A. M. Castle & Co. - Quarter Report: 2012 September (Form 10-Q)

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Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x	Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2012 or,

¨	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 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.)

1420 Kensington Road, Suite 220, Oak Brook, Illinois		60523
(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 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 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):

Indicate 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 October 29, 2012
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value		23,098,184 shares

A. M. CASTLE & CO.

Table of Contents


		Page

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements (unaudited):

	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets		3

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income		4

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		5

	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		6-30

Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		31-40

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		40

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		40

Part II. Other Information

Item 1A.	Risk Factors		41-42

Item 6.	Exhibits		43

Signatures			44

Exhibit Index			45

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, 2012			December 31, 2011
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	19,988		$	30,524
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $4,768 and $3,584		171,253			181,036
Inventories, principally on last-in, first-out basis (replacement cost higher by $140,544 and $138,882)		357,382			272,039
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		16,629			10,382
Income tax receivable		6,041			8,287

Total current assets		571,293			502,268
Investment in joint venture		40,731			36,460
Goodwill		70,516			69,901
Intangible assets		85,709			93,813
Prepaid pension cost		16,773			15,956
Other assets		20,321			21,784
Property, plant and equipment
Land		5,196			5,194
Building		52,838			52,434
Machinery and equipment		177,627			172,833

Property, plant and equipment, at cost		235,661			230,461
Less - accumulated depreciation		(155,839	)		(148,320	)

Property, plant and equipment, net		79,822			82,141

Total assets	$	885,165		$	822,323

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	133,723		$	116,874
Accrued liabilities		48,542			33,828
Income taxes payable		1,357			1,884
Current portion of long-term debt		309			192
Short-term debt		1,000			500

Total current liabilities		184,931			153,278

Long-term debt, less current portion		302,283			314,240
Deferred income taxes		33,995			25,650
Other non-current liabilities		6,191			7,252
Pension and post retirement benefit obligations		9,913			9,624
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - 9,988 shares authorized (including 400 Series B Junior Preferred $0.00 par value shares); no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011		—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 60,000 shares authorized and 23,211 shares issued and 23,092 outstanding at September 30, 2012; 30,000 shares authorized and 23,159 shares issued and 23,010 outstanding at December 31, 2011		232			232
Additional paid-in capital		221,297			184,596
Retained earnings		144,882			148,987
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(17,134	)		(19,824	)
Treasury stock, at cost - 119 shares at September 30, 2012 and 149 shares at December 31, 2011		(1,425	)		(1,712	)

Total stockholders’ equity		347,852			312,279

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	885,165		$	822,323

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Net sales	$	304,039		$	294,860		$	996,347		$	850,216
Costs and expenses:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		218,015			221,690			722,663			631,588
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense		36,894			35,076			113,894			102,092
Sales, general, and administrative expense		30,319			30,060			100,425			92,045
Depreciation and amortization expense		6,263			4,861			19,350			14,919

Operating income		12,548			3,173			40,015			9,572
Interest expense, net		(10,280	)		(1,221	)		(30,437	)		(3,327	)
Interest expense - unrealized loss on debt conversion option		—			—			(15,597	)		—

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture		2,268			1,952			(6,019	)		6,245
Income taxes		(453	)		(1,266	)		(4,185	)		(5,000	)

Income (loss) before equity in earnings of joint venture		1,815			686			(10,204	)		1,245
Equity in earnings of joint venture		1,358			3,117			6,099			8,958

Net income (loss)		3,173			3,803			(4,105	)		10,203
Basic income (loss) per share	$	0.14		$	0.17		$	(0.18	)	$	0.45

Diluted income (loss) per share	$	0.13		$	0.16		$	(0.18	)	$	0.44

Dividends per common share	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

Comprehensive income (loss)	$	6,123		$	(385	)	$	(1,415	)	$	8,212

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(4,105	)	$	10,203
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		19,350			14,919
Amortization of deferred gain		133			(356	)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount		4,621			508
Loss on sale of fixed assets		409			111
Unrealized loss on debt conversion option		15,597			—
Unrealized (gains) losses on commodity hedges		(192	)		1,571
Equity in earnings of joint venture		(6,099	)		(8,958	)
Dividends from joint venture		1,828			2,245
Deferred tax benefit		542			(2,294	)
Share-based compensation expense		3,061			3,047
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements		(63	)		(145	)
Increase (decrease) from changes in, net of acquisition:
Accounts receivable		11,877			(41,366	)
Inventories		(82,616	)		(58,323	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(6,047	)		(2,458	)
Other assets		(2,293	)		(508	)
Prepaid pension costs		(1,357	)		(1,381	)
Accounts payable		16,943			42,367
Income taxes payable and receivable		1,798			7,771
Accrued liabilities		13,852			(4,133	)
Postretirement benefit obligations and other liabilities		(168	)		(404	)

Net cash used in operating activities		(12,929	)		(37,584	)

Investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(8,991	)		(8,236	)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		22			217
Insurance proceeds		—			573

Net cash used in investing activities		(8,969	)		(7,446	)

Financing activities:
Short-term borrowings (repayments), net		500			33,571
Net (repayments) borrowings on previously existing revolving lines of credit		—			1,618
Proceeds from long-term debt, including new revolving credit facility		576,477			—
Repayments of long-term debt, including new revolving credit facility		(564,273	)		(300	)
Payment of debt issue costs		(1,503	)		—
Excess tax benefits (deficiencies) from share-based payment arrangements		63			145
Exercise of stock options		104			240

Net cash from financing activities		11,368			35,274

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(6	)		(1,059	)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(10,536	)		(10,815	)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year		30,524			36,716

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	19,988		$	25,901

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

A. M. Castle & Co.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited - Amounts in thousands except per share data and percentages

(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, 2011 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 period. 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 2012 interim results reported herein may not necessarily be indicative of the results of the Company’s operations for the full year.

(2) New Accounting Standards

Standards Updates Adopted

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted ASU No. 2011-08, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.” The objective of this ASU is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. The amendments allow entities to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test per Topic 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.” The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. The adoption of this ASU impacts the way the Company tests goodwill for impairment. As allowed by this ASU for its January 1, 2012 annual impairment test, the Company did not elect the option to perform a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment to determine whether it should calculate the fair value of a reporting unit. Instead the Company followed the two-step method. Refer to Note 7 for the results of the annual goodwill impairment test.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” The amendments in this ASU impact all entities that report items of other comprehensive income and are effective retrospectively for public entities. The amendments in this ASU eliminate the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendments provide the entity with the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Both options require an entity to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with total other comprehensive income and a total amount for comprehensive income. The subsequent issuance of ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income” in December 2011 deferred the changes in ASU 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. All other provisions in ASU 2011-05 were effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The presentation requirements associated with the adoption of ASU 2011-05 are reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income herein.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement.” The amendments in this ASU apply to all reporting entities that are required or permitted to measure or disclose the fair value of an asset, a liability, or an instrument classified in a reporting entity’s shareholders’ equity in the financial statements. The amendments in this ASU clarify the requirements of the existing standard and include some changes to principles or requirements for measuring or disclosing information about fair value measurements. Refer to Note 5 for required disclosures related to this ASU.

Standards Updates Issued Not Yet Effective

During December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” The amendments in this ASU require an entity to disclose information to enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of set off associated with an entity’s recognized assets and recognized liabilities within the scope of Topic 210. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this ASU may impact the Company’s disclosures in future interim and annual financial statements issued.

(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 employee and director stock options, restricted stock awards, other share-based payment awards, and contingently issuable shares related to the Company’s convertible debt which are included in the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding using the treasury stock method, if dilutive. The following table is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012			2011
Numerator:
Net (loss) income	$	3,173	$	3,803	$	(4,105	)	$	10,203

Denominator:
Denominator for basic (loss) earnings per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding		23,019		22,840		22,982			22,816
Effect of dilutive securities:
Outstanding common stock equivalents		880		380		—			446

Denominator for diluted earnings per share		23,899		23,220		22,982			23,262

Basic (loss) earnings per share	$	0.14	$	0.17	$	(0.18	)	$	0.45

Diluted (loss) earnings per share	$	0.13	$	0.16	$	(0.18	)	$	0.44

Excluded outstanding shared-based awards having an anti-dilutive effect		222		62		222			20

The Convertible Notes are dilutive to the extent the Company generates net income and the average stock price during the period is greater than $10.28, the conversion price of the Convertible Notes (see Note 4). The Convertible Notes are only dilutive for the “in the money” portion of the Convertible Notes that could be settled with the Company’s stock. In future periods, absent a fundamental change, (as defined in the Convertible Notes agreement), the outstanding Convertible Notes could increase diluted average shares outstanding by a maximum of approximately 5,600 shares.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the participating securities, which represent certain non-vested shares granted by the Company, were less than one percent of total securities. These securities do not participate in the Company’s net (loss) income.

