HAYNES INTERNATIONAL INC - Annual Report: 2009 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission file number 001-33288

HAYNES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code (765) 456-6000

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

         Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None.

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

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
o Yes        ý No

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for 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. ý Yes        o No

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). ý

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

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. (See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" 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 Act). o Yes ý No

         As of March 31, 2009, the aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $214,220,849 based on the closing sale price as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.  ý Yes        o No

         12,101,829 shares of Haynes International, Inc. common stock were outstanding as of November 20, 2009.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held February 22, 2010 have been incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

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        This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Those statements appear in a number of places in this Report and may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its management with respect to strategic plans, revenues, financial results, backlog balance; trends in the industries that consume the Company's products; global economic and political conditions; production levels at the Company's Kokomo, Indiana facility; commercialization of the Company's production capacity; and the Company's ability to develop new products. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward- looking statements as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control.

        The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events. Although the Company believes that the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. As a result, the forward-looking statements based upon those assumptions also could be incorrect. Risks and uncertainties, some of which are discussed in Item 1.A to this Report, may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements.

        The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Part I

Item 1.    Business

Overview

        Haynes International, Inc. ("Haynes" or "the Company") is one of the world's largest producers of high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys in sheet, coil and plate forms. The Company is focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing technologically advanced, high-performance alloys, which are sold primarily in the aerospace, chemical processing and land-based gas turbine industries. The Company's products consist of high temperature resistant alloys, or HTA products, and corrosion resistant alloys, or CRA products. HTA products are used by manufacturers of equipment that is subjected to extremely high temperatures, such as jet engines for the aerospace market, gas turbine engines used for power generation and waste incineration, and industrial heating equipment. CRA products are used in applications that require resistance to very corrosive media found in chemical processing, power plant emissions control and hazardous waste treatment. Management believes Haynes is one of four principal producers of high-performance alloy products in sheet, coil and plate forms, and sales of these forms, in the aggregate, represented approximately 65% of net revenues in fiscal 2009. The Company also produces its products as seamless and welded tubulars, and in slab, bar, billet and wire forms.

        The Company has manufacturing facilities in Kokomo, Indiana; Arcadia, Louisiana; and Mountain Home, North Carolina. The Kokomo facility specializes in flat products, the Arcadia facility specializes in tubular products, and the Mountain Home facility specializes in wire products. The Company's products are sold primarily through its direct sales organization, which includes 12 service and/or sales centers in the United States, Europe, Asia and India. All of these centers are company-operated. In fiscal 2009, approximately 82% of the Company's net revenues was generated by its direct sales organization, and the remaining 18% was generated by a network of independent distributors and sales agents who supplement its direct sales efforts primarily in the United States, Europe and Asia, some of whom have been associated with the Company for over 30 years.

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Available Information

        The address of Company's website is www.haynesintl.com. The Company provides a link to its reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on its website as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filings available on the Company's website date back to February 7, 2008. For all filings made prior to that date, the Company's website includes a link to the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where such filings are available. Information contained or referenced on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference and does not form a part of this Form 10-K.

Significant Events of Fiscal 2009

        The information under the caption "Significant Events of Fiscal 2009" in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.

Business Strategy

        The Company's goal is to grow its business and increase revenues and profitability while continuing to be its customers' provider of choice for high-performance alloys. The Company pursues this goal by taking advantage of its diverse product offerings and service capabilities to penetrate end markets, and lowering costs through strategic investment in manufacturing facilities.

•

Capitalize on strategic equipment investment.  The Company expects to continue to improve operations through ongoing capital investment in manufacturing facilities and equipment. Ongoing investment in equipment has significantly improved the Company's operations by increasing capacity, reducing unplanned downtime and manufacturing costs, and improving product quality, and has improved working capital management. Management believes that the Company's investments will enable it to continue to satisfy long-term customer demand for value-added products that meet ever increasing precise specifications.

The Company recently announced plans to spend approximately $65.0 million over the next five years on new strategic initiatives, including a total of approximately $10.0 million over the course of fiscal 2010 and 2011 to restructure, consolidate and enhance capabilities at its service center operations; approximately $30.0 million (or $6.0 million per year) on upgrades to its four-high Steckel rolling mill and supporting equipment; and approximately $25.0 million (or $5.0 million per year) on other equipment purchases and upgrades. These projects are expected to improve quality, reduce operating costs, improve delivery performance and decrease cycle time. In addition, the Company anticipates that it will continue to spend approximately $4.0 million per year on routine capital maintenance projects.

•

Increase sales by providing value-added processing services.  The Company believes that its network of service and sales centers throughout North America, Europe and Asia distinguishes it from its competitors, many of whom operate only mills. The Company's service and sales centers enable it to develop close customer relationships through direct interaction and to respond to customer orders quickly while providing value-added services such as laser and water jet processing. These services allow the Company's customers to minimize their processing costs and outsource non-core activities. In addition, the Company's rapid response time and enhanced processing services for products shipped from its service and sales centers often enable the Company to obtain a selling price advantage. As noted above, the Company is finalizing plans to spend approximately $10.0 million over the course of fiscal 2010 and 2011 to restructure service center operations. Goals for the restructuring include enhanced processing capabilities and more effective use of equipment and personnel, with the effect of improving the return on assets of service center operations.

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•

Continue to expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul business.  The Company believes that its maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, business serves a growing market and represents both an expanding and recurring revenue stream. Products used in the Company's end markets require periodic replacement due to the extreme environments in which they are used, which drives demand for recurring MRO work. The Company intends to continue to leverage the capabilities of its service and sales centers to respond quickly to its customers' time-sensitive MRO needs to develop new and retain existing business opportunities.



•

Increase revenue by developing new products and new applications for existing alloys.  The Company believes that it is the industry leader in developing new alloys designed to meet its customers' specialized and demanding requirements. The Company continues to work closely with customers and end users of its products to identify, develop, manufacture and test new high-performance alloys. Since fiscal 2000, the Company's technical programs have yielded six new proprietary alloys; an accomplishment that the Company believes distinguishes it from its competitors. The Company expects continued emphasis on product innovation to yield similar future results.



•

Expand product capability through strategic acquisitions and alliances.  The Company will continue to examine opportunities that enable it to offer customers an enhanced and more competitive product line to complement its core flat products. These opportunities may include product line enhancement and market expansion opportunities. The Company will also continue to evaluate strategic relationships with third parties in the industry in order to enhance its competitive position and relationships with customers.

Company History

        The Company began operations in 1912 as the Haynes Stellite Works, which was purchased by Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation in 1920. In 1972, the operations were sold to Cabot Corporation. In 1987, Haynes was incorporated as a stand-alone corporation in Delaware, and in 1989 Haynes was sold by Cabot Corporation to Morgan Lewis Githens & Ahn Inc., a private investment firm. The Blackstone Group, a private investment firm, purchased Haynes from Morgan Lewis Githens & Ahn Inc. in 1997. Haynes encountered liquidity difficulties throughout fiscal 2003 and the first half of fiscal 2004. Due to concurrent downcycles in its largest markets, and rising raw material and energy costs, the Company could not generate sufficient cash to both satisfy its debt service obligations and fund operations. On March 29, 2004, Haynes and its U.S. subsidiaries and affiliates as of that date filed voluntary petitions for reorganization relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. On August 31, 2004, Haynes emerged from bankruptcy pursuant to a court-approved plan of reorganization.

        In November 2005, Haynes acquired certain assets of the Branford Wire Company, including a facility that manufactured both stainless steel wire and high-performance alloy wire. The Company primarily produces high-performance alloy wire, but continues to produce stainless steel wire on a limited basis at the Haynes Wire Company, in Mountain Home, North Carolina.

        On March 23, 2007, the Company completed an equity offering, which resulted in the issuance of 1,200,000 shares of its common stock. Simultaneously the Company listed its common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market.

Products

        The global specialty alloy market consists of three primary sectors: stainless steel, general purpose nickel alloys and high-performance nickel-and cobalt-based alloys. The Company believes that the high-performance alloy sector represents less than 10% of the total alloy market. The Company competes exclusively in the high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloy sectors, which includes HTA products and CRA products. In fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009, HTA products accounted for approximately 69%, 73% and 74% of the Company's net revenues, respectively; and sales of the Company's CRA products

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accounted for approximately 31%, 27% and 26% of the Company's net revenues, respectively. These percentages are based on data which include revenue associated with sales by the Company to its foreign subsidiaries, but exclude revenue associated with sales by foreign subsidiaries to their customers. Management believes, however, that the effect of including revenue data associated with sales by its foreign subsidiaries would not materially change the percentages presented in this section.

