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 November 30, 2009
 
o
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 000-5131

ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
42-0920725
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5556 Highway 9
Armstrong, Iowa 50514
(Address of principal executive offices)

(712) 864-3131
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:

Common stock $.01 par value
 
NASDAQ Capital Market
(Title of each class)
 
(Name of each exchange on which registered)

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

None

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.      o   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.    

Yes   x      No   o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes  o   No  o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.   o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer   o
Accelerated filer   o
Non-accelerated filer   o
Smaller reporting company x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes   o     No   x

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. $13,073,748

As of February 11, 2010, there were 3,990,352 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement for the registrant’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed within 120 days of November 30, 2009, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (Check one):     o   Yes  x   No

 
 

 

Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K

   
Page
     
Item 1.
BUSINESS
3
Item 2.
PROPERTIES
9
Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
9
Item 4.
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
9
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
9
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
10
Item 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
16
Item 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
33
Item 9A(T).
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
33
Item 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
34
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
34
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
34
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
34
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
34
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
34
Item 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
35
 
 
2

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements in this report may contain forward-looking statements that reflect our current view on future events, future business, industry and other conditions, our future performance, and our plans and expectations for future operations and actions.  In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “future,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “predict,” “hope,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.  Our forward-looking statements in this report relate to the following: our intent to focus our Modular Building segment’s product offerings on research facilities in primary market sectors; our expectations regarding fluctuations in backlogs; our beliefs regarding competitive factors and our competitive strengths; our expectations regarding sales, future production levels and demand; our beliefs about the importance of intellectual property; our predictions regarding the impact of seasonality; our beliefs regarding the impact of the farming industry on our business; our expectation that continued participation of Miller Pro dealers will foster product recognition and acceptance; anticipated improvements to our facilities; our cash position and ability to obtain or renew financing; and our intentions for paying dividends. Many of these forward-looking statements are located in this report under “Item 1. BUSINESS;” “Item 2. “PROPERTIES” and “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” but they may appear in other sections as well.

You should read this report thoroughly with the understanding that our actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including events beyond our control and assumptions that prove to be inaccurate or unfounded.  We cannot provide any assurance with respect to our future performance or results.  Our actual results or actions could and likely will differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the reasons described in this report. These factors include, but are not limited to: economic conditions that affect demand for our products; our ability to maintain compliance with our loan covenants, renew our line of credit and retain sufficient cash during the economic downturn; the ability of our suppliers to meet our demands for raw materials and component parts; fluctuations in the price of raw materials, especially steel; our ability to predict and meet the demands of each market in which our segments operate; our ability to predict and respond to any seasonal fluctuations in demand; the existence and outcome of product liability claims; changes in environmental, health and safety regulations and employment laws; our ability to retain our principal executive officer; the cost of complying with laws, regulations, and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related regulations implemented by the SEC, and the demand such compliance places on management’s time; and loan covenant restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. We do not intend to update the forward-looking statements contained in this report. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We caution you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. You should read this report and the documents that we reference in this report and have filed as exhibits completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

PART I

Item 1.  BUSINESS.

General

Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company”), began operations as a farm equipment manufacturer in 1956.  Since that time, we have become a major worldwide manufacturer of agricultural equipment.  Our principal manufacturing plant is located in Armstrong, Iowa.

We have organized our business into three operating segments. Management separately evaluates the financial results of each segment because each is a strategic business unit offering different products and requiring different technology and marketing strategies.  Art’s-Way Manufacturing manufactures farm equipment under our own and private labels.  Art’s-Way Manufacturing has two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries.  Art’s-Way Vessels manufactures pressure vessels and Art’s-Way Scientific manufactures modular buildings for various uses, commonly animal containment and research laboratories. For detailed financial information relating to segment reporting, see Note 14 to our financial statements in Item 8 of this report.

 
3

 

 
Business of Our Segments

Business of Art’s-Way Manufacturing

Art’s-Way Manufacturing (our “Agricultural Products” segment), which accounted for 79.6% of our net revenue in the 2009 fiscal year, manufactures a variety of specialized farm machinery under our own label, including: portable and stationary animal feed processing equipment and related attachments used to mill and mix feed grains into custom animal feed rations; a high bulk mixing wagon to mix animal feeds containing silage, hay and grain; a line of portable grain augers; a line of stalk shredders; sugar beet harvesting equipment; and a line of land maintenance equipment, moldboard plows and grain drill equipment.  We sell our labeled products through independent farm equipment dealers throughout the United States.  In addition, we manufacture and supply hay blowers under an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Case New Holland (CNH).  Sales under our OEM agreement with CNH accounted for 8.0% of our consolidated sales for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.

In September 2007, we purchased certain assets of Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc., specifically portions of its Miller Pro and Badger lines of agricultural products, to further strengthen the product offerings of our Agricultural Products segment. These product lines are hay and forage lines, and our purchase generally included all distribution agreements, dealership agreements, customer lists, inventories, tooling and other proprietary rights to these product lines. Under the purchase agreement, Miller-St. Nazianz also granted us a license to use the Badger product line trademark in connection with the sale and production of the Badger product line which consists of forage boxes, forage blowers, running gears, dump boxes and options for any of those products. We also purchased the entire Miller Pro product line except for pole-type sprayers marketed under the Miller Pro brand and products manufactured by Ziegler.  The Miller Pro product line consists of forage boxes, receiver boxes, running gears and tires, forage blowers, dump boxes, rotary rakes, finger-wheel rakes, Miller produced hay-mergers and all “Hay Buddy” equipment and options for any of those products.  In addition to purchasing rights to certain trade names and goodwill relating to those names, we purchased the Hay Buddy trademark, the Miller Pro trademark and a patent related to the hay merger.

We moved the production of the lines to our main manufacturing facility in Armstrong, Iowa, as the purchased lines were incorporated into our existing Art’s-Way Manufacturing business.

Miller-St. Nazianz and its President, John Miller, agreed to sign non-compete agreements in consideration for the purchase of the product lines.  For a period of five years after the closing, Miller-St. Nazianz and Mr. Miller agreed not to compete with the products or activities of the purchased assets.

Business of Art’s-Way Vessels

Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. (our “Pressurized Vessels” segment), which accounted for 3.1% of our net revenue in the 2009 fiscal year, is an Iowa corporation with its principal place of business located in Dubuque, Iowa.  Art’s-Way Vessels produces and sells pressurized vessels, both American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code and non-code. Art’s-Way Vessels provides a combination of services as a manufacturer and supplier of steel vessels and steel containment systems. We build in carbon steel and stainless steel, ranging from atmospheric (0 PSI) storage vessels up to any PSI pressure rating required.  We provide vessels ranging in size from 4 inches to 168 inches in diameter and in various lengths as our customers require. The vessels are primarily sold to manufacturing facilities that will use the vessel as a component part of their end product.  We primarily serve the following industries: water treatment; air receivers; refineries; co-generation; chemical; petrochemical; storage tanks; agriculture; marine; refrigeration; hydro pneumatic; heavy equipment; pharmaceuticals and mining.  In addition to our role as a fabricator of vessels, we provide services including:  custom CAD drawing; welding; interior linings and exterior finishing; passivation of stainless steel; hydrostatic and pneumatic testing; design, build and finishing of skids; installation of piping; non-destructive examination and heat treating.

Business of Art’s-Way Scientific

Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. (our “Modular Buildings” segment), which accounted for 17.3% of our net revenue in the 2009 fiscal year, is an Iowa corporation with its principal place of business in Monona, Iowa. Art’s-Way Scientific produces and sells modular buildings, which are custom designed to meet the research needs of our customers. Buildings commonly produced range from basic swine buildings to complex containment research laboratories. In 2010, we plan to focus on providing research facilities for academic research institutions, government research and diagnostic centers, public health institutions and private research and pharmaceutical companies, as those are our primary market sectors.  Art’s-Way Scientific provides services from start to finish by designing, manufacturing, delivering and installing our building units.

 
4

 

 
Our Principal Products

Art’s-Way Manufacturing

From its beginnings as a producer of portable grinder mixers, our Agricultural Products segment has grown through developing several new products and with our acquisition of portions of the Miller Pro and Badger Product lines of Miller-St. Nazianz in 2007.  Today, our Agricultural Products segment manufactures an array of feed processing, hay and forage, tillage and land management and sugar beet harvesting equipment.  Our Agricultural Products segment also maintains a high volume of OEM work for the industry’s leading manufacturers.  Brand names include Art’s-Way, Miller Pro, and Badger.

Grinder mixer line.   The grinder mixer line represents our original product line.  Our founder, Arthur Luscombe, designed the original PTO powered grinder-mixer prior to the company’s inception.  Grinder mixers are used to grind grain and mix in proteins for animal feed.  They have several agricultural applications, and are commonly used in livestock operations.  Our grinder mixers have wide swing radiuses to allow users to reposition the discharge tube from one side of the tank to the other in one step.  Our PM25 grinder mixer offers a 105-bushel tank with a 20-inch hammermill, and it was recently upgraded to our new 5105 grinder mixer model.  Our 5165 grinder mixer is the largest in the industry, with a 165-bushel tank and a 26-inch hammermill. Our Cattle Maxx rollermill mixer products offer consistent feed grain rations for beef and dairy operations and are available in 105-bushel and 165-bushel capacities.

Stationary feed grain processing line.   We offer stationary hammermills and rollermills.  Harvesting leaves various amounts of extraneous materials that must be removed through processing the seeds.  Hammermills are aggressive pre-cleaners that are designed to remove appendages, awns and other chaff from seeds by vigorously scraping the seed over and through the screen.  The screen has holes that are big enough to let the seed pass through undamaged, but are small enough to catch and remove the appendages.  Our rollermills roll the feed grain to minimize dust, and they fracture the outside hull to release the digestive juices more rapidly.  Rolling feed provides more palatable and digestible feed for use in animal feeding operations.

Crop Production line. Our no-till drills are farm implements designed to plant seed and spread fertilizer in one operation and are generally used by farmers to plant or improve their pastures.  Art’s-Way shredders assure maximum crop shredding and destroy insect habitats. The shredded crop material allows for faster decomposition and restores nutrients to the soil more quickly while providing ground cover to reduce wind and water erosion.

Land management line. Land planes are used to ensure even distribution of rainfall or irrigation by eliminating water pockets, furrows and implement scars in fields.  Our land planes have a patented Art’s-Way floating hitch design.  Our moldboard plows are designed to slice and invert the soil to leave a rough surface exposed, and they are primarily used on clean-tilled cropland with high amounts of crop residue.  We offer pull-type graders to help our customers perform many tasks such as maintaining terraces and waterways, leveling ground, cleaning ditches and removing snow.  The pull-type graders follow close to the back of a tractor for leveling uneven areas or for turning in smaller spaces.

Moldboard Plow line.   The Art’s-Way moldboard plows offer conservation tillage choices to match each customer’s preference.  The moldboard plow delivers all the advantages recognized over the years.

Sugar beet harvesting line.   Our sugar beet defoliators and harvesters are innovative products in the industry due to our focus on continuous improvement, both in reaction to customer requests and in anticipation of our customers’ needs.  Our machines can harvest six, eight, or twelve rows at one time, and we were the first manufacturer to introduce a larger, 12-row harvester.  We have obtained patents on certain components of our sugar beet harvesting line.  Our sugar beet defoliators cut and remove the leaves of the sugar beets without damaging them, and the leaf particles are then incorporated back into the soil.

Hay and forage line.   We offer highly productive hay and forage tools for the full range of producers.  This product line includes high capacity forage boxes for transporting hay from the field with optional running gear to provide superior stability and tracking.  High velocity, high volume forage blowers are able to fill the tallest silos with lower power requirements.  Cam action rotary rakes and power mergers will gently lift the crop, carry it to the windrow and release it, saving more leaves and forming a faster drying, fluffier windrow.  High performance V-style and carted finger wheel rakes offer growers value and include such features as large capacity and high clearance with ease of adjustment and operation.

 
5

 
 
Augers line.   We established a portable grain auger manufacturing plant in Salem, South Dakota in December 2009.  Models are available painted white or hot dipped galvanized. Rolling Hopper Augers are constructed from 12 gauge tube and ¼” flighting. These augers feature an internal drive with externally mounted gear boxes for proper venting and easier maintenance. Driveline augers are also available with either power take-off unit (PTO) or electric drive. These heavy-duty augers have a reversible gear box which permits PTO operation from either side.

Art’s-Way Vessels

We build vessels in carbon steel and stainless steel, ranging from atmospheric (0 PSI) storage vessels up to any PSI pressure rating required.  Sizes range from 4” to 168” diameter and larger and to any length of vessel the customer requires.

Art’s-Way Scientific

We supply laboratories for bio-containment, animal science, public health, and security requirements. We custom design, manufacture, deliver, and install laboratories and research facilities to meet customers’ critical requirements

Product Distribution and Markets

We distribute goods for our Agricultural Products segment primarily through a network of approximately 1,850 U.S. and Canadian independent dealers whose customers require specialized agricultural machinery. We have sales representation in 47 states and seven Canadian provinces; however, many dealers sell only service parts for our products.  Our dealers sell our products to various agricultural and commercial customers.  We also maintain a local sales force in our Armstrong, Iowa facility to provide oversight services for our distribution network, communicate with end users, and recruit and train dealers on the uses of our products.  Our local service parts staff is available to help customers and dealers with their service parts needs. Our vessel and modular building divisions traditionally sell products customized to the end-users’ requirements directly to the end-users.

We began exporting new agricultural products during the latter part of 2006, and we currently export products to six foreign countries. We have been shipping grinder mixers abroad since 2006, and have recently begun exporting portable rollermills as well. At the Agritechnica 2009 and Eurotier 2008 exhibitions in Germany, we met with prospective European distributors.  We look forward to strengthening these relationships and developing new international markets as well.

Backlog.   Our backlogs of orders vary on a daily basis.  As of February 12, 2010, Art’s-Way Vessels had $416,000 of backlog, Art’s-Way Scientific had approximately $4,522,000 backlog and Art’s-Way Manufacturing had a backlog of $12,498,000.  Because we expect that our order backlogs will continue to fluctuate as orders are received, filled, or cancelled, and due to dealer discount arrangements we may enter into from time to time, these figures are not necessarily indicative of future revenue.

Recent Product Developments

During 2009, developments in our Agricultural Products segment consisted of a line of portable roller mills for domestic and export markets, a material carrying scraper to expand the product line of land management equipment, and enhancements of the sugar beet harvesting equipment to increase efficiencies in the manufacturing process.  We also introduced a comprehensive offering of top drive and rolling hopper portable augers.

Our Pressurized Vessels and Modular Buildings segments fill orders based on customer specifications, so we did not engage in significant product developments for these segments during 2009.

Competition

Competition.   Our Agricultural Products segment competes in a highly competitive agricultural equipment industry. We compete with larger manufacturers and suppliers that have broader product offerings and significant resources at their disposal; however, we believe that our competitive strengths allow us to compete effectively in our market.

 
6

 

 
Management believes that grain and livestock producers, as well as those who provide services to grain and livestock operations, are the primary purchasers of agricultural equipment. Many factors influence a buyer’s choice for agricultural equipment. Any one or all factors may be determinative, but they include brand loyalty, the relationship with our dealers, product quality and performance, product innovation, product availability, parts and warranty programs, price and customer service. While our larger competitors may have resources greater than ours, we believe we compete effectively in the farm equipment industry by serving smaller markets in specific product areas rather than directly competing with larger competitors across an extensive range of products.

We expect continued competition from Art’s-Way Scientific’s existing competitors as well as competition from new entrants into the modular building market. To some extent, we believe barriers to entry in the modular building industry limit the competition we face in the industry. Barriers to entry in the market consist primarily of access to capital, access to a qualified labor pool, and the bidding process that accompanies many jobs in the health and education markets. Despite these barriers, manufacturers who have a skilled work force and adequate production facilities could adapt their manufacturing facilities to produce modular structures.

Competition in the pressurized vessel industry is intense.  We believe that Art’s-Way Vessels competes effectively by being responsive to its customers’ specifications and by offering quality tanks at competitive prices.

Competitive Strengths.   We believe that our competitive strengths include competitive pricing, product quality and performance, a network of worldwide and domestic distributors and our strong market share for many of our products. In addition, we believe our Company has a diversified revenue base. Our Pressurized Vessels and Modular Buildings segments provide the Company with diversified revenues rather than solely relying on the agricultural machinery sector. We are also diversified on the basis of our sales presence and customer base.

Art’s-Way Manufacturing caters to niche markets in the agricultural industry. We do not have a direct competitor that has the same product offerings that we do; instead, each of our product lines for Art’s-Way Manufacturing competes with similar products of many other manufacturers.  Some of our product lines face greater competition than others, but we believe that our products are competitively priced with greater diversity than most competitor product lines. Other companies produce feed processing equipment, sugar beet harvesting and defoliating equipment, grinders, shredders and other products similar to ours; therefore, we focus on providing the best product available at a reasonable price. Overall, we believe our products are competitively priced with above average quality and performance, in a market where price, product performance and quality are principal elements.

In order to capitalize on brand recognition for our Agricultural Products segment, we have numerous product lines produced under our label and private labels, and have made strategic acquisitions to strengthen our dealer base.  In addition, we provide aftermarket service parts which are available to keep our branded and OEM-produced equipment operating to the satisfaction of the customer.  Art’s-Way Manufacturing sells products to customers in the United States and six foreign countries through a network of approximately 1,850 independent dealers in the United States and Canada, as well as overseas dealers in the United Kingdom and Australia.

