stock purchase agreement. |
|
|
(f) Concurrent Tax Payment. The Administrator, in
its sole discretion, may (but shall not be required to) provide
for payment of a concurrent cash award in an amount equal, in
whole or in part, to |
19
|
|
|
the estimated after tax amount required to satisfy applicable
federal, state or local tax withholding obligations arising from
the receipt and deemed vesting of restricted stock for which an
election under Section 83(b) of the Code may be required. |
|
|
(g) Right of Repurchase. Each award agreement may
provide that, following a termination of the participants
continuous employment with the Company or a subsidiary, the
Company may repurchase the participants unvested Common
Stock acquired under the 2005 Associate Plan. The right of
repurchase will be exercisable with respect to unvested stock at
a price equal to the lesser of the purchase price at which such
Common Stock was acquired under the 2005 Associate Plan or the
fair market value of such Common Stock. The award agreement may
specify the period of time following a termination of the
participants continuous employment during which the right
of repurchase may be exercised, provided that such exercise may
in any event be extended to a date that is at least 60 days
after the six months anniversary of the date the stock was
acquired from the Company. |
Termination or Amendment of
Plan.
The board of directors may at any time terminate or amend the
2005 Associate Plan; provided that, without approval of the
stockholders of the Company, there shall be no increase in the
total number of shares covered by the 2005 Associate Plan
(except by operation of the adjustment provisions in the event
of stock splits or the like), no change in the class of persons
eligible to receive awards granted under the 2005 Associate Plan
or other material modification of the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the 2005 Associate Plan, no
material increase in the benefits accruing to participants under
the 2005 Associate Plan, and no extension of the latest date
upon which awards may be granted; and provided further that,
without the consent of the participant, no amendment may
adversely affect any then outstanding award or any unexercised
portion thereof. However, a cancellation of an award where the
participant receives a payment equal in value to the fair market
value of the vested award, will not be deemed an impairment of
the participants rights that requires consent.
The 2005 Associate Plan became effective as of June 21,
2005 date of approval by the board of directors, but no award
will be made unless and until the 2005 Associate Plan has been
approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval will
be within twelve (12) months after the date the 2005
Associate Plan is adopted by the board.
The 2005 Associate Plan will terminate automatically on
June 21, 2015. No award shall be granted pursuant to the
2005 Associate Plan after such date, but awards theretofore
granted may extend beyond that date. The board may suspend or
terminate the Plan at any earlier date. No awards may be granted
under the 2005 Associate Plan while the 2005 Associate Plan is
suspended or after it is terminated.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
Assuming the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter
by the holders of the common stock, Class B common stock
and Series B preferred stock at the Annual Meeting is
required to approve the adoption of the 2005 Associate Plan.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE
ADOPTION OF THE 2005 ASSOCIATE PLAN. PROXY CARDS EXECUTED AND
RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE
INDICATED THEREON.
Item 3: Approval of 2005
Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan
On June 21, 2005, the board of directors of the Company
approved the adoption of the 2005 Non-Employee Director Equity
Plan (the Directors Plan), effective
January 1, 2005 (the Plan Effective Date).
Restricted stock awards may be granted under the Directors
Plan on and after the Plan Effective Date. Awards may not be
granted after January 1, 2015. The discussion which follows
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Directors
Plan, a copy of which is attached to the Proxy Statement as
APPENDIX B.
20
Purpose and Eligibility
The purpose of Directors Plan is to further the growth and
development of the Company by providing, through ownership of
stock of the Company, an incentive to non-employee directors to
encourage them to continue their director services to the
Company, and to attract individuals of outstanding ability to
accept director positions for the Company.
Administration
The Directors Plan will initially be administered by the
compensation committee of the board of directors, and thereafter
by such committee as the board may from time to time designate
(or by the board itself, if it shall so designate), (the group
that administers the Directors Plan is referred to as the
Administrator).
Subject to the express provisions of the Directors Plan,
the Administrator will have the authority: (a) to construe
and interpret the Directors Plan and apply its provisions;
(b) to promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the administration of the Directors Plan;
(c) to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the
Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of
the Directors Plan; (d) to determine the duration and
purpose of leaves of absences which may be granted to a
participant without constituting termination of their employment
for purposes of the Directors Plan; and (e) to make
any and all other determinations which it determines to be
necessary or advisable for administration of the Directors
Plan.
Eligibility
Each director of the Company who is not also an employee of the
Company or of one of its future subsidiaries will be eligible to
receive, and will automatically receive an annual award under
the Directors Plan. There are, as of June 30, 2005,
seven non-employee directors who will be eligible to participate
in the Directors Plan (including non-employee directors
who are not independent directors) and it is anticipated there
will be nine such non-employee directors eligible to participate
following the stockholders meeting.
Based upon the initial annual awards intended to be made to such
non-employee directors upon stockholder approval of the
Directors Plan, the initially determinable awards would be
as follows:
New Plan Benefits
2005 Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan
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Name(1) |
|
Dollar Value ($) | |
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Number of Units | |
|
|
| |
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| |
Sal Miwa
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|
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Marjorie S. Brooks
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$ |
30,000 |
|
|
|
20,848 shares |
|
Jerry B. Burkett
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
20,848 shares |
|
Michael M. Tull
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
20,848 shares |
|
Samuel L. Tony Milbank
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
20,848 shares |
|
Melinda Davis
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
20,848 shares |
|
Jim Robason
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
20,848 shares |
|
Tim W. Kizer
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Edward P. Carda
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
|
(1) |
Each of such participants is a non-employee director. |
|
(2) |
Not determinable as of the date hereof. |
21
Shares Subject to Awards
The stock available for awards under the Directors Plan
will be shares of the Companys authorized but unissued, or
reacquired, Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares which
may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the
Directors Plan will not exceed 500,000 shares of
Common Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment for any stock
split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reorganization or
comparable transaction). In the event that any outstanding award
under the Directors Plan 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 Directors Plan as if no award had
been granted with respect to such shares.
