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Olympic Steel
Annual Report 2019

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Employees 1001-5000
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FY2019 Annual Report · Olympic Steel
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2019 Annual Report

About the Company

We are a leading metals service center that operates in three reportable segments; Carbon Flat Products, Specialty Metals 

Flat Products, and Tubular and Pipe Products. We provide metals processing and distribution services for a wide range of 

customers. Our Carbon Flat Products segment’s focus is on the direct sale and distribution of large volumes of processed

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Industries on January 2, 2019, our Carbon Flat Products segment expanded its product offerings to include self-dumping metal 

hoppers. Our Specialty Metals Flat Products segment’s focus is on the direct sale and distribution of processed aluminum and

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LLC on April 2, 2018, our Specialty Metals Flat Products segment expanded its product offerings to include differing types 

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affected by, among other things, product mix, the amount of processing performed, the demand for and availability of metals, 

and volatility in selling prices and material purchase costs. We also perform toll processing of customer-owned metals. 

Financial Information

In thousands, except per-share and ratio data

      2019

      2018

      2017

For the Year

     Net sales

     Operating income

     Net income

     Net income per diluted share

     Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

     Capital expenditures

At Year End

     Accounts receivable, net

     Inventories

     Total assets

     Total debt

     Shareholders’ equity

     Shareholders’ equity per share

     Debt-to-equity ratio

$  1,579,040) $  1,715,081) $  1,330,696)

16,610)

3,856)

0.34)

11,509)

10,165)

133,572)

273,531)

649,555)

192,925)

308,352)

28.04)

57,052)

33,759)

2.95)

11,440)

25,715)

175,252)

368,738)

760,740)

302,530)

306,991)

27.89)

23,986)

18,963)

1.67)

11,381)

10,160)

132,737)

275,307)

604,158)

197,165)

272,583)

24.80)

0.63 to 1)

0.99 to 1)

0.72 to 1)

2019 Letter to Shareholders

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

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of progress for our Company and I appreciate what our team accomplished at a time when the steel business was under 

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reducing volatility in our results.  

2019 HIGHLIGHTS

In 2019, we recorded net sales of $1.6 billion and net income of $3.9 million, or $0.34 per share. Our Specialty Metals and 

Pipe and Tube businesses, which increased to 41% of our net sales in 2019 versus 37% a year earlier, delivered strong results 

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Our success in this segment was bolstered by our recent investments in capital improvements and M&A. Pipe and Tube also

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include  carefully  managing  inventory  and  expenses,  diversifying  products,  and  being  selective  about  the  investments  we 

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portfolio,  while  reducing  volatility  and  providing  a  better  return  for  our  shareholders.  Our  approach  has  been  successful. 

Recent investments had an immediate positive impact on our business and have excellent potential for future growth.

Our Vision – Deliver Higher Returns with Less Volatility 

Current State
(Revenue Mix)

Desired State
(Revenue Mix)

Strategic M&A and Investments

Carbon Flat Products

Specialty Metals Flat Products

Tubular & Pipe Products

Manufactured 
Metal Products

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In 2019, we acquired two manufacturers 

of  metal-intensive  branded  products,

which are both included in our Carbon 

Flat  Products  segment.  We  targeted

these  downstream  companies 

for 

several 

reasons.  First,  branded, 

manufactured  products  have  higher 

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cyclicality than our existing businesses.

Second,  we  can  apply  our  expertise

in  purchasing,  metal  processing  and 

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businesses  with  a  goal  of  growing  our 

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margins. Finally, Olympic Steel’s ability

to complement these businesses helps 

2019 Letter to Shareholders

reduce volatility in our overall results. We believe further execution of this strategy will truly differentiate Olympic Steel in the 

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companies with these characteristics, and we have the necessary capital to further execute on this strategy.

We are also investing in our Specialty Metals business – through both acquisition and expansion of our in-house processing

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expanded  our  catalog  of  stainless  steel  and  tin  products. 

In  2019,  we  opened  our  42,000-square-foot  addition  to

We reduced our debt by $110 million, or 36%,

our Schaumburg facility to house a new cut-to-length line

dedicated  to  processing  stainless  steel  and  aluminum.

We  also  added  a  second  specialty  metal  slitter  in  our 

Streetsboro  location.  Together,  these  investments  helped 

our  Specialty  Metals  business  deliver  another  year  of 

strong performance. 

during 2019, strengthening our balance sheet and 

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growth opportunities.

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In  2019,  the  repositioning  of  our  operations  in  the  southeastern  U.S.  has  enabled  us  to  expand  our  participation  in  tube

distribution in that growing region of the country. 

In addition to strengthening our balance sheet and investing in the business, returning cash to our shareholders remains a 

priority. In 2019, we paid our 58th consecutive quarter of cash dividends to investors and plan to continue this practice for 

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shares during the year. 

LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION

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Andrew  has  more  than  30  years  of  experience  in  the  metals  industry  and  has  demonstrated  exceptional  leadership  as

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Wolfort,  former  President  of  Olympic  Steel,  and  Don  McNeeley,  former  President  of  CTI,  remain  actively  involved  in  the 

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Don is actively engaged in strategy and leadership development at CTI.

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2019 Letter to Shareholders

COMMITMENT TO ESG AND OUR PEOPLE

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Our actions support our commitments. Olympic Steel is recognized as one of the largest metal service centers in the U.S.,

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For  our  employees,  we  are  launching  a  comprehensive  human  capital  management  program  that  addresses  new-hire

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where we highlight our employees’ commitments and successes in support of our mission and values.

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CLOSING

our business. 

Sincerely,
Sincerely

Richard T. Marabito

(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)

March 12, 2020

(cid:62)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:78)(cid:64)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K

(cid:1409)

(cid:1407)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Transition Period From _______________ To _______________ 

Commission File Number 0-23320

OLYMPIC STEEL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

                            Ohio                            
(State or other jurisdiction of  
incorporation or organization) 

22901 Millcreek Boulevard, Suite 650, Highland Hills, OH 
(Address of principal executive offices) 

          34-1245650           
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

          44122           
(Zip Code) 

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

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

Title of each class 
Common stock, without par value 

Trading Symbol(s) 
ZEUS 

Name of each exchange on which registered
The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC. 

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes (cid:1407) No (cid:1409)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes (cid:1407)
No (cid:1409)

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 (cid:1409) No (cid:1407)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).  Yes (cid:1409) No (cid:1407)

d

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or 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. 

Large accelerated filer (cid:1407) 
Non-accelerated filer (cid:1407)  

Accelerated filer (cid:1409) 
Small reporting company (cid:1407)
Emerging growth company (cid:1407)

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. (cid:1407)

ff

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).   Yes (cid:1407) No (cid:1409)

As of June 28, 2019, the aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price at which 
t
such stock was sold on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date approximated $121,663,479.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 21, 2020 was 11,001,068.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The registrant intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 120 days of the close of its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, portions of which document 
ff
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K from the date such document is f
iled. 

rr

 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                             
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
                 
  
  
  
  
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Part I

Business ...................................................................................................................................................  

1
Item 1.   
Item 1A.   Risk Factors .............................................................................................................................................   12
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments ....................................................................................................................   20
Properties .................................................................................................................................................   21
Item 2.   
Legal Proceedings ....................................................................................................................................   22
Item 3.   
Item 4.    Mine Safetytt  Disclosures ..........................................................................................................................   22
Information About Our Executive Officers  ............................................................................................   23

Part II

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

Securities .................................................................................................................................................   24
Item 6.   
Selected Financial Data ...........................................................................................................................   25
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations...................   26
Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk .................................................................   39
Financial Statements and Supplementaryrr  Data ........................................................................................   40
Item 8.   
Item 9.   
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure ..................   72
Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures ..........................................................................................................................   72
Item 9B.  Other Information ....................................................................................................................................   72

k

Part III

Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance .......................................................................   73
Executive Compensation .........................................................................................................................   73
Item 11. 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    73
Item 12. 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence .........................................   73
Item 13. 
Principal Accountant Fees and Services  .................................................................................................   73
Item 14. 

Part IV

Item 15. 

Item 16. 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules ...........................................................................................   74
Index to Exhibits  .....................................................................................................................................   74
Form 10-K Summaryrr  ...............................................................................................................................   76
Signatures ................................................................................................................................................   77

i

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS

The Company

PART I

We are a leading metals service center that operates in three reportable segments; carbon flat products, specialty metals flat 
products,  and  tubular  and  pipe  products.  We  provide  metals  processing  and  distribution  services  for  a  wide  range  of 
customers. Our  carbon  flat products  segment’s focus  is on  the  direct  sale  and distribution of  large volumes of  processed 
carbon  and  coated  flat-rolled  sheet,  coil  and  plate  products  and  fabricated  parts.  Through  the  acquisition  of  McCullough
Industries (McCullough) on January 2, 2019, our carbon flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include self-
dumping metal hoppers and through the acquisition of EZ Dumper on August 5, 2019, to include steel and stainless-steel 
dump inserts for pickup truck and service truck beds. Our specialty metals flat products segment’s focus is on the direct sale 
and distribution of processed aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil products, flat bar products and fabricated parts.
Through the acquisition of Berlin Metals, LLC (Berlin Metals) on April 2, 2018, our specialty metals flat products segment 
expanded its product offerings to include differing types of stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil and prime tin mill products. In
addition, we distribute metal tubing, pipe, bar, valves and fittings and fabricate pressure parts supplied to various industrial
markets through our tubular and pipe products segment. Products that require more value-added processing generally have a 
higher  gross profit.  Accordingly,  our overall  gross  profit  is  affected by, among  other  things,  product  mix,  the  amount of 
processing performed, the demand for and availability of metals, and volatility in selling prices and material purchase costs. 
We also perform toll processing of customer-owned metals. We sell certain products internationally, primarily in Canada and 
Mexico. International sales are immaterial to our consolidated financial results and to the individual segments’ results. 

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. Our executive offices are located at 22901 Millcreek Boulevard,
Suite  650,  Highland  Hills,  Ohio  44122.  Our  telephone  number  is  (216)  292-3800,  and  our  website  address  is
www.olysteel.com. We are not including the information on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, 
this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

Industry Overview

The  metals  industry  is  comprised  of  three  types  of  entities:  metals  producers,  intermediate  metals  processors  and  metals 
service centers. Metals producers have historically emphasized the sale of metals to volume purchasers and have generally 
viewed intermediate metals processors and metals service centers as part of their customer base. However, all three types of 
entities can compete for certain customers who purchase large quantities of metals. Intermediate metals processors tend to
serve as processors in large quantities for metals producers and major industrial consumers of processed metals, including 
automobile and appliance manufacturers. 

Services  provided  by  metals  service  centers  can  range  from  storage  and  distribution  of  unprocessed  metal  products  to 
complex, precision value-added metals processing. Metals service centers respond directly to customer needs and emphasize 
value-added processing of metals pursuant to specific customer demands, such as cutting-to-length, slitting, shearing, roll
forming,  shape  correction  and  surface  improvement,  blanking,  tempering,  plate  burning  and  stamping.  These  processes 
produce  metals  to  specified  lengths,  widths,  shapes  and  surface  characteristics  through the  us
e of specialized  equipment.
ff
Metals  service  centers  typically  have  lower  cost  structures  than,  and  provide  services  and  value-added  processing  not 
otherwise available from, metals producers. 

r

End product manufacturers and other metals users seek to purchase metals on shorter lead times and with more frequent and 
reliable deliveries than can normally be provided by metals producers. Metals service centers generally have lower labor 
costs than metals producers and consequently process metals on a more cost-effective basis. In addition, due to this lower 
cost structure, metals service centers are able to handle orders in quantities smaller than would be economical for metals 
producers. The benefits to customers purchasing products from metals service centers include lower inventory levels, lower 
overall cost of raw materials, more timely response and decreased manufacturing time and expense. Customers also benefit 
from  a  lower  investment  in  production  labor,  buildings  and  equipment,  which  allows  them  to  focus  on  the  engineering, 
assembly and marketing of their products. We believe that customers’ demands for just-in-time delivery have made the value-
added inventory, processing and delivery functions performed by metals service centers increasingly important. 

n

Page 1 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
Corporate History

Our company was founded in 1954 by the Siegal family as a general steel service center. In the late 1980s, our business 
strategy changed from a focus on warehousing and distributing steel from a single facility with no major processing equipment 
to a focus on geographic and product growth, customer diversity and value-added processing. An integral part of our growth
has been the acquisition and start-up of processing and sales operations, and the investment in processing equipment. In 1994, 
we completed an initial public offering and, in 1996, we completed a follow-on offering of our common stock. 

In 2011, we acquired Chicago Tube and Iron, or CTI, a private leading distributor of tubing, pipe, bar, valves, and fittings, 
which represents our tubular and pipe products segment. In April 2018, we acquired the net assets of Berlin Metals, and in
January  2019,  we  acquired  the  net  assets  of  McCullough  Industries  and  in  August,  2019  certain  assets  related  to  the
manufacturing of the EZ-Dumper® hydraulic dump inserts.

f

Michael  Siegal,  the  son of one  of  our founders,  began  his career  with us  in  the  early  1970s  and  serves  as  our Executive
Chairman of  the  Board of Directors. Mr.  Siegal  served  as  our  Chief  Executive Officer  from 1984 until  the  end of 2018. 
Richard  T.  Marabito  has  served  as  our  Chief  Executive  Officer  since  January  2019.  Mr.  Marabito  joined  us  in  1994  as
Corporate Controller and served as our Chief Financial Officer from 2000 until the end of 2018. Richard A. Manson has 
served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2019. Mr. Manson has served in various capacities at our company since 
1996, most recently serving as our Vice President and Treasurer. Effective January 1, 2020, Andrew S. Greiff succeeded 
David A. Wolfort as President in addition to his role as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Greiff joined us in 2009 and most 
recently served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Business Strategy and Objectives

We  believe  that  the  metals  service  center  and  processing  industry  is  driven  by  the  following  primary  trends:  (i) shift  by
customers  to  fewer  suppliers  that  are  larger  and  financially  strong;  (ii) increased  customer  demand  for  more  frequent 
deliveries, higher quality products and services; and (iii) globalization of metals industry participants.

In recognition of these industry trends, our focus has been on achieving profitable geographic and product growth through
the  start-up  and  acquisition  of  service  centers,  processors,  fabricators  and  related  businesses,  and  investments  in  people,
information systems, higher value-added processing equipment and services, while continuing our commitment to expanding 
and improving our operating efficiencies, sales and servicing efforts. 

We  are  focused  on  specific  operating  objectives  including:  (i)  improving  safety  performance;  (ii)  managing  inventory 
turnover;  (iii)  managing  operating  expenses;  (iv)  diversifying  product  offerings;  (v)  growing  our  market  share;  (vi) 
maintaining targeted cash turnover rates; (vii) investing in technology and business information systems and; (viii) providing 
on-time delivery and quality performance for our customers.   

These operating objectives are supported by: 

(cid:404)  A set of core values, which are communicated, practiced and measured throughout the Company. 
(cid:404)  An internal communications program designed to engage and motivate employees to support our strategy, values

and culture.

(cid:404)  Our  “flawless  execution”  program  (Fe),  which  is  an  internal  recognition  program  that  rewards  employees  who

achieve profitable growth by delivering superior customer service and exceeding customer expectations.

(cid:404)  Operational initiatives designed to improve efficiencies and reduce costs by improving processes and creating anaa

environment to facilitate change and improve the way we work and create value. 
Information systems and key metric reporting to focus managers on achieving specific operating objb ectives.
(cid:404) 
(cid:404)  Alignment of compensation with the financial objectives and performance of the Company and the achievement of

specific financial and operating objb ectives.

We believe our depth of management, facilities, locations, processing capabilities, inventory, focus on safety, quality and
customer service, extensive and experienced sales force, and the strength of our customer and supplier relationships provide 
a strong foundation for implementation of our strategy and achievement of our objectives. Certain elements of our strategy 
are set forth in more detail below.

Page 2 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Investments and Acquisitions. During 2019 and 2018 we accelerated our growth through acquisitions and capital investments 
in  facilities  and  processing  equipment.  Our  Vice  President  of  Strategic  Development’s  focus  is  on  profitable  growth
opportunities, including acquisitions.

ff

On August 5, 2019, we acquired certain assets related to the manufacturing of the EZ-Dumper® hydraulic dump inserts. The
dump inserts are sold through a network of more than 100 dealers across the United States and Canada from our processing 
facilities in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. On January 2, 2019, we acquired substantially all of the net assets of McCullough, 
based in Kenton, Ohio. McCullough is a manufacturer of self-dumping hoppers used in a variety of industrial applications.
The  downstream  vertical  integration  of  McCullough  represents  our  first  acquisition  of  a  manufacturer  of  metal-intensive
branded products, which allows us to deploy our purchasing, logistics and processing expertise to achieve synergies, expand
margins and increase returns. 

On April 2, 2018, we acquired substantially all of the net assets of Berlin Metals, based in Hammond, Indiana. Berlin Metals 
was founded in 1967 and is one of the largest North American service centers processing and distributing prime tin mill
products and stainless steel strip in slit coil form. Berlin Metals is also a supplier of galvanized, light gauge cold rolled sheet 
and strip and other coated metals in coil forms, to customers in the building products, automotive and specialized industrial 
markets. 

In addition to the acquisitions noted above, our capital investments during the past three years have primarily consisted of a
building and equipment expansion in Chicago to expand our capabilities to process specialty metals, an additional slitter for 
our specialty metals flat products segment, processing equipment for our expanded value-added customer base in Winder,
Georgia, added tube and pipe distribution capabilities from our Locust, North Carolina facility, and additional processing 
equipment for all three of our segments. 

a

When  the  results  of  sales  and  marketing  efforts  and  our  financial  justifications  indicate  that  there  is  sufficient  customer 
demand for a particular product, process or service, we may purchase equipment to satisfy that demand. We also evaluate our 
existing equipment to ensure that it remains productive, and we upgrade, replace, redeploy or dispose of equipment when 
necessary.  We  invest  in  processing  equipment  to  support  customer  demand  and  to  respond  to  the  growing  trend  among 
original  equipment  manufacturers  (our  customers)  to  outsource  non-core  production  processes,  such  as  plate  processing,
machining, welding and fabrication, in order to concentrate on engineering, design and assembly.

Sales and Marketing. We believe that our commitments to quality, service, just-in-time delivery and field sales personnel 
have enabled us to build and maintain strong customer relationships. We continuously analyze our customer base to ensure
that  strategic  customers  are  properly  targeted  and  serviced,  while  focusing  our  efforts  to  supply  and successfully  service 
multi-location  customers  from  multi-location  Olympic  facilities.  We  service  certain  customers  with  carbon  and  specialty 
metals flat products and tubular and pipe products through cross-stocking of products in certain facilities. 

ff

We offer business solutions to our customers through value-added and value-engineered services. We also provide inventory 
stocking programs and in-plant Olympic Steel employees located at certain customer locations
 to help reduce customers’ 
costs. Our owned truck fleet further enhances our just-in-time deliveries based on our customers’ requirements. 

d

Our flawless execution (Fe) program is a commitment to provide superior customer service while striving to exceed customer 
expectations. This program includes tracking on-time delivery and quality performance against objectives, and recognition 
rr
of employee initiatives to improve efficiencies, streamline processes or reduce operating expenses at each operation.

We believe our large and experienced sales force provides strategic advantages. Our sales force makes direct daily sales calls
to customers throughout the continental United States, Canada and Mexico. The continuous interaction between our sales
force and active and prospective customers provides us with valuable market information and sales opportunities, including 
opportunities for outsourcing, improving customer service and increasing sales.

Our  sales  efforts  are  further  supported  by  metallurgists,  engineers,  technical  and  quality  service  personnel  and  product 
specialists who have specific expertise in carbon and stainless steel, aluminum, allo
y plate and steel fabrication as well as 
tubular and pipe products. Our services for certain customers also include integration into our internal business systems to 
provide cost efficiencies for both us and our customers. 

n

Page 3 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management. We believe one of our strengths is the depth, knowledge and experience of our management team. In addition
to our executive officers, members of our senior management team have a diversity of backgrounds within the metals industry, 
including management positions at metals producers and other metals service centers. They average 29 years of experience 
in  the  metals  industry  and  19  years  with  our  company.  Effective  January  1,  2020  and  January  1,  2019,  we  executed  a 
succession  plan  which  allowed  us  to  further  enhance  our  management  team  by  the  promotions  of  several  employees  to
executive management positions within the organization. 

Products, Processing Services and Quality Standards

We maintain inventory of carbon, stainless and aluminum coil, plate and sheet products, and tubular and pipe products. Coil
is in the form of a continuous sheet, typically 36 to 96 inches wide, between 0.015 and 0.625 inches thick, and rolled into 10 
to 30 ton coils. Because of the size and weight of these coils and the equipment required to move and process them into 
smaller sizes, such coils do not meet the requirements, without further processing, of most customers. Plate is typically thicker 
than coil and is processed by laser, plasma or oxygen burning. Through our acquisition of Berlin Metals, the specialty metals
flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include differing types of stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil and prime 
tin mill products.

Through  CTI,  we  maintain  inventory  of  round,  square,  and  rectangular  mechanical  and  structural  tubing;  hydraulic  and 
stainless tubing; boiler tubing; carbon, stainless, and aluminum pipe; and valves and fittings. CTI provides a variety of value
added services to its tube and pipe product line, including saw cutting, laser cutting, beveling, threading and grooving. CTI
also fabricates pressure components supplied to various industrial markets.   

Customer orders are entered or electronically transmitted into computerized order entry systems, and appropriate inventory
is selected and scheduled for processing in accordance with the customer’s specified delivery date. We attempt to maximize 
yield and equipment efficiency through the use of computer software and by combining customer orders for processing each
coil, plate, tube or pipe to the fullest extent practicable.

d

Our services include both traditional service center processes of cutting-to-length, slitting, flattening, sawing and shearing 
and  higher  value-added  processes  of  blanking,  tempering,  plate  burning,  laser  cutting,  precision  machining,  welding, 
fabricating,  bending,  beveling,  polishing,  kitting  and  painting  to  process  metals  to  specified lengths,  widths  and  shapes 
pursuant to specific customer orders. Cutting-to-length involves cutting metal along the width of the coil. Slitting involves
cutting metal to specified widths along the length of the coil. Shearing is the process of cutting sheet metal. Blanking cuts the 
metal  into  specific  shapes  with  close  tolerances.  Tempering  improves  the  uniformity  of  the  thickness  and  flatness  of  the 
metals through a cold rolling process. Plate and laser processing is the process of cutting metal into specific shapes and sizes. 
Our forming activities include bending metal. Our machining activities include drilling, milling, tapping, boring and sawing.
Tube processing includes tube bending and end finishing. Finishing activities include shot blasting, grinding, edging and 
polishing. Our fabrication activities include machining, welding, assembly and painting of component parts.

With  the  acquisitions  of  EZ  Dumper  and  McCullough  Industries,  we  also  manufacture  hydraulic  dump  inserts  and  self-
dumping hoppers.

aa

The flat products segment is separated into two reportable segments; carbon flat products and specialty metals flat products.
The flat products segments’ assets and resources are shared by the carbon and specialty metals segments and both segments’
products are, in some instances, stored in the shared facilities and processed on the shared equipment. 

Page 4 

 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2019, the major pieces of processing equipment in operation by segment:

Processing Equipment
Tempering 
Stretcher-leveling 
Cutting-to-length 
Slitting 
Shearing 
Blanking 
Plate processing 
Laser processing 
Forming 
Machining 
Painting 
Tube processing 
Finishing 
Total 

Consolidated
Flat
Products

Tubular and 
Pipe 
Products

Total

3      
2      
14      
15      
8      
4      
23      
29      
20      
39      
1      
2      
24      
184      

-      
-      
13      
-      
-      
-      
-      
9      
-      
85      
1      
39      
3      
150      

3  
2 
27 
15 
8 
4  
23  
38  
20 
124  
2  
41  
27  
334  

Our  quality  assurance  system,  led  by  certified  specialists  and  engineers,  establishes  controls  and  procedures  covering  all 
aspects of our products from the time the material is ordered through receipt, processing and shipment to the customer. These 
controls and procedures encompass periodic supplier and customer audits, workshops with customers, inspection equipment 
and  criteria,  preventative  actions,  traceability  and  certification.  We  have  quality  testing  labs  at  several  of  our  facilities,
including at our temper mill facilities in Cleveland, Ohio and Bettendorf, Iowa. 

