Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2010
or,
     
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 1-5415
A. M. Castle & Co.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Maryland   36-0879160
     
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation of organization)    
     
3400 North Wolf Road, Franklin Park, Illinois   60131
     
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone, including area code 847/455-7111
None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T 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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer; an accelerated filer; a non-accelerated filer; or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):
             
Large Accelerated Filer o   Accelerated Filer þ   Non-Accelerated Filer o   Smaller Reporting Company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
     
Class   Outstanding at October 29, 2010
     
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value   22,954,459 shares
 
 

 

 


 

A. M. CASTLE & CO.
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 Exhibit 3.2
 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32.1

 

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Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)
Amounts in thousands, except par value and per share data
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                 
    As of  
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 28,175     $ 28,311  
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $4,500 and $4,195
    139,771       105,832  
Inventories, principally on last-in, first-out basis (replacement cost higher by $122,144 and $116,816)
    161,780       170,960  
Other current assets
    8,060       5,241  
Income tax receivable
    9,980       18,970  
 
           
Total current assets
    347,766       329,314  
Investment in joint venture
    26,724       23,468  
Goodwill
    50,084       50,072  
Intangible assets
    43,214       48,575  
Prepaid pension cost
    21,050       19,913  
Other assets
    3,436       3,906  
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
               
Land
    5,193       5,192  
Building
    52,047       51,945  
Machinery and equipment
    182,742       178,545  
 
           
 
    239,982       235,682  
Less — accumulated depreciation
    (162,366 )     (152,929 )
 
           
 
    77,616       82,753  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 569,890     $ 558,001  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 89,256     $ 71,295  
Accrued liabilities
    30,332       22,419  
Income taxes payable
    1,221       1,848  
Deferred income taxes
    4,409       9,706  
Current portion of long-term debt
    7,647       7,778  
Short-term debt
    11,500       13,720  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    144,365       126,766  
 
           
Long-term debt, less current portion
    68,437       67,686  
Deferred income taxes
    29,362       32,032  
Other non-current liabilities
    3,200       5,281  
Pension and post retirement benefit obligations
    8,366       8,028  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - 10,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009
           
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 30,000 shares authorized; 23,124 shares issued and 22,954 outstanding at September 30, 2010 and 23,115 shares issued and 22,906 outstanding at December 31, 2009
    231       230  
Additional paid-in capital
    179,569       178,129  
Retained earnings
    152,245       156,387  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (13,577 )     (13,528 )
Treasury stock, at cost — 170 shares at September 30, 2010 and 209 shares at December 31, 2009
    (2,308 )     (3,010 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    316,160       318,208  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 569,890     $ 558,001  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 
    For the Three     For the Nine  
    Months Ended     Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Net sales
  $ 244,938     $ 183,960     $ 708,066     $ 631,307  
 
                               
Costs and expenses:
                               
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)
    181,911       137,671       529,469       464,917  
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense
    30,923       26,160       90,003       83,305  
Sales, general, and administrative expense
    27,276       23,625       80,026       81,474  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    4,993       5,149       15,494       16,107  
 
                       
Operating loss
    (165 )     (8,645 )     (6,926 )     (14,496 )
Interest expense, net
    (1,379 )     (1,539 )     (3,924 )     (4,797 )
 
                       
 
                               
Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture
    (1,544 )     (10,184 )     (10,850 )     (19,293 )
 
                       
 
                               
Income taxes
    (43 )     3,607       2,735       7,834  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss before equity in earnings of joint venture
    (1,587 )     (6,577 )     (8,115 )     (11,459 )
 
                               
Equity in earnings of joint venture
    1,659       240       3,973       81  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 72     $ (6,337 )   $ (4,142 )   $ (11,378 )
 
                       
 
                               
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  $     $ (0.28 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.50 )
 
                       
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $     $ (0.28 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.50 )
 
                       
Dividends per common share
  $     $     $     $ 0.06  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                 
    For the Nine Months  
    Ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Operating activities:
               
Net loss
  $ (4,142 )   $ (11,378 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    15,494       16,107  
Amortization of deferred gain
    (664 )     (670 )
Loss on sale of fixed assets
    108        
Equity in earnings of joint venture
    (3,973 )     (81 )
Dividends from joint venture
    804       485  
Deferred tax (benefit) provision
    (7,963 )     9,248  
Share-based compensation expense
    1,714       1,079  
Excess tax (benefits) deficiencies from share-based payment arrangements
    (172 )     95  
Increase (decrease) from changes, net of acquisitions, in:
               
Accounts receivable
    (34,021 )     52,552  
Inventories
    8,806       49,624  
Other current assets
    (2,603 )     180  
Other assets
    2,428       (2,440 )
Prepaid pension costs
    (786 )     (562 )
Accounts payable
    15,290       (47,917 )
Accrued liabilities
    6,432       (4,772 )
Income taxes payable and receivable
    8,475       (29,576 )
Postretirement benefit obligations and other liabilities
    376       (865 )
 
           
Net cash from operating activities
    5,603       31,109  
 
               
Investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (5,061 )     (6,202 )
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
          19  
Insurance proceeds
          1,093  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (5,061 )     (5,090 )
 
               
Financing activities:
               
Short-term (repayments) borrowings, net
    (2,220 )     (19,276 )
Net borrowings on long-term revolving lines of credit
    1,746        
Repayments of long-term debt
    (607 )     (1,755 )
Common stock dividends
          (1,361 )
Excess tax benefits (deficiencies) from share-based payment arrangements
    172       (95 )
Exercise of stock options and other
    279        
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (630 )     (22,487 )
 
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (48 )     1,301  
 
           
 
               
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (136 )     4,833  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of year
    28,311       15,277  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period
  $ 28,175     $ 20,110  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