        High Temperature Resistant Alloys.    HTA products are used primarily in manufacturing components for the hot sections of gas turbine engines. Stringent safety and performance standards in the aerospace industry result in development lead times typically as long as eight to ten years in the introduction of new aerospace-related market applications for HTA products. However, once a particular new alloy is shown to possess the properties required for a specific application in the aerospace market, it tends to remain in use for extended periods. HTA products are also used in gas turbine engines produced for use in applications such as naval and commercial vessels, electric power generation, power sources for offshore drilling platforms, gas pipeline booster stations and emergency standby power stations. The following table sets forth information with respect to the Company's significant high temperature resistant alloys, applications and features (new HTA development is discussed below under "Patents and Trademarks"):

        Corrosion Resistant Alloys.    CRA products are used in a variety of applications, such as chemical processing, power plant emissions control, hazardous waste treatment, sour gas production and

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pharmaceutical vessels. Historically, the chemical processing market has represented the largest end-user sector for CRA products. Due to maintenance, safety and environmental considerations, the Company believes this market continues to represent an area of potential long-term growth. Unlike aerospace applications within the HTA product market, the development of new market applications for CRA products generally does not require long lead times. The following table sets forth information with respect to certain of the Company's significant corrosion resistant alloys, applications and features (new CRA development is discussed below under "Patents and Trademarks"):

Patents and Trademarks

        The Company currently maintains a total of approximately 15 U.S. patents and approximately 136 foreign counterpart patents and applications targeted at countries with significant or potential markets for the patented products and continues to develop, manufacture and test high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys. Since fiscal 2000, the Company's technical programs have yielded six new proprietary alloys, four of which are currently commercially available and two of which are being scaled-up to be brought to market. Of the alloys which are being commercialized, two alloys saw advancement in the process during fiscal 2009. First, HAYNES® 282® alloy, which management believes will have significant commercial potential for the Company in the long-term, is the subject of a patent application filed in fiscal 2004. HAYNES 282 alloy has excellent formability, fabricability and forgeability. The commercial launch of HAYNES 282 alloy occurred in October 2005 and, since that time, there have been approximately 70 customer tests and evaluations of this product for the hot sections of gas turbines in the aerospace and land-based gas turbine markets, as well as for automotive and other high-temperature applications. The Company will continue to actively promote HAYNES 282 alloy through customer engineering visits and technical presentations and papers. In addition, commercialization of HASTELLOY® C-22HS® alloy also continued in fiscal 2009. The Company has been providing customers with samples of this alloy and making technical presentations since 2004. Testing and evaluation of the alloy is ongoing with special emphasis on applications for the oil and gas market. It is important to note, however, that both of these alloys are in the

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early stages of commercialization and pounds sold to date are very low compared to the Company's other proprietary alloys; furthermore, pounds in the next three to five years are expected to remain at low levels. The Company believes that the alloys (particularly HAYNES 282 alloy) are significantly further along the commercialization curve when compared to historical trends for other proprietary alloys introduced by the Company. In addition to HAYNES 282 alloy and HASTELLOY C-22HS alloy, commercialization is also ongoing for HASTELLOY® HYBRID-BC1® alloy. HASTELLOY HYBRID-BC1 alloy, a CRA with potential applications in the chemical processing industry, has resistance to hydrochloric and sulfuric acid.

        In addition to the commercialization of the above alloys, the Company continues to scale-up new alloys not yet ready to begin the commercialization process. U.S. patent applications were filed in fiscal 2006 and 2008 for the HAYNES® NS-163® alloy and HAYNES® HR-224™ alloy, respectively. Both of these new materials are believed to have significant, medium to long-term commercial potential. HAYNES NS-163 alloy is a new alloy with extraordinary high-temperature strength in sheet form, which has applications in the aerospace, land-based gas turbine and automotive markets. Data generation and fabrication trials continued through 2009, with test marketing initiated in early 2009. HAYNES HR-224 alloy is an HTA with superior resistance to oxidation with scale up continuing and test marketing to be initiated in fiscal 2010.

        Patents or other proprietary rights are an important element of the Company's business. The Company's strategy is to file patent applications in the U.S. and any other country that represents an important potential commercial market to the Company. In addition, the Company seeks to protect its technology which is important to the development of the Company's business. The Company also relies upon trade secret rights to protect its technologies and its development of new applications and alloys. The Company protects its trade secrets in part through confidentiality and proprietary information agreements with its customers. Trademarks on the names of many of the Company's alloys have also been applied for or granted in the U.S. and certain foreign countries.

        While the Company believes its patents are important to its competitive position, significant barriers to entry continue to exist beyond the expiration of any patent period. These barriers to entry and production include the unique equipment required to produce this material and the exacting process required to achieve the desired metallurgical properties. These processing requirements include such items as specific annealing temperature, processing speeds and reduction per rolling pass. Management believes that the current alloy development program and these noted barriers to entry reduce the impact of patent expirations on the Company.

End Markets

        The Company estimates that the global specialty alloy market, including stainless steels, general purpose nickel alloys and high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys, represents total production volume of approximately 38.5 billion pounds per annum. Of this total market, the Company competes in the high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloy sector, which is estimated to represent approximately 200 million pounds of production per annum. The high-performance alloy market demands diverse, specialty alloys suitable for use in precision manufacturing. Given the technologically advanced nature of the products, strict requirements of the end users and higher-growth end markets, the Company believes the high-performance alloy sector provides greater growth potential, higher profit margins and greater means for service, product and price differentiation than stainless steels and general purpose nickel alloys. While stainless steel and general purpose nickel alloy is generally sold in bulk through third-party distributors, the Company's products are sold in smaller-sized orders which are customized and typically handled on a direct-to-customer basis.

        Aerospace.    The Company has manufactured HTA products for the aerospace market since the late 1930s, and has developed numerous proprietary alloys for this market. Customers in the aerospace market tend to be the most demanding with respect to meeting specifications within very low tolerances and

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achieving new product performance standards. Stringent safety standards and continuous efforts to reduce equipment weight require close coordination between the Company and its customers in the selection and development of HTA products. As a result, sales to aerospace customers tend to be made through the Company's direct sales force. Demand for the Company's products in the aerospace market is based on the new and replacement market for jet engines and the maintenance needs of operators of commercial and military aircraft. The hot sections of jet engines are subjected to substantial wear and tear and accordingly require periodic maintenance, replacement and overhaul. The Company views the maintenance, replacement and overhaul business as an area of continuing long-term growth.

        Chemical Processing.    The chemical processing market represents a large base of customers with diverse CRA applications driven by demand for key end use markets such as automobiles, housing, health care, agriculture, and metals production. CRA products supplied by the Company have been used in the chemical processing market since the early 1930s. Demand for the Company's products in this market is driven by the level of maintenance, repair and expansion requirements of existing chemical processing facilities, as well as the construction of new facilities. The Company believes the extensive worldwide network of Company-owned service and sales centers, as well as its network of independent distributors and sales agents who supplement the Company's direct sales efforts outside of the U.S., provide a competitive advantage in marketing its CRA products in the chemical processing market.

        Land-based Gas Turbines.    Demand for the Company's products in this market is driven by the construction of cogeneration facilities such as base load for electric utilities or as backup sources to fossil fuel-fired utilities during times of peak demand. Demand for the Company's alloys in the land-based gas turbine markets has also been driven by concerns regarding lowering emissions from generating facilities powered by fossil fuels. Land-based gas turbine generating facilities have gained acceptance as clean, low-cost alternatives to fossil fuel-fired electric generating facilities. Land-based gas turbines are also used in power barges with mobility and as temporary base-load-generating units for countries that have numerous islands and a large coastline. Demand is also generated by mechanical drive units used for oil and gas production and pipeline transportation, as well as microturbines that are used as back up sources of power generation for hospitals and shopping malls. With a service center in China and sales centers in India and Singapore, the Company is well positioned to take advantage of the long-term growth potential in those areas in demand for power generation.

        Other Markets.    Other markets to which the Company sells its HTA products and CRA products include flue gas desulphurization (or FGD), oil and gas, waste incineration, industrial heat treating, automotive and instrumentation. The FGD market has been driven by both legislated and self-imposed standards for lowering emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating facilities. With the completion of the Company's recent capital projects, the Company anticipates increasing its participation in the FGD market due to the increased production capacity and the improved cost structure which resulted from the completion of the capital projects. The Company also sells its products for use in the oil and gas market, primarily in connection with sour gas production. In addition, incineration of municipal, biological, industrial and hazardous waste products typically produces very corrosive conditions that demand high-performance alloys. Markets capable of providing growth are being driven by increasing performance, reliability and service life requirements for products used in these markets which could provide further applications for the Company's products.

Sales and Marketing and Distribution

        The Company sells its products primarily through its direct sales organization, which operates from 15 total locations in the U.S., Europe, Asia and India, 12 of which are service and/or sales centers. All of the Company's service and/or sales centers are operated either directly by the Company or though its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Approximately 82% of the Company's net revenues in fiscal 2009 were generated by the Company's direct sales organization. The remaining 18% of the Company's fiscal 2009 net revenues

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was generated by a network of independent distributors and sales agents who supplement the Company's direct sales in the U.S., Europe and Asia, some of whom have been associated with the Company for over 30 years. Going forward, the Company expects its direct sales force to continue to generate approximately 85% of its total sales.

        Providing technical assistance to customers is an important part of the Company's marketing strategy. The Company provides performance analyses of its products and those of its competitors for its customers. These analyses enable the Company to evaluate the performance of its products and to make recommendations as to the use of those products in appropriate applications, enabling the products to be included as part of the technical specifications used in the production of customers' products. The Company's market development professionals are assisted by its engineering and technology staff in directing the sales force to new opportunities. Management believes the Company's combination of direct sales, technical marketing, engineering and customer support provides an advantage over other manufacturers in the high-performance alloy industry. This activity allows the Company to obtain direct insight into customers' alloy needs and to develop proprietary alloys that provide solutions to customers' problems.

