Quarterlytics / Basic Materials / Steel / Olympic Steel

Olympic Steel

zeus · NASDAQ Basic Materials
Claim this profile
Ticker zeus
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Basic Materials
Industry Steel
Employees 1001-5000
← All annual reports
FY2020 Annual Report · Olympic Steel
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
2020 Annual Report

About the Company

Olympic Steel is 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 Specialty Metals Flat Products segment’s focus is on the direct sale and distribution of processed aluminum

(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:16)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)

acquisition of Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc., or Action Stainless, on December 14, 2020, our Specialty Metals Flat Products 

segment expanded its geographic footprint and enhanced its product offerings in stainless steel and aluminum plate, sheet,

(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)

waterjet cutting and computer numerical control, or CNC machining. Our Carbon Flat Products segment’s focus is on the direct 

(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:16)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)

parts. Through the acquisitions of McCullough Industries and certain assets related to the manufacturing of the EZ Dumper®rr

hydraulic dump inserts in 2019, our Carbon Flat Products segment expanded its product offerings to include self-dumping 

metal hoppers and steel and stainless-steel dump inserts for pickup truck and service truck beds. In addition, we distribute 

(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3) (cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3) (cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) (cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3) (cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)

(cid:55)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)

(cid:36)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:91)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:15)

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

      2020

      2019

      2018

For the Year

     Net sales

     Operating income

     Net income (loss)

     Net income (loss) 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

$  1,234,144 ) $  1,579,040) $  1,715,081)

573 )

(5,595))

(0.49))

11,447 )

9,803 )

151,601 )

240,001 )

640,605 )

160,609 )

301,010 )

27.18 )

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)

0.53 to 1 )

0.63 to 1)

0.99 to 1)

2020 Letter to Shareholders

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

The strength, resiliency and commitment of the Olympic Steel team have never been more apparent than in 2020.

Together, our decisive actions allowed our Company to continue operating safely as an essential business to keep the

(cid:56)(cid:17)(cid:54)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:50)(cid:57)(cid:44)(cid:39)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)

employee at Olympic Steel, but we would especially like to thank our production teams, who came to work every day

to process and ship metals to our customers through the pandemic.

While our actions helped us navigate the challenges of 2020, they also drove sustainable advancements across our 

(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:191)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)

2020 on a high note, as market conditions improved and our results were enhanced by our operational disciplines. We

entered 2021 with optimism, as a safer and stronger Company, with a permanently lower operating expense base, a faster-

turning inventory and a stronger balance sheet. We are immensely proud of our team and what we accomplished together 

during this truly unprecedented year.

2020 HIGHLIGHTS

Throughout 2020, we were keenly focused on key internal disciplines, which include maintaining safe operations, servicing

our customers, controlling operating expenses, turning inventory, and strategically and sustainably growing our business

(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:92)

(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)

(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:16)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:16)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)

availability to well above pre-pandemic levels. 

We also remained committed to strategically growing our Company and reducing cyclicality in our returns. In December, we 

completed the acquisition of Dallas, Texas-based Action Stainless & Alloys. Action Stainless provides our Specialty Metals

business with a strong and talented team, a great culture, additional products and capabilities, and an expanded distribution

footprint in the South. We are actively seeking additional acquisitions that support our strategy to grow in niche, high-

performing applications that offer higher-return opportunities for our business. 

For the full-year 2020, we reported net sales of $1.2 billion and a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.49 per diluted share. While 

results were down during the peak of the pandemic shutdown in the second and third quarters, we ended 2020 strong and

market dynamics became increasingly favorable. Shipping volumes approached pre-pandemic levels, and we saw across-

(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:17)

(cid:54)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:16)

time highs. Over the past few years, we have made targeted investments in this business, and our performance shows they

are paying off. As previously mentioned, we are also excited about our recent acquisition of Action Stainless, as it bolsters

our stainless product line and expands our presence in the Southeastern U.S. Continued growth of Specialty Metals is an 

important element of our strategy, and we will continue to actively grow our aluminum business and geographically expand 

our white metals business. 