Terms of Restricted Stock Awards
(a) Restricted Stock Awards. Effective as of the
third business day each year following the earlier of
(i) the Companys announcement by press release or
other widely disseminated means of its results of operations
(including both definitive revenue, net income, and earnings per
share data) for the preceding fiscal year of the Company, or
(ii) the Companys filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the preceding fiscal year of the Company, each eligible director
then serving shall be granted pursuant hereto, in consideration
of his or her services as a director to that point and as an
inducement to further services in such capacity, a restricted
stock award equal to that number of shares of Common Stock
determined by dividing Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) by the
fair market value, which for such purposes shall be deemed to be
the average closing sale price of the Common Stock over the
50-business day period immediately preceding the effective date
of such awards, to vest (and prior thereto shall be subject to a
Restricted Period as defined herein) over a three-year period,
with 20% of a particular award vesting on the first anniversary
thereof, an additional 30% of such award (50% cumulatively)
vesting on the second anniversary of the award, and the 50%
balance of the award vesting on the third anniversary of the
award; provided, however, as an inducement for new directors to
serve, in the event new non-employee directors are elected or
added to the board after the date of the annual award in any
fiscal year, such new directors will be entitled to an initial
restricted stock award equal to a pro rated (by fiscal quarters)
portion of the usual $30,000 annual award, such that the new
director will be credited for such pro rating purposes with one
fiscal quarter of service for every fiscal quarter of the
Company, or any portion thereof, during which such person will
serve as a director in such initial fiscal year of service,
divided in such case by the average closing sale price of the
Common Stock over the 50-business day period immediately
preceding such new directors election or appointment to
the board of directors. Such initial restricted stock awards to
new directors shall vest over a three-year period in the same
manner as other awards pursuant to the Directors Plan. In
all cases, the restricted stock award shall be rounded to the
nearest whole number of shares. Restricted stock 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 for such
period (the Restricted Period) as the
Administrator shall determine. The unvested portion of any Award
shall automatically vest upon the occurrence of any change
in control (defined in the same manner as the 2005
Associate Plan). Each restricted stock purchase agreement shall
be in such form and shall contain such other terms, conditions
and Restricted Periods as the Administrator shall deem
appropriate.
(b) Termination of Participants Continuous
Service. In the event a participants continuous
service as a director terminates for any reason, the Company may
exercise its right of repurchase or otherwise reacquire, or the
participant shall forfeit unvested shares acquired in
consideration of services performed or performable.
(c) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of
Common Stock under the restricted stock awards shall be
transferable by the Participant only upon expiration of the
Restricted Period as to any such shares of Common Stock.
(d) Right of Repurchase. Each award agreement or
award may provide that, following a termination of the
participants continuous service as a director, the Company
may repurchase the participants unvested Common Stock
acquired under the Directors Plan for consideration other
than services (unvested Common Stock acquired for no
consideration other than services will be forfeited). The right
of repurchase will be exercisable with respect to unvested stock
at a price equal to the lesser of the purchase price at which
such
22
Common Stock was acquired under the Directors Plan or the
fair market value of such Common Stock. The award agreement or
award may specify the period of time following a termination of
the participants continuous service during which the right
of repurchase may be exercised, provided that such exercise may
in any event be extended to a date that is at least 60 days
after the six months anniversary of the date the stock was
acquired from the Company.
Amendment and Termination
The board of directors may at any time terminate or amend the
Directors Plan; provided that, without approval of the
stockholders of the Company, there shall be, except by operation
of the adjustment provisions with respect to stock splits and
the like, no increase in the total number of shares covered by
the Directors Plan, no change in the class of persons
eligible to receive awards granted under the Directors
Plan or other material modification of the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Directors Plan, no
material increase in the benefits accruing to participants under
the Directors Plan, and no extension of the latest date
upon which awards may be granted; and provided further that,
without the consent of the participant, no amendment may
adversely affect any then outstanding award or any unexercised
portion thereof. However, a cancellation of an award where the
participant receives a payment equal in value to the fair market
value of the vested award, will not be deemed an impairment of
the participants rights that requires consent.
The Directors Plan became effective as of January 1,
2005 as to initial awards, subject to stockholder approval. This
stockholder approval requirement makes the award contingent for
accounting purposes, which means that the grant date for the
initial awards will not be fixed for accounting purposes until
such approval occurs.
The Directors Plan will terminate automatically on
December 31, 2014. No award shall be granted pursuant to
the Directors Plan after such date, but awards theretofore
granted may extend beyond that date. The board may suspend or
terminate the Plan at any earlier date. No awards may be granted
under the Directors Plan while the Directors Plan is
suspended or after it is terminated.
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following summary generally describes the principal federal
(and not state and local) income tax consequences of restricted
stock awards granted under the 2005 Associate Plan or the
Directors Plan (the Plans). The summary is
general in nature and is not intended to cover all tax
consequences that may apply to a particular employee or to the
Company. Accordingly, any participant receiving a grant under
the Plans should consult with his or her own tax adviser.
Reference should be made to the applicable provisions of the
Code. The provisions of the Code and regulations thereunder
relating to these matters are complicated and their impact in
any one case may depend upon the particular circumstances.
THE DISCUSSION OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES SET FORTH
BELOW IS INCLUDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE
DISCUSSION IS BASED ON CURRENTLY EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE
CODE, EXISTING OR PROPOSED TREASURY REGULATIONS THEREUNDER AND
CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS AND COURT DECISIONS. ALL OF THE
FOREGOING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND ANY SUCH CHANGE COULD
AFFECT THE CONTINUING VALIDITY OF THIS DISCUSSION. EACH
PARTICIPANT IN THE PLANS SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER TAX ADVISOR
REGARDING SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING THE APPLICATION
AND EFFECT OF STATE AND LOCAL TAX LAWS.
Restricted Stock Awards
Restricted stock awards granted under the Plans may, in the
determination of the Administrator, be subject to rights of
repurchase and other transfer restrictions. The tax consequences
of shares granted under the Plans depend on whether the shares
are subject to restrictions and if so, whether the restrictions
are deemed to create a substantial risk of
forfeiture under Code Section 83 (for example, shares
granted under the Plans which are subject to the Companys
right to repurchase the shares at a price that is less than fair
23
market value which right lapses over a period of continued
employment is considered a substantial risk of
forfeiture under Code Section 83).
If shares are not subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture, the recipient normally will recognize taxable
ordinary income equal to the value of the shares in the year in
which the shares are granted less the amount, if any, paid for
the shares. If the shares are subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture, the recipient normally will recognize
taxable ordinary income as and when the substantial risk
of forfeiture lapses in the amount of the fair market
value of the shares no longer subject to the substantial
risk of forfeiture less the amount, if any, paid for the
shares. Upon disposition of the shares, the recipient will
recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between
the selling price and the sum of the amount, if any, paid for
the shares plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon
grant or vesting of the shares. The gain or loss will be long or
short-term depending on how long the recipient held the shares.