We believe the main competitive strength of our Pressurized Vessels segment is our ability to provide products and services under one entity.  Often, the services provided by Art’s-Way Vessels are handled by two or more of our competing suppliers. We have the ability to fabricate pressurized vessels to our customers’ specifications, and we also provide a variety of services before and after installation.  Our high quality products and services save our customers time in an industry where time and quality are of utmost importance.

We believe the competitive strength of our Modular Buildings segment is our ability to design and produce high-tech modular buildings in a fraction of the time of conventional design/build firms.  Conventional design/build construction may take two to five years, while our modular laboratories can be delivered in as little as six months.  As one of the few companies in the industry to supply turnkey modular buildings and laboratories, we believe we provide high quality buildings at reasonable prices that meet our customers’ time, flexibility and security expectations.

Raw Materials, Principal Suppliers and Customers

Raw materials for Art’s-Way Manufacturing, Art’s-Way Vessels and Art’s-Way Scientific are acquired from domestic and foreign sources and normally are readily available.  Currently, we purchase the lifter wheels used to manufacture our sugar beet harvesters from a supplier located in China. We also purchase rake tines and gearboxes from a supplier in Italy.  However, there are domestic sources for these materials available.

 
7

 

 
We have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier agreement with Case New Holland (CNH) for our Agricultural Products segment. Under the OEM agreement, we have agreed to supply CNH’s requirements for certain feed processing and service parts, primarily blowers, under CNH’s label.  The agreement has no minimum requirements and can be cancelled upon certain conditions.  The agreement with CNH ran through September 2006, but the agreement continues in force until terminated or cancelled. We have not terminated or cancelled the agreement as of November 30, 2009. For the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, sales under the CNH label aggregated approximately 8.0% and 5.4% of consolidated sales, respectively.

In our modular building segment we regularly partner with construction companies to provide excavation and other services that are required for project completion.  Over the last two years, we have partnered with Lockard Construction on various projects..  Our sales to Lockard Construction were 1.3% of consolidated sales in 2009 and 16.9% of consolidated sales in 2008. We believe that competitively priced, high quality alternative partners are available should the need arise.

Intellectual Property

We maintain manufacturing rights on several products, including those purchased from Miller-St. Nazianz in 2007, which cover unique aspects of design. We also have trademarks covering product identification.  We believe our trademarks and licenses help us to retain existing business and secure new relationships with customers.  We currently have no pending applications for intellectual property rights.

We pay royalties for our use of certain manufacturing rights. Under our OEM and royalty agreement with CNH, CNH sold us the license to manufacture, sell and distribute certain plow products designed by CNH and their replacement and component parts.  We pay semi-annual royalty payments based on the invoiced price of each licensed product and service part we sell.

Research and Development Activities

Art’s-Way Manufacturing is continually engaged in research and development activities to improve and enhance our existing products.  We perform research and development activities internally, and the cost of our research and development activities is not borne by our customers.  Our research and development expenses are cyclical; they may be high in one year, but would tend to be lower the next, with an increase in production expenses as our new ideas are manufactured.  Research and development expenses during our 2009 fiscal year accounted for $212,000 of our overall engineering expenses. For more information please see “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.”

Art’s-Way Vessels produces custom tanks and vessels that are manufactured in accordance with specifications provided by our customers. Similarly, Art’s-Way Scientific designs modular buildings in accordance with customer specifications.  Art’s-Way Vessels and Art’s-Way Scientific did not incur any research and development costs in 2009.
 
Government Relationships and Regulations; Environmental Compliance

Art’s-Way Scientific must design, manufacture and install its modular buildings in accordance with state building codes, and the company has been able to achieve the code standards in all instances.  In addition, we are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to environmental protection and the discharge of materials into the environment. During our 2009 fiscal year, we expended $13,177 on environmental compliance, which is consistent with our expenditures in prior years.

Employees

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, we employed 113 employees at Art’s-Way Manufacturing, five of whom were employed on a part-time basis.  For the same period, we had twelve full-time employees at Art’s-Way Vessels.  In addition Art’s-Way Scientific employed 24 employees, one of whom worked on a part-time basis.  Employee levels fluctuate based upon the seasonality of the product line, and the numbers provided above do not necessarily represent our peak employment during our 2009 fiscal year.  See “Item 2. PROPERTIES.”
 
 
8

 

 
Item 2.  PROPERTIES.
 
Our executive offices, production and warehousing facilities are located in Armstrong, Iowa.  These facilities were constructed after 1965 and remain in good condition.  The facilities in Armstrong contain approximately 249,000 square feet of usable space, which includes a 9,200 square foot addition built in fiscal 2009. During fiscal year 2008, we installed approximately 40,100 square feet of raised steel roofing at a cost of $300,000.  We plan to complete the reroofing project over the next several years.  In addition, we own approximately 127 acres of land west of Armstrong, on which the factory and inventory storage space is situated. We currently lease excess land to third parties for farming.
 
We currently lease a small manufacturing facility on a month-to-month basis in Salem, South Dakota.
 
We completed construction on a new facility for Art’s-Way Vessels as of February 2008.  The facility is 34,450 square feet, steel-framed, with a crane that runs the length of the building.  A paint booth and a blast booth were installed in the first quarter of 2009. The new facility gives us capacity to hire additional employees and increase production.  We expect that production levels will increase in the future, at which point the size of our new facility will give us a competitive advantage.
 
We completed construction in November 2007 of our facility in Monona, Iowa, which houses the manufacturing for Art’s-Way Scientific. The previous facility was completely destroyed by fire in January 2007.  The facility was custom-designed to meet our production needs. It has approximately 50,000 square feet and accommodates a sprinkler system and crane.
 
All of our real property is subject to mortgages granted to West Bank as security for our long-term debt.  See “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – Capital Resources and Credit Facilities” for more information.

Item 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

From time to time in the ordinary course of business, we may be named as a defendant in legal proceedings related to various issues, including without limitation, workers’ compensation claims, tort claims, or contractual disputes.  We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings, directly or indirectly, and we are not aware of any claims pending or threatened against us or any of the directors that could result in the commencement of material legal proceedings.

Item 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS .

We did not submit any matter to a vote of our stockholders through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009.
 
PART II

Item 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES .

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market ® under the symbol “ARTW.”  The ranges of high and low sales prices for each quarter, as reported by NASDAQ, are shown below.
 
   
Common Stock High and Low Sales Prices Per Share by Quarter
 
   
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2009
   
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2008
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
 
First Quarter
  $ 5.00     $ 2.90     $ 19.875     $ 7.75  
Second Quarter
  $ 6.35     $ 3.06     $ 12.50     $ 8.435  
Third Quarter
  $ 6.27     $ 3.95     $ 19.52     $ 9.00  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 5.40     $ 3.42     $ 13.88     $ 2.919  
 
9

 
Stockholders

We have one class of $0.01 par value common stock.  As of November 30, 2009, we had approximately 103 stockholders of record.  As of February 12, 2010, we have approximately 102 stockholders of record.

Stock Split

On July 9, 2008, we declared a two-for-one stock split.  Each stockholder of record at the close of business on July 23, 2008 received one additional share for every outstanding share held on the record date, and trading began on a split-adjusted basis on July 30, 2008. All granted but unexercised stock options were also adjusted for the stock split.

Dividends

On November 2, 2009, we declared a dividend of $0.06 per share that was paid on November 30, 2009 to stockholders of record as of November 16, 2009.   We expect that the payment of and the amount of any future dividends will depend on our financial condition at that time, and we may have to request permission from our lender to declare dividends in the future.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

During our 2009 fiscal year, we issued the following unregistered equity securities pursuant to stock option exercises by one director under our 2007 Director Stock Option Plan:

Date of Issuance
 
Number of Shares
   
Price
 
5/21/2009
    2,000     $ 3.84  
5/21/2009
    2,000     $ 3.88  

The shares were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, since the issuances did not involve a public offering, the recipient took the shares for investment and not resale and the Company took appropriate measures to restrict transfer.

Equity Compensation Plans

For information on our equity compensation plans, refer to Item 12, “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.”

Item 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS .

This report contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties.  The following discussion, which focuses on our results of operations, contains forward-looking information and statements.  Actual events or results may differ materially from those indicated or anticipated, as discussed in the section entitled “Forward Looking Statements.”  The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should also be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes to financial statements contained in Item 8 of this report.

Financial Position

We believe that our consolidated balance sheet indicates a strong financial position.  During fiscal year 2009, we reduced our inventories dramatically, which increased our cash available by $3,244,489.  This additional cash available also helped us to reduce our current liabilities by $3.8 million.

The operations of our Art’s-Way Scientific subsidiary require us to include long-term construction contract disclosures to our consolidated balance sheet.  For purposes of our financial statement presentation, we estimate a percentage of revenue earned based on percentage of completion.  The outcome for 2009 is an asset representing our cost and profit in excess of billing, and a liability representing our billings in excess of cost and profit.
 
As discussed earlier in “Item 2. PROPERTIES,” our Monona, Iowa facility for Art’s-Way Scientific was completely destroyed by fire in January 2007.  We have recently negotiated a final settlement with our insurance company of $909,700, which was received in January 2010.
 
10

 
Critical Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report, which were prepared in accordance with GAAP. Critical accounting policies are those that we believe are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results and require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

We believe that the following discussion represents our more critical accounting policies and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, although it is not inclusive.

 Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, and cost is determined using the standard costing method.  Management monitors the carrying value of inventories using inventory control and review processes that include, but are not limited to, sales forecast review, inventory status reports, and inventory reduction programs.  We record inventory write downs to market based on expected usage information for raw materials and historical selling trends for finished goods. Additional write downs may be necessary if the assumptions made by management do not occur.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating losses. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is entirely dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when risk of ownership and title pass to the buyer, generally upon the shipment of the product. All sales are made to an authorized dealer that has submitted an application for dealer status, and was informed of general sales policies when approved. Any changes in Company terms are documented in the most recently published price lists. Pricing is fixed and determinable according to the Company’s published equipment and parts price lists. Title to all equipment and parts sold shall pass to the buyer upon delivery to the carrier and is not subject to a customer acceptance provision. Proof of the passing of title is documented by the signing of the delivery receipt by a representative of the carrier. Post shipment obligations are limited to any claim with respect to the condition of the equipment or parts. A provision for warranty expenses, based on sales volume, is included in the financial statements. Our returns policy allows for new and saleable parts to be returned, subject to inspection and a restocking charge which is included in net sales. Whole goods are not returnable. Shipping costs charged to customers are included in net sales.  Freight costs incurred are included in cost of goods sold.

In certain circumstances, upon the customer’s written request, we may recognize revenue when production is complete and the good is ready for shipment. At the buyer’s request, we will bill the buyer upon completing all performance obligations, but before shipment. The buyer dictates that we ship the goods per their direction from our manufacturing facility, as is customary with this type of agreement, in order to minimize shipping costs. The written agreement with the customer specifies that the goods will be delivered on a schedule to be determined by the customer, with a final specified delivery date, and that we will segregate the goods from our inventory, such that they are not available to fill other orders. This agreement also specifies that the buyer is required to purchase all goods manufactured under this agreement. Title of the goods will pass to the buyer when the goods are complete and ready for shipment, per the customer agreement. At the transfer of title, all risks of ownership have passed to the buyer, and the buyer agrees to maintain insurance on the manufactured items that have not yet been shipped.  We have operated using bill and hold agreements with certain customers for many years, with consistent satisfactory results for both buyer and seller. The credit terms on this agreement are consistent with the credit terms on all other sales.  All risks of loss are shouldered by the buyer, and there are no exceptions to the buyer’s commitment to accept and pay for these manufactured goods. Revenues recognized at the completion of production in 2009 and 2008 were $2,115,533 and $1,122,037, respectively.

 
11

 
 
Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. is in the construction industry, and as such accounts for long-term contracts on the percentage-of-completion method. Revenue and gross profit are recognized as work is performed based on the relationship between actual costs incurred and total estimated costs at completion. Contract losses are recognized when current estimates of total contract revenue and contract cost indicate a loss. Estimated contract costs include any and all costs appropriately allocable to the contract. The provision for these contact losses will be the excess of estimated contract costs over estimated contract revenues.

Costs and profit in excess of amounts billed are classified as current assets and billings in excess of cost and profit are classified as current liabilities.

Stock Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense reflects the fair value of stock-based awards measured at the grant date and recognized over the relevant vesting period.  We estimate the fair value of each stock-based award on the measurement date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model which incorporates assumptions as to stock price volatility, the expected life of the options, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2009 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2008

On a consolidated basis, our sales and gross profit decreased during our 2009 fiscal year.  Our consolidated net sales totaled $26,296,133 for the period ended November 30, 2009, which represents a 17.9% decrease from our consolidated net sales of $32,041,138 in 2008.  Our gross margin decreased by 32.5% between our 2008 and 2009 fiscal years, from $7,962,391 to $5,372,247, respectively.  Our consolidated expenses decreased by 10.2%, from $5,196,131 to $4,663,858. Because the majority of our corporate general and administrative expenses are borne by Art’s-Way Manufacturing, that entity represented $3, 398,405 of our total consolidated operating expenses, while Art’s-Way Vessels and Art’s-Way Scientific represented $436,275 and $829,178 of the total, respectively. Art’s-Way Manufacturing was responsible for $1,633,023 of our consolidated income from operations, while Art’s-Way Scientific and Art’s-Way Vessels had operating losses of $118,856 and $805,778, respectively.

Art’s-Way Manufacturing. Art’s-Way Manufacturing’s sales revenue in our 2009 fiscal year totaled $20,926,385 which represented a 0.6% decrease in revenues from our 2008 total of $21,045,124.  The decrease in sales for Art’s-Way Manufacturing was largely due to unfavorable economic conditions for the majority of fiscal 2009, which kept many farmers from making equipment purchases.   Gross margin for Art’s-Way Manufacturing decreased from 27.0% for 2008 to 24.0% for 2009. This decrease is due to several factors:  During fiscal 2008, rising steel prices affected the gross margins on a large portion of our product lines.  During 2009, we continued to use steel previously purchased at the higher 2008 prices, which affected gross margins during the first portion of the year.  Also, many of our dealers used floor plan financing to purchase products.  This program allows us to receive payment for sales immediately, but we pay interest on these sales for a fixed time period after the sale.  This increased our interest expense for sold goods by $149,000.  We also had higher warranty expenses during 2009.  These problems were due to faulty grab rolls on the 2008 beet harvesters, and problems with paint quality.  We have since purchased a new paint system to produce a better quality paint job.  Also, all grab rolls on 2008 beet harvesters have been replaced.  These factors negatively impacted our gross profit in fiscal 2009.

Art’s-Way Manufacturing also incurred other infrastructure expenses in 2009.  We continue to work on improving our use of our Enterprise Resource Planning system in the inventory transactions area.  We have spent additional time training key staff on the use of this system.  Also, we have increased our cycle counts dramatically, which reduced our labor efficiencies.

Total operating expenses in our 2009 fiscal year were $3,398,405 for Art’s-Way Manufacturing, representing approximately 16.2% of net sales and a 13.2% decrease from the prior year.  These decreases are due to the decrease of the bonus expenses, decreased recruiting efforts, and the reduction of administrative staff.  Finally, total income from operations for Art’s-Way Manufacturing decreased from $1,769,776 in our 2008 fiscal year to $1,633,023, representing a 7.7% decrease for our 2009 fiscal year.
 
12

 
Art’s-Way Vessels. Art’s-Way Vessels experienced a 147.8% increase in net sales for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, from $330,643 to $819,239.  Our vessels business suffered significant disruption to both manufacturing and sales due to having to leave a leased facility in October 2007 and move into a newly constructed wholly-owned facility that we believe will best serve our needs for the long term. While we have seen dramatic increases in sales, we anticipate even larger increases in fiscal 2010.  The increased sales volume at Art’s-Way Vessels allowed us to reduce our gross losses from $619,000 in 2008 to $370,000 in 2009. Even with higher sales, our low production levels are not sufficient to absorb our fixed overhead costs; consequently this segment still experiences negative gross margins.

Art’s-Way Scientific. Fiscal 2009 was a difficult year for Art’s-Way Scientific.  The economic downturn during late 2008 and 2009 not only slowed funding for new projects, but also delayed projects that were already planned.  Engineering delays on a project signed in January of 2009 stopped production for nearly 4 months as well.   Net sales decreased to $4,550,509 in 2009 from $10,665,371 in 2008.  Similarly, gross profit decreased to $710,322 from $2,897,873, a 75.5% decrease.  Operating expenses decreased from $840,645 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008 to $829,178 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.  Income from operations totaled $2,057,228 for the 2008 fiscal year, as compared to -$118,856 for the year ended November 30, 2009.  Art’s Way Scientific also contributed $909,700 of income under the caption “Other” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a result of the gains from insurance proceeds due to the fire in January 2007.

Trends and Uncertainties

We are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that may affect our short-term or long-term liquidity, sales revenues and operations.  Similar to other farm equipment manufacturers, we are affected by items unique to the farm industry, including fluctuations in farm income resulting from the change in commodity prices, crop damage caused by weather and insects, government farm programs, interest rate fluctuations, and other unpredictable variables. Management believes that our business is dependent on the farming industry for the bulk of our sales revenues.  As such, our business tends to reap the benefits of increases in farm net income, as farmers tend to purchase equipment in lucrative times and forgo purchases in less profitable years.  Direct government payments are declining and costs of agricultural production are increasing; therefore, we anticipate that further increases in the value of production will benefit our business, while any future decreases in the value of production will decrease farm net income and may harm our financial results.