In our Pipe and Tube segment, we successfully completed a new enterprise resource planning installation, which provides

(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:16)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:92)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)

Chicago facility for the precision processing of bent tube. We are excited about our growing white metals tubing products

2020 Letter to Shareholders

and our geographic growth in the Southeast for this segment. These growth factors, coupled with our improvements in

inventory turnover and commercial integration opportunities through the acquisition of Action Stainless, are expected to

(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:17)

In addition to leading the Company’s inventory turnover and expense improvements in 2020, our Carbon segment 

successfully executed on multiple projects to grow and enhance the business. We are extremely pleased with the rapid

(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:17) (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:16)(cid:86)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:16)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)

(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)

(cid:89)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)

(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:191)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)

600-ton automotive stamping press in Winder, and we have plans for additional investments in the Southeast.

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:191)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:17)(cid:3)

Our higher-margin Specialty Metals and Pipe and Tube segments accounted for approximately 44% of net sales in 2020.

Our successes and achievements in 2020 will have additional impact in 2021 and beyond when combined with new strategic 

investments in value-add equipment, new geographies and the pursuit of high-return acquisitions.

COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY

Perhaps the most important and gratifying accomplishment of 2020 was the progress to improve safety awareness

throughout the organization. In a most challenging year, we attribute our success to a safety culture built on organizational 

discipline and individual accountability. Our spirit of teamwork is helping reinforce this culture. Early in the pandemic, we 

adopted comprehensive policies and protocols to keep our team safe and healthy while consistently servicing critical

U.S. manufacturing customers as an “essential business.” Our processing, fabrication and warehouse facilities remained

(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:55)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)

environment. We also enhanced our internal communications and recognition programs to promote engagement and 

teamwork through the unique challenges of 2020.

(cid:36)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)

year, we reduced our total recordable incident rate by 43%, driven, in part, by our enhanced efforts to promote near-miss

reporting and best practice sharing across locations. These practices are strengthening our safety learning culture and 

allowing us to recognize and correct issues before they lead to injuries.

(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:40)(cid:54)(cid:42)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)

active in 2020 with social priorities, including establishing our Focus on Diversity initiative to attract, engage, develop and 

retain a diverse team to work at Olympic Steel. In addition, our employees elevated their volunteerism, charitable and

(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:16)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:50)(cid:57)(cid:44)(cid:39)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)

Working for Wishes program to focus on not only supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, but also contributing to local 

healthcare systems and pandemic relief programs. We continued our support of organizations such as the American Red

Cross, Harvest for Hunger®rr , American Heart Association, Ronald McDonald House Charities® and Junior Achievement 

®

USA®AA (cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:54)(cid:42)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:90)

this new content at olysteel.com/investor-relations/corporate-responsibility/.  

2020 Letter to Shareholders

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE

(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)

that commitment, and we are proud to have paid dividends for 63 consecutive quarters.

(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and his extensive experience working with public companies makes him a valuable director 

(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)

(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)

(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:191)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:84)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:17)

THE YEAR AHEAD – A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:17)(cid:54)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)

favorable, and our customers are projecting growth in their businesses. We are optimistic that the current economic recovery

(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:191)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)

(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:182)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)

extremely well positioned to support this rebuild effort.

(cid:48)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:79)(cid:92)

changing industry dynamics. We will continue to execute on our strategy to further diversify our business and invest in

higher-return growth opportunities, including additional acquisitions of companies in niche, high-performing applications.

(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:191)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:92)(cid:17)(cid:3)

In closing, I want to thank our shareholders, customers, suppliers and employees for your ongoing support of Olympic Steel.

We wish continued health and success for all our stakeholders, and we look forward to sharing more about our progress to

strategically grow our business in 2021 and beyond.