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A. M. Castle & Co.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited — Amounts in thousands except per share data)
(1) Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by A. M. Castle & Co. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009 is derived from the audited financial statements at that date. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, the unaudited statements, included herein, contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of financial results for the interim periods. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. The 2010 interim results reported herein may not necessarily be indicative of the results of the Company’s operations for the full year.
Non-cash investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 consisted of $140 and $93 of capital expenditures financed by accounts payable, respectively.
(2) New Accounting Standards
Standards Adopted
Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-17, “Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved With Variable Interest Entities” (“ASU 2009-17”). The revised guidance amends the consolidation guidance that applies to a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The adoption of the ASU did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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(3) Earnings Per Share
Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus common stock equivalents. Common stock equivalents consist of stock options, non-vested shares, restricted stock units, and other share-based payment awards, which have been included in the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. The following table is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
                                 
    For the Three Months     For the Nine Months  
    Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Numerator:
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 72     $ (6,337 )   $ (4,142 )   $ (11,378 )
 
                       
 
                               
Denominator:
                               
Denominator for basic income (loss) per share:
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    22,731       22,908       22,707       22,846  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Outstanding common stock equivalents
    405                    
 
                       
 
                               
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
    23,136       22,908       22,707       22,846  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  $     $ (0.28 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.50 )
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $     $ (0.28 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.50 )
 
                       
 
                               
Excluded outstanding shared-based awards having an anti-dilutive effect
    70       239       499       239  
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the undistributed losses attributed to participating securities, which represent certain non-vested shares granted by the Company, were approximately one percent of total income (loss).
(4) Debt
Short-term and long-term debt consisted of the following:
                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
SHORT-TERM DEBT
               
U.S. Revolver A (a)
  $ 4,000     $ 5,000  
Trade acceptances (b)
    7,500       8,720  
 
           
Total short-term debt
    11,500       13,720  
 
               
LONG-TERM DEBT
               
6.76% insurance company loan due in scheduled installments from 2007 through 2015
    50,026       50,026  
U.S. Revolver B (a)
    25,291       24,246  
Other, primarily capital leases
    767       1,192  
 
           
Total long-term debt
    76,084       75,464  
Less current portion
    (7,647 )     (7,778 )
 
           
Total long-term portion
    68,437       67,686  
 
           
 
               
TOTAL SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT
  $ 87,584     $ 89,184  
 
           
 
               
     
(a)   The Company’s amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2008 Senior Credit Facility”) provides a $230,000 five-year secured revolver consisting of (i) a $170,000 revolving “A” loan (the “U.S. Revolver A”), (ii) a $50,000 multicurrency revolving “B” loan (the “U.S. Revolver B”), and (iii) a Canadian dollar $9,784 revolving loan (corresponding to $10,000 in U.S. dollars as of the amendment closing date; availability expressed in U.S. dollars changes based on movement in the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar). The maturity date of the 2008 Senior Credit Facility is January 2, 2013.

 

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    The Company has classified U.S. Revolver A as short-term based on its ability and intent to repay amounts outstanding under this instrument within the next 12 months. U.S. Revolver B is classified as long-term as the Company’s cash projections indicate that amounts outstanding (which are denominated in British pounds) under this instrument are not expected to be repaid within the next 12 months. The Company had availability of $80,247 under its U.S. Revolver A and $24,709 under its U.S. Revolver B as of September 30, 2010. The Company’s Canadian subsidiary had availability of approximately $9,499 in U.S dollars. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the U.S. Revolver A and U.S. Revolver B for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 2.70% and 1.57%, respectively. The weighted average interest rate under the Canadian Revolver for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 0.22% and primarily represents unused credit line fees.
 
(b)   The trade acceptance purchase agreement which was a 364-day facility expired by its terms on August 27, 2010. At September 30, 2010, the Company had $7,500 in outstanding trade acceptances with varying maturity dates ranging up to 120 days. The outstanding trade acceptances will be paid on their respective maturity dates. The weighted average interest rate was 1.14% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt as of September 30, 2010, including current maturities, was estimated to be between $49,300 and $50,700 compared to a carrying value of $50,026. The fair value of the fixed rate debt was determined using a market approach, which estimates fair value based on companies with similar credit quality and size of debt issuances. As of September 30, 2010, the estimated fair value of the Company’s debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility is $26,336, assuming the total amount of debt outstanding at the end of the period was outstanding until the maturity of the Company’s facility in January 2013. Although borrowings could be materially greater or less than the current amount of borrowings outstanding at the end of the period, it is not practical to estimate the amounts that may be outstanding during future periods since there is no predetermined borrowing or repayment schedule. The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility is lower than the carrying value of $29,291 since the terms of this facility are more favorable than those that might be expected to be available in the current lending environment.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company remained in compliance with the covenants of its financing agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital and working capital-to-debt ratios and a minimum adjusted consolidated net worth as defined within the agreements.
(5) Segment Reporting
The Company distributes and performs processing on both metals and plastics. Although the distribution processes are similar, the customer markets, supplier bases and types of products are different. Additionally, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision-maker, reviews and manages these two businesses separately. As such, these businesses are considered reportable segments and are reported accordingly.
In its Metals segment, the Company’s marketing strategy focuses on distributing highly engineered specialty grades and alloys of metals as well as providing specialized processing services designed to meet very precise specifications. Core products include alloy, aluminum, stainless, nickel, titanium and carbon. Inventories of these products assume many forms such as plate, sheet, round bar, hexagon bar, square and flat bar, tubing and coil. Depending on the size of the facility and the nature of the markets it serves, service centers are equipped as needed with bar saws, plate saws, oxygen and plasma arc flame cutting machinery, water-jet cutting, stress relieving and annealing furnaces, surface grinding equipment and sheet shearing equipment. This segment also performs various specialized fabrications for its customers through pre-qualified subcontractors that thermally process, turn, polish and straighten alloy and carbon bar.

