UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q


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

For Quarterly Period Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005or,

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

For the transition period from to 

Commission File Number1-5415

A. M. Castle & Co.
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter

Maryland 36-0879160
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
incorporation of organization)
 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3400 North Wolf Road, Franklin Park, Illinois 60131
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 Registrant'sRegistrant’s telephone, including area code 847/455-7111

None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last year)

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.

YesXNO
Yesx  NO¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YesIndicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).XIndicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes x  No ¨
NO
Yes ¨  No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
Class Outstanding at JuneSeptember 30, 2005
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
Preferred Stock, No Par Value
 
15,926,769 15,982,017shares
12,000 shares





 




A. M. CASTLE & CO.




Part I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION



 
Part I.  Finanical Information
Page
Number
   
Item 1.Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets3
1
 Consolidated Statements of Income4
2
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows5
3
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements6-124-13
   
Item 2.Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations13-2113-19
   
Item 3Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk2119
   
Item 4Control and Procedures21-2219-20
   
   
Part II.  Other Information 
   
Item 1.Legal Proceedings2321
   
Item 6.Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K2321-28


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Page 3  of  26

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
       
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 As of 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Unaudited*
  June 30  Dec. 31  June 30 
  2005*  2004  2004* 
Unaudited
 Sept 30, 2005 Dec. 31, 2004 Sept 30, 2004 
ASSETS                 
Current assets                 
Cash and equivalents $5,265 $3,106 $4,503 
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $2,023 in June 2005,
$1,760 in December 2004, and $449 in June 2004
  102,268  80,323  91,714 
Inventories (principally on last-in first-out basis)
(latest cost higher by approximately $94,300 in June 2005,
$92,500 in December 2004, and $65,100 in June 2004)
  129,645  135,588  105,224 
Cash and cash equivalents $11,956 $3,106 $5,435 
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $1,937 in Sept. 2005, $1,760 in December 2004, and $423 in Sept. 2004
  116,497  80,323  99,073 
Inventories (principally on last-in, first-out basis) (latest cost higher by approximately $97,432 in Sept. 2005, $92,500 in December 2004, and $79,569 in Sept. 2004)  117,698  135,588  121,297 
Income tax receivable  289  169  408   144  169  310 
Assets held for sale  995  995  1,059     995  995 
Other current assets, including advances to joint venture  7,419  7,325  8,658 
Other current assets  6,662  7,325  7,926 
Total current assets  245,881  227,506  211,566   252,957  227,506  235,036 
Investment in joint venture  9,671  8,463  5,973   10,149  8,463  7,024 
Goodwill  32,188  32,201  31,925   32,296  32,201  31,959 
Pension assets  41,604  42,262  42,169   41,275  42,262  42,216 
Advances to joint venture and other assets  7,026  7,586  7,464 
Other assets  4,748  7,586  7,517 
Assets held for sale  995     
Property, plant and equipment, at cost                    
Land  4,770  4,771  4,766   4,772  4,771  4,767 
Building  45,587  45,514  47,131   45,719  45,514  47,255 
Machinery and equipment  126,346  124,641  119,883   127,513  124,641  121,093 
  176,703  174,926  171,780   178,004  174,926  173,115 
Less - accumulated depreciation  (114,147) (109,928) (105,133)  (114,848) (109,928) (107,528)
  62,556  64,998  66,647   63,156  64,998  65,587 
Total assets $398,926 $383,016 $365,744  $405,576 $383,016 $389,339 
                    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                    
Current liabilities                    
Accounts payable $86,740 $93,342 $87,299  $85,161 $93,342 $102,893 
Accrued liabilities and deferred gains  25,183  23,016  21,652   27,441  23,016  23,990 
Current and deferred income taxes  9,114  4,349  2,377   8,076  4,349  2,954 
Current portion of long-term debt  16,390  11,607  13,057   16,390  11,607  11,676 
Total current liabilities  137,427  132,314  124,385   137,068  132,314  141,513 
Long-term debt, less current portion  73,491  89,771  89,187   67,374  89,771  89,450 
Deferred income taxes  20,809  19,668  20,147   21,484  19,668  19,942 
Deferred gain on sale of assets  6,038  6,465  6,902 
Deferred gain on sale-leaseback of assets  5,826  6,465  6,673 
Minority interest  1,655  1,644  1,262   1,419  1,644  1,268 
Postretirement benefits obligations  2,992  2,905  2,758   3,083  2,905  2,834 
Stockholders' equity                    
Preferred stock, no par value - 10,000,000 shares
authorized; 12,000 shares issued and outstanding
  11,239  11,239  11,239   11,239  11,239  11,239 
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 30,000,000
shares; issued and outstanding 15,926,769 at June 2005,
15,806,366 at December 2004, and 15,793,937 at June 2004
  159  159  159 
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 15,982,017 at Sept. 2005 15,806,366 at December 2004, and 15,796,437 at Sept. 2004  160  159  159 
Additional paid in capital  39,063  35,082  35,009   40,922  35,082  35,025 
Earnings reinvested in the business  107,020  82,400  74,300   117,064  82,400  80,147 
Accumulated other comprehensive income  1,430  1,616  663   2,631  1,616  1,350 
Other - deferred compensation  -  (2) (22)    (2) (16)
Treasury stock, at cost - 202,524 shares at June 2005, 62,065
shares at December 2004, and 59,260 shares at June 2004
  (2,397) (245) (245)
Treasury stock, at cost - 219,748 shares at Sept. 2005, 62,065 shares at December 2004, and 59,260 shares at Sept. 2004  (2,694) (245) (245)
Total stockholders' equity  156,514  130,249  121,103   169,322  130,249  127,659 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $398,926 $383,016 $365,744  $405,576 $383,016 $389,339 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

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Page  4 of  26
 


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 For the Three For the Six 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 Months Ended Months Ended 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Unaudited
 Jun 30 Jun 30          
 2005 2004 2005 2004  
For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
              2005 2004 2005 2004 
         
Net sales $250,967 $188,221 $497,170 $363,854  $234,551 $199,341 $731,721 $563,195 
Cost of material sold  (175,449) (131,865) (348,749) (256,346)  (163,956) (142,033) (512,706) (398,378)
Gross material margin
  75,518  56,356  148,421  107,508 
Gross margin  70,595  57,308  219,015  164,817 
                          
Plant and delivery expense  (27,347) (23,405) (53,715) (47,001)  (27,920) (22,665) (81,635) (70,667)
Sales, general, and administrative expense  (23,717) (19,315) (46,672) (38,771)
Sales, general and administrative expense  (23,591) (20,345) (70,263) (59,117)
Depreciation and amortization expense  (2,274) (2,244) (4,547) (4,491)  (2,205) (2,245) (6,752) (6,736)
Total operating expense  (53,338) (44,964) (104,934) (90,263)  (53,716) (46,255) (158,650) (136,520)
                          
Operating income  22,180  11,392  43,487  17,245   16,879  11,053  60,365  28,297 
                          
Interest expense, net  (2,027) (2,218) (4,110) (4,532)  (1,765) (2,175) (5,875) (6,706)
Discount on sale of accounts receivable  (464) (234) (1,000) (517)  (127) (167) (1,127) (684)
             
Income before income tax and equity in joint venture  19,689  8,940  38,377  12,196   14,987  8,711  53,363  20,907 
                          
Income taxes             
Income tax expense             
Federal
  (5,776) (2,231) (11,224) (2,836)  (4,393) (2,135) (15,617) (4,971)
State
  (789) (552) (2,076) (729)  (938) (554) (3,014) (1,283)
Foreign
  (759) (828) (1,509) (1,382)  132  (819) (1,377) (2,204)
  (5,199) (3,508) (20,008) (8,455)
  (7,324) (3,611) (14,809) (4,947)             
Net income before equity in joint venture  12,365  5,329  23,568  7,249   9,788  5,203  33,355  12,452 
                          
Equity earnings of joint venture  1,016  1,104  2,525  1,739   817  1,458  3,342  3,197 
Income taxes - joint venture
  (399) (435) (993) (685)  (321) (574) (1,314) (1,259)
Net income  12,982  5,998  25,100  8,303   10,284  6,087  35,383  14,390 
                          
Preferred dividends  (240) (240) (480) (480)  (240) (240) (720) (720)
Net income applicable to common stock $12,742 $5,758 $24,620 $7,823  $10,044 $5,847 $34,663 $13,670 
                          
Basic earnings per share $0.80 $0.36 $1.55 $0.50  $0.63 $0.37 $2.18 $0.87 
Diluted earnings per share $0.72 $0.35 $1.40 $0.47  $0.56 $0.36 $1.96 $0.87 
             

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

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Page 5 of  26


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
     
(Dollars in thousands)
 For the Six Months
Unaudited
 Ended June 30
  2005  2004 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Unaudited
 
For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
 
        2005 2004 
Cash flows from operating activities:            
Net income
 $25,100 $8,303  $35,383 $14,390 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
from operating activities
       