(4) Debt

Short-term and long-term debt consisted of the following:


	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
SHORT-TERM DEBT
Foreign	$	1,000		$	500

Total short-term debt		1,000			500

LONG-TERM DEBT
Senior Secured Notes due December 15, 2016		225,000			225,000
Convertible Notes due December 15, 2017		57,500			57,500
New Revolving Credit Facility due December 15, 2015		46,800			35,500
Other, primarily capital leases		996			244

Total long-term debt		330,296			318,244
Plus: derivative liability for conversion feature associated with convertible debt Less: unamortized discount		— (27,704	)		26,440 (30,252	)
Less: current portion		(309	)		(192	)

Total long-term portion		302,283			314,240
TOTAL SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT	$	303,592		$	314,932

During December 2011, in conjunction with the completion of the acquisition of Tube Supply (the “Acquisition”), the Company issued $225,000 aggregate principal amount of 12.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the “Secured Notes”), issued $57,500 aggregate principal amount of 7.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Convertible Notes”) and entered into a $100,000 senior secured asset based revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility”). Net proceeds from these transactions (collectively referred to as the “Debt Transactions”) were used to complete the Acquisition, repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes.

Secured Notes

The Company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-4 on April 11, 2012. The registration statement was declared effective on June 12, 2012.

On June 12, 2012, the Company commenced an offer to exchange $225,000 principal amount of 12.75% Secured Notes due 2016, which are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “New Secured Notes”), for $225,000 principal amount of outstanding 12.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2016, which had not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Old Secured Notes”). The terms of the New Secured Notes issued are identical in all material respects to the Old Secured Notes, except that the New Secured Notes are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, do not have any of the transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions relating to the Old Secured Notes and bear a different CUSIP number from the Old Secured Notes. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

The New Secured Notes will mature on December 15, 2016. The Company will pay interest on the New Secured Notes at a rate of 12.75% per annum in cash semi-annually. The first payment of $14,344 was made on June 15, 2012. The New Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by certain 100% owned domestic subsidiaries of the Company (the Note Guarantors). The New Secured Notes and the related guarantees are secured by a lien on substantially all of the Company’s and the Note Guarantors’ assets, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens pursuant to a pledge and security agreement. The terms of the New Secured Notes contain numerous covenants imposing financial and operating restrictions on the Company’s business. These covenants place restrictions on the Company’s ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to, among other things, pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions or restricted payments; incur indebtedness or issue common stock; make certain investments; create liens; agree to payment restrictions affecting certain subsidiaries; consolidate or merge; sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of assets, including equity interests of certain subsidiaries; enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and use the proceeds of permitted sales of the Company’s assets. Refer to Note 15 for Guarantor Financial Information disclosure.

On or after December 15, 2014, the Company may redeem some or all of the New Secured Notes at a redemption premium of 106.375% of the principal amount for the 12-month period beginning December 15, 2014 and 100% thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to December 15, 2014, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the New Secured Notes at a redemption price of 112.75% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. In addition, the Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of the New Secured Notes at any time prior to December 15, 2014, by paying a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The New Secured Notes also contain a provision that allows holders of the New Secured Notes to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of the New Secured Notes if a change of control triggering event occurs. Under this provision, the repurchase of the New Secured Notes will occur at a purchase price of 101% of the outstanding principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such New Secured Notes to the date of repurchase. In addition, upon certain asset sales, the Company may be required to offer to use the net proceeds thereof to purchase some of the New Secured Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Subject to certain conditions, within 95 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Company must make an offer to purchase New Secured Notes with certain of its excess cash flow (as defined in the indenture) for such fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, at 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Convertible Notes

The Convertible Notes will mature on December 15, 2017. The Company will pay interest on the Convertible Notes at a rate of 7.0% in cash semi-annually. The first payment of $2,013 was made on June 15, 2012. The initial conversion rate for the Convertible Notes will be 97.2384 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $10.28 per share of common stock. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment, but will not be adjusted for accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, if an event constituting a fundamental change occurs, the Company will in some cases increase the conversion rate for a holder that elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such fundamental change. Upon conversion, the Company will pay and/or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at the Company’s election, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares.

Holders may convert their Convertible Notes at their option on any day prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding June 15, 2017 only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five business-day period after any five consecutive trading-day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per note for each day of that measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the applicable conversion rate on each such day; (2) during any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) after the calendar quarter ending December 31, 2011, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock for 20 or more trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is equal to or greater than 130% of the applicable conversion price in effect for each applicable trading day; (3) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events, including certain dividends and distributions; or (4) if the Company calls the Convertible Notes for redemption on or after December 20, 2015. The Convertible Notes will be convertible, regardless of the foregoing circumstances, at any time from, and including, June 15, 2017 through the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.

On April 26, 2012, at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, shareholder approval was obtained for the issuance of shares in excess of 20% of the Company’s outstanding common stock to satisfy any conversions of the Convertible Notes. Additionally, shareholder approval was obtained to amend the Company’s charter to authorize additional shares of common stock from 30,000 to 60,000. With these approvals, the Company now has the ability to share-settle the conversion option in full and therefore, the embedded conversion option is no longer required to be separately valued and accounted for as a derivative liability. As of April 26, 2012, the conversion option’s cumulative value of $42,037 was reclassified to additional paid-in capital and will no longer be marked-to-market through earnings. The deferred tax benefit of $8,264 associated with the temporary difference between the financial reporting basis of the derivative liability and its tax basis at the date of issuance (December 15, 2011) was also reclassified to additional paid-in capital.

Upon a fundamental change, subject to certain exceptions, holders may require the Company to repurchase some or all of their Convertible Notes for cash at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes being repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

The Company may not redeem the Convertible Notes prior to December 20, 2015. On or after December 20, 2015, the Company may redeem all or part of the Convertible Notes (except for the Convertible Notes that we are required to repurchase as described above) if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock exceeds 135% of the applicable conversion price for 20 or more trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date of the redemption notice. The redemption price will equal the sum of 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, plus a “make-whole” premium payment. The Company must make the “make-whole” premium payments on all Convertible Notes called for redemption including Convertible Notes converted after the date we delivered the notice of redemption. The Company will pay the redemption price in cash except for any non-cash portion of the “make-whole” premium.

New Revolving Credit Facility

The New Revolving Credit Facility consists of a $100,000 senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (subject to adjustment pursuant to a borrowing base described below), of which (a) up to an aggregate principal amount of $20,000 will be available for a Canadian subfacility, (b) up to an aggregate principal amount of $20,000 will be available for letters of credit and (c) up to an aggregate principal amount of $10,000 will be available for swingline loans. Loans under the New Revolving Credit Facility will be made available to the Company and certain domestic subsidiaries (the “U.S. Borrowers”) in U.S. dollars and the Canadian Borrowers in U.S. dollars and Canadian dollars. The New Revolving Credit Facility will mature on December 15, 2015.

The New Revolving Credit Facility will rank pari passu in right of payment with the Secured Notes, but, pursuant to the intercreditor agreement, the Secured Notes will be effectively subordinated to the indebtedness under the New Revolving Credit Facility with respect to the collateral.

At the Company’s election, borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest at variable rates based on (a) a customary base rate plus an applicable margin of between 0.50% and 1.00% (depending on quarterly average undrawn availability under the New Revolving Credit Facility) or (b) an adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of between 1.50% and 2.00% (depending on quarterly average undrawn availability under the New Revolving Credit Facility). The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 2.68%. The Company will pay certain customary recurring fees with respect to the New Revolving Credit Facility.

The New Revolving Credit facility contains a springing financial maintenance covenant requiring the Company to maintain the ratio (as defined in the agreement) of EBITDA to fixed charges of 1.1 to 1.0 when excess availability is less than the greater of 10% of the calculated borrowing base (as defined in the agreement) or $10,000. In addition, if excess availability is less than the greater of 12.5% of the calculated borrowing base (as defined in the agreement) or $12,500, the lender has the right to take full dominion of the Company’s cash collections and apply these proceeds to outstanding loans under the New Revolving Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2012, the Company’s excess availability of $43,318 was above such thresholds.

(5) Fair Value Measurements

The three-tier value hierarchy the Company utilizes, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies, is:

Level 1—Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3—Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting our own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

The fair value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying values. The fair value of cash equivalents are determined using the fair value hierarchy described above. Cash equivalents consisting of money market funds are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and as a result are classified as Level 1. The Company’s pension plan asset portfolio as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is primarily invested in fixed income securities, which generally fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value Measurements of Debt

The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt as of September 30, 2012 was estimated to be $346,692 compared to a carrying value of $254,796, net of unamortized discount. The fair value for the Senior Secured Notes is determined based on recent trades of the bonds and fall within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Convertible Notes, which fall within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, is determined based on similar debt instruments that do not contain a conversion feature. The main inputs and assumptions into the binomial lattice model are the Company’s stock price at the end of the period ($12.49), expected volatility (41.4%), credit spreads (12.02%) and the risk-free interest rate (0.66%).