In addition, 26 of our facilities have earned International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certifications.
Detroit has earned both International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949:2016 and (ISO) 14001:2105 certifications. CTI
has earned The American Society of Mechanical Engineers S Certification and The National Board of Boiler & Pressure
Vessel  Inspectors  R  Certification.  Our  office  building  in  Winder,  Georgia  has  received  Leadership  in  Energy  and 
Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Customers and Distribution

We have a diverse customer and geographic base, which helps to reduce the inherent risk and cyclicality of our business. Net 
sales to our top three customers, in the aggregate, approximated 10%, 9% and 8% of our consolidated net sales in 2019, 2018 
and  2017,  respectively.  We  serve  customers  in  metals  consuming  industries,  including  manufacturers  and  fabricators  of 
transportation and material handling lift equipment, construction, mining and farm equipment, storage tanks, environmental
and energy generation equipment, automobiles, food service and electrical equipment, military vehicles and equipment, as
well as general and plate fabricators and metals service centers. The table below shows the percentage of our consolidated 
net sales to the largest industries for the past three years. 

Industryrr  
Industrial machinery and equipment manufacturers 
and their fabricators 
Residential and commercial construction 
Automobile manufacturers and their suppliers 
Metals service centers 
Transportation equipment manufacturers 
All others <5% 

2019 

46% 
13% 
11% 
8% 
8% 
14% 

2018 

48% 
13% 
10% 
10% 
8% 
11% 

2017 

51% 
9% 
9% 
11% 
6% 
14% 

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While  we  ship  products  throughout  the  United  States,  most  of our  customers  are  located  in
  the  midwestern,  eastern  and 
southern regions of the United States. Most customers are located within a 250-mile radius of one of our processing facilities,
thus enabling an efficient delivery system capable of handling a high frequency of short lead time orders. We transport our 
products directly to customers via our in-house truck fleet, which further supports the just-in-time delivery requirements of 
our  customers,  and  third-party  trucking  firms.  Products  sold  to  foreign  customers,  which  have  been  immaterial  to  our 
consolidated results, are shipped either directly from metals producers to the customer or to an intermediate processor, and
then to the customer by rail, truck or ocean carrier. Through our facility in Monterrey, Mexico, we are able to stock material
and service our customers in that country with shorter lead times.

f

f

We process our metals to specific customer orders as well as for stocking programs. Many of our larger customers commit 
to purchase on a regular basis at agreed upon or indexed prices for periods ranging from three to twelve months. To help 
mitigate price volatility risks, these price commitments are generally matched with corresponding supply arrangements, or to
a lesser degree by commodities hedging. Customers notify us of specific release dates as processed products are required. 
Customers  typically  notify  us  of  release  dates  anywhere  from  a  just-in-time  basis  to  one  month  before  the  release  date. 
Therefore, we are required to carry sufficient inventory to meet the short lead time and just-in-time delivery requirements of 
our  customers.  CTI  produces  pressure  parts  and  other  fabricated  components  primarily  for  industrial  boiler  applications. 
These  products  typically  take  several  months  to  produce  due  to  their  size  and  complexity.  Due  to  the  time  required  for 
production, we may require progress payments throughout the construction period.

The current global economic environment has resulted in increased supply chain scrutiny by our customers and potential 
customers. We believe our size, geographic footprint, financial position, dedication to a field sales force, and our focus on 
quality and customer service are advantageous in maintaining our customer base and in securing new customers.

Raw Materials

Our principal raw materials are carbon, coated, and stainless steel and aluminum, in the forms of pipe, tube, flat rolled sheet, 
coil and plate that we typically purchase from multiple primary metals producers. The metals industry as a whole is cyclical 
and at times pricing and availability of material can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including general
domestic and global economic conditions, domestic and global supply and demand imbalance, competition, quickly changing 
lead times and late deliveries from metals producers, fluctuations in the costs of raw materials necessary to produce metals,
import duties and tariffs and currency exchange rates. This volatility can significantly affect the availability and cost of raw 
materials to us.

Inventory management is a key profitability driver in the metals service center industry. Similar to many other metals service 
centers,  we  maintain  substantial  inventories  of  metals  to  accommodate  the  short  lead  times  and  just-in-time  delivery
requirements  of our  customers. Accordingly, we purchase metals  in  an  effort  to maintain our  inventory  at  levels  that  we 
believe to be appropriate to satisfy the anticipated needs of our customers based upon historic buying practices, purchase 
commitments with customers and market conditions. 

Our  commitments  to purchase  metals  are generally  at  prevailing market  prices  in  effect  at the  time  we  place our orders. 
During the past three years, we have entered into pass through nickel and carbon swaps at the request of our customers in 
order to mitigate our customers’ risk of volatility in the price of metals. The swaps are settled with the brokers at maturity
and the economic benefit or loss arising from the changes in fair value of the swaps is contractually passed through to the 
customer.

t

We have no long-term, fixed-price metals purchase contracts, except for commodity hedges. When metals prices decline, 
customer demands for lower prices and our competitors’ responses to those demands 
could result in lower sale prices and,
r
consequently, lower gross profits and earnings as we use existing metals inventory. When metals prices increase, competitive 
conditions will influence how much of the price increase we can pass on to our customers. 

Page 6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suppliers

We concentrate on developing supply relationships with high-quality domestic and international metals producers, using a 
coordinated effort to be the customer of choice for business critical suppliers. We employ sourcing strategies that maximize
the quality, production lead times and transportation economies of a global supply base. We are an important customer of 
flat-rolled coil and plate, pipe and tube for many of our principal suppliers, but we are not dependent on any one supplier. 
We purchase in bulk from metals producers in quantities that are efficient for such producers. This enables us to maintain a
continued source of supply at what we believe to be competitive prices. We believe the access to our facilities and equipment, 
and our high quality customer services and solutions, combined with our long-standing and continuous prompt pay practices, 
will continue to be an important factor in maintaining strong relationships with metals suppliers. 

f

The metals producing supply base has experienced significant consolidation, with a few suppliers accounting for a majority 
of the domestic carbon steel market. We purchased approximately 57% and 52% of our total metals requirements from our 
three largest suppliers in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Although we have no long-term supply commitments, we believe we
have good relationships with our metals suppliers. If, in the future, we are unable to obtain sufficient amounts of metals on a
timely basis, we may not be able to obtain metals from alternate sources at competitive prices. In addition, interruptions or 
reductions in our supply of metals could make it difficult to satisfy our customers’ just-in-time delivery requirements, which 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. 

Competition

Our principal markets are highly competitive. We compete with other public and private regional and national metals service 
centers, single location service centers and, to a certain degree, metals producers and intermediate metals processors on a 
regional basis. We have different competitors for each of our products and within each region.  We compete on the basis of 
price, product selection and availability, customer service, value-added capabilities, quality, financial strength and geographic 
proximity. Certain of our competitors have greater financial and operating resources than we have.

With the exception of certain Canadian or Mexican operations, foreign-located metals service centers are generally not a 
material competitive factor in our principal domestic markets.

Management Information Systems 

Information systems are an important component of our strategy. We have invested in technologies and human resources as 
a foundation for growth.  We depend on our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for financial reporting, management 
decision-making,  inventory  management,  order  tracking  and fulfillment  and  production  optimization.   We  continue  to
upgrade  and  consolidate  our  systems  for  optimal  use  of  resources  and  to  assure  we  are  taking  advantage  of  technology 
offerings.

Our information systems focus on the following core application areas: 

Inventory  Management.   Our  information  systems  track  the  status,  quantity  and  cost  of  inventories  by  product, 
location and process on a daily basis.  This information is essential to optimize management of inventory.

Differentiated  Services  To  Customers.   Our  information  systems  support  value-added  services  to  customers, 
including quality control and on-time delivery monitoring and reporting, just-in-time inventory management and 
shipping services.

E-Commerce and Advanced Customer Interaction.  We are actively participating in electronic commerce initiatives 
to  reduce  processing  cost  and  time.   In  addition  to  full  electronic  data  interchange  (EDI)  capabilities  with  our 
customers and vendors, we also have implemented extranet sites for specific customers which are integrated with 
our internal business systems. 

System and Process Enhancements. We have completed development of business system solutions to replace our 
legacy  information  systems  and  have  successfully  implemented  new  ERP  systems  at  most  of  our  locations.  We
continue to implement these systems to provide standardized business processes, enhanced inventory management,
production cost, and sales administrative controls, and reduced technical support requirements. Our business analysts
work with our quality team to identify opportunities for efficiency and improved customer service. We collaborate 

r

Page 7 

 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
across the metal supply chain, working with metals producers, service providers, customers, and industry-sponsored 
organizations to develop industry processing standards to drive cost out of the supply chain.

Information  security  and  continuous  availability  of  information  processing  are  of  highest  priority.  Our  information
professionals employ proven security and monitoring practices and tools to mitigate cyber-security risks and threats. In case 
of physical emergency or threat, our ERP systems, accounting systems, internet and communications systems are duplicated 
h 
at a secure off-site computing facility or through secure, multi-site cloud providers, with migration of our other systems whic
are in progress.  

r

Employees

At  December  31,  2019,  we  employed  approximately  1,860  people.  Approximately  300  of  the  hourly  plant  personnel  are 
represented  by  nine  separate  collective  bargaining  units.  The  table  below  shows  the  expiration  dates  of  the  collective
bargaining agreements.

Facility
Locust, North Carolina 
Romeoville, Illinois 
Minneapolis coil, Minnesota 
Indianapolis, Indiana 
St. Paul, Minnesota 
Milan, Illinois 
Minneapolis plate, Minnesota 
Detroit, Michigan 
Hammond, Indiana

Expiration date
March 4, 2020 
Maya  31, 2020 
September 30, 2020
Januaryrr  29, 2021 
Mayaa  25, 2021 
August 12, 2021
March 31, 2022
August 31, 2022
November 30, 2024 

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

Service Marks, Trade Names and Patents

We conduct our business under the name “Olympic Steel.” A provision of federal law grants exclusive rights to the word 
“Olympic”  to  the  U.S.  Olympic  Committee.  The  U.S.  Supreme  Court  has  recognized,  however,  that  certain  users  may
continue to use the word based on long-term and continuous use. We have used the name Olympic Steel since 1954, but are 
prevented from registering the name “Olympic” and from being qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under that 
name in certain states. In such states, we have registered under different names, including “Oly Steel” and “Olympia Steel.” 
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Olympic Steel Lafayette, Inc., does business in certain states under the names “Olympic Steel 
Detroit,” “Lafayette Steel and Processing” and “Lafayette Steel.” Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Olympic Steel Iowa, Inc.
does business in certain states under the name “Oly Steel Iowa, Inc.”. Our North Carolina operation conducted business under 
the name “Olympic Steel North Carolina.” Our Integrity Stainless operation conducts business under the name “Integrity
Stainless.” Our CTI operation conducts business under the name “CTI Power.” Our operation in Monterrey, Mexico operates
under the name “Metales de Olympic S. de.R.L. de C.V.” We operate under the name “Berlin Metals” through our B Metals,
Inc.  subsidiary.  We  operate  under  the  name  “McCullough  Industries”  through  our  MCI,  Inc.  subsidiary  and  we  conduct 
business under the name “EZ Dumper” for certain of our products.

d

We hold a trademark for our stainless steel sheet and plate product “OLY-FLATBRITE,” which has a unique combination 
of surface finish and flatness and for our “WRIGHT” self-dumping metal hoppers produced by McCullough Industries. 

The  “EZ  DUMPER®”  tradename  was  acquired  by  us  in  conjunction  with  the  acquisition  of  certain  assets  related  to  the
manufacturing of the EZ Dumper hydraulic dump inserts. 

Page 8 

 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
Government Regulation

Our operations are governed by many laws and regulations, including those relating to workplace safety and worker health,
principally the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations thereunder. We believe that we are in material compliance
with these laws and regulations and do not believe that future compliance with such laws and regulations will have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Environmental

Our facilities are subject to certain federal, state and local requirements relating to the protection of the environment. We
believe that we are in material compliance with all environmental laws, do not anticipate any material expenditures to meet 
environmental requirements and do not believe that compliance with such laws and regulations will have a material adverse 
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Seasonality

Seasonal factors may cause demand fluctuations within the year which could impact our results of operations. Typically, 
demand in the first half of the year is stronger than the second half of the year, as it contains more ship days and is not 
impacted by the seasonal shut-downs in July, November and December due to holidays. 

Effects of Inflation

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

Backlog

Because we conduct our operations generally on the basis of short-term orders, we do not believe that backlog is a material
or meaningful indicator of future performance.

Available Information

We file  annual,  quarterly,  and  current  reports, proxy  statements,  and  other  documents with  the  SEC under  the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and 
other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that are filed 
by the Company at http://www.sec.gov. 

In addition, our annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K 
and any amendments to all of the foregoing reports, are made available free of charge on or through the “Investor Relations”
section of our website at www.olysteel.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with 
or furnished to the SEC. 

Information  relating  to  our  corporate  governance  at  Olympic  Steel,  including  our  Business  Ethics  Policy,  information
concerning our executive officers, directors and Board committees (including committee charters), and transactions in our 
securities by directors and officers, is available free of charge on or through the “Investor Relations” section of our website
at www.olysteel.com. We are not including the information on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, 
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Page 9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Forward-Looking Information

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents we file with the SEC contain various forward-looking statements
that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future performance, business, our beliefs ff
and our management’s assumptions. In addition, we, or others on our behalf, may make forward-looking statements in press
releases or written statements, or in our communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of 
business  through  meetings,  conferences,  webcasts,  phone  calls  and  conference  calls.  Words  such  as  “may,”  “will,” 
“anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” and “continue,” as well as 
the  negative  of  these  terms  or  similar  expressions  are  intended  to  identify  forward-looking  statements,  which  are  made 
pursuant  to  the  safe  harbor  provisions  of  the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995.  Such  forward-looking
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
implied by such statements including, but not limited to, those set forth in Item 1A (Risk Factors) below and the following: 

f

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risks of falling metals prices and inventoryrr  devaluation; 
general and global business, economic, financial and political conditions, including the 2020 U.S. election;  
competitive factors such as the availability, global pricing of metals and production levels (including the increased
U.S.  capacity),  industry  shipping  and  inventory  levels  and  rapid  fluctuations  in  customer  demand  and  metals
pricing;  
the  levels  of  imported  steel  in  the United States  and  the tariffs  initiated  by  the U.S.  government  in 2018  under
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and imposed tariffs and duties on exported steel or other products,
U.S. trade policy and its impact on the U.S. manufacturing industryrr ; 
cyclicality and volatilityt  within the metals industryrr ;
fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar and the related impact on foreign steel pricing, U.S. exports, and foreign
imports to the United States;
the successes of our efforts and initiatives to improve working capital turnover and cash flows, and achieve cost
savings;
our ability to generate free cash flow through operations and repayaa  debt; 
the availabilitytt , and increased costs, of labor related to tighter employment markets; 
the availabilitytt  and rising costs of transportation and logistical services; 
customer, supplier and competitor consolidation, bankruptcy or insolvency; 
reduced production schedules, layoffs or work stoppages by our own, our suppliers’ or customers’ personnel;
the  adequacy  of  our  existing  information  technology  and  business  system  software,  including  duplication  and
security processes;
the adequacy of our efforts to mitigate cyber securitytt  risks and threats;
the amounts, successes and our ability to continue our capital investments and strategic growth initiatives, including
acquisitions and our business information system implementations;
our ability to successfully integrate recent acquisitions into our business and risks inherent with the acquisitions in
the achievement of expected results, including whether the acquisition will be accretive and within the expected
timeframe;
events  or  circumstances  that  could  adversely  impact  the  successful  operation  of  our  processing  equipment  an
d
operations; 
rising interest rates and their impacts on our variable interest rate debt;
the impacts of union organizing activities and the success of union contract renewals;
changes  in  laws  or  regulations  or  the  manner  of  their  interpretation  or  enforcement  could  impact  our  financial
performance and restrict our ability to operate our business or execute our strategies; 
events or circumstances that could impair or adversely impact the carryrr ing value of any of our assets;
risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including impairment charges related to indefinite lived
intangible assets;
the timing and outcomes of inventory lower of cost or market adjustments and last-in, first-out, or LIFO, income or
expense; 

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(cid:404)

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the inflation or deflation existing within the metals industry, as well as product mix and inventory levels on hand,
which can impact our cost of materials sold as a result of the fluctuations in the LIFO inventoryrr  valuation; 
our ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; 
our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and the amounts and timing of repurchases, if any; and
unanticipated  developments  that  could  occur  with  respect  to  contingencies  such  as  litigation,  arbitration  and
environmental  matters,  including  any  developments  that  would  require  any  increase  in  our  costs  for  such
contingencies. 

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

Page 11 

 
 
 
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC, the following 
risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating us and our business before investing in our common stock. The risks
and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties, not presently known to 
us or otherwise, may also impair our business. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results
of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline,
and investors may lose all or part of their investment.

Risks Related to our Business 

Volatile metals prices can cause significant fluctuations in our operating results. Our sales and operating income could
decrease if metals prices decline or if we are unable to pass producer price increases on to our customers.

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

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

Quotas and tariffs imposed as a result of government actions can cause significant fluctuations in our operating results. 

Global  demand  and  global  metals  pricing,  supply  and  demand  are  impacted  by  quotas  and  tariffs  imposed  as  a  result  of 
government actions. The tariffs initiated by the U.S. government in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 
1962 (section 232 tariffs) resulted in increased metals prices in the United States during 2018. The subsequent deletion and 
addition  of  country-specific  tariffs  during  both  2018  and  2019  has  caused  uncertainty  in  the  metals  marketplace.  Any
additional future tariffs or quotas imposed on steel and aluminum imports may increase the price of metal, which may impact 
our sales, gross margin and profitability if we are unable to pass the increased prices onto our customers. The prolonged
imposition of tariffs could also lead to additional trade disputes that could impact the global demand for metals and impact 
on sales, gross margin and profitability. Conversely, the removal of existing tariffs could cause the price of metal to decline,
which may impact our sales, gross margin and profitability. 

Page 12 

  
  
  
  
  
 
We service industries that are highly cyclical, and any fluctuation in our customers’ demand could impact our sales,
gross profits and profitability.

We sell our products in a variety of industries, including capital equipment manufacturers for industrial, agricultural and 
construction use, the automotive industry, the utilities industry, and manufacturers of fabricated metals products. Numerous 
factors, such as general economic conditions, fluctuations in the U.S. dollar, government stimulus or regulation, availability
of adequate credit and financing, consumer confidence, significant business interruptions, labor shortages or work stoppages,
energy prices, seasonality, customer inventory levels and other factors beyond our control, may cause significant demand 
fluctuations from one or more of these industries. Any fluctuation in demand within one or more of these industries may be 
significant and may last for a lengthy period of time. In periods of economic slowdown or recession in the United States, 
a
excess  customer or  service  center  inventory or  a decrease  in  the prices  that we  ca
n  realize  from  sales  of our  products  to
rr
customers in any of these industries could result in lower sales, gross profits and profitability.

Approximately 46% of our 2019 consolidated net sales were to industrial machinery and equipment manufacturers and their 
fabricators. Due to the concentration of customers in the industrial machinery and equipment industry, a decline in production 
levels in that industry could result in lower sales, gross profits and profitability. Approximately 11% of our 2019 consolidated 
net  sales  were  to  automotive  manufacturers  or  manufacturers  of  automotive  components  and  parts,  whom  we  refer  to  as 
automotive customers. Historically, due to the concentration of customers in the automotive industry, our gross profits on 
these sales have generally been less than our gross profits on sales to customers in other industries. 

f

Our success is dependent upon our relationships with certain key customers.

We have derived and expect to continue to derive a significant portion of our revenues from a relatively limited number of 
customers. Collectively, our top three customers accounted for approximately 10% and 9% of our consolidated net sales in 
2019 and 2018, respectively. Approximately 46% and 48% of our consolidated net sales during 2019 and 2018, respectively,
were  directly  related  to  industrial  machinery  and  equipment  manufacturers  and  their  fabricators.  Due  to  the  large
concentration of customers in few segments, changes to demand of product by customers in the industrial machinery and 
equipment manufacturers and their fabricators could have a material adverse effect on our business, our results of operations 
and our cash flows. Many of our larger customers commit to purchase on a regular basis at agreed upon prices over periods 
from three to twelve months. We generally do not have long-term contracts with our customers. As a result, the relationship, 
as well as particular orders, can generally be terminated with relatively little advance notice. The loss of any one of our major 
customers or decrease in demand by those customers or credit constraints placed on them could have a material adverse effect 
on our business, our results of operations and our cash flows. 

Capital deployed for acquisitions and processing equipment investments at our existing locations may be unable to
achieve expected results, or sustain our growth and events or circumstances that could adversely impact operations 
ff
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

We have grown through acquisitions and by increasing sales and services to our existing customers, aggressively pursuing
new  customers  and  services,  building  or  purchasing  new  facilities,  acquiring  and  upgrading  processing  equipment  and 
ff
expanded our product mix in order to expand the range of customer services and products that we offer. We intend to actively
pursue our growth strategy in the future. 

Future expansion or construction projects, could have adverse effects on our results of operations due to the impact of the
associated start-up costs and the potential for underutilization in the start-up phase of a facility. While we continue to pursue
potential acquisition targets, we are unable to predict whether or when any prospective acquisition candidate will become
available or the likelihood that any acquisition will be completed. Moreover, in pursuing acquisition opportunities, we may 
compete  for  acquisition  targets  with  other  companies  with  similar  growth  strategies  that  may  be  larger  and  have  greater
financial  and  other  resources  than  we  have.  Competition  among  potential  acquirers  could  result  in  increased  prices  for 
acquisition targets. As a result, we may not be able to consummate acquisitions on terms satisfactory to us, or at all. 

The pursuit of acquisitions and other growth initiatives may divert management’s time and attention away from day-to-day
operations.  In  order  to  achieve  growth  through  acquisitions,  expansion  of  current  facilities,  greenfield  construction  or 
otherwise, additional funding sources may be needed and we may not be able to obtain the additional capital necessary to 
pursue our growth strategy on terms that are satisfactory to us, or at all.

Page 13 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We continue to invest in processing equipment to support customer demand. Although we have successfully installed new
and used processing equipment in the past, we can provide no assurance that future installations will be successful, or achieve
expected results. Risks associated with the installations include, but are not limited to:

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a significant use of management and employee time; 
the possibility that the performance of the equipment does not meet expectations; and
the possibility that disruptions from the installations may make it difficult for us to maintain relationships with
our customers, employees or suppliers.

Difficulties associated with the installation of new processing equipment could adversely affect our business, our customer 
service, our results of operations and our cash flows.

Our information technology systems could be negatively affected by cyber security threats.

Increased global information technology security requirements, vulnerabilities, threats and a rise in sophisticated and targeted
a.
cyber crime pose a risk to the security of our systems, networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our dat
Despite our efforts to protect sensitive information and confidential and personal data, our facilities and systems and those o
f 
our  third-party  service  providers  may  be  vulnerable  to  security  breaches.  This  could  lead  to  disclosure,  modification  or 
destruction of proprietary and other key information, production downtimes and operational disruptions, which in turn could
adversely affect our results of operations.

ff

ff

Our implementation of information systems could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.

We are in the process of implementing information systems and eliminating our legacy operating systems. The objective is 
to standardize and streamline business processes and improve support for our service center and fabrication business. Risks
associated with the phased implementation include, but are not limited to:

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a significant deployment of capital and a significant use of management and employee time; 
the possibility that software and implementation vendors may not be able to support the projo ect as planned; 
the possibility that the timelines, costs or complexities related to the new system implementation will be greater
than expected; 
the possibility that the software, once fully implemented, does not function as planned;
the possibility that benefits from the systems maya  be less or take longer to realize than expected; 
the possibility that disruptions from the implementation may make it difficult for us to maintain relationships
with our customers, employees or suppliers; and
limitations  on  the  availability  and  adequacy  of  proprietary  software  or  consulting,  training  and  project
management services, as well as our ability to retain key personnel. 

