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A. M. Castle & Co. - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
ý   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
         
For Quarterly Period Ended
  March 31, 2008   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
incorporation of organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
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      X      No           
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              Accelerated filer      X        Non-accelerated filer              Smaller reporting company           
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicated by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Yes                       No      X     
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 April 25, 2008
     
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value   22,636,239 shares
 
 

 


 

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A. M. CASTLE & CO.
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
             
            Page
Part I. Financial Information    
 
           
 
  Item 1.   Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited):    
 
           
 
      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets   3
 
           
 
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations   4
 
           
 
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows   5
 
           
 
      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements   6-17
 
           
 
  Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   17-22
 
           
 
  Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk   22
 
           
 
  Item 4.   Controls and Procedures   22
 
           
Part II. Other Information    
 
           
 
  Item 1.   Legal Proceedings   23
 
           
 
  Item 1A.   Risk Factors   23
 
           
 
  Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   23
 
           
 
  Item 6.   Exhibits   23
 Section 302 Certification of CEO
 Section 302 Certification of CFO
 Section 906 Certification of CEO and CFO

 


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS      
(Dollars in thousands, except share and par value data)   As of  
Unaudited   March 31,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
     
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 31,427     $ 22,970  
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $3,560 at March 31, 2008 and $3,220 at December 31, 2007
    205,106       146,675  
Inventories, principally on last-in, first-out basis (replacement cost higher by $145,086 at March 31, 2008 and $142,118 at December 31, 2007)
    220,392       207,284  
Other current assets
    13,605       13,462  
 
           
Total current assets
    470,530       390,391  
Investment in joint venture
    18,810       17,419  
Goodwill
    114,207       101,540  
Intangible assets
    63,039       59,602  
Prepaid pension cost
    27,758       25,426  
Other assets
    5,062       7,516  
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
               
Land
    5,193       5,196  
Building
    48,995       48,727  
Machinery and equipment (includes construction in progress)
    162,902       155,950  
 
           
 
    217,090       209,873  
Less — accumulated depreciation
    (136,597 )     (134,763 )
 
           
 
    80,493       75,110  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 779,899     $ 677,004  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 154,799     $ 109,055  
Accrued liabilities
    35,069       33,143  
Income taxes payable
    6,049       2,497  
Deferred income taxes — current
    6,656       7,298  
Current portion of long-term debt
    7,599       7,037  
Short-term debt
    24,824       18,739  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    234,996       177,769  
 
           
Long-term debt, less current portion
    92,815       60,712  
Deferred income taxes
    39,853       37,760  
Other non-current liabilities
    17,182       15,688  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity
               
Common stock, $0.01 par value — 30,000,000 shares authorized; 22,814,440 shares issued and 22,585,861 outstanding at March 31, 2008 and 22,330,946 shares issued and 22,097,869 outstanding at December 31, 2007
    228       223  
Additional paid-in capital
    177,109       179,707  
Retained earnings
    219,622       207,134  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    1,493       1,498  
Treasury stock, at cost — 228,579 shares at March 31, 2008 and 233,077 shares at December 31, 2007
    (3,399 )     (3,487 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    395,053       385,075  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 779,899     $ 677,004  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS   For the Three  
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Months Ended  
Unaudited   March 31,  
    2008     2007  
     
Net sales
  $ 393,479     $ 375,351  
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)
    291,344       269,450  
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense
    38,525       35,570  
Sales, general, and administrative expense
    35,482       36,394  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    5,811       4,896  
 
           
Operating income
    22,317       29,041  
Interest expense, net
    (2,046 )     (4,261 )
 
           
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture
    20,271       24,780  
Income taxes
    (8,350 )     (9,877 )
 
           
Income before equity in earnings of joint venture
    11,921       14,903  
Equity in earnings of joint venture
    1,893       932  
 
           
Net income
    13,814       15,835  
Preferred stock dividends
          (243 )
 
           
Net income applicable to common stock
  $ 13,814     $ 15,592  
 
           
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.62     $ 0.84  
 
           
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.62     $ 0.81  
 
           
Dividends per common share paid
  $ 0.06     $ 0.06  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS      
(Dollars in thousands)   For the Three Months  
Unaudited   Ended March 31,  
    2008     2007  
 
Operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 13,814     $ 15,835  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,811       4,896  
Amortization of deferred gain
    (223 )     (223 )
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
    11       1,340  
Equity in earnings of joint venture
    (1,893 )     (932 )
Dividends from joint venture
    503       358  
Deferred tax provision (benefit)
    745       1,649  
Share-based compensation expense
    831       1,454  
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
    (2,665 )      
Increase (decrease) from changes, net of acquisitions, in:
               
Accounts receivable
    (44,092 )     (28,859 )
Inventories
    (2,255 )     (35,012 )
Other current assets
    (997 )     2,216  
Other assets
    (110 )     (67 )
Prepaid pension costs
    (518 )     827  
Accounts payable
    35,627       32,325  
Accrued liabilities
    (1,538 )     694  
Income taxes payable
    6,866       8,055  
Postretirement benefit obligations and other liabilities
    (165 )     288  
 