A recipient of shares subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture may make an election under Code
Section 83(b) to recognize ordinary income in the year the
recipient receives the restricted stock award, rather than
waiting until the substantial risk of forfeiture
lapses. If the recipient makes a Section 83(b) election,
the recipient will be required to recognize as ordinary income
in the year the recipient receives the restricted stock award
the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the
shares on the award date and the purchase price paid, if any. If
the recipient makes a Section 83(b) election, the recipient
will not be required to recognize any income when the
substantial risk of forfeiture lapses.
Generally, with respect to employees, the Company is required to
withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an
amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the
requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of
Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax
reporting obligation, the Company will generally be entitled to
a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary
income realized by the recipient.
Performance-Based Compensation
Section 162(m) Requirement
Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a federal
income tax deduction to any publicly held corporation for
compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable
year to the chief executive officer or any of the four other
most highly compensated executive officers who are employed by
Company on the last day of the taxable year, but does allow a
deduction for performance-based compensation, the
material terms of which are disclosed to and approved by the
stockholders. The Company does not generally intend to implement
and administer the 2005 Associate Plan so that compensation
resulting from restricted stock awards can qualify as
performance-based compensation for
Section 162(m) purposes. The Administrator, however, has
the discretion to grant awards with terms that will result in
the awards not constituting performance-based compensation. To
allow the Company to qualify awards as performance-based
compensation, the Company is seeking stockholder approval
of the Plans.
Section 280(G)
Under certain circumstances, the accelerated vesting or the
accelerated lapse of restrictions with respect to awards in
connection with a change of control might be deemed an
excess parachute payment for the purposes of the
golden parachute tax provisions of Section 280(G) of the
Internal Revenue Code. To the extent it is so considered, the
grantee may be subject to a 20% excise tax and the Company may
be denied a federal income tax deduction.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
Assuming the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter
by the holders of the common stock, Class B common stock
and Series B preferred stock at the Annual Meeting is
required to approve the adoption of the Directors Plan.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE
ADOPTION OF THE DIRECTORS PLAN. PROXY CARDS EXECUTED AND
RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE
INDICATED THEREON.
24
Item 4: Ratification of
Appointment of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
Introduction
Subject to ratification by the stockholders, the boards
audit committee has selected Tullius Taylor Sartain &
Sartain LLP to be AERTs independent registered public
accounting firm for the Companys fiscal year ending
December 31, 2005. TTS&S has acted as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm
since 2001. The audit committee may terminate the appointment of
TTS&S as independent registered public accounting firm
without stockholder approval whenever the audit committee deems
necessary or appropriate.
Representatives of TTS&S are expected to attend the annual
meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement if
they desire to do so and will be available to respond to
appropriate questions from stockholders.
Required Vote
Ratification of the appointment of the independent registered
public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the voting power present (in person or by proxy) and
entitled to vote at the meeting. In the event that the
Companys stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of
TTS&S, the selection of the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm will be submitted to the
Companys audit committee for reconsideration.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM. PROXY CARDS EXECUTED AND RETURNED WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS
CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED THEREON.
COST AND METHOD OF PROXY SOLICITATION
The Company will pay the cost of proxy solicitation. In addition
to solicitation by mail, arrangements will be made with brokers
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies
and proxy material to their principals and the Company will,
upon request, reimburse them for their reasonable expenses in so
doing. Officers and other regular employees of the Company may,
if necessary, request the return of proxies by mail, telephone,
Internet or in person.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Upon written request of any stockholder, the Company will
furnish, without charge, a copy of the Companys 2004
annual report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC,
including the financial statements and schedules. The written
request should be sent to the secretary, at the Companys
executive office. The written request must state that, as of
June 1, 2005, the person making the request was a
beneficial owner of capital stock of the Company.
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and
intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements
for proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders
sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement
addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly
referred to as householding, potentially provides
extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for
companies. The Company and some brokers household proxy
materials, delivering a single proxy statement to multiple
stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions
have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have
received notice from your broker or the Company that they or the
Company will be householding materials to your address,
householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or
until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer
wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive
a separate proxy statement, please notify your broker if your
shares are held in a brokerage account or the Company if you
hold registered shares. You can notify the Company by sending a
written request to Marjorie S. Brooks, secretary of the Company,
Post Office Box 1237, Springdale, Arkansas 72765, by
registered, certified, or express mail.
25
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING IN 2006
If you want to present a proposal for possible inclusion in the
Companys proxy statement for the annual meeting of
stockholders in 2006, you may do so by following the procedures
described in SEC Rule 14a-8 by sending the proposal to
Marjorie S. Brooks, secretary of the Company, Post Office
Box 1237, Springdale, Arkansas 72765, by registered,
certified or express mail. Proposals must be received on or
before February 28, 2006. This date is determined by the
board and is based on SEC Rule 14a-8, which states
proposals for a regularly scheduled annual meeting must be
received at the companys principal executive offices not
less than 120 calendar days before the release date of the
previous years annual meeting proxy statement.
OTHER MATTERS
The board does not intend to present any items of business other
than those stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. If other matters are properly brought before the
meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares
represented by it in accordance with their best judgment.
Discretionary authority to vote on other matters is included in
the proxy.
The foregoing Notice and Proxy Statement are sent by order of
the board of directors.
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Joe G. Brooks |
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Chairman |
Dated: July 11, 2005
26
APPENDIX A
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2005 KEY ASSOCIATE AND MANAGEMENT EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose; Available
Awards.
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. 2005 Key Associate
and Management Equity Incentive Plan (Plan) is to
further the growth and development of Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. (Company) and any
future subsidiaries by providing, through ownership of stock of
the Company, an incentive to officers and other key Associates
who are in a position to contribute materially to the prosperity
of the Company including, but not limited to, all salaried
personnel of the Company, to increase such persons
interests in the Companys welfare, to encourage them to
continue their services to the Company or its subsidiaries, and
to attract individuals of outstanding ability to enter the
employment of the Company or its subsidiaries.
1.2 Available Awards. The purpose of the Plan is to
provide a means by which eligible recipients of Awards may be
given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the
Companys Class A Common Stock through the granting of
Restricted Stock Awards.
2. Definitions.
2.1 Administrator means the
Administrator appointed by the Board in accordance with
Section 3.5.
2.2 Affiliate means any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether
now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in
Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
2.3 Associate means any person
employed by the Company or an Affiliate. Mere service as a
Director or payment of a Directors fee by the Company or
an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute
employment by the Company or an Affiliate.
2.4 Award means any Restricted
Stock Award granted under the Plan.
2.5 Award Agreement means a
written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Award
evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award
grant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan.
2.6 Board means the Board of
Directors of the Company.