 

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The Company’s Plastics segment consists exclusively of a wholly-owned subsidiary that operates as Total Plastics, Inc. (“TPI”) headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Plastics segment stocks and distributes a wide variety of plastics in forms that include plate, rod, tube, clear sheet, tape, gaskets and fittings. Processing activities within this segment include cut to length, cut to shape, bending and forming according to customer specifications. The Plastics segment’s diverse customer base consists of companies in the retail (point-of-purchase), marine, office furniture and fixtures, transportation and general manufacturing industries. TPI has locations throughout the upper northeast and midwest regions of the U.S. and one facility in Florida from which it services a wide variety of users of industrial plastics.
The accounting policies of all segments are the same as described in Note 1, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Management evaluates the performance of its business segments based on operating income.
Segment information for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
                                 
    Net     Operating     Capital     Depreciation &  
    Sales     Income (Loss)     Expenditures     Amortization  
2010
                               
Metals segment
  $ 218,057     $ 1,119     $ 1,528     $ 4,702  
Plastics segment
    26,881       1,097       279       291  
Other
          (2,381 )            
 
                       
Consolidated
  $ 244,938     $ (165 )   $ 1,807     $ 4,993  
 
                       
 
                               
2009
                               
Metals segment
  $ 161,772     $ (7,963 )   $ 1,190     $ 4,818  
Plastics segment
    22,188       710       90       331  
Other
          (1,392 )            
 
                       
Consolidated
  $ 183,960     $ (8,645 )   $ 1,280     $ 5,149  
 
                       
“Other” — Operating loss includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments, which are shared by both the Metals and Plastics segments.

 

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Segment information for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
                                 
    Net     Operating     Capital     Depreciation &  
    Sales     (Loss) Income     Expenditures     Amortization  
2010
                               
Metals segment
  $ 631,020     $ (4,239 )   $ 4,553     $ 14,540  
Plastics segment
    77,046       2,700       508       954  
Other
          (5,387 )            
 
                       
Consolidated
  $ 708,066     $ (6,926 )   $ 5,061     $ 15,494  
 
                       
 
                               
2009
                               
Metals segment
  $ 566,930     $ (11,008 )   $ 5,974     $ 15,089  
Plastics segment
    64,377       84       228       1,018  
Other
          (3,572 )            
 
                       
Consolidated
  $ 631,307     $ (14,496 )   $ 6,202     $ 16,107  
 
                       
“Other” — Operating loss includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments, which are shared by both the Metals and Plastics segments. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, an insurance settlement gain of $1,308 was included in the operating loss.
Segment information for total assets is as follows:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
Metals segment
  $ 493,424     $ 488,090  
Plastics segment
    49,742       46,443  
Other
    26,724       23,468  
 
           
Consolidated
  $ 569,890     $ 558,001  
 
           
“Other” — Total assets consist of the Company’s investment in joint venture.
(6) Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The changes in carrying amounts of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were as follows:
                         
    Metals     Plastics        
    Segment     Segment     Total  
Balance as of January 1, 2010
                       
Goodwill
  $ 97,316     $ 12,973     $ 110,289  
Accumulated impairment losses
    (60,217 )           (60,217 )
 
                 
Balance as of January 1, 2010
    37,099       12,973       50,072  
 
                 
Currency valuation
    12             12  
 
                 
Balance as of September 30, 2010
                       
Goodwill
    97,328       12,973       110,301  
Accumulated impairment losses
    (60,217 )           (60,217 )
 
                 
Balance as of September 30, 2010
  $ 37,111     $ 12,973     $ 50,084  
 
                 

 

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As discussed in Note 8, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets”, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $1,357 for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company’s annual test for goodwill impairment is completed as of January 1st each year. Based on the January 1, 2010 test, the Company determined that there was no impairment of goodwill.
The following summarizes the components of intangible assets:
                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Gross             Gross        
    Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying     Accumulated  
    Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amortization  
Customer relationships
  $ 69,490     $ 26,388     $ 69,549     $ 21,435  
Non-compete agreements
    2,907       2,795       2,938       2,477  
Trade name
    378       378       378       378  
 
                       
Total
  $ 72,775     $ 29,561     $ 72,865     $ 24,290  
 
                       
The weighted-average amortization period for the intangible assets is 10.5 years, 10.8 years for customer relationships and 3 years for non-compete agreements. Substantially all of the Company’s intangible assets were acquired as part of the acquisitions of Transtar on September 5, 2006 and Metals U.K. on January 3, 2008, respectively. For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, amortization expense was $1,769 and $1,869, respectively. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, amortization expense was $5,300 and $5,662, respectively.
The following is a summary of the estimated annual amortization expense for 2010 and each of the next 4 years:
         
2010
  $ 7,092  
2011
    6,622  
2012
    6,143  
2013
    6,143  
2014
    6,143  
(7) Inventories
Over eighty percent of the Company’s inventories are stated at the lower of LIFO cost or market. Final inventory determination under the LIFO method is made at the end of each fiscal year based on the actual inventory levels and costs at that time. Interim LIFO determinations, including those at September 30, 2010, are based on management’s estimates of future inventory levels and costs. The Company values its LIFO increments using the cost of its latest purchases during the periods reported.
Current replacement cost of inventories exceeded book value by $122,144 and $116,816 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Income taxes would become payable on any realization of this excess from reductions in the level of inventories.

 

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(8) Share-based Compensation
The Company accounts for its share-based compensation arrangements by recognizing compensation expense for the fair value of the share awards granted ratably over their vesting period. The consolidated compensation cost recorded for the Company’s share-based compensation arrangements was $694 and $369 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $1,714 and $1,079 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $236 and $144 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively and $593 and $421 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. All compensation expense related to share-based compensation arrangements is recorded in sales, general and administrative expense. The unrecognized compensation cost as of September 30, 2010 associated with all share-based payment arrangements is $4,622 and the weighted average period over which it is to be expensed is 1.5 years.
Long-Term Compensation and Incentive Plans
On March 18, 2010, the Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company approved equity awards under the Company’s 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan (“2010 LTC Plan”) for executive officers and other select personnel. The 2010 LTC Plan awards included restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share units, and stock options. All 2010 LTC Plan awards are subject to the terms of the Company’s 2008 Restricted Stock, Stock Option and Equity Compensation Plan, amended and restated as of March 5, 2009. In addition to the 2010 LTC Plan, the Company maintains 2008 and 2009 Long-term Incentive Plans (“LTI Plans”) for executive officers and other select personnel under which they may receive share-based awards.
Unless covered by a specific change-in-control or severance agreement, participants to whom RSUs, performance shares and other non-vested shares have been granted must be employed by the Company on the vesting date or at the end of the performance period, respectively, or the award will be forfeited. However, for stock option awards, unless a participant is covered by a specific change-in-control or severance agreement options are forfeited in the event of the termination of employment other than by reason of disability or a retirement.
Compensation expense is recognized based on management’s estimate of the total number of share-based awards expected to vest at the end of the service period.
Restricted Share Units and Non-Vested Shares
The RSUs granted under the 2010 LTC Plan will cliff vest on December 31, 2012. Each RSU that becomes vested entitles the participant to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares delivered may be reduced by the number of shares required to be withheld for federal and state withholding tax requirements (determined at the market price of Company shares at the time of payout). The Company’s 2009 LTI Plan also included issuance of approximately 187 non-vested share awards which cliff vest on December 31, 2011. Approximately 157 shares associated with the 2009 LTI Plan are outstanding as of September 30, 2010. The remaining outstanding non-vested share balance primarily consists of shares issued to the Board of Directors during the second quarter of 2010. The Director shares vest during the second quarter of 2011.
The fair value of the RSUs and non-vested shares is established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.