Sincerely,y,

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 19, 2021

[This page intentionally left blank]

UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020 

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

(cid:1409)

(cid:1407)

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) 

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

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

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 

t

d in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (cid:1407) No (cid:1409)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as define
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)
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.    

d

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)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of 
its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public
accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. (cid:1409)
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 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price at which 
such stock was sold on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date approximated $108,671,009.   
Indicate the number of shares of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

ff

Class 
Common stock, without par value     

Outstanding as of February 25, 2021  
11,074,900 

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, 2020, 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

k

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

Part II

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

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

k

Part III 

ff

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

Part IV 

Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statemen

t Schedules ..............................................................................................  
Index to Exhibits ........................................................................................................................................  
Item 16.  Form 10-K Summaryrr  .................................................................................................................................  
Signatures ...................................................................................................................................................  

a

1
12
21
22
23
23

25
26
27
40
41
74
74
74

75
75
75
75
75

76
76
79
80

(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 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, prime tin mill products and fabricated parts.  Through the
acquisition of Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc., or Action Stainless, on December 14, 2020, our specialty metals flat products 
segment expanded its geographic footprint and enhanced its product offerings in stainless steel and aluminum plate, sheet, 
angles, rounds, flat bar, tubing and pipe.  Action Stainless offers a range of processing capabilities, including plasma, laser
and waterjet cutting and computer numerical control, or CNC machining.  Our carbon flat products segment’s focus is on the
, coil and plate products and
r
direct sale and distribution of large volumes of processed carbon and coated flat-rolled sheet
fabricated  parts.  Through  the  acquisitions  of  McCullough  Industries,  or  McCullough,  and  certain  assets  related  to  the
manufacturing  of  the  EZ  Dumper®  hydraulic  dump  inserts,  or  EZ  Dumper,  in  2019,  our  carbon  flat  products  segment 
expanded its product offerings to include self-dumping metal hoppers and steel and stainless-steel dump inserts for pickup 
truck and service truck beds.  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 
e of specialized  equipment.
ff
produce  metals  to  specified  lengths,  widths,  shapes  and  surface  characteristics  through the  us
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. 

Over the past ten years, our company has expanded into new product offerings through multiple acquisitions. Our tubular and 
pipe products segment was established in 2011 after the acquisition of Chicago Tube and Iron, or CTI, a private leading
distributor of tubing, pipe, bar, valves, and fittings. Our specialty metals flat products segment expanded with the acquisitions 
of Berlin Metals in 2018 and Action Stainless in 2020 and our carbon flat products segment expanded with the acquisitions 
of McCullough and EZ Dumper in 2019. 

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) providing on-time delivery and quality performance for our customers; (v)
diversifying  product  offerings;  (vi)  growing  our  market  share;  (vii)  maintaining  targeted  cash  turnover  rates  and  (viii)
investing in technology and business information systems. 

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 an

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  the  past  three  years,  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. 

On December 14, 2020, we acquired substantially all of the net assets of Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc. based outside of 
Dallas, Texas. Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc. which opened in 1982, is a full-line distributor of stainless steel and aluminum
plate, sheet, angles, rounds, flat bar, tubing and pipe and offers a range of processing, including plasma, laser and waterjet 
cutting and CNC machining. The acquisition expanded the geographic footprint of our specialty metals flat products segment 
with locations in Texas, Arkansas, South Carolina and Missouri.

On  June  1,  2020,  we  opened  a  120,000-square-foot  metal  processing  facility,  located  in  Buford,  Georgia.  The  location 
expanded our southeastern region footprint, which also includes facilities in Locust, North Carolina; Winder, Georgia; and 
Hanceville,  Alabama.  The  Buford  facility  acts  as  the  region’s  primary  flat-rolled  fabrication  hub,  with  first-stage  metal
processing anchored in the Winder facility, metal distribution in both the Winder, Georgia and Hanceville, Alabama locations,
and pipe and tube laser fabrication and bending and welding at the Locust, North Carolina location. As part of the expansion, 
we added a new Mitsubishi fiber optic laser and a 600-ton Verson stamping press with a COE coil feed system. The additional 
equipment and processing capacity complement the region’s existing value-added fabrication capabilities and support the
Company’s commitment to automotive original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, and their tier 1 and 2 parts makers, as
ff
well as respond to increasing demand from other OEM customers. 

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, 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 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  of  employee 
initiatives to improve efficiencies, streamline processes or reduce operating expenses at each operation.