2.7 Cause means if the
Participant is a party to an employment or service agreement
with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides
for a definition of Cause, the definition therein contained, or,
if no such agreement exists, it shall mean (a) the
commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a
crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other
act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach
with respect to the Company or an Affiliate, (b) conduct
tending to bring the Company into substantial public disgrace,
or disrepute, or (c) gross negligence or willful misconduct
with respect to the Company or an Affiliate. The Administrator,
in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all
matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been
discharged for Cause.
2.8 Change in Control shall mean:
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(a) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity or any other corporate
reorganization or the sale of stock of the Company, if more than
50% of the combined voting power (which voting power shall be
calculated by assuming the conversion of all equity securities
convertible (immediately or at some future time) into shares
entitled to vote, but not assuming the exercise of any warrant
or right to subscribe to or purchase those shares) of the
continuing or Surviving Entitys securities outstanding
immediately after such merger, consolidation, reorganization or
sale of stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by persons who
were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of stock;
provided, however, that in making the determination of ownership
by the shareholders of the Company, immediately after the
reorganization, |
A-1
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equity securities which persons own immediately before the
reorganization as shareholders of another party to the
transaction shall be disregarded; |
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(b) Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of the Board; or |
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(c) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Companys assets. |
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(d) A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control
if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Companys
incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned
in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held
the Companys securities immediately before such
transaction. |
2.9 Code means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.10 Committee means the
Compensation Committee of the Board or, if the Board hereafter
directs, any other committee of one or more members of the Board
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with
Section 3.5.
2.11 Common Stock means the
Class A common stock of the Company.
2.12 Company means Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
2.13 Continuous Service means
that the Participants employment with the Company or an
Affiliate is not interrupted or terminated. The
Participants Continuous Service shall not be deemed to
have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in
which the Participant renders service to the Company or an
Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in
the entity for which the Participant renders such service,
provided that there is no interruption or termination of the
Participants Continuous Service. For example, a change in
status from an Associate of the Company to a Consultant of an
Affiliate or a Director will not constitute an interruption of
Continuous Service. The Administrator or the chief executive
officer of the Company, in that partys sole discretion,
may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered
interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that
party, including sick leave, military leave or any other
personal leave.
2.14 Date of Grant means the date
on which the Administrator adopts a resolution expressly
granting an Award to a Participant or, if a different date is
set forth in such resolution as the Date of Grant, then such
date as is set forth in such resolution.
2.15 Director means a member of
the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.16 Disability means that the
Optionee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment. The determination of whether an individual has a
Disability shall be determined under procedures established by
the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may rely on any
determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of
benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the
Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates.
2.17 Effective Date shall mean
June 21, 2005.
2.18 Exchange Act means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.19 Fair Market Value means, as
of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined in good
faith by the Administrator. The Fair Market value of
any share of Common Stock of the Company at any date shall be
(a) if the Common Stock is listed on an established stock
exchange or exchanges, the last reported sale price per share on
such date on the principal exchange on which it is traded, or if
no sale was made on such date on such principal exchange, at the
closing reported bid price on such date on such exchange, or
(b) if the Common Stock is not then listed on an exchange,
the last reported sale price per share on such date reported by
NASDAQ, or if sales are not reported by NASDAQ or no sale was
made on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices per share for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter
market as quoted on NASDAQ on such date, or (c) if the
Common Stock is not then listed on an exchange or quoted on
NASDAQ, an amount determined in good faith by the Administrator.
A-2
2.20 Incumbent Directors means
individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board,
provided that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to
the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election to
the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote
or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which
such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection
to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director. No
individual initially elected or nominated as a Director of the
Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest
with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person
other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.
2.21 Non-Employee Director means
a Director who is a non-employee director within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3.
2.22 Officer means a person who
is an officer of the Company within the meaning of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.23 Outside Director means a
Director who is an outside director within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury
Regulations § 1.162-27(e)(3).
2.24 Participant means a person
to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if
applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.
2.25 Plan means this Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. 2005 Key Associate
and Management Equity Incentive Plan.
2.26 Restricted Stock Award means
any Award granted pursuant to Section 6.1.
2.27 Right of Repurchase means
the Companys option to repurchase Common Stock acquired
under the Plan upon the Participants termination of
Continuous Service pursuant to Section 6.2.
2.28 Rule 16b-3 means
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any
successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
2.29 SEC means the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
2.30 Securities Act means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.31 Surviving Entity means the
Company if immediately following any merger, consolidation or
similar transaction, the holders of outstanding voting
securities of the Company immediately prior to the merger or
consolidation own equity securities possessing more than 50% of
the voting power of the entity existing following the merger,
consolidation or similar transaction. In all other cases, the
other entity to the transaction and not the Company shall be the
Surviving Entity. In making the determination of ownership by
the shareholders of an entity immediately after the merger,
consolidation or similar transaction, equity securities which
the shareholders owned immediately before the merger,
consolidation or similar transaction as shareholders of another
party to the transaction shall be disregarded. Further,
outstanding voting securities of an entity shall be calculated
by assuming the conversion of all equity securities convertible
(immediately or at some future time) into shares entitled to
vote.
3. Administration.
3.1 Administration by Board. The Plan shall be
initially administered by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, and thereafter by such Committee as the Board may from
time to time designate (or by the Board itself, if it shall so
designate), as provided in Section 3.5 (the body that
administers the Plan is referred to as the
Administrator).
3.2 Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall
have the power and authority to select and grant to
Participants, Awards pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
3.3 Specific Powers. In particular, the
Administrator shall have the authority: (a) to construe and
interpret the Plan and apply its provisions; (b) to
promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
the administration of the Plan; (c) to authorize any person
to execute, on behalf of the Company, any
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instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;
(d) to determine when Awards are to be granted under the
Plan; (e) from time to time to select, subject to the
limitations set forth in this Plan, those Participants to whom
Awards shall be granted; (f) to determine the number of
shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each Award;
(g) to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award,
including, without limitation, the purchase price or exercise
price and medium of payment, vesting provisions and Right of
Repurchase provisions, and to specify the provisions of the
Award Agreement relating to such grant or sale; (h) to
amend any outstanding Awards for the purpose of modifying the
time or manner of vesting, the purchase price or exercise price,
as the case may be, subject to applicable legal restrictions. In
addition, if any such amendment impairs a Participants
rights or increases a Participants obligations under his
or her Award, such amendment shall also be subject to the
Participants consent (provided, however, a cancellation of
an Award where the Participant receives a payment equal in value
to the Fair Market Value of the vested Award shall not be an
impairment of the Participants rights that requires
consent); (i) to determine the duration and purpose of
leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without
constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the
Plan; and (j) to make any and all other determinations
which it determines to be necessary or advisable for
administration of the Plan.