 

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A summary of the RSU and non-vested share activity is as follows:
                                 
    Shares     Units  
            Weighted-             Weighted-  
            Average Grant             Average Grant  
    Shares     Date Fair Value     Units     Date Fair Value  
Outstanding at January 1, 2010
    262     $ 10.76              
Granted
    39     $ 18.06       150     $ 12.07  
Forfeited
    (20 )   $ 6.37       (7 )   $ 12.07  
Vested
    (54 )   $ 11.19                
 
                           
 
                               
Outstanding at September 30, 2010
    227     $ 13.24       143     $ 12.07  
 
                           
 
                               
Expected to vest at September 30, 2010
    215     $ 13.49       126     $ 12.07  
 
                           
The unrecognized compensation cost as of September 30, 2010 associated with RSU and non-vested share awards is $2,115.
Performance Shares
Under the 2010 LTC Plan, the potential award for the performance shares granted is dependent on the Company’s relative total shareholder return (“RTSR”), which represents a market condition, over a three-year performance period, beginning January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2012. RTSR is measured against a group of peer companies either in the metals industry or in the industrial products distribution industry (the “RTSR Peer Group”). The 2010 LTC Plan provides with respect to performance shares for (1) a threshold level up to which the threshold level of performance shares will vest, a target performance level at which the target number of performance shares will vest, a maximum performance level at or above which the maximum number of performance shares will vest, and pro rata vesting between the threshold and maximum performance levels and (2) minimum and maximum vesting opportunities ranging from one-half up to two times the target number. The threshold, target and maximum performance levels for RTSR are the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile, respectively, relative to RTSR Peer Group performance. The number of performance shares, if any, that vest based on the performance achieved during the three-year performance period, will vest at the end of the three-year performance period. Compensation expense for performance awards containing a market condition is recognized regardless of whether the market condition is achieved to the extent the requisite service period condition is met. Each performance share that becomes vested entitles the participant to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares delivered may be reduced by the number of shares required to be withheld for federal and state withholding tax requirements (determined at the market price of Company shares at the time of payout).
The grant date fair value of $12.26 for each performance share awarded under the 2010 LTC Plan was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:
         
    2010  
Expected volatility
    61.6 %
Risk-free interest rate
    1.45 %
Expected life (in years)
    2.80  
Expected dividend yield
     

 

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Final award vesting and distribution of performance awards granted under the 2009 and 2008 LTI Plans are determined based on the Company’s actual performance versus the target goals for a three-year consecutive period (as defined in the 2008 and 2009 Plans). Partial performance awards can be earned for performance less than the target goal, but in excess of minimum goals; and award distributions twice the target can be achieved if the maximum goals are met or exceeded. The performance goals are three-year cumulative net income and average return on total capital for the same three-year period. Compensation expense recognized is based on management’s expectation of future performance compared to the pre-established performance goals. If the performance goals are not expected to be met, no compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized compensation expense is reversed. The grant date fair-value of performance awards under the 2008 and 2009 LTI Plans was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.
The status of performance shares that have been awarded as part of the active LTC and LTI Plans is summarized below as of September 30, 2010:
                         
            Estimated Number of     Maximum Number of  
    Grant Date Fair     Performance Shares to     Performance Shares that  
Plan Year   Value     be Issued     could Potentially be Issued  
2010 LTC Plan
  $12.26       149       286  
2009 LTI Plan
  $5.66             627  
2008 LTI Plan
  $22.90 - $28.17             320  
As of September 30, 2010, the Company exceeded the threshold level at which shares would vest for the 2010 LTC Plan.
The unrecognized compensation cost as of September 30, 2010 associated with the 2010 LTC Plan performance shares is $1,247.
Stock Options
The stock options issued under the 2010 LTC Plan vest and become exercisable three years from the date of the grant. The term of the options is eight years. The exercise price of the options is $12.79 per share (which is based on the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the 10 trading days preceding the date on which the options were granted).
The grant date fair value of $5.71 per share was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
         
    2010  
Expected volatility
    58.5 %
Risk-free interest rate
    2.3 %
Expected life (in years)
    5.5  
Expected dividend yield
    1.2 %

 

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A summary of the stock option activity is as follows:
                 
            Weighted Average  
    Shares     Exercise Price  
Stock options outstanding at January 1, 2010
    239     $ 11.37  
Granted
    303     $ 12.79  
Exercised
    (27 )   $ 10.52  
Forfeited
    (14 )   $ 12.79  
Expired
    (2 )   $ 10.00  
 
             
Stock options outstanding at September 30, 2010
    499     $ 12.24  
 
             
Stock options vested or expected to vest as of September 30, 2010
    465     $ 12.20  
 
             
The total intrinsic value of options outstanding at September 30, 2010 is $875. As of September 30, 2010, stock options outstanding had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 5.8 years. The unrecognized compensation cost as of September 30, 2010 associated with stock options is $1,260.
Deferred Compensation Plan
As of September 30, 2010, a total of 31 common share equivalent units are included in the director stock equivalent unit accounts.
(9) Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and all other non-owner changes to equity that are not reported in net income (loss). The Company’s comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
                 