Page 3 

  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
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 
y plate and steel fabrication as well as 
specialists who have specific expertise in carbon and stainless steel, aluminum, allo
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

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 27 years of experience 
in the metals industry and 19 years with our company. During 2019 and 2020, 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, prime tin mill 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 Action Stainless, 
we maintain inventory of stainless steel and aluminum angles, rounds and flat bar.  Through our CTI subsidiary, 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.  

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. In addition, 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.

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

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, 2020, 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      
21      
15      
7      
5      
25      
27      
20      
50      
1      
2      
31      
209      

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

3  
2  
34  
15  
7  
5  
25  
36 
20  
135 
2 
41  
34 
359 

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, 28 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 6%, 10% and 9% of our consolidated net sales in 2020, 2019 
and  2018,  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 
Automobile manufacturers and their suppliers 
Metals service centers 
Residential and commercial construction 
Transportation equipment manufacturers 
All others <5% 

2020 
45% 
11% 
10% 
9% 
6% 
19% 

2019 
46% 
11% 
8% 
13% 
8% 
14% 

2018 
48% 
10% 
10% 
13% 
8% 
11% 

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. 

f

f

Page 5 

  
  
    
   
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
  
    
      
      
  
    
      
      
 
    
      
      
 
    
      
      
 
    
      
      
 
    
      
      
  
  
  
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 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. 

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 56% and 57% of our total metals requirements from our 
three largest suppliers in 2020 and 2019, 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. 

Page 6 

  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
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,  or  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, or EDI, capabilities with our 
customers and vendors, we also have implemented extranet sites for specific customers.

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 
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.

r

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 
at a secure off-site computing facility or through secure, multi-site cloud providers,
 with migration of our other systems, 
which are in progress.

r

Human Capital Management

rr

Our employees are our most valued resource. We work to attract a qualified workforce through an inclusive and accessible 
recruiting process that utilizes online recruiting, campus outreach, intern
ships and job fairs. We seek to retain employees by 
offering  competitive  wages,  benefits  and  training  opportunities,  as  well  as  promoting  a  safe  and  healthy  workplace.  We 
comply with all applicable state, local and international laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location 
in which we operate. All applicants and employees are treated with the same high level of respect regardless of their gender, 
ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or 
protected  veteran  status.  Our  core  values  (Accountability,  Corporate  Citizenship,  Customer  Satisfaction,  Employee
Development,  Financial  Stability,  Integrity,  Respect,  Safety and  Teamwork)  guide  our  decisions  and  behavior  and  set  a 
standard of excellence that rewards our employees.

Page 7 

  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
At  December  31,  2020,  we  employed  approximately  1,626  people.  Approximately  269  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
Indianapolis, Indiana 
St. Paul, Minnesota 
Milan, Illinois 
Minneapolis (plate), Minnesota 
Detroit, Michigan 
Hammond, Indiana
Locust, North Carolina 
Romeoville, Illinois 
Minneapolis (coil), Minnesota 

Expiration date
Januaryrr  29, 2021  
Mayaa  25, 2021 
August 12, 2021
March 31, 2022 
August 31, 2022
November 30, 2024 
March 4, 2025
Maya  31, 2025 
September 30, 2025 

The Indianapolis, Indiana union agreement expired on January 29, 2021.  The employees covered by the union agreement 
continue to work as the new contract is negotiated.  We have historically been successful in negotiating renewals to expiring
agreements without any material disruption of operating activities and we do not anticipate any material disruptions prior to
ratification of the new agreement. 

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.” Our wholly owned subsidiary B Metals, Inc does business under 
the name “Berlin Metals.” Our wholly owned subsidiary MCI, Inc. does business under the name “McCullough Industries” 
and  we  conduct  business  under  the  name  “EZ  Dumper”  for  certain  of  our  products.  Our  wholly  owned  subsidiary  ACT 
Acquisition, Inc. does business under the name “Action Stainless & Alloys.”

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
registered trademark “ACTION STAINLESS” was acquired in conjunction with the asset acquisition of Action Stainless and 
Alloys, Inc.

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. 

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.

