(2)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AETI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, M&I and AAT, and M&I's wholly-owned subsidiary SC. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates made by management include:

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Percentage-of-completion estimates on long-term contracts

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Estimates of the provision for doubtful accounts

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Estimated useful lives of property and equipment

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Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets

Financial Instruments

The Company includes fair value information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when the fair value of its financial instruments is different from the book value. When the book value approximates fair value, no additional disclosure is made, which is the case for financial instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company assumes the book value of those financial instruments that are classified as current approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. For non-current financial instruments, the Company uses quoted market prices or, to the extent that there are no available quoted market prices, market prices for similar instruments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Accounts Receivable and Provision for Bad Debts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The estimate is based on management's assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and includes consideration for credit worthiness and financial condition of those specific customers. The Company also reviews historical experience with the customer, the general economic environment and the aging of its receivables. The Company records an allowance to reduce receivables to the amount it reasonably believes to be collectible. Based on this assessment, management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with material value determined using an average cost method. Inventory costs for finished goods and work-in-process include direct material, direct labor, production overhead and outside services. TP&S and E&I indirect overhead is apportioned to work in process based on direct labor incurred. AAT production overhead, including indirect labor, is allocated to finished goods and work-in-process based on material consumption, which is an estimate that could be subject to change in the near term as additional information is obtained and as the operating environment changes.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred while renewals and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets after giving effect to salvage values.

If events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, management tests property and equipment for impairment. If the estimated future cash flows are projected to be less than the carrying amount, an impairment write-down (representing the carrying amount of the long-lived asset which exceeds the present value of estimated expected future cash flows) would be recorded as a period expense. Events that would trigger an impairment test include the following:

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A significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset.

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A significant change in the use of long-lived assets or in its physical condition.

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A significant change in the business climate that could affect an assets value.

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An accumulation of cost significantly greater than the amount originally expected to acquire or construct a long-lived asset.

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A current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of such losses or a forecast demonstrating continued losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset.

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An expectation to sell or otherwise dispose of a long-lived asset significantly before the end of its estimated useful life.

Based on management's reviews during each of the period years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no events or circumstances that caused management to believe that impairments were necessary.

Other Assets


Intangible Assets	Useful Lives (Years)		Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Value
	(in thousands)
Patents		18	$	95	$	66	$	29
Customer Agreements		10		173		114		59

			$	268	$	180	$	88

Amortization expense related to intangible assets held by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $23,000 in each year. Estimated amortization expense for the next five years is as follows:


For the Year Ending December 31,	Amount
	(in thousands)
2012	$	23
2013		23
2014		23
2015		19

	$	88

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method to account for income taxes. Under this method of accounting for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to be reported to the taxing authority. We also record any financial statement recognition and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Financial statement recognition of the tax position is dependent on an assessment of a 50% or greater likelihood that the tax position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. Any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses

Foreign currency translations are included as a separate component of comprehensive income. We have determined the local currency of our foreign joint ventures' operations to be the functional currency. In accordance with ASC 830, the assets and liabilities of our foreign equity investees, denominated in foreign currency, are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date; net sales and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. Related translation adjustments are reported as comprehensive income, which is a separate component of stockholders' equity, whereas gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in results of operations.

Net Sales Recognition

The Company reports earnings from fixed-price and modified fixed-price long-term contracts on the percentage-of-completion method. Earnings are accrued based on the ratio of costs incurred to total estimated costs. However, for TP&S, we have determined that labor incurred provides an improved measure of percentage-of-completion. Costs include direct material, direct labor, and job related overhead. Losses expected to be incurred on contracts are charged to operations in the period such losses are determined. A contract is considered complete when all costs except insignificant items have been incurred and the facility has been accepted by the customer. Net sales from non-time and material jobs of a short-term nature (typically less than one month) are recognized on the completed-contract method after considering the attributes of such contracts. This method is used because these contracts are typically completed in a short period of time and the financial position and results of operations do not vary materially from those which would result from use of the percentage-of-completion method.