As of September 30, 2012, the estimated fair value of the Company’s debt outstanding under its revolving credit facilities, which falls within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, is $44,942 compared to its carrying value of $47,800, assuming the current amount of debt outstanding at the end of the year was outstanding until the maturity of the Company’s facility in December 2015. Although borrowings could be materially greater or less than the current amount of borrowings outstanding at the end of the year, it is not practical to estimate the amounts that may be outstanding during the future periods since there is no predetermined borrowing or repayment schedule.

Fair Value Measurements of Commodity Hedges

The Company has a commodity hedging program to mitigate risks associated with certain commodity price fluctuations. At September 30, 2012, the Company had executed forward contracts that extend through 2016. The sole counterparty to these contracts is not considered a credit risk by the Company. At September 30, 2012, the notional value associated with forward contracts was $17,590. The Company recorded a net realized and unrealized gain of $987 and loss of $24 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, as a result of changes in the fair value of the contracts. The Company recorded a net realized and unrealized loss of $1,580 during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011. Refer to Note 13 for letters of credit outstanding for collateral associated with commodity hedges.

The Company uses information which is representative of readily observable market data when valuing derivatives liabilities associated with commodity hedges. The derivative liabilities are classified as Level 2 in the table below.

The assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:


	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
As of September 30, 2012:
Derivative liability for commodity hedges	$	—	$	2,139	$	—	$	2,139
Derivative liability for conversion feature associated with convertible debt	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

As of December 31, 2011:
Derivative liability for commodity hedges	$	—	$	2,331	$	—	$	2,331
Derivative liability for conversion feature associated with convertible debt	$	—	$	—	$	26,440	$	26,440

The following reconciliation represents the change in fair value of Level 3 liabilities from January 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012:


	Derivative liability for conversion feature associated with convertible debt
Fair value as of January 1	$	26,440
Mark-to-Market adjustment on conversion feature		15,597
Reclassification from long-term debt, less current portion to additional paid-in capital		(42,037	)

Fair value as of September 30	$	—

(6) 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, nickel, stainless steel, carbon and titanium. Inventories of these products assume many forms such as plate, sheet, extrusions, 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, trepanning machinery, boring machinery, honing equipment, water-jet cutting, stress relieving and annealing furnaces, surface grinding equipment and sheet shearing equipment.

The Company’s Plastics segment consists exclusively of a wholly-owned subsidiary that operates as Total Plastics, Inc. (“TPI”) headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. 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), automotive, marine, office furniture and fixtures, safety products, life sciences applications, 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, 2011. Management evaluates the performance of its business segments based on operating income.

Segment information for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:


	Net Sales		Operating Income			Capital Expenditures		Depreciation & Amortization
2012
Metals segment (a)	$	272,445	$	14,488		$	3,232	$	5,912
Plastics segment		31,594		1,011			800		351
Other (b)		—		(2,951	)		—		—

Consolidated	$	304,039	$	12,548		$	4,032	$	6,263

2011
Metals segment	$	264,368	$	4,298		$	2,919	$	4,619
Plastics segment		30,492		1,039			498		242
Other		—		(2,164	)		—		—

Consolidated	$	294,860	$	3,173		$	3,417	$	4,861

Segment information for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:


	Net Sales		Operating Income			Capital Expenditures		Depreciation & Amortization
2012
Metals segment (a)	$	901,581	$	46,251		$	6,552	$	18,335
Plastics segment		94,766		2,612			1,571		1,015
Other (b)		—		(8,848	)		—		—

Consolidated	$	996,347	$	40,015		$	8,123	$	19,350

2011
Metals segment	$	761,213	$	12,979		$	6,862	$	14,041
Plastics segment		89,003		2,663			1,374		878
Other		—		(6,070	)		—		—

Consolidated	$	850,216	$	9,572		$	8,236	$	14,919

(a)	The results of Tube Supply, Inc. (“Tube Supply”), acquired on December 15, 2011, are included in the Company’s Metals segment.

(b)	“Other” – Operating income includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments, which are shared by both the Metals and Plastics segments.

Below are reconciliations of segment data to the consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:


	September 30,
	2012			2011
Operating income	$	12,548		$	3,173
Interest expense, net		(10,280	)		(1,221	)

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture		2,268			1,952
Equity in earnings of joint venture		1,358			3,117

Consolidated income before income taxes	$	3,626		$	5,069

Below are reconciliations of segment data to the consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:


	September 30,
	2012			2011
Operating income	$	40,015		$	9,572
Interest expense, net Interest expense - unrealized loss on debt conversion option		(30,437 (15,597	) )		(3,327 —	)

(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture		(6,019	)		6,245
Equity in earnings of joint venture		6,099			8,958

Consolidated income before income taxes	$	80		$	15,203

Segment information for total assets is as follows:


	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Metals segment	$	786,652	$	729,692
Plastics segment		57,782		56,171
Other (a)		40,731		36,460

Consolidated	$	885,165	$	822,323

(a)	“Other” — Total assets consist of the Company's investment in joint venture.

(7) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in carrying amounts of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were as follows:


	Metals Segment			Plastics Segment		Total
Balance as of January 1, 2012
Goodwill	$	117,145		$	12,973	$	130,118
Accumulated impairment losses		(60,217	)		—		(60,217	)

Balance as of January 1, 2012		56,928			12,973		69,901
Currency valuation		615			—		615
Balance as of September 30, 2012

Goodwill		117,760			12,973		130,733
Accumulated impairment losses		(60,217	)		—		(60,217	)

Balance as of September 30, 2012	$	57,543		$	12,973	$	70,516

The Company’s annual test for goodwill impairment is completed as of January 1^st each year. Based on the January 1, 2012 test, the Company determined that there was no impairment of goodwill. The Company’s year-to-date operating results, among other factors, are considered in determining whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value for any reporting unit has declined below its carrying value, which would require the Company to perform an interim goodwill impairment test. Another recession or economic declines in specific industries could change management’s expectations of future financial results and/or key valuation assumptions used in determining the fair-value of its reporting units which could result in a test for the impairment of goodwill prior to the Company’s annual testing date of January 1^st.

On December 15, 2011, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Tube Supply. The aggregate purchase price was $184,385. There were no changes in the purchase price allocation during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The purchase price allocation is preliminary and it is subject to change upon the finalization of items such as the determination of fair values of pre-acquisition contingencies, finalization of the working capital adjustments and certain tax related matters.

The following summarizes the components of intangible assets:


	September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Customer relationships	$	119,373	$	42,764	$	118,567	$	34,960
Non-compete agreements		3,888		3,152		3,888		2,902
Trade name		8,326		993		8,249		410
Developed technology		1,400		369		1,400		19

Total	$	132,987	$	47,278	$	132,104	$	38,291

The weighted-average amortization period for the intangible assets is 10.8 years, 11.3 years for customer relationships, 9.4 years for trade names, 3 years for non-compete agreements and 3 years for developed technology. Substantially all of the Company’s intangible assets were acquired as part of the acquisitions of Transtar on September 5, 2006 and Tube Supply on December 15, 2011. For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, amortization expense was $2,961 and $1,657, respectively. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, amortization expense was $8,880 and $4,979, respectively.

The following is a summary of the estimated annual amortization expense for 2012 and each of the next 4 years:


2012	$	11,777
2013		11,777
2014		11,743
2015		10,977
2016		10,977

(8) Inventories

Approximately ninety percent of the Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of LIFO cost or market. Final inventory determination under the LIFO costing 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, 2012, 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 $140,544 and $138,882 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, 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 arrangements by recognizing compensation expense for the fair value of the share awards granted ratably over their vesting period. 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, 2012 associated with all share-based payment arrangements is $7,040 and the weighted average period over which it is to be expensed is 1.3 years.

Due to terminations that occurred during the first nine months of 2012, the Company revised its forfeiture rate for the active Long-Term Compensation Plans. The estimated weighted average forfeiture rate is 33% and 18% at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

2012 Long-Term Compensation Plan

On March 7, 2012, the Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company approved equity awards under the Company’s 2012 Long-Term Compensation Plan (“2012 LTC Plan”) for executive officers and other select personnel. The 2012 LTC Plan awards included restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance share units (“PSUs”). All 2012 LTC Plan awards are subject to the terms of the Company’s 2008 A.M. Castle & Co. Omnibus Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of April 28, 2011.