Although we have successfully initiated use of the systems at most of our locations, we can provide no assurance that the
rollout to the remaining locations will be successful or will occur as planned and without disruption to operations. Difficulties 
associated with the design and implementation of new information systems could adversely affect our business, our customer 
service, our results of operations and our cash flows. 

The failure of our key computer-based systems could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Until  our  systems  implementations  are  completed,  we  maintain  separate  regional  legacy  computer-based  systems  in  the 
operation of our business and we depend on these systems to a significant degree, particularly for inventory management.
These  systems  are  vulnerable  to,  among  other  things,  damage  or  interruption  from  fire,  flood,  tornado  and  other  natural 
disasters,  power  loss,  computer  system  and  network failures, operator negligence, physical  and electronic  loss  of data  or 
security breaches and computer viruses. Although we have secure back-up systems off-site, the destruction or failure of any
one of our computer-based systems for any significant period of time could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Page 14 

  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
Our business is dependent on transportation and labor. Increases in the cost or availability of transportation or labor
could adversely affect our business and operations, as we may be unable to pass cost increases on to our customers. 

We ship products throughout the United States via our in-house truck fleet or by third-party trucking firms. Products sold to 
foreign customers are shipped either directly from metals producers to the customer or to an intermediate processor, and then 
to the customer by rail, truck or ocean carrier. Our business depends on the daily transportation of a large number of products. 
We depend to a certain extent on third parties for transportation of our products to customers as well as inbound delivery of 
our raw materials.  

If any of these providers were to fail to deliver materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to process and deliver 
our products in response to customer demand. If any of these third parties were to cease operations or cease doing business
with us, we may be unable to replace them at a reasonable cost. In addition, the implementation of Electr
onic Logging Device 
rules in the United States began impacting the availability of drivers and third-party trucks in 2018 and significantly increased 
the  price  of  transportation  services  in  the  United  States.  Failure  of  a  third-party  transportation  provider  to  provide
transportation services could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse
effect on our financial position and results of operations. 

m

The economic expansion created a significant demand for labor in the United States, resulting in record low unemployment 
rates. The demand for skilled labor resulted in the need to increase pay rates in certain markets. Our operations are dependent
on the labor used to operate our equipment and deliver products to our customers. Decreased availability of labor could harm 
our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our financial position and 
results of operations. 

The availability of drivers and labor is integral to our operations, and increases in our cost of transportation or labor may have 
a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. 

Increased metals capacity or an interruption in the sources of our metals supply could have a material adverse effect
on our results of operations.

We purchased approximately 57% and 52% of our total metals requirements from our three largest suppliers in 2019 and 
2018, respectively. Over the past year, increased capacity has been added in the U.S. market. The addition of new mill sources 
aa
and decreased domestic demand could lead to domestic over capacity, which could lead to a decrease in steel prices, which 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. 

Conversely, fewer available suppliers increases the risk of supply disruption through both scheduled and unscheduled supplier 
outages. We have no long-term supply commitments with our metals suppliers. If, in the future, we are unable to obtain 
sufficient amounts of metals on a timely basis, we may not be able to obtain metals from alternate sources at competitive
prices. In addition, late deliveries, interruptions or reductions in our supply of metals could make it difficult to satisfy our 
customers’  just-in-time  delivery  requirements,  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial 
condition, results of operations and cash flows. 

Although we expect to finance our growth initiatives through borrowings under our credit facility, we may have to
find  additional  sources  of  funding,  which  could  be  difficult.  Additionally,  increased  leverage  and  borrowing  rates 
could adversely impact our business and results of operations. 

We expect to finance our growth initiatives through borrowings under our credit facility, which matures on December 8, 
2022. However, our credit facility may not be sufficient or available to finance our growth initiatives, and we may have to 
find additional sources of financing. It may be difficult for us in the future to obtain the necessary funds and liquidity to run
and expand our business. 

The borrowings under our credit facility are primarily at variable interest rates. If interest rates in the future were to increase 
100 basis points (1.0%) from December 31, 2019 rates and, assuming no change in total debt from December 31, 2019 levels, 
the additional annual interest expense to us would be approximately $1.2 million.

Page 15 

  
  
  
  
 
 
We depend on our senior management team and the loss of any member could prevent us from implementing our
business strategy. 

Our success is dependent upon the management and leadership skills of our senior management team. Effective January 1, 
2019, Michael Siegal began serving as our Executive Chairman of the Board after serving as our Chief Executive Officer 
since 1984. Richard T. Marabito began serving as our Chief Executive Officer after serving as our Chief Financial Officer
since 2010, and Richard A. Manson began serving as our Chief Financial Officer after serving as our Vice President and 
Treasurer since 2013. Andrew Greiff began serving as our President and Chief Operating Officer effective January 1, 2020
after serving as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2016. The loss of any member of our senior 
management team or the failure to attract and retain additional qualified personnel could prevent us from implementing our 
business strategy. We have employment agreements, which include non-competition provisions, with our Chief Executive 
Officer, our President and Chief Operating Officer, and our Chief Financial Officer that expire on January 1, 2024, January 
1, 2025, and January 1, 2022, respectively. 

Customer and third-party credit constraints and credit losses could have a material adverse effect on our results of 
operations.

Some  of  our  customers  may  experience  difficulty  obtaining  and/or  maintaining  credit  availability.  In  particular,  certain
customers that are highly leveraged represent an increased credit risk. Some customers have reduced their purchases because 
of these credit constraints. Moreover, our disciplined credit policies have, in some instances, resulted in lost sales. If we have 
misjudged our credit estimations and they result in future credit losses, lost sales or lost customers, there could be a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and our allowance for doubtful accounts.

Labor disruptions at any of our facilities or those of major customers could adversely affect our business, results of 
operations and financial condition.

At  December  31,  2019,  we  employed  approximately  1,860  people.  Approximately  300  of  the  hourly  plant  personnel  are
represented by nine separate collective bargaining units. Any prolonged work stoppages by our personnel represented by 
collective bargaining units could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows. 

In addition, many of our larger customers, including those in the automotive industry, have unionized workforces and some
have experienced significant labor disruptions in the past such as work stoppages, slow-downs and strikes. A labor disruption
at one or more of our major customers could interrupt production or sales by that customer and cause that customer to halt or 
limit orders for our products. Any such reduction in the demand for our products could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows. 

n

Participation  in  multiemployer  pension  plans  carry  withdrawal  liability  risks,  which  could  impact  our  results  of 
operations and financial condition.

Through CTI, we contribute to one multiemployer pension plan.  The risks of participating in the multiemployer plan are
different from a single-employer plan in that 1) assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used 
to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers, 2) if a participating employer stops contributing to the
plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers, and 3) if CTI chooses to 
stop participating in the multiemployer plan, CTI may be required to pay the plan an amount based on the unfunded status of 
the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. 

Page 16 

  
  
 
  
  
  
Increases in energy prices would increase our operating costs, and we may be unable to pass all these increases on to 
our customers in the form of higher prices.

If our energy costs increase disproportionately to our revenues, our earnings could be reduced. We use energy to process and 
transport our products. Our operating costs increase if energy costs, including electricity, diesel fuel and natural gas, rise.
During periods of higher energy costs, we may not be able to recover our operating cost increases through price increases 
without reducing demand for our products. In addition, we generally do not hedge our exposure to higher prices via energy
futures contracts. Increases in energy and fuel prices will increase our operating costs and may reduce our profitability if we
are unable to pass all of the increases on to our customers. 

Our insurance coverage, customer indemnifications or other liability protections may be unavailable or inadequate
to cover all of our significant risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

From time to time, we may be subject to litigation incidental to our businesses, including claims for damages arising out of 
use of our products, claims involving employment matters, cyber security claims and commercial disputes. 

We currently carry insurance from financially solid, highly rated counterparties in established markets to cover significant 
risks and liabilities. However, our insurance coverage may be inadequate if such claims do arise and any liability not covered 
by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business. Disputes with insurance carriers, including over policy 
terms,  reservation  of  rights,  the  applicability  of  coverage (including  exclusions),  compliance  with  provisions  (including 
notice)  and/or  the  insolvency  of  one  or  more  of  our  insurers  may  significantly  affect  the  amount  or  timing  of  recovery.
Although we have been able to obtain insurance in amounts we believe to be appropriate to cover such liability to date, our 
insurance premiums may increase in the future as a consequence of conditions in the insurance business generally or our 
situation in particular. Any such increase could result in lower net income or cause the need to reduce our insurance coverage.
In addition, a future claim may be brought against us that could have a material adverse effect on us.

In  some  circumstances,  we  may  be  entitled  to  certain  legal  protections  or  indemnifications  from  our  customers  through
contractual  provisions,  laws,  regulations  or  otherwise.  However,  these  protections  are  not  always  available,  are  typically 
subject to certain terms or limitations, including the availability of funds, and may not be sufficient to cover all losses or 
liabilities incurred. 

If insurance coverage, customer indemnifications and/or other legal protections are not available or are not sufficient to cover 
our risks or losses, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. 

Our business is highly competitive, and increased competition could reduce our market share and harm our financial 
performance.

Our business is highly competitive. We compete with metals service centers and, to a certain degree, metals producers and 
intermediate metals processors, on a regular basis, primarily on quality, price, inventory availability and the ability to meet
the delivery schedules and service requirements of our customers. We have different competitors for each of our products 
and  within  each  region.  Certain  of  these  competitors  have  financial  and  operating  resources  in  excess  of  ours.  Increased 
competition could lower our gross profits or reduce our market share and have a material adverse effect on our financial 
performance. 

Changes in laws or regulations, including recently enacted tax reform legislation, or the manner of their interpretation 
or enforcement could adversely impact our financial performance and restrict our ability to operate our business or 
execute our strategies.

New laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations, or the manner of their interpretation or enforcement,
could increase our cost of doing business and restrict our ability to operate our business or execute our strategies. In particular,
there may be significant changes in U.S. laws and regulations and existing international trade agreements by the current U.S.
presidential administration that could affect a wide variety of industries and businesses, including those businesses we own 
and  operate.  If  the  U.S.  presidential  administration  materially  modifies U.S.  laws  and  regulations  and  international  trade 
agreements, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be affected.

Page 17 

 
 
 
  
Impairment  in  the  carrying  value  of  intangible  assets  could  result  in  the  incurrence  of  impairment  charges  and
negatively impact our results of operations.

The net carrying value of intangibles represents non amortizable goodwill and trade names, covenant not to compete and 
customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization, related to our specialty metals flat products and tubular and pipe
products  segments.  Indefinitely  lived  assets  are  evaluated  for  impairment  annually  or  whenever  events  or  changes  in
a
circumstance indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be recovera
ble. Amortizable intangible assets are 
evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may 
not  be  recoverable.  Impairments  to  intangible  assets  may  be  caused  by  factors  outside  our  control,  such  as  increased 
competitive  pricing  pressures,  lower  than  expected  revenue  and  profit  growth  rates,  changes  in  discount  rates  based  on 
changes in the cost of capital (interest rates, etc.), or the loss of a significant customer and could result in the incurrence of 
impairment charges and negatively impact our results of operations.

uu

Uncertainty relating to the calculation of London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other reference rates and 
their  potential  discontinuance  may  adversely  affect  interest  expense  related  to  our  outstanding  debt,  including
amounts borrowed under our asset-based credit facility (ABL Credit Facility).

National and international regulators and law enforcement agencies have conducted investigations into a number of rates or 
indices, which are deemed to be “reference rates.” Actions by such regulators and law enforcement agencies may result in 
changes to the manner in which certain reference rates are determined, their discontinuance, or the establishment of alternative 
reference rates. In particular, on July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates 
LIBOR, announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021.
Such announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 
2021. As such, it appears highly likely that LIBOR will be discontinued or modified by the end of 2021.

At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect that these developments, any discontinuance, modification or other reforms 
to  LIBOR  or  any  other  reference  rate,  or  the  establishment  of  alternative  reference  rates,  may  have  on  LIBOR  or  other 
benchmarks, including LIBOR-based borrowings under our ABL Credit Facility. Furthermore, the use of alternative reference 
rates or other reforms could cause the market value of, the applicable interest rate on and the amount of interest paid on our 
benchmark-based borrowings to be materially different than expected and could materially adversely impact our ability to
refinance such borrowings or raise future indebtedness on a cost effective basis.

rr

We  are  subject  to  significant  environmental,  health  and  safety  laws  and  regulations  and  related  compliance
expenditures and liabilities.

Our businesses are subject to many federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, particularly
with respect to the use, handling, treatment, and disposal of substances and waste used or generated in our manufacturing
processes. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur expenditures to comply with applicable environmental laws and 
regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and permit requirements could result
in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing
operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment or remedial actions. 

We may in the future be required to incur costs relating to the investigation or remediation of property, and for addressing
environmental conditions. Some environmental laws and regulations impose liability and responsibility on present and former 
owners, operators or users of facilities and sites for contamination at such facilities and sites without regard to causation or 
knowledge of contamination. Consequently, we cannot assure you that existing or future circumstances, the development of 
new facts or the failure of third parties to address contamination at current or former facilities or properties will not require
significant expenditures by us. 

We expect to continue to be subject to environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. It is difficult to predict the
future interpretation and development of environmental and health and safety laws and regulations or their impact on our 
future earnings and operations. We anticipate that compliance will continue to require increased capital expenditures and 
operating costs. Any increase in these costs, or unanticipated liabilities arising for example, out of discovery of previously
unknown conditions or more aggressive enforcement actions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition, results of operations and cash flows. 

h

Page 18 

 
  
  
  
Risks Related to Our Common Stock

The market price for our common stock may be volatile. 

Historically, there has been volatility in the market price for our common stock. Furthermore, the market price of our common 
stock could fluctuate substantially in the future in response to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the risk 
factors described herein. Examples include: 

(cid:404) 
(cid:404)
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 
(cid:404)
(cid:404)
(cid:404)
(cid:404)

changes in commoditytt  prices, especially metals; 
changes in financial estimates or recommendations by stock market analysts regarding us or our competitors;
the operating and stock performance of other companies that investors mayaa  deem comparable; 
developments affecting us, our customers or our suppliers; 
press releases, earnings releases or publicity relating to us or our competitors or relating to trends in the metals
service center industryrr ;
inabilityt  to meet securities analysts’ and investors’ quarterly or annual estimates or targets of our performance;
sales of our common stock by large shareholders;
the amount of shares acquired for short-term investments;
general domestic or international economic, market and political conditions;
fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar; 
changes in the legal or regulatoryrr  environment affecting our business; and
announcements  by  us  or  our  competitors  of  significant  acquisitions,  dispositions  or  joint  ventures,  or  other
material events impacting the domestic or global metals industryrr . 

In the past, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant 
effect  on  the  market  prices  of  securities  issued  by  many  companies  for  reasons  unrelated  to  their  specific  operating
performance.  These  factors  may  adversely  affect  the  trading  price  of  our  common  stock,  regardless  of  actual  operating 
performance. 

In  addition,  stock  markets from  time  to  time  experience  extreme price  and volume fluctuations  that  may  be  unrelated  or 
disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. In the past, some shareholders have brought securities class 
action lawsuits against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. We may in the future
be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation, regardless of whether our 
defense is ultimately successful, could result 
in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources.

u

Our quarterly results may be volatile.

Our operating results have varied on a quarterly basis during our operating history and are likely to fluctuate significantly in
the future. Our operating results may be below the expectations of our investors or stock market analysts as a result of a 
variety of factors, including the impact of LIFO expense estimates, many of which are outside of our control. Factors that 
may affect our quarterly operating results include, but are not limited to, the risk factors listed above.

Many factors could cause our revenues and operating results to vary significantly in the future. Accordingly, we believe that 
quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful. Investors should not rely on the results 
of one quarter as an indication of our future performance. Further, it is our practice not to provide forward-looking sales or 
earnings guidance and not to endorse any analyst’s sales or earnings estimates. Nonetheless, if our results of operations in 
any quarter do not meet analysts’ expectations, our stock price could materially decrease. 

Page 19 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certain  provisions  in  our  charter  documents  and  Ohio  law  could  delay  or  prevent  a  change  in  management  or  a
takeover attempt that you may consider to be in your best interest. 

We are subject to Chapter 1704 of the Ohio Revised Code, which prohibits certain business combinations and transactions 
between an “issuing public corporation” and an “Ohio law interested shareholder” for at least three years after the Ohio law 
interested shareholder attains 10% ownership, unless the Board of Directors of the issuing public corporation approves the 
transaction before the Ohio law interest shareholder attains 10% ownership. We are also subject to Section 1701.831 of the 
Ohio Revised Code, which provides that certain notice and informational filings and special shareholder meeting and voting 
procedures must be followed prior to consummation of a proposed “control share acquisition.” Assuming compliance with 
the notice and information filings prescribed by the statute, a proposed control share acquisition may be made only if the 
acquisition is approved by a majority of the voting power of the issuer represented at the meeting and at least a majority of 
the voting power remaining after excluding the combined voting power of the “interested shares.”

Certain provisions contained in our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Code of 
Regulations and Ohio law could delay or prevent the removal of directors and other management and could make a merger, 
tender offer or proxy contest involving us that you may consider to be in your best interest more difficult. For example, these
provisions: 

(cid:404) 
(cid:404)
(cid:404)
(cid:404) 

allow our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval; 
provide for our Board of Directors to be divided into two classes of directors serving staggered terms;
limit who can call a special meeting of shareholders; and
establish advance notice requirements for nomination for election to the Board of Directors or for proposing
matters to be acted upon at shareholder meetings. 

These  provisions  may  discourage  potential  takeover  attempts,  discourage  bids  for  our  common  stock  at  a  premium  over 
market price or adversely affect the market price of, and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. 
These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other shareholders to elect 
directors other than the candidates nominated by our Board of Directors.

Principal shareholders who own a significant numbers of shares of our common stock may have interests that conflict 
with yours.

Michael D. Siegal, our Executive Chairman of the Board and one of our largest shareholders, owned approximately 11.5% 
of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2019. Mr. Siegal may have the ability to significantly influence matters
requiring  shareholder  approval.  In deciding how  to vote on  such matters,  Mr.  Siegal  may  be  influenced  by  interests  that 
conflict with yours.

n

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

Page 20 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

We believe that our properties are strategically situated relative to our domestic suppliers, our customers and each other,
allowing us to support customers from multiple locations. Product is shipped from the most advantageous facility, regardless 
of where the customer order is taken. The facilities are located in the hubs of major metals consumption markets, and within
a  250-mile  radius  of  most  of  our  customers,  a  distance  approximating  the  one-day  driving  and  delivery  limit  for  truck 
shipments. During 2019, we terminated the lease on the Washington distribution facility and entered into a lease commencing
March 2020 for a processing facility in Buford, Georgia.

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our principal properties including which segment’s products
are serviced out of each location:

Operation

Location

Square
Feet

Function

  127,000

Corporate offices, coil processing and 
distribution center

  121,500 Coil and plate processing,

Cleveland 

Minneapolis 

Bedford Heights, 
Ohio (1) 
Bedford Heights, 
Ohio (1) 
Bedford Heights, 
Ohio (1) 
Dover, Ohio

Plymouth, 
Minnesota 
Plymouth, 
Minnesota 

  59,500

 62,000

  196,800

  112,200

Chambersburg  Chambersburg,

  157,000

Pennsylvania 
Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania 

  150,000

Iowa 

Bettendorf, Iowa 

  244,000

distribution center and offices 
Plate processing, distribution center 
and offices
Plate processing, fabrication and 
distribution center
Coil and plate processing,
distribution center and offices 
Plate processing, fabrication,
distribution center and offices 
Plate processing, distribution center 
and offices
Plate processing, fabrication, 
manufacturing, distribution center 
and offices 
Coil and plate processing,
fabrication, distribution center and 
offices

Winder 

Winder, Georgia 

 285,000 Coil and plate processing,

Detroit 

Detroit, Michigan 

Kentucky 

Gary 

Mt. Sterling,
Kentuckykk
Mt. Sterling, 
Kentuckykk
Gary, Indiana 

Connecticut  Milford, 

Chicago 

Connecticut
Schaumburg,
Illinois 

McCullough
Industries
Streetsboro 

Mexico 
Chicago 

l
St. Paul 

Streetsboro, Ohio 

Latrobe,
Pennsylvania 
Monterrey, Mexico 
Romeoville,
Illinois 
St. Paul, Minnesota 

  256,000

fabrication, distribution center and 
offices
Coil processing, distribution center 
and offices 
Plate processing, fabrication and 
distribution center
  107,000 Distribution center and offices 

  100,000

  183,000

  134,000

 122,500

Coil processing, distribution center 
and offices 
Coil processing, distribution center 
and offices
Coil and sheet processing,
distribution center and offices 
Coil processing, distribution center 
and offices

 66,200

  43,200

Coil and sheet processing, 
distribution center and offices 
Coil and sheet processing, 
distribution center
  60,000  Distribution center 
363,000

Corporate offices, fabrication and 
distribution center

Berlin Metals  Hammond, Indiana   

  117,950

Kenton, Ohio 

75,000 Manufacturing facility

Tube
and
Pipe

(cid:6447)

Owned or
Leased

Owned 

Owned 

Leased (2) 

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Segment

Specialty
Metals

Carbon

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

Owned 

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

Owned 

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 

Leased (3) 

Owned 

Owned

Leased (4) 

Leased (5) 
Owned 

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)
(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

132,000

  Distribution center and offices

Owned 

Page 21 

 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
Operation

Location

Square
Feet

Function

Owned or
Leased

Carbon

Specialty
Metals

Segment

Charlotte 

Fond du Lac 

Indianapolis 

Quad Cities 
Des Moines 
Owatonna 

Locust, North 
Carolina 
Fond du Lac, 
Wisconsin
Indianapolis, 
Indiana
Milan, Illinois 
Ankeny, Iowa 
Owatonna, 
Minnesota 

127,600 Distribution center, fabrication and 

Owned 

offices

117,000 Distribution center and offices 

Owned  (cid:6447)

79,000 Distribution center and offices 

57,600  Distribution center and offices
50,000  Distribution center and offices
23,000

Production cutting center 

Owned 

Owned 
Owned 
Owned 

Tube 
and
Pipe

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)
(cid:6447)(cid:6447)
(cid:6447)

(1) 

(2) 

(3)

(4)

(5)

The Bedford Heights facilities are all adjacent properties.
This facility is leased from a related party. The lease expires on December 31, 2023, with renewal options.
The lease on this facility expires on August 31, 2024, with renewal options.
The lease on this facility expires on May 1, 2024.
The lease on this facility expires on August 31, 2021. 75% of the facility is sub-leased to an unrelated party on a quarter-to-quarter
basis.

In addition to the facilities listed above, our executive office is leased and located in Highland Hills, Ohio and we have leas
ed 
offices located in Media, Pennsylvania; Bonita Springs, Florida; and Monterrey, Mexico. Management believes we will be
able to accommodate our capacity needs for the immediate future at our existing facilities.

d

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are party to various legal actions that we believe are ordinary in nature and incidental to the operation of our business. In 
the opinion of management, the outcome of the proceedings to which we are currently a party will not have a material adverse
effect upon our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable. 

Page 22 

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

This information is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Instruction 3 of Item 401(b) of Regulation S-
K. The following is a list of our executive officers and a brief description of their business experience. Each executive officer 
will hold office until his successor is chosen and qualified.