As with other farm equipment manufacturers, we depend on our network of dealers to influence customers’ decisions, and dealer influence is often more persuasive than a manufacturer’s reputation or the price of the product.  Following our acquisition of the Miller Pro hay and forage product lines in September 2007, former Miller Pro dealers began selling our products, which management believes improves recognition and acceptance of our products.

The price of steel influences our cost of goods sold for Art’s-Way Manufacturing and Art’s-Way Vessels.  In 2008, we experienced challenges due to a sharp increase in the price of steel, which continued during the first portion of the 2009 fiscal year. We are no longer seeing negative effects due to the price of steel.

Seasonality

Sales of our agricultural products are seasonal; however, we have tried to decrease this impact of seasonality through the development of shredders and beet harvesting machinery coupled with private labeled products, as the peak periods for these different products occur at different times.

We believe that our pressurized vessel sales are not seasonal.  Our modular building sales are somewhat seasonal, and we believe that this is due to the budgeting and funding cycles of the universities that commonly purchase our modular buildings.  We believe that this cycle can be offset by building backlogs of inventory and through increased sales to other public and private sectors.
 
Liquidity

Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2009
 
Sources of liquidity during our 2009 fiscal year were due in large part to our reduction of inventories, and our decrease in outstanding accounts receivable.  See “Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – Capital Resources and Credit Facilities” for more information.   We had cash provided by operations of $1,547,696 for our 2009 fiscal year, largely due to the decrease in inventories by over $3,200,000.  Our largest use of cash during the year was to reduce accounts payable, which we decreased by nearly $3,000,000.
 
13

 
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2008

Sources of liquidity during our 2008 fiscal year were due in large part to additional proceeds from our construction loan and our revolving credit loan.  We had cash used by operations of $1,773,811 for our 2008 fiscal year.  Our accounts receivable increased from November 30, 2007 by $163,545 to $3,251,326 as of November 30, 2008, and our consolidated inventory increased by $6,536,121, to $15,172,723 as of November 30, 2008. This was partially due to the dramatic increases in the price of steel seen during 2008.  Nearly all of our inventory items at Art’s-Way Manufacturing and Art’s-Way Vessels are steel-based.  We also increased our purchasing due to the production of items associated with our newly acquired Miller Pro product line.  At November 30, 2008, our inventory of raw materials and finished goods for the Miller Pro product line was approximately $5,836,000.

Capital Resources and Credit Facilities

We have a revolving line of credit with West Bank (the “Line of Credit”).  On April 30, 2009, the Line of Credit was renewed in the amount of $4,500,000, which was a $1,000,000 increase over the amounts available on November 30, 2008, and the maturity date was extended through June 30, 2009.  On June 8, 2009, the Line of Credit was increased to $6,000,000 and the maturity date was extended to April 30, 2010. The Line of Credit is renewable annually with advances funding our working capital and letter of credit needs.  The interest rate is West Bank’s prime interest rate, adjusted daily, with a minimum rate of 4.00%.  As of November 30, 2009, the interest rate was the minimum of 4.0%. Monthly interest-only payments are required and the unpaid principal is due on the maturity date.  As of November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008, we had borrowed $2,438,892 and $2,581,775, respectively, against the Line of Credit.  The available amounts remaining on the Line of Credit were $3,561,108 and $918,225 on November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008, respectively.  The borrowing base limits advances from the Line of Credit to 60% of accounts receivable less than 90 days, plus 60% of finished goods inventory, plus 50% of raw material inventory and work-in-process inventory, as calculated at each month-end. Our obligations under the Line of Credit are evidenced by a Promissory Note dated June 8, 2009 and certain other ancillary documents.

On June 7, 2007, we obtained a term loan from West Bank in the amount of $4,100,000.  The loan was written to mature on May 1, 2017 and bore fixed interest at 7.25%.  On May 1, 2008, the terms of this loan were changed to modify the maturity date, interest rate, and payments.  The loan, with a principal amount of $3,457,625 as of November 30, 2009, will now mature on May 1, 2013 and bears fixed interest at 5.75%.  Monthly principal and interest payments in the amount of $42,500 are required, with a final payment of principal and accrued interest in the amount of $2,304,789 due on May 1, 2013.

We obtained two additional loans from West Bank in 2007 for the purpose of financing the construction of our new facilities in Monona, Iowa and Dubuque, Iowa.  On October 9, 2007, we obtained a loan for $1,330,000 that bore fixed interest at 7.0%.  On May 1, 2008, the terms of this loan were changed to modify the maturity date, interest rate and payments.  The current terms are a maturity date of May 1, 2013 and a fixed interest rate of 5.75%.  Monthly payments of $11,000 are required for principal and interest, with a final payment of accrued interest and principal in the amount of $1,007,294 due on May 1, 2013.  On November 30, 2009, the outstanding principal balance on this loan was $1,230,104.

On November 30, 2007, we obtained a construction loan to finance construction of the Dubuque, Iowa facility.  This loan had an original principal amount of $1,500,000 and bore fixed interest at 7.25%. On May 1, 2008, the terms of this loan were changed to modify the maturity date, interest rate, and payments.  The current terms are a maturity date of May 1, 2013 and a fixed interest rate of 5.75%.  Payments of $12,550 are due monthly for principal and interest, with a final accrued interest and principal payment in the amount of $1,114,714 due on May 1, 2013.  On November 30, 2009 the outstanding principal balance on this loan was $1,399,751.
 
Each of our loans from West Bank are governed by a Business Loan Agreement dated June 8, 2009 (the “Business Loan Agreement”), which requires us to comply with certain financial and reporting covenants. We must provide monthly internally prepared financial reports, including accounts receivable aging schedules and borrowing base and compliance certificates, and year-end audited financial statements.  We must maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio and a maximum debt to tangible net worth ratio of 1.5, and a minimum tangible net worth of $11,500,000, each as measured at our fiscal year-end. Further, we must obtain West Bank’s prior written consent for capital expenditures that exceed $500,000 annually. The loans are secured by a first position on our assets and those of our subsidiaries, including but not limited to, inventories, accounts receivable, machinery, equipment and real estate. We and our subsidiaries were required to execute Agreements to Provide Insurance that set forth the insurance requirements for the collateral.

 
14

 

If we or either of our subsidiaries (as guarantors) commits an event of default under the Business Loan Agreement and fail or are unable to cure that default, West Bank may cease advances and has the option of causing all outstanding indebtedness to become immediately due and payable. Events of default include, without limitation: (i) becoming insolvent or subject to bankruptcy proceedings; (ii) defaulting on any obligations to West Bank; (iii) defaulting on any obligations to third parties that would materially affect the ability to perform obligations owed to West Bank; (iv) suffering a material adverse change in financial condition or the value of any collateral; and (v) making false statements to West Bank.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants as measured on November 30, 2009.

On June 1, 2009, Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. received funds from two $95,000 promissory notes in connection with an agreement signed August 7, 2007 between Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and the Iowa Department of Economic Development.  The first $95,000 promissory note is a 0% interest loan requiring 60 monthly payments of $1,583.33, with a final payment due July 1, 2014.  The second $95,000 promissory note is a forgivable loan subject to certain contract obligations.  These obligations include maintaining our principal place of business in Iowa, complying with certain tax and insurance requirements, and creating 16 full-time positions and retaining 21 full-time positions in Iowa, which must be maintained for a two-year period. Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. has provided a guarantee in connection with these loans to Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc.

The following table represents our working capital and current ratio for the past two fiscal years:

   
Fiscal Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2009
   
November 30, 2008
 
Current Assets
  $ 16,726,088     $ 19,756,362  
Current Liabilities
    4,843,108       8,642,633  
Working Capital
  $ 11,882,980     $ 11,113,729  
                 
Current Ratio
    3.45       2.29  

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

 
15

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Armstrong, Iowa
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries as of November 30, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
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 the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, 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 Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries as of November 30, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
/s/ Eide Bailly LLP
 
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 22, 2010
 
16

 
ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
November 30, 2009 and 2008

   
2009
   
2008
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash
  $ 387,218     $ 103,450  
Accounts receivable-customers, net of allowance for doubtful
               
accounts of $194,185 and $177,434 in 2009 and 2008, respectively
    2,347,956       3,251,326  
Inventories, net
    11,928,234       15,172,723  
Deferred taxes
    882,000       780,000  
Cost and Profit in Excess of Billings
    141,778       250,330  
Income taxes receivable
    -       87,000  
Other current assets
    1,038,902       111,533  
Total current assets
    16,726,088       19,756,362  
Property, plant, and equipment, net
    6,638,661       6,855,042  
Covenant not to Compete
    180,000       240,000  
Goodwill
    375,000       375,000  
Total assets
  $ 23,919,749     $ 27,226,404  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Notes payable to bank
  $ 2,438,892     $ 2,581,775  
Current portion of term debt
    473,341       429,689  
Accounts payable
    439,127       3,425,885  
Checks issued in excess of deposits
    -       274,043  
Customer deposits
    249,278       75,980  
Billings in Excess of Cost and Profit
    28,884       531,736  
Accrued expenses
    791,381       1,323,525  
Income taxes payable
    422,205       -  
Total current liabilities
    4,843,108       8,642,633  
Long-term liabilities
               
Deferred taxes
    613,000       490,000  
Term debt, excluding current portion
    5,796,223       6,083,159  
Total liabilities
    11,252,331        15,215,792   
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock – $0.01 par value. Authorized 5,000,000 shares;
               
issued 3,990,352 and  3,986,352 shares in 2009 and 2008
    39,904       39,864  
Additional paid-in capital
    2,219,286       2,085,349  
Retained earnings
    10,408,228       9,885,399  
Total stockholders’ equity
    12,667,418       12,010,612  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 23,919,749     $ 27,226,404  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
17

 

ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008

   
2009
   
2008
 
Net sales
  $ 26,296,133     $ 32,041,138  
Cost of goods sold
    20,923,886       24,078,747  
Gross profit
    5,372,247        7,962,391   
Expenses:
               
Engineering
    358,132       323,265  
Selling
    1,629,330       1,735,936  
General and administrative
    2,676,396       3,136,930  
Total expenses
    4,663,858        5,196,131   
Income from operations
    708,389        2,766,260   
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense
    (508,145 )     (461,412 )
Other
    1,014,911       445,802  
Total other expense
    506,766        (15,610 )  
Income before income taxes
    1,215,155       2,750,649   
Income tax
    452,905       921,082  
Net income
  $ 762,250     $ 1,829,567  
Net income per share:
               
Basic
    0.19       0.46  
Diluted
    0.19       0.46  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
18

 

ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008

   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from operations:
           
Net income
  $ 762,250     $ 1,829,567  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
               
net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Stock based compensation
    118,537       198,452  
(Gain) Loss on disposition of property, plant, and equipment
    -       (418,269 )
Depreciation expense
    596,118       534,673  
Amortization expense
    60,000       60,000  
Bad debt expense
    134,543       -  
Deferred income taxes
    21,000       277,557  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Miller Pro acquisition in 2007:
               
(Increase) decrease in:
               
Accounts receivable
    768,827       (163,545 )
Inventories
    3,244,489       (6,536,121 )
Other current assets
    (927,369 )     48,465  
Income taxes receivable
    87,000       (87,000 )
Other, net
    -       9,771  
Increase (decrease) in:
               
Accounts payable
    (2,986,758 )     2,056,897  
Contracts in progress, net
    (394,300 )     539,346  
Customer deposits
    173,298       22,784  
Income taxes payable
    422,205       (146,905 )
Accrued expenses
    (532,144 )     517  
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities
    1,547,696       (1,773,811 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
    (379,737 )     (1,892,515 )
Proceeds from insurance recoveries
    -       666,591  
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment
    -       550  
Net cash (used in) investing activities
    (379,737 )     (1,225,374 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Net change in line of credit
    (142,883 )     2,183,916  
Net activity as a result of checks issued in excess of deposits
    (274,043 )     274,043  
Payments of notes payable to bank
    (433,284 )     (306,836 )
Proceeds from term debt
    190,000       500,000  
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    15,440       78,492  
Dividends paid to stockholders
    (239,421 )     (239,181 )
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
    (884,191 )     2,490,434  
Net increase/(decrease) in cash
    283,768       (508,751 )
Cash at beginning of period
    103,450       612,201  
Cash at end of period
  $ 387,218     $ 103,450  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid/(received) during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 512,314     $ 504,191  
Income taxes
    95,072       877,380  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing activities:
               
Proceeds from insurance recoveries
  $ -     $ 666,591  
Insurance recoveries receivable
    -       -  
Gain recognized in previous years
    -       (248,872 )
Gain on insurance recovery
  $ -     $ 417,719  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
19

 

ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008

   
Common stock
   
Additional
             
   
Number of
         
paid-in
   
Retained
       
   
shares
   
Par value
   
capital
   
earnings
   
Total
 
Balance, November 30, 2007
    1,984,176      $ 19,842     $ 1,828,427     $ 8,295,013     $ 10,143,282  
Additional shares available due to
                                       
two-for-one common stock split
    1,984,176        19,842        (19,842 )                
Exercise of stock options
    18,000        180        78,312              78,492   
Stock based compensation
                198,452              198,452   
Dividends paid, $0.06 per share
                      (239,181 )       (239,181 )  
Net income
                      1,829,567        1,829,567   
Balance, November 30, 2008
    3,986,352      $ 39,864     $ 2,085,349     $ 9,885,399     $ 12,010,612  
Exercise of stock options
    4,000        40        15,400              15,440   
Stock based compensation
                118,537              118,537   
Dividends paid, $0.06 per share
                      (239,421 )       (239,421 )  
Net income
                      762,250        762,250   
Balance, November 30, 2009
    3,990,352      $ 39,904     $ 2,219,286     $ 10,408,228     $ 12,667,418  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
20

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)
Nature of Business

Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. is primarily engaged in the fabrication and sale of metal products in the agricultural sector of the United States economy.  Major product offerings include animal feed processing equipment, hay and forage equipment, sugar beet harvesting equipment, land maintenance equipment and crop shredding equipment.  One part of the Company’s business is supplying hay blowers to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).  Another part of the Company’s business is after market service parts that are available to keep its branded and OEM produced equipment operating to the satisfaction of the end user of the Company’s products.

Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. is primarily engaged in the fabrication and sale of pressurized vessels and tanks.

Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. is primarily engaged in the construction of modular laboratories and animal housing facilities.

(b)
Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. and Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc.  Art’s-Way Vessels became active in October 2005 after purchasing certain assets of Vessel Systems, Inc., while Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. became active in August 2006 after purchasing certain assets of Tech Space, Inc.  All material inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

(c)
Cash Concentration

The Company maintains its cash balances in several different accounts in two different banks, and balances in these accounts are periodically in excess of federally insured limits.

(d)
Customer Concentration

 
One of the Company’s customers accounted for approximately 1.3% and 16.9% of consolidated revenues for the years ended November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008, respectively.

(e)
Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis.  Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying troubled accounts and by using historical experience applied to an aging of accounts.  Accounts receivable are written-off when deemed uncollectible.  Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written-off are recorded when received.  Accounts receivable are generally considered past due 60 days past invoice date, with the exception of international sales which primarily are sold with a letter of credit for 120 day terms.

(f)
Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, and cost is determined using the standard costing method.  Management monitors the carrying value of inventories using inventory control and review processes that include, but are not limited to, sales forecast review, inventory status reports, and inventory reduction programs.  The Company records inventory write downs to market based on expected usage information for raw materials and historical selling trends for finished goods.  Additional write downs may be necessary if the assumptions made by management do not occur.

 
21

 

 
(g)
Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided using the straight-line method, based on the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from three to forty years.

(h) 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Impairment

Goodwill represents costs in excess of the fair value of net tangible and identifiable net intangible assets acquired in business combinations. Art’s-Way performs an annual test for impairment of goodwill during the fourth quarter.  This test is performed by comparing, at the reporting unit level, the carrying value of the reporting unit to its fair value.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which is five years.  Estimated future amortization of intangible assets is $60,000 in each of the next 3 years.

 
(i)
Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating losses.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is entirely dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible.  Management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.

 
(j)
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when risk of ownership and title pass to the buyer, generally upon the shipment of the product.  All sales are made to an authorized dealer that has submitted an application for dealer status, and was informed of general sales policies when approved.   Any changes in Company terms are documented in the most recently published price lists.  Pricing is fixed and determinable according to the Company’s published equipment and parts price lists.  Title to all equipment and parts sold shall pass to the Buyer upon delivery to the carrier and is not subject to a customer acceptance provision.  Proof of the passing of title is documented by the signing of the delivery receipt by a representative of the carrier.   Post shipment obligations are limited to any claim with respect to the condition of the equipment or parts.  Applicable sales taxes imposed on our revenues are presented on a net basis on the consolidated statements of operations and therefore do not impact net revenues or cost of goods sold.  A provision for warranty expenses, based on sales volume, is included in the financial statements.  The Company returns policy allows for new and saleable parts to be returned, subject to inspection and a restocking charge which is included in net sales.  Whole goods are not returnable.    Shipping costs charged to customers are included in net sales.  Freight costs incurred are included in cost of goods sold.