The 2012 LTC Plan consists of three components of share-based payment awards as follows:

Restricted Share Units - The Company granted 181 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $10.02 per share unit, which was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The RSUs cliff vest on December 31, 2014. 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).

Performance Share Units - The Company granted 362 PSUs, half of which contain a market- based performance condition and half of which contained a non-market-based performance condition.

PSUs containing a market-based performance condition - The potential award for PSUs containing a market-based performance condition is dependent on relative total shareholder return (“RTSR”), which is measured over a three-year performance period, beginning January 1^st of the year of grant. 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 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. 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 for the PSUs containing the RTSR market-based performance condition under the 2012 LTC Plan of $13.78 was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:


	2012
Expected volatility		85.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		0.40	%
Expected life (in years)		2.81
Expected dividend yield		—

Compensation expense for performance awards containing a market-based performance condition is recognized regardless of whether the market condition is achieved to the extent the requisite service period condition is met.

PSUs containing a non-market-based performance condition - The potential award for PSUs containing a non-market-based performance condition is determined based on the Company’s average actual performance versus Company-specific target goals for Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) (as defined in the 2012 LTC Plan) for the three-year performance period beginning on January 1^st of the year of grant. 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 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 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 the PSUs containing a non-market-based performance condition was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.

The award information associated with market and non-market-based performance condition awards is summarized below:


Share type	Grant Date Fair Value		Estimated Number of PSUs to be Issued		Maximum Number of PSUs that could Potentially be Issued
Market-based performance condition	$	13.78		100		246
Non-market-based performance condition	$	10.02		187		246

(10) Stockholders’ Equity

Shareholder Rights Plan

In August 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”) and declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock outstanding at the close of business on September 11, 2012. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, the Company is issuing one preferred stock purchase right (a “Right”) for each share of common stock outstanding on September 11, 2012. Each Right, once exercisable, represents the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share (a “Unit”) of Series B Junior Preferred Stock of the Company, without par value, for $54.00, subject to adjustment. The Rights become exercisable in the event any individual person or entity, without Board approval, acquires 10% or more of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain exceptions. In these circumstances, each holder of a Right (other than rights held by the acquirer) will be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price of the Right, additional shares of the Company’s common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the Right. Additionally, if the Company is involved in a merger or other business combination transaction with another person after which its common stock does not remain outstanding, each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the then-current exercise price of the Right, shares of common stock of the ultimate parent of such other person having a market value of twice the exercise price of the Right. The Rights may be redeemed by the Company for $0.001 per Right at any time until the tenth business day following the first public announcement of an acquisition of beneficial ownership of 10% of the Company’s common stock. The Rights Plan will expire on August 30, 2013.

Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Comprehensive (loss) income includes net (loss) income and all other non-owner changes to equity that are not reported in net (loss) income. The Company’s comprehensive (loss) income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:


	September 30,
	2012			2011
Net income	$	3,173		$	3,803
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain		3,060			(4,269	)
Pension cost amortization, net of tax		(110	)		81

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	6,123		$	(385	)

The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:


	September 30,
	2012			2011
Net (loss) income	$	(4,105	)	$	10,203
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		3,019			(2,237	)
Pension cost amortization, net of tax		(329	)		246

Total comprehensive (loss) income	$	(1,415	)	$	8,212

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows:


	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Foreign currency translation losses	$	(1,672	)	$	(4,691	)
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax		(15,462	)		(15,133	)

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(17,134	)	$	(19,824	)

(11) Employee Benefit Plans

Components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:


	September 30,
	2012			2011
Service cost	$	192		$	176
Interest cost		1,750			1,904
Expected return on assets		(2,464	)		(2,514	)
Amortization of prior service cost		81			81
Amortization of actuarial loss		149			57

Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit	$	(292	)	$	(296	)

Components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:


	September 30,
	2012			2011
Service cost	$	576		$	528
Interest cost		5,250			5,712
Expected return on assets		(7,392	)		(7,542	)
Amortization of prior service cost		243			243
Amortization of actuarial loss		447			171

Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit	$	(876	)	$	(888	)

As of September 30, 2012, 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 2012.

Effective July 1, 2012, the Company’s 401(k) plan was amended to include the employees of Tube Supply, LLC, which was acquired in December of 2011. Employees were eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan immediately. Tube Supply, LLC’s existing plan assets were rolled over into the Company’s 401(k) plan during 2012 as a result of this amendment.

(12) 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.

The following information summarizes financial data for this joint venture for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:


	September 30,
	2012		2011
Net sales	$	63,578	$	71,776
Cost of materials		52,705		57,743
Income before taxes		4,129		7,382
Net income		2,716		6,234

The following information summarizes financial data for this joint venture for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:


	September 30,
	2012		2011
Net sales	$	208,045	$	202,455
Cost of materials		172,370		163,453
Income before taxes		15,663		20,892
Net income		12,198		17,916

(13) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had $6,794 of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding which primarily consisted of $4,000 for collateral associated with commodity hedges and $1,994 for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

The Company is party to a variety of legal proceedings arising from the operation of its business. These proceedings are incidental and occur in the normal course of the Company’s business affairs. It is the opinion of management, based upon the information available at this time, that the currently expected outcome of these proceedings will not have a material effect on the consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows of the Company.

In 2011, the Company determined that it inadvertently exported certain aluminum alloy bar that are listed on the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Commerce Control List to countries where there is an export license requirement if an exception is not otherwise available. The exports, which occurred in 2011, had a total transaction value of approximately $13 and were made without export licenses. The exports involved shipments to the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in China and to a customer in the Philippines. In response thereto, the Company has submitted a voluntary self-disclosure describing the nature of these shipments to the Office of Export Enforcement of the Department of Commerce (OEE) in accordance with applicable Export Administration Regulations. The Company previously disclosed similar incidents to BIS in 2008, which were resolved in September 2011 through the payment of a $775 civil penalty and a commitment to satisfy certain compliance and reporting obligations. If it is determined that the Company failed to comply with the applicable U.S. export regulations, the OEE could assess additional monetary penalties, restrict export privileges or provide an administrative warning. While the ultimate disposition of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management, based on the information available at this time, that the outcome of this matter will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

(14) Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were 20.0% and 64.9%, respectively. The change in the effective tax rate compared to the third quarter of 2011 was the result of a lower estimated annual tax rate for the current year due to an $800 tax benefit related to the Company’s share of a dividend received by its joint venture and the change in the geographical mix of income.

The tax years 2008 through 2011 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

Audits of the Company’s 2008 and 2009 U.S. federal income tax returns are in process as of September 30, 2012. To date, no material issues have been raised. Due to the potential for resolution of the examination or expiration of statutes of limitations, 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 $728.

The Company received its 2010 federal tax refund of $2,025 during February 2012 and its 2009 federal income tax refund of $6,344 during January 2011.

(15) Guarantor Financial Information

The accompanying condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to Rule 3-10 of SEC Regulation S-X “Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered.” The consolidating financial information presents A. M. Castle & Co. (Parent) and subsidiaries. The consolidating financial information has been prepared on the same basis as the consolidated statements of the Parent. The equity method of accounting is followed within this financial information.

In September 2012, the Company merged Tube Supply, LLC, a guarantor, with the Parent. The Company has reflected this change in its accompanying condensed consolidating financial statements of guarantors and non-guarantors.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2012


	Parent		Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,929	$	2,152		$	15,907		$	—		$	19,988
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts		81,738		37,250			52,265			—			171,253
Receivables from affiliates		55		1,554			683			(2,292	)		—
Inventories		221,144		49,886			86,480			(128	)		357,382
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		18,203		(3,731	)		8,162			36			22,670

Total current assets		323,069		87,111			163,497			(2,384	)		571,293
Investment in joint venture		40,731		—			—			—			40,731
Goodwill		12,921		41,556			16,039			—			70,516
Intangible assets		35,316		29,843			20,550			—			85,709
Other assets		30,917		152			6,025						37,094
Investment in subsidiaries		249,421		11,742			—			(261,163	)		—
Receivables from affiliates		72,686		79,498			634			(152,818	)		—
Property, plant and equipment, net		52,476		15,308			12,038			—			79,822

Total assets	$	817,537	$	265,210		$	218,783		$	(416,365	)	$	885,165

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	95,552	$	13,573		$	24,598		$	—		$	133,723
Payables due to affiliates		1,093		55			1,144			(2,292	)		—
Other current liabilities		35,497		4,675			9,727			—			49,899
Current portion of long-term debt and short-term debt		292		7			1,010			—			1,309