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Net income (loss)
  $ 72     $ (6,337 )
Foreign currency translation gain
    1,176       1,200  
Pension cost amortization, net of tax
    72       60  
 
           
Total comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 1,320     $ (5,077 )
 
           
The Company’s comprehensive loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
                 
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Net loss
  $ (4,142 )   $ (11,378 )
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain
    (263 )     3,401  
Pension cost amortization, net of tax
    214       179  
 
           
Total comprehensive loss
  $ (4,191 )   $ (7,798 )
 
           

 

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The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
Foreign currency translation losses
  $ (3,477 )   $ (3,214 )
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax
    (10,100 )     (10,314 )
 
           
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (13,577 )   $ (13,528 )
 
           
(10) Employee Benefit Plans
Components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for the three months ended are as follows:
                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Service cost
  $ 200     $ 197  
Interest cost
    1,919       1,934  
Expected return on assets
    (2,335 )     (2,253 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    65       72  
Amortization of actuarial loss
    55       34  
 
           
Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit
  $ (96 )   $ (16 )
 
           
Components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for the nine months ended are as follows:
                 
    For the Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Service cost
  $ 600     $ 590  
Interest cost
    5,757       5,801  
Expected return on assets
    (7,005 )     (6,758 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    195       215  
Amortization of actuarial loss
    165       102  
 
           
Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit
  $ (288 )   $ (50 )
 
           
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had not made any cash contributions to its pension plans for this fiscal year and does not anticipate making any significant cash contributions to its pension plans in 2010.
During April 2010, the Company’s 401(k) matching contribution on eligible employee contributions that was previously suspended during April 2009 was reinstated.
(11) Joint Venture
Kreher Steel Co., LLC is a 50% owned joint venture of the Company. It is a metals distributor of bulk quantities of alloy, special bar quality and stainless steel bars, headquartered in Melrose Park, Illinois.

 

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The following information summarizes financial data for this joint venture for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Net sales
  $ 50,233     $ 25,310  
Cost of materials
    41,605       21,909  
Income before taxes
    3,901       110  
Net income
    3,318       480  
The following information summarizes financial data for this joint venture for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
                 
    For the Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Net sales
  $ 135,840     $ 78,871  
Cost of materials
    112,891       68,483  
Income (loss) before taxes
    9,249       (288 )
Net income
    7,946       162  
(12) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
At September 30, 2010, the Company had $3,098 of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding which primarily consisted of $2,448 for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carriers.
The Company is a defendant in several lawsuits arising from the operation of its business. These lawsuits are incidental and occur in the normal course of the Company’s business affairs. It is the opinion of management, based on current knowledge, that no uninsured liability will result from the outcome of this litigation that would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows of the Company.
(13) Income Taxes
The Company or its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S., 30 states and seven foreign jurisdictions. The tax years 2007 through 2009 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company or its subsidiaries is subject.
During 2009, the Company filed changes of accounting for its 2008 and 2009 federal income tax returns related to its LIFO inventory accounting method for tax. As a result of these changes, there was a net change of $8,200 in the Company’s income tax receivable / payable accounts and a corresponding net change in the deferred income tax asset / liability accounts.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed the examination of the Company’s 2005 and 2006 U.S. federal income tax returns. The Company settled with the IRS on various tax matters. As a result of the settlement, the Company’s tax benefit for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 included a $368 discrete benefit.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Amounts in millions except per share data
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Information provided and statements contained in this report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this report and the Company assumes no obligation to update the information included in this report. Such forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business strategy. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “predict,” “plan,” or similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are many factors that could affect our actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those risk factors identified in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. All future written and oral forward-looking statements by us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to above. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, we do not have any obligations or intention to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances in the future or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto in ITEM 1 “Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)”.
Executive Overview
Economic Trends and Current Business Conditions
A. M. Castle & Co. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) experienced higher demand from its customer base in the third quarter of 2010 in both the Metals and Plastics segments, reflecting the increases in the overall global economy compared to the third quarter of 2009.
Metals segment sales increased 34.7% from the third quarter of 2009. Average tons sold per day increased 30.5%, which was primarily driven by alloy bar, carbon bar and tubing volume increases. Key end-use markets that experienced increased demand in the third quarter include oil and gas, general equipment and heavy industrial equipment.
The Company’s Plastics segment reported a sales increase of 21.2% compared to the third quarter of 2009, due to increased pricing and higher sales volume reflecting continued strength in virtually all end-use markets.
Effective October 1, 2010, a four-year contract was ratified by warehouse employees in Chicago, Cleveland and Kansas City represented by the United Steelworker’s Union. The impact of the new contract is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

 

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Management uses the Purchaser’s Managers Index (“PMI”) provided by the Institute of Supply Management (website is www.ism.ws) as an external indicator for tracking the demand outlook and possible trends in its general manufacturing markets. The table below shows PMI trends from the first quarter of 2008 through the third quarter of 2010. Generally speaking, an index above 50.0 indicates growth in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy, while readings under 50.0 indicate contraction. Based on the data below, the index rose above 50.0 during the third quarter of 2009.
                                 
YEAR   Qtr 1     Qtr 2     Qtr 3     Qtr 4  
2008
    49.2       49.5       47.8       36.1  
2009
    35.9       42.6       51.5       54.6  
2010
    58.2       58.8       55.4          
Material pricing and demand in both the Metals and Plastics segments of the Company’s business have historically proven to be difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy. A favorable PMI trend suggests that demand for some of the Company’s products and services, in particular those that are sold to the general manufacturing customer base in the U.S., could potentially be at a higher level in the near-term. The Company believes that its revenue trends typically correlate to the changes in PMI on a six to twelve month lag basis.
Results of Operations: Third Quarter 2010 Comparisons to Third Quarter 2009
Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
                                 
                    Fav/(Unfav)  
    2010     2009     $ Change     % Change  
Net Sales
                               
Metals
  $ 218.0     $ 161.8     $ 56.2       34.7 %
Plastics
    26.9       22.2       4.7       21.2 %
 