Michael D. Siegal, age 67, has served as the Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors since January 2019. He previously 
served as our Chief Executive Officer from 1984 until December 2018 and as Chairman of our Board of Directors from 1994
until December 2018.  From 1984 until January 2001, he also served as our President.  He has been employed by us in a 
variety of capacities since 1974. Mr. Siegal serves on the Board of Directors of Cleveland-Cliffs, 
Inc. and Twin City Fan. He
is also the immediate past Board Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America and is currently on the Board of the
Development Corporation for Israel and the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Agency for Israel. 

f

Richard  T.  Marabito,  age  56,  has  served  as  our  Chief  Executive  Officer  since  January  2019.  From  March  2000  through
December 2018, he served as our Chief Financial Officer. He joined us in 1994 as Corporate Controller and served in this 
capacity until March 2000. He also served as Treasurer from 1994 through 2002 and again from 2010 through 2012. Prior to 
joining  us,  Mr.  Marabito  served  as  Corporate  Controller  for  a  publicly  traded  wholesale  distribution  company  and  was 
employed by a national accounting firm in its audit department. Mr. Marabito is a Vice Chair and Board member of the
Metals  Service  Center  Institute  (MSCI).  He  is  the  Chair  of  the  MSCI’s  Governance  Committee  and  past  Chair  of  its
Foundation for Education and Research. He served as a Governance board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, 
Kentucky and Indiana and was past Chair of its Northeast Ohio regional board. Mr. Marabito also served on the Board of 
Trustees and was the Treasurer for Hawken School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Richard A. Manson, age 51, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2019, and has been employed by us since
1996.  From January 2013 through December 2018, he served as our Vice President and Treasurer. From March 2010 through 
December  2012,  he  served  as  our  Vice  President  of  Human  Resources  and  Administration.   From  January  2003  through
March 2010, he served as our Treasurer and Corporate Controller.  From 1996 through 2002, he served as our Director of 
Taxes and Risk Management.  Prior to joining us, Mr. Manson was employed for seven years by a national accounting firm
in its tax department.  Mr. Manson is a Board Member of the Cleveland Catholic Cemeteries Association and a member of 
the Advisory Board of Seeds for Literacy.  Mr. Manson is a certified public accountant and member of the Ohio Society of 
Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Andrew S. Greiff, age 58, has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2020. From August 2016
through  December  2019,  he  served  as  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Operating  Officer.  He  previously  served  as 
President, Specialty Metals from 2011 to 2016 after having joined us in 2009 as Vice President of Specialty Metals. Prior 
thereto, Mr. Greiff spent 24 years in various positions within the steel industry and served as the President and CEO of his 
own steel trading company. Mr. Greiff is a past director of Hawken School, the MSCI Specialty Metals Product Council, 
Jewish Big Brother Big Sister and the Anti Defamation League.

f

Lisa K. Christen, age 43, has served as our Treasurer and Corporate Controller since January 2019, and has been employed 
by us since 1999.  From March 2010 through December 2018, she served as our Corporate Controller. From 1999 through
2010 she served in various positions within the accounting department.  Ms. Christen serves as the Treasurer and is a Board 
Member of Seton Catholic School in Hudson, Ohio. Ms. Christen is a certified public accountant and member of the Ohio 
Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Page 23 

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Common Stock

Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ZEUS.” 

r

Holders of Record

As  of  January  31,  2020,  we  estimate  there  were  approximately  52 holders  of  record  and  4,633  beneficial  holders  of  our 
common stock.

Dividends

We expect to continue to make regular quarterly dividend distributions in the future, subject to the continuing determination
by our Board of Directors that the dividend remains in the best interest of our shareholders. Our ABL Credit Facility restricts
the  aggregate  amount  of  dividends  and  common  stock  repurchases  that  we  can  pay  to  $5.0  million  annually  without 
limitations. Dividend distributions in excess of $5.0 million require us to (i) maintain availability in excess of 20.0% of the
aggregate  revolver  commitments  or  (ii)  to  maintain  availability  equal  to  or  greater  than  15.0%  of  the  aggregate  revolver 
commitments, and we must maintain a pro-forma ratio of Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization 
(EBITDA) minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 1.00 to 1.00. Any determinations 
by the Board of Directors to pay cash dividends in the future will take into account various factors, including our financial
condition,  results  of  operations,  current  and  anticipated  cash needs,  plans  for  expansion  and  restrictions  under  our  credit 
agreement and any agreements governing our future debt. We cannot assure you that dividends will be paid in the future or 
that, if paid, the dividends will be at the same amount or frequency.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

We did not purchase any of our equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2019. 

On October 2, 2015, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 550,000 shares
of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock, which could include open market repurchases, negotiated block 
transactions, accelerated stock repurchases or open market solicitations for shares, all or some of which may be effected 
through Rule 10b5-1 plans. Any of the repurchased shares will be held in our treasury, or canceled and retired as our Board 
may determine from time to time. Any repurchases of common stock are subject to the covenants contained in the ABL Credit 
Facility. Our ABL Credit Facility restricts the aggregate amount of dividends and common stock repurchases that we can pay 
to $5.0 million annually without limitations. Purchases in excess of $5.0 million require us to (i) maintain availability in 
excess of 20.0% of the aggregate revolver commitments or (ii) to maintain availability equal to or greater than 15.0% of the 
aggregate revolver commitments and we must maintain a pro-forma ratio of EBITDA minus certain capital expenditures and 
cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 1.00 to 1.00. The timing and amount of any repurchases under the stock repurchase 
program will depend upon several factors, including market and business conditions, and limitations under the ABL Credit 
Facility, and repurchases may be discontinued at any time. 

rr

t

t

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

We did not have any unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2019. 

Page 24 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth selected financial and other data for each of the five years in the period ended December 31,
2019. The data presented should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual 
Report on Form 10-K.

2019

For the Years Ended December 31,
2018 
2017 
(in thousands, except per share data) 

2016

2015 

Income Statement Data:
Net sales
Cost of materials sold
Gross profit (a)
Operating expenses (b)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment
Operating income (loss)
Interest and other expense on debt
Income (loss) before income taxes 
Net income (loss) (c)

Per Share Data:
Net income (loss) - basic (d)
Net income (loss) - diluted (e) 
Dividends paid

Shares Outstanding:
Weighted average shares - basic
Weighted average shares - diluted

Balance Sheet Data (as of December 31):
Current assets (f) 
Current liabilities (f)
Working capital (g) 
Total assets (f) 
Total debt
Shareholders' equity

  $ 

  $ 
  $ 
  $ 

  $  1,579,040    $  1,715,081    $  1,330,696    $  1,055,116    $ 

1,280,110  
298,930  
282,320  
- 
16,610  
11,289  
5,289  
3,856    $ 

1,372,954  
342,127  
285,075  
-    
57,052  
10,681  
46,064  
33,759    $ 

1,055,212  
275,484  
251,498  
-  
23,986  
7,518  
16,350  
18,963    $ 

820,040  
235,076  
229,328  
-    
5,748  
5,273  
420  
(1,078)   $ 

1,175,543  
942,214  
233,329 
236,157  
24,951 
(27,779) 
5,690 
(33,594) 
(26,777)

0.34    $ 
0.34    $ 
0.08    $ 

2.95    $ 
2.95    $ 
0.08    $ 

1.67    $ 
1.67    $ 
0.08    $ 

(0.10)   $ 
(0.10)   $ 
0.08    $ 

(2.39)
(2.39)
0.08 

11,509  
11,509  

11,432  
11,440  

11,381  
11,381  

11,210  
11,210  

11,192 
11,192 

  $  419,842    $  562,769    $  420,136    $  364,940    $ 

101,087  
318,755  
649,555  
192,925  

128,427  
434,342  
760,740  
302,530  

111,147  
308,989  
604,158  
197,165  

104,898  
260,042  
556,068  
166,424  

  $  308,352    $  306,991    $  272,583    $  253,390    $ 

308,946 
77,060 
231,886  
511,880  
148,490  
254,695  

(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:12) Gross profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of materials sold (includes LIFO income of $3,669 in 2019, LIFO expense of 

$8,408 and $2,707, in 2018 and 2017, respectively and LIFO income of $1f

,489 and $3,347 in 2016 and 2015, respectively).

(cid:11)(cid:69)(cid:12) Operating  expenses  are  calculated  as  total costs  and  expenses  less  the cost  of  materials  sold.  It does not  int

clude  the goodwill 

t

and id ntangible asset impairment char

ge shown separately below.
(cid:11)(cid:70)(cid:12) The year ended December 31, 2017, includes a $6.2 million benefit related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
(cid:11)(cid:71)(cid:12) Calculated by dividing net income (loss) by weighted avd
(cid:11)(cid:72)(cid:12) Calculated by dividing net income (loss) by weighted avd
(cid:11)(cid:73)(cid:12) Prospective adjud stment of deferff
(cid:11)(cid:74)(cid:12) Calculated as current assets less current liab

erage basic shares outstanding.
erage diluted shd

tax assets and liab

ares outstanding.

d
ilities.

redrr

t

ilities in 2016, prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted.

Page 25 

   
    
 
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-
looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in
the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed under 
Item 1A, Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following section is qualified in its entirety by the more
detailed  information,  including  our  financial  statements  and  the  notes  thereto,  which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  Annual 
Report.

Overview

We are a leading metals service center that operates in three reportable segments; carbon flat products, specialty metals flat 
products,  and  tubular  and  pipe  products.  We  provide  metals  processing  and  distribution  services  for  a  wide  range  of 
customers. Our  carbon  flat products  segment’s focus  is on  the  direct  sale  and distribution of  large volumes of  processed
carbon  and  coated  flat-rolled  sheet,  coil  and  plate  products  and  fabricated  parts.  Through  the  acquisition  of  McCullough 
Industries, or McCullough, on January 2, 2019, our carbon flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include 
self-dumping metal hoppers and through the acquisition of EZ Dumper on August 5, 2019, to include steel and stainless-
steel dump inserts for pickup truck and service truck beds. Our specialty metals flat products segment’s focus is on the direct
sale and distribution of processed aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil products, flat bar products and fabricated
parts. Through the acquisition of Berlin Metals, LLC, or Berlin Metals, on April 2, 2018, our specialty metals flat products
segment expanded its product offerings to include differing types of stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil and prime tin mill
products. In addition, we distribute metal tubing, pipe, bar, valves and fittings and fabricate pressure parts supplied to various 
industrial  markets  through  our  tubular  and  pipe  products  segment.  Products  that  require  more  value-added  processing 
generally have a higher gross profit. Accordingly, our overall gross profit is affected by, among other things, product mix,
the amount of processing performed, the demand for and availability of metals, and volatility in selling prices and material 
purchase costs. We also perform toll processing of customer-owned metals. We sell certain products internationally, primarily 
in Canada and Mexico. International sales are immaterial to our consolidated financial results and to the individual segments’ 
results. 

a

Our results of operations are affected by numerous external factors including, but not limited to: general and global business,
economic,  financial,  banking  and  political  conditions;  fluctuations  in  the  value  of  the  U.S.  dollar  to  foreign  currencies,
competition;  metals  pricing,  demand  and  availability;  transportation  and  energy  costs;  pricing  and  availability  of  raw 
materials used in the production of metals; global supply, the level of metals imported into the United States, tariffs, and 
inventory held in the supply chain; the availability, and increased costs of labor; customers’ ability to manage their credit line 
availability; and layoffs or work stoppages by our own, our suppliers’ or our customers’ personnel. The metals industry also 
continues to be affected by the global consolidation of our suppliers, competitors and end-use customers.

Like other metals service centers, we maintain substantial inventories of metals to accommodate the short lead times and just-
in-time delivery requirements of our customers. Accordingly, we purchase metals in an effort to maintain our inventory at 
levels that we believe to be appropriate to satisfy the anticipated needs of our customers based upon customer forecasts, 
historic buying practices, supply agreements with customers and market conditions. Our commitments to purchase metals are 
generally at prevailing market prices in effect at the time we place our orders. From time to time, we have entered into nickel
swaps at the request of our customers in order to mitigate our customers’ risk of volatility in the price of metals, and we have 
entered into metals hedges to mitigate our risk of volatility in the price of metals. We have no long-term, fixed-price metals
purchase contracts. When metals prices decline, customer demands for lower prices and our competitors’ responses to those
demands  could  result  in  lower  sale  prices  and,  consequently,  lower  gross  profits  and  earnings  as  we  use  existing  metals
inventory. When metals prices increase, competitive conditions will influence how much of the price increase we can pass
on to our customers. To the extent we are unable to pass on future price increases in our raw materials to our customers, the 
net sales and gross profits of our business could be adversely affected. 

We operate in three reportable segments; carbon flat products, specialty metals flat products and tubular and pipe products.
The carbon flat products segment and the specialty metals flat products segment are at times consolidated and referred to as
the flat products segment. Some of the flat products segments’ assets and resources are shared by the carbon and specialty 
metals segments and both segments’ products are stored in the shared facilities and, in some locations, processed on shared 
equipment. As such, total assets and capital expenditures are reported in the aggregate for the flat products segments. Due to
the shared assets and resources, certain of the flat products segment expenses are allocated between the carbon flat products
segment and the specialty metals flat products segment based upon an established allocation methodology. 

t

Page 26 

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

Due to the nature of the products sold in each segment, there are significant differences in the segments’ average selling price 
and the cost of materials sold. The tubular and pipe products segment generally has the highest average selling price among 
the three segments followed by the specialty metals flat products and carbon flat products segments. Due to the nature of the
tubular and pipe products, we do not report tons sold or per ton information. Gross profit per ton is generally higher in the
specialty metals flat products segment than the carbon flat products segment. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales is 
generally  highest  in  the  tubular  and  pipe  products  segment,  followed  by  the  carbon  and  specialty  metals  flat  products 
segments. 

Due to the differences in average selling prices, gross profit and gross profit percentage among the segments, a change in the 
mix of sales could impact total net sales, gross profit, and gross profit percentage. In addition, certain inventory in the tubular 
and pipe products segment is valued under the LIFO method. Adjustments to the LIFO inventory value are recorded to cost 
of materials sold and may impact the gross margin and gross margin percentage at the consolidated Company and tubular 
and pipe products segment levels.

d

Carbon flat products

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

Specialty metals flat products

The primary focus of our specialty metals flat products segment is on the direct sale and distribution of processed stainless
and aluminum flat-rolled sheet and coil products, flat bar products and fabricated parts. Through its acquisition of Berlin
Metals on April 2, 2018, our specialty metals flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include differing types 
of stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil and prime tin mill products. We act as an intermediary between metals producers and 
manufacturers  that  require  processed  metals  for  their  operations.  We  serve  customers  in  various  industries,  including
manufacturers of food service and commercial appliances, agriculture equipment, transportation and automotive equipment. 
We distribute these products primarily through a direct sales force. 

Combined, the carbon and specialty metals flat products segments have 21 strategically-located processing and distribution
facilities in the United States and one in Monterrey, Mexico. Many of our facilities service both the carbon and the specialty 
metals flat products segments, and certain assets and resources are shared by the segments. Our geographic footprint allows 
us  to  focus  on  regional  customers  and  larger  national  and  multi-national  accounts,  primarily  located  throughout  the 
midwestern, eastern and southern United States.

Tubular and pipe products

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

Corporate expenses

Corporate  expenses  are  reported  as  a  separate  line  item  for  segment  reporting  purposes.  Corporate  expenses  include  the
unallocated expenses related to managing the entire Company (i.e., all three segments), including compensation for certain

Page 27 

personnel, expenses related to being a publicly traded entity such as board of directors’ expenses, audit expenses, and various
other professional fees. 

Results of Operations

This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2019 and 2018 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2019 and 
2018. Discussions of 2017 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2018 and 2017 that are not included in this Form 10-
K can be found in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 
7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal

 year ended December 31, 2018. 

t

2019 Compared to 2018

Our results of operations are impacted by the market price of metals. Through 2017 and the first seven months of 2018, metals
prices  increased  significantly  and  changes  to  our  net  sales,  cost  of  materials  sold,  gross  profit,  cost  of  inventory  and 
profitability, were all impacted by industry metals pricing. The price increases resulted in metals pricing reaching its highest 
point in 10 years in July 2018. The increases were driven by both the tariffs initiated by the U.S. government in 2018 under 
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (section 232 tariffs) and strong customer demand. Since the third quarter of 
2018, market prices for metals have declined, and overall metals market prices during 2019 were lower than 2018. The rapid 
decline of metals pricing during 2019 negatively impacted our financial results during 2019, primarily in the carbon flat-
products  segment.  In  addition,  lower  customer  demand  in  2019  compared  to  2018,  primarily  in  the  carbon  flat-products 
segment, negatively impacted our sales, gross profit and profitability. 

Transactional or “spot” selling prices generally move in tandem with market price changes, while fixed selling prices typically
lag and reset quarterly. Similarly, inventory costs (and, therefore, cost of materials sold) tend to move slower than market 
selling  price  changes  due  to  mill  lead  times  and  inventory  turnover  impacting  the  rate  of  change  in  average  cost.  When 
r
average selling prices increase, and net sales increase, gross profit and operating expenses as a percentage of net sales will 
generally decrease. 

Operating  results  for  2019  include  the  additional  revenues  and  operating  expenses  resulting  from  the  acquisitions  of 
McCullough industries on January 2, 2019 and EZ Dumper on August 5, 2019.  2018 operating results include the additional
revenues and operating expenses resulting from the acquisition of Berlin Metals on April 2, 2018. 

Consolidated Operations

The following table sets forth certain consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 
(dollars shown in thousands): 

Net sales
Cost of materials sold (a)
Gross profit (b)
Operating expenses (c)
Operating income 
Other loss, net
Interest and other expense on debt
Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 
Net income

2019

2018

$
  $ 1,579,040  
  1,280,110  
298,930  
282,320  
16,610  
(32)
11,289  
5,289  
1,433  
3,856  

  $ 

% of net
sales

$

% of net
sales 

100.0    $ 1,715,081  
81.1     1,372,954  
342,127  
18.9  
285,075  
17.9  
57,052  
1.1  
(307)
(0.0)
10,681  
0.7
46,064  
0.3  
12,305  
0.1  
33,759  
0.2    $ 

100.0 
80.1  
19.9  
16.6  
3.3  
(0.0)
0.6
2.7  
0.7 
2.0 

(a) Includes $3,669 of LIFO income and $8,408 of LIFO expense for 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(b) Gross profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of materials sold.
(c) Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold.

Page 28 

Net sales decreased $136.0 million, or 7.9%, to $1.6 billion in 2019 from $1.7 billion in 2018. Carbon flat products net sales
decreased $146.4 million, or 13.6%, in 2019 compared to 2018 and were 58.7% of total net sales in 2019 compared to 62.6%
in 2018. Specialty metals flat products net sales increased $20.2 million, or 5.9%, in 2019 compared to 2018 and were 23.0% 
of total net sales in 2019 compared to 20.0% in 2018. Tubular and pipe products net sales decreased $9.8 million, or 3.3%, 
in 2019 compared to 2018 and were 18.3% of total net sales in 2019 compared to 17.4% of total net sales in 2018. The
decrease in sales was due to a 9.3% decrease in sales volume offset by a 1.5% increase in average selling prices. Average 
selling prices in 2019 were $1,263 per ton, compared to $1,244 per ton in 2018. The increase in the average selling price is a 
result of the market pricing dynamics discussed in the overview of Results of Operations above. 

Cost of materials sold decreased $92.8 million, or 6.8%, to $1.28 billion in 2019 from $1.37 billion in 2018. During 2019,
we  recorded  LIFO  income  of  $3.7  million  compared  to  $8.4  million  of  LIFO  expense  in  2018.  The  decrease  in  cost  of 
materials sold in 2019 is primarily related to decreased sales volume and the impact of LIFO income in 2019 compared to 
LIFO expense in 2018. 

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) decreased to 18.9% in 2019 from 
19.9% in 2018. LIFO income increased gross profit by 0.2% of net sales in 2019 and LIFO expense decreased gross profit 
by 0.5% of net sales in 2018. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales in 2019 was primarily due to the impact
of selling higher costed inventory in 2019 compared to 2018 as market prices for metals was decreasing. 

Operating expenses (as defined in footnote (c) in the table above) decreased $2.8 million, or 1.0%, to $282.3 million in 2019
from $285.1 million in 2018. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 17.9% in 2019 from 16.6% in 
2018. Variable operating expenses, such as distribution and warehouse and processing, decreased as a result of decreased 
sales volume and decreased labor hours at our current operating facilities. Selling and administrative and general expenses 
decreased  as  a  result  of  decreased  variable  based  incentive  compensation  related  to  decreased  profitability.  Operating
expenses in the carbon flat products segment decreased $4.6 million, operating expenses in the specialty metals products
segment increased $4.7 million (due to the addition of specific metals processing capabilities in our Schaumburg, Illinois and 
Streetsboro, Ohio locations), operating expenses in the tubular and pipe products were flat between the years, and Corporate 
expenses  decreased  $2.8  million  primarily  due  to  decreased  variable  incentive  compensation  related  to  lower  operating
income in 2019. Operating expenses were $7.4 million higher in 2019 compared to 2018 due to the acquisition of McCullough 
Industries on January 2, 2019 and a full year of operating expenses for the April 2, 2018 acquisition of Berlin Metals.

Interest and other expense on debt totaled $11.3 million in 2019 compared to $10.7 million in 2018. Our effective borrowing
rate, exclusive of deferred financing fees and commitment fees, was 4.0% in 2019 compared to 3.7% in 2018 due to the
increases in LIBOR rates since 2018. Total average borrowings decreased $17.7 million, or 6.4% to $257.6 million in 2019 
from $275.3 million in 2018, primarily related to decreased working capital needs in 2019. 

Income before income taxes totaled $5.3 million in 2019 compared to $46.1 million in 2018. 

An income tax provision of 27.1% was recorded in 2019, compared to an income tax provision of 26.7% in 2018. The higher 
rate was attributable to the impact of permanently non-deductible items on lower pre-tax income.

Net income for 2019 totaled $3.9 million, or $0.34 per basic and diluted share, compared to $33.8 million, or $2.95 per basic 
and diluted share, for 2018.

Page 29 

Segment Results of Operations

Carbon flat products

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  income  statement  data  for  the  carbon  flat  products  segment  for  the  years  ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars shown in thousands, except per ton data):

a

2019

2018

Direct tons sold
Toll tons sold
Total tons sold

Net sales
Average selling price per ton 
Cost of materials sold
Gross profit (a) 
Operating expenses (b)
Operating income (loss)

$

943,536
66,804 
1,010,340 

  $  926,903 
917 
763,549 
163,354 
168,377 

  $ 

(5,023 ) 

% of net
sales 

$
1,060,990 
81,381 
1,142,371 

% of net
sales

100.0 

  $ 1,073,292 
940 
855,942 
217,350 
172,996 
44,354 

82.4 
17.6 
18.2 
(0.6 )   $ 

100.0 

79.7 
20.3 
16.1
4.2 

(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:12) Gross profit is calculated ad s net sales less the cost of materials sold.
(cid:11)(cid:69)(cid:12) Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold.

Tons sold decreased 132 thousand tons, or 11.6%, to 1.01 million tons in 2019 from 1.14 million tons in 2018. Toll tons sold 
decreased 15 thousand tons, or 17.9% to 67 thousand tons in 2019 from 81 thousand tons in 2018. The decrease in tons sold 
is  due  to  decreased  customer  demand  for  carbon  flat  products  experienced  in  the  metals  industry,  particularly  in  the 
agricultural and auto industries. We expect sales volumes in 2020 to improve over 2019 levels. 

Net sales decreased $146.4 million, or 13.6%, to $926.9 million in 2019 from $1.1 billion in 2018. Average selling prices in 
2019 decreased 2.4% to $917 per ton, compared to $940 per ton in 2018. The decrease in sales was due to an 11.6% decrease
in sales volume and a 2.4% decrease in average selling prices.

Cost of materials sold decreased $92.4 million, or 10.8%, to $763.5 million in 2019 from $855.9 million in 2018. The decrease 
in  cost  of  materials  sold was  primarily  due  to  a  11.6%  decrease in  sales  volume  and the  impact  of selling  higher costed 
inventory during 2019 compared to 2018. 

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (a) in the table above) decreased to 17.6% in 2019 from 
20.3% in 2018. The average gross profit per ton sold decreased $28 per ton to $162 in 2019 from $190 in 2018.