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:       
Depreciation and amortization
  4,547  4,491   6,752  6,736 
Amortization of deferred gain
  (427) (402)  (639) (631)
Equity in earnings from joint venture
  (2,525) (1,739)  (3,342) (3,197)
Deferred income taxes
  1,586  1,603   241  1,367 
Non-cash pension loss and postretirement benefits
  1,124  210 
Deferred stock compensation
  1,652  - 
Non-cash pension and postretirement benefit expense  1,685  315 
Deferred stock compensation expense  2,796   
Other
  148  698   (390) 643 
Increase (decrease) from changes in:              
Accounts receivable sold (purchased)
  5,000  (5,000)
Accounts receivable
  (27,121) (31,373)  (35,776) (43,224)
Inventory
  5,711  13,650   18,205  (1,905)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  (4,276) 21,217   (3,781) 38,875 
Other current assets
  (96) (1,763)  316  (953)
Income taxes payable
  4,213  2,433   5,265  3,080 
Net cash from operating activities  14,636  12,327   26,715  15,495 
              
Cash flows from investing activities:             
Investments and acquisitions
  -  (1,744)
Investments and acquisitions, net of cash acquired  (236) (1,744)
Dividends from joint venture
  1,334  207   1,705  624 
Capital expenditures
  (2,204) (2,372)  (4,784) (3,419)
Collection of note receivable  2,639   
Net cash from investing activities  (870) (3,909)  (676) (4,539)
              
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt  4,000   
Repayment of long-term debt
  (11,346) (5,826)  (21,542) (7,337)
Preferred stock dividend
  (480) (480)  (720) (720)
Other
  177  (94)  597  (85)
Net cash from financing activities  (11,649) (6,400)  (17,665) (8,142)
              
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
  42  30   476  166 
              
Net increase in cash  2,159  2,048   8,850  2,980 
              
Cash - beginning of year
 $3,106 $2,455  $3,106 $2,455 
Cash - end of period
 $5,265 $4,503  $11,956 $5,435 
              
Supplemental cash disclosure - cash paid during the period:              
Interest
 $(4,558)$(4,569) $(6,808)$(6,815)
Income taxes
 $(9,417)$(1,448) $(15,410)$(4,923)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements 

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Page 6 of  26
 

A. M. Castle & Co.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)


1.
Consolidated Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. The balance sheet at December 31, 2004 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date. A.M. Castle & Co. (the "Company"“Company”) believes that the disclosures are adequate to makeensure that the information is not misleading. However, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted accounting principlesin the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the unaudited statements included herein contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, the cash flows, and the results of operations at the dates and for the periods then ended. These condensedconsolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s annual reportAnnual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. The 2005 interim results reported herein may not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations for the full year.

2.
New Accounting Standards
New Accounting Standards—In December 2004 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123(R), "Share123R, “Share Based Payment"Payment”. The revised SFAS No. 123(R)123R requires that the fair value of stock options be recorded in the results of operations beginning no later than January 1, 2006. The effect of adopting the new rule on reported diluted earnings per share iswill be dependent on the number of options, restricted shares or other stock based compensation granted; the terms of those awards and their fair values. The Company expects towill adopt the revised rules on January 1, 2006.

3.
3.  Earnings Per Share
Earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock (basic) plus common stock equivalents (diluted) outstanding during the year. Common stock equivalents consist of stock options, restricted stock awards and preferred stock shares and have been included in the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. In accordance with SFAS No. 128 "Earnings per Share", the following table is a reconciliation of the basic and fully diluted earnings per share calculations for the periods reported.


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For The Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
For The Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 2005 2004 2005 2004 
          
Net income $10,284 $6,087 $35,383 $14,390 
Preferred dividends  (240) (240) (720) (720)
Net income applicable to common stock $10,044 $5,847 $34,663 $13,670 
              
Weighted average common shares outstanding  
15,948
  
15,793
  
15,883
  
15,794
 
Dilutive effect of outstanding employee and directors’ common stock options and restricted and preferred stock  2,300  953  2,150  
802
 
Diluted common shares outstanding  18,248  16,750  18,033  16,596 
              
Basic income per common share $0.63 $0.37 $2.18 $0.87 
                
Diluted income per common share $0.56 $0.36 $1.96 $0.87 
              
Outstanding employee and directors' common stock options and restricted and preferred stock shares having no dilutive effect  1,683  845  1,846  850 
              

  
For The Three Months
Ended June 30,
 
For The Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
  2005  2004  2005  2004 
              
Net income $12,982 $5,998 $25,100 $8,303 
Preferred dividends  (240) (240) (480) (480)
Net income applicable to common stock $12,742 $5,758 $24,620 $7,823 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
  
15,884
  
15,793
  
15,851
  
15,792
 
Dilutive effect of outstanding employee and directors’ common stock options and restricted and preferred stock  2,053  
871
  2,059  
716
 
Diluted common shares outstanding  17,937  16,664  17,910  16,508 
              
Basic income per common share $0.80 $0.36 $1.55 $0.50 
Diluted income per common share $0.72 $0.35 $1.40 $0.47 
              
Outstanding employee and directors' common stock options and restricted and preferred stock shares having no dilutive effect  1,903  977  1,896  977 
4.
Accounts Receivable Securitization/Debt Refinancing
 

4. Accounts Receivable Securitization
TheUp through July 29, 2005 the Company utilized a special purpose, fully consolidated, bankruptcy remote company, ("Castle SPFD, LLC")LLC for the sole purpose of buying receivables from the Company and selected subsidiaries of the Company, and selling an undivided interest in a base of receivables to a third-party finance company. Castle SPFD, LLC retained an undivided interest in the pool of accounts receivable and bad debt losses are allocated first to this retained interest. The Accounts Receivable Purchase Facility ("RPF"), requires early amortization if Castle SPFD, LLC did not maintain a required minimum equity balance or if certain ratios related to the collectibility of the receivables are not maintained. The dollar amount of receivables permitted to be sold under the RPF was limited to the lesser of a calculated funding base or $60.0 million. As of June 30, 2005, $21.5 million of accounts receivable were sold to the finance company and an additional $35.7 million could have been sold under the RPF. The amount sold to the finance company at December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004 was $16.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively. See Note 12.

The sale of accounts receivable to Castle SPFD, LLC is reflected as a reduction of "accounts receivable, net" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the proceeds received from such sales are included in "net cash from operating activities" in the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows. Sales proceeds from the receivables were less than the face amount of the accounts receivable sold by an amount equal to a discount on sales as determined by the financing company. These costs are charged to "discount on sale of accounts receivable" in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

On July 29, 2005 the Company obtained an $82.0 million, five-year senior secured revolving credit agreement (the “Revolver”) with a syndicate of U.S. banks. The discount rateRevolver consists of (i) a $75 million revolving loan (the “U.S. Facility”) and (ii) a $7.0 million revolving loan (the “Canadian Facility”) to be drawn by the borrower from time to time. The Canadian Facility can be drawn in U.S. dollars and/or Canadian dollars. The Revolver removed the need for the accounts receivable purchase facility (“RPF”) as a source of June 30, 2005funds, which was 4.9%.paid off in full for the amount of $21.5 million and terminated on that date. The U.S. Facility is guarantied by the material domestic subsidiaries of the Company and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and such domestic subsidiaries. The Canadian Facility is guarantied by the Company and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Canadian subsidiary. The Revolver is an asset-based loan with a borrowing base that fluctuates primarily with the Company’s consolidated receivables and inventory levels. The obligations of the Company under the U.S. facility rank pari-passu with the Company’s obligations to its existing long-term note holders. The Revolver contains the same affirmative, negative and financial covenants as those contained in the Company’s existing long-term note agreements including a maximum debt-to working capital ratio, a maximum debt-to-total capital ratio and a minimum net worth provision. The Revolver, similar to the existing long-term note agreements, includes a provision to release liens on the assets of the Company and all of its subsidiaries should the Company achieve certain performance parameters.

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The interest payable on the funds borrowed is initially established at LIBOR plus 1.375% through September 30, 2005. The Company’s effective rate as of September 30, 2005 was 6.75%. The rate is based upon a pricing grid and will fluctuate depending on established debt-to-total capital targets as calculated on a quarterly basis. The Company’s outstanding debt balance under the revolver as of September 30, 2005 was $0.9 million. With the replacement of the RPF, outstanding borrowings under the Revolver are classified as debt on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2005.

In addition, the Company’s current outstanding long-term notes provided for an interest rate reduction contingent upon the replacement of the RPF with a revolving credit facility meeting the requirements under the terms of the notes. Effective August 1, 2005, a 150 basis point interest rate reduction was put in effect on all of the Company’s outstanding long-term notes.

Available proceeds under the Revolver will be used primarily to fund future working capital or other operating needs of the business.