                       
Total Net Sales
  $ 244.9     $ 184.0     $ 60.9       33.1 %
 
                               
Cost of Materials
                               
Metals
  $ 163.6     $ 122.5     $ (41.1 )     (33.6 )%
% of Metals Sales
    75.0 %     75.7 %                
Plastics
    18.3       15.2       (3.1 )     (20.4 )%
% of Plastics Sales
    68.0 %     68.5 %                
 
                       
Total Cost of Materials
  $ 181.9     $ 137.7     $ (44.2 )     (32.1 )%
% of Total Sales
    74.3 %     74.8 %                
 
                               
Operating Costs and Expenses
                               
Metals
  $ 53.3     $ 47.3     $ (6.0 )     (12.7 )%
Plastics
    7.5       6.3       (1.2 )     (19.0 )%
Other
    2.4       1.4       (1.0 )     (71.4 )%
 
                       
Total Operating Costs & Expenses
  $ 63.2     $ 55.0     $ (8.2 )     (14.9 )%
% of Total Sales
    25.8 %     30.0 %                
 
                               
Operating Income (Loss)
                               
Metals
  $ 1.1     $ (8.0 )   $ 9.1       113.8 %
% of Metals Sales
    0.5 %     (4.9 )%                
Plastics
    1.1       0.7       0.4       57.1 %
% of Plastics Sales
    4.1 %     3.2 %                
Other
    (2.4 )     (1.4 )     (1.0 )     (71.4 )%
 
                       
Total Operating Loss
  $ (0.2 )   $ (8.7 )   $ 8.5       97.7 %
% of Total Sales
    (0.1 )%     (4.7 )%                
“Other” includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments which are shared by both segments of the Company.

 

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Net Sales:
Consolidated net sales were $244.9 million, an increase of $60.9 million, or 33.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2009. Higher net sales in the third quarter of 2010 were primarily the result of higher shipping volumes in the metals and plastics markets. Metals segment sales during the third quarter of 2010 of $218.0 million were $56.2 million, or 34.7%, higher than the same period last year. Average tons sold per day increased 30.5% compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in sales volume was driven primarily by alloy bar, carbon bar and tubing products. Key end-use markets that experienced increased demand in the third quarter include oil and gas, general equipment and heavy industrial equipment. Carbon and alloy plate volumes were unchanged from prior year as demand from the crane and mining industries has been flat. Aluminum sales volume was slightly higher compared to the same period last year as the aerospace market has shown some improvement in certain commercial platforms offset by weakness in business jets and regional jets.
Plastics segment sales during the third quarter of 2010 of $26.9 million were $4.7 million, or 21.2% higher than the third quarter of 2009 due to increased pricing and higher sales volume reflecting continued strength in virtually all end-use markets.
Cost of Materials:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) during the third quarter of 2010 were $181.9 million, an increase of $44.2 million, or 32.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2009. Material costs for the Metals segment for the third quarter of 2010 were $163.6 million or 75.0% as a percent of net sales compared to $122.5 million or 75.7% as a percent of sales for the third quarter of 2009. Material costs as a percentage of net sales were lower in the third quarter of 2010 than 2009 as the improved demand environment has firmed pricing levels. Cost of materials in the Metals segment increased in the third quarter of 2010 compared to 2009 by $41.1 million primarily due to the increase in sales volume. The Metals segment recorded LIFO expense of $2.0 million in third quarter of 2010 compared to a LIFO credit of $0.5 million during the same prior year period. Material costs for the Plastics segment were 68.0% as a percent of net sales for the third quarter of 2010 as compared to 68.5% for the same period last year, primarily due to pricing pressures easing during the third quarter of 2010.
Operating Expenses and Operating Loss:
On a consolidated basis, operating costs and expenses increased $8.2 million, or 14.9%, compared to the third quarter of 2009. Operating costs and expenses were $63.2 million, or 25.8% of net sales, compared to $55.0 million, or 30.0% of net sales during the third quarter of 2009. Compared to the third quarter of 2009, warehouse, processing and delivery costs increased $4.8 million, sales, general and administrative costs increased by $3.6 million and depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $0.2 million. The cost increases primarily relate to higher shipping volumes, as third quarter 2010 tons sold per day increased 30.5% compared to the same period last year. Other factors contributing to higher costs in 2010 include 401(k) benefit reinstatement and the elimination of furloughs and work restrictions that existed in the third quarter of 2009.

 

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Consolidated operating loss for the third quarter of 2010 was $0.2 million compared to operating loss of $8.7 million for the same period last year. The Company’s third quarter 2010 operating loss as a percent of net sales decreased to (0.1)% from (4.7)% in the third quarter of 2009.
Other Income and Expense, Income Taxes and Net Income (Loss):
Interest expense was $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of $0.1 million versus the same period in 2009 as a result of reduced borrowings.
For the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded a deminimis tax expense and a $3.6 million tax benefit, respectively. The effective tax rate for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were (2.8%) and 35.4%, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate compared to the third quarter of 2009 was primarily the result of higher earnings of the Company’s joint venture.
Equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture was $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to $0.2 million for the same period last year. The increase is a result of higher demand in virtually all end-use markets, most notably the automotive and energy sectors, and higher pricing for Kreher’s products compared to the same period last year.
Consolidated net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, versus net loss of $6.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the same period in 2009.
Results of Operations: Nine Months 2010 Comparisons to Nine Months 2009
Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
                                 
                    Fav/(Unfav)  
    2010     2009     $ Change     % Change  
Net Sales
                               
Metals
  $ 631.0     $ 566.9     $ 64.1       11.3 %
Plastics
    77.1       64.4       12.7       19.7 %
 
                       
Total Net Sales
  $ 708.1     $ 631.3     $ 76.8       12.2 %
 
                               
Cost of Materials
                               
Metals
  $ 477.0     $ 420.8     $ (56.2 )     (13.4 )%
% of Metals Sales
    75.6 %     74.2 %                
Plastics
    52.5       44.1       (8.4 )     (19.0 )%
% of Plastics Sales
    68.1 %     68.5 %                
 
                       
Total Cost of Materials
  $ 529.5     $ 464.9     $ (64.6 )     (13.9 )%
% of Total Net Sales
    74.8 %     73.6 %                
 
