UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS INC - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2017

OR

For the Transition Period from              to             

Commission File Number 000-25032

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

600 Mayer Street

Bridgeville, PA 15017

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(412) 257-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§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  ☑    No  ☐

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

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

As of October 20, 2017, there were 7,228,277 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding.

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

Table of Contents

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Information)

(Unaudited)

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1:  Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“Universal”, “we”, “our” or the “Company”), manufacture and market semi-finished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. Our manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, heat treating, hot and cold rolling, forging, machining and cold drawing of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. Our products are sold to service centers, forgers, rerollers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers. Our customers further process our products for use in a variety of industries, including the aerospace, power generation, oil and gas, heavy equipment, and general industrial manufacturing industries. We also perform conversion services on materials supplied by customers.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial reports and the instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations. However, we believe that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our most recently audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements for the periods shown. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future period. The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from our estimates. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly–owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2017, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-09 “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”.  This ASU includes multiple provisions intended to simplify various aspects of the accounting for share-based payments. Excess tax benefits for share-based payments will be recorded as a reduction of income taxes and reflected in operating cash flows upon the adoption of this ASU, eliminating additional paid in capital (“APIC”) pools. In addition, the guidance allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than on an estimated basis.   This ASU also eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before companies can recognize them.  As a result of the implementation of this guidance, we recorded an adjustment to retained earnings of $0.8 million and a corresponding deferred tax asset for the cumulative effect of excess tax benefits that were not previously recognized.  We recorded $0.3 million of tax expense as discrete items in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for the expiration of stock options.  This amount would have been recorded to APIC under the previous guidance.  We have elected to account for forfeitures as they occur.  This election has not had a material impact on our financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2017, we adopted the FASB ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory”.  This ASU simplifies the guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory, excluding inventory measured using last-in, first out or the retail inventory method. Under the new standard, inventory should be valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value.  The implementation of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs.  Recently issued ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2 “Leases (Topic 842)”.  The ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability.  For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance.  The criteria for evaluating are similar to those applied in current leases accounting.  This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our financial statements and the timing of adoption.

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In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. This topic converges the guidance within U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards and supersedes Accounting Standards Codification 605, Revenue Recognition. The new standard requires companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, provide guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively, and improve guidance for multiple-element arrangements. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. We have completed a preliminary evaluation of this guidance and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial statements. We will continue our evaluation of this ASU through the date of adoption.

Note 2:  Net loss per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss income per common share:

We had options to purchase 495,675 and 780,250 shares of common stock outstanding at an average price of $31.74 and $28.18, respectively, which were excluded in the computation of diluted net loss per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We had options to purchase 566,075 and 791,250 shares of common stock outstanding at an average price of $30.21 and $27.45, respectively, which were excluded in the computation of diluted net loss per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These outstanding options were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per common share because their respective exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common stock.  The calculation of diluted net loss per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 excluded 406,094 and 408,526  shares, respectively, for the assumed conversion of convertible notes as a result of being anti-dilutive. The calculation of diluted net loss per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 excluded 121,750 and 2,912 shares, respectively, for the assumed exercise of stock options as a result of being in a net loss position. The calculation of diluted net loss per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 excluded 99,638 and 1,825 shares, respectively, for the assumed exercise of stock options as a result of being in a net loss position.  In addition, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the calculation of diluted net loss per share excluded 39,216 and 29,101 shares, respectively,  for the assumed issuance of stock for restricted stock units as a result of being in a net loss position.

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Note 3:  Inventory

Our raw material and starting stock inventory is primarily comprised of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal and alloys such as nickel, chrome, molybdenum, cobalt and copper.  Our semi-finished and finished steel products are work-in-process in various stages of production or are finished products waiting to be shipped to our customers.  Operating materials are primarily comprised of forge dies and production molds and rolls that are consumed over their useful lives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, we amortized these operating materials in the amount of $1.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  This expense is recorded as a component of cost of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations and included as a part of our total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost principally determined on a weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead. We assess market based upon actual and estimated transactions at or around the balance sheet date. Typically, we reserve for slow-moving inventory and inventory that is being evaluated under our quality control process.  The reserves are based upon management’s expected method of disposition.  Inventories consisted of the following:

Note 4: Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

Credit Facility

We have a Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and co-collateral agent, Bank of America, N.A., as co-collateral agent, and PNC Capital Markets LLC, as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.  The Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured revolving credit facility not to exceed $65.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) in the amount of $30.0 million (together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Facilities”).  The Credit Agreement also provides for a letter of credit sub-facility not to exceed $10.0 million and a swing loan sub-facility not to exceed $6.5 million.  The Company may request to increase the maximum aggregate principal amount of borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility by $25.0 million prior to January 21, 2020.  