3.4 Decisions Final. All decisions made by the
Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be
final and binding on the Company and the Participants.
3.5 The Committee.
(a) General. The Board may delegate administration
of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of two (2) or more
members of the Board, and the term
Committee shall apply to any person or
persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If
administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall
have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the
powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power
to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers
the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this
Plan to the Board or the Plan Administrator shall thereafter be
to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such
resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan,
as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may
abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall
be appointed by and to serve at the pleasure of the Board. From
time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the
Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or
without Cause) from, appoint new members in substitution
therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee.
The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of
its members or, in the case of a committee comprised of only two
members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present
or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members
and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies
thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the
limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee
may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the
conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.
(b) Committee Composition when Common Stock is Publicly
Traded. During such periods that the Companys Common
Stock is publicly traded, in the discretion of the Board, a
Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee
Directors who are also Outside Directors. Within the scope of
such authority, the Administrator may (i) delegate to a
committee of two or more members of the Board who are not
Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible
persons who are either (A) not then Covered Associates and
are not expected to be Covered Associates at the time of
recognition of income resulting from such Award or (B) not
persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with
Section 162(m) of the Code or (ii) delegate to a
committee of two or more members of the Board who are not
Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible
persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
3.6 Indemnification. In
addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may
have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent
allowed by applicable law, the Administrator and each of the
Administrators consultants shall be indemnified by the
Company against the reasonable expenses, including
attorneys fees, actually incurred in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal
therein, to which the Administrator or any of its consultants
may be party by reason of any action taken
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or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any
Award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by
the Administrator or any of its consultants in settlement
thereof (provided that the settlement has been approved by the
Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or
paid by the Administrator or any of its consultants in
satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or
proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall
be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such
Administrator or any of its consultants did not act in good
faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to
be in the best interests of the Company, and in the case of a
criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct
complained of was unlawful; provided, however, that within
60 days after institution of any such action, suit or
proceeding, such Administrator or any of its consultants shall,
in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense
to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding.
4. Eligibility. Any
Associate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be
eligible to receive an Award under the Plan. A Participant may
receive more than one Award under the Plan. No Director who is
not also an Associate shall be eligible to receive an Award
under the Plan.
5. Shares Subject to
Awards. The stock available for Awards under the Plan
shall be shares of the Companys authorized but unissued,
or reacquired, Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares
which may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan
shall not exceed 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (subject
to appropriate adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend,
reverse stock split, reorganization or comparable transaction).
In the event that any outstanding Award under the Plan for any
reason expires, is forfeited or is terminated, the shares of
Common Stock allocable to the unvested portion of the Award
shall again be available for Awards under the Plan as if no
Award had been granted with respect to such shares.
6. Provisions of
Awards.
6.1 Restricted Stock Awards. The Administrator may
from time to time award (or sell at a purchase price determined
by the Administrator) restricted Common Stock under the Plan to
eligible Participants. Restricted Stock 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 for such
period (the Restricted Period) as the
Administrator shall determine. Each restricted stock purchase
agreement or award shall be in such form and shall contain such
terms, conditions and Restricted Periods as the Administrator
shall deem appropriate. 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 shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Award
Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following
provisions:
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(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 or any
other legally permissible consideration acceptable to the
Administrator. |
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(b) Consideration. The consideration for Common
Stock acquired pursuant to the restricted stock purchase
agreement shall 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 performed or any other
legally permissible consideration acceptable to the
Administrator. |
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(c) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under
the restricted stock purchase agreement or award may, but need
not, be subject to a Restricted Period that specifies a Right of
Repurchase in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting
schedule to be determined by the Administrator, or forfeiture in
the event the consideration was in the form of prior services;
in general, it is anticipated that, except as the Administrator
may otherwise determine in its discretion, Awards hereunder
shall vest (and prior thereto shall be subject to such a
Restricted Period) over a three-year period, with 20% of a
particular Award vesting on the first anniversary thereof, an
additional 30% of such Award (50% cumulatively) vesting on the
second anniversary of the Award, and the 50% balance of the
Award vesting |
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on the third anniversary of the Award. In general, except as
otherwise expressly provided, the unvested portion of any Award
shall vest upon a Change in Control; however, the Administrator
in its discretion may provide that no acceleration of vesting
with respect to a particular Award shall occur in the event of a
Change in Control. |
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(d) Termination of Participants Continuous
Service. Unless otherwise provided in a restricted stock
purchase agreement or award or in an employment agreement the
terms of which have been approved by the Administrator, in the
event a Participants Continuous Service terminates for any
reason, the Company may exercise its Right of Repurchase or
otherwise reacquire, or the Participant shall forfeit unvested
shares acquired in consideration of services, and any or all of
the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have
not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the
restricted stock purchase agreement shall be forfeited and the
Participant shall have no rights with respect to the Award. |
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(e) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of
Common Stock under the restricted stock purchase agreement or
award shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such
terms and conditions as are set forth in the restricted stock
purchase agreement, as the Administrator shall determine in its
discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the restricted
stock purchase agreement remains subject to the terms of the
restricted stock purchase agreement. |
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(f) Concurrent Tax Payment. The Administrator, in
its sole discretion, may (but shall not be required to) provide
for payment of a concurrent cash award in an amount equal, in
whole or in part, to the estimated after tax amount required to
satisfy applicable federal, state or local tax withholding
obligations arising from the receipt and deemed vesting of
restricted stock for which an election under Section 83(b)
of the Code may be required. |
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(g) Investment Representation. Any Award recipient
may be required, as a condition of issuance of shares covered by
his or her Option, to represent that the shares to be acquired
pursuant to the Award will be acquired for investment and
without a view to distribution thereof, and in such case, the
Company may place a legend on the certificate evidencing the
shares reflecting the fact that they were acquired for
investment and cannot be sold or transferred unless registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or unless counsel
for the Company is satisfied that the circumstances of the
proposed transfer do not require such registration. |
6.2 Right of Repurchase. Each Award Agreement may
provide that, following a termination of the Participants
Continuous Service, the Company may repurchase the
Participants unvested Common Stock acquired under the Plan
as provided in this Section 6.2 (the Right of
Repurchase). The Right of Repurchase shall be
exercisable with respect to unvested stock at a price equal to
the lesser of the purchase price at which such Common Stock was
acquired under the Plan or the Fair Market Value of such Common
Stock. The Award Agreement may specify the period of time
following a termination of the Participants Continuous
Service during which the Right of Repurchase may be exercised,
provided that such exercise may in any event be extended to a
date that is at least 60 days after the six months
anniversary of the date the stock was acquired from the Company.