                               
Operating Costs and Expenses
                               
Metals
  $ 158.2     $ 157.1     $ (1.1 )     (0.7 )%
Plastics
    21.9       20.2       (1.7 )     (8.4 )%
Other
    5.4       3.6       (1.8 )     (50.0 )%
 
                       
Total Operating Costs & Expenses
  $ 185.5     $ 180.9     $ (4.6 )     (2.5 )%
% of Total Net Sales
    26.2 %     28.7 %                
 
                               
Operating (Loss) Income
                               
Metals
  $ (4.2 )   $ (11.0 )   $ 6.8       61.8 %
% of Metals Sales
    (0.7 )%     (1.9 )%                
Plastics
    2.7       0.1       2.6       2600 %
% of Plastics Sales
    3.5 %     0.2 %                
Other
    (5.4 )     (3.6 )     (1.8 )     (50.0 )%
 
                       
Total Operating Loss
  $ (6.9 )   $ (14.5 )   $ 7.6       52.4 %
% of Total Net Sales
    (1.0 )%     (2.3 )%                
“Other” includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments which are shared by both segments of the Company.

 

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Net Sales:
Consolidated net sales were $708.1 million, an increase of $76.8 million, or 12.2%, compared to the same period last year. Higher net sales were primarily the result of higher shipping volumes in the metals and plastics markets. Metals segment sales during the first nine months of 2010 of $631.0 million were $64.1 million, or 11.3%, higher than the same period last year. Average tons sold per day increased 11.0% compared to the prior year period. The increase in demand experienced in the first nine months of 2010 was driven primarily by alloy and carbon bar, and tubing products. Key end-use markets that experienced increased demand in the first nine months of 2010 include oil and gas, general equipment and heavy industrial equipment.
Plastics segment sales during the first nine months of 2010 of $77.1 million were $12.7 million, or 19.7% higher than the same period last year. The Plastics business also experienced increased sales volume during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 reflecting strength in the office furniture, safety products, life sciences applications and automotive end-use markets.
Cost of Materials:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) during the first nine months of 2010 were $529.5 million, an increase of $64.6 million, or 13.9%, compared to the same period last year. Material costs for the Metals segment for the first nine months of 2010 were $477.0 million or 75.6% as a percent of net sales compared to $420.8 million or 74.2% as a percent of net sales for the first nine months of 2009. The increase in cost of materials as a percentage of net sales in the first nine months of 2010 over 2009 relates primarily to higher LIFO expenses in 2010 due to inventory mix. The Metals segment recorded LIFO expense of $7.0 million in 2010 compared to a LIFO credit of $25.7 million during the prior year period. Material costs for the Plastics segment were 68.1% and 68.5% as a percent of net sales for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Operating Expenses and Operating Loss:
On a consolidated basis, year-to-date operating costs and expenses increased $4.6 million, or 2.5%, compared to the same period last year. Operating costs and expenses were $185.5 million, or 26.2% as a percent of sales, compared to $180.9 million, or 28.7% as a percent of sales last year. In response to the declining demand for its products resulting from continued challenges in the global economy and the metals and plastics markets, the Company implemented numerous initiatives during the first nine months of 2009 to align its cost structure with activity levels. The cost reduction actions primarily focused on payroll related costs, the Company’s largest operating expense category, resulting in reduced work weeks and furloughs, suspension of the Company’s 401(k) matching contributions and executive salary reductions of at least 10 percent. Full workweeks and 401(k) matching contributions were reinstated in January and April 2010, respectively.

 

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The increase in operating expenses for the first nine months of 2010 compared to 2009 primarily relates to an increase of $6.7 million in warehouse, processing and delivery costs, which was partially offset by a decrease of $1.5 million in sales, general and administrative costs and a $0.6 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense. The warehouse, processing and delivery cost increases primarily relate to higher shipping volumes as tons sold per day increased 11.0% compared to the same period last year. The decrease in sales, general and administrative costs reflect the impacts of the lower payroll costs associated with the cost reduction initiatives implemented in 2009.
Consolidated operating loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $6.9 million compared to operating loss of $14.5 million for the same period last year.
Other Income and Expense, Income Taxes and Net Loss:
Interest expense was $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, a decrease of $0.9 million versus the same period in 2009 as a result of reduced borrowings.
For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded a $2.7 million tax benefit and a $7.8 million tax benefit, respectively. The $2.7 million tax benefit for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 included a $0.1 million benefit from favorable discrete items and a $2.6 million tax benefit from operations due to pre-tax losses incurred for the first nine months of 2010. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were 25.2% and 40.6%, respectively. The decrease in the 2010 effective tax rate was primarily the result of the impact of increased earnings of the Company’s joint venture and by the increased benefit due to the higher effective tax rate on U.S. source losses than on the Company’s foreign source income. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed the examination of the Company’s 2005 and 2006 U.S. federal income tax returns. The Company settled with the IRS on various tax matters. The Company paid $4.1 million in tax due to the IRS which was primarily related to temporary differences associated with the Company’s inventory costing methodology. As a result of the settlement, the Company recorded a $0.4 million discrete benefit during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture was $4.0 million for the nine months ended 2010, compared to $0.1 million for the same period last year. The increase is a result of higher demand in virtually all end-use markets, most notably the automotive and energy sectors, and higher pricing for Kreher’s products compared to the same period last year.
Consolidated net loss for the first nine months of 2010 was $4.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, versus net loss of $11.4 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the same period in 2009.

