aaon_10k123110.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-K


[X]
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

or

[_]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________________ to _____________________________



Commission file number:  0-18953


AAON, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Nevada 87-0448736
(State or other jurisdiction
(IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
   
2425 South Yukon, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74107
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (918) 583-2266


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, par value $.004
(Title of Class)
Rights to Purchase Series A Preferred Stock
(Title of Class)


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 
[_]  Yes       [X]  No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. 
[_]  Yes       [X]  No
 

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
[X]  Yes       [_]  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
                                [X]  Yes      [_]  No
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
[X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
 
Large accelerated filer  [_] Accelerated filer  [X]
Non-accelerated filer  [_] Smaller reporting company  [_]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) 
[_]  Yes       [X]  No

The aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing price of registrant’s common stock on the last business day of registrant’s most recently completed second quarter (June 30, 2010) was $386.4 million.

As of February 28, 2011, registrant had outstanding a total of 16,492,682 shares of its $.004 par value Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 17, 2011, are incorporated into Part III.
 
 
 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Item Number and Caption  
Page
Number
         
PART I    
         
  1.  Business.    1
         
  1A. Risk Factors.    4
         
  1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.     6
         
  2. Properties.    6
         
  3.  Legal Proceedings.     6
         
PART II      
         
  5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.   7
         
  6. Selected Financial Data.    10
         
  7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.     10
         
  7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.    20
         
  8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.     21
         
  9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.    21
         
  9A.  Controls and Procedures.    22
         
  9B. Other Information.    24
         
PART III      
         
  10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.    25
         
  11. Executive Compensation.     25
         
  12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.     25
         
  13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.     25
         
  14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.     27
         
PART IV
     
         
  15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.     28
 
                 
 

 
PART I

Item 1.  Business.

General Development and Description of Business

AAON, Inc., a Nevada corporation, was incorporated on August 18, 1987.  We have two operating subsidiaries, AAON, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation and AAON Coil Products, Inc., a Texas corporation.   Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report to “AAON,” the “Company”, “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” refer to AAON, Inc., and our subsidiaries.

We are engaged in the manufacture and sale of air-conditioning and heating equipment.  Our products consist of rooftop units, chillers, air-handling units, make-up air units, heat recovery units, condensing units, commercial self contained units and coils.

Products and Markets

Our products serve the commercial and industrial new construction and replacement markets.  To date our sales have been primarily to the domestic market.  Foreign sales accounted for approximately 5% of our sales in 2010.

Our rooftop and condenser markets consist of units installed on commercial or industrial structures of generally less than 10 stories in height.  Our air-handling units, commercial self contained units, chillers, and coils are applicable to all sizes of commercial and industrial buildings.

The size of these markets is determined primarily by the number of commercial and industrial building completions.  The replacement market consists of products installed to replace existing units/components that are worn or damaged.  Historically, approximately half of the industry's market has consisted of replacement units.

The commercial and industrial new construction market is subject to cyclical fluctuations in that it is generally tied to housing starts, but has a lag factor of 6-18 months.  Housing starts, in turn, are affected by such factors as interest rates, the state of the economy, population growth and the relative age of the population.  When new construction is down, we emphasize the replacement market.

Based on our 2010 level of sales of $245 million, we estimate that we have a 14% share of the rooftop market and a 1% share of the coil market.  Approximately 55% of our sales now come from new construction and 45% from renovation/replacements.  The percentage of sales for new construction vs. replacement to particular customers is related to the customer’s stage of development.

We purchase certain components, fabricate sheet metal and tubing and then assemble and test the finished products.  Our primary finished products consist of a single unit system containing heating, cooling and/or heat recovery components in a self-contained cabinet, referred to in the industry as "unitary" products.  Our other finished products are chillers, coils, air-handling units, condensing units, make-up air units, heat recovery units and commercial self-contained units.

We offer four groups of rooftop units.  Our RQ Series consisting of six cooling sizes ranging from one to six tons; our RN Series offered in 18 cooling sizes ranging from six to 70 tons; our RL Series, which is offered in 15 cooling sizes ranging from 40 to 230 tons; and our HA Series, which is a horizontal discharge package for either rooftop or ground installation offered in eight sizes ranging from seven and one-half to 50 tons.

We manufacture a Model LC Chiller, air cooled, and a Model LL chiller, which is available in both air-cooled condensing and evaporative cooled configurations.

1

 
Our air-handling units consist of the F1 and H/V Series and the modular (M2 and M3) Series.

Our heat recovery option applicable to our RQ, RN and RL units, as well as our M2 and M3 Series air handlers, respond to the U.S. Clean Air Act mandate to increase fresh air in commercial structures.  Our products are designed to compete on the higher quality end of standardized products.

Performance characteristics of our products range in cooling capacity from 20,000 - 4,320,000 BTU's and in heating capacity from 69,000 - 9,000,000 BTU's.  All of our products meet the Department of Energy's efficiency standards, which define the maximum amount of energy to be used in producing a given amount of cooling.

A typical commercial building installation requires a ton of air-conditioning for every 300-400 square feet or, for a 100,000 square foot building, 250 tons of air-conditioning, which can involve multiple units.

We have developed and are beginning to market a residential condensing unit (CB Series) and air handlers (F1 Series).

Major Customers

No customer accounted for 10% of our sales during 2010, 2009 or 2008.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

The most important materials we purchase are steel, copper and aluminum, which are obtained from domestic suppliers.  We also purchase from other domestic manufacturers certain components, including compressors, electric motors and electrical controls used in our products.  We attempt to obtain the lowest possible cost in our purchases of raw materials and components, consistent with meeting specified quality standards.  We are not dependent upon any one source for raw materials or the major components of our manufactured products.  By having multiple suppliers, we believe that we will have adequate sources of supplies to meet our manufacturing requirements for the foreseeable future.

We attempt to limit the impact of increases in raw materials and purchased component prices on our profit margins by negotiating with each of our major suppliers on a term basis from six months to one year.

Distribution

We employ a sales staff of 20 individuals and utilize approximately 93 independent manufacturer representatives' (“Representatives”) organizations having 108 offices to market our products in the United States and Canada.  We also have one international sales organization, which utilizes 12 distributors in other countries.  Sales are made directly to the contractor or end user, with shipments being made from our Tulsa, Oklahoma and Longview, Texas plants to the job site.

Our products and sales strategy focus on niche markets.  The targeted markets for our equipment are customers seeking products of better quality than offered, and/or options not offered, by standardized manufacturers.

To support and service our customers and the ultimate consumer, we provide parts availability through our sales offices and have factory service organizations at each of our plants.  Also, a number of the manufacturer representatives we utilize have their own service organizations, which, in connection with us, provide the necessary warranty work and/or normal service to customers.

Our product warranty policy is:  the earlier of one year from the date of first use or 18 months from date of shipment for parts only; an additional four years for compressors (if applicable); 15 years on aluminized steel gas-fired heat exchangers (if applicable); 25 years on stainless steel heat exchangers (if applicable); and 10 years on gas-fired heat exchangers in RL products (if applicable).   With the introduction of the RQ product line in 2010, our warranty policy for the RQ series was implemented to cover parts for two years from date of unit shipment and labor for one year from date of unit shipment.

2

 
Research and Development

All of our R&D activities are self-sponsored, rather than customer-sponsored.  R&D has involved the RQ, RN and RL (rooftop units), F1, H/V, M2 and M3 (air handlers), LC and LL (chillers), CB and CC (condensing units), SA (commercial self-contained units) and BL (boilers), as well as component evaluation and refinement, development of control systems and new product development.  We incurred research and development expenses of approximately $3,605,000, $3,074,000 and $2,577,000 in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Backlog

Our current backlog as of March 1, 2011, was approximately $37,978,000 compared to approximately $33,569,000 at March 1, 2010.  The current backlog consists of orders considered by management to be firm and substantially all of which will be filled by July 1, 2011; however, the orders are subject to cancellation by the customers.

Working Capital Practices

Working capital practices in the industry center on inventories and accounts receivable.  Our management regularly reviews our working capital with a view to maintaining the lowest level consistent with requirements of anticipated levels of operation.  Our greatest needs arise during the months of July - November, the peak season for inventory (primarily purchased material) and accounts receivable.  Our working capital requirements are generally met by cash flow from operations and a bank revolving credit facility, which currently permits borrowings up to $15,150,000.  We believe that we will have sufficient funds available to meet our working capital needs for the foreseeable future.  We expect to renew our revolving credit agreement in July 2011.  We do not expect that the current situation in the credit market will impact our renewal.

Seasonality

Sales of our products are moderately seasonal with the peak period being July - November of each year.

Competition

In the standardized market, we compete primarily with Lennox International, Inc., Ingersoll Rand Limited, Johnson Controls Inc. and United Technologies Corporation.  All of these competitors are substantially larger and have greater resources than we do.  In the custom market, we compete with many larger and smaller manufacturers.  Our products compete on the basis of total value, quality, function, serviceability, efficiency, availability of product, product line recognition and acceptability of sales outlet.  However, in new construction where the contractor is the purchasing decision maker, we are often at a competitive disadvantage because of the emphasis placed on initial cost.  In the replacement market and other owner-controlled purchases, we have a better chance of getting the business since quality and long-term cost are generally taken into account.

Employees

As of March 1, 2011, we had 1,394 permanent employees and 26 temporary employees.  Our employees are not currently represented by unions.  Management considers relations with our employees to be good.

Patents, Trademarks, Licenses and Concessions

We do not consider any patents, trademarks, licenses or concessions to be material to our business operations, other than patents issued regarding our heat recovery wheel option, blower, gas-fired heat exchanger and evaporative condenser desuperheater which have terms of twenty years with expiration dates ranging from 2016 to 2022.

3

 
Environmental Matters

Laws concerning the environment that affect or could affect our domestic operations include, among others, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, regulations promulgated under these Acts, and any other federal, state or local laws or regulations governing environmental matters.  We believe that we presently comply with these laws and that future compliance will not materially adversely affect our earnings or competitive position.

Available Information

Our Internet website address is http://www.aaon.com.  Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 will be available through our Internet website as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

The following risks and uncertainties may affect our performance and results of operations.

Our business has been hurt by the current economic downturn.