7. Termination or Amendment
of Plan. The Board may at any time terminate or amend
the Plan; provided that, without approval of the stockholders of
the Company, there shall be no increase in the total number of
shares covered by the Plan (except by operation of the
adjustment provisions of Section 5) no change in the class
of persons eligible to receive Awards granted under the Plan or
other material modification of the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan, no material increase
in the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan, and no
extension of the latest date upon which Awards may be granted;
and provided further that, without the consent of the
Participant, no amendment may adversely affect any then
outstanding Award or any unexercised portion thereof. However, a
cancellation of an Award where the Participant receives a
payment equal in value to the Fair Market Value of the vested
Award, shall not be deemed an impairment of the
Participants rights that requires consent.
A-6
8. General Provisions.
8.1 Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing
contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting
other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to
shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such
arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases.
8.2 Delivery. Upon exercise of an Award granted
under this Plan, the Company shall issue shares of Common Stock
or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time
thereafter. Subject to any statutory obligations the Company may
otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, thirty days shall be
considered a reasonable period of time.
8.3 Other Provisions. The Award Agreements
authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not
inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation,
restrictions upon the exercise of the Awards, as the
Administrator may deem advisable.
8.4 Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided
by the terms of an Award Agreement and subject to the discretion
of the Administrator, the Participant may satisfy any federal,
state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the
acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the
following means (in addition to the Companys right to
withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the
Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a
cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold
shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise
issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or
acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided,
however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with
a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be
withheld by law; (c) delivering to the Company previously
owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company or
(d) by execution of a recourse promissory note.
9. Effective Date.
The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date, but no
Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock Award,
shall be granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by
the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be within
twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is
adopted by the Board.
10. Termination or Suspension
of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically on
June 20, 2015. No Award shall be granted pursuant to the
Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend
beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at
any earlier date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while
the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
11. Choice of Law.
The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions
concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this
Plan, without regard to such states conflict of law rules.
12. Execution. To
record the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the Company has
caused its authorized officer to execute the Plan as of the date
specified below.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, upon authorization of the Board of
Directors, the undersigned has caused the Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. 2005 Key Associate and Management
Equity Incentive Plan to be executed effective as of the
21st day of June, 2005.
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ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING |
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TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
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Joe G. Brooks |
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Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive |
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Officer |
A-8
APPENDIX B
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2005 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose; Available
Awards.
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee
Director Equity Incentive Plan (Plan) is to further
the growth and development of Advanced Environmental Recycling
Technologies, Inc. (Company) by providing, through
ownership of stock of the Company, an incentive to non-employee
directors to encourage them to continue their director services
to the Company, and to attract individuals of outstanding
ability to accept director positions for the Company.
1.2 Available Awards. The purpose of the Plan is to
provide a means by which non-employee directors of the Company
(Eligible Directors) may be given an opportunity to
benefit from increases in value of the Companys
Class A Common Stock through the granting of Restricted
Stock Awards.
2. Definitions.
2.1 Administrator means the
Administrator appointed by the Board in accordance with
Section 3.4.
2.2 Affiliate means any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether
now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in
Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
2.3 Award means any Restricted
Stock Award granted under the Plan.
2.4 Award Agreement means a
written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Award
evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award
grant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan.
2.5 Board means the Board of
Directors of the Company.
2.6 Cause shall mean (a) the
commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a
crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other
act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach
with respect to the Company or an Affiliate, (b) conduct
tending to bring the Company into substantial public disgrace,
or disrepute, or (c) gross negligence or willful misconduct
with respect to the Company or an Affiliate. The Administrator,
in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all
matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been
removed for Cause.
2.7 Change in Control shall mean:
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(a) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity or any other corporate
reorganization or the sale of stock of the Company, if more than
50% of the combined voting power (which voting power shall be
calculated by assuming the conversion of all equity securities
convertible (immediately or at some future time) into shares
entitled to vote, but not assuming the exercise of any warrant
or right to subscribe to or purchase those shares) of the
continuing or Surviving Entitys securities outstanding
immediately after such merger, consolidation, reorganization or
sale of stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by persons who
were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of stock;
provided, however, that in making the determination of ownership
by the shareholders of the Company, immediately after the
reorganization, equity securities which persons own immediately
before the reorganization as shareholders of another party to
the transaction shall be disregarded; |
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(b) Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of the Board; or |
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(c) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Companys assets. |
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(d) A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control
if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Companys
incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned
in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held
the Companys securities immediately before such
transaction. |
B-1
2.8 Code means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.9 Committee means the
Compensation Committee of the Board or, if the Board hereafter
directs, any other committee of one or more members of the Board
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with
Section 3.4.
2.10 Common Stock means the
Class A common stock of the Company.
2.11 Company means Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
2.12 Continuous Service means
that the Participants service as a director of the Company
is not interrupted or terminated. The Administrator may
determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered
interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by such
Administrator, including sick leave, military leave or any other
personal leave.
2.13 Date of Grant means the date
on which the Administrator adopts a resolution expressly
granting an Award to a Participant or, if a different date is
set forth in such resolution as the Date of Grant, then such
date as is set forth in such resolution; provided, however,
unless any prior action is taken by the Administrator to the
contrary, Awards in the amounts contemplated in
Section 6(a) shall be made automatically to each Eligible
Director on an annual basis in the manner and in the amounts
contemplated in Section 6(a).
2.14 Director means a member of
the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.15 Disability means that the
Optionee is unable to discharge his or her responsibilities as a
director by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment. The determination of whether an individual
has a Disability shall be determined under procedures
established by the Administrator.
2.16 Effective Date shall mean
January 1, 2005.
2.17 Eligible Directors for
purposes of participation in the Plan shall mean any director of
the Company who is not also an associate of the Company or any
subsidiary thereof. Persons who are not Non-Employee Directors
within the meaning hereof may nevertheless be Eligible Directors.