Page 8 

  
  
  
 
  
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  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  or  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

(cid:404) 

risks associated with the novel corona virus, or COVID-19, pandemic, including, but not limited to supply chain 
disruptions  and  customer  closures,  reduced  sales  and  profit  levels,  slower  payment  of  accounts  receivable  and 
potential increases in uncollectible accounts receivable, falling metals prices that could lead to lower of cost or net 
realizable value inventory adjustments and the impairment of intangible and long-lived assets, reduced availability
and productivity of our employees, increased operational risks as a result of remote work arrangements, including
the  potential  effects  on  internal  controls,  as  well  as  cybersecurity  risks  and  increased  vulnerability  to  security 
breaches, information technology disruptions and other similar events, negative impacts on our liquidity position, 
inability to access our traditional financing sources on the same or reasonably similar terms as were available before 
the COVID-19 pandemic and increased costs associated with and less ability to access funds under our asset-based 
credit facility, or ABL Credit Facility, and the capital markets;
risks of falling metals prices and inventoryrr  devaluation;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) general and global business, economic, financial and political conditions, including legislation passed under the 

new administration; 

(cid:404) competitive factors such as the availability, and global pricing of metals and production levels, industry shipping 

and inventoryrr  levels and rapid fluctuations in customer demand and metals pricing;
supplier consolidation or addition of additional capacitytt ;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) customer, supplier and competitor consolidation, bankruptcy or insolvency; 
(cid:404) 
reduced production schedules, layoffs or work stoppages by our own, our suppliers’ or customers’ personnel;
(cid:404) 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 ;
the adequacy of our efforts to mitigate cyber security risks and threats, especially with employees working remotely
due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
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;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 

(cid:404) 

(cid:404) 

(cid:404)  our ability to generate free cash flow through operations and repaya  debt; 
the availabilitytt  and rising costs of transportation and logistical services; 
(cid:404) 
the  adequacy  of  our  existing  information  technology  and  business  system  software,  including  duplication  and 
(cid:404) 
security processes;
the amounts, successes and our ability to continue our capital investments and strategic growth initiatives, including
acquisitions and our business information system implementations; 

(cid:404) 

(cid:404) 

(cid:404)  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  and 
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;

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

(cid:404) 

Page 10 

 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
(cid:404) 

(cid:404) 

(cid:404) 

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 net  realizable  value  adjustments  and  last-in,  first-out, or 
LIFO, income or expense;
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; 

(cid:404)  our ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; 
(cid:404)  our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and the amounts and timing of repurchases, if any; and
(cid:404)  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. Although the risks are organized by headings, and each risk is discussed 
separately, many are interrelated. 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

The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and could continue to have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and liquidity.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Olympic Steel is an 
essential business and has remained open in all locations, adhering to all health guidelines to operate safely provided by the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a material impact on our
2020 results. Beginning at the end of the first quarter of 2020 and continuing through the end of the second quarter, many of 
our customers, particularly those associated with the automotive industry, temporarily closed their facilities, reduced hours 
or staggered production schedules. Since the end of the second quarter of 2020, customers have generally re-opened their 
facilities or increased production levels. Collectively, these temporary closings, negatively impacted our sales and operating 
results, especially for the carbon flat products segment during 2020. 

Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on our business, financial 
position or liquidity, such impacts that may be material include, but are not limited to: (i) reduced sales and profit levels, (ii)
the slower payment of accounts receivable and potential increases in uncollectible accounts receivable, (iii) falling metals 
prices that could lead to lower of cost or market inventory adjustments and the impairment of intangible and long-lived assets,
(v)  reduced  availability  and  productivity  of  our  employees,  (vi)  increased  operational  risks  as  a  result  of  remote  work 
arrangements, including the potential effects on internal controls, as well as cybersecurity risks and increased vulnerability
to  security  breaches,  information  technology  disruptions  and  other  similar  events,  (vii)  negative  impacts  on  our  liquidity 
position, (viii) inability to access our traditional financing sources on the same or reasonably similar terms as were available
before the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ix) increased costs and less ability to access funds under our ABL Credit Facility and 
the capital markets. To the extent the duration of any of these conditions extends for a longer period of time, the impact will
generally be a more severe adverse impact.

d

a

We cannot predict the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately will have on our customers, suppliers, vendors, and 
other business partners, and each of their financial conditions; however, any material effect on these parties could adversely
impact us. The situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise that we are not aware of currently.