The Company records net sales from its field and technical service and repair operations on a completed service basis after customer acknowledgement that the service has been completed and accepted. Approximately 10% of the Company's consolidated net sales is recorded on this basis. In addition, the Company sells certain purchased parts and products. These net sales are recorded when the product is shipped and title passes to the customer. Approximately 2% of the Company's consolidated net sales is recorded on this basis. AAT generally recognizes net sales when manufactured products are shipped and right of ownership passes.

The asset, "Work-in-process," which is included in inventories, represents the cost of labor, material, and overhead in excess of amounts billed on jobs accounted for under the completed-contract method. For contracts accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method, the asset, "Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billing on uncompleted contracts," represents net sales recognized in excess of amounts billed and the liability, "Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts," represents billings in excess of net sales recognized. Any billed net sales that has not been collected is reported as accounts receivable. The timing of when we bill our customers is generally dependent upon advance billing terms or completion of certain phases of the work. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, accounts receivable included contract retentions expected to be collected within one year totaling $579,000 and $437,000, respectively. Contract retentions collectible beyond one year are included in non-current contract retentions and totaled $0 and $51,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

On occasion, the Company enters into long-term contracts that include services performed by more than one operating segment particularly TP&S contracts which include electrical and instrumentation construction services performed by our E&I segment. The Company segments net sales, costs and gross profit related to these contracts if they meet the contract segmenting criteria in ASC 605-35, including that the terms and scope of the project clearly call for separate elements, the separate elements are often bid or negotiated by the Company separately and the total economic returns and risks of the separate elements are similar to the economic returns and risks of the overall contract. For segmented contracts, the Company recognizes net sales as if they were separate contracts over the performance periods of the individual elements.

Contract net sales recognition inherently involves estimation, including the contemplated level of effort to accomplish the tasks under the contract, the cost of the effort, and an ongoing assessment of progress toward completing the contract. From time to time, as part of the normal management processes, facts develop that requires revisions to estimated total cost or net sales expected. The cumulative impact of any revisions to estimates and the full impact of anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in the period in which they become known. Projected losses on all other contracts are recognized as the services and materials are provided.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

Shipping and handling fees, if billed to customers, are included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are expensed as incurred. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are classified as cost of sales.

Concentration of Market Risk and Geographic Operations

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. The Company's market risk is dependent primarily on the strength of the oil and gas and energy related industries. The Company grants credit to customers and generally does not require security except in the case of certain international contracts. Procedures are in effect to monitor the credit worthiness of its customers. During 2010, one customer accounted for approximately 11% of net sales and 8% of net accounts receivable trade. No single customer represented 10% or more of the Company's net sales in 2011.

The Company sells its products and services in domestic and international markets; however, significant portions of the Company's sales are concentrated with customers located in the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast region accounts for approximately 48% of the Company's net sales during the year ended December 31, 2011 and 60% during 2010.

Reclassification

Certain items are reclassified in the 2010 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). This pronouncement was issued to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with application on a prospective basis. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on the financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The guidance now requires the Company to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Regardless of whether the Company chooses to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements, the Company is required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. The standard does not change the items which must be reported in other comprehensive income, how such items are measured or when they must be reclassified to net income. ASU No. 2011-05 is effective retrospectively for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within these years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently presenting a separate statement of other comprehensive income.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more likely than not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Under ASU No. 2011-08, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. ASU No. 2011-08 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2011-08 is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial position or result of operations.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210):Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. ASU No. 2011-11 was issued to provide enhanced disclosures that will enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity's financial position. The amendments under ASU No. 2011-11 require enhanced disclosures by requiring entities to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This scope would include derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements, reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending arrangements. ASU No. 2011-11 is effective retrospectively for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those periods. The adoption of ASU 2011-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial position or result of operations.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. ASU No. 2011-12 defers the effective date for provisions of ASU No. 2011-05 requiring entities to present the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income on the face of the financial statements for all periods presented. All other requirements in ASU No. 2011-05 are not affected by ASU No. 2011-12. ASU No. 2011-12 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and reinstates the requirement that reclassifications must be either disclosed on the face of the financial statements or in the notes. The adoption of ASU 2011-12 is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements or disclosures.