Our business is affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate.  The state of the United States economy has negatively impacted the commercial and industrial new construction markets.  The current decline in economic activity in the United States could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.  Sales in the commercial and industrial new construction markets correlate closely to the number of new homes and buildings that are built, which in turn is influenced by cyclical factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer spending habits, employment rates and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control.  In the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (“HVAC”) business, a decline in economic activity as a result of these cyclical or other factors typically results in a decline in new construction and replacement purchases, which has resulted in a decrease in our sales volume and profitability.

We may be adversely affected by problems in the availability, or increases in the prices, of raw materials and components.

Problems in the availability, or increases in the prices, of raw materials or components could depress our sales or increase the costs of our products.  We are dependent upon components purchased from third parties, as well as raw materials such as steel, copper and aluminum.  We enter into cancelable and noncancelable contracts on terms from six months to one year for raw materials and components at fixed prices.  However, if a key supplier is unable or unwilling to meet our supply requirements, we could experience supply interruptions or cost increases, either of which could have an adverse effect on our gross profit.

We risk having losses resulting from the use of noncancelable fixed price contracts.

Historically, we attempted to limit the impact of price fluctuations on commodities by entering into noncancelable fixed price contracts with our major suppliers for periods of 6 - 18 months.  We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our fixed price contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.  These fixed price contracts are not accounted for as financial derivative instruments since they meet the normal purchases and sales exemption.

4

 
We may not be able to successfully develop and market new products.

Our future success will depend upon our continued investment in research and new product development and our ability to continue to realize new technological advances in the HVAC industry.  Our inability to continue to successfully develop and market new products or our inability to achieve technological advances on a pace consistent with that of our competitors could lead to a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We may incur material costs as a result of warranty and product liability claims that would negatively affect our profitability.

The development, manufacture, sale and use of our products involve a risk of warranty and product liability claims.  Our product liability insurance policies have limits that, if exceeded, may result in material costs that would have an adverse effect on our future profitability.  In addition, warranty claims are not covered by our product liability insurance and there may be types of product liability claims that are also not covered by our product liability insurance.

We may not be able to compete favorably in the highly competitive HVAC business.

Competition in our various markets could cause us to reduce our prices or lose market share, or could negatively affect our cash flow, which could have an adverse effect on our future financial results.  Substantially all of the markets in which we participate are highly competitive.  The most significant competitive factors we face are product reliability, product performance, service and price, with the relative importance of these factors varying among our product line.  Other factors that affect competition in the HVAC market include the development and application of new technologies and an increasing emphasis on the development of more efficient HVAC products.  Moreover, new product introductions are an important factor in the market categories in which our products compete.  Several of our competitors have greater financial and other resources than we have, allowing them to invest in more extensive research and development.  We may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competition and current and future competitive pressures faced by us may materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

The loss of Norman H. Asbjornson could impair the growth of our business.

Norman H. Asbjornson, our founder, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer from inception to date.  He has provided the leadership and vision for our growth.  Although important responsibilities and functions have been delegated to other highly experienced and capable management personnel, our products are technologically advanced and well positioned for sales into the future and we carry key man insurance on Mr. Asbjornson, his death, disability or retirement could impair the growth of our business.  We do not have an employment agreement with Mr. Asbjornson.

Our stockholder rights plan and some provisions in our bylaws and Nevada law could delay or prevent a change in control.

Our stockholder rights plan and some provisions in our bylaws and Nevada law could delay or prevent a change in control, which could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

Our business is subject to the risks of interruptions by problems such as computer viruses.

Despite our implementation of network security measures, our services are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems.  Any such event could have a material adverse affect on our business.

Exposure to environmental liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our future profitability could be adversely affected by current or future environmental laws.  We are subject to extensive and changing federal, state and local laws and regulations designed to protect the environment in the United States and in other parts of the world.  These laws and regulations could impose liability for remediation costs and result in civil or criminal penalties in case of non-compliance.  Compliance with environmental laws increases our costs of doing business.  Because these laws are subject to frequent change, we are unable to predict the future costs resulting from environmental compliance.

5

 
We are subject to adverse changes in tax laws.

Tax benefits could be adversely affected by changes in tax provisions, unfavorable findings in tax examinations or differing interpretations by tax authorities.  We are unable to estimate the impact that current and future tax proposals and tax laws could have on our results of operations.  We are not currently under audit by any taxing jurisdiction other than one state sales tax audit.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2.  Properties.

Our plant and office facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, consist of a 342,000 sq. ft. building (327,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing/warehouse space and 15,000 sq. ft. of office space) located on a 12-acre tract of land at 2425 South Yukon Avenue (the “original facility”), and a 693,000 sq. ft. manufacturing/warehouse building and a 22,000 sq. ft. office building (the “expansion facility”) located on a 40-acre tract of land across the street from the original facility (2440 South Yukon Avenue).  We own both the original facility and the expansion facility.  Both plants are of sheet metal construction.

The original facility’s manufacturing area is in a heavy industrial type building, with total coverage by bridge cranes, containing manufacturing equipment designed for sheet metal fabrication and metal stamping.  The manufacturing equipment contained in the original facility consists primarily of automated sheet metal fabrication equipment, supplemented by presses, press breaks and numerical control punching equipment.  Assembly lines consist of three cart-type conveyor lines with variable line speed adjustment, which are motor driven.  Subassembly areas and production line manning are based upon line speed.  The manufacturing facility is 1,140 feet in length and varies in width from 390 feet to 220 feet.

In the expansion facility we use 22,000 sq. ft. for office space, 20,000 sq. ft. for warehouse space and 80,000 sq. ft. for two production lines; an additional 106,000 sq. ft. is utilized for sheet metal fabrication.  The remaining 487,000 sq. ft. is presently being prepared as additional plant space for long-term growth.

Our operations in Longview, Texas are conducted in a plant/office building at 203-207 Gum Springs Road, containing 258,000 sq. ft. on 14 acres.  The manufacturing area (approximately 251,000 sq. ft.) is located in three 120-foot wide sheet metal buildings connected by an adjoining structure.  The remaining 7,000 square feet are utilized as office space.  The facility is built for light industrial manufacturing.  An additional, contiguous 15 acres were purchased in 2004 and 2005 for future expansion.  We own both the existing plant/office building, and the 15 acres designated for future expansion.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.

We are not a party to any pending legal proceeding which management believes is likely to result in a material liability and no such action is contemplated by or, to the best of our knowledge, has been threatened against us.
 
6

 
PART II

Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "AAON".  The range of high and low sale prices for our Common Stock during the last two years, as reported by National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., was as follows:

Quarter Ended
 
High
 
Low
         
March 31, 2009
 
$21.18
 
$14.54
June 30, 2009
 
$21.93
 
$15.95
September 30, 2009
 
$22.32
 
$18.57
December 31, 2009
 
$20.65
 
$18.00
         
March 31, 2010
 
$23.05
 
$18.64
June 30, 2010
 
$25.26
 
$21.50
September 30, 2010
 
$26.13
 
$20.08
December 31, 2010
 
$29.64
 
$22.91
_______________

On February 28, 2011, there were 1,006 holders of record, and approximately 4,400 beneficial owners, of our Common Stock.

On February 14, 2006, the Board of Directors voted to initiate a semi-annual cash dividend.  We initially paid semi-annual dividends of $0.20 per share.  The Board of Directors approved dividend payments of $0.16 per share related to the 3-for-2 stock split effective August 21, 2007.  The Board of Directors approved future dividend payments of $0.18 per share on May 19, 2009.  Board approval is required to determine the date of declaration and amount for each semi-annual dividend payment.

In 2009, dividends were declared to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 14, 2009 and were paid on January 4, 2010.  In 2010, dividends were declared to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 10, 2010 and December 1, 2010 and were paid on July 1, 2010 and December 22, 2010.  We paid cash dividends of $9.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2010.

On November 6, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized a stock buyback program, targeting repurchases of up to approximately 10% (1.8 million shares) of our outstanding stock from time to time in open market transactions. On May 12, 2010, we completed the stock buyback program.  Through May 12, 2010, we repurchased a total of 1,800,000 shares under this program for an aggregate price of $36,061,425, or an average price of $20.03 per share.  We purchased the shares at current market prices.

On May 17, 2010, the Board authorized a new stock buyback program, targeting repurchases of up to approximately 5% (approximately 850,000 shares) of our outstanding stock from time to time in open market transactions.  Through December 31, 2010, we repurchased a total of 478,493 shares under this program for an aggregate price of $11,509,433, or an average price of $24.05 per share.  We purchased the shares at current market prices.

On July 1, 2005, we entered into a stock repurchase arrangement by which employee-participants in our 401(k) savings and investment plan are entitled to have shares of AAON stock in their accounts sold to us to provide diversification of their investments.  The maximum number of shares to be repurchased is contingent upon the number of shares sold by employees. Through December 31, 2010, we repurchased 993,155 shares for an aggregate price of $18,042,789, or an average price of $18.17 per share.  We purchased the shares at current market prices.

7

 
On November 7, 2006, the Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase shares from certain directors and officers following their exercise of stock options.  The maximum number of shares to be repurchased is contingent upon the number of shares sold.  Through December 31, 2010, we repurchased 379,750 shares for an aggregate price of $7,894,792, or an average price of $20.79 per share.  We purchased the shares at current market prices.

Repurchases during the fourth quarter of 2010 were as follows:
 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
Period
 
 
 
 
(a)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
   
 
 
(b)
Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)
   
(c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
   
(d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
                         
October 2010
    17,444     $ 24.41       17,444       -  
                                 
November 2010
    5,445     $ 25.13       5,445       -  
                                 
December 2010
    18,912     $ 28.51       18,912       -  
                                 
Total
    41,801     $ 26.36       41,801       -  


8

 
Stock Performance Graph (1)

The following graph compares our cumulative total shareholder return, the NASDAQ Composite and the peer group named below.  The graph assumes a $100 investment at the closing price on January 1, 2005, and reinvestment of dividends on the date of payment without commissions.  This table is not intended to forecast future performance of our Common Stock.
 
 
 stock performance graph
 
 
The peer group consists of Lennox International, Inc., Ingersoll Rand Limited, Johnson Controls Inc., and United Technologies Corporation.  All companies in the peer group are in the business of manufacturing air conditioning and heat exchange equipment.


(1) Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings sometimes “incorporate information by reference.” This means we are referring you to information that has previously been filed with the SEC, and that this information should be considered as part of the filing you are reading.  Unless we specifically state otherwise, this Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference and shall not constitute soliciting material or otherwise be considered filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange act of 1934, as amended.