           
Net cash from operating activities
    9,752       4,844  
Investing activities:
               
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (26,876 )      
Capital expenditures
    (5,377 )     (2,179 )
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
    29       9  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (32,224 )     (2,170 )
Financing activities:
               
Short-term borrowings, net
    5,827       2,500  
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    30,377        
Repayments of long-term debt
    (67 )     (1,703 )
Payment of debt issuance fees
          (21 )
Preferred stock dividend
          (243 )
Common stock dividends
    (1,326 )     (1,023 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
    2,665        
Payment of withholding taxes from share-based incentive issuance
    (6,000 )    
 
           
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
    31,476       (490 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (547 )     (257 )
 
           
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    8,457       1,927  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of year
    22,970       9,526  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period
  $ 31,427     $ 11,453  
 
           
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 share and 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, 2007 is derived from the audited financial statements at that date. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate and make the information not misleading; however, 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 to present fairly the financial position, the cash flows and the results of operations for the periods then ended. 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 2008 interim results reported herein may not necessarily be indicative of the results of the Company’s operations for the full year.
 
    Subsequent to the issuance of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company determined that dividends from joint venture previously reported as cash flows from investing activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007 of $358 should have been reported as cash flows from operating activities. As a result, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been corrected to reduce cash inflows from investing activities and increase cash flows from operating activities by $358 for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from the amount previously reported to properly present dividends from joint venture.
 
    Non-cash investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 related primarily to the acquisition of Metals U.K. Group and consisted of $1,997 of stock consideration currently probable of being paid and $345 of cash consideration payable, but not yet paid. The Company had non-cash investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 consisting of $2,957 which represented capital expenditures in accounts payable related to the Company’s initial payment as part of the investment in its new Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) technology.
 
(2)   New Accounting Standards
 
    Standards Adopted
 
    In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) and in February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 157 was issued to eliminate the diversity in practice that exists due to the different definitions of fair value and the limited guidance in applying these definitions. SFAS 157 encourages entities to combine fair value information disclosed under SFAS 157 with other accounting pronouncements, including SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, where applicable. Additionally, SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.

 


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    Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157 and SFAS 159. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position Nos. FAS 157-1 and FAS 157-2 (“FSP 157-1” and “FSP 157-2”). FSP 157-1 excludes SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases”, as well as other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for leases, from the scope of SFAS No. 157. FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.
 
    The Company did not elect the fair value option for any assets or liabilities. The adoption of SFAS 157 and SFAS 159 did not materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
 
    Standards Issued Not Yet Adopted
 
    In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer of a business recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. The statement also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Accordingly, any business combinations the Company engages in will be recorded and disclosed following existing generally accepted accounting principles until January 1, 2009. It is expected that SFAS 141R will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements when effective, but the nature and magnitude of the specific effects will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions the Company consummates after the effective date. The Company is still assessing the full impact of this standard on the Company’s future consolidated financial statements.
 
    In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 requires that accounting and reporting for minority interests will be re-characterized as non-controlling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS 160 also establishes reporting requirements that provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. SFAS 160 applies to all entities that prepare consolidated financial statements, except not-for-profit organizations, but will affect only those entities that have an outstanding non-controlling interest in one or more subsidiaries or that deconsolidate a subsidiary. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 160 on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
(3)   Acquisitions
 
    Acquisition of Metals U.K. Group
 
    On January 3, 2008, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Metals U.K. Group (“Metals U.K.” or the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.” Accordingly, the Company recorded the net assets at their estimated fair values, and included operating results in its Metals segment from the date of acquisition.
 
    Metals U.K. is a distributor and processor of specialty metals primarily serving the oil and gas, aerospace, petrochemical and power generation markets worldwide. Metals U.K. has four

 


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processing facilities; two in Blackburn, England, one in Hoddesdon North East of London and one in Bilbao, Spain. The acquisition of Metals U.K. will allow the Company to expand its global reach and service potential high growth industries.
The aggregate purchase price was approximately $30,055, or $29,218, net of cash acquired, and represents the aggregate cash purchase price, contingent consideration currently probable of payment, debt paid off at closing, and transaction costs. There is also the potential for additional purchase price of up to $12,000 based on the achievement of performance targets related to fiscal year 2008. The premium paid in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired was primarily for the ability to expand the Company’s global reach, as well as to obtain Metals U.K.’s skilled, established workforce.
In conjunction with the Acquisition, the Company amended its existing revolving line of credit, expanding it to $230,000, which includes a $50,000 increase in capacity specifically to fund the Acquisition and provide for future working capital needs of its European operations (see Note 5). The increased line of credit allows for funding in either British pounds or Euros to reduce the impact of foreign exchange rate volatility.
The following allocation of the purchase price is preliminary:
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation
         
Current assets
  $ 26,037  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    3,876  
Trade name
    516  
Customer relationships — contractual
    893  
Customer relationships — non-contractual
    2,421  
Non-compete agreements
    1,706  
Goodwill
    12,697  
 
     
Total assets
    48,146  
 
       
Current liabilities
    13,775  
Long-term liabilities
    4,316  
 
     
Total liabilities
    18,091  
 
     
 
