OLYMPIC STEEL INC - Quarter Report: 2014 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

For the transition period from __________ to ____________

Commission File Number 0-23320

OLYMPIC STEEL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (216) 292-3800

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes (X) No (  )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate 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). Yes (X) No (  )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes (  ) No (X)

Indicate the number of shares of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Index to Form 10-Q

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

(in thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

(in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

For the Three Months Ended March, 31

(in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2014

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the financial records of Olympic Steel, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, Olympic or the Company), without audit and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly state the results of the interim periods covered by this report. Year-to-date results are not necessarily indicative of 2014 annual results and these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company operates in two reportable segments; flat products and tubular and pipe products. Through its flat products segment, the Company sells and distributes large volumes of processed carbon, coated, aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate products. Through its tubular and pipe products segment, the Company distributes metal tubing, pipe, bar, valve and fittings and fabricates pressure parts supplied to various industrial markets.

Corporate expenses are reported as a separate line item in the segment reporting. Corporate expenses include the unallocated expenses related to managing the entire Company (i.e., both segments), including payroll expenses for certain personnel, expenses related to being a publicly traded entity such as board of directors expenses, audit expenses, and various other professional fees.

Accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts and unissued credits of $3.5 million and $3.2 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained at a level considered appropriate based on historical experience and specific customer collection issues that have been identified. Estimations are based upon a calculated percentage of accounts receivable, which remains fairly level from year to year, and judgments about the probable effects of economic conditions on certain customers, which can fluctuate significantly from year to year. The Company cannot guarantee that the rate of future credit losses will be similar to past experience. The Company considers all available information when assessing the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts and unissued credits each quarter.

Inventories consisted of the following:

The Company values certain of its tubular and pipe products inventory at the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $41.2 million, or 14.5% of consolidated inventory, and $43.9 million, or 15.3% of consolidated inventory, respectively, was reported under the LIFO method of accounting. The cost of the remainder of the tubular and pipe products inventory is determined using a weighted average rolling first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

No adjustment for LIFO was recorded in the first quarter of 2014 as the current projections anticipate comparative levels and pricing of inventory for the remainder of the year. In the first quarter of 2014, the Company did not record an adjustment to LIFO inventory. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company made an out-of-period adjustment to record previously unrecognized LIFO adjustments, which resulted in an increase to after-tax income of $1.2 million. 

If the FIFO method had been in use, inventories would have been $3.6 million lower than reported at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Intangible assets, net, consisted of the following as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

The Company estimates that amortization expense for its intangible assets subject to amortization will be $889 thousand for the year ending December 31, 2014 and $889 thousand per year in each of the next five years.

The Company’s debt is comprised of the following components:

The Company’s existing asset-based credit facility (the ABL Credit Facility) is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable, inventory and property and equipment. The ABL Credit Facility consists of a revolving credit line of $315 million and a $64 million term loan, with monthly principal payments. At March 31, 2014, the term loan balance was $46.7 million. Revolver borrowings are limited to the lesser of a borrowing base, comprised of eligible receivables and inventories, or $315 million in the aggregate. The ABL Credit Facility matures on June 30, 2016.

The ABL Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with various covenants, the most significant of which include: (i) until maturity of the ABL Credit Facility, if any commitments or obligations are outstanding and the Company’s availability is less than the greater of $20 million, 12.5% of the aggregate amount of revolver commitments ($39.4 million at March 31, 2014), or 60% of the principal balance of the term loan then outstanding ($28.0 million at March 31, 2014), then the Company must maintain a ratio of EBITDA minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 1.10 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve fiscal month period; (ii) limitations on dividend payments; (iii) restrictions on additional indebtedness; and (iv) limitations on investments and joint ventures. The Company has the option to borrow under its revolver based on the agent’s base rate plus a premium ranging from 0.00% to 0.50% or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a premium ranging from 1.50% to 2.00%. The interest rate under the term loan is based on the agent’s base rate plus a premium ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% or LIBOR plus a premium ranging from 1.75% to 2.25%.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with its covenants and had approximately $96 million of availability under the ABL Credit Facility.   