Operating expenses in 2019 decreased $4.6 million, or 2.7%, to $168.4 million from $173.0 million in 2018. As a percentage 
of  net  sales,  operating  expenses  increased  to  18.2%  in  2019  from  16.1%  in  2018.  Variable  operating  expenses,  such  as 
warehouse and processing and distribution decreased as a result of decreased sales and production volumes at our facilities 
and  selling  and  administrative  and  general  expense  decreased due  to  decreased  variable  performance  based  incentive 
compensation. The operating expense decreases were offset by the operating expense increases related to the acquisitions of 
McCullough and EZ Dumper during 2019.     

d

Operating loss totaled $5.0 million in 2019 compared to operating income of $44.4 million in 2018.

Page 30 

Specialty metals flat products

The following table sets forth certain income statement data for the specialty metals flat products segment for the years ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars shown in thousands, except per ton data):

a

2019

2018

Direct tons sold
Toll tons sold
Total tons sold

Net sales
Average selling price per ton 
Cost of materials sold
Gross profit (a) 
Operating expenses (b) 
Operating income 

$

130,104 
11,724 
141,828 

363,634  
2,564 
310,931  
52,703  
38,382  
14,321  

  $

  $

% of net
sales

% of net
sales 

$

125,870  
9,717   
135,587   

100.0    $  343,479   
2,533   
294,553   
48,926   
33,678   
15,248   

85.5  
14.5  
10.6  

3.9    $ 

100.0 

85.8 
14.2 
9.8  
4.4  

(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:12) Gross profit is calculated ad s net sales less the cost of materials sold.
(cid:11)(cid:69)(cid:12) Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold.

Tons sold increased 6 thousand tons, or 4.6%, to 142 thousand tons in 2019 from 136 thousand tons in 2018. The increase in
tons sold is due to the acquisition of Berlin Metals on April 2, 2018 and improved customer demand in the markets we served 
during 2019.

Net sales increased $20.2 million, or 5.9%, to $363.6 million in 2019 from $343.5 million in 2018. The increase in net sales 
is due to the acquisition of Berlin Metals on April 2, 2018 and improved customer demand in the markets we served during 
2019. Average selling prices in 2019 increased to $2,564 per ton, compared to $2,533 per ton in 2018. The increase in sales
was due to the 4.6% increase in sales volume and a 1.2% increase in the average selling prices during 2019 compared to
2018. 

Cost of materials sold increased $16.4 million, or 5.6%, to $310.9 million in 2019 from $294.6 million in 2018. The increase 
in cost of materials sold was primarily due to the increase in sales volume in 2019 compared to 2018.

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (a) in the table above) increased to 14.5% in 2019 from 
14.2% in 2018. The average gross profit per ton sold totaled $372 in 2019 compared to $361 per ton in 2018. The increase in
the gross profit percentage is a result of a change in the mix of products that we sold in 2019 compared to 2018. 

Operating expenses (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) increased $4.7 million, or 14.0%, to $38.4 million in 2019
from $33.7 million in 2018. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 10.6% of net sales in 2019 from
9.8% in 2018. The increase in operating expenses in 2019 was related to the acquisition of Berlin Metals on April 2, 2018, as
2018 only included nine months of operating expenses for Berlin Metals, as well as the addition of processing capabilities in 
our Schaumburg, Illinois and Streetsboro, Ohio locations. 

Operating income for 2019 totaled $14.3 million compared to $15.2 million in 2018.

Page 31 

Tubular and pipe products

The following table sets forth certain income statement data for the tubular and pipe products segment for the years ended 
December 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars shown in thousands).

Net sales
Cost of materials sold (a)
Gross profit (b)
Operating expenses (c)
Operating income 

2019

2018

$

288,503  
205,630 
82,873  
64,266  
18,607  

  $

  $

% of 
net sales

$

% of 
net sales 

100.0    $  298,310   
222,459   
71.3  
75,851   
28.7  
64,331   
22.2  
11,520  
6.4    $ 

100.0 
74.6 
25.4  
21.5 
3.9 

(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:12) Includes $3,669 of LI
(cid:11)(cid:69)(cid:12) Gross profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of materials sold.
(cid:11)(cid:70)(cid:12) Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold.

FO expense in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

FO income and $8,408 of LI

f

f

Net sales decreased $9.8 million, or 3.3%, to $288.5 million in 2019 from $298.3 million in 2018. The decrease in net sales
was due to a 2.4% decrease in sales volume and a 0.9% decrease in average selling prices during 2019. 

Cost of materials sold decreased $16.8 million, or 7.6%, to $205.6 million in 2019 from $222.5 million in 2018. The decrease 
in cost of materials sold was due to a 2.4% decrease in sales volume and the impact of $3.7 million of LIFO income in 2019 
compared to LIFO expense of $8.4 million in 2018. 

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) increased to 28.7% in 2019 compared 
to 25.4%, in 2018. LIFO income increased gross profit by 1.3% of net sales in 2019 compared to LIFO expense decreased 
gross profit by 2.8% of net sales in 2018 

Operating expenses (as defined in footnote (c) in the table above) were $64.3 million in both 2019 and 2018. As a percentage
of net sales, operating expenses increased to 22.2% in 2019 compared to 21.5% in 2018.

Operating income for 2019 totaled $18.6 million, compared to $11.5 million in 2018.

Corporate expenses

Corporate  expenses  decreased  $2.8  million,  or  19.7%,  to  $11.3  million  in  2019  compared  to  $14.1  million  in  2018.  The 
decrease  in  corporate  expenses  is  primarily  attributable  to  decreased  variable incentive  compensation  related  to  lower 
operating income in 2019. 

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Cash Flows

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

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

Page 32 

2019 Compared to 2018

Operating Activities

During 2019, we generated $129.6 million of net cash from operations, of which $22.8 million was generated from operating
activities  and  $106.8  million  was  generated  from  working  capital.  Net  cash  from  operations  during  2019  was  primarily
comprised of net income of $3.9 million and the addback of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense. During 2018, 
we used $50.5 million of net cash for operations, of which $53.9 million was generated from operating activities and $104.4 
million was used for working capital. Net cash from operations during 2018 was primarily comprised of net income of $33.8
million. 

Working  capital  at  December  31,  2019  totaled  $318.8  million,  a  $115.5  million  decrease  from  December  31,  2018.  The
decrease was primarily attributable to a $95.8 million decrease in inventory (resulting from lower inventory levels and lower 
average inventory costs in 2019 compared to 2018), and a $42.1 million decrease in accounts receivable (resulting primarily 
from lower sales prices and shipping volumes in 2019 compared to 2018) offset by a $26.6 million decrease in accounts 
payable and outstanding checks (resulting from decreased inventory purchases and lower inventory costs at the end of 2019 
compared to 2018) and a $7.0 million decrease in accrued payroll and other accrued liabilities. 

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities was $21.0 million during 2019, compared to $47.5 million during 2018. Investment 
activities in 2019 included the acquisitions of McCullough Industries and EZ Dumper for $11.1 million in the aggregate and
$10.2  million  of  capital  expenditures,  primarily  attributable  to  additional  processing  equipment  at  our  existing  facilities. 
During 2020, we expect our capital spending to be less than our annual depreciation expense. Investment activities in 2018 
included the acquisition of Berlin Metals for $21.9 million and $25.7 million of capital expenditures, primarily attributable
to a building expansion and additional processing equipment at our existing facilities.

Financing Activities

During 2019, $112.1 million of cash was used for financing activities, which primarily consisted of $109.6 million of net
repayments under our asset based credit facility, or ABL Credit Facility, $1.5 million of repurchases of common stock and 
$0.9 million of dividends paid. During 2018, $104.3 million of cash was generated from financing activities, which primarily 
consisted of $106.3 million of net borrowings under our ABL Credit Facility offset by a $0.9 million IRB repayment and 
$0.9 million of dividends paid.

In February 2020, our Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share, which is payable on 
March  16,  2020  to  shareholders  of  record  as  of  March  2,  2020.  Our  Board  previously  approved  2019  and  2018  regular 
quarterly  dividends  of  $0.02  per  share,  which  were  paid  in  March,  June,  September  and  December  of  2019  and  2018.
Dividend distributions in the future are subject to the availability of cash, limitations on cash dividends under our ABL Credit 
Facility and continuing determination by our Board of Directors that the payment of dividends remains in the best interest of 
our shareholders.

Stock Repurchase Program

In 2015, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 550,000 shares of our issued and outstanding
common stock, which could include open market repurchases, negotiated block transactions, accelerated stock repurchases
or open market solicitations for shares, all or some of which may be effected through Rule 10b5-1 plans. Repurchased shares
will  be  held  in  our  treasury, or  canceled and retired  as  our  Board may determine  from  time  to  time. Any  repurchases  of 
common stock are subject to the covenants contained in the ABL Credit Facility. Under the ABL Credit Facility, we may
repurchase common stock and pay dividends up to $5.0 million in the aggregate during any trailing twelve months without 
restrictions.  Purchases  in excess  of $5.0  million  require us  to (i)  maintain  availability in  excess of 20% of  the  aggregate 
revolver commitments ($95.0 million as of December 31, 2019) or (ii) to maintain availability equal to or greater than 15%
of the aggregate revolver commitments ($71.3 million as of December 31, 2019) and we must maintain a pro-forma ratio of 
EBITDA, minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 1.00 to 1.00. The timing and 
amount  of  any  repurchases  under  the  stock  repurchase  program  will  depend  upon  several  factors,  including  market  and 
business conditions, and limitations under the ABL Credit Facility, and repurchases may be discontinued at any time.

During 2019, we repurchased 109,505 shares, for an aggregate cost of $1.5 million. There were no shares repurchased during
2018 or 2017.

Page 33 

Debt Arrangements

Our  ABL  Credit  Facility,  is  collateralized  by  our  accounts  receivable  inventory and  personal  property.  The  ABL  Credit 
Facility consists of (i) a revolving credit facility of $445 million, including a $20 million sub-limit for letters of credit a
nd 
(ii) a first in, last out revolving credit facility of up to $30 million. Under the terms of the ABL Credit Facility, we may request
additional commitments in the aggregate principal amount of up to $200 million to the extent that existing or new lenders
agree to provide such additional commitments. Revolver borrowings are limited to the lesser of a borrowing base, comprised
of eligible receivables and inventories, or $475 million in the aggregate. The ABL Credit Facility matures on December 8,
2022.

u

d

The ABL Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties and certain covenants that limit our ability to, 
among other things: (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; (ii) pay distributions on, redeem or repurchase capital
stock or redeem or repurchase subordinated debt; (iii) make investments; (iv) sell a
ssets; (v) enter into agreements that restrict 
distributions or other payments from restricted subsidiaries to us; (vi) incur liens securing indebtedness; (vii) consolidate, 
merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and (viii) engage in transactions with affiliates. In addition, the ABL
Credit  Facility  contains  a  financial  covenant  which  requires (i)  if  any  commitments  or  obligations  are  outstanding  our 
availability is less than the greater of $30 million or 10.0% of the aggregate amount of revolver commitments ($47.5 million
at December 31, 2019) or 10.0% of the aggregate borrowing base ($28.9 million at December 31, 2019) then we must maintain
a ratio of Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) minus certain capital expenditures and
cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve fiscal month period.

t

We have the option to borrow under its revolver based on the agent’s base rate plus a premium ranging from 0.00% to 0.25% 
or LIBOR plus a premium ranging from 1.25% to 2.75%.

As of December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with our covenants and had approximately $93.3 million of availability
under the ABL Credit Facility. 

As of December 31, 2019, $1.3 million of bank financing fees were included in “Prepaid expenses and other” and “Other 
long-term assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The financing fees are being amortized over the five-
year  term  of  the  ABL  Credit  Facility  and  are  included  in  “Interest  and  other  expense  on  debt”  on  the  accompanying 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. 

On January 10, 2019, we entered into a five-year forward starting fixed rate interest rate hedge in order to eliminate the
variability  of  cash  interest  payments  on  $75  million  of  the  outstanding  LIBOR  based  borrowings  under  the  ABL  Credit 
Facility. The interest rate hedge fixed the rate at 2.57%.

Contractual Obligations

The following table reflects our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019.

Contractual Obligations 
(amounts in thousands)
Long-term debt obligations 
Interest obligations 
Unrecognized tax positions 
Other long-term liabilities 

Total 
192,925    $

$

23,435
28
11,566

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Total contractual obligations 

  $

227,954    $ 

Less than 
r
1 year 

1-3

years

3-5 years

More than
5 years 

-

$

7,593  
10  
700  
8,303    $

192,925    $
15,185  
18 
8,708  
216,836    $

$

-
657 
-  
1,796  
2,453    $ 

-  
-  
-  
362  
362  

(a) See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(b) Future interest obligations are calculated using the debt balances and interest rates in effect on December 31, 2019.
(c) See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Classification is based on expected settlement dates and the

expiration of certain statutes of limitations.

(d) Primarily consists of retirement liabilities and deferred compensation paya able in future years.

Page 34 

 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

An off-balance sheet arrangement is any contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which a company
has (a) made guarantees, (b) a retained or a contingent interest in transferred assets, (c) any obligation under certain derivative 
instruments  or  (d)  any  obligation  under  a  material  variable  interest  in  an  unconsolidated  entity  that  provides  financing, 
liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to a company, or engages in leasing, hedging, or research and development services 
within a company. 

aa

Other than derivative instruments discussed in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as of December 31, 2019,
we had no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

Effects of Inflation

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

Critical Accounting Policies

This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements
, 
which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation
of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the 
financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On an on-
going basis, we monitor and evaluate our estimates and assumptions.

f

t

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in preparation
of our consolidated financial statements: 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of short-term highly liquid investments, with a three-month or less maturity, which are readily
convertible into cash. We maintain cash levels in bank accounts that, at times, may exceed federally-insured limits. We
have not experienced significant loss, and believe we are not exposed to significant risk of loss, in these accounts.

Fair Market Value 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or 
most  advantageous  market  for  the  liability  in  an  orderly  transaction  between  market  participants  on  the  measurement 
date.  Valuation techniques must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  To 
measure fair value, we apply a fair value hierarchy that is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are conside
red 
observable and the last unobservable, as follows: 

f

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

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

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

Financial  instruments,  such  as  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable,  accounts  payable  and  the  credit  facility 
revolver, are stated at their carrying value, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value. The fair value of marketable securities 
is based on quoted market prices.

Page 35 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable 

The  allowance for  doubtful  accounts  in  maintained  at  a  level  considered  appropriate  based  on  historical  experience  and 
specific  customer  collection  issues  that  we  have  identified.  Estimations  are  based  upon  the  application  of  a  historical
collection rate to the outstanding accounts receivable balance, which remains fairly level from year to year, and judgments
about the probable effects of economic conditions on certain customers, which can fluctuate significantly from year to year.
We  cannot  be  certain  that  the  rate  of  future  credit  losses  will  be  similar  to  past  experience.  We  consider  all  available 
information when assessing the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts each quarter.

Inventory Valuation

Non-LIFO inventories are stated at the lower of its cost or net realizable value. LIFO inventories are stated at the lower of 
cost or market. Inventory costs include the costs of the purchased metals, inbound freight, external and internal processing
and applicable labor and overhead costs. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, 
less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation.

Costs  of  our  carbon  and  specialty  metals  flat  products  segments’  inventories,  including  flat-rolled  sheet,  coil  and  plate
products are determined using the specific identification method.

Certain of our tubular and pipe products inventory is stated under the LIFO method. At December 31, 2019, approximately
$39.1  million,  or  14.3%  of  consolidated  inventory,  was  reported  under  the  LIFO  method  of  accounting.  The  cost  of  the
remainder of tubular and pipe product segment’s inventory is determined using a weighted average rolling first-in, first-out 
method.

On the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, “Cost of materials sold (exclusive of items shown separately
below)” consists of the cost of purchased metals, inbound and internal transfer freight, external processing costs, and LIFO 
income or expense. 

d

Property and Equipment, and Depreciation 

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful 
lives of the assets ranging from two to 30 years. We capitalize the costs of obtaining or developing internal-use software,
including directly related payroll costs. We amortize those costs over five years, beginning when the software is ready for its
intended use.

Intangible Assets and Recoverability of Long-lived Assets 

a

The  Company  performs  an  annual  impairment  test  of  indefinite-lived  intangible  assets  in  the  fourth  quarter,  or  more
frequently  if  changes  in  circumstances  or  the  occurrence  of  events  indicate  potential  impairment.  Events  or  changes  in 
circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include signifi
cant nonperformance relative to the expected historical
or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the 
overall business or significant negative industry or economic trends. Management uses judgment to determine whether to use 
a qualitative analysis or a quantitative fair value measurement for the reporting unit that carries intangible assets.

r

If a quantitative fair value measurement is used, the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangib
le asset is compared to its 
carrying value and an impairment charge is recorded if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. We estimate the fair value
of  indefinite-lived  intangible  assets  using  a  discounted  cash  flow  methodology.  Management’s  assumptions  used  for  the 
calculations are based on historical results, projected financial information and recent economic events. Actual results could 
differ  from  these  estimates  under different  assumptions  or  conditions  which  could  adversely  affect  the  reported  value  of 
intangible assets. 

f

We evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets and the related estimated remaining lives whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that could trigger 
an impairment review include significant underperformance relative to the expected historical or projected future operating
results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the overall business or significant 
negative  industry  or  economic  trends.  We  record  an  impairment  or  change  in  useful  life  whenever  events  or  changes  in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed. 

ff

t

Page 36 

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes on the consolidated balance sheet include, as an offset to the estimated temporary differences between
the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts on the consolidated balance sheets, the tax effect of operating 
loss and tax credit carryforwards. If we determine that we will not be able to fully realize a deferred tax asset, we will reco
rd 
a valuation allowance to reduce such deferred tax asset to its net realizable value. We recognize interest accrued related to 
unrecognized  tax  benefits  in  normal  income  tax  expense.  Penalties,  if  incurred,  would  be  recognized  as  a  component  of 
administrative and general expense.

t

We recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would
more likely than not sustain the position following an audit.  For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold,
the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being
realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. 

We had no material unrecognized tax benefits as of or during the year period ended December 31, 2019.  We expect no 
significant increases or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits due to changes in tax positions within one year of December 
31, 2019.

Revenue Recognition 

Our contracts with customers are comprised of purchase orders with standard terms and conditions. Occasionally we may 
also have longer-term agreements with customers. Substantially all of the contracts with customers require the delivery of 
metals  which  represent  single  performance  obligations  that  are  satisfied  upon  transfer  of  control  of  the  product  to  the
customer. 

Transfer of control is assessed based on the use of the product distributed and rights to payment for performance under the 
contract terms. Transfer of control and revenue recognition for substantially all of our sales occur upon shipment or delivery 
of the product, which is when title, ownership and risk of loss pass to the customer and is based on the applicable shipping
terms. The shipping terms depend on the customer contract. An invoice for payment is issued at time of shipment and terms
are generally net 30 days. We have certain fabrication contracts in one business unit for which revenue is recognized over 
time as performance obligations are achieved. This fabrication business is immaterial to our consolidated results. 

Sales returns and allowances are treated as reductions to sales and are provided for based on historical experience and current
estimates and are immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

Amounts  charged  to  customers  for  shipping  and  other  transportation  services  are  included  in  net  sales.  The  distribution 
expense line on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income is entirely comprised of all shipping 
and other transportation costs incurred by us in shipping goods to its customers.

Stock-Based Compensation

We record compensation expense for stock awards issued to employees and directors. For additional information, see Note 
12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements 

In August 2018, the Financial Account Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2018-
15, “Intangibles – Goodwill and other – Internal-use software: Customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a 
cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract”. This ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation 
costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs 
incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). 
Accordingly, this ASU requires an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance
in Subtopic 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which 
costs to expense. This ASU also requires the entity (customer) to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting 
arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement, which includes reasonably certain renewals.
For public business entities, this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods
within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. We early adopted ASU 2018-15 in the third quarter of 2018 and the
adoption of this ASU did not materially impact our Consolidated Financial Statements.

aa

Page 37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In August 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No 2017-
12, “Derivatives and Hedging”. This ASU aligns an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging
relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and 
the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the ASU expands and refines hedge accounting for both nonfinancial 
and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the 
hedged item in the financial statements. This ASU also makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of 
hedge accounting guidance and ease the administrative burden of hedge documentation requirements and assessing hedge 
effectiveness. This ASU is the final version of proposed ASU 2016-310, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted
Improvements  to  Accounting  for  Hedging  Activities”,  which  has  been  deleted.  For  public  business  entities,  this  ASU  is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. All transition 
requirements and elections were applied to hedging relationships existing (that is, hedging relationships in which the hedging 
instrument has not expired, been sold, terminated, or exercised or the entity has not removed the designation of the hedging
relationship) on the date of adoption. The effect of adoption was reflected as of the beginning of 2019. The adoption of this
ASU did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)”, which requires the 
measurement  and recognition  of  expected  credit  losses  for  financial  assets  held  at  amortized  cost.  The  ASU replaces  the
existing  incurred  loss  impairment  model  with  a  forward-looking  expected  credit  loss  model  which  will  result  in  earlier
recognition of credit losses. The adoption of this ASU effective January 1, 2020 is not expected to have a material impact on
our Consolidated Financial Statements. 

t

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases,” which specifies the accounting for leases. The objective is
to establish the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements 
about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU introduces the recognition of lease 
assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous guidance. The guidance
d
was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. 
The  adoption  of  the  guidance  impacted  our  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  by  the  creation  of  right  to  use  assets  and  lease
m
liabilities. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our Statements of Comprehensive Income or on the 
Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Page 38 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our principal raw materials are carbon, coated and stainless steel, and aluminum, prime tin mill, pipe and tube, flat rolled 
coil, sheet and plate that we typically purchase from multiple primary metals producers. The metals industry as a whole is 
cyclical and, at times, pricing and availability of metals can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including 
general domestic and international economic conditions, the levels of metals imported into the United States, labor costs, 
sales levels, competition, levels of inventory held by other metals service centers, consolidation of metals producers, new 
global capacity by metals producers, higher raw material costs for the producers of metals, import duties and tariffs, including 
the section 232 tariffs initiated by the U.S. government in 2018, and currency exchange rates. This volatility can significantly
affect the availability and cost of raw materials for us. 

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

Declining metals prices, which we experienced since the third quarter of 2018, have generally adversely affected our net sales 
and net income, while increasing metals prices have generally favorably affected our net sales and net income. Rising metals 
prices, like we experienced in the first half of 2018, result in higher working capital requirements for us and our customers.
Some customers may not have sufficient credit lines or liquidity to absorb significant increases in the price of metals. While
we have generally been successful in the past in passing on producers’ price increases and surcharges to our customers, there
n
is no guarantee that we will be able to pass on price increases to our customers in the future.

Approximately 46%, 48% and 51% of our consolidated net sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were directly related
to industrial machinery and equipment manufacturers and their fabricators. 

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

We are exposed to the impact of fluctuating metals prices and interest rate changes. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, we entered 
into metals swaps at the request of customers. These derivatives have not been designated as hedging instruments. For certain 
customers, we enter into contractual relationships that entitle us to pass-through the economic effect of trading positions that 
we take with other third parties on our customers’ behalf. 

Our primary interest rate risk exposure results from variable rate debt. If interest rates in the future were to increase 100 basis
points (1.0%) from December 31, 2019 rates and, assuming no change in total debt from December 31, 2019 levels, the
additional annual interest expense to us would be approximately $1.2 million. We have the option to enter into 30- to 180-
day fixed base rate LIBOR loans under the revolving credit facility provided by our ABL Credit Facility. 

On January 10, 2019, we entered into a five-year interest rate swap that locked the interest rate at 2.567% on $75 million of 
our revolving debt.

Page 39 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Olympic Steel, Inc. 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms ......................................................................................... 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting ............................................................................. 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 ............ 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 ................................................................................... 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017................................ 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 ........... 
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equitytt  for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 ................. 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 ......................... 
yff ing Accounts for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 ................ 
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualif

–

41
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
70

 Page

Page 40 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Shareholders 
Olympic Steel, Inc. 