Total current liabilities		132,434		18,310			36,479			(2,292	)		184,931
Long-term debt, less current portion		298,259		—			4,024			—			302,283
Payables due to affiliates		9,716		13,935			129,167			(152,818	)		—
Deferred income taxes		15,341		19,119			(465	)		—			33,995
Other non-current liabilities		13,935		1,537			632			—			16,104
Stockholders’ equity		347,852		212,309			48,946			(261,255	)		347,852

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	817,537	$	265,210		$	218,783		$	(416,365	)	$	885,165

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2011


	Parent		Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,534	$	582		$	18,408		$	—		$	30,524
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts		88,434		37,487			55,115			—			181,036
Receivables from affiliates		273		3,495			146			(3,914	)		—
Inventories		163,776		48,980			59,547			(264	)		272,039
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		18,517		(3,331	)		3,483			—			18,669

Total current assets		282,534		87,213			136,699			(4,178	)		502,268
Investment in joint venture		36,460		—			—			—			36,460
Goodwill		12,921		41,556			15,424			—			69,901
Intangible assets		38,238		34,395			21,180			—			93,813
Other assets		34,691		237			2,812			—			37,740
Investment in subsidiaries		243,823		12,151			—			(255,974	)		—
Receivables from affiliates		66,878		71,041			7,292			(145,211	)		—
Property, plant and equipment, net		56,266		15,416			10,459			—			82,141

Total assets	$	771,811	$	262,009		$	193,866		$	(405,363	)	$	822,323

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	84,437	$	14,826		$	17,611		$	—		$	116,874
Payables due to affiliates		1,387		76			2,451			(3,914	)		—
Other current liabilities		25,895		4,459			5,358			—			35,712
Current portion of long-term debt and short-term debt		82		50			560			—			692

Total current liabilities		111,801		19,411			25,980			(3,914	)		153,278
Long-term debt, less current portion		303,739		1			10,500			—			314,240
Payables due to affiliates		23,727		8,572			112,912			(145,211	)		—
Deferred income taxes		6,280		19,647			(277	)		—			25,650
Other non-current liabilities		13,985		2,324			567			—			16,876
Stockholders’ equity		312,279		212,054			44,184			(256,238	)		312,279

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	771,811	$	262,009		$	193,866		$	(405,363	)	$	822,323

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Quarter ended September 30, 2012


	Parent			Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net Sales	$	177,094		$	65,238		$	68,842		$	(7,135	)	$	304,039

Costs and expenses:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		125,199			47,154			53,253			(7,591	)		218,015
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense		22,642			8,497			5,755			—			36,894
Sales, general and administrative expense		18,982			7,399			3,938			—			30,319
Depreciation and amortization expense		3,075			2,184			1,004			—			6,263

Operating income		7,196			4			4,892			456			12,548

Interest expense, net		(6,293	)		—			(3,987	)		—			(10,280	)
Interest expense - unrealized loss on debt conversion option		—			—			—			—			—

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries and joint venture		903			4			905			456			2,268
Income taxes		(231	)		183			(230	)		(175	)		(453	)

Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		1,143			(516	)		—			(627	)		—
Equity in earnings of joint venture		1,358			—			—			—			1,358

Net income (loss)		3,173			(329	)		675			(346	)		3,173

Comprehensive income (loss)	$	6,123		$	303		$	3,735		$	(4,038	)	$	6,123

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Quarter ended September 30, 2011


	Parent			Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net Sales	$	160,196		$	74,872		$	61,658		$	(1,866	)	$	294,860

Costs and expenses:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		121,829			54,809			46,918			(1,866	)		221,690
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense		21,008			8,753			5,315			—			35,076
Sales, general and administrative expense		18,203			7,564			4,293			—			30,060
Depreciation and amortization expense		2,101			2,122			638			—			4,861

Operating (loss) income		(2,945	)		1,624			4,494			—			3,173

Interest expense, net		(472	)		—			(749	)		—			(1,221	)

(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries and joint venture		(3,417	)		1,624			3,745			—			1,952
Income taxes		95			(562	)		(799	)		—			(1,266	)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		4,008			(43	)		—			(3,965	)		—
Equity in earnings of joint venture		3,117			—			—			—			3,117

Net income		3,803			1,019			2,946			(3,965	)		3,803

Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(385	)	$	1,246		$	(1,323	)	$	77		$	(385	)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Nine Months ended September 30, 2012


	Parent			Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net Sales	$	603,494		$	204,851		$	216,476		$	(28,474	)	$	996,347

Costs and expenses:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		436,815			147,942			166,253			(28,347	)		722,663
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense		70,541			25,687			17,666			—			113,894
Sales, general and administrative expense		60,519			24,041			15,865			—			100,425
Depreciation and amortization expense		9,681			6,676			2,993			—			19,350

Operating income		25,938			505			13,699			(127	)		40,015

Interest expense, net		(19,102	)		—			(11,335	)		—			(30,437	)
Interest expense - unrealized loss on debt conversion option		(15,597	)		—			—			—			(15,597	)

(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries and joint venture		(8,761	)		505			2,364			(127	)		(6,019	)
Income taxes		(3,751	)		138			(608	)		36			(4,185	)

Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		2,308			(757	)		—			(1,551	)		—
Equity in earnings of joint venture		6,099			—			—			—			6,099

Net (loss) income		(4,105	)		(114	)		1,756			(1,642	)		(4,105	)

Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(1,415	)	$	234		$	4,775		$	(5,009	)	$	(1,415	)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Nine Months ended September 30, 2011


	Parent			Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net Sales	$	462,700		$	215,767		$	177,347		$	(5,598	)	$	850,216

Costs and expenses:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		345,549			156,977			134,660			(5,598	)		631,588
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense		61,274			25,604			15,214			—			102,092
Sales, general and administrative expense		54,804			24,187			13,054			—			92,045
Depreciation and amortization expense		6,369			6,585			1,965			—			14,919

Operating (loss) income		(5,296	)		2,414			12,454			—			9,572

Interest expense, net		(877	)		—			(2,450	)		—			(3,327	)

(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries and joint venture		(6,173	)		2,414			10,004			—			6,245
Income taxes		(1,853	)		(885	)		(2,262	)		—			(5,000	)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		9,271			348			—			(9,619	)		—
Equity in earnings of joint venture		8,958			—			—			—			8,958

Net income		10,203			1,877			7,742			(9,619	)		10,203

Comprehensive income	$	8,212		$	2,320		$	5,506		$	(7,826	)	$	8,212

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows For the Period ended September 30, 2012


	Parent			Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(4,105	)	$	(114	)	$	1,756		$	(1,642	)	$	(4,105	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		2,308			(757	)		—			(1,551	)		—
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash provided by operating activities		(1,037	)		7,585			(18,565	)		3,193			(8,824	)

Net cash (used in) from operating activities		(2,834	)		6,714			(16,809	)		—			(12,929	)

Investing activities:
Capital expenditures and other		(4,270	)		(2,007	)		(2,692	)		—			(8,969	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(4,270	)		(2,007	)		(2,692	)		—			(8,969	)

Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt, including new revolving credit facility		566,131			—			10,346			—			576,477
Repayments of long-term debt, including new revolving credit facility		(547,477	)		(43	)		(16,753	)		—			(564,273	)
Payment of debt issue costs		(1,503	)		—			—			—			(1,503	)
Net intercompany (repayments) borrowings		(19,819	)		(3,094	)		22,913			—			—
Other financing		167			—			500			—			667

Net cash (used in) from financing activities		(2,501	)		(3,137	)		17,006			—			11,368
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			(6	)		—			(6	)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(9,605	)		1,570			(2,501	)		—			(10,536	)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year		11,534			582			18,408			—			30,524

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	1,929		$	2,152		$	15,907		$	—		$	19,988

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Period ended September 30, 2011


	Parent			Guarantors			Non-Guarantors			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating activities:
Net income	$	10,203		$	1,877		$	7,742		$	(9,619	)	$	10,203
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries		9,271			348			—			(9,619	)		—
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash provided by operating activities		(51,659	)		4,110			(19,476	)		19,238			(47,787	)

Net cash (used in) from operating activities		(32,185	)		6,335			(11,734	)		—			(37,584	)

Investing activities:
Capital expenditures and other		(5,441	)		(1,529	)		(1,049	)		—			(8,019	)
Insurance proceeds		573			—			—			—			573

Net cash used in investing activities		(4,868	)		(1,529	)		(1,049	)		—			(7,446	)

Financing activities:
Short term borrowings		31,900			—			1,671			—			33,571
Net (repayments) borrowings on revolving lines of credit and long-term debt		(62	)		(30	)		1,410			—			1,318
Net intercompany (repayments) borrowings		(1,316	)		(4,009	)		5,325			—			—
Other financing activities, net		385			—			—			—			385

Net cash from (used in) financing activities		30,907			(4,039	)		8,406			—			35,274
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			(1,059	)		—			(1,059	)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(6,146	)		767			(5,436	)		—			(10,815	)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year		7,629			1,068			28,019			—			36,716

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	1,483		$	1,835		$	22,583		$	—		$	25,901

(16) Subsequent Events

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company elected Scott J. Dolan to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of the Company, effective October 15, 2012.