       
Net assets
  $ 30,055  
The final purchase price allocation is subject to adjustment upon the finalization of items such as, the Metals U.K. December 31, 2007 financial statements, the fair-value of certain tangible assets and liabilities, deferred tax valuation and the determination of contingent consideration earned, if any. Any adjustments made to the purchase price in subsequent periods will impact the final allocation of purchase price to the acquired assets and liabilities.
The acquired intangible assets have a weighted average useful life of approximately 4.4 years. Useful lives by intangible asset category are as follows: trade name — 1 year, customer relationships — contractual — 10 years, customer relationships — non-contractual — 4 years and non-compete agreement — 3 years. The goodwill and intangible assets are not deductible for tax purposes.
Pro forma financial information as if the acquisition had been completed as of the beginning of the three months ended March 31, 2007 has not been presented because the effect of the Acquisition was not material to the Company’s financial results of operations.

 


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    Acquisition of Transtar Intermediate Holdings #2, Inc. (“Transtar”)
 
    As discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, the final purchase price for acquisition of Transtar is subject to a working capital adjustment. The final determination and agreement on the adjustment has not been completed as of March 31, 2008, but the Company is pursuing a conclusion, the result of which is not expected to be material to the purchase price. The purchase price adjustment will impact the final allocation of purchase price to the acquired assets and liabilities.
 
(4)   Earnings Per Share
 
    The Company determined earnings per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share” (“SFAS 128”). For the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, prior to the conversion of the preferred stock in connection with the secondary offering in May 2007, the Company’s preferred stockholders participated in dividends paid on the Company’s common stock on an “if converted” basis. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-6, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings per Share”, basic earnings per share is computed by applying the two-class method to compute earnings per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation method under which earnings per share is calculated for each class of common stock and participating security considering both dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings as if all such earnings had been distributed during the period. 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, restricted stock awards, convertible preferred stock shares and other share-based payment awards, which have been included in the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. In accordance with SFAS 128, the following table is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (shares in thousands):
                 
    2008     2007  
 
Numerator:
               
Net income
  $ 13,814     $ 15,835  
Preferred dividends distributed
          (243 )
     
Undistributed earnings
  $ 13,814     $ 15,592  
     
Undistributed earnings attributable to:
               
Common stockholders
  $ 13,814     $ 14,327  
Preferred stockholders, as if converted
          1,265  
     
Total undistributed earnings
  $ 13,814     $ 15,592  
     
Denominator:
               
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    22,195       17,048  
Effect of dilutive securities:
               
Outstanding employee and directors’ common stock options, restricted stock and share-based awards
    172       771  
Convertible preferred stock
          1,794  
     
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
    22,367       19,613  
     
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.62     $ 0.84  
     

 


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    2008     2007  
 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.62     $ 0.81  
     
Outstanding employees and directors common stock options and convertible preferred stock shares having an anti-dilutive effect
    20       30  
(5)   Debt
 
    Short-term and long-term debt consisted of the following:
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
     
SHORT-TERM DEBT
               
U.S. Revolver A
  $ 7,900     $ 4,300  
Mexico
    2,300        
Other Foreign
    4,352       2,312  
Trade acceptances
    10,272       12,127  
     
Total short-term debt
    24,824       18,739  
 
               
LONG-TERM DEBT
               
6.76% insurance company loan due in scheduled installments from 2008 through 2015
    63,228       63,228  
U.S. Revolver B
    30,640        
Industrial development revenue bonds at a 3.91% weighted average rate, due in varying amounts through 2009
    3,600       3,600  
Other, primarily capital leases
    2,946       921  
     
Total long-term debt
    100,414       67,749  
Less-current portion
    (7,599 )     (7,037 )
     
Total long-term portion
    92,815       60,712  
     
 
               
TOTAL SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT
  $ 125,238     $ 86,488  
     
     On January 2, 2008, the Company and its Canadian, U.K. and material domestic subsidiaries entered into a First Amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 5, 2006 with its lending syndicate. The amended senior credit facility provides a $230,000 five-year secured revolver. The facility consists of (i) a $170,000 revolving “A” loan (the “U.S. A Revolver”) to be drawn by the Company from time to time, (ii) a $50,000 multicurrency revolving “B” loan (the “U.S. B Revolver“and with the U.S. A Revolver, the “U.S. Facility”) to be drawn by the Company or its U.K. subsidiary from time to time, and (iii) a Cdn. $9,800 revolving loan (corresponding to $10,000 in U.S. dollars as of the amendment closing date) (the “Canadian Facility”) to be drawn by the Canadian subsidiary from time to time. In addition, the maturity date of the facility was extended to January 2, 2013. The obligations of the U.K. subsidiary under the U.S. B Revolver are guaranteed by the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries (the “Guarantee Subsidiaries”) pursuant to a U.K. Guarantee Agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantee Subsidiaries on January 2, 2008 (the “U.K. Guarantee Agreement”). The U.S. A Revolver letter of credit sub-facility was increased from $15,000 to $20,000. The Company’s U.K. subsidiary drew £14,900 (or $29,600) of the amount available under the U.S. B Revolver to finance the acquisition of Metals U.K. Group on January 3, 2008 (see Note 3).