Opinion on the financial statements 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Olympic Steel, Inc. (an Ohio corporation) and subsidiaries 
(the  “Company”)  as  of  December  31,  2019,  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  comprehensive  income,  shareholders’
equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedule included 
under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations and 
its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principl
es generally accepted in the
ff
United States of America. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established 
in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 21, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion.

k

Change in accounting principle

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases 
in 2019 due to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). 

Basis for opinion 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and 
are  required  to  be  independent  with  respect  to  the  Company in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the 
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

u

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether 
due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial 
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included 
examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.  Our  audits  also
included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the 
overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

Cleveland, Ohio
February 21, 2020

Page 41 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Shareholders 
Olympic Steel, Inc. 

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Olympic Steel, Inc. (an Ohio corporation) and subsidiaries 
(the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on 
criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

k

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, and our 
report dated February 21, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. 

Basis for opinion

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s 
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

ff

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform 
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in
all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the 
risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based 
on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that 
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures 
that  (1)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and 
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and 
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or 
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
t
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the po

licies or procedures may deteriorate.

r

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
February 21, 2020

Page 42 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Olympic Steel, Inc. 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Olympic Steel, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 
31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of 
the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes an
d financial statement schedule for each
of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the 
ements  present  fairly,  in  all  material
“consolidated  financial  statements”).  In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  stat
respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows 
for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted 
in the United States of America.   

r

r

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express 
an  opinion  on  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  based  on  our  audits.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm 
registered  with  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States)  (PCAOB)  and  are  required  to  be 
independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those 
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial 
statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. 

Our  audits  included  performing  procedures  to  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included 
examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  regarding  the  amounts  and disclosures  in  the  consolidated financial  statements.  Our 
audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 
evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable
basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Cleveland, Ohio
February 15, 2019

We served as the Company's auditor from 2002 to 2019. 

Page 43 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our  management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial  reporting.  Our 
internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purp
oses in accordance with generally accepted 
f
accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements.

Our  management  assessed  the  effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2019.  In 
making this assessment, our management used the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013),
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 

In January 2019, the Company implemented ASC 842, “Leases” ("Topic 842"). For its adoption, the Company implemented 
changes to its lease and financial reporting process and control activities within them, such as development of new entity-
wide policies, ongoing lease reviews and manual changes to accommodate presentation and disclosure requirements.

tt

Based on our assessment, we concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting was 
effective based on those criteria. 

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 has been audited by Grant Thornton
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein. 

Page 44 

Olympic Steel, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) 

Net sales

Costs and expenses

Cost of materials sold (excludes items shown separately below)
Warehouse and processing
Administrative and general
Distribution 
Selling
Occupancy
Depreciation
Amortization

Total costs and expenses

Operating income 

Other loss, net

Income before interest and income taxes

Interest and other expense on debt
Income before income taxes 
Income tax provision (benefit)

Net income

Loss on cash flow hedges
Tax effect of hedges

Total comprehensive income 

Net income per share - basic 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
Net income per share - diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

Dividends declared per share of common stock

2019

2018 

2017 

  $

1,579,040    $ 

1,715,081     $ 

1,330,696   

1,280,110  
99,457  
76,863  
48,159  
28,839  
9,972  
17,686  
1,344 
1,562,430  
16,610  
(32)
16,578  
11,289  
5,289  
1,433  
3,856    $ 

(3,041)
760 
1,575    $ 

0.34    $ 

11,509  

0.34    $ 

11,509  

1,372,954   
97,565   
81,107   
50,347   
29,020   
9,428   
16,645   
963  
1,658,029   
57,052   
(307)
56,745   
10,681   
46,064   
12,305   
33,759     $ 

-   
-   

33,759     $ 

2.95     $ 

11,432   

2.95     $ 

11,440   

1,055,212   
87,425   
69,659  
41,789  
26,285  
8,862  
16,589  
889   
1,306,710   
23,986  
(118 )
23,868   
7,518  
16,350   
(2,613 ) 
18,963  

-   
-   
18,963   

1.67  

11,381  
1.67   

11,381  

0.08    $ 

0.08     $ 

0.08   

  $

  $

  $

$

  $

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

Page 45 

 
Olympic Steel, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31,
(in thousands)

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents 
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories, net (includes LIFO debit of $597 as of December 31, 2019 and LIFO

f
credit of $3,071 as of December 31, 2018) 

Prepaid expenses and other
Total current assets
Property and equipment, at cost
Accumulated depreciation 

Net property and equipment

Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Other long-term assets 
Right-of use assets, net

Total assets 

Accounts payable
Accrued payroll
Other accrued liabilities
Current portion of lease liabilities

Total current liabilities 

Credit facility revolver
Other long-term liabilities
Deferred income taxes 
Lease liabilities

Total liabilities 

Liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13) 

Preferred stock, without par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or 

Shareholders' Equity

outstanding

Common stock, without par value, 20,000 shares authorized; 11,020 issued; 10,996 

and 11,008 shares outstanding

Treasuryrr  stock, at cost, 25 and 12 shares held
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 
Retained earnings 

Total shareholders' equityt
Total liabilities and shareholders' equityt  

2019

2018 

  $

5,742    $

133,572   

9,319  
175,252 

273,531   
6,997  
419,842   
416,511   
(260,264) 
156,247   
3,423  
29,259  
14,439   
26,345  
649,555     $

69,452     $
13,196   
12,850   
5,589 
101,087   
192,925   
14,068   
12,262   
20,861  
341,203   

368,738 
9,460 
562,769 
403,785  
(244,176)
159,609  
2,358 
24,914 
11,090 
- 
760,740 

95,367  
19,665  
13,395  
- 
128,427 
302,530 
9,327 
13,465 
- 
453,749 

- 

-  

131,647   
(335)
(2,281)
179,321   
308,352   
649,555     $

130,778  
(132)
- 
176,345 
306,991  
760,740  

  $

$

  $

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

Page 46 

 
Olympic Steel, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 

Cash flows from (used for) operating activities: 

Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from 

operating activities -

Depreciation and amortization
(Gain) loss on disposition of property and equipment 
Stock-based compensation 
Intangibles and other long-term assets 
Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities

Changes in working capital: 
Accounts receivable 
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other
Accounts payable
Change in outstanding checks
Accrued payroll and other accrued liabilities 

Net cash from (used for) operating activities

Cash flows from (used for) investing activities: 

Acquisitions
Capital expenditures
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

Net cash used for investing activities

Cash flows from (used for) financing activities: 

Credit facility revolver borrowings
Credit facility revolver repayaa ments
Principal payments under capital lease obligation
Industrial revenue bond repayaa ments
Credit facility fees and expenses
Proceeds from employee stock options 
Repurchase of common stock
Dividends paid

Net cash from (used for) financing activities

Cash and cash equivalents: 

Net change
Beginning balance 
Ending balance 

2019

2018 

2017 

  $

3,856    $ 

33,759     $ 

18,963   

19,548   
(222)
2,188  
(3,835) 
1,220  
22,755   

42,141   
95,836   
2,464 
(33,651) 
7,053  
(7,040) 
106,803   
129,558  

(11,133) 
(10,165) 
269 
(21,029) 

536,944   
(646,549) 

-
-
(100)
-
(1,522)
(879)
(112,106) 

18,035   

64
1,529   
1,970   
(1,467 ) 
53,890   

(35,906 ) 
(78,662 ) 
47   
2,898   
1,038  
6,194   
(104,391 ) 
(50,501 ) 

(21,907 )
(25,715 ) 
126   
(47,496 ) 

597,867   
(491,572 ) 
(7 )
(930)
(171 )
-
-   
(880 )
104,307   

18,587  
(52 ) 
1,096   
(2,874 ) 
(8,988 ) 
26,732   

(30,835 )
(20,781 )
(1,303 )
3,918  
658   
2,570  
(45,773 ) 
(19,041 )

-   
(10,160 )
991  
(9,169 )

387,220   
(355,584 ) 
-   
(895 )
(969 )
10   
-  
(878 ) 
28,904  

(3,577) 
9,319  
5,742     $ 

6,310  
3,009   
9,319     $ 

694  
2,315   
3,009  

  $

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

Page 47 

Olympic Steel, Inc.
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 

Cash paid during the period

g

Interest paid
Income taxes paid

2019

2018 

2017

$
  $

10,951    $ 
460    $ 

10,241     $ 
11,316     $ 

6,433  
9,357  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements

Page 48 

Olympic Steel, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 

Accumulated
Other 

Common      Treasury      Comprehensive  Retained
Earnings 

     Stock 

Stock  

Loss

Total 
Equity 

Balance at December 31, 2016

  $  128,619    $ 

(609) $

- $  125,380    $  253,390

Net income
Payment of dividends
Employee stock purchase (1 shares) 
Stock-based compensation 
Other

  $ 

- $
-
10  
824  
-  

- $
-  
-  
272 
- 

- $ 
-      
-  
-  
-  

18,963    $ 
(878)   
-  
-  
2  

18,963
(878)
10   
1,096   
2  

Balance at December 31, 2017

  $  129,453    $ 

(337) $

- $  143,467    $  272,583

Net income
Payment of dividends
Stock-based compensation 
Other

  $ 

- $
-

1,324  
1  

- $
-  
205  
-  

- $ 
-      
-      
-  

33,759    $ 
(880)   
-
(1)   

33,759
(880)
1,529   
-   

Balance at December 31, 2018

  $  130,778    $ 

(132) $

- $  176,345    $  306,991

Net income 
Payment of dividends
Stock-based compensation
Stock repurchase
Change in fair value of hedges
Other

  $

-    $
- 
869 
-
-
-

- $
-  
1,319  
(1,522)  

-
-

- $
-
-

(2,281)  
- 

3,856    $
(879)
-  
-
-
(1)

3,856  
(879)
2,188 
(1,522)
(2,281)
(1)

Balance at December 31, 2019 

$

131,647    $

(335)   $

(2,281)   $

179,321    $

308,352 

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

Page 49 

Olympic Steel, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For The Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

1.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Nature of Business

The Company operates in three reportable segments; carbon flat products, specialty metals flat products, and tubular and pipe
products. The carbon flat products segment and the specialty metals flat products segments are at times consolidated and 
referred to as the flat products segments. Certain of the flat products segments’ assets and resources are shared by the carbon
and specialty metals segments and both segments’ products are stored in the shared facilities and, in some locations, processed
on shared equipment. Due to the shared assets and resources, certain of the flat products segment expenses are allocated 
between the carbon flat products segment and the specialty metals flat products segment based upon an established allocation
methodology. The carbon flat products segment sells and distributes large volumes of processed carbon and coated flat-rolled 
sheet,  coil  and  plate  products,  and  fabricated  parts.  Through  its  acquisition  of  McCullough  Industries  (McCullough)  on 
January 2, 2019, the carbon flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include self-dumping metal hoppers and 
through its acquisition of EZ Dumper® on August 5, 2019, to include steel and stainless-steel dump inserts for pickup truck 
and service truck beds. The specialty metals flat products segment sells and distributes processed aluminum and stainless 
flat-rolled sheet and coil products, flat bar products and fabricated parts. Through its acquisition of Berlin Metals, LLC (Berlin
Metals) on April 2, 2018, the specialty metals flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include differing types 
of stainless flat-rolled sheet and coil and prime tin mill products. The tubular and pipe products segment, which consists of 
the Chicago Tube and Iron subsidiary (CTI), distributes metal tubing, pipe, bar, valves and fittings and fabri
cates pressure 
parts supplied to various industrial markets.

ff

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

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  Olympic  Steel,  Inc.  and  its  wholly-owned 
subsidiaries (collectively, the Company or Olympic), after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. 

Accounting Estimates

The  preparation  of  financial  statements in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States 
requires  management  to  make  estimates and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  and 
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and 
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

d

Concentration Risks

The Company is a major customer of flat-rolled coil and plate and tubular and pipe steel for many of its principal suppliers,
but  is  not  dependent  on  any  one  supplier.  The  Company  purchased  approximately  57%,  52%  and  53%  of  its  total  steel
requirements from its three largest suppliers in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

The Company has a diversified customer and geographic base, which reduces the inherent risk and cyclicality of its business.
The concentration of net sales to the Company’s top 20 customers approximated 29%, 29% and 27% of consolidated net sales 
in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In addition, the Company’s largest customer accounted for approximately 5%, 5% and 
4% of consolidated net sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Sales to industrial machinery and equipment manufacturers 
and their fabricators accounted for 46%, 48% and 51% of consolidated net sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

Page 50 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash  equivalents  consist  of  short-term  highly  liquid  investments,  with  a  three  month  or  less  maturity,  which  are  readily
convertible  into  cash.  The  Company  maintains  cash  levels  in  bank  accounts  that,  at  times,  may  exceed  federally-insured 
limits. The Company have not experienced significant loss, and believe we are not exposed to significant risk of loss, in these
accounts. 

t

Fair Market Value 

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

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

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

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

Financial instruments, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and the credit facility, are 
stated at their carrying value, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value. The fair value of marketable securities is based 
on 
f
quoted market prices.

Accounts Receivable

The  Company’s  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  is  maintained  at  a  level  considered  appropriate  based  on  historical 
experience  and  specific  customer  collection  issues  that  the  Company  has  identified.  Estimations  are  based  upon  the 
application of a historical collection rate to the outstanding accounts receivable balance, which remains fairly level from yea
r 
to  year,  and  judgments  about  the  probable  effects  of  economic  conditions  on  certain  customers,  which  can  fluctuate
significantly from year to year. The Company cannot guarantee that the rate of future credit losses will be similar to past 
experience. The Company considers all available information when assessing the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful
accounts each quarter. 

a

Inventories

Non-LIFO inventories are stated at the lower of its cost or net realizable value. LIFO inventories are stated at the lower of 
cost or market. Inventory costs include the costs of the purchased metals, inbound freight, external and internal processing 
and applicable labor and overhead costs. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of 
business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. 

f

Costs of the Company’s carbon and specialty metals flat products segments’ inventories, including flat-rolled sheet, coil and 
plate products are determined using the specific identification method. 

Certain  of  the  Company’s  tubular  and  pipe  products  inventory  is  stated  under  the  last-in,  first-out  (LIFO)  method.  At 
December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, approximately $39.
1 million, or 14.3% of consolidated inventory, and $51.1 
million, or 13.9% of consolidated inventory, respectively, was reported under the LIFO method of accounting. The cost of 
the remainder of tubular and pipe product segment’s inventory is determined using a weighted average rolling first-in, first-
out (FIFO) method. 

r

rr

On the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, “Cost of materials sold (exclusive of items shown separately 
below)” consists of the cost of purchased metals, inbound and internal transfer freight, external processing costs, and LIFO 
income or expense. 

d

Page 51 

Property and Equipment, and Depreciation

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful 
lives of the assets ranging from two to 30 years. The Company capitalizes the costs of obtaining or developing internal-use 
software, including directly related payroll costs. The Company amortizes those costs over five years, beginning when the 
software is ready for its intended use. 

Intangible Assets and Recoverability of Long-lived Assets

The  Company  performs  an  annual  impairment  test  of  indefinite-lived  intangible  assets  in  the  fourth  quarter,  or  more
frequently  if  changes  in  circumstances  or  the  occurrence  of  events  indicate  potential  impairment.  Events  or  changes  in 
circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include signifi
cant nonperformance relative to the expected historical
or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the 
overall business or significant negative industry or economic trends. Management uses judgment to determine whether to use 
a qualitative analysis or a quantitative fair value measurement for each of the Company’s reporting units that carry intangible
assets. 

r

If a quantitative fair value measurement is used, the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangib
le asset is compared to its 
carrying value and an impairment charge is recorded if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The Company estimates the 
fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets using a discounted cash flow methodology. Management’s assumptions used
for the calculations are based on historical results, projected financial information and recent economic events. Actual results 
could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions which could adversely affect the reported value 
of intangible assets.

f

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets and the related estimated remaining lives whenever events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that 
could  trigger  an  impairment  review  include  significant  underperformance  relative  to  the  expected  historical  or  projected 
future operating results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the overall 
business or significant negative industry or economic trends. The Company records an impairment or change in useful life 
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable or the useful life has 
changed. 

Income Taxes

The  Company  records,  as  an  offset  to  the  estimated  effect  of  temporary  differences  between  the  tax  basis  of  assets  and
liabilities  and  the  reported  amounts  in  its  consolidated  balance  sheets,  the  tax  effect  of  operating  loss  and  tax  credit 
carryforwards. If the Company determines that it will not be able to fully realize a deferred tax asset, it will record a valuation 
allowance  to  reduce  such  deferred  tax  asset  to  its  realizable  value.  The  Company  recognizes  interest  accrued  related  to 
unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of administrative 
and general expense. 

The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority
would  more  likely  than  not  sustain  the  position  following  an  audit.   For  tax  positions  meeting  the  more-likely-than-not 
threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood
of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. 

The Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits as of or during the year period ended December 31, 2019.  The 
Company expects no significant increases or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits due to changes in tax positions within one 
m
year of December 31, 2019. 

Revenue Recognition

The Company's contracts with customers are comprised of purchase orders with standard terms and conditions. Occasionally 
the Company may also have longer-term agreements with customers. Substantially all of the contracts with customers require
the delivery of metals which represent single performance obligations that are satisfied upon transfer of control of the product 
to the customer. 

Page 52 

tt

Transfer of control is assessed based on the use of the product distributed and rights to payment for performance under the 
substantially all of the Company’s sales occur upon shipment 
contract terms. Transfer of control and revenue recognition for 
or delivery of the product, which is when title, ownership and risk of loss pass to the customer and is based on the applicable
shipping terms. The shipping terms depend on the customer contract. An invoice for payment is issued at time of shipment 
and terms are generally net 30 days. The Company has certain fabrication contracts in one business unit for which revenue is 
recognized  over  time  as  performance  obligations  are  achieved.  This  fabrication  business  is  immaterial  to  the  Company's 
consolidated results. 

Sales returns and allowances are treated as reductions to sales and are provided for based on historical experience and current
estimates and are immaterial to the consolidated financial statements. 

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

Amounts  charged  to  customers  for  shipping  and  other  transportation  services  are  included  in  net  sales.  The  distribution 
expense line on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income is entirely comprised of all shipping
and other transportation costs incurred by the Company in shipping goods to its customers.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records compensation expense for stock awards issued to employees and directors. For additional information,
see Note 12, Equity Plans. 

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements 

In August 2018, the Financial Account Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2018-
15, “Intangibles – Goodwill and other – Internal-use software: Customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a 
cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract”. This ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation
costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs 
incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). 
Accordingly, this ASU requires an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance
in Subtopic 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which 
costs to expense. This ASU also requires the entity (customer) to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting 
arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement, which includes reasonably certain renewals. 
For public business entities, this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods
within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-15 in the third quarter of 
2018 and the adoption of this ASU did not materially impact the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

aa

In  August  2017,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No  2017-12,  “Derivatives  and  Hedging”.  This  ASU  aligns  an  entity’s  risk 
management  activities  and  financial  reporting  for  hedging  relationships  through  changes  to  both  the  designation  and 
measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the 
ASU expands and refines hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition 
and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. This ASU also 
makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance and ease the administrative 
burden of hedge documentation requirements and assessing hedge effectiveness. This ASU is the final version of proposed 
ASU  2016-310,  “Derivatives  and  Hedging  (Topic  815):  Targeted  Improvements  to  Accounting  for  Hedging  Activities”, 
which has been deleted. For public business entities, this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. All transition requirements and elections were applied to hedging relationships 
existing (that is, hedging relationships in which the hedging instrument has not expired, been sold, terminated, or exercised 
or the entity has not removed the designation of the hedging relationship) on the date of adoption. The effect of adoption was
reflected  as  of  the  beginning  of  2019.  The  adoption  of  this  ASU  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company’s
Consolidated Financial Statements. 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)”, which requires the 
measurement  and recognition  of  expected  credit  losses  for  financial  assets  held  at  amortized  cost.  The  ASU replaces  the
existing  incurred  loss  impairment  model  with  a  forward-looking  expected  credit  loss  model  which  will  result  in  earlier
recognition of credit losses. The adoption of this ASU effective January 1, 2020 is not expected to have a material impact on
the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. 

t

Page 53 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases,” which specifies the accounting for leases. The objective is
to establish the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements
about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU introduces the recognition of lease 
assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous guidance. The guidance
d
was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. 
The adoption of the guidance impacted the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets by the creation 
of right to use assets and 
lease liabilities. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s Statements of Comprehensive 
Income or on the Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

d

2. Acquisitions

On August 5, 2019, the Company acquired certain assets related to the manufacturing of the EZ Dumper® hydraulic dump
inserts for $0.1 million. The dump inserts are sold through a network of more than 100 dealers across the United States and 
Canada. As of the effective date of the acquisition, EZ Dumper’s results are included in the Company’s carbon flat products
segment. 

On January 2, 2019, the Company acquired substantially all of the net assets of McCullough, based in Kenton, Ohio for $11.0
million. McCullough was founded in 1965 and manufactures and sells branded self-dumping metal hoppers used in a variety 
of industrial applications. McCullough’s products are primarily sold through industrial distributors and catalogues. As of the
effective date of the acquisition, McCullough’s results are included in the Company’s carbon flat products segment. Upon 
the acquisition, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit facility to include the eligible assets of McCullough. 

On April 2, 2018, the Company acquired substantially all of the net assets of Berlin Metals, based in Hammond, Indiana, for 
$21.9 million. Berlin Metals was founded in 1967 and is one of the largest North American service centers processing and 
distributing prime tin mill products and stainless steel strip in slit coil form. Berlin Metals is also a supplier of galvanized, 
light gauge cold rolled sheet and strip and other coated metals in coil forms, to customers in the building products, automotive 
rlin  Metals’  results  are  included  in  the
f
and  specialized  industrial  markets.  As  of  the  effective  date  of  the  acquisition,  Be
Company’s  specialty  metals  flat  products  segment  in  the  Company’s  2018  financial  results.  Upon  the  acquisition,  the 
Company entered into an amendment to its credit facility to include the eligible assets of Berlin Metals. 

The acquisitions are not considered significant and thus pro forma information has not been provided. The acquisitions were 
accounted  for  as  business  combinations  and  the  assets  and  liabilities  were  valued  at  fair  market  value.  The  table  below 
summarizes the final purchase price allocation of the fair market values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

aa

aa

Details of Acquisition (in thousands)
Assets acquired

Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Property and equipment
Prepaid expenses and other
Goodwill 
Intangible assets 

Total assets acquired
Total liabilities assumed
Cash paid

EZ Dumper
As of
August 5, 2019 

McCullough
As of
  January 2, 2019  

Berlin Metals
As of
April 2, 2018   

  $ 

  $ 

$

-
43   
67  
-  
166  
23  
299   
(166 )   
133     $ 

461    $ 
586  
4,138 
-  
898 
5,599 
11,682  
(682)
11,000    $ 

6,609   
14,769  
2,898  
345  
-  
5,255  
29,876   
(7,969)
21,907   

The purchase price allocations presented above is based upon management’s estimate of the fair value of the acquired assets 
and assumed liabilities using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. The fair value estimates 
involve the use of estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the timing and amounts of future cash flows, 
revenue growth rates, discount rates, and royalty rates. 

a

Page 54 

3. Revenue Recognition

The Company provides metals processing, distribution and delivery of large volumes of processed carbon, coated flat rolled 
sheet, coil and plate products, aluminum, and stainless flat rolled products, prime tin mill products, flat bar products, metal
tubing, pipe, bar, valves, fittings, and fabricated parts. The Company's contracts with customers are comprised of purchase 
orders with standard terms and conditions. Occasionally the Company may also have longer-term agreements with customers. 
Substantially all of the contracts with customers require the delivery of metals which represent single performance obligations
that are satisfied at a point in time upon transfer of control of the product to the customer.