As of March 31, 2014, $3.0 million of bank financing fees were included in “Prepaid expenses and other” and “Other long-term assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The financing fees are being amortized over the remaining term of the credit facility and are included in “Interest and other expense on debt” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

In June 2012, the Company entered into a forward starting fixed rate interest rate hedge that commenced June 2013, in order to eliminate the variability of cash interest payments on $53.2 million of the outstanding LIBOR-based borrowings under the ABL Credit Facility. The hedge matures on June 1, 2016 and the notional amount is reduced monthly by the principal payments on the term loan. The hedged balance as of March 31, 2014 was $46.7 million. The interest rate hedge fixed the rate at 1.21% plus a premium ranging from 1.75% to 2.25%. Although the Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the interest rate hedge agreement, the Company anticipates performance by the counterparties.

As part of the Chicago Tube and Iron Company (CTI) acquisition in July 2011, the Company assumed approximately $5.9 million of Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) indebtedness issued through the Stanly County, North Carolina Industrial Revenue and Pollution Control Authority. The bond matures in April 2018, with the option to provide principal payments annually on April 1st. On April 1, 2014, the Company paid an optional principal payment of $810 thousand. Interest is payable monthly, with a variable rate that resets weekly. As a security for payment of the bonds, the Company obtained a direct pay letter of credit issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The letter of credit reduces annually by the principal reduction amount. The interest rate at March 31, 2014 was 0.16% for the IRB debt.

The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates on the above IRB. At March 31, 2014, the effect of the swap agreement on the bond was to fix the rate at 3.46%. The swap agreement matures in April 2018, and is reduced annually by the amount of the optional principal payments on the bond. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the interest rate swap agreement. However, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.

Metals swaps

During 2014 and 2013, the Company entered into nickel swaps indexed to the London Metal Exchange (LME) price of nickel with third-party brokers. In the first quarter of 2014 the Company entered into carbon swaps indexed to the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) price of U.S. Midwest Domestic Hot-Rolled Coil Steel with third-party brokers. The nickel and carbon swaps are treated as derivatives for accounting purposes. The Company entered into them to mitigate its customers’ risk of volatility in the price of metals. The outstanding nickel swaps have one to twenty-six months remaining and the outstanding carbon swaps have one to nine months remaining. The swaps are settled with the brokers at maturity. The economic benefit or loss arising from the changes in fair value of the swaps is contractually passed through to the customer. The primary risk associated with the metals swaps is the ability of customers or third-party brokers to honor their agreements with the Company related to derivative instruments. If the customer or third-party brokers are unable to honor their agreements, the Company’s risk of loss is the fair value of the metals swaps.

While these derivatives are intended to help the Company manage risk, they have not been designated as hedging instruments. The periodic changes in fair value of the metals and embedded customer derivative instruments are included in “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Company recognizes derivative positions with both the customer and the third party for the derivatives and classifies cash settlement amounts associated with them as part of “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The metals swaps are included in “Accounts receivable, net”, and the embedded customer derivatives are included in “Other accrued liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2014. The embedded customer derivatives were included in “Accounts receivable, net”, and the metals swaps are included in “Other accrued liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013.

Interest rate swap

CTI entered into an interest rate swap to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates on its IRB. The swap agreement matures in April 2018, the same time as the IRB, and is reduced annually by the amount of the optional principal payments on the IRB. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the interest rate swap agreement. However, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties. The interest rate swap is not treated as a hedge for accounting purposes.

The periodic changes in fair value of the interest rate swap and cash settlement amounts associated with the interest rate swap are included in “Interest and other expense on debt” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Fixed rate interest rate hedge

In June 2012, the Company entered into a forward starting fixed rate interest rate hedge commencing July 2013 in order to eliminate the variability of cash interest payments on $53.2 million of the outstanding LIBOR-based borrowings under the ABL Credit Facility. The hedged balance as of March 31, 2014 was $46.7 million. The hedge matures on June 1, 2016 and is reduced monthly by the principal payments on the term loan. The fixed rate interest rate hedge is accounted for as a cash flow hedging instrument for accounting purposes.

There was no net impact from the nickel swaps or embedded customer derivative agreements to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The table below shows the total impact to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income through net income of the derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, short-term trade receivables, derivative instruments, accounts payable and debt instruments. For short-term instruments, other than those required to be reported at fair value on a recurring basis and for which additional disclosures are included below, management concluded the historical carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments and their expected realization.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is an exit price concept that assumes an orderly transaction between willing market participants. Valuation techniques must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. To measure fair value, the Company applies a fair value hierarchy that is based on three levels of input, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were no transfers of financial assets between Levels 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at March 31, 2014 since December 31, 2013. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

Metals swaps and embedded customer derivatives – Determined by using Level 2 inputs that include the price of nickel indexed to the LME and the price of Hot Rolled Coil Steel indexed to the NYMEX. The fair value is determined based on quoted market prices and reflects the estimated amounts the Company would pay or receive to terminate the metals swaps.