        The Company continues to focus on growing its business in foreign markets. In recent years, the Company opened a service and sales center in China, the first service and sales center operated by any manufacturer of nickel- and cobalt-based alloys in China, a second sales office in China, and sales centers in Singapore, India and Italy. Although sales to China in fiscal 2009 were approximately $38.1 million, compared to $64.0 million in fiscal 2008, for the long-term, management continues to view China as an expanding market opportunity for the Company. That is why the Company continues to evaluate the possibility of opening a second service center in China, although global economic conditions may continue to delay this decision.

        While the Company is making concentrated efforts to expand foreign sales, the majority of its revenue continues to be provided by sales to U.S. customers. The Company continues to pursue opportunities to expand this market. The Company's domestic expansion effort includes, but is not limited to, continued expansion of ancillary product forms, the continued development of new high-performance alloys, the utilization of external conversion resources to expand and improve the quality of mill-produced product, the addition of equipment in U.S. service and sales centers to improve the Company's ability to provide a product closer to the form required by the customer and the continued effort through the technical expertise of the Company to find solutions to customer challenges.

        The following table sets forth the approximate percentage of the Company's fiscal 2009 net revenues generated through each of the Company's distribution channels.

        The Company's top twenty customers accounted for approximately 33%, 36% and 35% of the Company's net revenues in fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. No customer or group of affiliated customers of the Company accounted for more than 10% of the Company's net revenues in fiscal 2007, 2008 or 2009.

        Net revenues and net income (loss) in fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009 were generated primarily by the Company's U.S. operations. Sales to domestic customers comprised approximately 61%, 54% and 63% of the Company's net revenues in fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. In addition, the majority of the Company's operating costs are incurred in the U.S., as all of its manufacturing facilities are located in the

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U.S. It is expected that net revenues and net income will continue to be highly dependent on the Company's domestic sales and manufacturing facilities in the U.S.

        The Company's foreign and export sales were approximately $215.9 million, $292.9 million, and $179.7 million for fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Additional information concerning foreign operations and export sales is set forth in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

Manufacturing Process

        High-performance alloys require a lengthier, more complex production process and are more difficult to manufacture than lower-performance alloys, such as stainless steel. The alloying elements in high-performance alloys must be highly refined during melting, and the manufacturing process must be tightly controlled to produce precise chemical properties. The resulting alloyed material is more difficult to process because, by design, it is more resistant to deformation. Consequently, high-performance alloys require that a greater force be applied when hot or cold working and are less susceptible to reduction or thinning when rolling or forging. This results in more cycles of rolling, annealing and pickling compared to a lower-performance alloy to achieve proper dimensions. Certain alloys may undergo as many as 40 distinct stages of melting, remelting, annealing, forging, rolling and pickling before they achieve the specifications required by a customer. The Company manufactures its high-performance alloys in various forms, including sheet, plate, billet/ingot, tubular, wire and other forms.

        The manufacturing process begins with raw materials being combined, melted and refined in a precise manner to produce the chemical composition specified for each high-performance alloy. For most high-performance alloys, this molten material is cast into electrodes and additionally refined through electroslag remelting. The resulting ingots are then forged or rolled to an intermediate shape and size depending upon the intended final product form. Intermediate shapes destined for flat products are then sent through a series of hot and cold rolling, annealing and pickling operations before being cut to final size.

        The argon oxygen decarburization gas controls in the Company's primary melt facility remove carbon and other undesirable elements, thereby allowing more tightly-controlled chemistries, which in turn produce more consistent properties in the high-performance alloys. The argon oxygen decarburization gas control system also allows for statistical process control monitoring in real time to improve product quality.

        The Company has a four-high Steckel rolling mill for use in hot rolling high-performance alloys, created specifically for that purpose. The four-high Steckel rolling mill was installed in 1982 and is one of only two such mills in the high-performance alloy industry. The mill is capable of generating approximately 12.0 million pounds of separating force and rolling a plate up to 72 inches wide. The mill includes integrated computer controls (with automatic gauge control and programmed rolling schedules), two coiling Steckel furnaces and five heating furnaces. Computer-controlled rolling schedules for each of the hundreds of combinations of product shapes and sizes the Company produces allow the mill to roll numerous widths and gauges to exact specifications without stoppages or changeovers.

        The Company also operates a three-high rolling mill and a two-high rolling mill, each of which is capable of custom processing much smaller quantities of material than the four-high Steckel rolling mill. These mills provide the Company with significant flexibility in running smaller batches of varied products in response to customer requirements. The Company believes the flexibility provided by the three-high and two-high mills provides the Company an advantage over its major competitors in obtaining smaller specialty orders.

        Investments in plant and equipment will allow the Company to increase capacity, reduce unplanned equipment outages, produce higher quality products at reduced costs and improve working capital management. The Company spent $16.2 million in fiscal 2007, $18.7 million in fiscal 2008 and $9.3 million

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in fiscal 2009 on plant and equipment upgrades. The significant investments over the last several years were the result of under-investment in prior years, as well as increases in customer demand and quality requirements. The principal benefits of these investments are improved machine reliability, improved product quality, increased processing efficiency, increased capacity, reduced maintenance costs and reduced risk of unplanned outages.

        The Company recently announced plans to spend approximately $65.0 million in fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2014 on new strategic initiatives, including approximately $10.0 million to restructure, consolidate and enhance capabilities of its service center operations, approximately $30.0 million on upgrades to its four-high Steckel rolling mill and supporting equipment and approximately $25.0 million on other equipment purchases and upgrades. These projects are expected to reduce operating costs, improve delivery performance and decrease cycle time. In addition, the Company anticipates that it will continue to spend approximately $4.0 million per year on routine capital maintenance projects.

        In fiscal 2010 capital spending is targeted at approximately $15.0 million, with the focus on recurring equipment requirements of approximately $9.0 million and approximately $6.0 million on the upgrade of the four-high Steckel rolling mill. The $10.0 million service center restructuring is still in the planning phases and it is not known at this time what portion will be spent in fiscal 2010. Management does not anticipate prolonged equipment outages as a result of upgrades in fiscal 2010.

Backlog

        The Company defines backlog to include firm commitments from customers for delivery of product at established prices. Approximately 30% of the orders in the backlog at any given time include prices that are subject to adjustment based on changes in raw material costs. Historically, approximately 75% of the Company's backlog orders have shipped within six months and approximately 90% have shipped within 12 months. The backlog figures do not reflect that portion of the Company's business conducted at its service and sales centers on a spot or "just-in-time" basis.

Consolidated Backlog at Fiscal Quarter End

Raw Materials

        In fiscal 2009, nickel, a major component of many of the Company's products, accounted for approximately 47% of raw material costs, or approximately 28% of total cost of sales. Each pound of high-performance alloy contains, on average, 47% nickel. Other raw materials include cobalt, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten. Melt materials consist of virgin raw material, purchased scrap and internally produced scrap.

        The average nickel price per pound for cash buyers for the 30 day period ended on the last day of the period presented, as reported by the London Metals Exchange for September 30, 2007, 2008 and 2009, was $13.40, $8.07 and $7.93, respectively. While the price of nickel at September 30, 2009 was slightly lower than the same time in 2008, the range of nickel prices throughout the two respective years varied greatly with average nickel prices in fiscal 2009 approximately half of average nickel prices in fiscal 2008. Prices for other raw materials which are significant in the manufacture of the Company's products, such as molybdenum, cobalt and chromium, were also lower in fiscal 2009 than fiscal 2008.

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        Since most of the Company's products are produced pursuant to specific orders, the Company purchases materials against known production schedules. The materials are purchased from several different suppliers through various arrangements including annual contracts and spot purchases, and involve a variety of pricing mechanisms. Because the Company maintains a policy of pricing its products at the time of order placement, the Company attempts to establish selling prices with reference to known costs of materials, thereby reducing the risk associated with changes in the cost of raw materials. However, to the extent that the price of nickel fluctuates rapidly, there may be an unfavorable effect on the Company's gross profit margins. The Company periodically purchases material forward with certain suppliers.

Research and Technical Support

        The Company's technology facilities are located at the Kokomo headquarters and consist of 19,000 square feet of offices and laboratories, as well as an additional 90,000 square feet of paved storage area. The Company has six fully equipped technology testing laboratories, including a mechanical test lab, a metallographic lab, an electron microscopy lab, a corrosion lab, a high temperature lab and a welding lab. These facilities also contain a reduced scale, fully equipped melt shop and process lab. As of September 30, 2009, the technology, engineering and technological testing staff consisted of 21 persons, 9 of whom have engineering or science degrees, including 5 with doctoral degrees, with the majority of degrees in the field of metallurgical engineering.

        Research and technical support costs primarily relate to efforts to develop new proprietary alloys and in the development of new applications for already existing alloys. The Company spent approximately $3.1 million, $3.4 million and $3.1 million for research and technical support activities for fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

        During fiscal 2009, research and development projects were focused on new alloy development, new product form development and new alloy concept validation, all relating to products for the aerospace, land-based gas turbine, chemical processing and oil and gas industries. In addition, significant projects were conducted to generate technical data in support of major market application opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, fuel cell systems, biotechnology (including toxic waste incineration and pharmaceutical manufacturing), and power generation.