In certain circumstances, upon the customer’s written request, we may recognize revenue when production is complete and the good is ready for shipment.  At the buyer’s request, we will bill the buyer upon completing all performance obligations, but before shipment.  The buyer dictates that we ship the goods per their direction from our manufacturing facility, as is customary with this type of agreement, in order to minimize shipping costs. The written agreement with the customer specifies that the goods will be delivered on a schedule to be determined by the customer, with a final specified delivery date, and that we will segregate the goods from our inventory, such that they are not available to fill other orders. This agreement also specifies that the buyer is required to purchase all goods manufactured under this agreement.  Title of the goods will pass to the buyer when the goods are complete and ready for shipment, per the customer agreement.  At the transfer of title, all risks of ownership have passed to the buyer, and the buyer agrees to maintain insurance on the manufactured items that have not yet been shipped.  We have operated using bill and hold agreements with certain customers for many years, with consistent satisfactory results for both buyer and seller.  The credit terms on this agreement are consistent with the credit terms on all other sales.  All risks of loss are shouldered by the buyer, and there are no exceptions to the buyer’s commitment to accept and pay for these manufactured goods.   Revenues recognized at the completion of production in 2009 and 2008 were $2,115,533 and $1,122,037, respectively.

 
22

 
 
Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. is in the construction industry, and as such accounts for long-term contracts on the percentage of completion method.   Revenue and gross profit are recognized as work is performed based on the relationship between actual costs incurred and total estimated costs at completion.  Contract losses are recognized when current estimates of total contract revenue and contract cost indicate a loss.  Estimated contract costs include any and all costs appropriately allocable to the contract.  The provision for these contract losses will be the excess of estimated contract costs over estimated contract revenues.

Costs and profit in excess of amounts billed are classified as current assets and billings in excess of cost and profit are classified as current liabilities.

 
 (k)
Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed when incurred.  Such costs approximated $212,000 and $207,000 for the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(l)
Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed when incurred.  Such costs approximated $224,000 and $210,000 for the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(m)
Income Per Share

Basic net income per common share has been computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share has been computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus equivalent shares assuming exercise of stock options.  Per share computations reflect the results of the two for one stock split that became effective July 30, 2008.

Basic and diluted earnings per common share have been computed based on the following as of November 30, 2009 and 2008:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Basic:
           
Numerator, net income
  $ 762,250     $ 1,829,567  
Denominator: Average number
               
of common shares
               
Outstanding
    3,988,478       3,973,816  
Basic earnings per
               
common share
  $ 0.19     $ 0.46  
Diluted
               
Numerator, net income
  $ 762,250     $ 1,829,567  
Denominator: Average number
               
of common shares outstanding
    3,988,478       3,973,816  
                 
Effect of dilutive stock options
    1,879       16,684  
      3,990,357       3,990,500  
Diluted earnings per
               
common share
  $ 0.19     $ 0.46  

 
23

 

(n)
Stock Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense reflects the fair value of stock-based awards measured at the grant date and recognized over the relevant vesting period.  We estimate the fair value of each stock-based award on the measurement date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model which incorporates assumptions as to stock price volatility, the expected life of the options, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield.

(o)
Use of Estimates

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reported amount of assets and liabilities, reported amount of revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  These estimates include the valuation of the Company’s accounts receivable, inventories and realizability of the deferred tax assets.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(p)
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a statement that defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements.  The statement does not require any new fair value measurements, but for some entities, the application of the statement will change current practice.  This statement was adopted by the Company without a material impact on the financial statements.

Business Combinations

In December 2007, the FASB issued standards on business combinations, which requires the Company to record fair value estimates of contingent consideration and certain other potential liabilities during the original purchase price allocation, expense acquisition costs as incurred and does not permit certain restructuring activities previously allowed to be recorded as a component of purchase accounting.  These standards apply prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.  The Company has not determined the effect that the adoption of these standards will have on the financial results of the Company.

Noncontrolling Interests

In December 2007, the FASB issued a standard which causes noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries to be included in the equity section of the balance sheet.  The standard applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.  The Company has not determined the effect that the adoptions of this standard will have on the financial results of the Company.

Accounting Standards Codification

I n June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the Codification.)  The Codification is the official single source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP in the United States. We adopted the Codification in the fourth quarter of 2009, which only impacted our disclosures.

 
24

 

(2)
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

A summary of the Company’s activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Balance, beginning
  $ 177,434     $ 148,636  
Provision charged to expense
    134,543       37,835  
Less amounts charged-off
    (117,792 )     (9,037 )
Balance, ending
  $ 194,185     $ 177,434  
 
(3)
Inventories

Major classes of inventory are:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Raw materials
  $ 9,209,873     $ 10,622,204  
Work in process
    258,621       825,330  
Finished goods
    4,060,163       5,667,449  
    $ 13,528,657     $ 17,114,983  
Less: Reserves
    (1,600,423 )     (1,942,260 )
    $ 11,928,234     $ 15,172,723  
 
(4)
Contracts in Progress

Amounts included in the consolidated financial statements related to uncompleted contracts are as follows:

   
Cost and Profit in
Excess of Billings
   
Billings in Excess of Costs
and Profit
 
November 30, 2009
           
Costs
  $ 1,479,846     $ 1,141,949  
Estimated earnings
    679,661       309,517  
      2,159,507       1,451,466  
Less:  amounts billed
    (2,017,729 )     (1,480,350 )
    $ 141,778     $ (28,884 )
                 
November 30, 2008
               
Costs
  $ 1,718,066     $ 6,068,582  
Estimated earnings
    468,486       2,435,550  
      2,186,552       8,504,132  
Less:  amounts billed
    (1,936,222 )     (9,035,867 )
    $ 250,330     $ (531,736 )

The amounts billed on these long term contracts are due 30 days from invoice date.  All amounts billed are expected to be collected within the next 12 months.  As of November 30, 2009, no retainages were receivable.

 
25

 

(5)
Property, Plant, and Equipment

Major classes of property, plant, and equipment are:
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Land
  $ 455,262     $ 455,262  
Buildings and improvements
    6,893,473       6,721,957  
Construction in Progress
    12,491       169,559  
Manufacturing machinery and equipment
    10,471,800       10,162,377  
Trucks and automobiles
    278,530       231,331  
Furniture and fixtures
    116,649       107,982  
      18,228,205       17,848,468  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (11,589,544 )     (10,993,426 )
Property, plant and equipment
  $ 6,638,661     $ 6,855,042  
 
Depreciation expense totaled $596,118 and $534,673 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(6)
Accrued Expenses

Major components of accrued expenses are:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Salaries, wages, and commissions
  $ 425,133     $ 780,293  
Accrued warranty expense
    96,370       327,413  
Other
    269,878       215,819  
    $ 791,381     $ 1,323,525  

(7)
Product Warranty

The Company offers warranties of various lengths to its customers depending on the specific product and terms of the customer purchase agreement.  The average length of the warranty period is 1 year from date of purchase.  The Company’s warranties require it to repair or replace defective products during the warranty period at no cost to the customer.  The Company records a liability for estimated costs that may be incurred under its warranties.  The costs are estimated based on historical experience and any specific warranty issues that have been identified.  Although historical warranty costs have been within expectations, there can be no assurance that future warranty costs will not exceed historical amounts.  The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability and adjusts the balance as necessary.

Changes in the Company’s product warranty liability for the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Balance, beginning
  $ 327,413     $ 262,665  
Settlements made in cash or in-kind
    (487,123 )     (275,158 )
Warranties issued
    256,080       339,906  
Balance, ending
  $ 96,370     $ 327,413  

(8)
Loan and Credit Agreements

The Company has a revolving line of credit with West Bank (the “Line of Credit”).  On April 30, 2009, the Line of Credit was renewed in the amount of $4,500,000, which was a $1,000,000 increase over the amounts available on November 30, 2008, and the maturity date was extended through June 30, 2009.  On June 8, 2009, the Line of Credit was increased to $6,000,000 and the maturity date was extended to April 30, 2010. The Line of Credit is renewable annually with advances funding the Company’s working capital and letter of credit needs.  The interest rate is West Bank’s prime interest rate, adjusted daily, with a minimum rate of 4.00%.  As of November 30, 2009, the interest rate was the minimum of 4.0%. Monthly interest-only payments are required and the unpaid principal is due on the maturity date.  As of November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008, the Company had borrowed $2,438,892 and $2,581,775, respectively, against the Line of Credit.  The available amounts remaining on the Line of Credit were $3,561,108 and $918,225 on November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008, respectively.  The borrowing base limits advances from the Line of Credit to 60% of accounts receivable less than 90 days, plus 60% of finished goods inventory, plus 50% of raw material inventory and work-in-process inventory, as calculated at each month-end.  The Company’s obligations under the Line of Credit are evidenced by a Promissory Note dated June 8, 2009 and certain other ancillary documents.

 
26

 

On June 7, 2007, the Company obtained a term loan from West Bank in the amount of $4,100,000.  The loan was written to mature on May 1, 2017 and bore fixed interest at 7.25%.  On May 1, 2008, the terms of this loan were changed to modify the maturity date, interest rate, and payments.  The loan, with a principal amount of $3,457,625 as of November 30, 2009, will now mature on May 1, 2013 and bears fixed interest at 5.75%.  Monthly principal and interest payments in the amount of $42,500 are required, with a final payment of principal and accrued interest in the amount of $2,304,789 due on May 1, 2013.

The Company obtained two additional loans from West Bank in 2007 for the purpose of financing the construction of the Company’s new facilities in Monona and Dubuque.  On October 9, 2007, the Company obtained a loan for $1,330,000 that bore fixed interest at 7.0%.  On May 1, 2008, the terms of this loan were changed to modify the maturity date, interest rate and payments.  The current terms are a maturity date of May 1, 2013 and a fixed interest rate of 5.75%.  Monthly payments of $11,000 are required for principal and interest, with a final payment of accrued interest and principal in the amount of $1,007,294 due on May 1, 2013.  On November 30, 2009, the outstanding principal balance on this loan was $1,230,104.

On November 30, 2007, the Company obtained a construction loan to finance construction of the Dubuque, Iowa facility.  This loan had an original principal amount of $1,500,000 and bore fixed interest at 7.25%. On May 1, 2008, the terms of this loan were changed to modify the maturity date, interest rate, and payments.  The current terms are a maturity date of May 1, 2013 and a fixed interest rate of 5.75%.  Payments of $12,550 are due monthly for principal and interest, with a final accrued interest and principal payment in the amount of $1,114,714 due on May 1, 2013.  On November 30, 2009 the outstanding principal balance on this loan was $1,399,751.

Each of the Company’s loans from West Bank are governed by a Business Loan Agreement dated June 8, 2009 (the “Business Loan Agreement”), which requires the Company to comply with certain financial and reporting covenants. The Company must provide monthly internally prepared financial reports, including accounts receivable aging schedules and borrowing base and compliance certificates, and year-end audited financial statements.  The Company must maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio and a maximum debt to tangible net worth ratio of 1.5, and a minimum tangible net worth of $11,500,000, each as measured at the Company’s fiscal year-end. Further, the Company must obtain West Bank’s prior written consent for capital expenditures that exceed $500,000 annually. The loans are secured by a first position on the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, including but not limited to, inventories, accounts receivable, machinery, equipment and real estate. The Company and its subsidiaries were required to execute Agreements to Provide Insurance that set forth the insurance requirements for the collateral.

If the Company or either of its subsidiaries (as guarantors) commits an event of default under the Business Loan Agreement and fails or is unable to cure that default, West Bank may cease advances and has the option of causing all outstanding indebtedness to become immediately due and payable. Events of default include, without limitation: (i) becoming insolvent or subject to bankruptcy proceedings; (ii) defaulting on any obligations to West Bank; (iii) defaulting on any obligations to third parties that would materially affect the ability to perform obligations owed to West Bank; (iv) suffering a material adverse change in financial condition or the value of any collateral; and (v) making false statements to West Bank.

The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as measured on November 30, 2009.

On June 1, 2009, Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. received funds from two $95,000 promissory notes in connection with an agreement signed August 7, 2007 between the Company and the Iowa Department of Economic Development.  The first $95,000 promissory note is a 0% interest loan requiring 60 monthly payments of $1,583.33, with a final payment due July 1, 2014.  The second $95,000 promissory note is a forgivable loan subject to certain contract obligations.  These obligations include maintaining our principal place of business in Iowa, complying with certain tax and insurance requirements, and creating 16 full-time positions and retaining 21 full-time positions in Iowa, which must be maintained for a two-year period. Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. has provided a guarantee in connection with these loans to Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc.

 
27

 

A summary of the Company’s term debt is as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
 
             
West Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $42,500 including interest at 5.75%, due May 1, 2013
  $ 3,457,625     $ 3,757,213  
                 
West Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $11,000 including interest at 5.75%, due May 1, 2013
    1,230,104       1,288,758  
                 
West Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $12,550 including interest at 5.75%, due May 1, 2013
    1,399,751       1,466,878  
                 
IDED loan payable in monthly installments of $1,583.33 including interest at 0%, due July 1, 2014
    87,084       0  
                 
IDED loan payable in monthly installments of $0 including interest at 0%, due July 1, 2014
    95,000       0  
                 
Total term debt
    6,269,564       6,512,849  
Less current portion of term debt
    (473,341 )     (429,689 )
Term debt, excluding current portion
  $ 5,796,223     $ 6,083,159  

A summary of the minimum maturities of term debt follows for the years ending November 30:

Year:
 
Amount
 
2010
  $ 473,341  
2011
    499,201  
2012
    527,613  
2013
    4,663,326  
2014
    106,083  
    $ 6,269,564  

(9)
Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) savings plan which covers substantially all full-time employees who meet eligibility requirements.  Participating employees may contribute as salary reductions any amount of their compensation up to the limit prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code.  The Company began making 25% matching contributions to employees contributing a minimum of 4% of their compensation, up to 1% of eligible compensation starting June 2005.  The Company recognized an expense of $23,886 and $32,348 related to this plan during the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(10)
Stock Option Plan

On November 30, 2009, the Company has two stock options plans, which are described below.  The compensation cost that has been charged against income for those plans was $170,009 and $280,710 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The total income tax benefit recognized in the income statement for share-based compensation arrangements was $51,472 and $82,258 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.  No compensation cost was capitalized as part of inventory or fixed assets.

 
28

 

On January 25, 2007 the Board of Directors adopted the 2007 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, which was also approved by the stockholders at the annual stockholders meeting on April 24, 2008.  This plan authorizes 200,000 shares to be issued.  Options will be granted to non-employee directors to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at a price not less than fair market value at the date the options are granted.  Non-employee directors are automatically granted options to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock annually or initially upon their election to the Board, which are automatically vested.  Options granted are nonqualified stock options and expire five years after the date of grant, if not exercised.  Shares received upon the exercise of options are previously authorized, but unissued shares.

On February 5, 2007 the Board of Directors adopted the 2007 Employee Stock Option Plan which was approved by the stockholders at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on April 26, 2007.  This plan authorizes 200,000 shares to be issued.  Options will be granted to employees to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at a price not less than fair market value at the date the options are granted.  Options are granted to employees at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  Options granted are either nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options and expire ten years after the date of grant, if not exercised.  Shares received upon the exercise of options are previously authorized, but unissued shares.  Options shall vest and become first exercisable as determined by the Board of Directors.  Compensation cost is determined through use of the Black Scholes model, which is communicated to employees receiving options.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black Scholes option-pricing model.  Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock and other factors.  The Company uses historical option exercise and termination data to estimate the expected term the options are expected to be outstanding.  The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.  The expected dividend yield is calculated using historical dividend amounts and the stock price at the option issuance date.

A summary of activity under the plans as of November 30, 2009, and changes during the year then ended as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Expected Volatility
    71.90 %  
57.61% to 78.53
%
Expected Dividend Yield
    0.825 %  
0.001% to 0.780
%
Expected Term (in years)
    2       2  
Risk-free Rate
    4.25 %     4.25 %

2009 Option Activity

Options
 
Shares
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Options outstanding at beginning of period
    126,000     $ 9.88              
Granted
    14,000     $ 3.88              
Exercised
    (4,000 )   $ 3.86           $ 0  
Options Expired or Forfeited
    (0 )   $ 0.00                
Options outstanding at end of period
    136,000     $ 9.44       6.79     $ 0  
Options exercisable at end of period
    128,500     $ 9.75       7.80     $ 0  

2008 Option Activity
Options
 
Shares
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Options outstanding at beginning of period
    54,000     $ 7.60              
Granted
    92,000     $ 10.16              
Exercised
    (18,000 )   $ 4.07           $ 0  
Options Expired or Forfeited
    (2,000 )   $ 13.38                
Options outstanding at end of period
    126,000     $ 9.88       8.36     $ 0  
Options exercisable at end of period
    78,500     $ 10.71       7.76     $ 0  
 
 
29

 

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the year 2009 and 2008 was $3.88 and $4.07, respectively.

A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested shares as of November 30, 2009, and changes during the year ended November 30, 2009, is presented below:

Nonvested Shares
 
Shares
   
Weighted-Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
 
Nonvested at beginning of period
    47,500     $ 3.20  
Granted
    14,000     $ 3.88  
Vested
    (54,000 )   $ 3.26  
Forfeited
    0       0  
Nonvested at end of period
    7,500     $ 1.78  

As of November 30, 2009, there was $13,356 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements under the plans.  That cost is expected to be recognized during the next year.  The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 was $118,537 and $198,452, respectively.

The cash received from the exercise of options during fiscal year 2009 was $15,440.