Interest rate swaps – Based on the present value of the expected future cash flows, considering the risks involved, and using discount rates appropriate for the maturity date. Market observable Level 2 inputs are used to determine the present value of future cash flows.

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company:

The value of the items not recorded at fair value represent the carrying value of the liabilities. 

The fair values of the revolver and term loan are determined using Level 2 inputs. The carrying values of the revolver and the term loan were $180.9 million and $46.7 million, respectively, at March 31, 2014. The carrying value of the revolver and the term loan were $146.1 million and $48.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2013. The Level 2 fair value of the Company's long-term debt was estimated using prevailing market interest rates on debt with similar credit worthiness, terms and maturities.

Stock Options

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 2014:

There were 7,000 and 1,667 options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $103 thousand $28 thousand, respectively. All options outstanding are vested as of March 31, 2014.

Restricted Stock Units and Performance Share Units

Pursuant to the Olympic Steel 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Plan), the Company may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, and other stock- and cash-based awards to employees and Directors of, and consultants to, the Company and its affiliates. Under the Plan, 500,000 shares of common stock are available for equity grants.

On March 1, 2014 and January 2, 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant of 2,544 and 1,800 restricted stock units (RSUs) to each non-employee Director. Subject to the terms of the Plan and the RSU agreement, the RSUs vest after one year of service (from the date of grant). The RSUs are not converted into shares of common stock until the director either resigns or is terminated from the Board of Directors.

The fair value of each RSU was estimated to be the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant, which was $27.51 and $23.41 for the grants on March 1, 2014 and January 2, 2013, respectively.

The Company’s Senior Management Compensation Program includes an equity component in order to encourage more ownership of common stock by the senior management. The Senior Management Compensation Program imposes stock ownership requirements upon the participants. Each participant is required to own at least 750 shares of common stock for each year that the participant participates in the Senior Management Compensation Program. Any participant that fails to meet to the stock ownership requirements will be ineligible to receive any equity awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans, including the Plan, until the participant satisfies the ownership requirements. To assist participants in meeting the stock ownership requirements, on an annual basis, if a participant purchases 500 shares of common stock on the open market, the Company will award that participant 250 shares of common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 the Company matched 4,750 and 6,000 shares, respectively. Additionally, any participant who continues to comply with the stock ownership requirements as of the five-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year and 25-year anniversaries of the participant’s participation in the Senior Management Compensation Program will receive a restricted stock unit award with a dollar value of $25 thousand, $50 thousand, $75 thousand, $100 thousand and $100 thousand, respectively. Restricted stock unit awards will convert into the right to receive shares of common stock upon a participant’s retirement, or earlier upon the participant’s death or disability or upon a change in control of the Company.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized on RSUs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is summarized in the following table:

All pre-tax charges related to RSUs were included in the caption “Administrative and general” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The following table summarizes the activity related to RSUs for the three months ended March 31, 2014:

No RSUs were converted into shares during the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $1.7 million, or 38.0%, compared to $2.7 million, or 34.7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was a result of the tax law changes that went into effect January 1, 2013 extending certain tax credits.

Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter we update our estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if our estimated tax rate changes, we make a cumulative adjustment.

Our quarterly tax provision and our quarterly estimate of our annual effective tax rate is subject to significant volatility due to several factors, including variability in accurately predicting our pre-tax and taxable income and loss and the mix of jurisdictions to which they relate, changes in law and relative changes of expenses or losses for which tax benefits are not recognized. Additionally, our effective tax rate can be more or less volatile based on the amount of pre-tax income. For example, the impact of discrete items and non-deductible expenses on our effective tax rate is greater when our pre-tax income is lower.

Earnings per share have been calculated based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding as set forth below:

The Company follows the accounting guidance that requires the utilization of a “management approach” to define and report the financial results of operating segments. The management approach defines operating segments along the lines used by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM) to assess performance and make operating and resource allocation decisions. Our CODM evaluates performance and allocates resources based primarily on operating income (loss). Our operating segments are based primarily on internal management reporting.