Transfer of control is assessed based on the use of the product distributed and rights to payment for performance under the 
contract terms. Transfer of control and revenue recognition for substantially all of the Company’s sales occur upon shipment 
or delivery of the product, which is when title, ownership and risk of loss pass to the customer and is based on the applicable
shipping terms. The shipping terms depend on the customer contract. An invoice for payment is issued at time of shipment 
and terms are generally net 30 days. The Company has certain fabrication contracts in one business unit for which revenue is 
recognized over time as performance obligations are achieved. This fabrication business is not material to the Company's 
consolidated results. 

Within  the  metals  industry,  revenue  is  frequently  disaggregated  by  products  sold.  The  table  below  disaggregates  the 
Company’s revenues by segment and products sold.

Hot Rolled
Plate 
Cold Rolled
Coated
Specialty
Pipe & Tube 
Other
Total

Hot Rolled
Plate 
Cold Rolled
Coated
Specialty
Pipe & Tube 
Other
Total

Disaggregated Revenue by Products Sold
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2019 

Carbon
flat
products

Specialty
metals flat
products

Tubular
and
pipe
products

32.3%  
12.2%  
5.5%  
7.7%  
-
-
1.0%  
58.7%  

-  
-  
-  
-   
20.9 %
-
2.1 %   
23.0 %   

-  
-  
-  
-  
-
18.3%  
-
18.3%  

Total 

32.3%
12.2%
5.5%
7.7%
20.9%
18.3%
3.1%
100.0%

Disaggregated Revenue by Products Sold
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018 

Carbon
flat 
products

Specialty
metals flat
products

Tubular
and
pipe
products

35.2%  
12.9%  
5.4%  
7.4%  
-
-
1.7%  
62.6%  

-  
-  
-  
-   
20.0 %
-
0.0 %   
20.0 %   

-  
-  
-  
-  
-
17.4%  
-
17.4%  

Total 

35.2%
12.9%
5.4%
7.4%
20.0%
17.4%
1.7%
100.0%

Page 55 

 
 
4. Accounts Receivable:

Accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts and un
f
million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Bad debt expense totaled $0.6 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

issued credits of $3.7 million and $3.9 

The  Company’s  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  is  maintained  at  a  level  considered  appropriate  based  on  historical 
experience and specific customer collection issues that the Company has identified. Estimations are based upon a calculated 
percentage of accounts receivable, which remains fairly level from year to year, and judgments about the probable effects of 
economic  conditions  on  certain  customers,  which  can  fluctuate  significantly  from  year  to  year.  The  Company  cannot 
guarantee  that  the  rate  of  future  credit  losses  will  be  similar  to  past  experience.  The  Company  considers  all  available 
information when assessing the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts. 

5.

Inventories:

Inventories consisted of the following:

(in thousands)
Unprocessed
Processed and finished

Totals 

As of December 31,

2019

2018

  $

  $

220,787    $
52,744  
273,531,    $

306,953 
61,785 
368,738 

During 2019, the Company recorded $3.7 million of LIFO income as a result of decreased metals pricing during 2019. The
LIFO income increased the Company’s inventory balance and decreased its cost of materials sold. During 2018, the Company 
recorded $8.4 million of LIFO expense as a result of increased metals pricing during 2018. The LIFO expense decreased the
Company’s inventory balance and increased its cost of materials sold. 

Our inventory quantities were reduced during 2019, resulting in a liquidation of LIFO inventory layers (a “LIFO decrement”). 
A LIFO decrement results in the erosion of layers created in earlier years, and, therefore, a LIFO layer is not created for yea
rs
that have decrements. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the effect of the LIFO decrement impacted cost of materials
sold by an immaterial amount.

ff

t

If the FIFO method had been in use, inventories would have been $0.6 million lower and $3.1 million higher than reported 
at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

6.

Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment consists of the following:

(in thousands)

d

Land improvements
Buildings and improvements 
Machinery and equipment 
Furniture and fixtures
Computer software and equipment
Vehicles
Capital lease
Construction in progress 

Less accumulated depreciation 
Net property and equipment 

Depreciable
Lives

December 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

-
5  - 10 
7  - 30 
2  - 15 
3  - 7
2  - 5 
2  - 5 

-

$

    $ 

Page 56 

16,046 
3,675 
142,663 
213,994 
6,493 
28,653 
2,272 
-
2,715
416,511 
(260,264 ) 
156,247 

  $ 

  $ 

15,881
3,547
133,386
205,826 
6,374 
28,638
1,876 
86
8,171
403,785 
(244,176 ) 
159,609 

Leasehold improvements are included with buildings and improvements and are depreciated over the life of the lease or seven
years, whichever is less. 

Construction in progress as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, primarily consisted of payments for additional 
processing equipment at our existing facilities that were not yet placed into service. 

7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets:

The Company’s intangible assets were recorded in connection with its acquisitions of EZ Dumper and McCullough in 2019,
its acquisition of Berlin Metals in 2018 and its acquisition of CTI in 2011. The intangible assets were evaluated on the premise 
of highest and best use to a market participant, primarily utilizing the income approach valuation methodology. The useful
life of the customer relationships was determined to be fifteen years, based primarily on the consistent and predictable revenue 
source associated with the existing customer base, the present value of which extends through the fifteen-year amortization
period. The useful life of the non-compete agreements was determined to be the length of the non-compete agreements which 
range from one to five years. The useful life of the trade names was determined to be indefinite primarily due to their history
and  reputation  in  the  marketplace,  the  Company’s  expectation  that  the  trade  names  will  continue  to  be  used,  and  the 
conclusion that there are currently no other factors identified that would limit their useful life. The Company will continue to 
evaluate the useful life assigned to its amortizable customer relationships and noncompete agreements in future periods. 

Goodwill, by reportable unit, was as follows as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The goodwill is 
deductible for tax purposes. 

(in thousands)

Balance as of December 31, 2018 

Acquisitions 
Impairments 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

Carbon
Flat
Products

Specialty 
Metals Flat
Products

Tubular
and 
Pipe 
Products

  $ 

  $ 

-

$

1,065  
-  
1,065    $ 

2,358    $ 
-  
- 
2,358    $ 

Total 

-
-  
-  
-

$

$

2,358 
1,065 
- 
3,423  

During  2019  and  2018,  a  step  zero  test  was  performed  for  the  indefinitely  lived  intangible  assets  and  no  indication  of 
impairment was present. 

Intangible assets, net, consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively: 

(in thousands)

Customer relationships - subjb ect to amortization
Covenant not to compete - subjb ect to amortization
Trade name - not subjb ect to amortization 

(in thousands)

Customer relationships - subjb ect to amortization
Covenant not to compete - subjb ect to amortization
Trade names - not subjb ect to amortization 

Gross Carrying 
Amount 

As of December 31, 2019
Accumulated 
Amortization 

Intangible Assets,
Net

  $ 

  $ 

18,022    $ 
259 
18,995 
37,276    $ 

(7,900)   $ 
(117)
-
(8,017)   $ 

10,122  
142
18,995
29,259  

Gross Carrying 
Amount 

As of December 31, 2018
Accumulated 
Amortization 

Intangible Assets,
Net

  $ 

 $ 

13,972    $ 
157 
17,525  
31,654    $ 

(6,698)   $ 
(42)
-
(6,740)   $ 

7,274 
115
17,525
24,914  

Page 57 

 
The Company estimates that amortization expense for its intangible assets subject to amortization will be approximately $1.3
million per year for the next two years and $1.2 million per year for the three years thereafter. 

8.

Leases:

During the first quarter of 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. This ASU requires lessees to recognize a 
right of use (ROU) asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet, with the exception of short-term leases. The Company 
leases warehouses and office space, industrial equipment, office equipment, vehicles, industrial gas tanks and forklifts from
other parties and leases land and warehouse space to third parties. The Company determines if a contract contains a lease 
rr
od in exchange for consideration. Upon
when the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified assets for a peri
identification and commencement of a lease, the Company establishes a ROU asset and a lease liability. Operating and finance 
leases are included in ROU assets, current portion of lease liabilities, and lease liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated
Balance Sheets.

t

The Company has remaining lease terms ranging from one year to 19 years, some of these include options to renew the lease 
for up to five years. The total lease term is determined by considering the initial term per the lease agreement which is adjusted 
to include any renewal options that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise as well as any period that the Company 
has control over the space before the stated initial term of the agreement. If the Company determines a reasonable certainty 
of exercising termination or early buyout options, then the lease terms are adjusted to account for these facts.

Under the transition method selected by the Company, leases existing at, or entered into after, January 1, 2019 were required 
to be recognized and measured. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reflected in accordance with 
the Company’s historical reporting. The adoption of this standard resulted in the recording of ROU assets and operating lease 
liabilities  of  approximately  $30.1  million  as  of  January  1, 2019,  with  no  related  impact  on  the  Company’s  Consolidated 
Statements of Comprehensive Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Short-term leases have not been recorded 
on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company leases one warehouse from a related party. The Company’s Executive Chairman of the Board owns 50% of an 
entity that owns one of the Cleveland warehouses and leases it to the Company at a fair market value annual rental of $0.2 
million. The lease expires on December 31, 2023 with three five-year renewal options. 

f

The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard 
which, among other things, allows the Company to carry forward its historical lease classification. 

The  Company  made  an  accounting  policy  election  to  not  separate  non-lease  components 
from  lease  components  for  the
vehicle  ROU  asset  class.  This  election  has  been  made  to  significantly  reduce  the  administrative  burden  which  would  be
imposed on the Company. No accounting policy elections were made for the remaining ROU asset classes.

aa

ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the 
lease term at commencement date. As most of the leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental
borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. 
Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

The components of lease expense were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2019:

(in thousands)

Operating lease cost

Finance lease cost

Amortization of right to use asset
Interest on lease liabilities 

2019

  $ 

7,013  

  $ 

67 
15 
82  

Page 58 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows for the year ended December 31, 2019:

(in thousands) 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

Operating cash flows from operating leases
Operating cash flows from finance leases
Financing cash flows from finance leases

Total cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows: 

(in thousands) 

Operating leases
Operating lease right of use asset
Operating lease accumulated depreciation
Operating lease right of use asset, net

Operating lease current liabilities 
Operating lease liabilities 

(in thousands) 

Finance leases
Finance lease right of use asset
Finance lease accumulated depreciation 
Finance lease right of use asset, net

Finance lease current liabilities
Finance lease liabilities

Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)
Operating leases 
Finance leases

Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases
Finance leases

Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows: 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

(in thousands)
Year Ending December 31, 

2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
Thereafter

Total future minimum lease payments
Less remaining imputed interest

Total 

Operating
Lease

Finance
Lease

  $ 

  $

  $

6,329    $ 
5,451  
4,424 
3,516 
2,897  
6,876 
29,493    $ 
(3,594)
25,899    $

Page 59 

6,913  
15 
63 
6,991  

2019

2019

31,624 
(5,825) 
25,799 

5,481 
20,418 
25,899  

2019

613 
(67)
546 

108 
443  
551  

7  
6  

3.72% 
4.01%

127 
125  
116  
77  
58 
111 
614 
(63) 
551  

The Company entered into a facility lease in December 2019 which commences in the first quarter of 2020. The ROU asset 
and lease liability for this lease is $3.8 million. 

t

9. Debt:

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

(in thousands)
Asset-based revolving credit facilityt  due December 8, 2022
Total debt

Less current amount

Total long-term debt

As of December 31,

2019

2018

  $ 

  $ 

192,925    $ 
192,925  
- 

192,925    $ 

302,530 
302,530  
- 
302,530  

The Company’s asset-based credit facility (the ABL Credit Facility) is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable,
inventory and personal property. The ABL Credit Facility consists of (i) a revolving credit facility of $445 million, including
a $20 million sub-limit for letters of credit and (ii) a first in, last out revolving credit facility of up to $30 million. Under the 
terms of the ABL Credit Facility, the Company may request additional commitments in the aggregate principal amount of up 
to $200 million to the extent that existing or new lenders agree to provide such additional commitments. Revolver borrowings 
are  limited  to  the  lesser  of  a  borrowing  base,  comprised  of  eligible  receivables  and  inventories,  or  $475  million  in  the 
aggregate. The ABL Credit Facility matures on December 8, 2022.

The ABL Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties and certain covenants that limit the ability of the 
Company  to,  among  other  things:  (i)  incur  or  guarantee  additional  indebtedness;  (ii)  pay  distributions  on,  redeem  or 
repurchase capital stock or redeem or repurchase subordinated debt; (iii) make investments; (iv) sell assets; (v) enter into 
agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from restricted subsidiaries to the Company; (vi) incur liens securing
s  assets;  and  (viii)  engage  in 
indebtedness;  (vii)  consolidate,  merge  or  transfer  all  or  substantially  all  of  the  Company’
transactions  with  affiliates.  In  addition,  the  ABL  Credit  Facility  contains  a  financial  covenant  which  requires  (i)  if  any
commitments or obligations are outstanding and the Company’s availability is less than the greater of $30 million or 10.0% 
of the aggregate amount of revolver commitments ($47.5 million at December 31, 2019) or 10.0% of the aggregate borrowing
base  ($28.9  million  at  December  31,  2019)  then  the  Company  must  maintain  a  ratio  of  Earnings  before  Interest,  Taxes,
Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed charges of at least 
1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve fiscal month period. 

u

The Company has the option to borrow under its revolver based on the agent’s base rate plus a premium ranging from 0.00%
to 0.25% or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a premium ranging from 1.25% to 2.75%. 

As  of  December  31,  2019,  the  Company  was  in  compliance with  its  covenants  and  had  approximately  $93.3  million  of 
availability under the ABL Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, $1.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of bank financing fees were 
included in “Prepaid expenses and other” and “Other long-term assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The financing fees are being amortized over the five-year term of the ABL Credit Facility and are included in “Interest and
other expense on debt” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

As part of the CTI acquisition in July 2011, the Company assumed approximately $5.9 million of Industrial Revenue Bond 
(IRB) indebtedness. On March 1, 2018, the Company made the final $0.9 million payment on the IRB and the letter of credit 
and fixed interest rate swap associated with the IRB were terminated. 

Page 60 

Scheduled Debt Maturities, Interest, Debt Carrying Values

The Company’s principal payments over the next five years are detailed in the table below:

(in thousands)

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Total

ABL Credit (cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)
(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)

$

Total principal (cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)

 $ 

-

-

$

$

-

-

$ 

192,925     $

$ 

192,925     $

-

-

$

$

-

-

$ 

$ 

192,925

192,925

The overall effective interest rate for all debt, exclusive of deferred financing fees and deferred commitment fees, amounted
to 4.0%, 3.7% and 3.0% in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Interest paid totaled $11.0 million, $10.2 million and $6.4 
million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Average total debt outstanding was $257.6 
million, $275.3 million and $200.6 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

10. Derivative Instruments:

Metals swaps

During 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company entered into nickel swaps indexed to the London Metal Exchange (LME) price 
of nickel with third-party brokers. The nickel swaps are treated as derivatives for accounting purposes and are included in
“Other accrued liabilities” and “Prepaid expenses and other” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and 
2018. The Company entered into the swaps to mitigate its customers’ risk of volatility in the price of metals. The outstanding
nickel swaps have one to two months remaining as of December 31, 2019. The swaps are settled 
with the brokers at maturity.
r
The  economic  benefit  or  loss  arising  from  the  changes  in  fair  value  of  the  swaps  is  contractually  passed  through  to  the 
customer. The primary risk associated with the metals swaps is the ability of customers or third-party brokers to honor their 
agreements with the Company related to derivative instruments. If the customer or third-party brokers are unable to honor 
their agreements, the Company’s risk of loss is the fair value of the metals swaps.

While these derivatives are intended to help the Company manage risk, they have not been designated as hedging instruments. 
The periodic changes in fair value of the metals and embedded customer derivative instruments are included in “Cost of 
materials  sold”  in  the  Consolidated Statements of  Comprehensive  Income.  The  Company recognizes derivative positions 
with both the customer and the third party for the derivatives and classifies cash settlement amounts associated with them as
part of “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The cumulative change in fair 
value  of  the  metals  swaps  that  had  not  yet  settled  as  of  December  31,  2019  and  2018  were  included  in  “Other  accrued 
liabilities”, and the embedded customer derivatives are included in “Accounts Receivable, net” on the Consolidated Balance 
Sheets. 

Fixed rate interest rate hedge

On January 10, 2019, the Company entered into a five-year forward starting fixed rate interest rate hedge in order to eliminate
the variability of cash interest payments on $75 million of the outstanding LIBOR based borrowings under the ABL Credit 
Facility. The interest rate hedge fixed the rate at 2.57%. The interest rate hedge is included in “Other long-term liabilities”
on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  as of  December  31,  2019  and  had  a  fair  value  of  $3.0  million.  The  mark-to-market 
adjustment  of  the  fair  value  of  the  hedge  is  recorded  to  “Accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss”  on  the  Company’s 
Consolidate Balance Sheets. Although the Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other 
party to the interest rate hedge agreement, the Company anticipates performance by the counterparty. 

Interest rate swap

CTI  entered  into  an  interest  rate  swap to reduce  the  impact  of  changes  in  interest  rates  on  its  IRB.  The  swap  agreement 
matured in April 2018. The periodic changes in fair value of the interest rate swap and cash settlement amounts associated 
with  the  interest  rate  swap  were  included  in  “Interest  and  other  expense  on  debt”  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of 
Comprehensive Income.

Page 61 

 
There was no net impact from the nickel swaps or embedded customer derivative agreements to the Company’s Consolidated 
Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. The table below shows the
total  impact  to  the  Company’s  Consolidated  Statements  of  Comprehensive  Income  through  “Net  income  (loss)”  of  the
derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

(in thousands) 
Fixed interest rate hedge 
Interest rate swap (CTI)
Metals swaps 
Embedded customer derivatives
Total loss

11.

.Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities:

Net Gain (Loss) Recognized
2018

2017

2019

  $

  $

(227) $
-
291 
(291)
(227) $

$

-
(5)
(79)
79
(5) $

-  
(31)
475
(475)
(31)

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

a

During 2019 and 2018, there were no transfers of financial assets between Levels 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements. There
have  been  no  changes  in  the  methodologies  used  at  December  31,  2019.  Following  is  a  description  of  the  valuation
methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2019: 

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

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

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

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

(in thousands) 
Assets:
Embedded customer derivatives
Total assets at fair value  

Liabilities:
Metal swaps 
Fixed interest rate hedge 
Total liabilities recorded at fair value  

Value of Items Recorded at Fair Value
As of December 31, 2019

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total

  $ 
  $

  $ 

$

-
-

-
-
-

$
$

$

$

4    $ 
4    $

4    $ 

3,042
3,046    $

-
-

-
-
-

$
$

$

$

4 
4 

4 
3,042
3,046

Page 62 

(in thousands) 
Assets:
Embedded customer derivatives
Total assets at fair value  

Liabilities:
Metal swaps 
Total liabilities recorded at fair value  

Value of Items Recorded at Fair Value
As of December 31, 2018

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3

Total

  $ 
  $

  $ 
$

-
-

-
-

$
$

$
$

21    $ 
21    $

21    $ 
21    $

-
-

-
-

$
$

$
$

21 
21 

21  
21 

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

The  carrying  value  of  the  ABL  Credit  Facility  was  $192.9  million  and  $302.5  million  at  December  31,  2019  and  2018, 
respectively. Because the ABL Credit Facility was amended on November 30, 2018, management believes that its carrying 
value approximates fair value. 

m

12. Equity Plans:

EE

Restricted Stock Units 

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Olympic Steel 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Incentive Plan), the Company may 
grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, and other stock-
and cash-based awards to employees and directors of, and consultants to, the Company and its affiliates. Since adoption of 
the Incentive Plan, 1,000,000 shares of common stock have been authorized for equity grants.  

On an annual basis the compensation committee of the Company’s Board of Directors awards restricted stock units (RSUs), 
to each non-employee director as part of their annual compensation. The fair value of the annual awards for 2019 and 2018 
were $80,000. Subject to the terms of the Plan and the RSU agreement, the RSUs vest after one year of service (from the date
of grant). The RSUs are not converted into shares of common stock until the director either resigns or is terminated from the 
board of directors. 

Under the Senior Management Stock Incentive Program (the Plan), each eligible participant is awarded RSUs with a dollar 
value equal to 10% of the participant’s base salary, up to an annual maximum of $17,500. The RSUs have a five-year vesting 
period and the RSUs will convert into the right to receive shares of common stock upon a participant’s retirement, or earlier 
upon the participant’s death or disability or upon a change in control of the Company. The fair value of each RSU award is
estimated based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant and expensed over the vesting 
period. 

rr

Under the Plan, the Company awards RSUs to newly-appointed executive officers, based upon a percentage of their base 
salary. Upon Mr. Marabito’s promotion to Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Manson’s promotion to Chief Financial Officer 
on January 1, 2019, each received 51,506 RSUs and 14,891 RSUs, respectively. Upon Mr. Greiff’s promotion to President 
and Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2020, he received 15,694 RSUs. The RSUs will vest five years from the grant 
date, or earlier upon death or disability or upon a change in control of the Company. 

Stock-based compensation expense recognized on RSUs for the years ended December 
is summarized in the following table: 

d

31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively,

(in thousands)
RSU expense before taxes of the Plan 
RSU expense after taxes 

For the years ended December 31,
2018

2019

2017

  $ 

965    $
704 

643    $
471 

560   
636   

Page 63 

Administrative  and  general”  on  the  accompanying 
All  pre-tax  charges  related  to  RSUs  were  included  in  the  caption  “
a
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The total compensation cost of non-vested awards totaled $1.7 million 
and the weighted average remaining vesting period is 3 years as of December 31, 2019. 

The following table summarizes the activity related to RSUs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 
2017: 

2019

2018

2017

Weighted
Average 
Estimated
Fair 
Value

20.65  
16.36  
20.59  
22.80  
19.25 

of
Shares
527,546    $ 
207,521  
(96,845)   
(2,136)   
636,086    $ 

Weighted 
Average 
Estimated 
Fair 
Value

20.11  
22.33  
16.09  
16.98  
20.65  

Number 
of 
Shares
469,069    $ 

84,283
(19,097)   
(6,709)   
527,546    $ 

Weighted 
Average 
Estimated
Fair 
Value 

19.93  
20.01  
16.71  
- 
20.11 

Number
of 
Shares
421,486    $ 
73,021  
(25,438)   
-  

469,069    $ 

Beginning balance 
Granted
Converted into shares 
Forfeited
Outstanding at December 31 

Vested at December 31 

419,721    $ 

20.37  

436,069    $ 

20.42  

403,428    $ 

19.89 

f

Of  the  RSUs granted  in 2019, 2018  and  2017,  62,229,  38,052  and  26,837,  respectively, were used  to  fund supplemental 
executive retirement plan (SERP) contributions.

13. Commitments and Contingencies:

CC

The Company is party to various legal actions that it believes are ordinary in nature and incidental to the operation of its 
business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of the proceedings to which the Company is currently a party will not 
have a material adverse effect upon its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. During 2017, the Company 
recorded  $1.0  million  related  to  a  settlement  of  a  commercial  dispute.  The  amount  was  included  in  “Administrative  and 
general” expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 

In  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  Company  periodically  enters  into  agreements  that  incorporate  indemnification
provisions. While the maximum amount to which the Company may be exposed under such agreements cannot be estimated, 
it  is  the  opinion  of  management  that  these  indemnifications  are  not  expected  to  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Company’s results of operations or financial condition. 

At December 31, 2019, approximately 330 of the hourly plant personnel are represented by nine separate collective bargaining 
units. The table below shows the expiration dates of the collective bargaining agreements.

Facility
Locust, North Carolina 
Romeoville, Illinois 
Minneapolis coil, Minnesota 
Indianapolis, Indiana 
St. Paul, Minnesota 
Milan, Illinois 
Minneapolis plate, Minnesota 
Detroit, Michigan
Hammond, Indiana

Expiration date
March 4, 2020
Maya  31, 2020 
September 30, 2020 
Januaryrr  29, 2021 
Mayaa  25, 2021 
August 12, 2021
March 31, 2022
August 31, 2022
November 30, 2024

Page 64 

14.