 (11)
Income Taxes

Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 consists of the following:

   
November 30
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Current expense
  $ 431,905     $ 643,525  
Deferred expense
    21,000       277,557  
    $ 452,905     $ 921,082  

The reconciliation of the statutory Federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate are as follows:

   
November 30
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Statutory federal income tax rate
    34.0 %     34.0 %
Other
    3.2       (0.5 )
      37.2 %     33.5 %

Tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets (liabilities) at November 30, 2009 and 2008 are presented below:

 
30

 

   
November 30
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Current deferred tax  assets:
           
Accrued expenses
  $ 72,000     $ 242,000  
Inventory capitalization
    148,000       148,000  
Asset reserves
    662,000       390,000  
Total current deferred tax assets
  $ 882,000     $ 780,000  
                 
Non-current deferred tax  assets (liabilities):
               
Property, plant, and equipment
  $ (613,000 )   $ (490,000 )
Total non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities)
  $ (613,000 )   $ (490,000 )

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states.  The company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years ended before November 30, 2006.

The Company shall classify interest and penalties to be paid on an underpayment of taxes as income tax expense.  For the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 no interest or penalty amounts have been recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or the consolidated balance sheets.

(12)
Disclosures About the Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties.  At November 30, 2009 and 2008, the carrying amount approximates fair value for cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, notes payable to bank, term debt, and other current and long-term liabilities.  The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.  The fair value of the Company’s installment term loans payable also approximate recorded value because the interest rates charged under the loan terms are not substantially different than current interest rates.

(13)
Litigation and Contingencies

Various legal actions and claims that arise in the normal course of business are pending against the Company. In the opinion of management adequate provisions have been made in the accompanying financial statements for all pending legal actions and other claims.

(14)
Segment Information

On October 4, 2005, the Company purchased certain assets of Vessels Systems, Inc. which created a separate operating segment.  Then on August 2, 2006, the Company purchased certain assets of Tech Space, Inc. which created a third operating segment.  Prior to these acquisitions the Company operated in one reportable segment.

Our reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different products.  They are managed separately because each business requires different technology and marketing strategies.

There are three reportable segments:  agricultural products, pressurized vessels and modular buildings.  The agricultural products segment fabricates and sells farming products as well as replacement parts for these products in the United States and worldwide.  The pressurized vessel segment produces pressurized tanks.  The modular building segment produces modular buildings for animal containment and various laboratory uses.

 
31

 

The accounting policies applied to determine the segment information are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.  Management evaluates the performance of each segment based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes, exclusive of nonrecurring gains and losses.

Approximate financial information with respect to the reportable segments is as follows.

   
Twelve Months Ended November 30, 2009
 
   
Agricultural
Products
   
Pressurized
Vessels
   
Modular
Buildings
   
Consolidated
 
Revenue from  external customers
  $ 20,926,000     $ 819,000     $ 4,551,000     $ 26,296,000  
Income from operations
    1,633,000       (806,000 )     (119,000 )     708,000  
Income before tax
    1,490,000       (987,000 )     712,000       1,215,000  
Total Assets
    16,654,000       2,904,000       4,362,000       23,920,000  
Capital expenditures
    312,000       57,000       11,000       380,000  
Depreciation & Amortization
    460,000       98,000       98,000       656,000  

   
Twelve Months Ended November 30, 2008
 
   
Agricultural
Products
   
Pressurized
Vessels
   
Modular
Buildings
   
Consolidated
 
Revenue from  external customers
  $ 21,045,000     $ 331,000     $ 10,665,000     $ 32,041,000  
Income from operations
    1,770,000       (1,061,000 )     2,057,000       2,766,000  
Income before tax
    1,585,000       (1,216,000 )     2,382,000       2,751,000  
Total Assets
    20,764,000       2,734,000       3,728,000       27,226,000  
Capital expenditures
    680,000       1,036,000       177,000       1,893,000  
Depreciation & Amortization
    453,000       54,000       88,000       595,000  

(15)  Subsequent Events

In preparing the financial statements, management has evaluated subsequent events through February 22, 2010.  On January 19, 2010, we purchased a manure spreader product line, related inventory, and other assets of Roda, Inc. for approximately $1,189,000.  The manure spreader product line will be integrated into the Armstrong, Iowa manufacturing plant.

 
32

 

Item 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE .

None.

Item 9A(T).   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES .

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The person serving as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e), as of the end of the period subject to this Report.  Based on this evaluation, the person serving as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the periodic and current reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Due to the material weakness described below, our disclosure controls and procedures did not ensure that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act was collected and communicated to our management, including the person serving as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, in a manner to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). 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. Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of November 30, 2009.
 
 A material weakness (as defined in SEC Rule 12b-2) is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management has identified the following material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2009:
 
Inventory Accounting – Management has concluded that in our Armstrong, Iowa facility we had a significant number of variances between the actual quantities on hand for various items as compared to the quantities recorded in the accounting systems before the year-end physical inventory count.  The Company’s key internal control over the recording of accurate inventory quantities is its cycle count process, which did not identify these variances.  While management has made significant changes to these procedures during the last fiscal year, these changes were only partially effective in remediating this weakness.   Additionally, management’s process for evaluating and testing this control in conjunction with its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting has yet to remedy this weakness; therefore we will continue to remain closely involved with this issue.
 
Management, under the oversight of the Audit Committee, is in the process of remediating the material weakness. Management believes it has taken the appropriate action through the physical inventory count to ensure that inventory is properly reflected in the Company’s financial statements.
 
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.

 
33

 

Limitations on Controls

Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. In addition, the design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and controls may become inadequate if conditions change. There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
 
Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We are undertaking efforts to remediate the material weakness identified above. During fiscal 2009, we implemented additional inventory control procedures.  These procedural changes include additional and more comprehensive training of key staff members, additional analysis and assessment, and factory layout enhancements. We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these controls.

Item 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

On January 19, 2010, we purchased a manure spreader product line, related inventory, and other assets of Roda, Inc. for approximately $1,189,000.  The manure spreader product line will be integrated into the Armstrong, Iowa manufacturing plant.   The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Roda Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.32 and is incorporated herein by reference.

PART III

Item 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE .

The information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled “Election of Directors,” “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act,” and “Corporate Governance” in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Item 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION .

The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference to the section entitled “Executive Compensation” in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Item 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS .

The information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to the section entitled “Principal Stockholders and Management Shareholdings” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Item 13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE .

   The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled “Corporate Governance” and “Certain Transactions and Business Relationships” in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Item 14.     PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference to the section entitled “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 
34

 

PART IV

Item 15.        EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES .

(a)
Documents filed as part of this report.

(1)
Financial Statements. The following financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Report of Eide Bailly, LLP on Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule as of November 30, 2009 and 2008

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2009 and 2008

Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the two years in the period ended November 30, 2009

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the two years in the period ended November 30, 2009

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the two years in the period ended November 30, 2009

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2)
Financial Statement Schedules. The following consolidated financial statement schedule is included in Item 8: Not applicable.

(3)
Exhibits. See “Exhibit Index to Form 10-K” immediately following the signature page of this Form 10-K

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
   
Date:
02/22/2010
 
 /s/ Carrie L. Majeski
 
Carrie L. Majeski
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes CARRIE L. MAJESKI his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 
35

 

Date:  2/22/2010
/s/ Carrie L. Majeski
 
Carrie L. Majeski
President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
   
Date:  2/22/2010
/s/ Amber J. Murra, CPA
 
Amber J. Murra, CPA
Director of Finance, Principal Accounting Officer
   
Date: 2/22/2010
/s/ J. Ward McConnell, Jr.,
 
J. Ward McConnell, Jr., Executive Chairman, Director
   
Date: 2/22/2010
/s / David R. Castle
 
David R. Castle, Director
   
Date:  2/22/2010
/s/ Fred W. Krahmer
 
Fred W. Krahmer, Director
   
Date:  2/22/2010
/s/ James Lynch
 
James Lynch, Director
   
Date:  2/22/2010
/s/ Douglas McClellan
 
Douglas McClellan, Director
   
Date: 2/22/2010
/s/ Marc H. McConnell
 
Marc H. McConnell, Executive Vice Chairman, Director
   
Date:  2/22/2010
/s/ Thomas E. Buffamante
 
Thomas E. Buffamante, Director

 
36

 

Exhibit Index
Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Form 10-K
For Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2009

Exhibit
No.
 
Description
 
3.1
 
Articles of Incorporation of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.– incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
 
3.2
 
Bylaws of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.– incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
3.3
 
Amendments to Bylaws of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended May 31, 2004
10.1*
 
Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2001 Director Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2002
10.2*
 
Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2007
10.3*
 
 Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Option Plan – filed herewith
10.4*
 
Form of Non-Qualified Option Agreement under 2007 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan and 2007 Employee Stock Option Plan – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.5*
 
Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Directors for 2008 fiscal year incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.6*
 
Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Executive Officer for 2008 fiscal year incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.7*
 
Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Directors for 2009 fiscal year – filed herewith
10.8*
 
Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Executive Officer for 2009 fiscal year filed herewith
10. 9
 
Promissory Note to West Bank dated December 16, 2008 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10. 10
 
Commitment Letter from West Bank dated April 8, 2008 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10. 11
 
Commercial Security Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated April 25, 2003 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 2
 
Commercial Security Agreement between Art s-Way Scientific Inc. and West Bank dated April 20, 2007 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 3
 
Commercial Security Agreement between Art s-Way Vessels, Inc. and West Bank dated December 16, 2008 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 4
 
Form of Agreement to Provide Insurance for loan dated December 16, 2008 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 5
 
Real Estate Mortgage to West Bank dated April 23, 2003 for property located in Armstrong, Iowa – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 6
 
Real Estate Mortgage to West Bank dated October 9, 2007 for property located in Monona, Iowa – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.141 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 7
 
Real Estate Mortgage to West Bank dated November 30, 2007 for property located in Dubuque, Iowa – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.1 8
 
Change in Terms Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated May 1, 2008 for Loan No. 1260080536 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008

 
37

 

10.1 9
 
Business Loan Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated May 1, 2008 for Loan No. 1260080536 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10. 20
 
Change in Terms Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated May 1, 2008 for Loan No. 81290 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10. 21
 
Business Loan Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated May 1, 2008 for Loan No. 81290 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.2 2
 
Change in Terms Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated May 1, 2008 for Loan No. 81289 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.2 3
 
Business Loan Agreement between Art s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated May 1, 2008 for Loan No. 81289 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.2 4
 
Letter Agreement from West Bank dated January 20, 2009 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008
10.25
 
Promissory Note from Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. to West Bank dated April 30, 2009 –  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.26
 
Letter Agreement from West Bank dated May 21, 2009 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.27
 
Business Loan Agreement between Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and West Bank dated June 8, 2009 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.28
 
Promissory Note from Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. to West Bank dated June 8, 2009 –  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.29
 
Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. Agreement to Provide Insurance for loan dated June 8, 2009 – incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.30
 
Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. Agreement to Provide Insurance for loan dated June 8, 2009 –  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.31
 
Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. Agreement to Provide Insurance for loan dated June 8, 2009 –  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended May 31, 2009
10.32
 
Asset Purchase Agreement between Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Roda, Inc. dated January 19, 2010 – filed herewith. Pursuant to item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, and subject to claims of confidentiality pursuant to Rule 24B-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, upon the request of the Commission, the Registrant undertakes to furnish supplementally to the Commission a copy of any schedule or exhibit to the Asset Purchase Agreement as follows:
 
Exhibit A                                          Description of Product Line
Schedule 1.1(a)                                List of Equipment
Schedule 1.1(b)                                Inventory
Schedule 1.1(c)                                Show Contracts
Schedule 1.1(d)                                Distributor Contracts
Schedule 3.3                                    Asset Allocation Statement
 
21.1
 
List of Subsidiaries: Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. (Iowa corporation); Art’s Way Vessels, Inc. (Iowa corporation)
23.1
 
Consent of independent registered public accounting firm – filed herewith
24.1
 
Power of Attorney (included on the “Signatures” page of this report on Form 10-K)
31.1
 
Certificate pursuant to 17 CFR 240 13(a)-14(a) – filed herewith
32.1
  
Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 – filed herewith
 


(*)
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 
38

 

CORPORATE INFORMATION

DIRECTORS

J. Ward McConnell, Jr.
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
Private Investor
 
Fred W. Krahmer
President of Krahmer & Nielsen, PA
Vice Chair, Profinium Financial, Inc.
     
David R. Castle
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Chairman of Compensation & Stock Option Committee
 
 
James Lynch
President of Rydell Enterprises, LLC
Secretary of Rydell Development, LLC
President of San Fernando Valley Automotive Group, LLC
     
Thomas E. Buffamante
Director of Buffamante Whipple  Buttafaro, P.C
  
Douglas McClellan
President of Filtration Unlimited

Marc H. McConnell
Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
President of Babcock Co., Inc.
President of Bauer Corporation
President of Adamson Global Technology Corporation
Director of Mountain Aircraft Services, Inc.
Director of Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association
President of American Ladder Institute

OFFICERS

Carrie L. Majeski
President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

Amber J. Murra, CPA
Director of Finance

ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING

Kent C. Kollasch
Manager of Information Service
 
Donald R. Leach
Manager of Purchasing
     
Gene L. Tonne
Director of Manufacturing
 
Thomas W. Spisak
Manager of Engineering
     
 
  
Roger Murdock
Director of Sales and Marketing

ART’S-WAY VESSELS

Patrick M. O’Neill
General Manager

ART’S-WAY SCIENTIFIC

Dan Palmer
Sales Manager
John Fuelling
Production Manager

 
1

 

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Principal Office
5556 Highway 9 West
P.O. Box 288
Armstrong, Iowa 50514-0288
Transfer Agent
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
New York, New York
   
Registered Office
The Corporation Trust Co.
1209 Orange Street
Wilmington, Delaware
Stock Information
Carrie L. Majeski
(712) 864-3131
   
Auditors
Eide Bailly, LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Trading Information
NASDAQ Capital Market
NASDAQ symbol: ARTW

 
2

 
 
ART'S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
2007
STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
(1)  
NAME.
 
The name of this Plan is the Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2007 Stock Option Plan.
 
(2)  
DEFINITIONS.
 
For the purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
     
  (a) "Affiliate" means any partnership, corporation, firm, joint venture, association, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or other entity (other than a Subsidiary) that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company, where the term "controlled by" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting interests or voting securities, as the case may be, by contract or otherwise.
     
  (b) "Board" means the board of directors of the Company.
     
  (c) "Cause" as applied to any Officer or Employee means: (i) the conviction of such individual for the commission of any felony; (ii) the commission by such individual of any crime involving moral turpitude (e.g., larceny, embezzlement) which results in harm to the business, reputation, prospects or financial condition of the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate; or (iii) a disciplinary discharge pursuant to the terms of the Company's management handbooks or policies as in effect at the time.
     
  (d) "Chairman" means the individual appointed by the Board to serve as the chairman of the Committee.
     
  (e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
 

 
     
  (f) "Committee" means the committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan as provided in Section 4(a).
     
  (g) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company or any security of the Company identified by the Committee as having been issued in substitution or ex-change therefor or in lieu thereof.
     
  (h) "Company" means Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation.
     
  (i) "Employee" means an individual employed by the Company or a Subsidiary whose wages are subject to the withholding of federal income tax under Section 3401 of the Code.
     
  (j)  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute.
     
  (k)  "Fair Market Value" of a Share as of a specified date means the average of the highest and lowest market prices of a Share on the principal market or exchange on which the Common Stock is then traded, or, if no trading of Common Stock is reported for that day, the next preceding day on which trading was reported. In the event the Common Stock is not publicly traded, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be determined by the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors.
     
  (l) "Incentive Stock Option" (otherwise designated as an "ISO") means any stock option granted pursuant to the Plan that is intended to be and is specifically designated as an "Incentive Stock Option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
     
  (m) "Non-qualified Stock Option" (otherwise designated as a "NQSO") means any stock option granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan that is not an ISO.
     
  (n) "Officer" means an individual elected or appointed by the Board or by the board of directors of a Subsidiary or chosen in such other manner as may be prescribed by the Bylaws of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, to serve as such.
     
  (o)
"Option" means an ISO or a NQSO granted under the Plan.
     
  (p)
"Participant" means an individual who is granted an Option under the Plan.
     
  (q) "Plan" means this 2007 Stock Option Plan.
     
  (r) " Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor or replacement rule adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
     
  (s) "Share" means one share of Common Stock, adjusted in accordance with Section 10(b) of the Plan, if applicable.
     
  (t) "Stock Option Agreement" means the written agreement between the Company and the Participant that contains the terms and conditions pertaining to an Option.
     
  (u) "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Company, directly or indirectly, is the beneficial owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of all classes of its stock having voting power and which qualifies as a subsidiary corporation pursuant to Section 424(f) of the Code.
     
  (v) "Ten Percent Stockholder" means a Participant who prior to the grant of an ISO owned, directly or indirectly within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code, ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, any Subsidiary or any parent of the Company (as defined in Section 425(e) of the Code).
     
(3)  
PURPOSE.
 
The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company to provide incentives, which are linked directly to increases in stockholder value, to certain key personnel in order that they will be encouraged to promote the financial success and progress of the Company.
   
(4)  
ADMINISTRATION.
 
  (a) Composition of the Committee.
     
   
The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board, consisting of not less than two "Non-Employee Directors" (as such term is defined in Rule 16b-3), to be a director who is not currently an officer or otherwise employed by the Company, or a parent or Subsidiary of the Company; does not receive compensation directly or indirectly from the Company or a Subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a director, (except for an amount less than $60,000); does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K; and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K. In the event the Company is, at any time unable to qualify a Committee of two or more Non-Employee Directors, the Plan shall be administered by the Board. Subject to the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 4(a), the Board may from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the Committee. Vacancies on the Committee, however caused, shall be filled by the Board. The Board shall appoint one of the members of the Committee as Chairman.
     