The Company operates in two reportable segments: flat products and tubular and pipe products. Through its flat products segment, the Company sells and distributes large volumes of processed carbon, coated, aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate products. Through its tubular and pipe products segment, the Company distributes metal tubing, pipe, bar, valve and fittings and fabricates pressure parts supplied to various industrial markets. 

Corporate expenses are reported as a separate line item in the segment reporting. Corporate expenses include the unallocated expenses related to managing the entire Company (i.e., both segments), including payroll expenses for certain personnel, expenses related to being a publicly traded entity such as board of directors expenses, audit expenses, and various other professional fees.

The following table provides financial information by segment and reconciles the Company’s operating income by segment to the consolidated income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

There were no material revenue transactions between the flat products and tubular and pipe products segments.

The Company sells certain products internationally, primarily in Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. International sales are immaterial to the consolidated financial results and to the individual segments’ results.

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2013-02, “Other Comprehensive Income.” This ASU intends to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by requiring an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The provisions of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained herein and our consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed under Item 1A (Risk Factors) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The following section is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information, including our financial statements and the notes thereto, which appear elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Forward-Looking Information

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents we file with the SEC contain various forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future performance, business, our beliefs and management’s assumptions. In addition, we, or others on our behalf, may make forward-looking statements in press releases or written statements, or in our communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, conferences, webcasts, phone calls and conference calls. Words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” and “continue,” as well as the negative of these terms or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied by such statements including, but not limited to:

Should one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, intended, expected, believed, estimated, projected or planned. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as otherwise required by law.

Overview

We are a leading metals service center that operates in two reportable segments; flat products and tubular and pipe products. We provide metals processing and distribution services for a wide range of customers. Our primary flat products focus is on the direct sale and distribution of large volumes of processed carbon, coated, aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate products. Through our Chicago Tube and Iron subsidiary, or CTI, we distribute metal tubing, pipe, bar, valves and fittings and fabricate pressure parts supplied to various industrial markets. Products that require more value-added processing generally have a higher gross profit. Accordingly, our overall gross profit is affected by, among other things, product mix, the amount of processing performed, the demand for and availability of metals, and volatility in selling prices and material purchase costs. We also perform toll processing of customer-owned metals. We sell certain products internationally, primarily in Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. International sales are immaterial to our consolidated financial results and to the individual segments’ results.

Our results of operations are affected by numerous external factors including, but not limited to: general and global business, economic, financial, banking and political conditions; competition; metals pricing, demand and availability; energy prices; pricing and availability of raw materials used in the production of metals; global supply and inventory held in the supply chain; customers’ ability to manage their credit line availability; and layoffs or work stoppages by our own, our suppliers’ or our customers’ personnel. The metals industry also continues to be affected by the global consolidation of our suppliers, competitors and end-use customers.

Like other service centers, we maintain substantial inventories of metals to accommodate the short lead times and just-in-time delivery requirements of our customers. Accordingly, we purchase metals in an effort to maintain our inventory at levels that we believe to be appropriate to satisfy the anticipated needs of our customers based upon customer forecasts, historic buying practices, supply agreements with customers and market conditions. Our commitments to purchase metals are generally at prevailing market prices in effect at the time we place our orders. When metals prices increase, competitive conditions will influence how much of the price increase we can pass on to our customers. To the extent we are unable to pass on future price increases in our raw materials to our customers, the net sales and gross profits of our business could be adversely affected. When metals prices decline, customer demands for lower prices and our competitors’ responses to those demands could result in lower sale prices and, consequently, lower gross profits as we sell existing metals inventory.

At March 31, 2014, we employed approximately 1,815 people. Approximately 330 of the hourly plant personnel at the facilities listed below are represented by ten separate collective bargaining units. The table below shows the expiration dates of the collective bargaining agreements.

We have never experienced a work stoppage and we believe that our relationship with employees is good. However, any prolonged work stoppages by our personnel represented by collective bargaining units could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Reportable Segments

We operate in two reportable segments; flat products and tubular and pipe products. We follow the accounting guidance that requires the utilization of a “management approach” to define and report the financial results of operating segments. The management approach defines operating segments along the lines used by the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, to assess performance and make operating and resource allocation decisions. Our CODM evaluates performance and allocates resources based primarily on operating income (loss). Our operating segments are based primarily on internal management reporting.