 


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         Depending on the type of borrowing selected by the Company, the applicable interest rate for loans under the U.S. Facility is calculated as a per annum rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus a variable margin or (ii) “Base Rate”, which is the greater of the U.S. prime rate or the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5%, plus a variable margin. The margin on LIBOR or Base Rate loans may fall or rise as set forth in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement depending on the Company’s debt-to-capital ratio as calculated on a quarterly basis.
 
         Also, on January 2, 2008, the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries entered into an Amendment No. 2 with its insurance company and affiliate to amend the covenants on the 6.76% Notes so as to be substantially the same as the amended senior credit facility.
 
         As of March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding borrowings under its U.S. A Revolver of $7,900 and availability of $152,917. Borrowings under the U.S. B Revolver were $30,640 and availability was $19,360 as of March 31, 2008. The Company’s Canadian subsidiary had no outstanding borrowings under the Canadian Facility and had availability of $10,000. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the U.S. A Revolver and U.S. B Revolver as of March 31, 2008 was 6.43% and 6.65%, respectively.
 
         As of March 31, 2008, the Company remains in compliance with the covenants of its financial agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital ratios, working capital-to-debt ratios and a minimum adjusted consolidated net worth as defined within the agreements.
 
(6)   Segment Reporting
 
    The Company distributes and performs processing on both metals and plastics. Although the distribution processes are similar, different customer markets, supplier bases and types of products exist. 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 according to SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” 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 tight specifications. Core products include nickel alloys, aluminum, stainless steels and carbon. Inventories of these products assume many forms such as plate, sheet, round bar, hexagon bar, square and flat bars; 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 processes, turns, polishes and straightens alloy and carbon bar.
 
         The Company’s Plastics segment consists exclusively of 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 portions 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

 


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    ended December 31, 2007. Management evaluates the performance of its business segments based on operating income. The Metals segment includes the operating results of Metals U.K. for the three months ended March 31, 2008.
 
    Segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:
                                 
    Net   Operating   Capital   Depreciation &
    Sales   Income (Loss)   Expenditures   Amortization
 
2008
                               
Metals segment
  $ 362,266     $ 23,302     $ 4,866     $ 5,508  
Plastics segment
    31,213       1,618       511       303  
Other
          (2,603 )            
     
Consolidated
  $ 393,479     $ 22,317     $ 5,377     $ 5,811  
     
 
                               
2007
                               
Metals segment
  $ 346,592     $ 30,330     $ 1,745     $ 4,604  
Plastics segment
    28,759       1,505       434       292  
Other
          (2,794 )            
     
Consolidated
  $ 375,351     $ 29,041     $ 2,179     $ 4,896  
     
    “Other” — Operating loss includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments, which are shared by both the Metals and Plastics segments.
 
    Segment information for total assets is as follows:
                 
    March 31,   December 31,
    2008   2007
 
Metals segment
  $ 707,379     $ 607,993  
Plastics segment
    53,710       51,592  
Other
    18,810       17,419  
     
Consolidated
  $ 779,899     $ 677,004  
     
    “Other” — Total assets consist of the Company’s investment in joint venture.
 
(7)   Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
    Acquisition of Metals U.K.
 
    As discussed in Note 3, the Company acquired the outstanding capital stock of Metals U.K. on January 3, 2008. Metals U.K.’s results and assets are included in the Company’s Metals segment from the date of acquisition.
 
    The changes in carrying amounts of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2008 were as follows:
                         
    Metals   Plastics    
    Segment   Segment   Total
 
Balance as of December 31, 2007
  $ 88,567     $ 12,973     $ 101,540  
Acquisition of Metals U.K.
    12,697             12,697  
Currency valuation
    (30 )           (30 )
     
Balance as of March 31, 2008
  $ 101,234     $ 12,973     $ 114,207  
     

 


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    The Company performs an annual impairment test on goodwill during the first quarter of each fiscal year. Based on the test performed during the first quarter of 2008, the Company has determined that there is no impairment of goodwill.
 
    The following summarizes the components of intangible assets:
                                 
    March 31, 2008   December 31, 2007
    Gross
Carrying
  Accumulated   Gross Carrying   Accumulated
    Amount   Amortization   Amount   Amortization
 
Customer relationships
  $ 70,181     $ 9,829     $ 66,867     $ 8,131  
Non-compete agreements
    3,263       963       1,557       691  
Trade name
    516       129              
     
Total
  $ 73,960     $ 10,921     $ 68,424     $ 8,822  
     
    The weighted-average amortization period for the intangible assets is 10.3 years, 10.7 years for customer relationships, 3 years for non-compete agreements and 1 year for trade name. 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 March 31, 2008 and 2007, amortization expense was $2,099 and $1,679, respectively.
 
    The following is a summary of the estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next 5 years:
         
2008
  $ 8,388  
2009
    7,699  
2010
    7,349  
2011
    6,770  
2012
    6,161  
(8)   Inventories
 
    Over 80 percent of the Company’s inventories are stated at the lower of last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost or market. Final inventory determination under the LIFO method can only be 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 March 31, 2008, are based solely on management’s estimates of future inventory levels and costs. Since estimates of future inventory levels and costs are subject to certain forces beyond the control of management, interim financial results are subject to estimated fiscal year-end LIFO inventory valuations.
 