 

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Accounting Policies:
Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted new consolidation guidance that applies to variable interest entities.
See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for more information regarding the Company’s adoption of standards updates. There have been no changes in critical accounting policies from those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are earnings from operations, management of working capital and available borrowing capacity to fund working capital needs and growth initiatives.
In the first nine months of 2009, the Company focused on reducing working capital, primarily inventory levels, in response to decreased demand for the Company’s products, which resulted in net cash flow from operations of $31.1 million. During the first nine months of 2010, the Company increased working capital levels to support increased sales activity, which resulted in net cash flow from operations of $5.6 million.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net sales exceeded cash receipts from customers, resulting in a cash outflow of $34.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to a $52.6 million cash inflow for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Net sales increased 12.2% from the first nine months of 2010. Average receivable days outstanding was 49.2 days for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to 55.1 days for first nine months of 2009, reflecting faster collections.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, sales of inventory exceeded inventory purchases, resulting in a cash inflow of $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to a $49.6 million cash inflow for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Average days sales in inventory was 144.8 days for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 versus 191.2 days for the first nine months of 2009. Average inventory days outstanding stayed consistent during the third quarter 2010 as compared to the second quarter of 2010.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, purchases exceeded cash paid for inventories and other goods and services, resulting in a cash inflow of $21.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to a cash outflow of $52.7 million for the same period last year.
On November 5, 2009 the Company filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was declared effective on November 23, 2009. The registration statement gives the Company the flexibility to offer and sell from time to time in the future up to $100 million of equity, debt or other types of securities as described in the registration statement, or any combination of such securities. If securities are issued, the Company may use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, capital expenditures, working capital and repayment of debt.

 

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Available revolving credit capacity is primarily used to fund working capital needs. Taking into consideration the most recent borrowing base calculation as of September 30, 2010, which reflects trade receivables, inventory, letters of credit and other outstanding secured indebtedness, available credit capacity consisted of the following:
                         
    Outstanding             Weighted Average  
    Borrowings as of     Availability as of     Interest Rate for the nine  
    September 30,     September 30,     months ended September 30,  
Debt type   2010     2010     2010  
U.S. Revolver A
  $ 4.0     $ 80.2       2.70 %
U.S. Revolver B
    25.3       24.7       1.57 %
Canadian facility
          9.5       0.22 %
Trade acceptances (a)
    7.5       n/a       1.14 %
     
(a)   The trade acceptance purchase agreement which was a 364-day facility expired by its terms on August 27, 2010. The outstanding trade acceptances will be paid on their respective maturity dates. Liquidity will not be materially impacted as the Company has sufficient borrowing availability under its revolver as noted above.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had $11.5 million of short-term debt which includes trade acceptances of $7.5 million and $4.0 million related to the U.S. Revolver A. The Company has classified U.S. Revolver A as short-term based on its ability and intent to repay amounts outstanding under this instrument within the next 12 months.
Management believes the Company will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations and planned working capital improvements (principally from reduced inventories) to fund its ongoing capital expenditure programs and meet its debt obligations. In addition, the Company has available borrowing capacity, as discussed above.
Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $5.1 million, a decrease of $1.1 million compared to the same period last year. Management believes that annual capital expenditures will approximate $8.0 to 10.0 million in 2010.
The Company’s principal payments on long-term debt, including the current portion of long-term debt, required during the next five years and thereafter are summarized below:
         
2010
  $ 7.6  
2011
    7.7  
2012
    8.2  
2013
    33.9  
2014
    9.1  
2015 and beyond
    9.6  
 
     
Total debt
  $ 76.1  
 
     
As of September 30, 2010 the Company remained in compliance with the covenants of its credit agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital and working capital-to-debt ratios, and a minimum adjusted consolidated net worth, as defined in the Company’s credit agreements and outlined in the table below:
                 
            Actual at  
    Requirement per     September 30,  
Covenant Description   Credit Agreement     2010  
Funded debt-to-capital ratio
  less than 0.55       0.18  
Working capital-to-debt ratio
  greater than 1.0       3.59  
Minimum adjusted consolidated net worth
  $261.6     $ 326.3  
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had $3.1 million of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding, which primarily consisted of $2.4 million for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate, commodity price and foreign exchange rate risks that arise in the normal course of business. There have been no significant or material changes to such risks since December 31, 2009. Refer to Item 7a in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further discussion of such risks.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
A review and evaluation was performed by the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 rule 240.13a-15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
In its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company reported that, based upon their review and evaluation, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2009.
As part of its evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and in accordance with the framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, referred to as the Internal Control — Integrated Framework, the Company’s management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2010 that were identified in connection with the evaluation referred to in paragraph (a) above that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Directors of the Company who are not employees may elect to defer receipt of up to 100% of his or her cash retainer and meeting fees. A director who defers board compensation may select either an interest or a stock equivalent investment option for amounts in the director’s deferred compensation account. Disbursement of the stock equivalent unit account may be in shares of Company common stock or in cash as designated by the director. If payment from the stock equivalent unit account is made in shares of the Company’s common stock, the number of shares to be distributed will equal the number of full stock equivalent units held in the director’s account. On July 26, 2010, receipt of approximately 486 shares was deferred as payment for the board compensation. The shares were acquired at a price of $15.43 per share, which represented the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the day as of which such fees would otherwise have been paid to the director. Exemption from registration of the shares is claimed by the company under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 6. Exhibits
         
Exhibit No.   Description
  3.2    
By-Laws of the Company, as amended on October 28, 2010
       
 
  10.24 *  
Form of amended and restated Change in Control Agreement for executive officers other than the CEO. Filed as Exhibit 10.24 to Form 8-K filed September 21, 2010. Commission File No. 1-5415
       
 
  31.1    
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
       
 
  31.2    
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
       
 
  32.1    
CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
     
*   This agreement is considered a compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
         
 
A. M. Castle & Co.
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: November 5, 2010  By:   /s/ Patrick R. Anderson    
    Patrick R. Anderson   
    Vice President — Controller and Chief
Accounting Officer
(Mr. Anderson has been authorized to sign on behalf of the Registrant.) 
 

 

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Exhibit Index
The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:
             
Exhibit No.   Description   Page
  3.2    
By-Laws of the Company, as amended on October 28, 2010
  E-1
       
 
   
  10.24 *  
Form of amended and restated Change in Control Agreement for executive officers other than the CEO. Filed as Exhibit 10.24 to Form 8-K filed September 21, 2010. Commission File No. 1-5415
   
       
 
   
  31.1    
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
  E-16
       
 
   
  31.2    
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
  E-17
       
 
   
  32.1    
CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
  E-18
     
*   This agreement is considered a compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

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