9

 
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto for the periods indicated which are included elsewhere in this report.

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
       
Results of Operations:
 
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
       
Net sales
  $ 244,552     $ 245,282     $ 279,725     $ 262,517     $ 231,460  
Net income
  $ 21,894     $ 27,721     $ 28,589     $ 23,156     $ 17,133  
Earnings per share:
                                       
Basic
  $ 1.30     $ 1.61     $ 1.63     $ 1.24     $ 0.93  
Diluted
  $ 1.30     $ 1.60     $ 1.60     $ 1.22     $ 0.90  
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.36     $ 0.36     $ 0.32     $ 0.32     $ 0.32  
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                                       
Basic
    16,799       17,187       17,560       18,628       18,456  
Diluted
    16,893       17,309       17,855       18,927       18,968  
 
 
   
 December 31,
 
Financial Position at End of                              
Fiscal Year:    2010       2009       2008       2007       2006  
    (in thousands)  
                                         
Working capital
  $ 55,502     $ 65,354     $ 40,600     $ 38,788     $ 36,356  
Total assets
  $ 160,277     $ 156,211     $ 140,743     $ 137,140     $ 130,056  
Long-term and current debt
  $ 0     $ 76     $ 3,113     $ 330     $ 59  
Total stockholders’ equity
  $ 116,739     $ 117,999     $ 96,522     $ 95,420     $ 91,592  
 
Basic earnings per common share were computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the reporting period.  Diluted earnings per common share were determined on the assumed exercise of dilutive options, as determined by applying the treasury stock method.

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview

We engineer, manufacture and market air-conditioning and heating equipment consisting of rooftop units, chillers, air-handling units, make-up air units, heat recovery units, condensing units, commercial self-contained units and coils.  These products are marketed and sold to retail, manufacturing, educational, medical and other commercial industries.  We market units to all 50 states in the United States and certain provinces in Canada.  Foreign sales were approximately 5% of our 2010 sales.

We sell our products to property owners and contractors through a network of manufacturers’ representatives and our internal sales force.  Demand for our products is influenced by national and regional economic and demographic factors.  The commercial and industrial new construction market is subject to cyclical fluctuations in that it is generally tied to housing starts, but has a lag factor of 6-18 months.  Housing starts, in turn, are affected by such factors as interest rates, the state of the economy, population growth and the relative age of the population.  When new construction is down, we emphasize the replacement market.

10

 
The principal components of cost of goods sold are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out and engineering expense.  The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper and aluminum, which are obtained from domestic suppliers.  The raw materials market was volatile during 2010 and 2009 due to the economic environment.   Prices decreased by approximately 34% for steel and increased by approximately 155% for aluminum and 210% for copper from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2010.  During 2010, we entered into an aluminum contract for 2011 purchases that was slightly above the average index price as of December 31, 2010.  As market prices for aluminum have shown increases since January 1, 2011, our contract price more closely approximates market value in 2011.

We entered into a derivative instrument in the third quarter of 2009 with a large financial institution to mitigate our exposure to volatility in copper prices.  The derivative was in the form of a commodity futures contract.  The derivative contract settled monthly beginning in January 2010 and ending in December 2010.  The contract was for a total of 2,250,000 pounds of copper at $2.383 per pound.  The contract was for quantities equal to or less than those expected to be used in our manufacturing operations. We recorded adjustments of $14,000 and $2.2 million ($1.4 million after tax) to cost of sales from the unrealized gain on derivative assets at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended 2010 and 2009 respectively. 

We attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancelable and noncancelable fixed price contracts with our major suppliers for periods of 6 - 18 months.  We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our fixed price contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.  These contracts are not accounted for as derivative instruments since they meet the normal purchases and sales exemption.

We are subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes that the ultimate liability from these claims and actions, if any, will not have a material effect on our results of operations or financial position.
 
Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) costs include our internal sales force, warranty costs, profit sharing and administrative expenses.  Warranty expense is estimated based on historical trends and other factors.  Our product warranty policy is: the earlier of one year from the date of first use or 18 months from date of shipment for parts only; an additional four years on compressors (if applicable); 15 years on aluminized steel gas-fired heat exchangers (if applicable); 25 years on stainless steel heat exchangers (if applicable); and 10 years on gas-fired heat exchangers in RL products (if applicable).  Warranty charges on heat exchangers do not occur frequently. With the introduction of the RQ product line in 2010, our warranty policy for the RQ series was implemented to cover parts for two years from date of unit shipment and labor for one year from date of unit shipment.

Our plant and office facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma consist of a 342,000 sq. ft. building (327,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing/ warehouse space and 15,000 sq. ft. of office space) located at 2425 S. Yukon Avenue (“the original facility”), and a 693,000 sq. ft. manufacturing/warehouse building and a 22,000 sq. ft. office building (“the expansion facility”) located across the street from the original facility at 2440 S. Yukon Avenue.  We own both the original facility and the expansion facility.

In the expansion facility we use 22,000 sq. ft. for office space, 20,000 sq. ft. for warehouse space and 80,000 sq. ft. for two production lines; an additional 106,000 sq. ft. is utilized for sheet metal fabrication.  The remaining 487,000 sq. ft. is presently being prepared as additional plant space for long-term growth.

Other operations in Longview, Texas are conducted in a plant/office building at 203-207 Gum Springs Road, containing 258,000 sq. ft. (251,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing/ warehouse and 7,000 sq. ft. of office space).  An additional 15 acres were purchased in 2004 and 2005 for future expansion.  We own both the existing plant/office building, and the 15 acres designated for future expansion.

Our previous operations in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, were located at 279 Sumach Drive, consisting of an 82,000 sq. ft. office/manufacturing facility.  The property was sold in September 2010 for $1.5 million ($0.4 million cash and we are carrying back a $1.1 million note receivable).

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Set forth below is income statement information and as a percentage of sales for years 2010, 2009 and 2008:
 
    Years Ending December 31,  
      2010      2009       2008  
    (in thousands)  
       
                                     
Net sales
  $ 244,552       100.0 %   $ 245,282       100.0 %   $ 279,725       100.0 %
Cost of sales
    189,364       77.4 %     177,737       72.5 %     212,549       76.0 %
Gross profit
    55,188       22.6 %     67,545       27.5 %     67,176       24.0 %
Selling, general and
    administrative expenses
    22,473       9.2 %     23,791       9.7 %     23,788       8.5 %
Income from operations
    32,715       13.4 %     43,754       17.8 %     43,388       15.5 %
Interest expense
    (45 )     0.0     (9     0.0 %     (71 )     0.0 %
Interest income
    258       0.1     71       0.0 %     27       0.0 %
Other income (expense), net
    (235 )     0.1 %     76         0.1 %      724        0.3 %
Income before income taxes     32,693       13.4     43,892       17.9 %     44,068       15.8 %
Income tax provision
    10,799       4.4 %     16,171        6.6 %     15,479        5.6 %
Net income
  $ 21,894       9.0 %   $ 27,721       11.3 %   $ 28,589       10.2 %

Results of Operations

Key events impacting our cash balance, financial condition and results of operations in 2010 include the following:

·    
We have again taken a leading position in energy savings with the introduction of the direct drive blower which has eliminated the traditional V-belt drive, thus saving energy and maintenance problems associated with the V-belt drives. This has been made possible by advances in electronic motor control by use of variable frequency drive on larger motors and electrically commutated motors on smaller horsepowers. All of this is being further enhanced by requirements on buildings through ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Standard 189-1 which requires one of these concepts on high efficiency buildings at the present time and will be required by ASHRAE Standard 90-1 on January 2012.  We also utilize a high performance composite foam panel to eliminate over half of the heat transfer from typical fiberglass insulated panels.  All of these innovations increase the demand for our products thus increasing market share.
·    
Released new products and set up new manufacturing lines in the new building addition which was completed at the end of 2009.
·    
We attempt to moderate the volatility of certain commodity costs by utilizing purchase agreements and pricing strategies which affect our gross margins.
·    
In February 2006, our Board of Directors initiated a program of semi-annual cash dividend payments.  Cash payments of $9.2 million were made in 2010.  Dividends payable of $3.1 million were declared in June 2010, released for payment to our transfer agent in June 2010 and paid to stockholders in July 2010.  Dividends payable of $3.0 million were declared and paid in December 2010.   Dividends payable of $3.1 million were declared in December 2009 and paid in January 2010.
·    
Stock repurchases resulted in cash payments of $19.5 million.  This cash outlay is partially offset by cash received from options exercised by employees as a part of an incentive bonus program of $1.2 million.
·    
We have a strong liquidity position at December 31, 2010 with cash on hand of approximately $2.4 million, $1.5 million in certificates of deposit and $9.5 million of current assets in corporate notes and bonds. In view of the current economic environment, our goal remains to maintain a healthy financial condition.
·    
Purchases of equipment and renovations to manufacturing facilities remained a priority. Our capital expenditures were $17.5 million.  Equipment purchases create significant efficiencies, lower production costs and allow continued growth in production.  We currently estimate dedicating $28 million to $30 million to capital expenditures in 2011 for continued growth.


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Net Sales

Net sales were $244.6 million, $245.3 million and $279.7 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Sales in 2010 remained substantially level with 2009 due to the favorable reception to our new products and increased market share, despite poor economic conditions which caused non-residential construction spending to decline 14.1%. The decrease in sales in 2009 from 2008 was due to decreased volume related to the economic environment and lower sales from our Canadian operations.  The economic environment negatively impacted commercial construction markets with some projects delayed, postponed indefinitely or cancelled.  The replacement market was also affected by customers delaying equipment replacement as a cost saving strategy.  In 2008, an increase in volume of products sold related to our new and redesigned products being favorably received by our customers, the diversified customer mix of products, active marketing by sales representatives and pricing strategies implemented in order to keep up with the then increasing raw material costs.