         Current replacement cost of inventories exceeded book value by $145,086 and $142,118 at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Income taxes would become payable on any realization of this excess from reductions in the level of inventories.
 
(9)   Share-based Compensation
 
    The Company accounts for its share-based compensation programs by recognizing compensation expense for the fair value of the share awards granted ratably over their vesting period in accordance with SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” The compensation cost that has been charged against income for the Company’s share-based compensation arrangements was $831 and $1,454 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The total income

 


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    tax benefit recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $324 and $427 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. All compensation expense related to share-based compensation plans is recorded in sales, general and administrative expense. The unrecognized compensation cost as of March 31, 2008 associated with all share-based payment arrangements is $6,733 and the weighted average period over which it is to be expensed is 1.7 years.
 
         Restricted Stock, Stock Option and Equity Compensation Plans — The Company maintains certain long-term stock incentive and stock option plans for the benefit of officers, directors and key management employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company established the 2008 Restricted Stock, Stock Option and Equity Compensation Plan, which authorized up to 2,000,000 shares to be issued under the plan.
 
         Beginning in 2006, the Company began to utilize restricted stock to compensate non-employee directors and non-vested shares issued under the Long-Term Incentive Performance (“LTIP”) Plans as its long-term incentive compensation method for executives and other key employees. Stock options may be granted in the future under certain circumstances when deemed appropriate by management and the Board of Directors.
 
         The Company’s stock options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the grant and have a contractual life of 10 years. Options and restricted stock grants generally vest in one to five years for executive and employee option grants and one year for options and restricted stock grants granted to directors. The Company generally issues new shares upon share option exercise. A summary of the stock option activity under the Company’s share-based compensation plans is shown below:
                 
            Weighted Average
    Shares   Exercise Price
     
Outstanding at January 1, 2008
    284,120     $ 11.68  
 
               
Granted
             
Forfeited
             
Exercised
             
 
               
Outstanding at March 31, 2008
    284,120     $ 11.68  
 
               
Vested or expected to vest as of March 31, 2008
    284,120     $ 11.68  
 
               
As of March 31, 2008, all of the options outstanding were exercisable and had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 5.4 years. The total intrinsic value of options outstanding at March 31, 2008 is $4,406. There was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option compensation arrangements.
A summary of the restricted stock activity is as follows:
                 
            Weighted-Average
Restricted Stock   Shares   Grant Date Fair Value
 
Non-vested at January 1, 2008
    52,714     $ 28.51  
Granted
    4,498     $ 22.23  
Less vested shares
             
 
               
Non-vested at March 31, 2008
    57,212     $ 28.02  
 
               

 


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    Deferred Compensation Plan — The Company also has a Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan for directors who are not officers of the Company. Under this plan, directors have the option to defer payment of their retainer and meeting fees into either a stock equivalent unit account or an interest account. Disbursement of the interest account and the stock equivalent unit account can be made only upon a director’s resignation, retirement or death, and is generally made in cash, but the stock equivalent unit account disbursement may be made in common shares at the director’s option. Fees deferred into the stock equivalent unit account are a form of share-based payment and represent a liability award which is re-measured at fair value at each reporting date. As of March 31, 2008, an aggregate 23,913 common share equivalent units are included in the director accounts.
 
    Long-Term Incentive Performance Plans — The Company maintains the 2005 Performance Stock Equity Plan (the “2005 Plan”), the 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) and the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”) (collectively referred to as the “LTIP Plans”). Under the LTIP Plans, selected executives and other key employees are eligible to receive share-based awards. Final award vesting and distribution of awards granted under the LTIP Plans is determined based on the Company’s actual performance versus the target goals for a three-year consecutive period (as defined in the 2005, 2007 and 2008 Plans, respectively). Partial 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. Unless covered by a specific change-in-control or severance arrangement, individuals to whom performance shares have been granted under the LTIP Plans must be employed by the Company at the end of the performance period or the award will be forfeited, unless the termination of employment was due to death, disability or retirement. 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 met, no compensation expense would be recognized and any previously recognized compensation expense would be reversed.
 
  2005 Plan — Based on the actual results of the Company for the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, the maximum number of shares (724,268) was earned under the 2005 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, 483,494 shares were issued to participants at a market price of $25.13 per share. The remaining 240,774 shares were withheld to fund required withholding taxes. The excess tax benefit recorded to additional paid in capital as a result of the share issuance was $2,665.
 
  2007 Plan — The fair value of the awards granted under the 2007 Plan ranged from $25.45 to $34.33 per share and was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the dates of grant. As of March 31, 2008, based on its projections, the Company estimates that 113,783 shares will be issued. The maximum number of shares that could potentially be issued under the 2007 Plan is 227,566. The shares associated with the 2007 Plan will be distributed in 2010, contingent upon the Company meeting performance goals over the three — year period ending December 31, 2009.
 