2.18 Exchange Act means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.19 Fair Market Value means, as
of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined in good
faith by the Administrator. The Fair Market value of
any share of Common Stock of the Company at any date shall be
(a) if the Common Stock is listed on an established stock
exchange or exchanges, the last reported sale price per share on
such date on the principal exchange on which it is traded, or if
no sale was made on such date on such principal exchange, at the
closing reported bid price on such date on such exchange, or
(b) if the Common Stock is not then listed on an exchange,
the last reported sale price per share on such date reported by
NASDAQ, or if sales are not reported by NASDAQ or no sale was
made on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices per share for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter
market as quoted on NASDAQ on such date, or (c) if the
Common Stock is not then listed on an exchange or quoted on
NASDAQ, an amount determined in good faith by the Administrator;
provided, however, that for purposes of measuring the annual
Awards contemplated by Section 6(a) hereof, the Fair Market
Value shall be deemed to mean the average closing sale price of
the Common Stock over the 50 business day period immediately
preceding the effective date of the Awards provided for in
Section 6(a).
2.20 Incumbent Directors means
individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board,
provided that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to
the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election to
the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote
or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which
such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection
to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director. No
individual initially elected or nominated as a Director of the
Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest
with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person
other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.
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2.21 Non-Employee
Director means a Director who is a
non-employee director within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3.
2.22 Outside Director means a
Director who is an outside director within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury
Regulations § 1.162-27(e)(3).
2.23 Participant means a person
to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if
applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.
2.24 Plan means this Advanced
Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee
Director Equity Incentive Plan.
2.25 Restricted Stock Award means
any Award granted pursuant to Section 6.1.
2.26 Right of Repurchase means
the Companys option to repurchase Common Stock acquired
under the Plan upon the Participants termination of
Continuous Service pursuant to Section 6(e).
2.27 Rule 16b-3 means
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any
successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
2.28 SEC means the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
2.29 Securities Act means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.30 Surviving Entity means the
Company if immediately following any merger, consolidation or
similar transaction, the holders of outstanding voting
securities of the Company immediately prior to the merger or
consolidation own equity securities possessing more than 50% of
the voting power of the entity existing following the merger,
consolidation or similar transaction. In all other cases, the
other entity to the transaction and not the Company shall be the
Surviving Entity. In making the determination of ownership by
the shareholders of an entity immediately after the merger,
consolidation or similar transaction, equity securities which
the shareholders owned immediately before the merger,
consolidation or similar transaction as shareholders of another
party to the transaction shall be disregarded. Further,
outstanding voting securities of an entity shall be calculated
by assuming the conversion of all equity securities convertible
(immediately or at some future time) into shares entitled to
vote.
3. Administration.
3.1 Administration by Board. The Plan shall be
initially administered by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, and thereafter by such Committee as the Board may from
time to time designate (or by the Board itself, if it shall so
designate), as provided in Section 3.4 (the group that
administers the Plan is referred to as the
Administrator).
3.2 Specific Powers. Subject to the express
provisions hereof, the Administrator shall have the authority:
(a) to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its
provisions; (b) to promulgate, amend and rescind rules and
regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;
(c) to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the
Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of
the Plan; (d) to determine the duration and purpose of
leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without
constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the
Plan; and (e) to make any and all other determinations
which it determines to be necessary or advisable for
administration of the Plan.
3.3 Decisions Final. All decisions made by the
Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be
final and binding on the Company and the Participants.
3.4 The Committee.
(a) General. The Board may delegate administration
of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of two (2) or more
members of the Board, and the term
Committee shall apply to any person or
persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If
administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall
have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the
powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power
to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers
the Committee is
B-3
authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board
or the Plan Administrator shall thereafter be to the Committee
or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted
from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the
Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration
of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by
and to serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time,
the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee,
add additional members to, remove members (with or without
Cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and
fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee
shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or,
in the case of a committee comprised of only two members, the
unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by
the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes
shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be
provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by
the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow
such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it
may determine to be advisable.
(b) Committee Composition when Common Stock is Publicly
Traded. During such periods that the Companys Common
Stock is publicly traded, in the discretion of the Board, a
Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee
Directors who are also Outside Directors.
3.5 Indemnification. In addition to such other
rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or
members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by
applicable law, the Administrator and each of the
Administrators consultants shall be indemnified by the
Company against the reasonable expenses, including
attorneys fees, actually incurred in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal
therein, to which the Administrator or any of its consultants
may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act
under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under
the Plan, and against all amounts paid by the Administrator or
any of its consultants in settlement thereof (provided that the
settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Administrator
or any of its consultants in satisfaction of a judgment in any
such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters
as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or
proceeding that such Administrator or any of its consultants did
not act in good faith and in a manner which such person
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company,
and in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to
believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful; provided,
however, that within 60 days after institution of any such
action, suit or proceeding, such Administrator or any of its
consultants shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity
at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or
proceeding.
4. Eligibility. Each
Eligible Director of the Company shall be eligible to receive,
and shall automatically receive subject to the provisions of
Section 6(a) hereof, an annual Award under the Plan.
5. Shares Subject to
Awards. The stock available for Awards under the Plan
shall be shares of the Companys authorized but unissued,
or reacquired, Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares
which may be issued pursuant to exercise of Awards granted under
the Plan shall not exceed 500,000 shares of Common Stock
(subject to appropriate adjustment for any stock split, stock
dividend, reverse stock split, reorganization or comparable
transaction). In the event that any outstanding Award under the
Plan for any reason expires, is forfeited or is terminated, the
shares of Common Stock allocable to the unvested portion of the
Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan as if
no Award had been granted with respect to such shares.
6. Provisions of
Awards.
(a) Restricted Stock Awards. Effective as of the
third business day each year following the earlier of
(i) the Companys announcement by press release or
other widely disseminated means of its results of operations
(including both definitive revenue, net income, and earnings per
share data) for the preceding fiscal year of the Company, or
(ii) the Companys filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the preceding fiscal year of the Company, each Eligible Director
then serving shall be granted pursuant hereto, in consideration
of his or her services as a director to that point and as an
inducement to further services in such capacity, a Restricted
Stock Award equal to that number of shares of Common Stock
determined by dividing Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) by the
Fair Market
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Value, which for such purposes shall be deemed to be the average
closing sale price of the Common Stock over the 50 business day
period immediately preceding the effective date of such Awards,
to vest (and prior thereto shall be subject to a Restricted
Period as defined herein) over a three-year period, with 20% of
a particular Award vesting on the first anniversary thereof, an
additional 30% of such Award (50% cumulatively) vesting on the
second anniversary of the Award, and the 50% balance of the
Award vesting on the third anniversary of the Award; provided,
however, as an inducement for new directors to serve, in the
event new Eligible Directors are elected or added to the Board
after the date of the annual Award in any fiscal year, such new
Eligible Directors will be entitled to an initial Award equal to
a pro rated (by fiscal quarters) portion of the usual $30,000
annual Award, such that the new Eligible Director will be
credited for such pro rating purposes with one fiscal quarter of
service for every fiscal quarter of the Company, or any portion
thereof, during which each such person will serve as a director
in such initial fiscal year of service, divided in such case by
the average closing sale price of the Common Stock over the
50-business day period immediately preceding such new
directors election or appointment to the Board. Such
initial Awards to new Eligible Directors shall vest over a
three-year period in the same manner as other awards pursuant to
the Plan. In all cases, the restricted stock award shall be
rounded to the nearest whole number of shares. Restricted Stock
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 for such period (the Restricted
Period) as the Administrator shall determine. The
unvested portion of any Award shall automatically vest upon the
occurrence of any Change in Control. Each restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such
other terms, conditions and Restricted Periods as the
Administrator shall deem appropriate.