Gross Profit

Gross margins were $55.2 million, $67.5 million and $67.2 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Gross margins decreased $12.3 million in 2010 from 2009.  As a percentage of sales, gross margins were 22.6%, 27.5% and 24.0% in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The 18.0% decrease in gross margins in 2010 from 2009 was primarily a result of the absence of a derivative related to a copper hedge of $2.2 million that we benefited from in 2009, higher raw material and commodity costs, increased labor expenses to relocate a production line and set up new production lines for the Tulsa building addition and related supplies to stock the new lines, and our inability in the current economic environment to implement price increases to our minimum sales prices for HVAC units.  The increase in gross profit in 2009 from 2008, resulted from lower material costs, improved production and labor efficiencies, a reduction in manufacturing related expenses and a $2.2 million ($1.4 million net of tax) unrealized gain from a financial derivative asset included in cost of sales, despite lower net sales and expenses associated with the Canadian facility closure.  Our gross margins as a percentage of sales excluding the unrealized gain were 22.6%, 26.6% and 24.0% in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
The principal components of cost of goods sold are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out and engineering expense.  The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper and aluminum, which are obtained from domestic suppliers.  We also purchase from other domestic manufacturers certain components, including compressors, electric motors and electrical controls used in our products.  The suppliers of these components are significantly affected by the raw material costs of steel, copper and aluminum used in their products.   The raw materials market was volatile during 2010 and 2009 due to the economic environment. Prices decreased by approximately 34% for steel and increased by approximately 155% for aluminum and 210% for copper from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2010.  During 2010, we entered into an aluminum contract for 2011 purchases that was slightly above the average index price as of December 31, 2010.  As market prices for aluminum have shown increases since January 1, 2011, our contract price more closely approximates market value in 2011.
 
We entered into a financial derivative instrument in the third quarter of 2009 with a large financial institution to mitigate our exposure to volatility in copper prices.  The financial derivative was in the form of a commodity futures contract. The contract was for a total of 2,250,000 pounds of copper at $2.383 per pound.  In March 2010, we locked in the settlement price of $3.3975 per pound for the remainder of 2010.  The contract was for quantities equal to or less than those used in our manufacturing operations in 2010.  The derivative contract began settling in January 2010 and concluded in December 2010.
 
In addition to our financial derivative instrument, we attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancelable and noncancelable fixed price contracts with our major suppliers for periods of 6 - 18 months.  We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our fixed price contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.  These contracts are not accounted for as financial derivative instruments since they meet the normal purchases and sales exemption.
 
We are subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes that the ultimate liability from these claims and actions, if any, will not have a material effect on our results of operations or financial position.

13

 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A were $22.5 million, $23.8 million and $23.8 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.   As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses were 9.2%, 9.7% and 8.5% in 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively. In 2010, compared to 2009, we experienced a decrease in our SG&A expenses.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in profit sharing expense related to lower net income. In 2009, our SG&A expenses remained consistent with 2008, despite lower sales volumes in 2009 compared to 2008.  Warranty expenses in 2009 increased due to specific warranty items and sales related expenses increased due to our expanded marketing to remain competitive in the current environment.  

Interest Expense

Interest expense was approximately $45,000, $9,000 and $71,000 in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The increase in interest expense of approximately $36,000 in 2010 from 2009 was due to increased borrowings on the revolving credit facility.  We borrowed $20.8 million from the revolving credit facility during 2010 compared to $10.0 million during 2009.  Interest on borrowings is payable monthly at the greater of 4.0% or LIBOR plus 2.5% (4.0% at December 31, 2010).  The decrease in interest expense in 2009 from 2008 was due to fewer borrowings on the revolving credit facility.  In 2008, we borrowed $46.9 million from the revolving credit facility.  Average borrowings under the revolving credit facility are typically paid in full within the month of borrowing or the following month.

Interest Income

Interest income was approximately $258,000, $71,000 and $27,000 in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The increase in interest income of approximately $187,000 in 2010 from 2009 was mainly due to interest income from our investments in corporate notes and bonds, see Note 1. Investments Held to Maturity.  The increase in interest income in 2009 from 2008 was mainly due to interest income from a tax refund.

Other Income (Expense)

Other expense was approximately $235,000 in 2010.  Other income was approximately $76,000 and $724,000 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The decrease in other income of approximately $311,000 in 2010 from 2009 was primarily due to the termination of the lease on our expansion facility in May 2009. Prior to the lease expiration in May 2009, other income was predominantly attributable to rental income from our expansion facility. The decrease in other income in 2009 from 2008 was also primarily related to the termination of the lease.  We began renovations on the expansion facility to give us increased manufacturing capacity upon expiration of the lease. Our 2010 capital expenditures reflected the outlay to remodel the facility.

Impact of Current Economic Conditions

Our business is affected by a number of economic factors, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate.  The state of the economy has negatively impacted the commercial and industrial new construction markets.  The decline in economic activity has resulted in a decrease in our sales volume and profitability.  Sales in the commercial and industrial new construction markets correlate closely to the number of new homes and buildings that are built, which in turn is influenced by cyclical factors such as interest rates, inflation, consumer spending habits, employment rates and other macroeconomic factors over which we have no control.

 
14

 
Analysis of Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our working capital and capital expenditure requirements are generally met through net cash provided by operations and the occasional use of the revolving bank line of credit based on our current liquidity at the time.

General

Our revolving credit facility provides for maximum borrowings of $15.2 million which is provided by the Bank of Oklahoma, National Association.  At December 31, 2010, borrowings available under the revolving credit facility were $14.3 million.  Under the line of credit, there is one standby letter of credit totaling $0.9 million.  Interest on borrowings is payable monthly at the greater of 4.0% or LIBOR plus 2.5% (4.0% at December 31, 2010).  No fees are associated with the unused portion of the committed amount.  At December 31, 2010, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility.  At December 31, 2009, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility.  At December 31, 2008, we had $2.9 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility.

At December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, we were in compliance with our financial ratio covenants.  The covenants are related to our tangible net worth, total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio and working capital.  At December 31, 2010 our tangible net worth was $117.0 million which meets the requirement of being at or above $75.0 million.  Our total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio was 1 to 3, which meets the requirement of not being above 2 to 1.  Our working capital was $55.5 million which meets the requirement of being at or above $30.0 million.  On July 30, 2010, we renewed the line of credit with a maturity date of July 30, 2011 with terms substantially the same as the previous agreement.  Subsequently, as a requirement of our workers compensation insurance, our standby letter of credit was extended with an increase of $1.5 million to $2.4 million and will expire December 31, 2011.  We expect to renew our revolving credit agreement in July 2011.  We do not anticipate that the current situation in the credit market will impact our renewal.

We believe projected cash flows from operations and our bank revolving credit facility (or comparable financing) will provide us the necessary liquidity and capital resources for fiscal year 2011 and the foreseeable future.  The belief that we will have the necessary liquidity and capital resources is based upon our knowledge of the HVAC industry and our place in that industry, our ability to limit our growth if necessary, our ability to adjust dividend cash payments, and our relationship with our existing bank lender.  For information concerning our revolving credit facility at December 31, 2010, see Note 3, Revolving Credit Facility.

Cash Provided by Operating Activities.  Net cash provided from operating activities has fluctuated from year to year. Net cash provided by operating activities was $32.2 million, $45.2 million and $33.4 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The year-to-year variances are primarily from changes in net income, accounts receivable, inventories, accounts payable and accrued liabilities as described below.

Net income was $21.9 million, $27.7 million and $28.6 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively. The decrease in net income of $5.8 million in 2010 from 2009 was primarily due to the absence of a derivative related to a copper hedge of $2.2 million ($1.4 million net of tax) that we benefited from in 2009, higher raw material and commodity costs, increased labor expenses to relocate a production line and set up new  production lines for the Tulsa building addition and related supplies to stock the new lines, and our inability in the current economic environment to implement price increases to our minimum sales prices for HVAC units.  The decrease in net income in 2009 from 2008 was primarily due to lower volume of sales which was a result of the economic environment and lower sales from our Canadian operations offset by lower material costs, improved production and labor efficiencies, a reduction in manufacturing related expenses and a $2.2 million ($1.4 million net of tax) unrealized gain from a financial derivative asset.

Depreciation expense was $9.9 million, $9.1 million and $9.4 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The increase in depreciation is due to the increase in depreciable assets of equipment and building additions. The decrease in depreciation in 2009 was due to the realization of full depreciation of certain capital assets. Share-based compensation was $0.8 million in each of 2010, 2009 and 2008.  Both depreciation expense and share-based compensation expense decreased net income, but had no effect on operating cash.

15

 
Accounts receivable increased by $6.4 million at December 31, 2010 due primarily to slower customer payments.  Accounts receivable decreased by $5.5 million at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008 and was attributable to a decrease in sales.  Accounts receivable increased by $0.9 million at December 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007 due to increased sales.

Inventories increased by $4.8 million at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009 due to an increase related to the valuation of inventories associated with higher raw material and component part prices and increased inventory levels associated with an increase in our backlog.  Inventories decreased by $7.2 million at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008.  The decrease in inventories in 2009 from 2008 was attributable to a decrease in inventory requirements related to lower sales volumes, a decrease related to the valuation of inventories due to lower raw material and component part prices and sales of inventory as part of the Canadian facility closure.  Inventories increased by $4.8 million at December 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007 primarily related to the procurement of inventory to accommodate increased sales.

Accounts payable increased by $6.5 million at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009 due an increase in inventory levels and timing of payments to vendors. Accounts payable decreased by $6.3 million at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008.  The decrease in accounts payable in 2009 from 2008 was attributable to fewer purchases related to lower sales volumes.  Accounts payable increased by $0.4 million at December 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007 due to the timing of payment to vendors.

Accrued liabilities increased by $2.4 million at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009 due to an increase in amounts due to representatives and payroll partially offset by a decrease in medical self-insurance reserves.  Accrued liabilities increased by $0.8 million at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008.  The increase in accrued liabilities in 2009 from 2008 is attributable to higher warranty and medical self-insurance reserves related to specific items.  Accrued liabilities increased by $0.9 million at December 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007 due to higher workers compensation expenses and higher warranty expenses related to increased sales.
 
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities.  Cash flows used in investing activities were $28.3 million, $9.6 million and $9.6 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Cash flows used in investing activities in 2010 increased significantly from 2009 and were related to a $15.0 million investment with a large financial institution in January 2010.  The investments were allocated to cash and money market funds, certificates of deposit, corporate notes and bonds and foreign corporate notes and bonds with a maturity of one year or less. The investments began maturing during 2010 and at December 31, 2010 the investment balance was $11.0 million.  The increase was also attributable to manufacturing and equipment purchases and costs to expand our manufacturing facilities.  Cash flows used in investing activities in 2009 did not significantly fluctuate from 2008 and were related to manufacturing and equipment purchases and costs to expand our manufacturing facilities.  The decrease in cash flows used in investing activities in 2008 from 2007 was primarily related to lower capital expenditures.  Management utilizes cash flows provided from operating activities to fund capital expenditures that are expected to increase growth and create efficiencies.  We expect to expend approximately $28 million - $30 million in 2011 for a building addition at the Tulsa facility and machinery and equipment to accommodate anticipated growth. We expect the cash requirements to be provided by cash flows from operations and matured investments.  We did not invest in certificates of deposits, money market funds or corporate notes and bonds in 2009 or 2008.

Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities.  Cash flows used in financing activities were $27.2 million, $10.1 million and $24.5 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The increase in cash flows used in financing activities of $17.1 million in 2010 from 2009 is primarily related to a higher volume of stock repurchases and the payment of $9.2 million in dividends.  The decrease in cash flows used in financing activities in 2009 from 2008 was primarily related to lower volume of stock repurchases.

We occasionally utilize our revolving line of credit to meet certain short-term cash demands based on our liquidity at the time.  We had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility at December 31, 2010 or at December 31, 2009.  We had $2.9 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility at December 31, 2008.  We accessed $20.8 million, $10.0 million and $46.9 million of borrowings under the line of credit during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

16

 
We received cash from stock options exercised of $1.2 million, $1.2 million and $1.7 million and classified the excess tax benefit of stock options exercised and restricted stock awards vested of $0.4 million, $0.7 million and $1.6 million in financing activities in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

We repurchased shares of stock under the Board of Directors authorized stock buyback programs.  We also repurchased shares of stock from our employees’ 401(k) savings and investment plan, directors and officers and the open market in the amount of $19.6 million for 822,740 shares, $3.1 million for 165,117 shares and $24.8 million for 1,211,538 shares of stock in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

On February 14, 2006, the Board of Directors voted to initiate a semi-annual cash dividend.  We initially paid semi-annual dividends of $0.20 per share.  On July 12, 2007, our Board of Directors approved a 3-for-2 stock split of our outstanding stock for shareholders of record as of August 3, 2007.  The stock split was treated as a 50% stock dividend which was distributed on August 21, 2007.  As a result of the stock split, our Board of Directors adjusted the dividend paid per share to $0.16.  The Board of Directors approved future dividend payments of $0.18 per share on May 19, 2009.  Board approval is required to determine the date of declaration and amount for each semi-annual dividend payment.

Cash dividends of $9.2 million were paid in 2010.  Cash dividends of $5.9 million were paid in 2009, and we accrued a liability for payment of $3.1 million of dividends in January 2010.  Cash dividends of $5.8 million were paid in 2008, and $2.8 million in dividends were declared and accrued as a liability in December 2008 for payment in January 2009.

Commitments and Contractual Agreements

The following table summarizes our contractual agreements as of December 31, 2010:

   
Payments Due By Period
 
       
Contractual Obligations  
Total
   
Less Than 1
Year
   
1-3 Years
   
4-5 Years
   
After 5 Years
 
    (in thousands)  
                               
                               
Purchase obligations(1)
  $ 1,662     $ 1,662       -       -       -  
Total contractual obligations
  $ 1,662     $ 1,662     $ -     $ -     $ -  

(1)The purchase obligation consists of an aluminum commitment with one supplier.  We expect to receive delivery of raw materials for use in our manufacturing operations.  This contract is not accounted for as a derivative instrument because it meets the normal purchases and sales exemption.

We are subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the ultimate liability from these claims and actions, if any, will not have a material effect on our results of operations of financial position.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Because these estimates and assumptions require significant judgment, future actual results could differ from those estimates and could have a significant impact on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.  We reevaluate our estimates and assumptions on a monthly basis.

17

 
The following accounting policies may involve a higher degree of estimation or assumption:

Revenue Recognition – We recognize revenues from sales of products when the products are shipped and the title and risk of ownership pass to the customer.  Final sales prices are fixed based on purchase orders.  Sales allowances and customer incentives are treated as reductions to sales and are provided for based on historical experiences and current estimates.  Our policy is to record the collection and payment of sales taxes through a liability account.

We present revenues net of certain payments to our independent manufacturer representatives (“Representatives”).  Representatives are national companies that are in the business of providing HVAC units and other related products and services to customers.  The end user customer orders a bundled group of products and services from the Representative and expects the Representative to fulfill the order.  Only after the specifications are agreed to by the Representative and the customer, and the decision is made to use an AAON HVAC unit, will we receive notice of the order.  We establish the amount we must receive for our HVAC unit (“minimum sales price”), but do not control the total order price which is negotiated by the Representative with the end user customer.

We are responsible for billings and collections resulting from all sales transactions, including those initiated by our Representatives.  The Representatives submit the total order price to us for invoicing and collection.  The total order price includes our minimum sales price and an additional amount which may include both the Representatives’ fee and amounts due for additional products and services required by the customer.  These additional products and services may include controls purchased from another manufacturer to operate the unit, start-up services, and curbs for supporting the unit (“Third Party Products”).  All are associated with the purchase of a HVAC unit but may be provided by the Representative or another third party.  The Company is under no obligation related to Third Party Products.
 
The Representatives do not provide us with a break-out of the amount of the total order price over the minimum sales price which includes the Representatives’ fee and Third Party Product amounts (“Due to Representatives”).  The Due to Representatives amount is paid only after all amounts associated with the order are collected from the customer.  The amount of payments to our Representatives was $51.4 million, $58.0 million and $55.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Our allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated to cover the risk of loss related to accounts receivable.   We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends in collections and write-offs, current customer status, the age of the receivable, economic conditions and other information.  Aged receivables are reviewed on a monthly basis to determine if the reserve is adequate and adjusted accordingly at that time.  The evaluation of these factors involves complex, subjective judgments.  Thus, changes in these factors or changes in economic circumstances may significantly impact our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Inventory Reserves – We establish a reserve for inventories based on the change in inventory requirements due to product line changes, the feasibility of using obsolete parts for upgraded part substitutions, the required parts needed for part supply sales, replacement parts and for estimated shrinkage.

Warranty – A provision is made for estimated warranty costs at the time the product is shipped and revenue is recognized. The warranty period is:  the earlier of one year from the date of first use or 18 months from date of shipment for parts only; an additional four years on compressors (if applicable); 15 years on aluminized steel gas-fired heat exchangers (if applicable); 25 years on stainless steel heat exchangers (if applicable); and 10 years on gas-fired heat exchangers in RL products (if applicable).  With the introduction of the RQ product line in 2010, our warranty policy for the RQ series was implemented to cover parts for two years from date of unit shipment and labor for one year from date of unit shipment.  Warranty expense is estimated based on the warranty period, historical warranty trends and associated costs, and any known identifiable warranty issue.   Warranty charges associated with heat exchangers do not occur frequently.

18

 
Due to the absence of warranty history on new products, an additional provision may be made for such products.  Our estimated future warranty cost is subject to adjustment from time to time depending on changes in actual warranty trends and cost experience.  Should actual claim rates differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated product warranty liability would be required.

Medical Insurance – A provision is made for medical costs associated with our Medical Employee Benefit Plan, which is primarily a self-funded plan. A provision is made for estimated medical costs based on historical claims paid and potential significant future claims. The plan is supplemented by employee contributions and an excess policy for claims over $125,000 each.

Stock Compensation – We account for equity-based compensation in accordance with FASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation.  Applying this standard to value equity-based compensation requires us to use significant judgment and to make estimates, particularly for the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model, such as stock price volatility and expected option lives, as well as for the expected option forfeiture rates.  We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments using the Black-Scholes valuation model to calculate the grant-date fair value of the award.  The compensation cost is recognized over the period of time during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which will be the vesting period.

Historically, actual results have been within management’s expectations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (“ASU 2010-06”), which requires reporting entities to provide information about movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy.  Separate disclosures need to be made of the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements along with a description of the reason for the transfers.  Also, disclosure of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements needs to be made on a gross basis rather than as one net number.  ASU 2010-06 also requires: (1) fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities, and (2) disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements, which are required for fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3.  The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the Level 3 activity disclosures, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.  Adoption of ASU 2010-06 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09,Topic 855, Subsequent Events (“ASU 2010-09”), which discontinues the requirement that entities disclose the date through which they have evaluated subsequent events.  ASU 2010-09 is effective upon issuance.  We adopted ASU 2010-09 for reporting in the fourth quarter of 2009.  Adoption of ASU 2010-09 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “will”, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.  We undertake no obligations to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (1) the timing and extent of changes in raw material and component prices, (2) the effects of fluctuations in the commercial/industrial new construction market, (3) the timing and extent of changes in interest rates, as well as other competitive factors during the year, and (4) general economic, market or business conditions.

19

 
Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to interest rate risk on our revolving credit facility, which bears variable interest based upon the greater of a rate of 4.0% or LIBOR plus 2.5%.  We had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2010.

Commodity Price Risk

We entered into a financial derivative instrument in the third quarter of 2009 with a large financial institution to mitigate our exposure to volatility in copper prices. We did not incur losses due to counterparty non-performance.  We do not use financial derivatives for speculative purposes.

Fluctuations in copper commodity prices impacted the value of the financial derivative we held.  The financial derivative contract began settling monthly in January 2010 and concluded in December 2010.  The contract was for a total of 2,250,000 pounds of copper at $2.383 per pound. In March 2010, we locked in the settlement price of $3.3975 per pound for the remainder of 2010.  Prior to locking in the settlement price, we would have been subject to gains which we would have recorded as a financial derivative asset if the forward copper commodity prices increased and losses which we would have recorded as a financial derivative liability if they decreased.  We were in an unrealized gain position on the financial derivative asset during 2009 and 2010.  We settled the derivative December 2010.

We used COMEX index pricing to support our fair value calculation, which is a Level 2 input per the valuation hierarchy as the pricing is for instruments similar but not identical to the contract we settled.   We did not designate the financial derivative as a cash flow hedge.  We recorded changes in the financial derivative’s fair value in earnings based on mark-to-market accounting.  For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded approximately $14,000 to cost of sales from the unrealized gain on our financial derivative asset at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The principal components of cost of goods sold are labor, raw materials, component costs, factory overhead, freight out and engineering expense.  The principal high volume raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are steel, copper and aluminum, which are obtained from domestic suppliers. The raw materials market was volatile during 2010 and 2009 due to the economic environment. We have included a three-year comparison to show fluctuations in raw materials costs.  Prices have decreased by approximately 34% for steel and increased by approximately 155% for aluminum and 211% for copper from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2010.  During 2010, we entered into an aluminum contract for 2011 purchases that was slightly above the average index price as of December 31, 2010.  As market prices for aluminum have shown increases since January 1, 2011, our contract price more closely approximates market value in 2011.