  2008 Plan — The fair value of the awards granted under the 2008 Plan was $22.90 per share and was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. As of March 31, 2008, based on its projections, the Company estimates that 221,750 shares will be issued. The maximum number of shares that could potentially be issued under the 2008 Plan is 443,500. The shares associated with the 2008 Plan will be distributed in 2011, contingent upon the Company meeting performance goals over the three — year period ending December 31, 2010.

 


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(10)   Comprehensive Income
 
    Comprehensive income includes net income and all other non-owner changes to equity that are not reported in net income. The Company’s comprehensive income is as follows:
                 
    March 31,  
    2008     2007  
     
Net Income
  $ 13,814     $ 15,835  
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain
    (1,112 )     120  
Pension cost amortization, net of tax
    1,107       489  
     
Total Comprehensive Income
  $ 13,809     $ 16,444  
     
    The components of accumulated other comprehensive income is as follows:
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
     
Foreign currency translation gains
  $ 6,725     $ 7,837  
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax
    (5,232 )     (6,339 )
     
Total accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 1,493     $ 1,498  
     
(11)   Pension and Postretirement Plans
 
    Effective July 1, 2008, the Company-sponsored pension plans and supplemental pension plan (collectively, the “pension plans”) will be frozen. During December 2007, certain of the pension plans were amended and as a result, a curtailment charge of $284 was recognized in 2007. During March 2008, the supplemental pension plan was amended and as a result, a curtailment gain of $472 was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2008. As a result of the decision to freeze the pension plans, the Company is evaluating its current investment portfolio target allocation for the pension plan funds. The Company may decide to change the investment portfolio target allocation which could impact the expected long-term rate of return and the Company’s net periodic pension cost.
 
    Components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for the three months ended are as follows:
                 
    March 31,  
    2008     2007  
     
Service cost
  $ 529     $ 935  
Interest cost
    1,826       1,911  
Expected return on assets
    (2,781 )     (2,520 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    26       26  
Amortization of actuarial loss
    83       787  
     
Net periodic pension (benefit) cost, excluding impact of curtailment
  $ (317 )   $ 1,139  
     
    As of March 31, 2008, the Company had not made any cash contributions to its pension plans for this fiscal year and does not anticipate making any contributions in 2008.

 


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(12)   Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
 
    At March 31, 2008, the Company had $6,883 of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding which primarily consisted of $3,600 in support of the outstanding industrial development revenue bonds and $2,100 for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carrier (see Note 5).
 
    The Company is the 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 following table shows the net change in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:
         
Balance as of December 31, 2007
  $ 1,754  
Increases (decreases) in unrecognized tax benefits:
       
Due to tax positions taken during the current year
    65  
 
     
Balance as of March 31, 2008
  $ 1,819  
 
     
As of March 31, 2008, the Company has a $1,819 liability recorded for unrecognized tax benefits of which $658 would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense.
The Company and its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S., 28 states and seven foreign jurisdictions. The 2005 and 2006 U.S. federal income tax returns and Canadian income tax returns for 2002 through 2004 are currently under audit. No material adjustments have been proposed to date. Due to the potential for resolution of the IRS and Canadian examinations, it is reasonably possible that the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits may change within the next 12 months by a range of zero to $1,150.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Financial Review
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.
Executive Overview
Economic Trends and Current Business Conditions
A. M. Castle & Co. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) continued to experience higher pricing for its products through the first quarter of 2008, which contributed to favorable revenue growth compared to the first quarter of last year. The acquisition of Metals U.K. Group (“Metals U.K.”) during the first quarter of 2008 also factored into the revenue growth. Demand for aerospace, oil and gas and plate products, which serves the heavy equipment and infrastructure markets, were strong in comparison to the first quarter of last year.
     Average tons per day sold in aerospace for the first quarter of 2008 were 3.5% higher than last year, but margins for specialty aerospace grade aluminum plate were compressed compared to the first quarter of last year, due to a continuation of oversupply of aluminum plate throughout the entire supply chain. Beginning in the second half of 2007, aerospace aluminum plate was in oversupply due to the increased production capacity at the mills, the announced production delays of the

 


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Airbus 380 (“A 380”) and Joint Strike Fighter (“JSF”) programs and the excess inventories being held throughout the supply chain. Margins will remain depressed until these excess inventories are utilized, but subsequently should increase as build rates in the A 380, JSF, and other programs increase.
     The Company’s Plastics segment reported 8.5% sales growth compared to the first quarter of 2007, due to increased volume as a result of the strength of its program customer business.
     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 2006 through the first quarter of 2008. Generally speaking, it is considered that an index above 50.0 indicates continuing growth in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy. As the data indicates, the index experienced a slight decline in the first quarter of 2008.
                                 