The Company has agreed to pay Mr. Dolan a base salary of $650 per year. Mr. Dolan will receive a one-time cash signing bonus of $60. Mr. Dolan will participate in the Company’s short-term incentive plan (“STIP”), with a target bonus for 2012 of 100% of annual base salary. For 2012, Mr. Dolan will receive a guaranteed payment under the Company’s STIP equal to the prorata target bonus. Mr. Dolan will participate in the Company’s Long-term Compensation Plan (“LTCP”), with a target incentive opportunity of 200% of base salary beginning with the 2013-2015 performance period. Mr. Dolan received a pro-rata award of 92 performance share units under the Company’s LTCP for the 2010-2012, 2011-2013 and 2012-2014 performance periods. Approximately 47 performance share units contain a market-based performance condition, for which the Company is currently evaluating the grant date fair value. The remaining awards had a grant date fair value of $12.74, which represents the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant.

In connection with his appointment, Mr. Dolan received 78 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $12.74, which will vest over four years, assuming continued employment by Mr. Dolan, with one-fourth of the restricted stock units vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder in equal annual installments.

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, 2011 and Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this report. 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

2011 Acquisition

On December 15, 2011, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Tube Supply, Inc. (“Tube Supply”). Tube Supply is a leading value-added distributor of specialty tubular and bar products for the oil and gas industry, based in Houston, Texas. Tube Supply provides high quality products and services primarily to the North American oilfield equipment manufacturing industry. Tube Supply operates two service centers, which are located in Houston, Texas and Edmonton, Alberta. The results and the assets of Tube Supply are included in the Company’s Metals segment. Tube Supply had net sales of $39.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Economic Trends and Current Business Conditions

A. M. Castle & Co. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) experienced a decrease in demand from its customer base in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011 in the Metals segment and a slight increase in demand in the Plastics segment.

Metals segment sales increased 3.0% from the third quarter of 2011 as a result of the inclusion of Tube Supply sales in the third quarter of 2012. Average tons sold per day, excluding Tube Supply, decreased 9.2% compared to the prior year quarter, which was primarily driven by decreases in aluminum, carbon and alloy plate, carbon bar and SBQ bar products. Virtually all key end-use markets experienced weaker demand in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 2011.

The Company’s Plastics segment reported a sales increase of 3.6% compared to the third quarter of 2011, reflecting continued strength in the automotive sector, partially offset by weaker demand in the store fixtures sector.

Management uses the PMI provided by the Institute for 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 2010 through the third quarter of 2012. 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.


YEAR	Qtr 1		Qtr 2		Qtr 3		Qtr 4
2010		58.2		58.8		55.4		56.8
2011		61.1		56.4		51.0		52.4
2012		53.3		52.7		50.3

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 2012 Comparisons to Third Quarter 2011

Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.


							Fav/(Unfav)
	2012			2011			$ Change			% Change
Net Sales
Metals	$	272.4		$	264.4		$	8.0			3.0	%
Plastics		31.6			30.5			1.1			3.6	%

Total Net Sales	$	304.0		$	294.9		$	9.1			3.1	%
Cost of Materials
Metals	$	195.6		$	200.2		$	4.6			2.3	%
% of Metals Sales		71.8	%		75.7	%
Plastics		22.4			21.5			(0.9	)		(4.2	)%
% of Plastics Sales		70.9	%		70.5	%

Total Cost of Materials	$	218.0		$	221.7		$	3.7			1.7	%
% of Total Sales		71.7	%		75.2	%
Operating Costs and Expenses
Metals	$	62.3		$	59.9		$	(2.4	)		(4.0	)%
Plastics		8.2			7.9			(0.3	)		(3.8	)%
Other		3.0			2.2			(0.8	)		(36.4	)%

Total Operating Costs & Expenses	$	73.5		$	70.0		$	(3.5	)		(5.0	)%
% of Total Sales		24.2	%		23.7	%
Operating Income
Metals	$	14.5		$	4.3		$	10.2			237.2	%
% of Metals Sales		5.3	%		1.6	%
Plastics		1.0			1.1			(0.1	)		(9.1	)%
% of Plastics Sales		3.2	%		3.6	%
Other		(3.0	)		(2.2	)		(0.8	)		(36.4	)%

Total Operating Income	$	12.5		$	3.2		$	9.3			290.6	%
% of Total Sales		4.1	%		1.1	%

“Other” includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments which are shared by both segments of the Company.

Net Sales:

Consolidated net sales were $304.0 million, an increase of $9.1 million, or 3.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2011. Metals segment sales during the third quarter of 2012 of $272.4 million were $8.0 million, or 3.0%, higher than the same period last year as a result of the inclusion of Tube Supply sales in the third quarter of 2012. Tube Supply had net sales of $39.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. The decline in sales in the Metals segment, excluding the activity of Tube Supply, was primarily the result of a decrease in demand for the period. Average tons sold per day, excluding Tube Supply, decreased 9.2% compared to the prior year quarter, which was primarily driven by decreases in aluminum, carbon and alloy plate, carbon bar and SBQ bar products. Virtually all key end-use markets experienced weaker demand in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 2011.

Plastics segment sales during the third quarter of 2012 of $31.6 million were $1.1 million, or 3.6% higher than the third quarter of 2011 primarily due to higher sales volume reflecting continued strength in the automotive sector, partially offset by weaker demand in the store fixtures sector.

Cost of Materials:

Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) during the third quarter of 2012 was $218.0 million, a decrease of $3.7 million, or 1.7%, compared to the third quarter of 2011. Material costs for the Metals segment for the third quarter of 2012 were $195.6 million, or 71.8% as a percent of net sales, compared to $200.2 million, or 75.7% as a percent of net sales, for the third quarter of 2011. Tube Supply cost of materials was $25.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. Excluding Tube Supply, cost of materials decreased $29.5 million compared to the third quarter of 2011 primarily as a result of the decrease in demand experienced in the Metals segment. Third quarter 2012 results include a $1.0 million gain associated with commodity hedges compared to a $1.6 million loss in the prior year period. The Metals segment recorded a LIFO credit of $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2012 due to changes in the Company’s full year LIFO estimate based on expected inventory levels and inflation. This compares to LIFO expense of $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2011. Material costs for the Plastics segment of 70.9% as a percent of net sales for the third quarter of 2012 were higher than 70.5% for the same period last year due to higher costs experienced in the automotive sector of the business.

Operating Expenses and Operating Income:

On a consolidated basis, operating costs and expenses increased $3.5 million, or 5.0%, compared to the third quarter of 2011. Operating costs and expenses were $73.5 million, or 24.2% of net sales, compared to $70.0 million, or 23.7% of net sales during the third quarter of 2011.

The increase in operating expenses for the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011 primarily relates to the following:

•

Warehouse, processing and delivery costs increased by $1.8 million of which a $3.8 million increase is associated with Tube Supply activity for the quarter. The remaining $2.0 million decrease is primarily attributed to a decline of approximately $1.2 million associated with the decrease in sales activity in the Metals segment for the period and a decrease of $0.8 million in compensation and benefit costs, which include workers’ compensation and healthcare costs;

•

Sales, general and administrative costs increased by $0.3 million of which a $2.6 million increase is associated with Tube Supply activity for the quarter, offset primarily by a decline of $1.4 million in benefits and compensation, which include incentive compensation and healthcare costs;

•

Depreciation and amortization expense was $1.4 million higher than the third quarter of 2011 primarily due to the depreciation and amortization of Tube Supply’s fixed and intangible assets acquired in December 2011.

Consolidated operating income for the third quarter of 2012 was $12.5 million compared to $3.2 million for the same period last year. Tube Supply contributed $5.9 million to the overall increase from the third quarter of 2011. The Company’s third quarter 2012 operating income as a percent of net sales increased to 4.1% from 1.1% in the third quarter of 2011.

Other Income and Expense, Income Taxes and Net Income:

Interest expense was $10.3 million in the third quarter of 2012, an increase of $9.1 million versus the same period in 2011 as a result of interest charges on the Company’s new senior secured and convertible notes.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2012 includes the following new charges compared to the prior year period:

•

Interest on senior secured and convertible notes of $8.2 million; and

•

Amortization of debt discount of $0.9 million.