 

 
  (b) Actions by the Committee.
     
    The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine. Acts approved by a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by a majority of the members of the Committee, shall be the valid acts of the Committee.
     
  (c) Powers of the Committee.
     
    Subject to the express terms and conditions hereof, the Committee shall have the authority to administer the Plan in its sole and absolute discretion. To this end, the Committee is authorized to construe and interpret the Plan and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to determine the eligible individuals who shall be granted Options, the number of Options to be granted, the vesting period, if any, for all Options granted hereunder, the date on which any Option becomes first exercisable, the number of Shares subject to each Option, the exercise price for the Shares subject to each Option, and, whether the Option to be granted is an ISO or a NQSO. Any determination, decision or action of the Committee in connection with the construction, interpretation, administration or application of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Participants and any person validly claiming under or through a Participant.
     
 

 
  (d) Liability of Committee Members.
     
    No member of the Board or the Committee will be liable for any action or determination made in good faith by the Board or the Committee with respect to the Plan or any grant or exercise of an Option thereunder.
     
  (e)
Option Accounts.
     
    The Committee shall maintain a journal in which a separate account for each Participant shall be established. Whenever an Option is granted to or exercised by a Participant, the Participant's account shall be appropriately credited or debited. Appropriate adjustment shall also be made in the journal with respect to each account in the event of an adjustment pursuant to Section 10(b) of the Plan.
 
(5)  
EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN.                                                                              
 
  (a) Effective Date of the Plan.
     
    The Plan was adopted by the Board and became effective on January 25, 2007, subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company at a meeting duly called and held within twelve months following such date.
     
  (b) Term of Plan.
     
    No Option shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after January 25, 2017, but Options theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
     
 
(6)  
TYPE OF OPTIONS AND SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
   
Options granted under the Plan may be either ISOs or NQSOs. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option covered thereby is an ISO or a NQSO.

The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is ______ Shares. Up to and including all ______ Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan may be designated as ISOs. The limitation on the number of Shares which may be subject to Options under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(b) of the Plan.


If any Option granted under the Plan expires or is terminated for any reason, any Shares as to which the Option has not been exercised shall again be available for purchase under Options subsequently granted. At all times during the term of the Plan, the Company shall reserve and keep available for issuance such number of Shares as the Company is obligated to issue upon the exercise of all then outstanding Options.
   
(7)  
SOURCE OF SHARES ISSUED UNDER THE PLAN.
   
Common Stock issued under the Plan shall be authorized and unissued Shares and/or Treasury Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan.
   
(8)  
ELIGIBILITY.
   
The individuals eligible for the grant of Options under the Plan shall be: (i) all Officers and Employees; and (ii) such individuals determined by the Committee to be rendering substantial services as a consultant or independent contractor to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, as the Committee shall determine from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion; provided , however , that only Employees of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be eligible to receive ISOs. Any Participant shall be eligible to be granted more than one Option hereunder.
   
(9)  
OPTIONS.
   
     
  (a) Grant of Options.
     
    Subject to any applicable requirements of the Code and any regulations issued thereunder, the date of the grant of an Option shall be the date on which the Committee determines to grant the Option.
     
  (b) Exercise Price of ISOs.
     
    The exercise price of each Share subject to an ISO shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the ISO, except that in the case of a grant of an ISO to a Participant who at the time such ISO was granted was a Ten Percent Stockholder, the exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the grant of the ISO.
 

 
     
  (c) Exercise Price of NQSOs.
     
    The exercise price of each Share subject to a NQSO shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but will not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
     
  (d) Exercise Period.
     
    Each Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall vest and become first exercisable as determined by the Committee.
     
  (e) Terms and Conditions.
     
    All Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement (which need not be the same for each Participant or Option), approved by the Committee which shall be subject to the following express terms and conditions and the other terms and conditions as are set forth in this Section 9, and to such other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan:
     
   
(i) the failure of an Option to vest for any reason whatsoever shall cause the Option to expire and be of no further force or effect;

(ii) unless terminated earlier pursuant to Sections 9(i) or 11, the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall be ten years from the date of grant; provided , however , that no ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder shall have a term of more than five years from the date of grant;

(iii) in the case of an ISO, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the ISO is granted) of Shares exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company, any Subsidiary or any parent of the Company (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) shall not exceed $100,000;

 
    (i) Options shall not be transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by him or by his guardian or legal representative;

(v) no Option or interest therein may be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the Participant during his lifetime whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process; and

(vi) payment for the Shares to be received upon exercise of an Option may be made in cash, in Shares (determined with reference to their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) or any combination thereof.
 
     
  (f) Exercise.
 
     
    (i) The holder of an Option may exercise the same by filing with the Corporate Secretary of the Company and the Chairman a written election, in such form as the Committee may determine, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which such Option is being exercised, and accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price for such Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent the holder from exercising the Option with respect to the full number of Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

The holder of an Option may surrender Common Stock owned by the holder in lieu of or in addition to cash to exercise the Option. Common Stock surrendered shall be valued as follows:
     
    (A) If traded on a securities exchange or on the Nasdaq NMS, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the Common Stock on such exchange during the thirty calendar day period ending three (3) calendar days prior to the exercise date;
 

 
     
   
(B) If actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid or sale prices (whichever is applicable) during the thirty calendar day period ending three (3) calendar days prior to the exercise date; and

(C) If there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined by the Board of Directors in the good faith exercise of its reasonable business judgment.
     
     
    (i) The Option holder may elect in writing delivered to the Company as provided above to receive, without payment of additional consideration, shares of Common Stock equal to the value of the Option or any portion of the Option by the surrender of the Option or such portion to the Company at its principal office. Thereupon, the Company shall issue to the Option holder such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as is computed using the following formula:
     
    X = Y (A-B)
           A
     
 
    where X = the number of shares to be issued to such Option holder pursuant to this subsection 9(f)(ii) .

Y = the number of shares covered by the Options in respect of which the net issue election is made pursuant to this subsection 9(f)(ii).

A = the fair market value of one share of Common stock, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of subsection 9(f)(i), at the time the net issue election is made pursuant to this subsection 9(f)(ii).

B = the Exercise Price in effect under the Option at the time the net issue election is made pursuant to this subsection 9(f)(ii) .

The Board of Directors of the Company shall promptly respond in writing to an inquiry by an Option holder as to the fair market value of one share of Common Stock.
     
 

 
     
   
(iii) Partial Exercise . On any partial exercise, the Company shall promptly issue and deliver to the Option holder a new Option or Options of like tenor in the name of that Option holder providing for the right to purchase that number of shares as to which the Option has not been exercised.
     

   
  (g) Withholding Taxes.
     
    Prior to issuance of the Shares upon exercise of an Option, the Participant shall pay or make adequate provision for the payment of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, if applicable. In the event a Participant shall fail to make adequate provision for the payment of such obligations, the Company shall have the right to issue a stock certificate for an amount of Shares equal to the difference obtained by subtracting: (i) the number of Shares, rounded up for any fraction to the next whole number, that have a Fair Market Value (as of the date of exercise) equal to such amount as is sufficient to satisfy applicable federal, state or local withholding obligations; from (ii) the number of Shares attributable to that portion of the Option so exercised. The Company shall promptly remit, or cause to be remitted, to the appropriate taxing authorities the amount so withheld. In such cases, although the stock certificate delivered to the Participant will be for a net number of Shares, such Participant shall be considered, for tax purposes, to have received the number of Shares equal to the full number of Shares to which the Option had been exercised.
     
  (h) Termination of Options.
     
    Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following events of termination:
   
(i) in the event the employment of a Participant who is an Officer or Employee is terminated for Cause, all unexercised Options held by such Participant on the date of such termination of employment (whether or not vested) will expire immediately; and
     
    (ii) in the event a Participant is no longer an Officer or Employee other than for the reasons set forth in Sections 9(i)(i) or 9(i)(ii), all Options which remain unvested at the time the Participant is no longer a Director, Officer or Employee, as the case may be, shall expire immediately, and all Options which have vested prior to such time shall expire twelve months thereafter unless by their terms they expire sooner.
     
 

 
10. ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS.

If any of the following events shall occur at any time or from time to time during the effective period of this Plan, the following adjustments shall be made in the Exercise Price of the Option, as appropriate, with the exceptions hereinafter provided.
     
  (a) In case the Company shall at any time subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall be proportionately reduced and the number of shares purchasable pursuant to the Option shall be proportionately increased; and conversely, in case the Common Stock of the Company shall be combined into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased and the number of shares purchasable pursuant to the Option shall be proportionately reduced.
     
  (b) If the Company shall declare a dividend on its Common Stock payable in stock or other securities of the Company or of any other corporation, or in property or otherwise than in cash, to holders of record of Common Stock as of a date prior to the date of exercise of an Option, the holder of such Option shall, in addition to the Common Stock to which such holder would otherwise be entitled upon such exercise, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property which such holder would have been entitled to receive if such holder had been of such Common Stock on such record date.
     
  (c) In case of any capital reorganization or reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company, or the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation, or any sale of all or substantially all of the Company's property or assets, or any liquidation of the Company, the holder of an Option upon the exercise hereof on or before the record date for determination of stockholders entitled pursuant to the Option, shall receive, in lieu of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, the proportionate share of all stock, securities or other property issued, paid or delivered for or on all of the Common Stock of the Company as is allocable to the shares of Common Stock then called for by the Option.
     
     


11. RECAPITALIZATION.
     
  (a) Corporate Flexibility.
     
   
The existence of the Plan and the Options granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company, in their sole and absolute discretion, to make, authorize or consummate any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company's capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of bonds, debentures, Common Stock, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Company's capital stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other grant of rights, issuance of securities, transaction, corporate act or proceeding and notwithstanding the fact that any such activity, proceeding, action, transaction or other event may have, or be expected to have, an impact (whether positive or negative) on the value of any Option.
     
  (b) Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization.
     
    Except as otherwise provided in Section 11 and subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any change in capitalization affecting the Common Stock of the Company, such as a stock dividend, stock split or recapitalization, the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may make proportionate adjustments with respect to: (i) the aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan; (ii) the number of Shares available for any individual award; (iii) the number and exercise price of Shares subject to outstanding Options; provided , however , that the number of Shares subject to any Option shall always be a whole number; and (iv) such other matters as shall be appropriate in light of the circumstances.
     
12. CHANGE OF CONTROL.

In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below), unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or by amendment (with the holder's consent) of such grant, those Options that would have vested within one year of the effective time of any such Change of Control shall vest immediately as of such effective time, while those Options that would have vested later than one year after the effective time of any such Change of Control shall expire as of such effective time. The Committee in its discretion may make provisions for the assumption of outstanding Options, or the substitution for outstanding Options of new incentive awards covering the stock of a successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices so as to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.


A "Change of Control" will be deemed to occur on the date any of the following events occur:
     
  (a) any person or persons acting together which would constitute a "group" for purpose of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any Subsidiary and any entity beneficially owned by any of the foregoing) beneficially own (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) without Board approval, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the total voting power of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board;
     
  (b) the stockholders of the Company approve (i) a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, or (ii) an agreement providing for the merger or consolidation of the Company (A) in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation (other than consolidation or merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in which all Shares outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness thereof are changed into or exchanged for the same consideration) or (B) pursuant to which the Shares are converted into cash, securities or other property, except a consolidation or merger of the Company in which the holders of the Shares immediately prior to the consolidation or merger have, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the common stock of the continuing or surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or merger or in which the Board immediately prior to the merger or consolidation would, immediately after the merger or consolidation, constitute a majority of the board of directors of the continuing or surviving corporation; or
     
  (c) the stockholders of the Company approve an agreement (or agreements) providing for the sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
     
13. SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS.

No Shares shall be issued under the Plan unless and until: (i) the Company and the Participant have taken all actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof; (ii) any applicable requirement of Nasdaq or any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed has been satisfied; and (iii) any other applicable provision of state or Federal law has been satisfied. The Company shall be under no obligation to register the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to effect compliance with the registration or qualification requirements of any state securities laws.


14. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. (a) 
     
  (a)
Modifications to the Plan.
     
    The Board may, insofar as permitted by law, from time to time, with respect to any Shares at the time not subject to Options, suspend or terminate the Plan or revise or amend the Plan in any respect whatsoever. However, unless the Board specifically otherwise provides, any revision or amendment that would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Rule 16b-3, Section 422 or 162(m) of the Code or any other requirement of applicable law or regulation if such amendment were not approved by the stockholders of the Company shall not be effective unless and until such approval is obtained.
     
  (b) Rights of Participant.
     
    No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan that would adversely affect the right of any Participant with respect to an Option previously granted under the Plan will be effective without the written consent of the affected Participant.

15. MISCELLANEOUS.
     
  (a) Stockholders' Rights.

No Participant and no beneficiary or other person claiming under or through such Participant shall acquire any rights as a stockholder of the Company by virtue of such Participant having been granted an Option under the Plan. No Participant and no beneficiary or other person claiming under or through such Participant will have any right, title or interest in or to any Shares, allocated or reserved under the Plan or subject to any Option except as to Shares, if any, that have been issued or transferred to such Participant. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of exercise of an Option, except as may be provided in the Stock Option Agreement.
 

 
     
  (b) Other Compensation Arrangements.

Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required. Such other arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
     
  (c) Treatment of Proceeds.

Proceeds realized from the exercise of Options under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.
     
  (d) Costs of the Plan.

The costs and expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
     
  (e) No Right to Continue Employment or Services.

Nothing contained in the Plan or in any instrument executed pursuant to the Plan will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to render services to the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate; to continue as an Officer or Employee; or affect the right of the Company, a Subsidiary, the Board, the board of directors of a Subsidiary, the stockholders of the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, to terminate the office or employment, as the case may be, of any Participant at any time with or without Cause or with or without any other cause, reason or justification. The term "Cause" as defined herein is included solely for the purposes of the Plan and is not, and shall not be deemed to be: (i) a restriction on the right of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, to terminate any Officer or Employee for any reason whatsoever; or (ii) a part of the employment relationship (whether oral or written, express or implied) of any such individual.
     
  (f)
Severability.

The provisions of the Plan shall be deemed severable and the validity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
 

 
     
  (g) Binding Effect of Plan.

The Plan shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns.
     
  (h) No Waiver of Breach.

No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach by another party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of the Plan to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of the same, any similar or any dissimilar provisions of conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
     
  (i)
Governing Law.
 
The Plan and all actions taken thereunder shall be enforced, governed and construed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within such State without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.
     
  (j) Headings.
     
    The headings contained in the Plan are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of the Plan.
     
16. EXECUTION.
 
To record the adoption of the Plan to read as set forth herein, the Company has caused the Plan to be signed by its Chairman and attested by its Secretary on ___________, 2007.
     
     
    ART'S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
     
    /s/ J. Ward McConnell, Jr. 
   
J. Ward McConnell, Jr., Chairman

ATTEST:
     
Carrie L. Majeski
Secretary
   


Exhibit 10.7

Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Directors
2009 Fiscal Year

Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.  (the “Company”) currently does not have a written Board compensation plan. For the 2009 fiscal year, the Board determined that each of the Company’s directors would receive a cash retainer fee for his service, paid as follows:

Director Name
 
Compensation during
Fiscal Year 2009
 
J. Ward McConnell, Jr.
Executive Chairman of the Board
  $ 150,000  
Marc H. McConnell
Executive Vice Chairman of the Board
  $ 58,000  
Thomas E. Buffamante
  $ 30,000  
David R. Castle
  $ 30,000  
Fred W. Krahmer
  $ 30,000  
James Lynch
  $ 30,000  
Douglas McClellan
  $ 30,000  

The Company also reimburses directors for out-of-pocket expenses related to their attendance at board meetings and performance of other services as Board members.

In addition, pursuant to the Company’s 2007 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, each director is automatically granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 2,000 (post-split) shares of the Company’s common stock each year on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 
 

 

Exhibit 10.8

Summary of Compensation Arrangements with Executive Officer
2009 Fiscal Year

Carrie L. Majeski currently serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. (the “Company”).  The “at-will” employment relationship between Ms. Majeski and the Company is not currently governed by a written employment agreement.  During the 2009 fiscal year, the Company orally agreed to increase the salary paid to Ms. Majeski from an annual amount of $100,000 to an annual amount of $120,000.  As a result of the increase, Ms. Majeski earned a total of approximately $117,000 during the 2009 fiscal year.

 
 

 

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of January 15, 2010 (the "Effective Date") by and between RODA MFG., INC., an Iowa corporation ("Seller") and ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC., an Iowa corporation ("Buyer").
 
WHEREAS, Seller manufactures and sells certain manure spreading equipment as specified on Exhibit A ("Product Line") (the business of manufacturing and selling products within the Product Line being hereafter sometimes referred to as the "Business"); and
 
WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller desires to sell to Buyer, certain assets comprising and associated with the Product Line, as described below.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1
PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS

1.1            Sale of Purchased Assets .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and subject to the performance by each of the parties hereto of their respective obligations under this Agreement, on the Closing Date (as defined below), Seller shall sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall buy from Seller, certain assets of Seller related to the Product Line of Seller as described below (collectively, the "Purchased Assets"):

(a)            Equipment .  All tools, dies, jigs, patterns, specialized equipment, sales and marketing materials and aids and other tangible personal property owned by Seller and used in the production and marketing of the Product Line (collectively, the "Equipment"), including without limitation, such items set forth on Schedule 1.1(a).