5.
Goodwill
During the first quarter of 2004, the Company’s Metals segmentCompany purchased the remaining 50% interest in its Mexican joint venture, which is included in the Company’s Metals segment, and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Total Plastics, Inc. ("TPI"(“TPI”) purchased, in the Plastics segment, the remaining 40% interest in its Paramont Machine Company ("Paramont"(“Paramont”) subsidiary (both of these entities are now wholly owned). Based on the purchase price of these entities and the valuations required by SFAS No. 141 "Business Combinations"“Business Combinations”, additional net goodwill of $0.3 million was recorded. During the third quarter of 2005, TPI purchased certain assets from Farco Plastic Supply, Inc. Additional intangible assets recorded in connection with this asset purchase were $0.1 million.

The Company performs an annual impairment test on goodwill and other intangible assets during the first quarter of each fiscal year. Based on the test made during the first quarter of 2005, the Company has determined that there is no impairment to the Company’s goodwill balance of $32.2 million.goodwill.

The changes in carrying amounts of goodwill and intangible assets were as follows (in thousands):

       
 Metals Segment Plastics Segment Total  
Metals
Segment
 
Plastics
Segment
 Total 
Balance as of December 31, 2004 $19,228 $12,973 $32,201  $19,228 $12,973 $32,201 
Purchases    74  74 
Currency Valuation  (13)   (13)  21    21 
Balance as of June 30, 2005 $19,215 $12,973 $32,188 
Balance as of September 30, 2005 $19,249 $13,047 $32,296 
                       

6.
Acquisitions
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company purchased the remaining joint venture partner's interest in Castle de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. ("(“Castle de Mexico"Mexico”) for $1.6 million. Castle de Mexico is a distribution company, which sells to a wide range of businesses within the durable goods sector throughout Mexico.

On March 31, 2004, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TPI, purchased the remaining 40% interest of its joint venture partner in its Paramont subsidiary for $0.4 million. Paramont is a manufacturer of plastic parts and components which sells to a variety of businesses located primarily in the Midwest.
(6)


These entities, now wholly owned subsidiaries, have beenwere previously consolidated in the Company's financial statements as of the effective date of the acquisitions.

On September 30, 2005, the Company‘s wholly-owned subsidiary, TPI, purchased the remaining 10% interest of its joint venture partner in its Advanced Fabricating Technology, LLC (“Aftech”) for $0.2 million. Aftech is a manufacturer of plastic parts and components which it sells to a variety of businesses located primarily in the Midwest.

On September 30, 2005, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TPI, purchased certain assets from Farco Plastic Supply, Inc. for $0.2 million.

7.
LIFO
Inventory determination under the last-in first-out (LIFO) method is made at the end of each fiscal year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO determinations, including those at JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004, must necessarily be based on management’s estimates of inventory levels and costs. Since future estimates of inventory levels and costs are subject to certain forces beyond the control of management, interim financial results may not be reflective of LIFO inventory valuations at fiscal year-end.
Current replacement cost of inventories exceeded book value by $94.3$97.4 million and $65.1$79.6 million at JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004, respectively. Taxes on income would become payable on any realization of this excess from reductions in the level of inventories.

8.
8.  Share Based Compensation
In the third quarter of 2005, 60,000 shares of stock options were granted to the Company’s outside directors.

During the second quarter of 2005, the Company instituted a long-term incentive compensation program, which awards stock compensation based on the Company’s performance over a three-year period against earnings and return-on-total capital targets established by the Board. This program will award 379,700 shares of common stock if targets are met and could award up to 759,400 shares if targets are exceeded depending upon ultimate performance during the three-year period (2005-2007). No stock is awarded if minimum targets are not met. The plan is accounted for as a variable compensation plan under the guidelines set forth in Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25 - “Accounting for Stock OptionsIssues to Employees”. The total compensation expense for the third quarter of 2005 was $1.1 million and $2.8 million in the first nine-months ended September 30, 2005. The expense is reflected in the “Sales, general, and administrative expense” line of the Consolidated Statements of Income and increases “Additional paid in capital” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes, on a pro-forma basis, the effects on the Company's net income had compensation expense been recognized using the fair value expense provision of SFAS No. 123R.
(7)


Pro-Forma Income Information
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
For The Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
For The Nine  Months
Ended September 30,
 
  2005 2004 2005 2004 
Net income applicable to common stock, as reported $10,044 $5,847 $34,663 $13,670 
Add back: Stock based employee compensation expense included in reported net income  1,144    2,796   
Less: Pro-forma effect of stock based compensation under fair value based method for all awards  (1,213) (474) (3,489) (940)
Pro-forma net income applicable to common stock $9,975 $5,373 $33,970 $12,730 
              
Total basic income per share, as reported $0.63 $0.37 $2.18 $0.87 
             
Total diluted income per share, as reported $0.56 $0.36 $1.96 $0.87 
Pro-forma income per share:             
Basic $0.63 $0.34 $2.14 $0.81 
              
Diluted 
$
0.56
 
$
0.33
 
$
1.92
 
$
0.81
 
                      
Valuation Assumptions - As required, the Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure", for the periods ended June 30, 2005 and 2004. The pro-forma fair value of the stock options granted has been estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: risk free interest rate of 3.1% to 4.5%, expected dividend yield of zero, option life of 10 years, and expected volatility from 30.0% to 50.0%. There were no options granted in the first half of 2005.

Page 9 of  26
During the second quarter of 2005 the Company instituted a long-term incentive compensation program, which awards stock compensation based on the Company’s performance over a three-year period against established earnings and return-on-total capital targets established by the Board. This program would award 379,700 shares of common stock if targets are met and could award up to 759,400 shares if targets are exceeded depending upon ultimate performance during the three-year period (2005-2007). No stock is awarded if targets are not met. The plan is accounted for as a variable compensation plan under the guidelines set forth in Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25 - "Accounting for Stock Issues to Employees". The total compensation expense for both the second quarter and the first six months ended June 30, 2005 was $1.7 million. The expense is reflected in the "Sales, general, and administrative expense" line of the Consolidated Statements of Income and reduces "Additional paid in capital" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The following table summarizes, on a pro-forma basis, the effects on the Company's net income had compensation expense been recognized using the fair value expense provision of SFAS No. 123(R).

Pro-Forma Income Information
  
For The Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
For The Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005 2004 2005 2004 
Net income applicable to common stock, as reported 
$
12,742
 
$
5,758
 
$
24,620
 
$
7,823
 
Add back: Stock based employee compensation expense included in reported net income  
1,652
  
  
1,652
  
 
Less: Pro-forma effect of stock based compensation             
under fair value based method for all awards  
(1,808
)
 
(233
)
 
(2,277
)
 
(466
)
Pro-forma net income applicable to common stock 
$
12,586
 
$
5,525
 
$
23,995
 
$
7,357
 
              
Total basic diluted income per share, as reported 
$
0.80
 
$
0.36
 
$
1.55
 
$
0.50
 
              
Total diluted income per share, as reported 
$
0.72
 
$
0.35
 
$
1.40
 
$
0.47
 
Pro-forma income per share:             
Basic 
$
0.79
 
$
0.35
 
$
1.51
 
$
0.47
 
 
Diluted
 
$
0.72
 
$
0.34
 
$
1.37
 
$
0.44
 
    

9.
Segment Reporting
The Company distributes and performs first stage processing on both metals and plastics. Although the distribution process is similar, different products are offered and different customers are served by each of these businesses and, therefore, they are considered separate segments under SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information".

The accounting policies of all segments are as described in the summary of critical accounting policies in the Company’s Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2004. Management evaluates performance of its business segments based on operating income. The Company does not maintain separate standalone financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted accounting principlesin the United States for each of its operating segments.