Corporate expenses are reported as a separate line item in the segment reporting. Corporate expenses include the unallocated expenses related to managing the entire Company (i.e., both segments), including payroll expenses for certain personnel, expenses related to being a publicly traded entity such as board of directors expenses, audit expenses, and various other professional fees.

Flat products

The primary focus of our flat products segment is on the direct sale and distribution of large volumes of processed carbon, coated, aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate products. We act as an intermediary between metals producers and manufacturers that require processed metals for their operations. We serve customers in most metals consuming industries, including manufacturers and fabricators of transportation and material handling equipment, construction and farm machinery, storage tanks, environmental and energy generation equipment, automobiles, food service and electrical equipment, military vehicles and equipment, as well as general and plate fabricators and metals service centers. We distribute these products primarily through a direct sales force.

The flat products segment has 25 strategically-located processing and distribution facilities in the United States and one in Monterrey, Mexico. This geographic footprint allows us to focus on regional customers and larger national and multi-national accounts, primarily located throughout the midwestern, eastern and southern United States. The flat products segment distributes these products primarily through a direct sales force.

Tubular and pipe products

The tubular and pipe products segment consists of the CTI business, acquired in 2011. Through our tubular and pipe products segment, we distribute metals tubing, pipe, bar, valve and fittings and fabricate pressure parts supplied to various industrial markets. Founded in 1914, CTI operates from nine locations in the midwestern and southeastern United States. The tubular and pipe products segment distributes its products primarily through a direct sales force.

Results of Operations

Consolidated Operations

The following table presents consolidated operating results for the periods indicated (dollars are shown in thousands):

Net sales increased 2.6% to $346.9 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $338.1 million in the first quarter of 2013. Flat products net sales were 82.4% of total net sales in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 81.6% of total net sales in the first quarter of 2013. Tubular and pipe products net sales were 17.6% of total net sales in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 18.4% of total net sales in the first quarter of 2013. The increase in net sales was due to a 2.8% increase in sales volume offset by a 0.1% decline in selling prices during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Sales volume in both the flat products and tubular and pipe products segments increased year over year despite losing several shipping days due to the severe weather during the first quarter of 2014. The average direct selling price increased in the flat products segment during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013, but decreased in the tubular and pipe products segment.

Cost of materials sold increased 3.5% to $275.5 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $266.2 million in the first quarter of 2013. In the first quarter of 2013, we made an out-of-period adjustment to record previously unrecognized LIFO adjustments, which resulted in a decrease to cost of materials sold of $1.9 million.  The increase in cost of materials sold in 2014 is primarily due to increased sales volume and the impact of no LIFO income adjustment in 2014.

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) decreased to 20.6% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 21.3% in the first quarter of 2013. As a percentage of net sales, the LIFO income adjustment in 2013 increased gross profit by 0.6%. The decrease in gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was primarily due to the LIFO income adjustment made in 2013 and an increase in the mix of flat products segment sales with lower gross margin than pipe and tube segment sales. We expect our gross profit in the second quarter of 2014 to be consistent with the first quarter of 2014.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2014 increased $2.9 million, or 4.6%, to $65.2 million from $62.3 million in the first quarter of 2013. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 18.8% for the first quarter of 2014 from 18.4% in the comparable 2013 period. Operating expenses in the flat products segment increased $1.7 million, operating expenses in the tubular and pipe products segment increased $1.1 million and Corporate expenses increased $72 thousand. Variable operating expenses, such as distribution and warehouse and processing expenses, increased as a result of increased sales volume and net sales. The increase of $271 thousand in occupancy expense is primarily related to the increased heating and snow removal expenses due to the cold winter conditions. Depreciation expense increased as a result of the recent investments in new equipment.

Interest and other expense on debt totaled $1.8 million, or 0.5% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2014 compared to $1.7 million, or 0.5% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2013. Our effective borrowing rate, exclusive of deferred financing fees and commitment fees, was 3.4% for the first three months of 2014 compared to 2.2% for the first three months of 2013.

For the first quarter of 2014, income before income taxes totaled $4.5 million compared to $7.9 million in the first quarter of 2013. For the first quarter of 2013, income before income taxes included LIFO income of $1.9 million. There was no impact of LIFO income or expense in the first quarter of 2014 results.