The Facilities, which expire upon the earlier of (i) January 21, 2021 or (ii) the date that is 90 days prior to the scheduled maturity date of the Convertible Notes (as defined below) (in either case, the “Expiration Date”), are collateralized by a first lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, except that no real property is collateral under the Facilities other than the Company’s real property in North Jackson, Ohio.

Availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is based on eligible accounts receivable and inventory.  The Company is required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% based on the daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.

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With respect to the Term Loan, the Company makes quarterly installment payments of principal of approximately $1.1 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest, on the first day of each fiscal quarter. To the extent not previously paid, the Term Loan will become due and payable in full on the Expiration Date.

Amounts outstanding under the Facilities, at the Company’s option, will bear interest at either a base rate plus a margin or a rate based on LIBOR plus a margin, in either case calculated in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.  Interest under the Credit Agreement is payable monthly.  We elected to use the LIBOR based rate for the majority of the debt outstanding under the Facilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, which was 3.99% on our Revolving Credit Facility and 4.49% for the Term Loan at September 30, 2017.

The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants.  The Company must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.0, in each case measured on a rolling four-quarter basis calculated in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.  We were in compliance with our covenants under the Credit Agreement at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

At September 30, 2017, we had deferred financing costs of approximately $0.8 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we amortized $0.2 million of deferred financing costs.

On October 23, 2017, the Company announced that it obtained a favorable amendment to the Credit Agreement that lowers the Company’s interest rates on its senior bank borrowings by 75 basis points.  At current borrowing levels, this change will reduce annual interest expense by approximately $0.4 million.  In addition, several terms of the Credit Agreement were amended and will provide additional liquidity to the Company.  There have been no changes to the financial covenants, and the Company remains in compliance with all covenants.

Convertible Notes

In connection with the acquisition of the North Jackson facility, in August 2011, we issued $20.0 million in convertible notes (collectively, the “Notes”) to the sellers of the North Jackson facility as partial consideration of the acquisition.  

On January 21, 2016, the Company entered into Amended and Restated Convertible Notes (collectively, the “Convertible Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million, each in favor of Gorbert Inc. (the “Holder”). The Convertible Notes amended and restated the Notes. The Company’s obligations under the Convertible Notes are collateralized by a second lien on the same assets of the Company that collateralize the obligations of the Company under the Facilities. The Convertible Notes mature on March 17, 2019 and the maturity date may be extended, at the Company’s option, to March 17, 2020 and further to March 17, 2021.  If the Company elects to extend the maturity date of the Convertible Notes to March 17, 2020, principal payments in the aggregate of $2.0 million will be required on March 17, 2019.  If the Company elects to extend the maturity date of the Convertible Notes further to March 17, 2021, principal payments in the aggregate of $2.0 million will be required on March 17, 2020.

The Convertible Notes bore interest at a rate of 5.0% per year through and including August 17, 2017 and bear a rate of 6.0% per year from and after August 18, 2017. All accrued and unpaid interest is payable quarterly in arrears on each September 18, December 18, March 18 and June 18.

Prior to August 17, 2017, the Holder could elect to convert all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes which is an integral multiple of $100,000 into shares of common stock.  As of August 17, 2017, the Holder’s conversion rights are void and no longer subject to exercise.

Capital Leases

The Company enters into capital lease arrangements from time to time.  The capital assets and obligations are recorded at the present value of minimum lease payments.  The assets are included in Property, plant and equipment, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and are depreciated over the respective lease terms which range from three to five years.  The long-term component of the capital lease obligations is included in Long-term debt and the current component is included in Current portion of long-term debt.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company entered into capital lease agreements for which the net present value of the minimum lease payments, at inception, was $0.4 million.  These amounts have been excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as they are non-cash.

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As of September 30, 2017, future minimum lease payments applicable to capital leases were as follows:

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 the amortization of capital lease assets was $0.1 and $0.3 million, respectively, which is included in cost of products sold in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Note 5:  Fair Value Measurement

The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the inputs used to determine fair value, which are as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.

The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.