(b)            Inventory .  All inventory of new and undamaged finished goods (including optional equipment), work in process, spare parts, prototype equipment, and such raw materials that have been acquired specifically for the Product Line, and owned by Seller at the time of Closing, including, without limitation, such items set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) and all other current items of inventory related to the Product Line and all inventory ordered in the usual and ordinary course of business prior to the Closing Date (the "Inventory").  The prices for the inventory shown on Schedule 1.1(b) are shown at book value as determined in accordance with GAAP.

(c)            Show Contracts .  All of Seller’s show contracts (“Show Contracts”) for exhibit space at those shows listed on the attached Schedule 1.1(c).

(d)            Certain Business Records .  All of the following documents (and rights created by such documents) related to the Product Line:  All customer lists, customer backlog records, pending orders, pending purchase contracts, customer files, vendor lists, purchase records, sales records, designs, drawings, blueprints, computer data, engineering data or studies, marketing data, prototype information, and technical information, all to the extent transferable under applicable law (the "Business Records").
 
 
 

 

(e)            Distributor Agreements .  All distributor and dealer agreements pertaining to distributors and dealers handling the Product Line as listed on Schedule 1.1(d) (“Distributor Contracts”) (the Distributor Contracts and the Show Contracts are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Assigned Contracts”).

(f)            Intangible Rights .  The exclusive right to use all intangible rights and property of Seller, including all of Seller's trade names, copyrights, trademarks, service marks and associated logos pertaining to the Product Line, whether registered or under common law, including without limitation, all Seller's goodwill that has accrued to and become associated with the Product Line or with the Purchased Assets, provided that Seller shall retain the right to use the trade names and logos in connection with the sale of any retained inventory of used manure spreading equipment as permitted in Section 6.4 hereof.

(g)            Toll Free Numbers; Internet Domains .  The toll-free telephone numbers used in connection with Seller’s business and the Seller’s internet domain names (but not the Seller’s website or website content).

(h)            Goodwill .  All of Seller’s goodwill in, and going concern value related to the Product Line, if any.

Buyer shall have the right to inspect all of the Purchased Assets at any time prior to the Closing Date; provided, however, that such inspections shall be during Seller's normal business hours and will not unreasonably interfere with Seller's business operations.  Buyer further agrees to indemnify and hold Seller harmless (which indemnification shall survive any termination of this Agreement) from and against any costs, liabilities, claims or expenses arising out of any damage to person or property caused by the negligent act or omission or intentional misconduct of Buyer or any of Buyer's employees, agents or contractors conducting such inspections.

1.2            Excluded Assets .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the following assets of Seller (collectively, the "Excluded Assets") are not part of the sale and purchase contemplated hereunder, are excluded from the Purchased Assets and shall remain the property of Seller after the Closing:

(a)           all cash, cash equivalents and bank deposit accounts owned by Seller;

(b)           all minute books, stock records, and corporate seals of Seller;

(c)           all personnel records of Seller;

(d)           any property not related to the Product Line;
 
(e)           all insurance policies maintained by Seller in connection with the Product Lines or the Purchased Assets;
 
(f)           any used manure spreading equipment;

(g)           any accounts receivable related to the Product Line;
 
 
2

 

(h)           except as set forth in Section 1.1(g) above, all of Seller’s right, title, and interest in and to all telephone numbers, electronic mail addresses, and P.O. boxes owned or licensed by Seller, yellow page listings, white page listings, and advertisements therein used or held for use by Seller as of the date of this Agreement in connection with the operation of the Business.

(i)           Any individual item of Finished Goods sold by Seller to a third party pursuant to a bona fide sale, but not yet delivered and any proceeds of such sale.

ARTICLE 2
ASSUMPTION OF LIABILTIES

2.1            Assumed Liabilities .  On the Closing Date, Buyer shall assume and agree to discharge obligations arising after the Closing Date with respect to the Show Contracts described in Schedule 1.1(c) attached hereto.  Buyer shall assume and agree to discharge the liabilities and obligations under the Distributor Contracts referred to in Section 1.1(e) except that Buyer does not agree to assume any warranty obligation of Seller with respect to finished products sold by Seller to third parties prior to closing which warranty obligation Seller agrees to fully and timely perform in accordance with the terms of Section 6.5.

2.2            Excluded Liabilities .  Except as and to the extent specifically set forth under Section 2.1 above, Buyer is not assuming, or agreeing to otherwise become liable for any debts, liabilities, claims, lawsuits, or obligations of any nature of Seller (the "Excluded Liabilities").  Seller hereby agrees to be responsible for all Excluded Liabilities, and pursuant to Article 9 below, indemnify Buyer from all Excluded Liabilities.  The Excluded Liabilities shall include without limitation:

(a)           Any liability for taxes, including (i) any taxes arising as a result of Seller's operation of the Business or ownership of the Assets prior to the Closing Date, and (ii) any taxes imposed on Seller that will arise as a result of the sale of the Assets pursuant to this Agreement;

(b)           Any liability for any contract except to the extent such liability is expressly assumed under the provisions of Section 2.1 above;

(c)           Any liability arising out of or resulting from Seller's compliance or non-compliance with any legal requirement or order of any governmental body;
 
(d)           Any product liability obligation with respect to finished products sold by Seller to third parties prior to Closing; and
 
(e)           Any warranty obligation set forth in Section 6.5, with respect to any finished products manufactured or sold by Seller to a third party prior to Closing.
 
ARTICLE 3
PURCHASE PRICE, PAYMENT TERMS AND CLOSING

3.1            Purchase Price .  Buyer shall purchase the Purchased Assets from Seller for a total purchase price determined as follows (the "Purchase Price"):
 
 
3

 

(a)           The amount equal to the total of the following three amounts:  (i) the amount of $1,171,646.00 for the Inventory transferred to the Buyer at Closing, plus (ii) the amount of $10,900.90 as reimbursement for Show Contract expenses prepaid by Seller, which total amount shall be paid by wire transfer from Buyer to Seller at Closing ("Initial Payment"), plus (iii) the amount of $7,355.00 for Equipment shown on Schedule 1.1(a) hereof.  The amount of the payment for Inventory has been determined based on the prices and count provided by the Seller and reflected in Schedule 1.1(b) and shall be subject to adjustment after closing as set forth in Section 3.2 hereof; and

(b)           Buyer shall also pay to Seller, as a part of the Purchase Price, an amount equal to two percent (2%) of the sales price ("Periodic Payment") of any Products sold by Buyer during the period beginning at the date of Closing and ending on the last day of the sixtieth (60th) month thereafter ("Payment Period").  As used in this Section 3.1(b), the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 
 (i)         "Products" shall mean manure spreading equipment manufactured or sold by Buyer that are a part of the Product Line, or any modifications or variations thereof (a product shall not be considered a modification or variation of a product in the Product line if it is based upon a significantly different design and/or significant engineering or reengineering of the product by or on behalf of Buyer).  Any such Products shall be included in determining the Periodic Payment, even if such Products are sold for the purpose of spreading other materials. “Products” does not include repair parts for the Product Line.
 
 (ii)           "Sales price" shall mean the total consideration paid to, or on behalf of, Buyer for such Products (including the value of any equipment traded for the Product or other non-monetary consideration paid or given to Buyer, but exclusive of ordinary and reasonable discounts allowed by Buyer), and excluding any amount paid for actual freight charges and sales or use taxes pertaining to such sale.

(iii)           "Sold during the Payment Period" shall mean actual sale of a Product or any binding agreement to sell such Product (even if the actual delivery of the Product occurs after the Payment Period).

Buyer shall, in good faith, use all reasonable efforts during the Payment Period to manufacture, market and sell the Products, and shall not engage in any action to defer or delay sales of Products for the purpose of avoiding payments due hereunder.  Seller shall have the right from time to time to review and audit Buyer's sales and financial records to verify the amounts of the Periodic Payments owed by Buyer under this Agreement.  Seller will cooperate with such review and audit and provide all records necessary therefor.  In the event such audit shows that the Buyer has under paid the Periodic Payment to Seller by five percent (5%) or more, Buyer will reimburse Seller for the costs of such audit.

The Periodic Payment shall be made annually by Buyer to Seller within sixty (60) days after each annual anniversary date of the date of Closing.

 
                3.2          Post Closing Adjustment to Purchase Price.  Within 15 days after all of the Inventory is received by the Purchaser at its Armstrong, Iowa, facilities (or within 30 days after closing with respect to inventory on consignment), Purchaser shall notify Seller of any discrepancy in the Inventory count, condition or valuation category (i.e. valued at cost, $0.00 value, or 50% of Cost as set forth below in this Section) of such Inventory actually received by Purchaser with the Inventory used for closing (Discrepancy Notice).  Similarly, Seller may furnish to Buyer a Discrepancy Notice as to any such matters affecting the Inventory that Seller discovers when loading the Inventory for shipment.  If the Discrepancy Notice shall indicate that the value of the Inventory is less than the portion of the Purchase Price attributable to Inventory paid at Closing, Seller shall refund to Purchaser the amount of such discrepancy set forth in the Discrepancy Notice within 5 days of receipt of same by Seller.  If the Discrepancy Notice shall indicate that the value of the Inventory received is more than the portion of the Purchase Price attributable to Inventory paid at Closing, Buyer shall pay amount thereof to Seller within 5 days of the date of such Notice.  Any item of Inventory for which there is a value shown in the “Extended Cost” column of Schedule 1.1(b) but no amount is shown in the “Contract Total” column has been agreed by the parties to be obsolete or otherwise unusable.  Any item of inventory that is damaged, used, in excess of a three year supply or is otherwise unusable shall be included at a value of $0.00 except that “mini spreader” finished goods have been included on the Schedule at a value of 50% of cost.  No item of Inventory that is valued at $0.00 on Schedule 1.1(b) shall be included in a Discrepancy Notice and there shall be no adjustment paid if the Inventory as to such item is not correct.  In the case of Inventory that is damaged or rendered unusable due to damage occurring after Closing for which Seller is not responsible under the provisions of Section 6.3 of this Agreement, no adjustment to purchase price shall be made in respect thereto.  In the event of a disagreement by Seller with respect to the Discrepancy Notice Seller may request binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.  During such time as any such disagreement shall exist, Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, shall pay the amount of the discrepancy over to an escrow agent mutually agreeable to the parties to be held pending resolution of the disagreement in the manner set forth herein.
 
 
4

 

3.3            Tax Allocation .  The Purchase Price shall be allocated in accordance with the Asset Allocation Statement set forth on Schedule 3.3 attached hereto, which shall be mutually agreed upon between the Buyer and Seller on or before the Closing Date.  Neither party shall make any claims or treat any items on their respective federal, state, or other tax returns in a manner which is inconsistent with such allocations.  The parties shall file all tax returns and reports, including Internal Revenue Service Form 8594, in accordance with such allocation and shall not take any position inconsistent therewith unless required to do so pursuant to a “determination” as such term is defined in Section 1313 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
3.4            Closing Date .  The consummation of the transactions contemplated herein (the "Closing") shall take place at immediately following the execution of this agreement.
 
 
5

 

ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

For the purpose of inducing Seller to enter into this Agreement, Buyer hereby makes the following representations and warranties:

4.1            Organization of Buyer .  Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa with full power and authority to carry on the business in which it is engaged, to own, lease and operate its properties and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

4.2            Authority .  Buyer has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the terms of this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary company action required on the part of Buyer.  The Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Buyer and is enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, subject to limitations imposed by laws and judicial decisions relating to or affecting the rights of creditors or secured creditors generally or general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in proceedings at law or in equity), upon the enforceability of any of the remedies, covenants or other provisions of this Agreement and the availability of injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

4.3            Performance of Assigned Contracts .  After Closing, Buyer will perform all of Seller's obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of each Assigned Contract to the extent such obligations are specifically assumed by Buyer in Section 2.1 above.
 
4.4            No Breach of Agreement .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) violate or result in a breach of or default or acceleration under the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of Buyer or any instrument or agreement to which Buyer is a party or is bound which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets; (ii) violate any judgment, order, injunction, decree or award against or binding upon Buyer or the Purchased Assets which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets; (iii) result in the creation of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Purchased Assets; or (iv) violate any law or regulation of any jurisdiction relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets, assuming all required regulatory approvals have been obtained in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF SELLER

For the purpose of inducing Buyer to enter into this Agreement, Seller hereby makes the following representations and warranties:

5.1            Organization and Qualification of Seller .  Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa with full power and authority to carry on the Business and to own, lease and operate the Purchased Assets and to perform its obligations hereunder.
 
 
6

 

5.2            Authorization of Agreement .  The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary company action including approval by the Board of Directors of Seller.  This Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of Seller enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to limitations imposed by laws and judicial decisions relating to or affecting the rights of creditors or secured creditors generally or general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in proceedings at law or in equity), upon the enforceability of any of the remedies, covenants or other provisions of this Agreement and the availability of injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

5.3            Absence of Material Changes .  Seller has operated the Business in the ordinary course and there has not been:

(a)           Any material change in the operation of the Business other than changes in the ordinary course of business, none of which has individually or in the aggregate been materially adverse to the operation of the Business; or

(b)           Any dispute or any event or condition of any character that materially and adversely affects, or could be reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect, the Business.

5.4            Title to Acquired Assets .  Seller has, or will have at Closing, good, valid and marketable title to all property comprising the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all liens, security interests, or encumbrances.

5.5            Litigation and Claims .  There are no judgments unsatisfied against Seller or consent decrees or injunctions affecting the Purchased Assets or to which the Purchased Assets are subject, and there is no litigation, claim or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Seller threatened, in any court or by any governmental authority or before any arbitrator that would have an adverse effect (whether covered by insurance or not) on the Purchased Assets or the Business, nor does the Seller know or have reasonable grounds to know of any basis for any such action or of any governmental investigation related thereto.

5.6            Compliance with Laws .  Seller, to the best of Seller's knowledge, has complied in all material respects with all laws, regulations and orders applicable to the Business, and has obtained all governmental permits, licenses, franchises or the like required in order to conduct the Business, and the present uses of the Purchased Assets and the conduct of the Business does not violate in any material respect any law, regulation, ordinance or order.  Seller has not received any notice or warning from any governmental authority with respect to any failure or alleged failure of Seller to comply with any applicable law, regulation or order and no such notice or warning has been proposed or threatened.

5.7            No Breach of Agreement .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) violate or result in a breach of or default or acceleration under the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of Seller or any instrument or agreement to which Seller is a party or is bound which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets; (ii) violate any judgment, order, injunction, decree or award against or binding upon Seller or the Purchased Assets which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets; (iii) result in the creation of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Purchased Assets; or (iv) violate any law or regulation of any jurisdiction relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets, assuming all required regulatory approvals have been obtained in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
 
7

 

5.8            Tax Matters .

(a)            Generally .  Seller has timely filed all federal, state and local tax reports, returns, information returns and any other documents required to be filed by it (collectively, "Tax Returns") and has duly paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns and all estimated or advance payments required by law.  All taxes for periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date have been fully paid by Seller.  All taxes which are required to be withheld or collected by Seller have been duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper federal, state or local authorities or properly segregated or deposited as required by applicable regulations.  There are no liens for taxes upon any Purchased Assets, except for liens for taxes not yet due and payable.  Seller has not requested an extension of time within which to file any Tax Return and has not waived the statute of limitations on the right of the IRS or any other taxing authority to assess or collect additional taxes or to contest the information reported on any Tax Return.

(b)            Good Faith .  All Tax Returns described in Section 5.8(a) have been prepared in good faith and are correct and complete in all material respects, and there is no basis for assessment of any addition to the taxes shown thereon.

(c)            Claims .  There are no proceedings, examination or claims currently pending by any taxing authority in connection with any Tax Returns described in Section 5.8(a) nor with respect to the periods to which such Tax Returns relate, and there are no unresolved issues or unpaid deficiencies or outstanding or proposed assessments relating to any such proceedings, examinations, claims or Tax Returns.  None of the Tax Returns described in Section 5.8(a) currently is under audit or has been audited in the past five years.

5.9            Access to Properties .  At all times prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall allow Buyer and its authorized representatives access to the Purchased Assets as is reasonably required for Buyer to make such investigation as it may desire of the Purchased Assets.
 
5.10            Assigned Contacts .  To the best of Seller’s knowledge, there are no defaults by any party under the Assigned Contracts, nor have any events or circumstances occurred, which with the passage of time or giving of notice, could result in a default under any of the Assigned Contracts.
 
5.11            Trade Names and Logos .  Seller has not licensed or otherwise authorized the use of any of the trade names, trademarks, copyrights, service marks, or logos, or any derivations thereof, to anyone other than Buyer as provided herein, provided that Seller has allowed use of Seller's trade name, logos, and service marks by distributors of Seller in connection with the sale of products in the Product Line.  The use thereof by Buyer after Closing in connection with the sale of the products within the Product Line will not, to Seller's knowledge, infringe upon any copyright, trade name or trademark held by any third party.
 
5.12            Patents .  There are no patents or patents pending applicable with respect to any products in the Product Line.
 
5.13            Accounting Matters .  The book value of Seller's Inventory to be conveyed to Buyer hereunder has been kept and determined in accordance with GAAP.  All historical sales figures and financial information furnished to Buyer by Seller is true, accurate and correct in all material respects.
 
 
8

 

5.14            Tooling and Equipment .  The Purchased Assets includes all tooling applicable to the Product Line as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a).
 