An income tax provision of 38.0% was recorded for the first quarter of 2014, compared to 34.7% for the first quarter of 2013. The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was a result of the tax law changes that went into effect January 1, 2013 extending certain tax credits. This discrete item resulted in a decrease to our first quarter of 2013 effective tax rate of 2.3%. Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter we update our estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if our estimated tax rate changes, we make a cumulative adjustment. We expect our effective tax rate to approximate 37% to 39% on an annual basis in 2014.

Net income for the first quarter of 2014 totaled $2.8 million or $0.25 per basic and diluted share, compared to $5.2 million or $0.47 per basic and diluted share for the first quarter of 2013. For the first quarter of 2013, the LIFO adjustment increased earnings per share by $0.11 per basic and diluted share.

Segment Operations

Flat products

The following table presents selected operating results for our flat products segment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars are shown in thousands):

Tons sold by our flat products segment increased 2.6% to 299 thousand in the first quarter of 2014 from 292 thousand in the first quarter of 2013 despite losing several shipping days due to the severe weather during the first quarter of 2014. The increase in tons sold is due to increased customer demand and industry-wide shipments in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.

Net sales in our flat products segment increased 3.7% to $285.9 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $275.7 million in the first quarter of 2013. The increase in sales was due to a 2.6% increase in sales volume as well as a 1.0% higher metals pricing during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. Average selling prices in the first quarter of 2014 were $955 per ton, compared with $946 per ton in the first quarter of 2013 and $936 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Cost of materials sold increased 3.7% to $233.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $224.9 million in the first quarter of 2013. The percentage increase in cost of materials sold was identical to the percentage increase in sales. The increase was due to the increase in sales volume during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (a) in the table above) remained flat at 18.4% in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2014 increased $1.7 million, or 3.7%, to $47.7 million from $46.0 million in the first quarter of 2013. Variable operating expenses, such as distribution and warehouse and processing, expenses, increased as a result of higher sales volume and net sales. Occupancy expenses increased as a result of increased heating and snow removal expenses as a result of the cold winter conditions. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses remained flat at 16.7% for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013.

Operating income for both the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 totaled $4.8 million, or 1.7% of net sales.

Tubular and pipe products

The following table presents selected operating results for our tubular and pipe products segment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars are shown in thousands):

Cost of materials sold increased 2.3% to $42.2 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $41.2 million in the first quarter of 2013. In the first quarter of 2013, we made an out-of-period adjustment to record previously unrecognized LIFO income adjustments, which resulted in a decrease to cost of materials sold of $1.9 million.  The increase in cost of materials sold is primarily a result of increased sales volumes and the impact of no LIFO income adjustment in the first quarter of 2014.

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) totaled 31.0% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 33.9% in the first quarter of 2013. As a percentage of net sales, the LIFO adjustment in 2013 increased gross profit by 3.1%. There was no impact of LIFO income or expense in the first quarter of 2014 gross profit.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2013 increased $1.1 million, or 7.8%, to $15.5 million from $14.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. Operating expenses increased during 2014 due to increased variable warehouse labor, distribution, and selling expense related to increased sales volumes and increased depreciation expense as a result of recent investments in processing equipment. Occupancy expense increased primarily related to the increased heating and snow removal expenses due to the cold winter conditions. Operating expenses were 25.3% of net sales in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 23.0% in the first quarter of 2013.

Operating income for the first quarter 2014 totaled $3.4 million, or 5.7% of net sales, compared to $6.8 million, or 10.9% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2013. The LIFO adjustment increased operating income for the first quarter of 2013 by $1.9 million. There was no impact of LIFO income or expense in the first quarter of 2014 results.

Corporate expenses

Corporate expenses increased to $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2013. The increase in Corporate expenses is related to the Executive office move in the second half of 2013. Corporate expenses include the unallocated expenses related to managing the entire Company, (i.e. both segments) including payroll expenses for certain personnel, expenses related to being a publicly traded entity such as board of directors expenses, audit expenses, and various other professional fees.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Cash Flows

Our principal capital requirements include funding working capital needs, purchasing, upgrading and acquiring processing equipment and facilities, making acquisitions and paying dividends. We use cash generated from operations, leasing transactions and borrowings under our credit facility to fund these requirements.

We believe that funds available under our existing asset-based credit facility (the ABL Credit Facility), lease arrangement proceeds and the sale of equity or debt securities, together with funds generated from operations, will be sufficient to provide us with the liquidity necessary to fund anticipated working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements, our dividend payments and any business acquisitions over at least the next 12 months. In the future, we may, as part of our business strategy, acquire and dispose of assets or other companies in the same or complementary lines of business, or enter into or exit strategic alliances and joint ventures. Accordingly, the timing and size of our capital requirements are subject to change as business conditions warrant and opportunities arise.

Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, we used $28.0 million of net cash from operations, of which $8.7 million was generated from operating activities and $36.7 million was used for working capital. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, we generated $1.7 million of net cash from operations, of which $8.0 million was generated from operating activities and $6.3 million was used for working capital.

Net cash from operations totaled $8.7 million during the first quarter of 2014 and was primarily generated from net income of $2.8 million and depreciation and amortization of $6.0 million. Net cash from operations totaled $8.0 million during the first quarter of 2013 and was generated from net income of $5.2 million and depreciation and amortization of $5.9 million offset primarily by a non-cash insurance recovery receivable of $0.8 million and changes in long-term assets and liabilities of $3.0 million.

Working capital at March 31, 2014 totaled $290.9 million, a $38.9 million increase from December 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to a $34.6 million increase in accounts receivable (resulting from higher sales in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013, as our days of sales outstanding remained fairly consistent) and a $6.7 million decrease in accounts payable and outstanding checks, offset by a $2.5 million decrease in inventories (resulting from decreased inventory purchases and increased sales).

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities was $2.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013. The 2014 expenditures were attributable to additional processing equipment at our existing facilities. In 2014, we plan for capital spending to be less than our estimated annual depreciation expense (approximately $21 million).

Financing Activities

During the first three months of 2014, $32.5 million of cash was generated from financing activities, which primarily consisted of $34.8 million of net borrowings under our ABL Credit Facility revolver, offset by $2.2 million of scheduled principal payments on our term loan.

Dividends paid were $0.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013. In April 2014, our Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share, which will be paid on June 16, 2014 to shareholders of record as of June 2, 2014. Regular dividend distributions in the future are subject to the availability of cash, the $2.5 million annual limitation on cash dividends under our ABL Credit Facility and continuing determination by our Board of Directors that the payment of dividends remains in the best interest of our shareholders.

Debt Arrangements

Our ABL Credit Facility is an asset-based credit facility collateralized by our accounts receivable, inventory and property and equipment. The ABL Credit Facility consists of a revolving credit line of $315 million and a $64 million term loan, with monthly principal payments. At March 31, 2014, the term loan balance was $46.7 million. Revolver borrowings are limited to the lesser of a borrowing base, comprised of eligible receivables and inventories, or $315 million in the aggregate. The ABL Credit Facility matures on June 30, 2016.

The ABL Credit Facility requires us to comply with various covenants, the most significant of which include: (i) until maturity of the ABL Credit Facility, if any commitments or obligations are outstanding and our availability is less than the greater of $20 million, 12.5% of the aggregate amount of revolver commitments ($39.4 million at March 31, 2014), or 60% of the principal balance of the term loan then outstanding ($28.0 million at March 31, 2014), then we must maintain a ratio of EBITDA minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 1.10 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve fiscal month period; (ii) limitations on dividend payments; (iii) restrictions on additional indebtedness; and (iv) limitations on investments and joint ventures. We have the option to borrow under our revolver based on the agent’s base rate plus a premium ranging from 0.00% to 0.50% or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a premium ranging from 1.50% to 2.00%. The interest rate under the term loan is based on the agent’s base rate plus a premium ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% or LIBOR plus a premium ranging from 1.75% to 2.25%.

As of March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with our covenants and had approximately $96 million of availability under the ABL Credit Facility.

As of March 31, 2014, $3.0 million of bank financing fees were included in “Prepaid expenses and other” and “Other long-term assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The financing fees are being amortized over the remaining term of the credit facility.

As part of the 2011 CTI acquisition, we assumed approximately $5.9 million of Industrial Revenue Bond indebtedness issued through the Stanly County, North Carolina Industrial Revenue and Pollution Control Authority (IRB). The bond matures in April 2018, with the option to provide principal payments annually on April 1st. On April 1, 2014, we paid an optional principal payment of $810 thousand. Interest is payable monthly, with a variable rate that resets weekly. As a security for payment of the bonds, we obtained a direct pay letter of credit issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The letter of credit reduces annually by the principal reduction amount. The interest rate at March 31, 2014 was 0.16% for the IRB debt.