Competition

        The high-performance alloy market is a highly competitive market in which eight to ten producers participate in various product forms. The Company's primary competitors in flat rolled products include Special Metals Corporation, a subsidiary of Precision Cast Parts, Allegheny Technologies, Inc. and Krupp VDM GmbH, a subsidiary of Thyssen Krupp Stainless. The Company faces strong competition from domestic and foreign manufacturers of both high-performance alloys (similar to those the Company produces) and other competing metals. The Company may face additional competition in the future to the extent new materials are developed, such as plastics or ceramics that may be substituted for the Company's products. The Company also believes that it will face increased competition from non-U.S. entities in the next five to ten years, especially from competitors located in Eastern Europe and Asia. Additionally, in recent years the Company has benefited from a weak U.S. dollar, which makes the goods of foreign competitors more expensive to import into the U.S. In the event that the U.S. dollar strengthens, the Company may face increased competition in the U.S. from foreign competitors.

        Starting in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and continuing through fiscal 2009, the Company experienced strong price competition from competitors who produce both stainless steel and high-performance alloys due primarily to weakness in the stainless market. Historically, the Company experienced similar price competition in the 1990's and in the early 2000's, when demand in the stainless market weakened. Increased competition has required the Company to continue lowering prices, which

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has contributed to the reduction in the Company's gross profit margin and net income. There continues to be significant uncertainty as to when the stainless market will improve. Certain financial analysts have predicted that the stainless market could begin to see some improvement starting in calendar 2010. If that happens, pricing competition in the high-performance alloy industry should begin to ease. The Company continues to respond to the competition by increasing emphasis on service centers, offering value-added services, improving its cost structure, and striving to improve delivery-times and reliability. At this time, however, continued weakness in the economy continues to generate intense competitive pricing pressure.

Employees

        As of September 30, 2009, the Company employed approximately 940 full-time employees worldwide. All eligible hourly employees at the Kokomo plant and the Lebanon, Indiana service and sales center (approximately 454 in the aggregate) are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. In July 2007, the Company entered into a new collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers of America, which will expire in June 2010. Management believes that current relations with the union are satisfactory. None of the employees of the Company's Arcadia, Louisiana, Mountain Home, North Carolina, European or Asian operations are represented by a labor union.

Environmental Matters

        The Company's facilities and operations are subject to various foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and the environment, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the environment and the storage, handling, use, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. Violations of these laws and regulations can result in the imposition of substantial penalties and can require facilities improvements. In addition, the Company may be required in the future to comply with additional regulations pertaining to the emission of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. However, since these regulations have not been proposed or promulgated, the Company cannot predict the cost, if any, associated with compliance with such regulations. Expenses related to environmental compliance were approximately $2.2 million for fiscal 2009 and are expected to be approximately $2.2 million for fiscal 2010. Although there can be no assurance, based upon current information available to the Company, the Company does not expect that costs of environmental contingencies, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. The Company's facilities are subject to periodic inspection by various regulatory authorities, who from time to time have issued findings of violations of governing laws, regulations and permits. In the past five years, the Company has paid administrative fines, none of which have had a material effect on the Company's financial condition, for alleged violations relating to environmental matters, including the handling and storage of hazardous wastes, requirements relating to its Title V Air Permit, requirements relating to the handling of polychlorinated biphenyls and violations of record keeping and notification requirements relating to industrial waste water discharge. Capital expenditures of approximately $1.1 million were made for pollution control improvements during fiscal 2009, with additional expenditures of approximately $2.3 million for similar improvements planned for fiscal 2010.

        The Company has received permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, or IDEM, to close and to provide post-closure monitoring and care for certain areas at the Kokomo facility previously used for the storage and disposal of wastes, some of which are classified as hazardous under applicable regulations. Closure certification was received in fiscal 1988 for the South Landfill at the Kokomo facility and post-closure monitoring and care is ongoing there. Closure certification was received in fiscal 1999 for the North Landfill at the Kokomo facility and post-closure monitoring and care are permitted and ongoing there. In fiscal 2007, IDEM issued a single post-closure permit applicable to both the North and South Landfills, which contains monitoring and post-closure care requirements. In addition, IDEM required that a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, Facility Investigation, or RFI,

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be conducted in order to further evaluate one area of concern and one solid waste management unit. The RFI commenced in fiscal 2008 and is ongoing. Based on preliminary results, the Company has determined that additional testing and further source remediation are necessary.

        The Company has also received permits from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or NCDENR, to close and provide post-closure monitoring and care for the hazardous waste lagoon at its Mountain Home, North Carolina facility. The lagoon area has been closed and is currently undergoing post-closure monitoring and care. The Company is required to monitor groundwater and to continue post-closure maintenance of the former disposal areas at each site. As a result, the Company is aware of elevated levels of certain contaminants in the groundwater and additional corrective action by the Company could be required.

        Nitric acid leaks were discovered at the Arcadia, Louisiana location in fiscal 2008. Analytical results were received in March, 2008 and the site assessment was provided to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality ("LDEQ") in May. Remediation of the leaks, including the purchase of new equipment, was substantially complete in fiscal 2008. A preliminary assessment of the LDEQ authorized the Company's proposed remedial actions. LDEQ approved the final remediation plan in February 2009. A summary report of remedial actions and testing results was submitted to LDEQ in July 2009, and the Company is awaiting LDEQ's response.

        The Company is unable to estimate the costs of any further corrective action at these sites, if required. Accordingly, the Company can not assure you that the costs of any future corrective action at these or any other current former sites would not have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Additionally, it is possible that the Company could be required to undertake other corrective action commitments for any other solid waste management unit existing or determined to exist at its facilities. As a condition of the post-closure permits, the Company must provide and maintain assurances to IDEM and NCDENR of the Company's capability to satisfy closure and post-closure groundwater monitoring requirements, including possible future corrective action as necessary. The Company provides these required assurances through a statutory financial assurance test as provided by Indiana and North Carolina law.

        The Company may also incur liability for alleged environmental damages associated with the off-site transportation and disposal of hazardous substances. The Company's operations generate hazardous substances, and, while a large percentage of these substances are reclaimed or recycled, the Company also accumulates hazardous substances at each of its facilities for subsequent transportation and disposal off-site by third parties. Generators of hazardous substances which are transported to disposal sites where environmental problems are alleged to exist are subject to claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, and state counterparts. CERCLA imposes strict, joint and several liabilities for investigatory and cleanup costs upon hazardous substance generators, site owners and operators and other potentially responsible parties. The Company may have generated hazardous substances disposed of at other sites potentially subject to CERCLA or equivalent state law remedial action. Thus, there can be no assurance that the Company will not be named as a potentially responsible party at sites in the future or that the costs associated with those sites would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations of liquidity.

Executive Officers of the Company

        The following table sets forth certain information concerning the persons who served as executive officers as of September 30, 2009. Except as indicated in the following paragraphs, the principal occupations of these persons have not changed during the past five years.

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        Mr. Comerford was elected President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company in October 2008. Before joining the Company, Mr. Comerford was President of Alloy Products, a business unit within Brush Wellman Inc. Since 1998, Mr. Comerford served in various positions for Brush Wellman Inc., both in the USA and Southeast Asia. Mr. Comerford also held positions at Carpenter Technology Corporation and The American Brass Company in the areas of metallurgical engineering, international and commercial management.

        Mrs. Knapper has served as Vice President—General Counsel & Corporate Secretary since July 2006. Prior to joining the Company, beginning in 2000, Mrs. Knapper was a lawyer in private practice with the law firm Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis, Indiana.

        Mr. Laird has served as Vice President—Marketing, Research & Development of the Company since September 2007. Prior to this Mr. Laird served as Vice President—International Sales & Marketing since July 2000, after having served in various sales and marketing positions with the Company since 1983. Mr. Laird has announced his intention to retire effective December 31, 2009.

        Mr. Losch has served as Vice President—North American Sales since February 2006. Mr. Losch was Midwest Regional Manager prior to this and has served in various marketing, quality, engineering and production positions since joining the Company in February 1988.

        Mr. Martin has served as Vice President—Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since July 2004, after having served as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company since October 2000. From 1996 to 2000 Mr. Martin was Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Duferco Farrell Corporation.

        Mr. Maudlin has served as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since September 20, 2004. Prior to his employment with the Company, Mr. Maudlin was corporate controller at Jordan Specialty Plastics, Inc. from April, 2001. Prior to that he served as Group Controller for Heritage Environmental Services, Inc. from May 1991 through April 2001. Mr. Maudlin is a licensed CPA in the state of Indiana.

        Ms. Neel has served as Vice President—Corporate Affairs of the Company since April 2000, after having served as Director, Corporate Affairs since joining the Company in July 1999.

        Mr. Pinkham has served as Vice President—Manufacturing since March 2008. Prior to that he served as Vice President—Manufacturing Planning, after having served in various manufacturing and production capacities since joining the Company in August 1999.