The Company recorded income tax expense of $0.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 compared to tax expense of $1.3 million for the same period last year. The Company’s effective tax rate is expressed as ‘Income tax expense’, which includes tax expense on the Company’s share of joint venture earnings, as a percentage of ‘Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture.’ The effective tax rate for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were 20.0% and 64.9%, respectively. The change in the effective tax rate compared to the third quarter of 2011 was primarily the result of a $0.8 million tax benefit related to the Company’s share of a dividend received by its joint venture, as well as a change in the geographical mix of income.

Equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture was $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2012, which was $1.8 million less than the same period last year. An increase to bad debt reserves for customer bankruptcies impacted equity in earnings of the joint venture by approximately $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 2011. Lower demand and pricing for Kreher’s products compared to the same period last year was another contributing factor to the decrease in equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture.

Consolidated net income for the third quarter of 2012 was $3.2 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011.

Results of Operations: Nine Months 2012 Comparisons to Nine Months 2011

Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.


							*Fav/(Unfav)*
	2012			2011			*$ Change*			*% Change*
Net Sales
Metals	$	901.5		$	761.2		$	140.3			18.4	%
Plastics		94.8			89.0			5.8			6.5	%

Total Net Sales	$	996.3		$	850.2		$	146.1			17.2	%

Cost of Materials
Metals	$	655.9		$	569.6		$	(86.3	)		(15.2	)%
% of Metals Sales		72.8	%		74.8	%
Plastics		66.8			62.0			(4.8	)		(7.7	)%
% of Plastics Sales		70.5	%		69.7	%

Total Cost of Materials	$	722.7		$	631.6		$	(91.1	)		(14.4	)%
% of Total Net Sales		72.5	%		74.3	%

Operating Costs and Expenses
Metals	$	199.5		$	178.6		$	(20.9	)		(11.7	)%
Plastics		25.4			24.3			(1.1	)		(4.5	)%
Other		8.8			6.1			(2.7	)		(44.3	)%

Total Operating Costs & Expenses	$	233.7		$	209.0		$	(24.7	)		(11.8	)%
% of Total Net Sales		23.5	%		24.6	%

Operating Income (Loss)
Metals	$	46.2		$	13.0		$	33.2			255.4	%
% of Metals Sales		5.1	%		1.7	%
Plastics		2.6			2.7			(0.1	)		(3.7	)%
% of Plastics Sales		2.7	%		3.0	%
Other		(8.8	)		(6.1	)		(2.7	)		(44.3	)%

Total Operating Income	$	40.0		$	9.6		$	30.4			316.7	%
% of Total Net Sales		4.0	%		1.1	%

“Other” includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments which are shared by both segments of the Company.

Net Sales:

Consolidated net sales were $996.3 million, an increase of $146.1 million, or 17.2%, compared to the same period last year. Metals segment sales during the first nine months of 2012 of $901.5 million were $140.3 million, or 18.4%, higher than the same period last year as a result of the inclusion of Tube Supply sales in 2012. Tube Supply had net sales of $145.0 million for the first nine months of 2012. Average tons sold per day, excluding Tube Supply, were slightly higher compared to the prior year period. However, the slight tons increase was offset by changes in pricing and mix of the Company’s products sold compared to the prior year period.

Plastics segment sales during the first nine months of 2012 of $94.8 million were $5.8 million, or 6.5% higher than the same period last year primarily due to higher sales volume and increased pricing reflecting continued strength in the automotive sector, which was partially offset by a decrease demand in the office furniture sector.

Cost of Materials:

Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) during the first nine months of 2012 were $722.7 million, an increase of $91.1 million, or 14.4%, compared to the same period last year. Material costs for the Metals segment for the first nine months of 2012 were $655.9 million or 72.8% as a percent of net sales compared to $569.6 million or 74.8% as a percent of net sales for the first nine months of 2011. Tube Supply cost of materials was $95.3 million for the first nine months of 2012. Excluding Tube Supply, cost of materials decreased by $4.2 million. Year-to-date 2012 results were not significantly impacted by commodity hedges compared to a $1.6 million loss in the prior year period. The Metals segment recorded LIFO expense of $1.7 million in the first nine months of 2012 compared to $10.7 million during the prior year period. Material costs for the Plastics segment were 70.5% and 69.7% as a percent of net sales for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Management believes that consolidated material costs as a percentage of net sales will be comparable to first nine months of 2012 levels for the balance of 2012.

Operating Expenses and Operating Income:

On a consolidated basis, operating costs and expenses increased $24.7 million, or 11.8%, compared to the same period last year. Operating costs and expenses were $233.7 million, or 23.5% as a percent of sales, compared to $209.0 million, or 24.6% as a percent of sales last year. Year-to-date 2011 results include a $0.8 million charge for export penalties related to product shipments that occurred from 2005 to 2008.

During the second quarter of 2012, the Company incurred costs associated with executive employment transition in the amount of $1.6 million. As a result of the transition, share-based awards were forfeited, which resulted in a significant increase in the Company’s forfeiture rate. The increase in the forfeiture rate estimate associated with the active Long-term Compensation Plans resulted in a decrease in sales, general and administrative cost of approximately $1.0 million. The net impact of the employment transition costs on sales, general and administrative expense was approximately $0.6 million.

The increase in operating expenses for the first nine months of 2012 compared to 2011 primarily relates to the following:

•

Warehouse, processing and delivery costs increased by $11.8 million of which a $12.3 million increase is associated with Tube Supply activity for the period. The Tube Supply impact was offset by a $0.5 million decrease primarily attributed to a decline in workers’ compensation and overtime wage costs, partially offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expense as a result of headcount, merit and healthcare cost increases;

•

Sales, general and administrative costs increased by $8.4 million, which is the amount associated with the increase for Tube Supply activity for the period. The net impact of

the CEO transition costs of $0.6 million and an increase to bad debt reserves for customer bankruptcies of $0.8 million were included in the nine months ended 2012 results. Year-to-date 2011 results include a $0.8 million charge for export penalties related to product shipments that occurred from 2005 to 2008;

•

Depreciation and amortization expense was $4.4 million higher than the first half of 2011 primarily due to the depreciation and amortization of Tube Supply’s fixed and intangible assets acquired in December 2011.

Consolidated operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $40.0 million compared to $9.6 million for the same period last year. Tube Supply contributed $23.8 million to the overall increase from the first nine months of 2011.

Other Income and Expense, Income Taxes and Net Income (Loss):

Interest expense was $46.0 million in the first nine months of 2012, an increase of $42.7 million versus the same period in 2011 as a result of interest charges on the Company’s new senior secured and convertible notes, as well as the unrealized loss for the mark-to-market adjustment on the conversion option associated with the convertible notes.

Interest expense for the first nine months of 2012 includes the following new charges compared to the prior year period:

•

Non-cash interest charge of $15.6 million associated with the mark-to-market adjustment on the conversion option associated with the convertible notes, which is not deductible for federal income tax purposes;

•

Interest on senior secured and convertible notes of $24.4 million; and

•

Amortization of debt discount of $2.5 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded tax expense of $4.2 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate is expressed as ‘Income tax expense or benefit’ as a percentage of ‘Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture.’ This calculation includes taxes on the joint venture income but excludes joint venture income. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was (69.5)% and 80.1%, respectively. The change in the effective tax rate compared to the first nine months of 2011 was primarily the result of the non-deductibility of the mark-to-market adjustment on the conversion option associated with the convertible notes in the amount of $15.6 million.

Equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture was $6.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $9.0 million for the same period last year. An increase to bad debt reserves for customer bankruptcies impacted equity in earnings of the joint venture by approximately $1.0 million for the nine months ended 2012 compared to 2011. Lower demand for Kreher’s products in virtually all end-use markets compared to the same period last year was another contributing factor to the decrease in equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture.

Consolidated net loss for the first nine months of 2012 was $4.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, versus net income of $10.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011. The net loss for the first nine months of 2012 resulted from the mark-to-market adjustment on the conversion option associated with the convertible debt.

Accounting Policies:

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, 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $10.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to a decrease of $10.8 million for the same period last year.

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are cash provided by operations and available borrowing capacity to fund working capital needs and growth initiatives. Cash used in operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $12.9 million compared to cash used in operations of $37.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Specific components of the change in working capital are highlighted below:

•

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, cash receipts from customers exceeded net sales resulting in an $11.9 million cash flow impact due to a decrease in accounts receivable for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to a $41.4 million cash flow impact due to an increase in accounts receivable for the same period last year. Net sales increased 17.2% from the same period last year. Average receivable days outstanding was 48.6 days for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 49.2 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

•

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, inventory purchases exceeded sales of inventory resulting in a $82.6 million cash flow impact due to an increase in inventory compared to a $58.3 million cash flow impact due to an increase in inventory in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Average days sales in inventory was 182.1 days for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 123.3 days for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

•

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, purchases exceeded cash paid for inventories and other goods and services resulting in a $30.8 million cash flow impact due to a net increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities compared to a $38.2 million cash flow impact due to a net increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities for the same period last year.