(b) Termination of Participants Continuous
Service. In the event a Participants Continuous
Service terminates for any reason, the Company may exercise its
Right of Repurchase or otherwise reacquire, or the Participant
shall forfeit unvested shares acquired in consideration of prior
services.
(c) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of
Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Awards shall be
transferable by the Participant only upon expiration of the
Restricted Period as to any such shares of Common Stock.
(d) Investment Representation. Any Award recipient
may be required, as a condition of issuance of shares covered by
his or her Option, to represent that the shares to be acquired
pursuant to the Award will be acquired for investment and
without a view to distribution thereof, and in such case, the
Company may place a legend on the certificate evidencing the
shares reflecting the fact that they were acquired for
investment and cannot be sold or transferred unless registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or unless counsel
for the Company is satisfied that the circumstances of the
proposed transfer do not require such registration.
(e) Right of Repurchase. Each Award Agreement may
provide that, following a termination of the Participants
Continuous Service, the Company may repurchase the
Participants unvested Common Stock acquired under the Plan
for consideration other than services as provided in this
Section 6(e) (the Right of
Repurchase); unvested Common Stock acquired for no
consideration other than services will be forfeited. The Right
of Repurchase shall be exercisable with respect to unvested
stock at a price equal to the lesser of the purchase price at
which such Common Stock was acquired under the Plan or the Fair
Market Value of such Common Stock. The Award Agreement may
specify the period of time following a termination of the
Participants Continuous Service during which the Right of
Repurchase may be exercised, provided that such exercise may in
any event be extended to a date that is at least 60 days
after the six months anniversary of the date the stock was
acquired from the Company.
7. Termination or Amendment
of Plan. The Board may at any time terminate or amend
the Plan; provided that, without approval of the stockholders of
the Company, there shall be, except by operation of the
adjustment provisions of Section 5, no increase in the
total number of shares covered by the Plan, no change in the
class of persons eligible to receive Awards granted under the
Plan or other material modification of the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan, no material increase
in the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan, and no
extension of the latest date upon which Awards may be granted;
and provided further that, without the consent of the
Participant, no amendment may adversely affect any then
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outstanding Award or any unexercised portion thereof. However, a
cancellation of an Award where the Participant receives a
payment equal in value to the Fair Market Value of the vested
Award, shall not be an impairment of the Participants
rights that requires consent.
8. General Provisions.
8.1 Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing
contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting
other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to
shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such
arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases.
8.2 Delivery. Upon exercise of an Award granted
under this Plan, the Company shall issue shares of Common Stock
or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time
thereafter. Subject to any statutory obligations the Company may
otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, thirty days shall be
considered a reasonable period of time.
8.3 Other Provisions. The Award Agreements
authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not
inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation,
restrictions upon the exercise of the Awards, as the
Administrator may deem advisable.
9. Effective Date.
The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date, but no
Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock Award,
shall be granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by
the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be within
twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is
adopted by the Board.
10. Termination or Suspension
of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically on
December 31, 2014. No Award shall be granted pursuant to
the Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may
extend beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the
Plan at any earlier date. No Awards may be granted under the
Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
11. Choice of Law.
The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions
concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this
Plan, without regard to such states conflict of law rules.
12. Execution. To
record the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the Company has
caused its authorized officer to execute the Plan as of the date
specified below.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, upon authorization of the Board of
Directors, the undersigned has caused the Advanced Environmental
Recycling Technologies, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Equity
Incentive Plan to be executed effective as of the 1st day
of January, 2005.
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ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING |
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TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
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Joe G. Brooks |
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Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief |
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Executive Officer |
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ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON JULY 28, 2005
The undersigned hereby appoints Joe G. Brooks, as proxy, with full power to appoint his substitute,
and hereby authorizes such proxy to represent and vote, as designated on this proxy, all shares of
common stock and preferred stock of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. held of
record by the undersigned on the record date June 1, 2005 at the annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company to be held at the Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn Convention Center, Springdale,
Arkansas on Thursday, July 28, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournment thereof.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no direction
is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Items 1, 2, 3 and 4. In his discretion, the proxy is
authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
July 28, 2005
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PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS |
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MAIL - Date, sign and mail your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon as possible. |
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TELEPHONE - Call toll-free 1-800-PROXIES from
any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions.
Have your control number and proxy card
available when you call. |
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INTERNET - Access www.voteproxy.com and
follow the on-screen instructions. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page. |
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COMPANY NUMBER
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ACCOUNT NUMBER |
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You
may enter your voting instructions at 1-800-PROXIES or
www.voteproxy.com up until 11:59 PM Eastern Time the day before the cut-off or meeting date. |
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided IF you are not voting via telephone or Internet.
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE X |
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FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See Instructions below) |
Nominees:
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Joe G. Brooks |
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Marjorie S. Brooks |
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Stephen W. Brooks |
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Jerry B. Burkett |
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Edward P. Carda |
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Melinda Davis |
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Tim W. Kizer |
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Samuel L. Tony Milbank |
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Sal Miwa |
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Jim Robason |
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Michael M. Tull |
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark FOR ALL EXCEPT
and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: l
2. |
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Approval of the 2005 Key Associate and Management Equity Incentive Plan |
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Abstain |
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Approval of the 2005 Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan |
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Ratification of Tullius Taylor Sartain & Sartain LLP, independent registered public
accountants, as the Companys auditors. |
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The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the formal notice of such meeting and the 2004 Annual
Report of the Company.
New Address:___________________________________________________________________________________________________
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address
in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may
not be submitted via this method. o
Signature: _________________________ Date: ____________, 2005 Signature: _________________________ Date: ____________, 2005
Note: Please sign above exactly as name appears on this proxy. When shares are held by jointly,
each holder should sign. When signing as attorney, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please
give full name as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly
authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in
partnership name by authorized person.