We are subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes that the ultimate liability from these claims and actions, if any, will not have a material effect on our results of operations or financial position.

In addition to the financial derivative instrument described above, we attempt to limit the impact of price fluctuations on these materials by entering into cancelable and noncancelable fixed price contracts with our major suppliers for periods of 6 - 18 months.  We expect to receive delivery of raw materials from our fixed price contracts for use in our manufacturing operations.  These contracts are not accounted for as financial derivative instruments since they meet the normal purchases and sales exemption.
 
20

 
We do not utilize financial derivative financial instruments to hedge our interest rate risk.  We occasionally use financial derivatives to economically hedge our commodity price risk.
 
Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The financial statements and supplementary data are included commencing at page 33.

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.


21

 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures.

(a)      Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

At the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer believe that:

·    
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed at a reasonable assurance threshold to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; and

·    
Our disclosure controls and procedures operate at a reasonable assurance threshold such that important information flows to appropriate collection and disclosure points in a timely manner and are effective to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, and made known to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, particularly during the period when this Annual Report was prepared, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure.

AAON's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and concluded that these controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010.

(b)      Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of AAON, Inc. and our subsidiaries is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

In making our assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2010, our internal control over financial reporting is effective at the reasonable assurance level based on those criteria.

Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:  March 10, 2011 /s/ Norman H. Asbjornson
  Norman H. Asbjornson
  Chief Executive Officer
   
   
  /s/ Kathy I. Sheffield
  Kathy I. Sheffield
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
22

 
(c)   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Stockholders
AAON, Inc.

We have audited AAON, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation) and subsidiaries’, collectively, the “Company”, internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of AAON, Inc. and subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and our report dated March 10, 2011, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma
March 10, 2011

 
23

 
(d)           Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.  Other Information.

None.
 

 
24

 
PART III
 
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

The information required by Items 401, 405, 406 and 407(c)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Code of Ethics

We adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions, as well as other employees and directors.  Our code of ethics can be found on our website at www.aaon.com. We will also provide any person without charge, upon request, a copy of such code of ethics.  Requests may be directed to AAON, Inc., 2425 South Yukon Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74107, attention Kathy I. Sheffield, or by calling (918) 382-6204.

Item 11.
Executive Compensation.

The information required by Items 402 and 407(e)(4) and (e)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by Item 403 and Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

Transactions with Related Persons

Our Code of Conduct guides the Board of Directors in its actions and deliberations with respect to related party transactions.  Under the Code, conflicts of interest, including any involving the directors or any Named Officers, are prohibited except under any guidelines approved by the Board of Directors.  Only the Board of Directors may waive a provision of the Code of Conduct for a director or a Named Officer, and only then in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.  We did not enter into any new related party transactions and have no preexisting related party transactions in 2010, 2009 or 2008.

Director Independence

The Board of Directors (“Board”) has adopted director independence standards that meet and/or exceed listing standards set by NASDAQ.  NASDAQ has set forth six applicable tests and requires that a director who fails any of the tests be deemed not independent.  In 2010, the Board affirmatively determined, considering the standards described more fully below, that Messrs. Short, Lackey, McElroy, Levine and Cappy are independent.  As a result of his position as our President, Mr. Asbjornson does not qualify as independent under the standards set forth below.  The Board has determined that Mr. Johnson should not be deemed independent, because he is a member of the law firm that serves as our General Counsel. In addition, each member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee is independent.

25

 
Our director independence standards are as follows:

It is the policy of the Board that a majority of the members of the Board consist of directors independent of the Company and of our management.  For a director to be deemed “independent,” the Board shall affirmatively determine that the director has no material relationship with us or our affiliates or any member of the senior management or his or her affiliates.  In making this determination, the Board applies, at a minimum and in addition to any other standards for independence established under applicable statutes and regulations as outlined by the NASDAQ listing standards Rule 4200, the following standards, which it may amend or supplement from time to time:
 
§  
A director who is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Company, or whose immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years a Named Officer, cannot be deemed independent. Employment as an interim Chairman or Chief Executive Officer will not disqualify a director from being considered independent following that employment.
 
§  
A director who has received, or who has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from us, other than director and committee fees and benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), cannot be deemed independent. Compensation received by a director for former service as an interim Chairman or Chief Executive Officer and compensation received by an immediate family member for service as one of our non-executive employees will not be considered in determining independence under this test.
 
§  
A director who (A) is, or whose immediate family member is, a current partner of a firm that is our external auditor; (B) is a current employee of such a firm; or (C) was, or whose immediate family member was, within the last three years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on our audit within that time cannot be deemed independent.
 
§  
A director who is, or whose immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of our present Named Officers at the time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee cannot be deemed independent.
 
§  
A director who is a current employee or general partner, or whose immediate family member is a current executive officer or general partner, of an entity that has made payments to, or received payments from us for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $200,000 or 5% of such other entity’s consolidated gross revenues, other than payments arising solely from investments in our securities or payments under non-discretionary charitable contribution matching programs, cannot be deemed independent.
 
For purposes of the independence standards set forth above, the terms:
 
“affiliate” means any of our consolidated subsidiaries and any other company or entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with us;
   
“executive officer” means an “officer” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
   
  “immediate family” means spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, brothers- and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than employees) sharing a person’s home, but excluding any person who is no longer an immediate family member as a result of legal separation or divorce, death or incapacitation.
 
The Board undertakes an annual review of the independence of all non-employee directors. In advance of the meeting at which this review occurs, each non-employee director is asked to provide the Board with full information regarding the director’s business and other relationships with us and our affiliates and with senior management and their affiliates to enable the Board to evaluate the director’s independence.
 
26

 
Directors have an affirmative obligation to inform the Board of any material changes in their circumstances or relationships that may impact their designation by the Board as “independent.” This obligation includes all business relationships between, on the one hand Directors or members of their immediate family, and, on the other hand, us and our affiliates or members of senior management and their affiliates, whether or not such business relationships are subject to any other approval requirements.
 
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27

 
PART IV
 
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
 
  (a) Financial statements.
      See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 32.
         
  (b) Exhibits:  
         
    (3)  (A) Articles of Incorporation (i)
      (A-1) Article Amendments (ii)
      (B)  Bylaws (i)
      (B-1) Amendments of Bylaws (iii)
         
    (4) (A) Third Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement and related documents (iv)
         
      (A-1) Sixth Amendment to Third Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (v)
         
      (B) Rights Agreement dated February 19, 1999, as amended (vi)
         
    (10.1)   AAON, Inc. 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended (vii)
         
    (10.2)   AAON, Inc. 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (viii)
         
    (21)   List of Subsidiaries (ix)
         
    (23)   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
         
    (31.1)   Certification of CEO
         
    (31.2)   Certification of CFO
         
    (32.1)   Section 1350 Certification – CEO
         
    (32.2)   Section 1350 Certification – CFO
     
__________
 
         
    (i)   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to our Form S-18 Registration Statement No. 33-18336-LA.
         
    (ii)  
Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990, and to our Forms 8-K dated March 21, 1994, March 10, 1997, and March 17, 2000.
         
    (iii)   Incorporated herein by reference to our Forms 8-K dated March 10, 1997, May 27, 1998 and February 25, 1999, or exhibits thereto.
         
    (iv)   Incorporated by reference to exhibit to our Form 8-K dated July 30, 2004.
         
    (v)   Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit to our Form 8-K dated August 3, 2010
         
    (vi)   Incorporated by reference to exhibits to our Forms 8-K dated February 25, 1999, and August 20, 2002, and Form 8-A Registration Statement No. 000-18953, as amended.
 
28

 
 
    (vii)   Incorporated herein by reference to exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1991, and to our Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-78520, as amended.
         
    (viii)   Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed April 23, 2007.
         
     (ix)    Incorporated herein by reference to exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
 
29

 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 
  AAON, INC.
     
Dated:  March 10, 2011 By:   /s/ Norman H. Asbjornson
     Norman H. Asbjornson, President
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ Norman H. Asbjornson 
 
 Norman H. Asbjornson
President and Director
(principal executive officer)
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ Kathy I. Sheffield
 
Kathy I. Sheffield
Vice President and Treasurer
(principal financial officer
and principal accounting officer)
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ John B. Johnson, Jr.
  John B. Johnson, Jr.
Director
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ Jack E. Short
  Jack E. Short
Director
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ Paul K. Lackey, Jr.
 
Paul K. Lackey, Jr.
Director
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ A.H. McElroy II 
 
A.H. McElroy II
Director
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ Jerry R. Levine
 
Jerry R. Levine
Director
   
Dated:  March 10, 2011  /s/ Joseph E. Cappy
 
Joseph E. Cappy
Director
 
 
30

 
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
  Page
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 32
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets  33
   
Consolidated Statements of Income 34
   
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income 35
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
36
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  37
 

31

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Board of Directors and Stockholders
AAON, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AAON, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation) and subsidiaries’ (collectively referred to as the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AAON, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), AAON, Inc. and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 10, 2011, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.