             YEAR                Qtr 1                  Qtr 2                  Qtr 3                  Qtr 4  
 
          2006
    54.7       54.1       52.9       50.8  
          2007
    50.5       53.0       51.3       49.6  
          2008
    49.2                          
 
An unfavorable 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 lower level in the near-term. Although the PMI does offer some insight, management also relies on its relationships with the Company’s supplier and customer base to assess continuing demand trends. As of March 31, 2008, these other indicators generally point to a reasonably healthy demand for the Company’s specialty products in 2008. In particular, products utilized in the oil and gas, aerospace, heavy equipment and certain plastic related industries exhibited strong levels of demand in the first quarter of 2008 and management believes these industries will remain strong during the next few months. The long-term outlook on demand for the Company’s end markets is less predictable. However, the Company expanded its international presence with the recent acquisition of Metals U.K. in early 2008 and with the early second quarter 2008 start-up of its Shanghai, China service center. As the Company continues to expand internationally, it becomes less reliant upon the North American general manufacturing economy.
Average metals pricing, in the aggregate, for the products the Company sells have remained at favorably high levels. Management believes that the ongoing consolidation of metal producers has resulted in better material price discipline through enhanced matching of material supply with global demand. The Company believes that this has resulted in and will continue to lead to more stable metal pricing throughout the steel industry.
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. However, two of the areas of the U.S. economy which are currently experiencing significant decline, the automotive and residential construction markets, are areas in which the Company’s market presence is minimal. The Company has also not seen any effect of the recent credit market squeeze resulting from the residential mortgage lending crisis in its demand for products and services or in its own credit or lending structure.

 


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Results of Operations: First Quarter 2008 Comparisons to First Quarter 2007
Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.
                                 
    (Amounts in 000’s)   Fav/(Unfav)
    2008   2007   $ Change   % Change
 
Net Sales
                               
Metals
  $ 362,266     $ 346,592     $ 15,674       4.5 %
Plastics
    31,213       28,759       2,454       8.5 %
     
Total Net Sales
  $ 393,479     $ 375,351     $ 18,128       4.8 %
 
                               
Cost of Materials
                               
Metals
  $ 270,251     $ 249,987     $ 20,264       (8.1 )%
% of Metals Sales
    74.6 %     72.1 %             (2.5 )%
Plastics
    21,093       19,463       1,630       (8.4 )%
% of Plastics Sales
    67.6 %     67.7 %             0.1 %
     
Total Cost of Materials
  $ 291,344     $ 269,450     $ 21,894       (8.1 )%
% of Total Sales
    74.0 %     71.8 %             (2.2 )%
 
                               
Other Operating Costs and Expenses
                               
Metals
  $ 68,713     $ 66,275     $ 2,438       (3.7 )%
Plastics
    8,502       7,791       711       (9.1 )%
Other
    2,603       2,794       (191 )     6.8 %
     
Total Other Operating Costs & Expenses
  $ 79,818     $ 76,860     $ 2,958       (3.8 )%
% of Total Sales
    20.3 %     20.5 %             0.2 %
 
                               
Operating Income
                               
Metals
  $ 23,302     $ 30,330     $ (7,028 )     (23.2 )%
% of Metals Sales
    6.4 %     8.7 %             (2.3 )%
Plastics
    1,618       1,505       113       7.5 %
% of Plastics Sales
    5.2 %     5.2 %              
Other
    (2,603 )     (2,794 )     191       6.8 %
     
Total Operating Income
  $ 22,317     $ 29,041     $ (6,724 )     (23.2 )%
% of Total Sales
    5.7 %     7.7 %             (2.0 )%
“Other” includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments which are shared by both segments of the Company.
Acquisition of Metals U.K. Group:
On January 3, 2008, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Metals U.K. The results of Metals U.K.’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. These results of operations and the assets of Metals U.K. are included in the Company’s Metals segment. For more information regarding the acquisition of Metals U.K., refer to Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Net Sales:
Consolidated net sales for the Company were $393.5 million, an increase of $18.1 million, or 4.8%, versus the first quarter of 2007. Higher material prices on slightly higher demand resulted in increased revenues. The Metals U.K. acquisition contributed to the total net sales increase.
     Metals segment sales during the first quarter of 2008 of $362.3 million were $15.7 million, or 4.5%, higher than last year. On a same location basis for the balance of the Metals segment, volume and mix impact on sales was more than offset by a 3.1% average price increase as compared to the first quarter of last year. The Metals U.K. acquisition also contributed to the segment sales increase in the quarter.

 