Income Taxes:

The components of the Company’s provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations were as follows:

(in thousands)
Current: 

Federal 
International 
State and local 

Deferred
Income tax provision (benefit)

  $ 

  $ 

2019

As of December 31,
2018

2017

1,747 
107
22 
1,876 
(443 ) 
1,433 

  $ 

  $ 

9,188    $ 
-
1,797
10,985
1,320 
12,305    $ 

7,695
-
666
8,361
(10,974 )
(2,613 )

The components of the Company’s deferred income taxes at December 31 are as follows: 

(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets: 

Inventoryrr  (excluding LIFO reserve)
Net operating loss and tax credit carryrr forwards 
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Accrued expenses
Lease liabilities
Interest rate hedge 
Other

Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance

Valuation allowance 
Total deferred tax assets 

Deferred tax liabilities:

LIFO reserve 
Propertyt  and equipment
Lease right of use assets 
Intangibles 

Total deferred tax liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities, net

2019

2018

  $ 

  $ 

1,353    $ 
3,198 
513  
5,486  
6,718  
760  
237 
18,265  
(2,215)   
16,050 

(3,646)  
(13,250)   
(6,718)  
(4,698)   
(28,312)   
(12,262)   $ 

1,622 
2,498 
504 
6,087 
- 
- 
232 
10,943 
(2,055)
8,888 

(3,870)
(13,625) 
- 
(4,858)
(22,353)
(13,465)

The deferred tax liability decreased by $760 thousand related to the fixed interest rate hedge, which is recorded in “Other
Comprehensive Income” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. 

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits:

(in thousands)

yrr  1 

Change in tax due to tax law
Increases related to current year tax positions
Decreases related to lapsing of statute of limitations
Balance as of December 31 

  $

  $

2019

2018

2017

27    $ 

-
10  
(9)
28    $ 

40    $ 
(12)
9
(10)
27    $

38 
- 
15 
(13)
40 

It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will not materially change in the next twelve months. The tax 
years 2016 through 2018 remain open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. 

The Company recognized interest related to uncertain tax positions in the income tax provision.

Page 65 

The following table reconciles the U.S. federal statut tory rate to the Company’s effective tax rate: 

U.S. federal statutoryrr  rate in effect
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit
Sec. 199 manufacturing deduction 
Meals and entertainment
Tax credits 
Change in valuation allowance 
Change in U.S. federal statutoryr  rate 
Change in tax affect of SERP
All other, net
Effective income tax rate

2019

2018

2017

21.0%
3.7% 
-  
5.8% 
(4.2%)  
- 
-  
-  
0.8% 
27.1% 

21.0% 
4.6%
-  
0.6% 
(0.6%)   
-  
-  
-  
1.1% 
26.7% 

35.0% 
3.6% 
(3.8%)
1.8% 
(1.3%)
0.6% 
(37.7%) 
(11.4%)
(2.8%)
(16.0%) 

December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The 
Tax  Act,  among  other  things,  lowered  the  U.S.  corporate  income  tax  rate  from  35%  to  21%  effective  January  1,  2018. 
Consequently, the Company decreased its net deferred tax liability as of December 31, 2017 by $6.2 million resulting in an 
income  tax  benefit  to  reflect  the  estimated  impact  of  the Tax  Act.  Based  on  the  Company’s  predominantly  U.S.  based
operational  footprint,  additional  international  and  minimum  tax  provisions  under  the  Tax  Act,  including  the  one-time 
transition tax for the transition from the worldwide system to the territorial system, were not applicable, or were not material 
to the Company. 

In 2017, the Company made an out-of-period adjustment to correct and record previously unrecognized deferred tax assets,
and the associated tax benefit, related to a portion of the SERP that had previously been considered non-deductible under 
Section 162(m) limitations in prior years. Due to the mandatory waiting period of six months prior to any SERP payment
distribution,  in  2017  the  Company  determined  that  the  Section  162(m)  non-deductibility  limitations  did  not  apply.  The
adjustment, which had accumulated since the inception of the SERP in 2005, resulted in an increase to after-tax income of 
$1.9  million  in  2017.   The  Company  determined  that  this  adjustment  was  not  material  to  its  current  or  prior  period 
consolidated financial statements. 

Income  taxes  paid  in  2019,  2018  and  2017  totaled  $0.5 million,  $11.3  million  and  $9.4  million,  respectively.  Some 
subsidiaries  of  the  Company’s  consolidated  group  file  state tax  returns  on  a  separate  company  basis  and  have  state  net 
operating loss carryforwards expiring over the next two to 20 years. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce certain 
deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

15.
55

Sh

ares Outstanding and Earnings Per Share:

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

(in thousands, except per share data)

For the years ended December 31,
2018

2019 

2017

Weighted average basic shares outstanding
Assumed exercise of stock options and issuance of 
stock awards
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

11,509  

11,432  

11,381 

-

11,509  

8

11,440  

-  
11,381  

Net income

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

Unvested RSUs

3,856    $

33,759    $ 

18,963  

0.34    $
0.34    $

2.95    $ 
2.95    $ 

216 

91 

1.67  
1.67  

65 

  $

  $
  $

Page 66 

    
16.66

Stock Repurchase Program:

On October 2, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to
550,000  shares  of  the  Company’s  issued  and  outstanding  common  stock,  which  could  include  open  market  repurchases, 
negotiated block transactions, accelerated stock repurchases or open market solicitations for shares, all or some of which may
be effected through Rule 10b5-1 plans. Any of the repurchased shares are held in the Company’s treasury, or canceled and 
retired  as  the  Board  may  determine  from  time  to  time.  Any repurchases  of  common  stock  are  subject  to  the  covenants 
contained in the ABL Credit Facility. Under the ABL Credit Facility, the Company may repurchase common stock and pay
dividends up to $5.0 million in the aggregate during any trailing twelve months without restrictions. Purchases of common 
stock or dividend payments in excess of $5.0 million in the aggregate require the Company to (i) maintain availability in 
excess  of  20.0%  of  the  aggregate  revolver  commitments  ($95.0  million  as  of  December  31,  2019)  or  (ii)  to  maintain 
availability equal to or greater than 15.0% of the aggregate revolver commitments ($71.3 million as of December 31, 2019)
and the Company must maintain a pro-forma ratio of EBITDA minus certain capital expenditures and cash taxes paid to fixed 
charges of at least 1.00 to 1.00.

During  2019,  the  Company  repurchased  109,505  shares,  for  an  aggregate  cost  of  $1.5  million.  There  were  no  shares
repurchased during 2018 or 2017. 

17.

Segment Information:

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

The Company operates in three reportable segments; carbon flat products, specialty metals flat products, and tubular and pipe
products. The carbon flat products segment and the specialty metals flat products segments are at times consolidated and 
referred to as the flat products segments, as certain of the flat products segments’ assets and resources are shared by the 
carbon and specialty metals segments and both segments’ products are stored in the shared facilities and, in some locations,
processed on shared equipment.

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

Page 67 

The following table provides financial information by segment and reconciles the Company’s operating income by segment 
to the consolidated income before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. 

(in thousands) 
Net sales 

Carbon flat products 
Specialty metals flat products 
Tubular and pipe products 

Total net sales 

Depreciation and amortization 

r

Carbon flat products
Specialty metals flat products 
Tubular and pipe products
Corporate

Total depreciation and amortization

Operating income 

Carbon flat products
Specialty metals flat products 
Tubular and pipe products 
Corporate 
Total operating income 

Other loss, net

Income before interest and income taxes
Interest and other expense on debt

Income before income taxes 

(in thousands) 
Capital expenditures 
Flat products 
Tubular and pipe products
Corporate 
Total capital expenditures

Assets

oducts

Flat pr
t
Tubular and pipe products 
Corporate 

Total assets 

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

For the Year Ended December 31, 
2018

2017

2019

926,903    $
363,634  
288,503  
1,579,040    $

1,073,292    $
343,479  
298,310  
1,715,081    $

869,628  
227,200 
233,868  
1,330,696 

11,624    $
1,830  
5,408  
168  
19,030    $

(5,023)   $
14,321  
18,607  
(11,295)   
16,610    $
(32)
16,578  
11,289  

5,289    $

10,621    $
1,251 
5,601  
135 
17,608    $

44,354    $
15,248  
11,520  
(14,070) 
57,052    $
(307)
56,745  
10,681  
46,064    $

10,906  
811 
5,659  
102 
17,478  

17,886  
11,240 
4,568  
(9,708)
23,986  
(118)
23,868  
7,518  
16,350  

For the Year Ended December 31,
2018 

2019 

2017

6,996    $
3,169  

-
10,165    $

19,985    $
5,242  
488
25,715    $

7,325 
2,833 
2 
10,160 

432,566    $
215,841  
1,148 
649,555    $

560,116  
200,016 
608 
760,740 

There were no material revenue transactions between the carbon flat products, specialty metals flat products and tubular 
and pipe products segments for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. 

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

Page 68 

18. Retirement Plans:

The Company’s retirement plans consist of 401(k) plans covering union and non-union employees, a multi-employer pension
plan covering certain CTI employees and a SERP covering certain executive officers of the Company.

ff

The 401(k) retirement plans allow eligible employees to contribute up to the statutory maximum. The Company’s non-union 
401(k)  matching  contribution  is  determined  annually  by  the  Board  of  Directors  and  is  based  on  a  percentage  of  eligible
employees’  earnings  and  contributions.  For  the  401(k)  retirement  plans,  the  Company  matched  one-half  of  each  eligible
employee’s contribution, limited to the first 6% of eligible compensation. 

In 2005, the Board of Directors adopted a SERP, which has been amended from time to time. Contributions to the SERP are
based on: (i) a portion of the participants’ compensation multiplied by a factor of 6.5% or 13% depending on participant; and 
(ii) for certain participants a portion of the participants’ compensation multiplied by a factor which is contingent upon the
Company’s return on invested capital. Benefits are subject to a vesting schedule of up to five years.

The Company, through its CTI subsidiary, contributes to a multiemployer pension plan. CTI contributes to the Multiemployer 
Plan under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that covers certain of its union employees, and which expires May
31, 2020. CTI contributions to the Multiemployer Plan were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Retirement  plan  expense,  which  includes  all  Company  401(k),  SERP  defined  contributions  and  the  Multiemployer  Plan, 
amounted to $3.0 million, $3.2 million and $2.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

The fair values of the Company's SERP assets as of December 31, 2019 were $4.9 million and are measured at Net Asset 
Value (NAV) as a practical expedient to estimate fair value and therefore are not classified in the fair value hierarchy. Under
the practical expedient approach, the NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by each fund less its
liabilities.  This  practical  expedient  would  not  be  used  when  it  is  determined  to  be  probable  that  the  fund  will  sell  the 
investment for an amount different than the reported NAV. The fair value of the SERP assets are included in Other Long
Term Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

19. R

99

elated-Party Transactions:

The Company’s Executive Chairman of the Board owns 50% of an entity that owns one of the Cleveland warehouses and 
leases it to the Company at a fair market value annual rental of $0.2 million. The lease expires on December 31, 2023 with 
three five-year renewal options. 

Page 69 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(in thousands) 

Description 
Year Ended December 31, 2017

Allowance for doubtful accounts 
Tax valuation reserve

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Allowance for doubtful accounts
Tax valuation reserve

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Allowance for doubtful accounts 
Tax valuation reserve 

Additions

Balance at
Beginning
of 
Period

Charged to
Costs and
Expenses

Charged to
Other 
Accounts 

   Deductions   

Balance at
End
of Period 

  $ 
  $ 

  $ 
  $ 

  $
$

1,385    $ 
2,017    $ 

641    $ 
362    $ 

1,610    $ 
2,379    $ 

575    $ 
$
-

1,940    $
2,055    $

590    $
160    $

-
-

-
-

-
-

$
$

$
$

$
$

(416) $
$
-

1,610 
2,379 

(245) $
(324) $

1,940 
2,055  

(565) $
$
-

1,965 
2,215 

Page 70 

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(in thousands, except per share data) 
(unaudited) 

t

2019

1st quarter 

  2nd quarter     3rd quarter   4th quarter   

Year 

Net sales
Operating income (a) 
Income (loss) before income taxes
Net income (loss)

Basic net income (loss) per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding  

- basic

Diluted net income (loss) per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding  

- diluted

Market price of common stock: (b)

r
High 
Low

  $ 

  $ 
  $ 

445,919    $ 
6,074  
2,846  
2,074    $ 
0.18    $ 

429,151    $ 
5,940  
2,707  
2,081    $ 
0.18    $ 

384,230    $ 
3,581  
1,024  

591    $ 
0.05    $ 

1,015   
(1,288 )   

319,740     $  1,579,040   
16,610   
5,289   
3,856   
0.34   

(890 )   $ 
(0.08 )   $ 

11,488  

11,415  

11,420  

11,416   

  $ 

0.18    $ 

0.18    $ 

0.05    $ 

(0.08 )   $ 

11,509   
0.34  

11,488  

11,415  

11,420  

11,416   

11,509  

  $ 

20.24    $ 
14.00  

18.24    $ 
12.09  

16.28    $ 
9.99  

18.41     $ 
13.53   

20.24   
9.99   

2018

1st quarter 

  2nd quarter     3rd quarter   4th quarter   

Year 

Net sales
Operating income (c) 
Income (loss) before income taxes
Net income (loss)

Basic net income (loss) per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding  

- basic

Diluted net income (loss) per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding  

- diluted

Market price of common stock: (b)

r
High 
Low 

  $ 

 $ 
  $ 

375,598    $ 
12,345  
10,313  
7,629    $ 
0.67    $ 

452,917    $ 
24,319  
21,556  
15,848    $ 
1.39    $ 

456,976    $ 
18,614  
15,708  
11,599    $ 
1.01    $ 

429,590     $  1,715,081   
57,052  
46,065   
33,759   
2.95   

1,774   
(1,512 )   
(1,316 )   $ 
(0.11 )   $ 

11,418  

11,435  

11,444  

11,444   

  $ 

0.67    $ 

1.39    $ 

1.01    $ 

(0.11 )   $ 

11,432   
2.95  

11,418  

11,435  

11,446  

11,444   

11,440  

  $ 

25.84    $ 
19.75  

24.27    $ 
19.75  

24.23    $ 
19.92  

21.41     $ 
13.72   

25.84   
13.72  

(cid:11)(cid:68)(cid:12) Operating income (loss)  in 2019 includes $3,669 of LIFO income related to the Company's tubular and pid
(cid:11)(cid:69)(cid:12) Represents the high and ld ow sales prices of ouf
(cid:11)(cid:70)(cid:12) Operating income (loss)  in 2018 includes $8,408 of Lf

r common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

IFO expense related to the Company's tubular anr

pe products segment.

d pipe products segment.

Page 71 

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE

None. 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Evaluations required by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls 
and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered
by this Annual Report have been carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including 
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon such evaluatio
ns, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
a
Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2019 in providing 
reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is 
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such 
information is accumulated and communicated to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K and is incorporated herein. Grant Thornton LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has audited 
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, as stated in their report which 
appears in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 that 
have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None. 

Page 72 

  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information required by Item 10 as to the executive officers is provided in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is
incorporated by reference into this section. Other information required by Item 10 will be incorporated herein by reference
to the information set forth in our definitive proxy statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information required by Item 11 will be incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth in our definitive proxy 
statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 

ITEM  12.  SECURITY  OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS  AND  MANAGEMENT  AND 
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information required by Item 12 will be incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth in our definitive proxy 
statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information required by Item 13 will be incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth in our definitive proxy 
statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information required by Item 14 will be incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth in our definitive proxy 
statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 

Page 73 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

PART IV

(a)(1) The following financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules. 
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 

(a)(3) Exhibits. The Exhibits filed herewith are set forth on the Index to Exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report 
and incorporated herein by reference.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
3.1(i) 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation 

Description

3.1(ii) 

Amended and Restated Code of Regulations

4.25 

4.26 

4.27 

4.28 

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, 
dated as of December 8, 2017, by and among the Registrant,
the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, 
Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the 
other agents from time to time partytt  thereto.
Joinder and First Amendment to Bank Agreement, dated as
of April 4, 2018, to Third Amended and Restated Loan and 
Security Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2017, by and 
among the Registrant, the financial institutions from time to 
time party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent, and the other agents from time to time partytt  thereto.’
Joinder and Second Amendment to Third Amended and 
Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of 
November 30, 2018, by and among the Registrant, the
financial institutions from time to time party thereto, Bank of 
America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents
from time to time partytt  thereto.
Description of Securities

Reference 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(i) to the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration
No. 33-73992) filed with the Commission on 
Januaryrr  12, 1994. 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the
Commission on August 6, 2015 (Commission File
No. 0-23320). 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to
Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 14, 2017 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to
Registrant's Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission on May 3, 2018 
(Commission File No. 0-23320).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to
Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 4, 2018 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).

Filed herewith 

Page 74 

  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Exhibit
10.8 * 

Form of Management Retention Agreement for Senior 
Executive Officers of the Company

Description

Reference 

10.9 * 

Form of Management Retention Agreement for Other 
Officers of the Company

10.14 *  Olympic Steel, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan 

dated December 15, 2004

10.15 * 

Form of Non-Solicitation Agreements

10.16 * 

Form of Management Retention Agreement

10.17 * 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Term Sheet

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to
Registrant's Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission on August 7, 2000 (Commission File
No. 0-23320). 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to
Registrant's Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission on August 7, 2000 (Commission File
No. 0-23320). 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to
Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the 
Commission on March 14, 2005 (Commission 
File No. 0-23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on March 4, 2005 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to
Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission on August 8, 2005 (Commission File
No. 0-23320). 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on January 5, 2006 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).

10.20 *  Olympic Steel, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to

10.21 *  Amended and Restated Olympic Steel, Inc. 2007 Omnibus 

Incentive Plan

10.30 *  Olympic Steel, Inc. Senior Manager Compensation Plan

10.31 *  David A. Wolfort Employment Agreement effective as of 

January 1, 2016

10.32 *  Donald McNeeley Employment Agreement effective as of 

March 31, 2016

10.33 *  Richard T. Marabito Employment Agreement effective as of 

December 21, 2018

Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on April 28, 2006 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 
(Registration No. 333-211023) filed with the 
Commission on April 29, 2016. 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to
Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission on May 6, 2011 (Commission File
No. 0-23320). 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 31, 2015 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on March 31, 2016 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 21, 2018 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).

Page 75 

  
 
 
Exhibit
10.34 * 

Form of RSU Agreements for Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and 
Marabito.

Description

Reference 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to
Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the 
Commission on February 23, 2012 (Commission
File No. 0-23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 22, 2017 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the 
Commission on May 1, 2015 (Commission File
No. 0-23320). 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 21, 2018 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to
Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on December 27, 2019 (Commission File No. 0-
23320).
Filed herewith 
Filed herewith 

Filed herewith 

Filed herewith 
Filed herewith 

Filed herewith 

Furnished herewith 

Furnished herewith 

10.35 *  Michael D. Siegal Employment Agreement effective as of 

December 20, 2017

10.37 *  Amendment to Form of Management Retention Agreement 

for Senior Executive Officers of the Company

10.40 *  Richard A. Manson Employment Agreement effective as of 

December 21, 2018

10.41 *  Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2020,

between Olympic Steel, Inc. and Andrew S. Greiff

21 
23.1 

23.2 

24 
31.1 

31.2 

32.1 

32.2 

List of Subsidiaries
Consent of Grant Thornton, LLP, Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Consent of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP Independent 
Registered Public Accounting Firm
Directors and Officers Powers of Attorney
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of the
Company, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of the 
Company, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Written Statement of Richard T. Marabito, Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Written Statement of Richard A. Manson, Chief Financial
Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002

101.INS  XBRL Instance Document
t
t
101.SCH  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document  
101.DEF  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition 
101.LAB  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase 

Document

*      This exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None. 

Page 76 

 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

SIGNATURES

Februaryr  21, 2020 

OLYMPIC STEEL, INC. 

By: /s/ Richard A. Manson
   Richard A. Manson,

Chief Financial Officer  

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by 

the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated.

Februaryrr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

/s/ Richard T. Marabito * 

 Richard T. Marabito, Chief Executive Officer 
 (Principal Executive Officer) 

/s/ Richard A. Manson * 

 Richard A. Manson, Chief Financial Officer
 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

/s/ Michael D. Siegal * 

 Michael D. Siegal, Executive Chairman of the Board

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

Februaryr  21, 2020 

/s/ Arthur F. Anton *

 Arthur F. Anton, Lead Director

/s/ Ralph M. Della Ratta, Jr. *

 Ralph M. Della Ratta, Jr., Director

/s/ Howard L. Goldstein *

 Howard L. Goldstein, Director

/s/ Dirk A. Kempthorne * 

 Dirk A. Kempthorne, Director

/s/ Idalene F. Kesner *

 Idalene F. Kesner, Director

/s/ Michael G. Rippey * 

 Michael G. Rippey, Director

/s/ Vanessa Whiting * 

 Vanessa Whiting, Director

/s/ David A. Wolfort *

 David A. Wolfort, Director

* The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does sign and execute this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to the 
Powers of Attorney executed by the above-named officers and directors of the Company and filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on behalf of such officers and directors.

By: 

/s/ Richard A. Manson 
Richard A. Manson, Attorney-in-Fact 

February 21, 2020   

Page 77 

 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return

CORPORATE OFFICERS

Michael D. Siegal
Executive Chairman of the Board

Richard T. Marabito
(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)

Andrew S. Greiff
(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)

Richard A. Manson
(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)

Lisa K. Christen
Treasurer and Corporate Controller

Christopher M. Kelly
Secretary, Olympic Steel
Partner, Jones Day

(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael D. Siegal, 67
Executive Chairman of the Board, 
Olympic Steel

Richard T. Marabito, 56
(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)
Olympic Steel

David A. Wolfort, 67
Senior Advisor, 
Olympic Steel

Arthur F. Anton, 62
Lead Independent Director 

Ralph M. Della Ratta, 66
Managing Director, 
Citizens Capital Markets, Inc.

Howard L. Goldstein, CPA, 67
Partner,
Appelrouth, Farah & Co. P.A.

The Honorable Dirk A. Kempthorne, 68
President, 
The Kempthorne Group

Idalene F. Kesner, Ph.D., 62
Dean,
Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Michael G. Rippey, 62
(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)
SunCoke Energy, Inc.

Vanessa L. Whiting, 60
President,
A.E.S. Management

Shareholder Information

Corporate Headquarters
Olympic Steel, Inc.
(cid:21)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:25)(cid:24)(cid:19)
Highland Hills, OH 44122
(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:22)(cid:27)(cid:19)(cid:19)
(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:91)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:24)
www.olysteel.com

Stock Listing
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:49)(cid:36)(cid:54)(cid:39)(cid:36)(cid:52)
(cid:42)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:179)(cid:61)(cid:40)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:17)(cid:180)

Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare
(cid:51)(cid:17)(cid:50)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:19)
College Station, TX 77842-3170
(cid:11)(cid:27)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:25)(cid:16)(cid:21)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:26)

2020 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held:

Thursday, May 1, 2020
(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:17)(cid:80)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)
(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)
100 Rue Charlemagne Drive
(cid:37)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:20)(cid:26)

For information, directions to the annual meeting or how to  
vote in person, contact ir@olysteel.com.

Independent Auditors
Grant Thornton LLP
(cid:20)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:28)th Street, Suite 1500
Cleveland, OH 44114

Legal Counsel
Jones Day
North Point
(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)
Cleveland, OH 44114

Investor Information
Shareholders  and  prospective  investors  are  welcome
to  call  or  write  with  questions  or  requests  for  additional
information. Inquiries should be directed to:

Richard A. Manson
(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:85)
(cid:51)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:25)(cid:26)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:21)(cid:21)
(cid:40)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:35)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:17)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)
www.olysteel.com

Form 10-K
Shareholders  who  wish  to  obtain,  without  charge,  a 
copy  of  Olympic  Steel’s  annual  report  on  Form  10-K,
(cid:191)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:54)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)
(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:191)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) (cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3) (cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3) (cid:22)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3) (cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:82)
by  writing  to  Investor  Relations  at  the  Company’s 
Corporate Headquarters (address indicated above).

This product
is made from
recycled paper