/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
March 10, 2011

32

 
AAON, Inc., and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
   
December 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
   
(in thousands except share and per share data)
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,393     $ 25,639  
Certificates of deposit
    1,503       -  
Investments held to maturity at amortized cost
    9,520       -  
Accounts receivable, net
    39,901       33,381  
Note receivable, current
    26       -  
Inventories, net
    33,602       28,788  
Prepaid expenses and other
    656       1,087  
Financial derivative asset
    -       2,200  
Assets held for sale, net
    -       1,522  
Deferred tax assets
    4,147       3,623  
Total current assets
    91,748       96,240  
Property, plant and equipment:
               
Land
    1,328       1,328  
Buildings
    45,482       41,697  
Machinery and equipment
    100,559       90,213  
Furniture and fixtures
    6,356       7,225  
Total property, plant and equipment
    153,725       140,463  
Less:  Accumulated depreciation
    86,307       80,567  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    67,418       59,896  
Note receivable, long-term
    1,111       75  
Total assets
  $ 160,277     $ 156,211  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
    -       76  
Accounts payable
    15,046       8,524  
Dividends payable
    -       3,100  
Accrued liabilities
    21,200       19,186  
Total current liabilities
    36,246       30,886  
Deferred tax liabilities
    7,292       7,326  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 7,500,000 shares authorized,
    no shares issued
    -       -  
Common stock, $.004 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized,
    16,505,653 and 17,214,979 issued and outstanding at December
    31, 2010 and 2009, respectively
      68         71  
Additional paid-in capital
    -       644  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    -       1,077  
Retained earnings
    116,671       116,207  
Total stockholders’ equity
    116,739       117,999  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 160,277     $ 156,211  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
33

 
AAON, Inc., and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income

   
Years Ending December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                   
Net sales
  $ 244,552     $ 245,282     $ 279,725  
                         
Cost of sales
    189,364       177,737       212,549  
                         
Gross profit
    55,188       67,545       67,176  
                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    22,473       23,791       23,788  
                         
Income from operations
    32,715       43,754       43,388  
                         
Interest expense
    (45 )     (9 )     (71 )
                         
Interest income
    258       71       27  
                         
Other income (expense), net
    (235 )     76       724  
                         
Income before income taxes
    32,693       43,892       44,068  
                         
Income tax provision
    10,799       16,171       15,479  
                         
Net income
  $ 21,894     $ 27,721     $ 28,589  
                         
Earnings per share:
                       
Basic
  $ 1.30     $ 1.61     $ 1.63  
Diluted
  $ 1.30     $ 1.60     $ 1.60  
                         
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.36     $ 0.36     $ 0.32  
                         
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                       
Basic
    16,799       17,187       17,560  
Diluted
    16,893       17,309       17,855  
                         

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

34

 
AAON, Inc., and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income
 
                             
Accumulated
                 
                             
Other
                 
     
Common Stock
     
Paid-in
     
Comprehensive
     
Retained
         
     
Shares
     
Amount
     
Capital
     
Income
     
Earnings
     
Total
 
      (in thousands)  
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    18,054 *     73 *           1,942       93,405       95,420  
Comprehensive income:
                                               
Net income
                            28,589       28,589  
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
                      (1,164 )           (1,164 )
Total comprehensive income
                                            27,425  
Stock options exercised and restricted stock awards vested, including tax benefits
    366       2       3,307                   3,309  
Share-based compensation
                750                   750  
Stock repurchased and retired
    (1,211 )     (4 )     (3,519 )           (21,238 )     (24,761
Dividends
                            (5,621 )     (5,621
Balance at December 31, 2008
    17,209       71       538       778       95,135       96,522  
Comprehensive income:
                                               
Net income
                            27,721       27,721  
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
                      299             299  
Total comprehensive income
                                            28,020  
Stock options exercised and restricted stock awards vested, including tax benefits
    170       1       1,938                   1,939  
Share-based compensation
                848                   848  
Stock repurchased and retired
    (164 )     (1 )     (2,680 )           (448 )     (3,129
Dividends
                            (6,201 )     (6,201
Balance at December 31, 2009
    17,215       71       644       1,077       116,207       117,999  
Comprehensive income:
                                               
Net income
                            21,894       21,894  
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
                      (1,077 )     1,155       78  
Total comprehensive income
                                            21,972  
Stock options exercised and restricted stock awards vested, including tax benefits
    113             1,524                   1,524  
Share-based compensation
                791                   791  
Stock repurchased and retired
    (822 )     (3 )     (2,959 )           (16,518 )     (19,480
Dividends
                            (6,067 )     (6,067
Balance at December 31, 2010
    16,506     $ 68     $ 0     $ 0     $ 116,671     $ 116,739  

* Reflects 3-for-2 stock split effective August 21, 2007
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements
 
35

 
AAON, Inc., and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Operating Activities
                 
Net income
  $ 21,894     $ 27,721     $ 28,589  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation
    9,886       9,061       9,412  
Amortization of bond premiums
    379       -       -  
Provision for losses on accounts receivable, net of adjustments
    (117 )     10       547  
Provision for excess and obsolete inventories
    -       410       -  
Share-based compensation
    791       848       750  
Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised and restricted stock awards vested
    (356 )     (703 )     (1,613 )
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets
    (73 )     (59 )     (27 )
Unrealized gain on financial derivative asset
    (14 )     (2,200 )     -  
Deferred income taxes
    (558 )     3,531       160  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (6,403     5,495       (905
Inventories
    (4,814 )     7,243       (4,779 )
Prepaid expenses and other
    431       (660 )     13  
Financial derivative asset
    2,214       -       -  
Accounts payable
    6,522       (6,334 )     449  
Accrued liabilities
    2,370       842       851  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    32,152       45,205       33,447  
                         
Investing Activities
                       
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    136       135       17  
Investment in certificates of deposit
    (2,745 )     -       -  
Maturities of certificates of deposit
    1,242       -       -  
Investments held to maturity
    (12,018 )     -       -  
Maturities of investments
    2,119       -       -  
Proceeds from assets held for sale
    460       -       -  
Capital expenditures
    (17,470 )     (9,774 )     (9,610 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (28,276 )     (9,639 )     (9,593 )
                         
Financing Activities
                       
Borrowings under revolving credit facility
    20,839       9,972       46,865  
Payments under revolving credit facility
    (20,839 )     (12,873 )     (43,964 )
Borrowings (payments) of long-term debt
    (76 )     (136 )     (118 )
Stock options exercised
    1,168       1,236       1,696  
Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised and restricted stock awards vested
    356       703       1,613  
Repurchase of stock
    (19,480 )     (3,129 )     (24,761 )
Cash dividends paid to stockholders
    (9,168 )     (5,874 )     (5,791 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (27,200 )     (10,101 )     (24,460 )
                         
Effects of exchange rate on cash
    78       (95 )     (4 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (23,246 )     25,370       (610 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    25,639       269       879  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 2,393     $ 25,639     $ 269  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
36

 
AAON, Inc., and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010

1.  Business, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Financial Data

AAON, Inc. is a Nevada corporation which was incorporated on August 18, 1987.  Our operating subsidiaries include AAON, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation and AAON Coil Products, Inc., a Texas corporation. The Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries.  Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report to “AAON,” the “Company”, “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” refer to AAON, Inc., and our subsidiaries.

We are engaged in the manufacture and sale of air conditioning and heating equipment consisting of rooftop units, chillers, air-handling units, make-up air units, heat recovery units, condensing units and coils. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenues from sales of products when the products are shipped and the title and risk of ownership pass to the customer.  Final sales prices are fixed based on purchase orders.  Sales allowances and customer incentives are treated as reductions to sales and are provided for based on historical experiences and current estimates.  Our policy is to record the collection and payment of sales taxes through a liability account.

We present revenues net of certain payments to our independent manufacturer representatives (“Representatives”).  Representatives are national companies that are in the business of providing HVAC units and other related products and services to customers.  The end user customer orders a bundled group of products and services from the Representative and expects the Representative to fulfill the order.  Only after the specifications are agreed to by the Representative and the customer, and the decision is made to use an AAON HVAC unit, will we receive notice of the order.  We establish the amount we must receive for our HVAC unit (“minimum sales price”), but do not control the total order price which is negotiated by the Representative with the end user customer.

We are responsible for billings and collections resulting from all sales transactions, including those initiated by our Representatives.  The Representatives submit the total order price to us for invoicing and collection.  The total order price includes our minimum sales price and an additional amount which may include both the Representatives’ fee and amounts due for additional products and services required by the customer.  These additional products and services may include controls purchased from another manufacturer to operate the unit, start-up services, and curbs for supporting the unit (“Third Party Products”).  All are associated with the purchase of a HVAC unit but may be provided by the Representative or another third party.  The Company is under no obligation related to Third Party Products.
 
The Representatives do not provide us with a break-out of the amount of the total order price over the minimum sales price which includes the Representatives’ fee and Third Party Product amounts (“Due to Representatives”).  The Due to Representatives amount is paid only after all amounts associated with the order are collected from the customer.  The amount of payments to our Representatives was $51.4 million, $58.0 million and $55.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Because these estimates and assumptions require significant judgment, future actual results could differ from those estimates and could have a significant impact on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.  We reevaluate our estimates and assumptions on a monthly basis. The most significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, warranty accrual, medical insurance accrual, share-based compensation and the fair value of the derivative.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

37

 
Concentrations

Our customers are concentrated primarily in the domestic commercial and industrial new construction and replacement markets.  To date, our sales have been primarily to the domestic market, with foreign sales accounting for approximately 5% of revenues in 2010.  No customer accounted for 10% of our sales during 2010, 2009 or 2008 or more than 5% of our accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2010, 2009 or 2008.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank deposits and highly liquid, interest-bearing money market funds with initial maturities of three months or less.

Certificates of Deposit

We have $1.5 million of current assets in certificates of deposit as of December 31, 2010 with various maturities of less than one year. The certificates of deposit bear interest ranging from 0.5% to 4.3% per annum.  We did not invest in any certificates of deposit in 2009 or 2008. 

Investments Held to Maturity

Our investments held to maturity include $9.5 million of current assets in corporate notes and bonds with maturities of less than one year.  The investments have moderate risk with S&P ratings ranging from AA+ to BBB-.  We did not invest in any investments held to maturity in 2009 or 2008. 

The following summarizes the amortized cost and estimated fair value of our investments held to maturity:

   
Amortized 
Cost(1)
   
Gross Unrealized Gain
   
Gross Unrealized Loss
   
Fair
Value
 
   
(in thousands)
 
                         
Current Assets:
                       
Investments held to maturity
  $ 9,520     $ -     $ -     $ 9,520  
Total
  $ 9,520     $ -     $ -     $ 9,520  

(1) We evaluate for other-than-temporary impairments on a quarterly basis.

Accounts Receivable

We grant credit to our customers and perform ongoing credit evaluations.  We generally do not require collateral or charge interest.  We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, economic and market conditions and the age of the receivable.  Accounts are considered past due when the balance has been outstanding for greater than ninety days.  Past due accounts are generally written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts only after all collection attempts have been exhausted.  There are no concentrations of credit risk.