The carrying amounts of our cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated fair value at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 due to their short-term maturities (Level 1). The fair value of the Term Loan, Revolving Credit facility and swing loans at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 approximated the carrying amount as the interest rate is based upon floating short-term interest rates (Level 2).  At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair value of our Convertible Notes was approximately $18.6 and $18.4 million, respectively (Level 2).

Note 6:  Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, various lawsuits and claims have been or may be asserted against us relating to the conduct of our business, including routine litigation relating to commercial and employment matters. The ultimate cost and outcome of any litigation or claim cannot be predicted with certainty. Management believes, based on information presently available, that the likelihood that the ultimate outcome of any such pending matter will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, or liquidity or a material impact on our results of operations is remote, although the resolution of one or more of these matters may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for the period in which the resolution occurs.

Note 7:  Income Taxes

Management estimates the annual effective income tax rate quarterly, based on current annual forecasted results. Items unrelated to current year ordinary income are recognized entirely in the period identified as a discrete item of tax. The quarterly income tax provision (benefit) is comprised of tax on ordinary income provided at the most recent estimated annual effective tax rate (“ETR”), increased or decreased for the tax effect of discrete items.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, our estimated annual effective tax rates applied to ordinary income (losses) were 22.6% and 40.5%, respectively.  The difference between the statutory rate and the projected annual ETR of 22.6%, for 2017, is primarily due to the research and development (“R&D”) credit.  The ETR for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflected a tax benefit on an estimated pre-tax loss for the year and a further benefit for the R&D credit.

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In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $0.3 million of discrete items in accordance with ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which now requires tax expense to be recognized as discrete items in the quarter that stock options expire, or are forfeited.  The Company also recognized $0.1 million for a change in the state deferred tax rate due to changes in the state apportionment.  These increases were partially offset by the reversal of $0.1 million of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.  

Note 8: Derivatives and Hedging

The Company invoices certain customers in foreign currencies. To mitigate the risks associated with fluctuations in exchange rates with the US Dollar, the Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts for a portion of these sales and has designated these contracts as cash flow hedges. The notional value of these contracts at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $3.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively.  An accumulated unrealized loss of $78,000 was recorded in other comprehensive (loss) income at September 30, 2017 and an accumulated unrealized gain of $21,000 was recorded in other comprehensive (loss) income at December 31, 2016.

Note 9: Subsequent Events

On October 23, 2017, the Company announced that it obtained a favorable amendment to the Credit Agreement that lowers the Company’s interest rates on its senior bank borrowings by 75 basis points.  At current borrowing levels, this change will reduce annual interest expense by approximately $0.4 million.  In addition, several terms of the Credit Agreement were amended and will provide additional liquidity to the Company.  There have been no changes to the financial covenants, and the Company remains in compliance with all covenants.

On October 25, 2017, the Company announced that Ross C. Wilkin, Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, notified the Company of his intention to resign from his position to pursue another opportunity.  The effective date of Mr. Wilkin’s resignation is October 31, 2017.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains or incorporates forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involves risks and uncertainties. The following information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial information and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially due to competitive factors and other factors referred to in Part 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward looking statement. These forward looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate, and management’s beliefs and assumptions. In addition, other written or oral statements that constitute forward looking statements may be made by us or on our behalf. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “may,” “target,” “project,” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict.

Business Overview

We manufacture and market semi-finished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. Our manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, heat treating, hot and cold rolling, forging, machining and cold drawing of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. Our products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers. Our customers further process our products for use in a variety of industries, including the aerospace, power generation, oil and gas, heavy equipment and general industrial markets. We also perform conversion services on materials supplied by customers.

Net sales in the third quarter of 2017 were $50.9 million, an increase of $11.2 million, or 28.3%, from the third quarter of 2016 and a decrease of $1.7 million, or 3.3%, from the second quarter of 2017. Net sales increased across most end markets in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 with heavy equipment up $4.8 million, or 99.1%, aerospace up $4.1 million, or 17.3%, oil & gas up $1.5 million, or 49.8%, and general industrial, conversion services and other up $1.5 million, or 37.9%.   These increases were partially offset by lower power generation end market sales of $0.8 million, or negative 18.7%.  Sequentially, compared to the second quarter of 2017, power generation end market sales decreased by $1.5 million, or 31.7%, aerospace decreased by $1.3 million, or 4.4%, and oil & gas decreased by $0.2 million, or 4.6%.  These decreases were partially offset by increased sales of $0.8 million, or 8.4%, to the heavy equipment end market and $0.5 million, or 10.7%, to the general industrial, conversion services and other end market.  During the third quarter of 2017, our net sales of premium alloy products, which we define as all vacuum induction melt products represented a record $7.4 million, or 14.5% of total net sales.  This compared to the third quarter of 2016 when premium alloy net sales were $3.4 million, or 8.6% of total net sales, and the second quarter of 2017 when premium alloy net sales were $6.8 million, or 12.9% of total net sales.  Our premium alloy products are primarily sold to the aerospace end market.  Our backlog, before surcharges, at September 30, 2017 was $66.2 million, an increase of $26.8 million, or 68.1%, compared to the end of the third quarter of 2016 and an increase of $2.7 million, or 4.3%, compared to June 30, 2017.