Page 10 of  26
 


The following is the segment information for the quarters ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004:
          
(dollars in millions)
 Net Sales 
Gross
Margin
 
Other
Operating
Expense
 
Operating
Income
(Loss)
 
2005         
Metals Segment $208.7 $61.8 $(44.3)$17.5 
Plastics Segment  25.9  8.8  (7.2) 1.6 
Other      (2.2) (2.2)
Consolidated $234.6 $70.6 $(53.7)$16.9 
              
2004             
Metals Segment $174.5 $49.1 $(38.9)$10.2 
Plastics Segment  24.8  8.2  (6.0) 2.2 
Other      (1.3) (1.3)
Consolidated $199.3 $57.3 $(46.2)$11.1 
              

 
 
(dollars in millions)
 Net Sales Gross Mat’l Margin Other Oper Expense Operating Income (Loss) 
2005         
Metals Segment $222.1 $663 $(42.3)$24.0 
Plastics Segment  28.9  9.2  (7.2) 2.0 
Other      (3.8) (3.8)
Consolidated $251.0 $75.5 $(53.3)$22.2 
              
2004             
Metals Segment $166.1 $49.1 $(38.1)$11.0 
Plastics Segment  22.1  7.3  (5.7) 1.6 
Other      (1.2) (1.2)
Consolidated $188.2 $56.4 $(45.0)$11.4 
              
(8)


The following is the segment information for the six-monthsnine-months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004:

         
(dollars in millions)
 Net Sales Gross Mat’l Margin Other Oper Expense Operating Income (Loss)  Net Sales 
Gross
Margin
 
Other Oper
Expense
 
Operating
Income
(Loss)
 
2005                      
Metals Segment 
$
442.1
 
$
130.6
 
$
(85.6
)
$
45.0
  $650.7 $192.4 $(129.9)$62.6 
Plastics Segment  
55.1
  
17.8
  
(14.3
)
 
3.5
   81.0  26.6  (21.5) 5.0 
Other  
  
  
(5.0
)
 
(5.0
)
      (7.2) (7.2)
Consolidated 
$
497.2
 
$
148.4
 
$
(104.9
)
$
43.5
  $731.7 $219.0 $(158.6)$60.4 
                          
2004                          
Metals Segment 
$
320.8
 
$
93.3
 
$
(76.6
)
$
16.7
  $495.4 $142.4 $(115.5)$26.9 
Plastics Segment  
43.0
  
14.2
  
(11.5
)
 
2.7
   67.8  22.4  (17.4) 4.9 
Other  
  
  
(2.2
)
 
(2.2
)
      (3.5) (3.5)
Consolidated 
$
363.8
 
$
107.5
 
$
(90.3
)
$
17.2
  $563.2 $164.8 $(136.4)$28.3 
                                  

"Other" — Operating expense includes costs of executive and legal departments and other corporate activities which support both operating segments of the Company for all periods presented.
 
The segment information for total assets at JuneSeptember 30, 2005, December 31, 2004 and JuneSeptember 30, 2004 was as follows:
 
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
June 30,
2005
 
December 31,
2004
 
June 30,
2004
  
September 30,
2005
 
December 31,
2004
 
September 30,
2004
 
Metals Segment $348,544 $338,558 $332,900  $356,355 $338,558 $342,736 
Plastics Segment  50,093  44,289  32,436   49,077  44,289  46,293 
Other  289  169  408   144  169  310 
Consolidated $398,926 $383,016 $365,744  $405,576 $383,016 $389,339 
                    
 
"Other" — Assets consist solely of the Company's income tax receivable (the segments file a consolidated federal income tax return).

Page 11 of  26

10.
Pension and Postretirement BenefitsBenefit
 
The following are the components of the net pension and postretirement benefit cost for the quarters ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):
 
       
 Pension Benefits Other Benefits Total Benefits  Pension Benefits Other Benefits Total Benefits 
 June 30,June 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, 
  
2005
  
2004
  
2005
  
2004
  
2005
  
2004
  2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 
Service cost 
$
(685.9
)
$
(594.2
)
$
(34.6
)
$
(29.0
)
$
(720.5
)
$
(623.2
)
 $(685.9)   $(594.2)   $(34.6)   $(29.0)   $(720.5)   $(623.2)
Interest cost  
(1,548.3
)
 
(1,448.1
)
 
(44.7
)
 
(38.1
)
 
(1,593.0
)
 
(1,486.2
)
  (1,548.3) (1,448.1) (44.7) (38.1) (1,593.0) (1,486.2)
Expected return on plan assets  
2,394.2
 
2,396.7
 
 
 
2,394.2
 
2,396.7
   2,394.2 2,396.7   2,394.2 2,396.7 
Amortization prior service cost  
(15.8
)
 
(16.9
)
 
(11.9
)
 
(11.9
)
 
(27.7
)
 
(28.8
)
  (15.8) (16.9) (11.9) (11.9) (27.7) (28.8)
Amortization net (loss) gain  
(614.7
)
 
(366.3
)
 
0.1
 
2.4
 
(614.6
)
 
(363.9
)
  (614.7) (366.3) 0.1 2.4 (614.6) (363.9)
Net periodic cost 
$
(470.5
)
$
(28.8
)
$
(91.1
)
$
(76.6
)
$
(561.6
)
$
(105.4
)
 $(470.5)$(28.8)$(91.1)$(76.6)$(561.6)$(105.4)
                            
(9)

 
The following are the components of the net pension and postretirement benefit cost for the six monthsnine-months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):

             
 Pension Benefits Other Benefits Total Benefits  
Pension
Benefits
 
Other
Benefits
 
Total
Benefits
 
 June 30,June 30, September 30, September 30, September 30, 
  2005  2004  2005  2004  2005  2004  2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 
Service cost $(1,371.8)$(1,188.4)$(69.2)$(58.0)$(1,441.0)$(1,246.4) $(2,057.7)   $(1,782.6)   $(103.8)   $(87.0)   $(2,161.5)    $(1,869.6)
Interest cost  (3,096.6) (2,896.2) (89.4) (76.2) (3,186.0) (2,972.4)  (4,644.9) (4,344.3) (134.2) (114.3) (4,779.1) (4,458.6)
Expected return on plan assets  4,788.4 4,793.4   4,788.4 4,793.4   7,182.6 7,190.1   7,182.6 7,190.1 
Amortization prior service cost  (31.6) (33.8) (23.8) (23.8) (55.4) (57.6)  (47.3) (50.7) (35.6) (35.7) (82.9) (86.4)
Amortization net (loss) gain  (1,229.4) (732.6) 0.2 4.8 (1,229.2) (727.8)  (1,844.2) (1,098.9) 0.3 7.2 (1,843.9) (1,091.7)
Net periodic (cost) benefit $(941.0)$(57.6)$(182.2)$(153.2)$(1,123.2)$(210.8)
Net periodic cost $(1,411.5)$(86.4)$(273.3)$(229.8)$(1,684.8)$(316.2)
                                 

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2005 the Company has not made any cash contributions to its pension plans for this fiscal year nor does it currently anticipate contributingyear. Depending on year-end 2005 valuation assumptions and pension asset values, the Company may make a cash contribution of between $1.0 million to these plans$3.0 million to the plan in 2005.the current fiscal year. The Company did not contribute to its pension plans in 2004.

11.
 11.   Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
At JuneSeptember 30, 2005 the Company had $1.8 million of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding and $0.7 million of cash on deposit to comply with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carrier. This letter of credit is secured with a certificate of deposit, which is included in "Advances to joint venture and other current assets" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company is the defendant in various lawsuits arising out of the conduct of its business. These lawsuits are incidental and occur in the normal course of the Company’s business affairs. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that no significant uninsured or insured liability will result from the outcome of the litigation that would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, financial position, or cash flows of the Company.

Page 12 of  26

12  
12.
SubsequentEvent - Debt Refinancing:Comprehensive Income
On July 29, 2005 the Company obtained an $82.0 million, five-year senior secured revolving credit agreement (the "Revolver") with a syndicate of U.S. banks. Of the $82.0 million commitment, $7.0 million is a Canadian loan secured by the Company’s Canadian assets. The balance of the commitment is a U.S. based loan secured by the U.S. assets of the Company. The Revolver is an asset-based loan with a borrowing base that fluctuates primarily with the Company’s consolidated receivables and inventory levels. The lenders included in the Revolver syndicate are ranked pari-passu with the Company’s existing long-term note holders. The Revolver contains the same affirmative, negative and financial covenants as those contained in the Company’s existing long-term note agreements including a maximum debt-to working capital ratio, a maximum debt-to-total capital ratio and a minimum net worth provision. The interest payable on the funds borrowed is initially established at LIBOR plus 1.375% through September 30, 2005. The rate is based upon on a pricing grid and will fluctuate depending on established debt-to-total capital targets as calculated on a quarterly basis. The Revolver, similar to the existing long-term note agreements, includes a provision to release security or asset liens should the Company achieve an investment grade rating.
The Company used proceeds available under the Revolver to terminate the RPF and its former revolving credit agreement with a Canadian bank. With the termination of the RPF, outstanding borrowings under the Revolver will be classified as debt beginning with the Company’s third quarter 2005 consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the Company’s current outstanding long-term notes provide for an interest rate reduction contingent upon the replacement of the RPF with a revolving credit facility meeting the requirements under the notes.
Available proceeds under the Revolver will be used primarily to fund future working capital or other operating needs of the business.
Item 1.01 of the Form 8-K filed on August 3, 2005 by the Company is hereby incorporated by this reference.

13.   Comprehensive Income
The components of comprehensive income are summarized in the following table (dollars in thousands):

 Three Months EndedSix Months Ended         
 June 30,June 30, 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2005  2004  2005  2004  2005 2004 2005 2004 
Net Income $12,982 $5,998 $25,100 $8,303  $10,284 $6,087 $35,383 $14,390 
Foreign currency translation  (213) (120) (186) (387)  (1,187) 687  1,015  300 
Total comprehensive income $12,769 $5,878 $24,914 $7,916  $9,097 $6,774 $36,398 $14,690 
                          

There was no tax impact on the foreign currency translation adjustment.
(10)


Other comprehensive income as depicted on the consolidated balance sheet consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

     
 June 30, 2005 Dec. 31, 2004  September 30, 2005 Dec. 31, 2004 
Foreign currency translation $2,166 $2,352  $3,367 $2,352 
Minimum pension liability, net of tax  (736) (736)  (736) (736)
Total $1,430 $1,616  $2,631 $1,616 
       



Page  13 of  26


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

Financial Review
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.