        Mr. Spalding has served as Vice President—Tube & Wire Products since May 2009. Prior to this he served as Vice President, Haynes Wire & Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President—North American Sales since he joined the Company in July 1999.

        Mr. Young has served as Vice President & Chief Information Officer since November 2005, after having served in various Information Technology positions since joining the Company in November 1984.

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Item 1A.    Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Business

Our revenues may fluctuate widely based upon changes in demand for our customers' products.

        Our business has been materially adversely affected by the 2008/2009 global recession. Worldwide economic conditions may remain depressed, or could worsen, in the foreseeable future. These conditions have had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on demand for our customers' products and, in turn, on demand for our products.

        Demand for our products is dependent upon and derived from the level of demand for the machinery, parts and equipment produced by our customers, which are principally manufacturers and fabricators of machinery, parts and equipment for highly specialized applications. Historically, certain of the markets in which we compete have experienced unpredictable, wide demand fluctuations. Because of the comparatively high level of fixed costs associated with our manufacturing processes, significant declines in those markets have had a disproportionately adverse impact on our operating results.

        Since we became an independent company in 1987, we have, in several instances, experienced substantial year-to-year declines in net revenues, primarily as a result of decreases in demand in the industries to which our products are sold. In 1992, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2009, our net revenues, when compared to the immediately preceding year, declined by approximately 24.9%, 15.4%, 10.3%, 21.2% and 31.1%, respectively. We may experience similar fluctuations in our net revenues in the future. Additionally, demand is likely to continue to be subject to substantial year-to-year fluctuations as a consequence of industry cyclicality, as well as other factors, and such fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operation.

Profitability in the high-performance alloy industry is highly sensitive to changes in sales volumes.

        The high-performance alloy industry is characterized by high capital investment and high fixed costs. The cost of raw materials is the primary variable cost in the manufacture of our high-performance alloys and, in fiscal 2009, represented approximately 60.0% of our total cost of sales. Other manufacturing costs, such as labor, energy, maintenance and supplies, often thought of as variable, have a significant fixed element. Profitability is, therefore, very sensitive to changes in volume, and relatively small changes in volume can result in significant variations in earnings. Our ability to effectively utilize our manufacturing assets depends greatly upon continuing demand in our end-markets, successfully increasing our market share and continued acceptance of our new products into the marketplace. Any failure to effectively utilize our manufacturing assets may negatively impact our gross margin and net income.

We are subject to risks associated with global economic and political uncertainties

        We are susceptible to macroeconomic downturns in the United States and abroad that may affect the general economic climate and our performance and the demand of our customers. The continuing turmoil in the global financial system has had, and may continue to have, an impact on our business and our financial condition. In addition to the impact that the global financial crisis has already had, we may face significant challenges if conditions in the financial markets do not improve or worsen.

        In addition, we are subject to various domestic and international risks and uncertainties, including changing social conditions and uncertainties relating to the current and future political climate. Changes in governmental policies (particularly those that would limit or reduce defense spending) could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and may reduce our customers' demand for our products and/or depress pricing of those products used in the defense industry or which have other military applications, resulting in a material adverse impact on our business, prospects, results of operations, revenues and cash flows. Furthermore, any actual armed hostilities, and any future terrorist attacks in the U.S. or abroad, could also have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy, global financial markets and our business. The

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effects may include, among other things, a decrease in demand in the aerospace industry due to reduced air travel, as well as reduced demand in the other industries we serve. Depending upon the severity, scope and duration of these effects, the impact on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be material.

We Operate in Cyclical Markets.

        A significant portion of our revenues are derived from the highly cyclical aerospace, power generation and chemical processing markets. Our sales to the aerospace industry constituted 36.5% of our total sales in fiscal 2009. Our land-based gas turbine and chemical processing sales constituted 22.3% and 25.0%, respectively, of our total sales in fiscal 2009.

        The commercial aerospace industry is historically driven by demand from commercial airlines for new aircraft. The U.S. and international commercial aviations industries continue to face challenges arising from the global economic climate, competitive pressures and fuel costs. Demand for commercial aircraft is influenced by industry profitability, trends in airline passenger traffic, the state of U.S. and world economies, the ability of aircraft purchasers to obtain required financing and numerous other factors, including the effects of terrorism and health and safety concerns. The military aerospace cycle is highly dependent on U.S. and foreign government funding; however, it is also driven by the effects of terrorism, a changing global political environment, U.S. foreign policy, the retirement of older aircraft and technological improvements to new engines that increase reliability. Accordingly, the timing, duration and severity of cyclical upturns and downturns cannot be forecast with certainty. Downturns or reductions in demand could have a material adverse effect on our business.

        The land-based gas turbine market is also cyclical in nature. Demand for power generation products is global and is affected by the state of the U.S. and world economies, the availability of financing to power generation project sponsors and the political environments of numerous countries. The availability of fuels and related prices also have a large impact on demand. Reductions in demand for our products sold into the land-based gas turbine industry may have a material adverse effect on our business.

        We also sell products into the chemical processing industry, which is also cyclical in nature. Customer demand for our products in this market may fluctuate widely depending on U.S. and world economic conditions, the availability of financing, and the general economic strength of the end use customers in this market. Cyclical declines or sustained weakness in this market could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Aerospace demand is dependent on primarily two manufacturers.

        A significant portion of our aerospace products are sold to fabricators and are ultimately used in the production of new commercial aircraft. There are only two primary manufacturers of large commercial aircraft in the world, The Boeing Company and Airbus. A significant portion of our aerospace sales are dependent on the number of new aircraft built by these two manufacturers, which is in turn dependent on a number of factors over which we have little or no control. Those factors include demand for new aircraft from around the globe and factors that impact manufacturing capabilities, such as the availability of raw materials and manufactured components, changes in the regulatory environment and labor relations between the aircraft manufacturers and their work forces. A significant interruption or slow down in the number of new aircraft built by the aircraft manufacturers could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our operations are dependent on production levels at our Kokomo facility.

        Our principal assets are located at our primary integrated production facility in Kokomo, Indiana and at our production facilities in Arcadia, Louisiana and in Mountain Home, North Carolina. The Arcadia and Mountain Home plants rely to a significant extent upon feedstock produced at the Kokomo facility.

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Any production failures, shutdowns or other significant problems at the Kokomo facility could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We believe that we maintain adequate property damage insurance to provide for reconstruction of damaged equipment, as well as business interruption insurance to mitigate losses resulting from any production shutdown caused by an insured loss; however, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to cover such losses which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

        In addition, from time to time we schedule planned outages on the equipment at our Kokomo facility for maintenance and upgrades. These projects are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including a variety of market, operational and labor related factors, many of which may be beyond our control. Should a planned shut-down on a significant piece of equipment last materially longer than originally planned, there could be a material adverse effect on our operating results.

During periods of lower demand in other alloy markets, some of our competitors may use their available capacity to produce higher volumes of high-performance alloys, which leads to increased competition in the high-performance alloy market.

        We have experienced increasing competition since the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from competitors who produce both stainless steel and high-performance alloys. Due to continued slowness in the stainless steel market, we believe these competitors increased their production levels and sales activity in high-performance alloys to keep capacity in their mills as full as possible, while offering very competitive prices and delivery times. While competition should soften as the stainless market improves, based on the current economic environment there is significant uncertainty as to when that may occur and the possibility exists that the stainless market may remain weak. Although we continue to respond to the competition by increasing emphasis on service centers, offering value-added services, improving cost structure, and striving to improve delivery-times and reliability, continued weakness in the economy is likely to lead to increasing levels of competition. Increased competition has required the Company to lower prices, which has contributed to the reduction in the Company's gross profit margin.

        In addition, as a result of the competition in our markets, we have made significant price concessions to our customers from time to time, and we expect customer pressure for further price concessions to continue. Maintenance of our market share will depend, in part, on our ability to sustain a cost structure that enables us to be cost-competitive. If we are unable to adjust our costs relative to our pricing, our profitability will suffer. Our effectiveness in managing our cost structure will be a key determinate of future profitability and competitiveness.

Rapid fluctuations in the price of nickel may materially adversely affect our operating results.

        To the extent that we are unable to adjust to rapid fluctuations the price of nickel, there may be a negative effect on our gross profit margins. In fiscal 2009, nickel, a major component of many of our products, accounted for approximately 47% of our raw material costs, or approximately 28% of our total costs of sales. We enter into several different types of sales contracts with our customers, some of which allow us to pass on increases in nickel prices to our customers. In other cases, we price our products at the time of order, which allows us to establish prices with reference to known costs of our nickel inventory, but which does not allow us to offset an unexpected rise in the price of nickel. We may not be able to successfully offset rapid increases in the price of nickel or other raw materials in the future. In the event that raw material price increases occur that we are unable to pass on to our customers, our cash flows or results of operations would be materially adversely affected.

        Alternatively, as happened in fiscal 2009, our results of operations may also be negatively impacted if both customer demand and nickel prices rapidly fall at the same time. In those circumstances, we may experience higher per pound manufacturing costs due to the recognition of higher nickel costs from inventory which flows through cost of goods sold.

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Fluctuation in energy costs and raw material costs may have a negative impact on our performance and financial condition.