38

 
Accounts receivable and the related allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Accounts receivable
  $ 40,501     $ 34,157  
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (600 )     (776 )
Total, net
  $ 39,901     $ 33,381  

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
                 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 776     $ 795     $ 407  
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    617       629       674  
Adjustments to provision
    (734 )     (630 )     (127 )
Accounts receivable written off, net of  recoveries
    (59 )     (18 )     (159 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 600     $ 776     $ 795  

Note Receivable

In September 2010, we sold our Canadian facility (see Note 11, Canadian Facility) and assumed a note receivable from one borrower secured by the property.  The $1.1 million, fifteen-year note receivable is based on a 4.0% interest rate with a $0.6 million balloon payment due in October 2025.  The note calls for monthly combined interest and principal payments beginning in October 2010.  Interest payments are recognized in interest income.

We evaluate for impairment on a quarterly basis.  We determine the note receivable to be impaired if we are uncertain of the collectability of the note based on the contractual terms.  The loan is secured through right of return on the property.  The loan was current as of December 31, 2010.  The note receivable is not considered impaired and no impairment was recorded at December 31, 2010. There are no concentrations of credit risk.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method.  We establish an allowance for excess and obsolete inventories based on product line changes, the feasibility of substituting parts and the need for supply and replacement parts.

39

 
Inventory balances at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related changes in the allowance for excess and obsolete inventories for the three years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, are as follows:

   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Raw materials
  $ 28,560     $ 26,581  
Work in process
    3,334       1,835  
Finished goods
    2,058       1,132  
      33,952       29,548  
Less:  Allowance for excess and obsolete inventories
    (350 )     (760 )
Total, net
  $ 33,602     $ 28,788  

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Allowance for excess and obsolete inventories:
                 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 760     $ 350     $ 350  
Provision for excess and obsolete inventories
    800       1,849       800  
Adjustments to reserve
    (800 )     (1,439 )     (800 )
Inventories written off
    (410 )     -       -  
Balance, end of period
  $ 350     $ 760     $ 350  


Financial derivative

We entered into a financial derivative instrument in the third quarter of 2009 with a large financial institution to mitigate our exposure to volatility in copper prices.  We monitored our financial derivative and the credit worthiness of the financial institution.  We did not incur losses due to counterparty non-performance.  We do not use derivatives for speculative purposes.

The financial derivative contract began settling monthly in January 2010 and concluded in December 2010.  The contract was for a total of 2,250,000 pounds of copper at $2.383 per pound. In March 2010, we locked in the settlement price of $3.3975 per pound for the remainder of 2010.  Prior to locking in the settlement price, we would have been subject to gains which we would have recorded as a financial derivative asset if the forward copper commodity prices increased and losses which we would have recorded as a financial derivative liability if they decreased.  We were in an unrealized gain position on the financial derivative asset during 2009 and 2010.

We settled the derivative at December 31, 2010 and recognized the following derivative assets at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the year ended December 31, 2009:

Type of Contract
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
     
(in thousands)
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
 
     Commodity futures contract
Derivative assets
  $ 2,200  
Total Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
  $ 2,200  
 
We used COMEX index pricing to support our fair value calculation, which is a Level 2 input per the valuation hierarchy as the pricing is for instruments similar but not identical to the contract we settled.   We did not designate the financial derivative as a cash flow hedge.  We recorded changes in the financial derivative’s fair value in earnings based on mark-to-market accounting.  We recorded adjustments of $14,000 and $2.2 million ($1.4 million after tax) to cost of sales from the unrealized gain on derivative assets at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended 2010 and 2009 respectively. 
 
40

 
We recorded the following unrealized gain on our financial derivative asset in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively:

Type of Contract
Income Statement Location
 
Amount
 
     
(in thousands)
 
Financial derivative not designated as hedging instruments:
 
     Commodity futures contract
Cost of sales
  $ 14  
Total financial derivative not designated as hedging instruments
  $ 14  



Type of Contract
Income Statement Location
 
Amount
 
     
(in thousands)
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
 
     Commodity futures contract
Cost of sales
  $ 2,200  
Total Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
  $ 2,200  

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost.  Maintenance and repairs, including replacement of minor items, are charged to expense as incurred; major additions to physical properties are capitalized.  Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment is recorded primarily to cost of sales with an immaterial amount recorded to selling, general, and administrative expenses using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Description
Years
   
Buildings
10-40
Machinery and equipment
  3-15
Furniture and fixtures
    2-5

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate, in management’s judgment, that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.  When an indicator of impairment has occurred, management’s estimate of undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets is compared to the carrying value of the assets to determine whether impairment has occurred.  If an impairment of the carrying value has occurred, the amount of the impairment recognized in the financial statements is determined by estimating the fair value of the assets and recording a loss for the amount that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value.  Management determined no impairment was required during 2010, 2009 or 2008.

Commitments and Contractual Agreements

We are a party to several short-term, cancelable and noncancelable, fixed price contracts with major suppliers for the purchase of raw material and component parts. We expect to receive delivery of raw materials for use in our manufacturing operations.  These contracts are not accounted for as derivative instruments because they meet the normal purchases and sales exemption.

In the normal course of business we expect to purchase 1.4 million pounds of aluminum in the form of legally binding commitments at $1.138 per pound or $1.6 million.

41

 
Accrued Liabilities

At December 31, accrued liabilities were comprised of the following:

   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Warranty
  $ 7,300     $ 7,200  
Due to Representatives1
    9,668       7,975  
Payroll
    2,398       1,633  
Workers’ compensation
    855       591  
Medical self-insurance
    734       1,410  
Employee benefits and other
    245       377  
Total
  $ 21,200     $ 19,186  

1Due to Representatives was previously described as Commissions. We will use the term Due to Representatives going forward to better represent the true nature of these items, which is the excess of the total order price over the minimum sales price, which includes both the Representatives’ fee and Third Party Products.

Warranties

A provision is made for estimated warranty costs at the time the related products are sold based upon the warranty period, historical trends, new products and any known identifiable warranty issues.  Warranty expense was $4.5 million, $4.8 million and $4.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Changes in the warranty accrual during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
(in thousands)
               
Balance, beginning of the year
  $ 7,200     $ 6,589     $ 6,308  
Payments made
    (4,405 )     (4,211 )     (3,608 )
Warranties issued
    3,987       4,822       3,889  
Adjustments related to changes in estimates
    518       -       -  
Balance, end of period
  $ 7,300     $ 7,200     $ 6,589  

In 2010, the provision for warranties was increased due to the introduction of the RQ product line and the implementation of extended warranty provisions for the RQ series.

42

 
Earnings Per Share

Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share assumes the conversion of all potentially dilutive securities and is calculated by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus all potentially dilutive securities. Dilutive common shares consist primarily of stock options and restricted stock awards.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

   
Years Ended,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands except share and per share data)
 
Numerator:
                 
 
Net income
  $ 21,894     $ 27,721     $ 28,589  
                         
Denominator:
                       
 
Denominator for basic earnings per share –
   Weighted average shares
    16,798,777       17,186,930       17,560,295  
Effect of dilutive stock options
    94,151       122,038       294,568  
Denominator for diluted earnings per share –
    Weighted average shares
    16,892,928       17,308,968       17,854,863  
                         
Earnings per share
                       
        Basic
  $ 1.30     $ 1.61     $ 1.63  
        Diluted
  $ 1.30     $ 1.60     $ 1.60  
                         
Anti-dilutive shares
    81,000       226,950       308,250  
Weighted average exercise price
  $ 22.84     $ 15.64     $ 16.63  

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.  Advertising expense was approximately $877,000, $761,000 and $635,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.  Research and development expense was $3.6 million, $3.1 million and $2.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Shipping and Handling

We incur shipping and handling costs in the distribution of products sold that are recorded in cost of sales.  Shipping charges that are billed to the customer are recorded in revenues.

43

 
Profit Sharing Bonus Plan

We maintain a discretionary profit sharing bonus plan under which 10% of pre-tax profit at each subsidiary is paid to eligible employees on a quarterly basis in order to reward employee productivity.  Eligible employees are regular full-time employees who are actively employed and working on the first day of the calendar quarter and remain continuously, actively employed and working on the last day of the quarter and who work at least 80% of the quarter. Profit sharing expense was $3.8 million, $4.8 million and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Defined Contribution Plan - 401(k)
 
We sponsor a defined contribution benefit plan (“the Plan”). Eligible employees may make contributions in accordance with the Plan and IRS guidelines. In addition to the traditional 401(k), effective July 2010, eligible employees were given the option of making an after-tax contribution to a Roth 401(k) or a combination of both. Effective May 30, 2005, the Plan was amended to provide for automatic enrollment and provided for an automatic increase to the deferral percentage at January 1st of each year and each year thereafter, unless the employee elects to decline the automatic increase and enrollment. Beginning with pay periods after May 30, 2005, the one year enrollment waiting period was waived.  Administrative expenses we paid for the plan were approximately $97,000, $81,000 and $93,000 for the years ended 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

After January 1, 2007, our matching increased to 50% of the employee’s salary deferral up to the first 9% of compensation.  From January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, we matched 50% of the employee’s salary deferral up to the first 7% of compensation.  We contribute in the form of cash and direct the investment to shares of AAON stock.  Employees are 100% vested in salary deferral contributions and vest 20% per year at the end of years two through six of employment in employer matching contributions.  We made matching contributions of $1.7 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements

We follow the provisions of FASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures related to financial assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis.  Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market at the measurement date (exit price). We are required to classify fair value measurements in one of the following categories:

Level 1 inputs which are defined as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs which are defined as inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 inputs are defined as unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities.

Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

Financial Derivative Fair Value Measurements

Our financial derivative asset consisted of a forward purchase contract that was measured at fair value using the quoted prices in the COMEX commodity markets which is the lowest level of input significant to measurement.  The measurement is based on pricing for instruments similar but not identical to the contract we settled.  These prices were based upon regularly traded commodities on COMEX. The financial derivative contract began settling monthly in January 2010 and ending in December 2010.  The contract was for a total of 2,250,000 pounds of copper at $2.383 per pound.  We locked in the settlement price of $3.3975 per pound.  We settled the derivative in December 2010.
 
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We used COMEX index pricing to support our fair value calculation, which is a Level 2 input per the valuation hierarchy as the pricing is for instruments similar but not identical to the contract we settled.   We did not designate the financial derivative as a cash flow hedge.  We recorded changes in the financial derivative’s fair value in earnings based on mark-to-market accounting.  For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded approximately $14,000 to cost of sales from the unrealized gain on our financial derivative asset at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following table presents the fair value of our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
Level 1
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
Level 2
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
Level 3
   
Total