Executive Overview
General Business
The Company is a specialty metals and plastics distribution company serving the North American market. The Company distributes a broad range of product inventories and provides various processing to its customers through two business segments: Metals and Plastics.

Sales from the Metals segment represented 89% of total consolidated sales of the Company for the six-monthsnine-months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005. Products included in this segment include carbon and alloy bars; nickel alloys, stainless steel and aluminum, sold in all forms; carbon and alloy plate; and carbon tubing. The Metals segment market strategies focus on distributing and processing the more highly engineered grades and alloys of metals for customers within the producer durable goods sector of the North American economy. Typical end use industries purchasing the Company’s metal products include heavy-duty equipment manufacturers in a variety of industries, such as agriculture, construction, mining, industrial andequipment, transportation, aerospace, oil and gas equipment, machine tools, and hand and power tools.

The Plastics segment represented the remaining 11% of the Company’s JuneSeptember 2005 year-to-date consolidated net sales. This segment distributes a wide array of products such as clear sheet; plate, rod and tube; corrosion and abrasion resistant plastic; and tapes and gaskets. Types of processing services performed include cutting to length or shape and forming. Its customer base is diversified and includes retailers, original equipment manufacturers, boat builders, office furniture manufacturers, and transportation equipment providers.
 
Recent Economic Trends and Current Business ConditionsEvents
The Company’s primary markets continued to exhibit demand requirements above 2004 levels through the first-halffirst nine-months of this year. The aerospace, oil and gas, mining and construction equipment, and truck and railroad equipment sectors remained the strongest to date in early 2005. The Company’s metals pricing in aggregate is currently running at levels slightly in excess of the levels experienced at the end of 2004. Much has been published in recent months about global steel supply and demand, and global steel pricing. Most of what has been written describes the steel industry in general terms, and is largely driven by carbon flat-rolled products, which is the largest product segment of the industry.

The Company does not purchase or sell carbon flat-rolled products in any meaningful quantity.quantity and is therefore not subject to recent price volatility in the flat-rolled markets. The Company’s metalmetals product offerings predominantly consist of carbon bar and tubing, alloy bar, high-end specialty metals (such as nickel alloy, stainless steel and aluminum), and carbon plate. The Company’s metal product offeringsmix and customer demand do not necessarily correlate with the market for carbon flat-rolled products or its economics.

External metrics of the markets the Company’s business serves are difficult to obtain and somewhat unreliable due to the Company’s product and end market diversity and uniqueness. Historically, the Companymanagement has used the Purchaser’s Managers Index ("PMI"(“PMI”) provided by the Institute of Supply Managers to trackas a reasonable tracking of general demand trends in its customer markets. Table 1 below shows recent PMI trends from the first quarter of 2004 through the secondthird quarter of 2005. Generally speaking, an index above 50.0 indicates continuing growth in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy. As Table 1the data indicates, there has been sustained growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector for several quarters.economy is still growing at a modest pace. The Company’s revenue growth, net of material price increases, has improved over these same quarters.periods.


(11)

Page 14 of 26 

Table 1
YEAR
Qtr 1
Qtr 2
Qtr 3
Qtr 4
200462.462.060.157.5
200555.652.8  

Table 1
YEAR
Qtr 1
Qtr 2
Qtr 3
Qtr 4
200462.462.060.157.5
200555.652.856.5 

Though the PMI does offer some insight, management typically relies on its relationships with the Company’s supplier and customer base to assess continuing demand trends. As of September 2005, all indications are that demand for our products is robust.

In 2004, global steel supply and demand dynamics drove metal pricing upwards. These dynamics included supplier consolidations, the impact of China on global demand, and globalworld-wide shortages of steel-making raw materials. By year-endyear end 2004, metal prices across our product offeringsgroups had increased by 40% as compared to year-endyear end 2003. In the first and second quartersThrough nine-months of 2005, the Company’s overallaggregate metal pricing has stabilized somewhat, but remained slightly higher thanabove year-end 2004.2004 levels. Pricing of specialty metals, including nickel alloys, stainless steel and aluminum have increased during the first six-months ofin the current year while certain carbon products have declined in price.

Demand infor the Company’s plastics marketsproducts is usually more stable and less cyclical as compared to the Company serves also remained strong throughMetals segment. In addition, the first-half of 2005. The Plastics segment has also benefited from planned geographic expansion as four new branches have been opened since late 2002. This growth strategy forexpansion continued in 2005. Recently, plastics material prices have risen, adding to revenue growth. At the Plastics segment continued into 2005.
The Company’s Plastics segment has also recently benefited from increases in its material pricing. Management estimates that secondend of the third quarter of 2005 material prices in this segmentthe plastics business are 9.0% higher than those at the endbeginning of 2004.this year. Typically, prices in this business are far less volatile than those in the metals markets and are less subjective to the North American manufacturing economic cycles. However, current price levels are unusually high and may not remain at these levels for the balance of this year.

Consolidated sales volume growth, excluding the impact of material price increases, for the secondthird quarter of 2005 was approximately 9.1% with an increase in total net sales of 33.4% over the same period last year. For the first six-months of 2005, consolidated net sales were 36.7% higher than net sales in2.4% as compared to the same period of last year. Total consolidated sales of $234.6 were 17.7% higher than the third quarter of 2004, with volume growthincluding price movement. Year-to-date sales, net of material price increases, grew 5.1% versus 2004. Total sales of approximately 6.0%.$731.7 million were 29.9% ahead of year-to-date 2004, including price impact.

Company Financial Condition
The Company continuescontinued its efforts to reduce overall borrowings and de-leverage its balance sheet, with the goal of positioning itself for a higher-grade credit rating status. Historically, the Company’s primary short-term capital needs were funded through its RPF, which would have expired pursuant to its terms at the end of 2005.RPF. On July 29, 2005, the Company replaced the RPF with the Revolver, an $82 million, five-year senior secured revolving credit facility. The Revolver will decreasehas decreased the Company’s financing costs, thereby increasing the Company’s financial strength and flexibility to grow the business. In addition, the Company’s current outstanding long-term notes provideprovided for ana 150 basis point interest rate reduction contingent upon the replacement of the RPF with a revolving credit facility meeting the requirements under the notes. This rate reduction was effective August 1, 2005 on all outstanding long-term notes. More of the details ofabout the Revolver and the expected rate reduction on the long-term notes can be found within Note 124 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for further detailsstatements.
(12)


In connection with the refinancing of the RPF the Company borrowed $21.5 million under the Revolver. As of September 30, 2005 outstanding borrowings on the Revolver.Revolver were $0.9 million. The Revolver was also used to refinance a $7.0 million Canadian line of credit during the period. Total borrowing declined $27.5 million in the third quarter of 2005, driving debt-to-total capital down to 33.2%.

Risk Factors - Liquidity
As part of its current financing agreements with its various lenders, the Company has specific principal and interest payments required over the next few years as summarized below in Table 2 (dollars in millions):

Table 2
   
2005
  
2006
  
2007
  
2008
  
2009 and Beyond
 
Required Principal Payments on Debt 
$
0.3
 
$
16.4
 
$
16.4
 
$
19.3
 
$
37.6
 
Table 2
           
  
2005
 
2006
 
2007
 
2008
 
2009 and
Beyond
 
Principal Payments $0.1 $16.4 $16.4 $19.3 $37.6 
Interest Payments  1.4  5.2  4.0  2.7  2.3 
Required Principal & Interest Payments on Debt $1.5 $21.2 $20.4 $22.0 $39.9 
                 



Page 15 of  26

The Company’s principal sources of operating cash going forward are expected to be derived from earnings and its Revolver.

Despite the upswingcurrent strength in the manufacturing sector of the economy, there can be no guarantee as to its magnitude or duration. Additionally, as a distributor, the Company’s ability to pass-through supplier-driven material cost increases to its customer base remains critical to meeting debt service requirements and remaining in compliance with its debt covenants. Should economic and market conditions dramatically worsen, management could pursue further options to generate enough cash to fund the required principal payments as outlined in its agreements with its primary lenders. These options could include, but not are not limited to, further operating cost reductions and organizational restructuring, further working capital improvements, deferral of non-essential capital projects, sale of assets or business units, refinancing of the Company through additional equity or debt infusions, or renegotiating existing outstanding indebtedness. Management cannot guarantee that any of these options will be available if needed. None of these options are under consideration at this time. All current business conditions lead management to believe that it will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations and planned working capital improvements to fund its ongoing capital expenditure program and to meet its current debt obligations.obligations for the foreseeable future.