Critical Accounting Policies

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based on the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. We monitor and evaluate our estimates and assumptions, based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We review our financial reporting and disclosure practices and accounting practices quarterly to ensure they provide accurate and transparent information relative to the current economic and business environment. For further information regarding the accounting policies that we believe to be critical accounting policies that affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our principal raw materials are carbon, coated and stainless steel, and aluminum, pipe and tube, flat rolled coil, sheet and plate that we typically purchase from multiple primary metals producers. The metals industry as a whole is cyclical and, at times, pricing and availability of metals can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including general domestic and international economic conditions, labor costs, sales levels, competition, levels of inventory held by other metals service centers, consolidation of metals producers, new global capacity by metals producers, higher raw material costs for the producers of metals, import duties and tariffs and currency exchange rates. This volatility can significantly affect the availability and cost of raw materials for us.

We, like many other metals service centers, maintain substantial inventories of metals to accommodate the short lead times and just-in-time delivery requirements of our customers. Accordingly, we purchase metals in an effort to maintain our inventory at levels that we believe to be appropriate to satisfy the anticipated needs of our customers based upon historic buying practices, supply agreements with customers and market conditions. Our commitments to purchase metals are generally at prevailing market prices in effect at the time we place our orders. We have no long-term, fixed-price metals purchase contracts. When metals prices increase, competitive conditions will influence how much of the price increase we can pass on to our customers. To the extent we are unable to pass on future price increases in our raw materials to our customers, the net sales and profitability of our business could be adversely affected. When metals prices decline, customer demands for lower prices and our competitors’ responses to those demands could result in lower sale prices and, consequently, lower gross profits and inventory lower of cost or market adjustments as we sell existing inventory. Significant or rapid declines in metals prices or reductions in sales volumes could adversely impact our ability to remain in compliance with certain financial covenants in our credit facility, as well as result in us incurring inventory or goodwill impairment charges. Changing metals prices therefore could significantly impact our net sales, gross profits, operating income and net income.

Rising metals prices result in higher working capital requirements for us and our customers. Some customers may not have sufficient credit lines or liquidity to absorb significant increases in the price of metals. While we have generally been successful in the past in passing on producers’ price increases and surcharges to our customers, there is no guarantee that we will be able to pass on price increases to our customers in the future. Declining metals prices have generally adversely affected our net sales and net income, while increasing metals prices, have generally favorably affected our net sales and net income.

Approximately 51.3% of our consolidated net sales in the first three months of 2014 were directly related to industrial machinery and equipment manufacturers and their fabricators.

Inflation generally affects us by increasing the cost of employee wages and benefits, transportation services, processing equipment, energy and borrowings under our credit facility. General inflation, excluding increases in the price of steel and increased distribution expense, has not had a material effect on our financial results during the past two years.

We are exposed to the impact of fluctuating metals prices and interest rate changes. During 2014 and 2013, we entered into nickel and carbon swaps at the request of customers. While these derivatives are intended to be effective in helping us manage risk, they have not been designated as hedging instruments. For certain customers, we enter into contractual relationships that entitle us to pass-through the economic effect of trading positions that we take with other third parties on our customers’ behalf. We are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the nickel and carbon swaps. However, we do not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.

Our primary interest rate risk exposure results from variable rate debt. We have the option to enter into 30- to 180-day fixed base rate LIBOR loans under the ABL Credit Facility. As part of the CTI acquisition we assumed an interest rate swap agreement on the $5.9 million of IRB. The swap agreement matures in April 2018, but the notional amount may be reduced annually by the amount of the optional principal payments on the IRB. In June 2012, we entered into a forward starting fixed rate interest rate hedge commencing July 2013 in order to eliminate the variability of cash interest payments on approximately $53.2 million of the outstanding LIBOR-based borrowings under the ABL Credit Facility. The hedged balance as of March 31, 2014 was $46.7 million. The hedge matures on June 1, 2016 and the notional amount is reduced monthly by the principal payments on the term loan. The fixed rate interest rate hedge is accounted for as a cash flow hedging instrument for accounting purposes. We are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the interest rate swap and fixed interest rate hedge agreements. However, we do not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The evaluation required by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been carried out under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. These disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed with or submitted to the SEC is: (i) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first quarter of 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this Part II are either inapplicable or are answered in the negative and are omitted pursuant to the instructions to Part II.

Item 6. Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT INDEX

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