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Plastics segment sales during the first quarter of 2008 of $31.2 million were $2.5 million, or 8.5% higher than the first quarter of 2007. The Plastics business experienced an increase in demand from its large contractual accounts during the quarter.
Cost of Materials:
Consolidated first quarter 2008 cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) increased $21.9 million, or 8.1%, to $291.3 million. The acquisition of Metals U.K. contributed to the increase. The balance of the increase reflected higher metal costs from suppliers and mix of products sold. Material costs for the first quarter were 74.0% of sales as compared to 71.8% in the first quarter of 2007. Increased material costs as a percent of sales are partly the result of competitive pricing on aerospace grade aluminum plate due to the product oversupply throughout the industry. Also, the Company continues to experience competitive price pressure in other products within the Metals segment.
Other Operating Expenses and Operating Income:
On a consolidated basis, other operating costs and expenses increased $3.0 million, or 3.8%, compared to the first quarter of 2007. The Metals U.K. acquisition contributed to the increase. Other operating costs and expenses during the first quarter of 2008 were $79.8 million, or 20.3% of sales compared to $76.9 million, or 20.5% of sales last year.
     Consolidated operating income for the quarter of $22.3 million was $6.7 million, or 23.2%, lower than the same quarter last year. The Company’s first quarter 2008 operating profit margin (defined as operating income divided by net sales) decreased to 5.7% from 7.7% in the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to competitive market pricing related principally to an oversupply of aluminum plate in the aerospace industry.
Other Income and Expense, Income Taxes and Net Income:
Interest expense was $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of $2.2 million versus the same period in 2007 as a result of reduced borrowings. The Transtar acquisition debt was repaid with proceeds from the Company’s secondary public equity offering completed in May 2007. (See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” discussion below).
     Income tax expense decreased to $8.4 million from $9.9 million in the first quarter of 2007 due to lower taxable earnings. The effective tax rate was 41.2% in the first quarter of 2008 and 39.9% during the same quarter of 2007. The increase in the effective tax rate is largely a result of the increase in earnings and associated tax expense from the Company’s Kreher Steel joint venture.
     Equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture, Kreher Steel, was $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2008, $1.0 million higher than the same period last year, reflecting the joint venture’s acquisition of a metal distribution company in April 2007.
     Consolidated net income was $13.8 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2008 versus $15.6 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.
     Weighted average diluted shares outstanding increased 14.0% to 22.4 million for the quarter-ended March 31, 2008 as compared to 19.6 million shares for the same period in 2007. The increase in average diluted shares outstanding is primarily due to the additional shares issued during the Company’s secondary equity offering in May 2007.
Accounting Policies:
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurement” (“SFAS 157”) and SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”


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(“SFAS 159”). See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for more information regarding the Company’s adoption of the standards. 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, 2007.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are earnings from operations, management of working capital, and the $230 million amended senior credit facility.
     Cash from operating activities for the first three months of 2008 was $9.8 million. Receivable days outstanding were 45.4 days at the end of the first quarter of 2008 as compared to 45.9 days at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007. Average Inventory DSI (days sales in inventory) was 112.2 days at the end of the first quarter of 2008 versus 132.4 days at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, reflecting stronger sales and improved inventory management.
     In anticipation of the Metals U.K. acquisition, on January 2, 2008, the Company and its Canadian, U.K. and material domestic subsidiaries entered into a First Amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 5, 2006 with its lending syndicate. The facility consists of (i) a $170 million revolving “A” loan (the “U.S. A Revolver”) to be drawn by the Company from time to time, (ii) a $50 million multicurrency revolving “B” loan (the” U.S. B Revolver” and with the U.S. A Revolver, the “U.S. Facility”) to be drawn by the Company or its U.K. subsidiary from time to time, and (iii) a Cdn. $9.8 million revolving loan (corresponding to $10 million in U.S. dollars as of the amendment closing date) (the “Canadian Facility”) to be drawn by the Company’s Canadian subsidiary from time to time. The maturity date of the facility was extended to January 2, 2013. The obligations of the U.K. Subsidiary under the U.S. B Revolver are guaranteed by the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries. The U.S. A Revolver letter of credit sub-facility was increased from $15 million to $20 million. The Company’s U.K. subsidiary drew £14.9 million (or approximately $29.6 million) of the amount available under the U.S. B Revolver to finance the acquisition.
     As of March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $7.9 million under its U.S. A Revolver and had availability of $152.9 million. Borrowings under the U.S. B Revolver were $30.6 million and availability was $19.4 million. The Company’s Canadian subsidiary had no outstanding borrowings under the Canadian Facility and availability of $10 million at March 31, 2008.
     The Company paid cash dividends to its shareholders of $0.06 per common share, or $1.3 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2008.
     Capital expenditures through March 2008 were $5.4 million including approximately $3.1 million for the Company’s on-going ERP implementation.
     The Company’s principal payments on long-term debt, including the current portion of long-term debt, required over the next five years and thereafter are summarized below:
         
    (Amounts in 000’s)  
 
2008
  $ 7,374  
2009
    11,164  
2010
    7,877  
2011
    7,994  
2012
    8,189  
2013 and beyond
    57,816  
 
     
Total debt
  $ 100,414  
 
     


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     As of March 31, 2008, the Company remains in compliance with the covenants of its financial agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital ratios, working capital-to-debt ratios and a minimum adjusted consolidated net worth as defined within the agreements.
     Current business conditions lead management to believe that cash from operations along with funds available under our $230 million credit facility will be sufficient to fund its working capital needs, capital expenditure programs and meet its debt obligations.
     As of March 31, 2008, the Company had $6.9 million of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding, which primarily consisted of $3.6 million in support of the outstanding industrial revenue bonds and $2.1 million for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure 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, 2007. Refer to Item 7a in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2007 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 Security 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, 2007, the Company reported that, based upon their review and evaluation, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2007.
     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 Controls
There was no change in the Company’s “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that occurred during the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


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Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
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.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
During the quarter there were no material changes to the risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit 31.1 Certification Pursuant to Section 302 by CEO
Exhibit 31.2 Certification Pursuant to Section 302 by CFO
Exhibit 32.1 Certification Pursuant to Section 906 by CEO & CFO


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SIGNATURES
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: April 29, 2008
  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.)