Page 16 of  26

Results of Operations: SecondThird Quarter Comparisons and Commentary
Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the quarters ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004.

Operating Results by Segment
(dollars in millions)
(13)


Operating Results by Segment
Operating Results by Segment
 
(dollars in millions)
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Quarter Ended
September 30,
   
  Quarter Ended June 30, Fav/(Unfav)      
Fav/(Unfav)     
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
$ Change
 
% Change
  
2005
 
2004
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
Net Sales
                  
Metals $222.1 $166.1 $56.0 33.7% $208.7 $174.5 $34.2  19.6%
Plastics  28.9  22.1 6.8 30.8%  25.9  24.8  1.1  4.4 
Total Net Sales $251.0 $188.2 $62.8 33.4% $234.6 $199.3 $35.3  17.7%
                       
Gross Material Margin          
Gross Margin             
Metals $66.3 $49.1 $17.2 35.0% $61.8 $49.1 $12.7  25.9%
% of Metals Sales
  
29.9
%
 
29.5
%
0.3%
     
29.6
%   
 
28.1
%   
 
1.5
%   
   
Plastics  9.2 7.3 1.9 26.0%  8.8  8.2  0.6  7.3 
% of Plastics Sales
  
31.8
%
 
33.0
%
(1.2)%
     
34.0
%
 
33.1
%
 
0.9
%
   
Total Gross Material Margin $75.5 $56.4 $19.1 33.9%
Total Gross Margin $70.6 $57.3 $13.3  23.2%
% of Total Net Sales
  
30.1
%
 
29.9
%
0.1%
     
30.1
%
 
28.7
%
 
1.3
%
   
                       
Operating Expense                       
Metals $(42.3)$(38.1)$(4.2) 11.0%  (44.3)$(38.9)$(5.4) 13.9%
Metals  (7.2) (5.7)(1.5) 26.3%
Plastics  (7.2) (6.0) (1.2) 20.0 
Other  (3.8) (1.2)(2.6) 216.7%  (2.2) (1.3) (0.9) 69.2 
Total Operating Expense $(53.3)$(45.0)$(8.3) 18.4%  (53.7)$(46.2)$(7.5) 16.2%
% of Total Net Sales  
(21.2
)%
 
(23.9
)%
2.7%
     
(22.9
)%
 
(23.2
)%
 
0.3
%
   
                       
Operating Income                       
Metals $24.0 $11.0 $13.0 118.2% $17.5 $10.2 $7.3  71.6%
% of Metals Sales
  
10.8
%
 
6.6
%
4.2%
     
8.4
%
 
5.8
%
 
2.5
%
   
Plastics  2.0   1.6 0.4 25.0%  1.6  2.2  (0.6) (27.3)
% of Plastics Sales
  
6.9
%
 
7.2
%
(0.3)%
     
6.2
%
 
8.9
%
 
(2.7
)%
   
Other  (3.8) (1.2)(2.6) 216.7%  (2.2) (1.3) (0.9) 69.2 
Total Operating Income $22.2 $11.4 $10.8 94.7% $16.9 $11.1 $5.8  52.3%
% of Total Net Sales
  
8.8
%
 
6.1
%
2.8%
     
7.2
%
 
5.6
%
 
1.6
%
   
                      
"Other" includes costs of the executive and legal departments, and other corporate activities which support both operating segments of the Company.
“Other” includes costs of the executive and legal departments, and other corporate activities which support both operating segments of the Company.
             

Net Sales:
Consolidated net sales of $251.0$234.6 million for the secondthird quarter of 2005 were $62.8$35.3 million, or 33.4%17.7%, stronger than the same quarter last year. Metals segment net sales of $222.1$208.7 million were $56.0$34.2 million, or 33.7%19.6%, ahead of last year. Strong demand continued across our customer base with particular strength in the construction and mining equipment, aerospace, and oil and gas markets. Sales volume growth, net of material price increases, was 8.4%5.0% for this business withbusiness. Metals material price increases estimatedprices are up 13.9% compared to be 23.3% higher than secondthe third quarter 2004 levels.

of 2004.


Page 17 of  26

Plastics segment net sales of $28.9$25.9 million were $6.8$1.1 million, or 30.8%4.4%, higher than the same quarter of 2004. Sales volume, net of material price changes, increaseddecreased by approximately 14.2% quarter over quarter, primarily due to14.4% versus last year, while material prices have risen 22.1%. The decrease in sales volume in the opening of two new branches in 2004 and general market conditions. The remainder of the revenue growth isPlastics segment was partially attributable to an increase in material pricing levels of approximately 14.6%a large customer store shelving retrofit program in the secondthird quarter of 2005 as compared tolast year. Adjusting for this non-recurring customer program, Plastics segment sales volume, net of price changes declined 8%. Additionally, the same periodbusiness experienced some unusual softness in its retail point-of-purchase display markets during the third quarter of 2004.2005. These two factors resulted in the unfavorable sales volume comparison, which was more than offset by price inflation. Current bookings for this business are stronger.

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Gross Material Margin, Operating Expense and Operating Profit:Income:
Consolidated gross material margin of $75.5$70.6 million was $19.1$13.3 million, or 33.9%23.2%, better than the same quarter of 2004. Metals segment gross material margin of $66.3$61.8 million was $17.3$12.7 million, or 35.3%25.9% higher, due to increased sales levels. The Company has been able to maintain its gross material margin in its Metals segment throughout the volatile material price environment that began in late 2003.

Plastics segment gross material margin increased by $1.9$0.6 million, or 26.0%7.3%, to $9.2$8.8 million in the secondthird quarter of 2005. Quarter over quarter, gross material margin as a percent of sales declined slightly within this segment, reflecting a delay between increases inFavorable material prices imposed upon us by our suppliers and our ability to pass through these increases to our larger customer accounts.aided the growth in this segment.

Total consolidated operating expenses of $53.3$53.7 million, were $8.3$7.5 million higher than the secondthird quarter of last year. This increase reflects added variable labor and related shop floor costs to service higher levels of business activity, including processing services provided to our customers. Consolidated operating expense as a percent of gross material margin for the secondthird quarter of 2005 decreased to 70.6%76.1%, compared to 79.7% one year ago.80.6% for the same period of 2004. This was due primarily to continued productivity improvements within the Metals segment on incremental sales growth in the quarter.

The Company's "Other" operating segment includes expenses related to executive, legal and other corporate services which support both the Metals and Plastics segments. The $2.6$0.9 million increase in this category compared to the secondthird quarter of 2004 is primarily due to increased employee incentive plan accruals that relate to certain earnings and working capital targets established by the Company and its Board of Directors at the beginning of 2005.accruals. Continued strong performance in earnings and working capital through the secondthird quarter has resulted in an increase in incentive relatedcompensation expense.

Consolidated operating profitincome of $22.2$16.9 million, or 8.8%7.2% of sales, was $10.8$5.8 million higher than the secondthird quarter of last year.

Other Income and Expense, and Net Results:
Joint venture equity earnings of $1.0$0.8 million for the secondthird quarter of 2005 were consistent with$0.6 million less than the same period of 2004. This lower level of earnings at the Company’s joint venture, Kreher Steel, was primarily attributable to price and volume pressure in the commodity metals market that it serves and the effects of a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory valuation costing method on margins when prices decline.

Financing costs which consist of interest expense and discount on sale of accounts receivable under the RPF, were $2.5$1.9 million in the secondthird quarter of 2005, $0.5 million less than the same quarter last year due to lower borrowings and equal to last year.reduced interest rates on existing long-term debt. Lower interest rates on the Company’s long term notes (150 bps) were effective August 1, 2005. This rate reduction coupled with lower overall borrowing levels should result in lower interest expense in the next quarter as well.

Consolidated net income (after preferred dividends of $0.2 million) was $12.7$10.0 million, or $0.80$0.63 per basic share ($0.56 diluted), for the secondthird quarter of 2005 versus a consolidated net income (after preferred dividends of $0.2 million) of $5.8 million, or $0.36$0.37 per basic share ($0.36 diluted), in the corresponding period of 2004.





(15)

Page 18 of  26


Results of Operations: Six-MonthNine-Month Comparisons and Commentary
Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the six-monthsnine-months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 and 2004.