        During fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009, our raw material and energy costs experienced significant fluctuations. Nickel, cobalt and molybdenum, the primary raw materials used to manufacture our products, all experienced significant fluctuations in price. In addition, the Company uses natural gas in the manufacturing process to reheat material for purposes of annealing and forming. Continuing fluctuations in raw material and energy costs could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows or results of operations.

Failure to successfully develop, commercialize, market and sell new applications and new products could adversely affect our business.

        We believe that our proprietary alloys and metallurgical manufacturing expertise provide us with a competitive advantage over other high-performance alloy producers. Our ability to maintain this competitive advantage depends on our ability to continue to offer products that have equal or better performance characteristics than competing products at competitive prices. Our future growth will depend, in part, on our ability to address the increasingly demanding needs of our customers by enhancing the properties of our existing alloys, by timely developing new applications for our existing products, and by timely developing, commercializing, marketing and selling new products. If we are not successful in these efforts, or our new products and product enhancements do not adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace and achieve market acceptance, our revenues, cash flows and results of operations could be negatively affected.

We may be adversely affected by environmental, health and safety laws, regulations, costs and other liabilities.

        We are subject to various foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the environment, the storage, handling, use, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes and the health and safety of our employees. Under these laws and regulations, we may be held liable for all costs arising out of any release of hazardous substances on, under or from any of our current or former properties or any off-site location to which we sent or arranged to be sent wastes for disposal or treatment, and such costs may be material. We could also be held liable for any and all consequences arising out of human exposure to such substances or other hazardous substances that may be attributable to our products or other environmental damage. In addition, some of these laws and regulations require our facilities to operate under permits that are subject to renewal or modification. These laws, regulations and permits can require expensive pollution control equipment or operational changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment. Violations of these laws, regulations or permits can also result in the imposition of substantial penalties, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns.

        We have received permits from the environmental regulatory authorities in Indiana and North Carolina to close and to provide post-closure monitoring and care for certain areas of our Kokomo and Mountain Home facilities that were used for the storage and disposal of wastes, some of which are classified as hazardous under applicable regulations. We are required to monitor groundwater and to continue post-closure maintenance of the former disposal areas at each site. As a result, we are aware of elevated levels of certain contaminants in the groundwater and additional corrective action could be required. Additionally, it is possible that we could be required to undertake other corrective action for any other solid waste management unit existing or determined to exist at our facilities. We are unable to estimate the costs of any further corrective action, if required. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the costs of future corrective action at these or any other current or former sites will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

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        We may also incur liability for alleged environmental damages associated with the off-site transportation and disposal of hazardous substances. Our operations generate hazardous substances, many of which we accumulate at our facilities for subsequent transportation and disposal off-site or recycling by third parties. Generators of hazardous substances which are transported to disposal sites where environmental problems are alleged to exist are subject to liability under CERCLA and state counterparts. In addition, we may have generated hazardous substances disposed of at sites which are subject to CERCLA or equivalent state law remedial action. CERCLA imposes strict, joint and several liabilities for investigatory and cleanup costs upon hazardous substance generators, site owners and operators and other potentially responsible parties regardless of fault. We cannot assure you that we will not be named as a potentially responsible party at sites in the future or that the costs associated with current or future additional sites would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

        Environmental laws are complex, change frequently and have tended to become increasingly stringent over time. While we have budgeted for future capital and operating expenditures to comply with environmental laws, we cannot assure you that environmental laws will not change or become more stringent in the future. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our costs of complying with current and future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and our liabilities arising from past or future releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances will not materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. See "Business—Environmental Matters."

We could be required to make additional contributions to our defined benefit pension plans as a result of adverse changes in interest rates and the capital markets.

        Our estimates of liabilities and expenses for pension benefits incorporate significant assumptions, including the rate used to discount the future estimated liability, the long-term rate of return on plan assets and several assumptions relating to the employee workforce (salary increases, retirement age and mortality). We currently expect that we will be required to make future minimum contributions to our defined benefit pension plans. A decline in the value of plan investments in the future, an increase in costs or liabilities or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding could materially change the timing and amount of required pension funding. A requirement to fund any deficit created in the future could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

If we are unable to recruit, hire and retain skilled and experienced personnel, our ability to effectively manage and expand our business will be harmed.

        Our success largely depends on the skills, experience and efforts of our officers and other key employees who may terminate their employment at any time. The loss of any of our senior management team could harm our business. The announcement of the loss of one of our key employees could negatively affect our stock price. Our ability to retain our skilled workforce and our success in attracting and hiring new skilled employees will be a critical factor in determining whether we will be successful in the future. We face challenges in hiring, training, managing and retaining employees in certain areas including metallurgical researchers, equipment technicians, and sales and marketing staff. If we are unable to recruit, hire and retain skilled employees, our new product and alloy development and commercialization could be delayed, and our marketing and sales efforts could be hindered, which would adversely impact our competitiveness and financial results.

The risks inherent in our international operations may adversely impact our revenues, results of operations and financial condition.

        We anticipate we will continue to derive a significant portion of our revenues from operations in international markets. As we continue to expand internationally, we will need to hire, train and retain qualified personnel for our direct sales efforts and retain distributors and train their personnel in countries

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where language, cultural or regulatory impediments may exist. We cannot ensure that distributors, regulators or other government agencies will continue to accept our products, services and business practices. In addition, we purchase raw materials on the international market. The sale and shipment of our products and services across international borders, as well as the purchase of raw materials from international sources, subject us to the trade regulations of various jurisdictions. Compliance with such regulations is costly. Any failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could impact us in a variety of ways that include, but are not limited to, significant criminal, civil and administrative penalties, including imprisonment of individuals, fines and penalties, denial of export privileges, seizure of shipments and restrictions on certain business activities. Failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could result in the disruption of our shipping, sales and service activities. Our international sales operations expose us and our representatives, agents and distributors to risks inherent in operating in foreign jurisdictions, including:

•

our ability to obtain, and the costs associated with obtaining, U.S. export licenses and other required export or import licenses or approvals;



•

changes in duties and tariffs, taxes, trade restrictions, license obligations and other non-tariff barriers to trade;



•

burdens of complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations;



•

business practices or laws favoring local companies;



•

fluctuations in foreign currencies;



•

restrictive trade policies of foreign governments;



•

longer payment cycles and difficulties collecting receivables through foreign legal systems;



•

difficulties in enforcing or defending agreements and intellectual property rights; and



•

foreign political or economic conditions.

        We cannot assure you that one or more of these factors will not harm our business. Any material decrease in our international revenues or inability to expand our international operations would adversely impact our revenues, results of operations and financial condition.

Although a collective bargaining agreement is in place for certain employees, union or labor disputes could still disrupt the manufacturing process.

        All eligible hourly employees at the Kokomo plant and the Lebanon, Indiana service and sales center (approximately 454 in the aggregate as of September 30, 2009) are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. In fiscal 2007, the collective bargaining agreement was extended until June 2010. Even though a collective bargaining agreement is in place, it is still possible that union or labor disputes could disrupt our manufacturing process. We intend to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement in fiscal 2010 prior to the expiration of the agreement currently in place. Management believes that current relations with the union are satisfactory. We cannot assure you, however, that the renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement in 2010 will not lead to a labor stoppage. Specifically, if the collective bargaining agreement is terminated after its expiration, the union may authorize a strike. A strike by the employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Product liability and product warranty risks could adversely affect our operating results.

        We produce many critical parts for commercial and military aircraft and for land-based gas turbines. Failure of our parts could give rise to substantial product liability and other damage claims. We maintain

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insurance addressing this risk, but there can be no assurance that the insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available on terms acceptable to us.

        Additionally, we manufacture our parts to strict contractually-established specifications using complex manufacturing processes. If we fail to meet the contractual requirements for a part, we may be subject to warranty costs to repair or replace the part itself and additional costs related to the investigation and inspection of non-complying parts. These costs are generally not insured.

Risks Related to Shares of Our Common Stock

Our stock price is subject to fluctuations as a result of being traded on a public exchange which may not be related to our performance.

        The stock market has been highly volatile. As a result, the market price of our common stock is likely to be similarly volatile, and investors in our common stock may experience a decrease in the value of their stock, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects. The price of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors, including those listed elsewhere in this "Risk Factors" section and others such as:

•

our operating performance and the performance of other similar companies and companies deemed to be similar;



•

fluctuations in the market price of nickel, raw materials or energy;



•

market conditions in the end markets into which our customers sell their products, principally aerospace, power generation and chemical processing;



•

announcements of technological innovations or new products and services by us or our competitors;



•

the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us;



•

announcements by us of acquisitions, alliances, joint development efforts or corporate partnerships in the high temperature resistant alloy and corrosion resistant alloy markets;



•

market conditions in the technology, manufacturing or other growth sectors; and



•

rumors relating to us or our competitors.

Payment of dividends will depend on our future financial condition and performance.

        Although our Board of Directors currently intends to continue the payment of regular quarterly cash dividends on shares of our common stock, the timing and amount of future dividends will depend on the Board's assessment of our operations, financial condition, projected liabilities, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors. We cannot guarantee that we will continue to declare dividends at the same or similar rates.

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could deter or prevent a change in control.