•

The Company received its 2010 federal income tax refund of approximately $2.0 million during February 2012 and its 2009 federal income tax refund of approximately $6.3 million during January 2011.

In December 2011, in conjunction with the acquisition of Tube Supply, the Company issued $225.0 million aggregate principal amount of 12.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2016, $57.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2017 and entered into a $100.0 million senior secured asset based revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility”). Net proceeds of $304.6 million were used to complete the Acquisition, pay-off amounts outstanding under our previous credit agreement and for general corporate purposes.

Historically, the Company’s primary uses of liquidity and capital resources have been capital expenditures, payments on debt (including interest payments), acquisitions and dividend payments. Management believes the Company will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations and planned working capital improvements to fund its ongoing capital expenditure programs and meet its debt obligations for at least the next twelve months. Furthermore, the Company does have available borrowing capacity under the New Revolving Credit Agreement. The new debt agreements impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may prevent the Company from certain business opportunities such as, making acquisitions or paying dividends, among other things. The New Revolving Credit facility contains a springing financial maintenance covenant requiring the Company to maintain the ratio (as defined in the agreement) of EBITDA to fixed charges of 1.1 to 1.0 when excess availability is less than the greater of 10% of the calculated borrowing base (as defined in the agreement) or $10.0 million. In addition, if excess availability is less than the greater of 12.5% of the calculated borrowing base (as defined in the agreement) or $12.5 million, the lender has the right to take full dominion of the Company’s cash collections and apply these proceeds to outstanding loans under the New Revolving Credit Agreement (“cash dominion”). Based on the Company’s cash projections, it does not anticipate a scenario whereby cash dominion would occur.

The Company is committed to maintaining a strong financial position through maintaining sufficient levels of available liquidity, managing working capital and monitoring the Company’s overall capitalization. Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2012 were $20.0 million, and the Company had $43.3 million of available borrowing capacity under its New Revolving Credit Facility. Approximately 20% of the Company’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents balance resides in the United States. As foreign earnings are permanently reinvested, availability under the Company’s New Revolving Credit Facility would be used to fund operations in the United States should the need arise in the future.

Working capital at September 30, 2012 was $386.4 million compared to $349.0 million at December 31, 2011. The increase in working capital is primarily due to higher inventory of $85.3 million and higher prepaid expenses and other current assets of $6.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and income tax receivable of $10.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $16.8 million and $14.7 million, respectively, from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012.

The Company monitors its overall capitalization by evaluating total debt to total capitalization. Total debt to total capitalization is defined as the sum of short- and long-term debt, divided by the sum of total debt and stockholders’ equity. Total debt to total capitalization was 46.6% at September 30, 2012 and 50.2% at December 31, 2011. As of April 26, 2012, the conversion option value of $42.0 million was reclassified from long-term debt, less current portion to additional paid-in capital, resulting in a decrease to the debt to total capitalization at September 30, 2012. The deferred tax benefit of $8.3 million associated with the temporary difference between the financial reporting basis of the derivative liability and its tax basis at the date of issuance (December 15, 2011) was also reclassified to additional paid-in capital. Over the long-term, the Company plans to continue to improve its total debt to total capitalization by improving operating results, managing working capital and using cash generated from operations to repay outstanding debt. Going forward, as and when permitted by term of agreements noted above, depending on market conditions, the Company may decide in the future to refinance, redeem or repurchase its debt and take other steps to reduce its debt or lease obligations or otherwise improve its overall financial position and balance sheet.

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.

Cash paid for capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $9.0 million, an increase of $0.7 million compared to the same period last year. Management believes that annual capital expenditures will approximate $12.0 million in 2012, which is $3.0 million lower than the estimate at the beginning of the year.

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:


2012	$	0.1
2013		0.3
2014		0.3
2015		47.0
2016		225.1
2017 and beyond		57.5

Total debt	$	330.3

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had $6.8 million of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding, which primarily consisted of $4.0 million for collateral associated with commodity hedges and $2.0 million for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

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, 2011. Refer to Item 7a in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2011 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 (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), 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). Based upon that review and evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, except the material developments relating to the risk factors on: (i) our various mechanisms in place that may prevent a change in control and (ii) our ability to satisfy our cash obligations under our Convertible Notes, all as described below. The risk factors are hereby revised as set forth below.

We have various mechanisms in place that may prevent a change in control that stockholders may otherwise consider favorable.

On August 31, 2012, our Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan pursuant to which one purchase right was distributed as a dividend on each share of our common stock held of record as of the close of business on September 11, 2012. Upon becoming exercisable, each right will entitle its holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of our Series B Junior Preferred Stock for the purchase price of $54.00. Generally, the rights will become exercisable ten days after the date on which any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 10% or more of our common stock or has commenced a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 10% or more of our common stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the shareholder rights plan. The rights are attached to the certificates representing outstanding shares of common stock until the rights become exercisable, at which point separate certificates will be distributed to the record holders of our common stock. If a person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 10% or more of our common stock, which we refer to as an “acquiring person,” each right will entitle its holder, other than the acquiring person, to receive upon exercise a number of shares of our common stock having a market value of two times the purchase price of the right.

The shareholder rights plan is designed to deter coercive takeover tactics and to prevent an acquirer from gaining control of the Company without offering a fair price to all of our stockholders. The existence of the shareholder rights plan, however, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding common stock, and thereby adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

In addition, our charter and by-laws and the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL, include provisions that may be deemed to have antitakeover effects and may delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt that stockholders might consider to be in their best interests. For example, the MGCL, our charter and bylaws require the approval of the holders of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter to amend our charter (unless our Board of Directors has unanimously approved the amendment, in which case the approval of the holders of a majority of such votes is required), contain certain advance notice procedures for nominating candidates for election to our Board of Directors, and permit our Board of Directors to issue up to 9.988 million shares of preferred stock.

Furthermore, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of the MGCL that prohibit us from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person first becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless the business combination or stockholder interest is approved in a prescribed manner. The application of these and certain other provisions of our charter could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

The provisions of our debt instruments also contain limitations on our ability to enter into change of control transactions. In addition, the repurchase rights in our 7.0% convertible senior notes due 2017 (“Convertible Notes”) triggered by the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture for the Convertible Notes), and the additional shares of our common stock by which the conversion rate is increased in connection with certain fundamental change transactions, as described in the indenture for the Convertible Notes, could discourage a potential acquirer.

We may not have the cash necessary to satisfy our cash obligations under our Convertible Notes.

As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately $57.5 million of aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes bear cash interest semiannually at a rate of 7.00% per year, and mature on December 15, 2017. Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the indenture for the Convertible Notes), we may be required to repurchase some or all of the Convertible Notes for cash at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes being repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to but excluding the relevant fundamental change repurchase date. We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy such cash obligations and, in such circumstances, may not be able to arrange the necessary financing on favorable terms or at all. In addition, our ability to satisfy such cash obligations will be restricted pursuant to covenants contained in the indenture for the Convertible Notes and will be permitted to be paid only in limited circumstances. We may also be limited in our ability to satisfy such cash obligations by applicable law or the terms of other instruments governing our indebtedness. Our inability to make cash payments to satisfy our obligations described above would trigger an event of default under the Convertible Notes, which in turn could constitute an event of default under any of our outstanding indebtedness, thereby resulting in the acceleration of such indebtedness, the prepayment of which could further restrict our ability to satisfy such cash obligations.

Item 6.

Exhibits


Exhibit No.		Description

3.3		Articles Supplementary of A.M. Castle & Co. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 6, 2012. Commission File No. 1-05415.

4.3		Rights Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2012, by and between A.M. Castle & Co. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 31, 2012. Commission File No. 1-05415.

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

101.INS		XBRL Instance Document ⁽¹⁾

101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document ⁽¹⁾

101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document ⁽¹⁾

101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document ⁽¹⁾

101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document ⁽¹⁾

(1)

Furnished with this report. In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

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 2, 2012	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.)

Exhibit Index

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:


Exhibit No.	Description	Page

3.3	Articles Supplementary of A.M. Castle & Co. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 6, 2012. Commission File No. 1-05415.		-

4.3	Rights Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2012, by and between A.M. Castle & Co. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 31, 2012. Commission File No. 1-05415.		-

31.1	CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002		E-1

31.2	CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002		E-2

32.1	CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002		E-3

101.INS	XBRL Instance Document ⁽¹⁾

101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document ⁽¹⁾

101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document ⁽¹⁾

101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document ⁽¹⁾

101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document ⁽¹⁾

(1)