 
         
  
Nine-Months Ended September 30,
   
 
   
Fav/(Unfav)
 
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
Net Sales         
Metals $650.7 $495.4 $155.3  31.3%
Plastics  81.0  67.8  13.2  19.5 
Total Net Sales $731.7 $563.2 $168.5  29.9%
              
Gross Margin             
Metals $192.4 $142.4 $50.0  35.1%
% of Metals Sales
  
29.6
%
 
28.7
%
 
0.8
%
   
Plastics  26.6  22.4  4.2  18.8 
% of Plastics Sales
  
32.8
%
 
33.0
%
 
(0.2
)%
   
Total Gross Margin $219.0 $164.8 $54.2  32.9%
% of Total Net Sales
  
29.9
%
 
29.3
%
 
0.7
%
   
              
Operating Expense             
Metals $(129.9)$(115.5)$(14.4) 12.5%
Plastics  (21.5) (17.5) (4.0) 22.9 
Other  (7.2) (3.5) (3.7) 105.7 
Total Operating Expense $(158.6)$(136.5)$(22.1) 16.2%
% of Total Net Sales
  
(21.7
)%
 
(24.2
)%
 
2.6
%
   
              
Operating Income             
Metals $62.6 $26.9 $35.7  132.7%
% of Metals Sales
  
9.6
%
 
5.4
%
 
4.2
%
   
Plastics  5.0  4.9  0.1  2.0 
% of Plastics Sales
  
6.2
%
 
7.3
%
 
(1.1
)
   
Other  (7.2) (3.5) (3.7) 105.7 
Total Operating Income $60.4 $28.3 $32.1  113.4%
% of Total Net Sales
  
8.3
%
 
5.0
%
 
3.2
%
   
                        
“Other” includes costs of the executive and legal departments, and other corporate activities which support both operating segments of the Company.
                     
  
Six-Months Ended June 30,
 
Fav/(Unfav)
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
Net Sales
         
Metals $442.1 $320.8 $121.3  37.8%
Plastics  55.1  43.0  12.1  28.1%
Total Net Sales $497.2 $363.8 $133.4  36.7%
              
Gross Material Margin             
Metals $130.6 $93.3 $37.3  40.0%
% of Metals Sales
  
29.5
%
 
29.1
%
 
0.5
%
   
Plastics  17.8  14.2  3.6  25.4%
% of Plastics Sales
  
32.3
%
 
33.0
%
 
(0.7
)%
   
Total Gross Material Margin $148.4 $107.5 $40.9  38.0%
% of Total Net Sales
  
29.8
%
 
29.5
%
 
0.3
%
   
              
Operating Expense             
Metals $(85.6)$(76.6)$(9.0) 11.7%
Plastics  (14.3) (11.5) (2.8) 24.3%
Other  (5.0) (2.2) (2.8) 127.3%
Total Operating Expense $(104.9)$(90.3)$(14.6) 16.2%
% of Total Net Sales
  
(21.1
)%
 
(24.8
)%
 
3.7
%
   
              
Operating Income             
Metals $45.0 $16.7 $28.3  169.5%
% of Metals Sales
  
10.2
%
 
5.2
%
 
5.0
%
   
Plastics  3.5  2.7  0.8  29.6%
% of Plastics Sales
  6.4  % 
6.3
%
 
0.1
%
   
Other  (5.0) (2.2) (2.8) 127.3%
Total Operating Income $43.5 $17.2 $26.3  152.9%
% of Total Net Sales
  
8.7
%
 
4.7
%
 
4.0
%
   
              
 
"Other" includes costs of the executive and legal departments, and other corporate activities which support both operating segments of the Company.

Net Sales:
Six-month
Nine-month 2005 consolidated net sales of $497.2$731.7 million were $133.4$168.5 million, or 36.7%29.9%, stronger than last year. Metals segment net sales of $442.1$650.7 million were $121.3$155.3 million, or 37.8%31.3%, ahead of last year. Strong demand existed across our customer base through the first halfnine months of 2005. For the six monthsnine-months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005, Metals segment sales volume, net of material price increases, was 5.3%5.5% higher than for the same period in 2004. Metals material prices were approximately 30.8%24.4% higher than the corresponding 2004 period.

Plastics segment net sales of $55.1$81.0 million were $12.1$13.2 million, or 28.1%19.5%, higher than the first-halffirst nine-months of 2004. Approximately one-halfThe majority of this revenue increase was attributable to higher material pricing levels. The balance of the year-over-year sales increase in the Plastics segment was primarily due to increased customer demand.the opening of two new branches in 2004.

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Page  19 of  26
 


Gross Material Margin, Operating Expense and Operating Profit:Income:
Consolidated gross material margin for the first six-monthsnine-months of 2005 was $148.4$54.2 million, or 38.0%32.9% higher than the same period of 2004. Metals segment gross material margin of $130.6$192.4 million was $37.3$50.0 million, or 40.0%35.1%, higher than last year due to increased sales levels. MarginGross margin as a percent of sales increased slightly versusover last year, mostly due to favorable product mix and increased metalmetals processing activity.

Plastics segment gross material margin increased by $3.6$4.2 million, or 25.4%18.8%, to a level of $17.8$26.6 million versus the first six-monthsnine-months of 2004.2004, on higher sales levels. Gross material margin as a percentage of sales declined slightly within the Plastics segment, reflecting a delay between increases in material prices imposed upon us by our suppliers and our ability to pass-through these increases to our larger customer accounts.has remained consistent with prior year levels.

Year-to-date consolidated operating expenses of $104.9$158.6 million were $14.6$22.1 million higher than last year, largely due to increased overall volume and relatedincreasing processing activity. Six-monthNine-month operating expense as a percent of gross margin was 70.7%72.4% versus 84.0%82.8% one year ago.ago, reflecting improved operating leverage.

The $2.8$3.7 million operating expense increase in the Company’s "Other"“Other” operating segment compared to the first-halffirst nine-months of 2004 is primarily due to increased employee incentive plan accruals that related to certain earnings and working capital targets established by the Company and its Board of Directors at the beginning of 2005.accruals. Continued strong performance in earnings and working capital through the second quarterfirst nine-months has resulted in an increase in incentive relatedcompensation expense.

Consolidated operating profitincome of $43.5$60.4 million, or 8.7%8.3% of sales, was $26.3$32.1 million better than last year.

Other Income and Expense, and Net Results:
Joint venture equity earnings for the first-halffirst nine-months of 2005 of $2.5$3.3 million were $0.8$0.1 million ahead of the corresponding period in 2004.
Six-month
Nine-month financing costs, which consist of interest expense and discount on sale of accounts receivable under the RPF,former RPF(until its termination in July 2005), were $5.1$7.0 million for both periods.2005 versus $7.4 million for 2004, reflecting reduced borrowing and favorable interest rates.

Year-to-date consolidated net income (after preferred dividends of $0.5$0.7 million) was $24.6$34.7 million, or $1.55$2.18 per basic share ($1.96 diluted), versus $7.8$13.7 million, or $0.50$0.87 per basic share ($0.87 diluted), in the corresponding period of 2004.

Critical Accounting Policies:
There have been no changes in critical accounting policies as described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Revenue Recognition— Revenue from product sales is predominantly recognized upon shipment, when title passes to the customer and the Company has no further obligations to the customer. The Company has entered into consignment inventory agreements with a few select customers whereby inventory is shipped to the customer, but revenue is not recorded until the customer consumes the product from the consigned inventory and title has passed. ConsignedRevenue derived from consigned inventory revenueat customer locations for the six-monthnine-month period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2005 was $6.2$7.8 million (or 1.3%1.1% of consolidated year-to-date sales) versus $4.8compared to $6.8 million for the first six-months ended June 30, 2004 (or 1.3%1.2% of year-to-date 2004 consolidated sales). from the same period last year. Inventory on consignment at customers as of JuneSeptember 30, 2005 was $1.2$1.6 million, or 0.9%,1.4% of consolidated net inventory as reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.Consolidated Balance Sheets.


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Page 20 of  21


Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s principal internal sources of liquidity are earnings from operations and management of working capital. Additionally, the Company formerly utilized its RPF, as described in more detail in Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements included in this report, as its primary external funding source for working capital needs.needs until July 29, 2005. On July 29, 2005, the RPF was replaced with the Revolver, an $82 million, five-year senior secured revolving credit facility. Refer to Note 124 to our consolidated financial statements for more details about the Revolver.

Cash flow from operating activities for the first-half ofnine-months ended September 30, 2005 was a positive $14.6$26.5 million, largely driven by strong earnings. This also included a $5.0$16.5 million increasedecrease in accounts receivable sold under the RPF, which were repurchased by the Company when the Revolver was used to fund working capital needs.put in place.

Working capital net of cash, excluding the current portion of long-term debt, of $124.8$120.3 million is up $18.0$16.6 million since the beginning of the year. Trade receivablesAccounts receivable of $102.3$116.5 million, (excluding $21.5 million of receivables sold under the RPF) are up $22.0$36.2 million, $19.7 million due to strong six-month sales.nine-month sales and $16.5 million due to the elimination of the RPF. However, days sales outstanding (DSO) at the end of JuneSeptember 2005 of 43.243.4 days is 2.92.2 days lower than the start of the year, largely due to smaller past due amounts. Inventory at net book value of $129.6$117.7 million, including LIFO (last-in, first-out) reserves of $94.3$97.4 million, is down $5.9$17.9 million year-to-date. Days sales in inventory (DSI) of 118119 days isreflects the lowest level this year as the Company has continuedCompany’s efforts to continue to reduce high unit stock levels which resulted from unexpected shrinkage in mill lead times during late 2004. Trade payables have declined $8.1 million since the beginning of the year due to lower inventory purchases.