The Company’s gross margin for the third quarter of 2017 was $5.5 million, or 10.7% of net sales, compared to $4.7 million, or 11.9% of net sales, for the third quarter of 2016 and $7.2 million, or 13.6% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2017. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by expenses for fires at the Dunkirk and Bridgeville facilities amounting to $0.3 million.  In addition, the 2017 third quarter gross margin was adversely impacted by temporarily higher maintenance costs as well as by costly outsourcing, as the Company ramps up its business in response to continued strong levels of backlog at a time of a tightening labor market.

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $4.4 million, or 8.7% of sales, in the third quarter 2017 compared to $4.5 million, or 11.4% of sales, in the third quarter of 2016 and $4.5 million, or 8.6% of sales, in the second quarter of 2017.

The Company incurred a net loss was $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to a net loss of $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2016 and net income of $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2017.  

With business conditions and demand remaining positive and the continued strength in our order entry and backlog, we are focused on improving gross profit margins as we finish 2017 and look forward to 2018.

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Results of Operations

Three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016

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The majority of our products are sold to service centers rather than the ultimate end market customers. The end market information in this Quarterly Report is our estimate based upon our knowledge of our customers and the grade of material sold to them, which they will in-turn sell to the ultimate end market customer.

Net sales:

Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased $11.2 million, or 28.3%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016.  This growth reflects a 24.3% increase in consolidated shipments and a 3.2% increase in average sales dollar per shipped ton.  The increase in sales dollars per ton in the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, is primarily the result of increased base prices and higher surcharges.  Net sales to all of our end markets, with the exception of power generation, increased as noted in the above table.  During the three months ended September 30, 2017, premium alloy net sales increased by $3.9 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016.  As a percentage of net sales, our premium alloy net sales increased to 14.5% of total net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 8.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2016.  Our premium alloy sales are primarily for the aerospace end market.

Gross margin:

Our gross margin, as a percentage of sales, was 10.7% and 11.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Gross margin in three months ended September 30, 2017 was negatively impacted by expenses for fires at the Dunkirk and Bridgeville facilities amounting to $0.3 million.  In addition, gross margin in the 2017 third quarter was adversely impacted by temporarily higher maintenance costs as well as by costly outsourcing, as the Company ramps up its business in response to continued strong levels of backlog at a time of a tightening labor market.    

Selling, general and administrative expenses:

Our SG&A expenses consist primarily of employee costs, which include salaries, payroll taxes and benefit related costs, legal and accounting services, stock compensation and insurance costs.  SG&A expenses decreased by approximately $0.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016, during which variable compensation costs decreased by $0.4 million.  This decrease is partially offset by higher employee costs of $0.2 million and higher share-based

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compensation expense of $0.1 million.  As a percentage of sales, our SG&A expenses were 8.7% and 11.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  

Interest expense and other financing costs:

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $0.2 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016 driven, equally, by higher interest rates and increased borrowings.  

Deferred financing amortization was $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 which is consistent with the same period in the prior year.

Income tax provision:

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, our estimated annual effective tax rates applied to ordinary income were 22.6% and 40.5%, respectively.  The difference between the statutory rate and the projected annual ETR of 22.6%, for 2017, is primarily due to the research and development credit.

Although we had a loss before income taxes of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, we had income tax expense of $0.2 million.  The income tax expense is comprised of discrete items recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2017.  The Company incurred $0.2 million expense related to the cancellation of stock options and $0.1 million due to a change in the state deferred tax rate resulting from changes in the state apportionment.  These expenses were partially offset by a benefit of $0.1 million for the reversal of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.  

Net income:

For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company incurred a net loss of $0.3 million, or $0.04 per diluted share.  This loss includes the after-tax losses of $0.2 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, related to the fires in Dunkirk and Bridgeville noted above and $0.2 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the discrete income tax items noted above. This is compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

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Nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016