ARTICLE 6
OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES

6.1            Cooperation .  The parties shall cooperate reasonably with each other and shall provide each other with such assistance as they may reasonably request for the purpose of facilitating their performance under this Agreement and any and all other consents and waivers from third parties necessary or convenient to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The parties shall use their best efforts and good faith to do all things contemplated herein prior to the Closing Date.

6.2            Inventory of Purchased Assets .  Seller has prepared an inventory of the Inventory items to be transferred to Buyer at Closing, which is attached hereto as Schedule 1.1(b). The Schedule will be used to determine the Inventory portion of the Payment for Inventory to be paid by Buyer to Seller at Closing, provided however, the said Schedule and the purchase price shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.2.

6.3            Removal of Purchased Assets .  Buyer shall remove all Purchased Assets, other than finished goods, from the Seller's premises within fifteen (15) working days after the date of Closing ("Initial Removal Period").  If any such Purchased Assets remain on the Seller's premises after the Initial Removal Period and the failure to remove same within the allotted time is not due to the fault of the Seller, Buyer shall pay Seller Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per day for each day after the Initial Removal Period that any of the Purchased Assets remain within any building on the Seller's premises.  All Purchased Assets that are finished goods located on Seller's premises shall be removed from Seller's premises within sixty (60) working days after the date of Closing ("Final Removal Period").  If any finished goods that are Purchased Assets remain on Seller's premises after the Final Removal Period, Buyer shall pay to Seller One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per day for each day that such finished goods remain on Seller's premises.  Seller agrees, at no cost to Buyer, to prepare the Purchased Assets for shipment and load same onto trucks or trailers furnished by Buyer (or as may be furnished by Seller).  At Buyer’s request Seller shall furnish trucks and/or trailers to transport all or part of the Purchased assets.  There shall be no cost to Buyer to use Seller’s trailers, but if Seller’s truck or trucks, with driver are used, Buyer shall pay to Seller the sum of $400.00 for each load transported by such truck and driver. Notwithstanding the fact that Purchased Assets will remain on Seller's premises after Closing, Buyer shall have risk of loss or damage thereto from and after Closing, and Seller shall not be liable to Buyer for any such loss or damage to any of the Purchased Assets other than from the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of Seller or its employees.

6.4            Noncompete of Seller .  As a material inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement, Seller agrees not to compete with Buyer in the manufacture or distribution of manure spreaders either directly or indirectly, through affiliated persons or entities or otherwise, for a period of five (5) years following Closing Date.  Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, this Section 6.4 shall not prohibit Seller from selling any of its retained inventory of used manure spreading equipment, or from providing warranty service as described in Section 6.5 hereof.  This covenant shall automatically terminate without notice and shall be of no further force and effect in the event Buyer fails or refuses to perform any duty or obligation under this Agreement or is otherwise in default hereunder.  For purposes of this Section, a person shall be considered an affiliated person if that person is an agent, employee, officer, director or shareholder of Seller or with an entity affiliated with Seller provided, however, that if any former employee or agent competes with Buyer during such five (5) year period in the manufacture or distribution of manure spreaders, such activity shall not violate the provisions of this Section 6.4, unless such employee or agent is working directly or indirectly for Seller.  An entity shall be considered an affiliated entity if it is the parent or subsidiary of Seller or its stock, or the stock of its parent or subsidiary corporation is owned more than 25% by the Shareholders of Seller or Seller's parent or subsidiary corporation. As used in the preceding sentence the term Shareholder and stock shall include the terms member and membership interest in the case of an entity that is a limited liability company, partner and partnership interest  in the case of an entity that is a partnership or the owner of any equity interest in the case of any other type of entity.
 
 
9

 

6.5            Warranty Service .  Seller shall remain responsible for furnishing warranty service under Seller’s standard warranty terms and conditions for:  (i) any manure spreaders sold by Seller prior to Closing; and (ii) any manure spreaders sold to Buyer pursuant hereto as finished goods and unmodified by Buyer and subsequently sold by Buyer to third parties (“Seller Warranty”).  Any manure spreaders sold by Buyer to which the Seller’s Warranty is applicable shall be sold by Buyer with the same or lesser warranty as the standard warranty terms offered by Seller for the same or similar model of manure spreaders sold by Seller immediately prior to Closing.  Any additional warranty given by Buyer shall be the responsibility of Buyer.  At Seller’s request, Buyer agrees to provide warranty repairs on behalf of Seller for the Seller Warranty which Seller understands will be provided by Buyer’s distributors and/or dealers.  Any such Seller Warranty repair work shall only be undertaken by such distributor or dealer when expressly authorized in advance by Seller.  Seller agrees to pay when invoiced the dealer/distributor’s charges for such authorized warranty repairs.  In the case of Warranty work done directly by Seller or on behalf of Seller by a distributor or dealer, Buyer agrees to sell repair parts to Seller or such distributor or dealer for such warranty repairs at a equal to Buyer’s then current cost plus twenty-five percent (25%).  Other than the Seller Warranty to third parties described herein, the other warranties of Seller specifically described in this Agreement and the warranties of title in the bill of sale, all of the Purchased Assets are being sold and transferred to Buyer “AS IS” and “WHERE IS” and Seller makes no other warranties with respect thereto, either express or implied, including NO WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTIBILITY.

6.6            Restrictions on Operations Prior to Closing.   From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, Seller shall conduct its operations in accordance with its ordinary and usual course of business, and Seller shall not take any action which would cause, or fail to take any action necessary to prevent, a material adverse change to the Business.
 
6.7            Location of Assets .  All tooling, dies, patterns, or other items of equipment used in the manufacturing of the Product Line and being sold to Buyer are located at Seller's main facility and are described on Schedule 1.1(a) of this Agreement.  Buyer acknowledges that certain finished products being sold to Buyer by Seller are located at various Distributors' premises.  Buyer will be responsible for any storage or transportation arrangements necessary with respect to such finished products.
 
 
10

 

ARTICLE 7
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS
OF SELLER

The obligations of Seller under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment prior to or on the Closing Date of the following conditions:

7.1            Representations and Warranties .  Each of the representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be accurate in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, and Buyer shall have performed all covenants and agreements required to be performed by it and shall not be in default under any of the provisions of this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.

7.2            Consents and Approvals .  All consents, approvals, authorizations, permits, certificates and orders with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement required from any person, entity, court or governmental agency or instrumentality (federal, state or local) shall have been obtained and shall be valid and in full force and effect.

7.3            Resolutions certified copies of resolutions, duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Buyer, which shall be in full force and effect at the time of Closing, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

7.4            Payment .  Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price in accordance with Article 3.
 
7.5            Deliveries by Buyer .  On or before the Closing Date, Buyer shall have executed and delivered to Seller the Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to the Assigned Contracts.

ARTICLE 8
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER

The obligations of Buyer under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment prior to or on the Closing Date of the following conditions:

8.1            Representations and Warranties .  Each of the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in this Agreement shall be accurate in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties shall be incorrect as of the Closing Date because of events or changes occurring after the date hereof in the ordinary course of operating the Business as contemplated in this Agreement); and Seller shall have performed all covenants and agreements required to be performed by it and shall not be in default under any of the provisions of this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.

8.2            Consents and Approvals .  All consents, approvals, authorizations, permits, certificates and orders with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement required from any person, entity, court or governmental agency or instrumentality (federal, state or local) shall have been obtained and shall be valid and in full force and effect, and no conditions, requirements or qualifications shall have been imposed by such consents, approvals, authorizations, permits, certificates or orders.
 
 
11

 

8.3            Deliveries by Seller .  On or before the Closing Date, Seller shall have executed and delivered to Buyer the following:

(a)           Bill of Sale executed by Seller in a form reasonably acceptable to Buyer, sufficient to pass title to the Purchased Assets to be conveyed hereunder, free and clear of all liens or encumbrances of any type or nature together with other good and sufficient instruments of transfer and conveyance as, in the reasonable opinion of Buyer’s counsel, shall be effective to vest in Buyer good and marketable title to the assets to be sold as provided in this Agreement;

(b)           Assignment and Assumption Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the attorney for Buyer with respect to the Assigned Contracts;
 
(c)           certified copies of resolutions, duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Seller and the Shareholders, which shall be in full force and effect at the time of Closing, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and
 
(d)           All other documents reasonably necessary to transfer title to the Purchased Assets to Buyer and as reasonably necessary to perform all other obligations of Buyer hereunder.

8.4            No Litigation .  No claim, suit, action or other proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any court or governmental body to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder or seeking to put a lien on the Purchased Assets.
 
8.5            Condition of Equipment and Inventory .  Within twenty-four (24) hours prior to Closing, Buyer shall (i) have conducted an inspection of the Equipment and Inventory to confirm the condition thereof and to confirm the existence of the specific items of Equipment described on Schedule 1.1(a) and the Inventory described on Exhibit 1.1(b) and (ii) be satisfied, in its sole discretion, with the results of such inspection.
 
8.6            Delivery of Possession .  Seller shall deliver possession of all of the Purchased Assets to Buyer at Closing.
 
ARTICLE 9
INDEMNIFICATION

9.1            Matters Covered by Seller Indemnification .  Seller hereby covenants and agrees that it shall defend and indemnify Buyer and hold harmless Buyer at all times after the Closing Date from and against and in respect to any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, costs (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees), damages, expenses or deficiencies ("Covered Liabilities") arising out of or due to:

(a)           Any breach of any representation, warranty or any agreement, covenant or obligation on the part of Seller made in this Agreement;

(b)           Any transaction, occurrence, action or omission in connection with the operation of the Business by Seller on or before the Closing Date; or
 
 
12

 

(c)           Any claim against any of the Purchased Assets hereunder as a result of Seller's acts or omissions occurring on or before the Closing Date.

(d)           Any liability, debt or obligation of Seller whatsoever, not specifically assumed by Buyer under the provisions of Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

9.2            Matters Covered by Buyer Indemnification .  Buyer hereby covenants and agrees that it shall defend and indemnify Seller and hold harmless Seller at all times after the Closing Date from and against and in respect to any Covered Liabilities arising out of or due to:

(a)           Any breach of any representation, warranty or any agreement, covenant or obligation on the part of Buyer made in this Agreement;

(b)           Any transaction, occurrence, action or omission in connection with the Purchased Assets or the operation of the Business by Buyer on or after the Closing Date; or

(c)           Any failure to perform any obligation on Buyer's part to be performed after Closing under any of the Assigned Contracts.

9.3            Procedure for Indemnification .  A party shall assert any claim or claims for indemnification under the provisions of this Article 9 by giving written notice of such claim or claims to the other party.  Each such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the factual basis giving rise to the claim or claims and the amount of the damages and expenses incurred by such party as a result of such claim or claims.  Such notice shall be given within a reasonable time after receipt of actual notice of such claim by the party seeking indemnification.

ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION

10.1            Right of Termination .  This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein may be terminated at any time prior to Closing in any one of the following circumstances:

(a)           By mutual written consent of Buyer and Seller.

(b)           By Seller in the event that any of the conditions set forth in Article 7 of this Agreement shall not have been satisfied or waived and Closing shall not have occurred on or before January 20, 2010, or such later date as may be agreed upon pursuant to this Agreement and provided Seller was not at fault.

(c)           By Buyer in the event that any of the conditions set forth in Article 8 of this Agreement shall not have been satisfied or waived and Closing shall not have occurred on or before January 20, 2010, or such later date as may be agreed upon pursuant to this Agreement and provided Buyer was not at fault.
 
In the event this Agreement is terminated as allowed in this Section 10.1, neither party shall have any further duties, obligations or rights hereunder.  In the event of Seller fails or refuses to perform and duty or obligation under this Agreement, Buyer may, in lieu of termination, pursue any remedy that it may have against Seller by reason thereof.
 
 
13

 

10.2            Notice of Termination .  Notice of termination of this Agreement as provided for in this Article 10 shall be given by the party or parties so terminating to the other parties hereto in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.4 of this Agreement.
 
10.3            Other Default .  In the event, after Closing, either party fails to perform any duty or obligation on such party's part to perform, and such default is not cured after ten (10) days notice thereof to the defaulting party, then such party shall be deemed in default, and the non-defaulting party shall have such remedies upon default as are provided herein and as are allowed by law.

10.4            Time is of the Essence .  Time is of the essence with respect to this Agreement.

ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS

11.1            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with the schedules, exhibits and attachments hereto, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

11.2            Severability .  If any severable provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable by any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected by such judgment, and the Agreement shall be carried out as nearly as possible according to its original terms and intent.

11.3            Expenses .  Whether or not the Closing occurs, each party shall pay its own expenses incident to the preparation and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

11.4            Notice .  Any notice, demand or other communication required or permitted by any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served for all purposes when delivered in person or sent by facsimile transmission with telephone confirmation of receipt, overnight courier or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, all postage and other charges prepaid, as follows:

If to Buyer:
 
If to Seller:
Roda Mfg., Inc.
1110 Albany Place
Orange City, IA 51041
Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.
P. O. Box 288
Armstrong, IA 50514-0288
 

with a copy to:
P. Scott Dye
1500 Woodmen Tower
1700 Farnam Street
Omaha, NE 68102
with a copy to:
 
Everette L. Wooten, Jr.
Wooten & Coley, Attorneys
P. O. Box 1555
Kinston, NC 28504

or at such other address as may be designated by notice pursuant to this Section 11.4 from such party to the other party.  Notice sent by overnight courier shall be deemed delivered on the business day immediately following deposit with such courier.  Notice sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed delivered on the day of transmission if a business day or if not a business day the first business day following the day of transmission.  Notice sent by certified or registered mail shall be deemed delivered on the fifth (5th) day after deposit with the United States postal service.
 
 
14

 

11.5            Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa.

11.6            No Third-Party Beneficiaries.   The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements expressed in this Agreement are for the sole benefit of the other parties hereto, and each indemnified person under Article 9 above, and are not intended to benefit, and may not be relied upon or enforced by any other party as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise.

11.7            Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or cancelled, and any of the terms, provisions, covenants, representations, warranties or conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance.

11.8            Waiver .  The failure to enforce or to require the performance at any time of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect either the validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every provision in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

11.9            Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same Agreement.  This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts shall have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

11.10          Incorporation by Reference .  The exhibits and schedules referred to in this Agreement are hereby incorporated in this Agreement as a part hereof as if set forth in full herein.

11.11          Specific Performance .  In the event of a breach of this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that each of them shall, in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity, have the right to seek specific performance by the other parties of their respective obligations hereunder.

11.12          Confidentiality .  The parties hereto agree that until the earlier of Closing or the termination of this Agreement, each party hereto shall keep confidential and not disclose or divulge to any person the existence of this Agreement or the transaction contemplated hereby, other than the following individuals and entities required to have such knowledge for sole purpose of advising such party and evaluating and analyzing the proposed transaction contemplated hereby: (a) authorized employees, agents and directors of each party; (b) accountants, attorneys and other professional advisers of each party utilized in connection with this transaction; (c) authorized employees, directors and professional advisers of any financial institution providing funding for the transaction; (d) service providers to Buyer necessary for Buyer to evaluate the purchase, such as title insurance companies, surveyor, environmental consultants and the like and their respective employees; and (e) any employees of any governmental offices as necessary to obtain any required governmental approvals in connection with this transaction.  Nothing stated herein shall prohibit the disclosure of this Agreement and the transaction that is the subject of this Agreement as necessary to judicially enforce any of the terms and conditions hereof.


 
15

 

11.13          Brokers' Fees .  Seller represents that in connection with this sale it has not dealt with any business brokers.  Seller will indemnify and hold the Buyer harmless (which indemnification shall survive Closing) from any and all claims and/or expense resulting to Buyer by reason of breach of the representations made by Seller herein.  Buyer represents that it has not retained any business brokers in connection with this sale.  Buyer shall indemnify and hold Seller harmless (which indemnification shall survive Closing) from any and all claims and/or expense resulting to Seller by reason of breach of the representation made by Buyer.
 
11.14          Survival .  This Agreement, and the duties and obligations stated herein, shall survive closing and shall not be deemed merged into any document delivered at Closing.

11.15          Further Actions .  Following the Closing Date, at the request of Buyer, the Seller shall deliver such further instruments of transfer and take all reasonable action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Each party will promptly notify the other party of any information delivered to or obtained by such party which would prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or would indicate a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants of any of the parties to this Agreement.


Signature Page Follows


 
16

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.

 
BUYER :
       
       
 
ART’S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC., an Iowa corporation
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Carrie Majeski
 
 
Name:
Carrie Majeski  
 
Its:
   
       
 
 
 
 
SELLER :
       
       
 
RODA MFG., INC., an Iowa corporation
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Drew Vogel
 
 
Name:
Drew Vogel  
 
Its:
   
 
 
17

 
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Form 10-K of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. of our report dated February 22, 2010, related to the consolidated financial statements which appear in Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Form 10-K for the years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008.

/s/ Eide Bailly LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 22, 2010
 
 
 

 


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 17 CFR 240.13(a)-14(a)
(SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION)
 
I, Carrie L. Majeski, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant, as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
 
4.
I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under my supervision, 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;

 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report)  that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.

Date:
February 22, 2010
 
/s/ Carrie L. Majeski
   
Carrie L. Majeski, President, Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive and financial officer)

 
 

 
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. (the “Company”) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Carrie L. Majeski, as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 
2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:  February 22, 2010
 
/s/ Carrie L. Majeski
   
Carrie L. Majeski, President, Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive and financial officer)