Capital expenditures in the first-half ofnine-months ended September 30, 2005 were $2.2$4.8 million versus $2.4$3.4 million in the same period last year. Major expenditures included equipment and machinery purchases and information system upgrades and improvements. In the second quarter of 2005, the Company initiated a multi-year capital project to replace its existing primary computer system with new technology. This project includes a capital commitment estimated at $3.0 million to $5.0 million over the next two to three years. We expect to fund this project from internally generated cash flow and borrowings under the Revolver.
At June 30, 2005, $21.5 million of receivables were sold under the RPF. This is a $5.0 million increase from the beginning of the year. Availability remaining under this facility was $35.7 million at the end of the second quarter of 2005.
As of JuneSeptember 30, 2005, the Company remained in compliance with the covenants of its financial agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital ratios, working capital-to-debt ratios and a minimum equity value as defined within the agreements. A summary of covenant compliance is shown below.

 
Required
Actual
6/9/30/05
Debt-to-Capital Ratio
<0.55
0.30
Debt-to-Capital Ratio
< 0.550.28
Working Capital-to-Debt Ratio
>1.00
2.17
2.45
Minimum Equity Value
$111.6120.7 Million
$155.9169.3 Million
 

Current business conditions lead management to believe it will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations and planned working capital improvements (principally from reduced inventories), to fund its ongoing capital expenditure programs and meet its debt obligations.


(18)

Page 21 of  26


Commitments and Contingencies:
At JuneSeptember 30, 2005 the Company had $1.8 million of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding and $0.7 million of cash on deposit to comply with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carrier. This letter of credit is secured with a certificate of deposit, which is included in "Advances to joint ventures and other current assets" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company is the defendant in various lawsuits arising out of the conduct of its business. These lawsuits are incidental and occur in the normal course of the Company’s business affairs. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that no significant uninsured or insured liability will result from the outcome of any litigation that would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operation, financial position, or cash flows of the Company.


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to the risks of increases in interest rates and increases in the cost of metals and plastics, which are the Company’s primary raw materials that arise in the normal course of business.and, to a lesser extent, rising natural gas costs. Historically, the Company has not hedged any of these risksrisks.

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2005, the Company financed its operations with fixed and variable rate borrowings and the RPF.revolving line of credit. Changes in interest rates affect the Company’s variable borrowing costs and the cost of utilizing the RPF.costs. An increase of 1% in interest rates would have increased the Company’s combined annual interest expense and discount on sale of accounts receivable by approximately $0.3 million. On July 29, 2005, the Company replaced the RPF with the Revolver, which bears interest based on LIBOR plus a percentage determined by reference to a pricing grid.

The Company’s raw material costs are comprised primarily of highly engineered metals and plastics. Market risk arises from changes in the price of steel, other metals and plastics. Although average selling prices generally increase or decrease as material costs increase or decrease, the impact of a change in the purchase price of materials is more immediately reflected in the Company’s cost of goods sold than in its selling price.

 
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
 
(a)(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
A review and evaluation was performed by the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO"”CEO") and Chief Financial Officer (the "CFO"“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s 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 report.

In its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company reported that it had identified certain material weaknesses in its system of internal controls over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specifically, in conducting its evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2004, management found a material weakness in the area of inventory controls.

In the third quarter of 2004 the Company replaced its historical procedures of inventory verification with improved procedures for physical inventory counts. This change in internal control over inventory was reported in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004. As a result of initiating improved procedures in the second half of 2004, material inventory adjustments were identified and recorded during the third and fourth quarters of 2004.


Page  22 of  26


In addition, at year-end 2004 a material weakness involving controls over inventory stored at third-party processors was identified. The post year-end implementation of expanded procedures identified additional inventory adjustments that were also recorded.

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Lastly, management determined that significant deficiencies in the financial close and reporting process existed as of December 31, 2004. As a result of applying more rigorous post year-end procedures, material errors in the Company’s financial statements were identified and appropriate correcting adjustments were recorded. In management’s opinion, those significant deficiencies, in the aggregate, also constituted a material weakness in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004.

As part of its evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, management has (i) identified no material weaknesses other than those described above and (ii) evaluated whether the material weaknesses described above continue to exist. Although the Company believes that the changes in internal controls discussed below address the reported material weaknesses, management cannot conclude that these weaknesses are eliminated until the Company performs further testing of internal controls over financial reporting in subsequent periods. Therefore, the CEO and CFO conclude that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures, as designed and implemented, were not effective in ensuring that the information the Company is required to disclose in this quarterly report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in the time period required by the rules of the SEC.

(b)
Changes in Internal Controls
As previously reported in the Company’s first quarter report for the period ended March 31, 2005, the Company implemented changes in the internal controls over financial reporting in response to the deficiencies identified above. No additional changes have been made during this reporting period.

The Company is performing physical inventory counts at each of its facilities and reconciling these physical counts to the financial statements. In addition, the Company is obtaining quarterly confirmations of the Company’s inventory located at each of its outside processors. The Company will make a determination after further physical counts have been completed as to whether financial controls in place have cured the deficiencies that were first reported as of December 31, 2004.

Management also continues to evaluate the effectiveness of other controls over the financial close and reporting process that were initiated in the first quarter of 2005. These controls will be evaluated as further control testing occurs during 2005.
(20)


Part II.  OTHER INFORMATION







Page  23 of  26

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
Item 1.Legal Proceedings
 
There are no material legal proceedings other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business of the Registrant.

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

a)  Item 6.The Annual MeetingExhibits
  Exhibit 31.1Certification Pursuant to Section 302 by CEO
  Exhibit 31.2Certification Pursuant to Section 302 by CFO
  Exhibit 32.1Certification Pursuant to Section 906 by CEO and CFO
*Exhibit 10.1Credit Agreement Dated as of Stockholders was held on April 28, 2005.July 29, 2005, among A. M. Castle & Co., A. M. Castle & Co. (Canada) Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Bank of America N.A., Canadian Branch, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Other Lender Party.
 
b)  *
AtIncorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of the Annual MeetingRegistrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-05415) filed with the full Board of Directors was elected. The following table lists the individual board members and voting results:
Commission on August 4, 2005.
DirectorForWithheldAbstaining
    
William K. Hall16,385,953245,055-
Robert S. Hamada16,380,860250,048-
Patrick J. Herbert16,262,470359,938-
John W. McCarter, Jr.16,386,553245,096-
John McCartney16,408,454214,595-
G. Thomas McKane16,385,037244,066-
John W. Puth16,407,481282,938-
Michael Simpson12,024,5924,591,965-
c)  At the Annual Meeting the Stockholders ratified Deloitte & Touche, LLP as Castle’s independent registered public accounting firm auditor for 2005. The results of the vote were - 16,570,284 shares for the motion, 91,781 shares against the motion, and 10,497 shares abstained.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit 3     Registrant's Bylaws
Exhibit 31.1   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 by CEO
Exhibit 31.2   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 by CFO
Exhibit 32.1   Certification Pursuant to Section 906 by CEO and CFO
Exhibit 99   Form 8-K Filed August 3, 2005

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

 A. M. Castle & Co.
 (Registrant)
   
   
Date: August 5,November 9, 2005By:/s/ Henry J. Veith
  
Henry J. Veith
Controller
  (Mr. Veith is the Chief Accounting Officer and has been authorized to sign on behalf of the Registrant.)
 
(21)

Page  24 of  26
Exhibit 31.1


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, G. Thomas McKane, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of A. M. Castle & Co.;
2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;:
3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.  The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures [as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)] and internal control over financial reporting [as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15-d-15(f)] for the Registrant and have:
a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)  Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)  Disclosed in this report any changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.  The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)  Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 Date:  August 5, 2005
 By: /s/ G. Thomas McKane
 G. Thomas McKane
 Chairman and Chief Excutive Officer
Page 25 of  26

Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Lawrence A. Boik, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of A. M. Castle & Co.;
2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.  The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures [as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)] and internal control over financial reporting [as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15-d-15(f)] for the Registrant and have:
a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)  Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)  Disclosed in this report any changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.  The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)  Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date:  August 5, 2005
 By: /s/ Lawrence A. Boik
Lawrence A. Boik
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



Page 26 of  26

Exhibit 32.1



CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of A. M. Castle & Co. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), G. Thomas McKane, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Lawrence A. Boik, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) of the Company, respectively, do each hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of his knowledge:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

    (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries.


/s/ G. Thomas McKane
G. Thomas McKane
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
August 5, 2005
/s/ Lawrence A. Boik
Lawrence A. Boik
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
August 5, 2005