        Some provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as Delaware statutes, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control. These provisions, including those regulating the nomination of directors, may make it more difficult for other persons, without the approval of our Board of Directors, to launch takeover attempts that a stockholder might consider to be in his or her best interest. These provisions could limit the price that some investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.

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Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

        None.

Item 2.    Properties

        Manufacturing Facilities.    The Company owns manufacturing facilities in the following locations:

•

Kokomo, Indiana—manufactures and sells all product forms, other than tubular and wire goods;



•

Arcadia, Louisiana—manufactures and sells welded and seamless tubular goods; and



•

Mountain Home, North Carolina—manufactures and sells high-performance nickel alloy wire.

        The Kokomo plant, the Company's primary production facility, is located on approximately 180 acres of industrial property and includes over 1.0 million square feet of building space. There are three sites consisting of (1) a headquarters and research laboratory; (2) primary and secondary melting, annealing furnaces, forge press and several smaller hot mills; and (3) the Company's four-high Steckel rolling mill and sheet product cold working equipment, including two cold strip mills. All alloys and product forms other than tubular and wire goods and drawn wire, are produced in Kokomo.

        The Arcadia plant is located on approximately 42 acres of land, and includes 135,000 square feet of buildings on a single site. Arcadia uses feedstock produced in Kokomo to fabricate welded and seamless alloy pipe and tubing and purchases extruded tube hollows to produce seamless titanium tubing. Manufacturing processes at Arcadia require cold pilger mills, weld mills, draw benches, annealing furnaces and pickling facilities.

        The Mountain Home plant is located on approximately 29 acres of land, and includes approximately 100,000 square feet of building space. The Mountain Home facility is primarily used to manufacture finished high-performance alloy wire and specialty stainless steel wire. A limited amount of warehousing is also done at this facility.

        The owned facilities located in the United States are subject to a mortgage which secures the Company's obligations under its U.S. revolving credit facility with a group of lenders led by Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation. For more information see Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

        Service and Sales Centers.    The service and sales centers contain equipment capable of precision laser and water jet processing services to cut and shape products to customers' precise specifications. The Company owns service and sales centers in the following locations:

•

Openshaw, England—stocks and sells all product forms; and



•

Lenzburg, Switzerland—stocks and sells all product forms.

        The Openshaw plant, located near Manchester, England, consists of approximately 7 acres of land and over 200,000 square feet of buildings on a single site.

        In addition, the Company leases service and sales centers in the following locations:

•

La Mirada, California—stocks and sells all product forms;



•

Houston, Texas—stocks and sells all product forms;



•

Lebanon, Indiana—stocks and sells all product forms;



•

Paris, France—stocks and sells all product forms;



•

Shanghai, China—stocks and sells all product forms; and

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•

Windsor, Connecticut—stocks and sells all product forms.

        Sales Centers.    The Company leases sales centers in the following locations:

•

Singapore—sells all product forms;



•

Milan, Italy—sells all product forms;



•

Chennai, India—sells all product forms; and



•

Shanghai, China—sells all product forms.

        All owned and leased service and sales centers not described in detail above are single site locations and are less than 100,000 square feet. The Company believes that its existing facilities are suitable for its current business needs. The Company is finalizing plans to spend approximately $10.0 million over the course of fiscal 2010 and 2011 to restructure, consolidate and enhance capabilities at its service center operations.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        The Company is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations. Future developments and increasingly stringent regulations could require us to make additional unforeseen expenditures for these matters. The Company is regularly involved in litigation, both as a plaintiff and as a defendant, relating to its business and operations. Such litigation includes federal and state EEOC administrative actions and litigation and administrative actions relating to environmental matters. For more information see "Item 1. Business—Environmental Matters." Litigation and administrative actions may result in substantial costs and may divert management's attention and resources, and the level of future expenditures for legal matters cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. Nonetheless, based on the facts presently known, management does not believe that expenditures for legal proceedings will have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

        The Company is currently, and has in the past, been subject to claims involving personal injuries allegedly relating to its products. For example, the Company is presently involved in two actions involving welding rod-related injuries, both of which were filed against numerous manufacturers, including the Company, in December 2008 in the U.S. District Court Eastern Division and February 2007 in California state court, respectively, alleging that the welding-related products of the defendant manufacturers harmed the users of such products through the inhalation of welding fumes containing manganese. The Company believes that it has defenses to these allegations and, that if the Company were found liable, the cases would not have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In addition to these cases, the Company has in the past been named a defendant in several other lawsuits, including 53 filed in the state of California, alleging that its welding-related products harmed the users of such products through the inhalation of welding fumes containing manganese. The Company has since been voluntarily dismissed from all of these lawsuits on the basis of the release and discharge of claims contained in the confirmation order issued in connection with the Company's emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization. While the Company contests such lawsuits vigorously, and may have applicable insurance, there are several risks and uncertainties that may affect its liability for claims relating to exposure to welding fumes and manganese. For instance, in recent cases, at least two courts (in cases not involving Haynes) have refused to dismiss claims relating to inhalation of welding fumes containing manganese based upon a bankruptcy discharge order. Although the Company believes the facts of these cases are distinguishable from the facts of its cases, it cannot assure you that any or all claims against the Company will be dismissed based upon the Confirmation Order, particularly claims premised, in part or in full, upon actual or alleged exposure on or after the date of the Confirmation Order. It is also possible that the Company will be named in additional suits alleging welding-rod injuries. Should such litigation occur, it is possible that the aggregate claims for damages, if the Company is found liable, could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        No matters were submitted to a vote of the Company's stockholders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

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Part II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

        The Company's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market ("NASDAQ") and traded under the symbol "HAYN". The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices for the Company's common stock as reported by NASDAQ.

        The range of the Company's common stock price on NASDAQ from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009 was $46.50 to $10.92. The closing price of the common stock was $31.82 on September 30, 2009.

        As of October 31, 2009, there were approximately 29 holders of record of the Company's common stock.

        In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company declared the first quarterly cash dividend in its history. On November 23, 2009, the Company announced that the Board of Directors has initiated a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per outstanding share of the Company's common stock. This dividend is payable on December 15, 2009 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 3, 2009. The dividend cash payout based on current shares outstanding will be approximately $2.4 million per quarter, or approximately $9.6 million on an annualized basis. Future declarations of dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to the final determination of our Board of Directors.

Cumulative Total Stockholder Return

        The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's common stock to the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index, S&P MidCap 400 Index, and Peer Group for each of the last five fiscal years ended September 30, 2009. The cumulative total return assumes an investment of $100 on September 30, 2004 and the reinvestment of any dividends during the period. The Russell 2000 is a broad-based index that includes smaller market capitalization stocks. The S&P MidCap 400 Index is the most widely used index for mid-sized companies. Management believes that the S&P MidCap 400 is representative of companies with similar market and economic characteristics to Haynes. Furthermore, we also believe the Russell 2000 Index is representative of the Company's current market capitalization status and this index is also provided on a comparable basis. The companies included in the Peer Group Index are: Allegheny Technologies, Inc., Titanium Metals Corporation, RTI International Metals, Inc., Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and Carpenter Technologies Corp. Management believes that the companies included in the Peer Group, taken as a whole, provide a meaningful comparison in terms of competition, product offerings and other relevant factors. The total stockholder return for the peer group is weighted according to the respective issuer's stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period.

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COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Haynes, The Russell 2000 Index, The S&P MidCap 400
Index and our Peer Group

*

For fiscal 2004, 2005, 2006 and up to March 23, 2007, the Company's stock was traded on the "Pink Sheets." As of March 27, 2007, the Company listed its common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market.

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

        This information should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

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        Amounts below are in thousands, except backlog, which is in millions, share and per share information and average nickel price.

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Quarterly Market Information

        Set forth below is selected data relating to the Company's backlog, the 30-day average nickel price per pound as reported by the London Metals Exchange, as well as breakdown of net revenues, shipments and average selling prices to the markets served by Haynes for the periods shown. These data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and the remainder of the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

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Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        Please refer to page 1 of this Form 10-K for a cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information.

Overview of Business

        Haynes International, Inc. ("Haynes" or "the Company") is one of the world's largest producers of high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys in sheet, coil and plate forms. The Company is focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing technologically advanced, high-performance alloys, which are used primarily in the aerospace, chemical processing and land-based gas turbine industries. The global specialty alloy market consists of three primary sectors: stainless steel, general purpose nickel alloys and high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys. The Company competes primarily in the high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloy sector, which includes high temperature resistant alloys, or HTA products, and corrosion resistant alloys, or CRA products. The Company believes it is one of four principal producers of high-performance alloys in sheet, coil and plate forms. The Company also produces its products as seamless and welded tubulars, and in bar, billet and wire forms.

        The Company has manufacturing facilities in Kokomo, Indiana; Arcadia, Louisiana; and Mountain Home, North Carolina. The Kokomo facility specializes in flat products, the Arcadia facility specializes in tubular products and the Mountain Home facility specializes in high-performance products primarily through its direct sales organization, which includes 12 service and/or sales centers in the United States, Europe, Asia and India. All of these centers are company-operated.

Significant Events of Fiscal 2009

CEO Transition

        Effective October 1, 2008, Mark Comerford was elected as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company reporting directly to the Board of Directors. Mr. Comerford assumed his new position effective upon Francis Petro's retirement from the Company.

        Before joining the Company, Mr. Comerford was President of Alloy Products a business division with Brush Wellman, Inc. Since 1998, Mr. Comerford served in various positions for Brush Wellman Inc. both in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. Mr. Comerford also held positions at Carpenter Technology Corporation and The American Brass Company in various metallurgical engineering, international and commercial management positions.

Extension of U.S. Revolving Credit Facility

        Haynes and Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (Central) ("Wachovia") entered into a Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the "Amended Agreement") with an effective date of November 18, 2008, which amended and restated the revolving credit facility between Haynes and Wachovia dated August 31, 2004. Among other items, the Amended Agreement extends the maturity date of the U.S. revolving credit facility to September 30, 2011, increases the margin included in the interest rate for LIBOR borrowings from 1.5% per annum to 2.25% per annum, permits the Company to pay dividends and repurchase common stock if certain financial metrics are met, and eliminates the EBITDA covenant. The maximum revolving loan amount under the Amended Agreement continues to be $120.0 million. The balance of the revolving loan at September 30, 2009 was zero.

Cost Reduction Measures

        On January 16, 2009, the Company announced that it was taking actions to reduce costs by reducing its worldwide workforce by 12%, and implementing a salary freeze for salaried employees, both of which were achieved in January 2009. As a result of these actions, the annualized savings to cost of sales is

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approximately $8.4 million, with an impact in fiscal 2009 of approximately $5.3 million, net of severance expense. The annualized savings to selling, general and administrative expense is approximately $1.1 million, which had an impact in fiscal 2009 of approximately $0.7 million, net of severance expense.

        On August 6, 2009, the Company further reduced its worldwide workforce by 6%, temporarily reduced salaries between 5% and 15% for all salaried employees, and eliminated the cash bonus component of the fiscal 2009 management incentive plan. The annualized savings of the personnel reductions approximates $4.1 million, although these savings did not have a material impact on the results of the fourth quarter or fiscal year 2009. The severance expense of approximately $1.0 million associated with the August 6, 2009 personnel reduction was paid in the fourth fiscal quarter.

        Total personnel reductions in fiscal 2009 represent cost reductions of approximately $13.6 million on an annualized basis, of which approximately $7.1 million is included in the results of fiscal 2009. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company will return all salaried personnel to full salary.

        In addition to the actions noted, the Company continues to adjust its production schedules for all its manufacturing facilities, initiating planned furloughs and outages ranging from one day to one week in length in order to limit further personnel reductions while continuing to meet customer delivery requirements at these lower sales volumes. Cost savings associated with these measures will be dependent upon the level of volume, as well as product mix, but are anticipated to be approximately $6.0 million on an annualized basis.

Goodwill Impairment

        A non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $43.7 million was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, of which $2.3 million is deductible for tax purposes in future periods. Goodwill of $41.3 million was created primarily as a result of the Company's reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and fresh start accounting in fiscal 2004. The impairment of this amount is non-deductible for tax purposes. While the goodwill impairment charge reduced fiscal 2009 operating results under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the impairment is a non-cash charge and will not affect the Company's liquidity position, cash flows from operating activities, or compliance with its debt covenants, nor is the charge expected to have an impact on future operations. Please see Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K for additional information.

Capital Spending

        Capital spending in fiscal 2009 was $9.3 million, compared to an original target of approximately $15.1 million. The Company evaluated planned spending, postponing certain projects and spending until such time as financial conditions improve. In light of the significant capital expenditures in recent years to upgrade operations, increase capacity and reduce unplanned downtime, management does not believe that the postponement of capital projects in fiscal 2009 will have a material unfavorable impact on operations in the short or long term.

        The Company recently announced plans to spend approximately $65.0 million over the next five years on new strategic initiatives which focus on improving the capability of the Company's production assets. The Company is finalizing plans to spend approximately $10.0 million over the course of fiscal 2010 and 2011 to restructure, consolidate and enhance capabilities at its service center operations to improve the return on assets of service center operations. Additionally, the Company plans to spend approximately $30.0 million (or $6.0 million per year) on upgrades to its four-high Steckel rolling mill and supporting equipment, and approximately $25.0 million (or $5.0 per year) on other equipment purchases and upgrades. These projects are expected to improve quality, reduce operating costs, improve delivery performance and decrease cycle time. The Company anticipates that it will continue to spend

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approximately $4.0 million per year on routine capital maintenance projects. This will approximate capital spending of $85.0 million over the next five years.

        In fiscal 2010 capital spending is targeted at approximately $15.0 million, with the focus on recurring equipment requirements of approximately $9.0 million and approximately $6.0 million on the upgrade of the four-high Steckel rolling mill. The $10.0 million service center restructuring is still in the planning phases and it is not known at this time what portion will be spent in fiscal 2010. Management does not anticipate prolonged equipment outages as a result of upgrades in fiscal 2010.

Outlook

General

        As a result of continued low demand and the challenging economy, the Company expects that revenues for at least the first two quarters of fiscal 2010, will be below the revenues of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Management believes that the Company's performance through the first two quarters of fiscal 2010 will range from break-even to small losses in each quarter. It is expected that the weakest results will occur in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, because typically this quarter is impacted by fewer ship days and extended customer shutdowns. Management expects results for fiscal 2010 to be negatively impacted by continued reduced absorption of fixed manufacturing cost, which inflates cost of goods sold per pound, and the competitive environment, which puts downward pressure on prices. However, a portion of this reduced absorption is expected to be offset by lower spending from the cost saving initiatives undertaken in fiscal 2009.

        The Company continues to adjust production schedules, reduce costs and manage cash flow, while still moving forward with initiatives that are important to its long-term success. The Company also reduced inventories substantially in fiscal 2009 and intends to hold inventory levels stable through fiscal 2010. As a result of recent equipment upgrades, service center value-added capabilities and its favorable liquidity position, the Company believes it is well-positioned to deal with the challenges of the downturn and ultimately manage the upturn more effectively than in prior periods.

Backlog

        A reduction in economic activity and the increasingly competitive environment manifests itself, in part, as a reduction in the Company's backlog. Backlog dollars declined by approximately 6% from June 30, 2009 to September 30, 2009. Backlog pounds increased slightly by approximately 2% in that same period, while backlog average selling price dropped by 8%. Backlog dollars declined by approximately 53% from September 30, 2008 to September 30, 2009. Backlog pounds declined by approximately 40% and backlog average selling price declined by approximately 22% during the period.

        The major contributing factors to the year-to-year decline in backlog were a reduction in pounds and pricing, resulting from decreased activity in the Company's end markets and increased price competition (discussed below). The period-to-period decline in backlog is related to average selling price and is specific to the continued competitive environment. A reduction in backlog is typically indicative of a reduction in revenue in the future. Based on order entry for the past eight months, including October 2009, management expects that backlog will decline from last year and quarter over quarter in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, before stabilizing at some point in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

Competition

        In the fourth quarter, the Company continued to experience strong price competition from competitors who produce both stainless steel and high-performance alloys due primarily to the continued weakness in both the high performance alloy market and in the stainless market. Increased competition has required the Company to continue lowering prices, which has contributed to the reduction in the

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Company's gross profit margin and net income. There continues to be significant uncertainty as to when the stainless and high-performance alloys markets will improve; however, there are indications that those markets may begin to improve in calendar 2010. If that happens, pricing competition in the high-performance alloy industry should begin to ease in future quarters. The Company continues to respond to the competition by increasing emphasis on service centers, offering value-added services, improving its cost structure, and striving to improve delivery-times and reliability. However, continued weakness in the economy continues to generate intense competitive pricing pressure.

Quarter over Quarter Gross Profit Margin Trend

        Gross profit margin and gross profit margin percentage declined each quarter starting in the third quarter of fiscal 2008 through the third quarter of fiscal 2009, but each increased in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Gross profit margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $5.0 million, compared to $(8.2) million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The gross profit margin percentage was 5.8% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to (8.3)% in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The improvement in gross profit margin from quarter to quarter was primarily due to a reduction in cost of goods sold per pound. Cost of goods sold per pound decreased as a result of reduced per pound manufacturing costs resulting primarily from (i) a significant reduction in the amount of higher cost raw material from inventory, which impacted costs of goods sold in the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2009, (ii) manufacturing staffing reductions started in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 which continued through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, (iii) operating efficiencies attributable to equipment upgrades, particularly upgrades in the sheet finishing operations and (iv) initiation of lean manufacturing techniques. These favorable items were partially offset by (i) a reduction in revenue of $12.7 million between quarters, and (ii) reduced absorption of fixed manufacturing costs primarily due to lower production of sheet product.

Subsequent Events

        In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company declared the first quarterly cash dividend in its history. On November 23, 2009, the Company announced that the Board of Directors has initiated a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per outstanding share of the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable December 15, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2009. The dividend cash pay-out based on current shares outstanding will be approximately $2.4 million per quarter, or approximately $9.6 million on an annualized basis. The Company also announced that the salary reduction of 5% to 15% for all salaried employees will be lifted effective January 1, 2010.

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Overview of Markets

        The following table includes a breakdown of net revenues, shipments and average selling prices to the markets served by the Company for the periods shown.