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

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.

Page 12 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
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 net realizable value 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. 

m

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

We purchased approximately 56% and 57% of our total metals requirements from our three largest suppliers in 2020 and 
2019, respectively. Over the past year, supplier consolidation, decreased mill production due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 
import tariffs decreased steel availability and increased mill lead times and increased steel prices. Fewer available suppliers
increases the risk of supply disruption through both scheduled and unscheduled supplier outages. Conversely, the addition of 
new mill sources 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.

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. 

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 
cyber crime pose a risk to the security of our systems, networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our dat
a.
The risk was further enhanced in 2020 with an increased remote workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite our 
efforts to protect sensitive information and confidential and personal data, our facilities and systems and those of 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, ransom payments, production downtimes and operational disruptions, which in turn
could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. 

ff

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, 
excess  customer or  service  center  inventory or  a decrease  in  the prices  that we  ca
a
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 45% and 46% of our 2020 and 2019 consolidated net sales, respectively, were to industrial machinery and 
equipment  manufacturers  and  their  fabricators.  Due  to  the  concentration  of  customers  in  the  industrial  machinery  and 

Page 13 

  
 
equipment industry, a decline in production levels in that industry could result in lower sales, gross profits and profitability.
Approximately 11% of both our 2020 and 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. 

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 6% and 10% of our consolidated net sales in
2020 and 2019, respectively. Approximately 45% and 46% of our consolidated net sales during 2020 and 2019, 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 capital 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  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
ff
new  customers  and  services,  building  or  purchasing  new  facilities,  acquiring  and  upgrading  processing  equipment  and 
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.  We  continue  to  pursue 
potential acquisition targets; however, 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.

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:

(cid:404) a significant use of management and employee time; 
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) the possibility that disruptions from the installations may make it difficult for us to maintain relationships with 

the possibility that the performance of the equipment does not meet expectations; and

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. 

Page 14 

  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
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 credit losses.

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. 

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:

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

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;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) the possibility that benefits from the systems maya  be less or take longer to realize than expected; 
(cid:404) 

the possibility that disruptions from the implementation may make it difficult for us to maintain relationships
with our customers, employees or suppliers; and

(cid:404) 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.

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. The
COVID-19 pandemic impacted the availability of drivers
and third-party trucks in 2020 and 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

Page 15 

 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
The continued demand for skilled labor resulted in the need to increase pay rates in certain markets. In addition, we have seen
a decline in the skilled labor applicant pool since the start of the COVI-19 pandemic. 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. 

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. 

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,  2020,  we  employed  approximately  1,626  people.  Approximately  269  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 our CTI subsidiary, 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.

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. 

Page 16 

  
  
 
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.

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
circumstance indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be recovera
a
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

Risks Related to Our Industry

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. 

Page 17 

   
  
 
 
 
Risks Related to Our Debt

Although we expect to finance our growth initiatives through borrowings under our ABL 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 ABL Credit Facility, which matures on December 
8, 2022. However, our ABL 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
on terms acceptable to us, or at all, to run and expand our business. 

t

The borrowings under our ABL 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, 2020 rates and, assuming no change in total debt from December 31,
2020 levels, the additional annual interest expense to us would be approximately $0.9 million. 

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

ff

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 reformsrr
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.

Regulatory and Environmental Risks

Quotas and tariffs imposed or removed 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 removal and
addition of country-specific tariffs 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. 

Changes in laws or regulations, including 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,

Page 18 

  
 
  
  
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.

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

The market price for our common stock may be volatile.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

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: 

changes in commoditytt  prices, especially metals; 
changes in financial estimates or recommendations by stock market analysts regarding us or our competitors;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) the operating and stock performance of other companies that investors mayaa  deem comparaba le; 
(cid:404)  developments affecting us, our customers or our suppliers; 
(cid:404) 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;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) the amount of shares acquired for short-term investments;
(cid:404) general domestic or international economic, markrr et and political conditions; 
(cid:404) fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar;
(cid:404) changes in the legal or regulatoryrr  environment affecting our business; and
(cid:404) 

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.

Page 19 

   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 

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:  

allow our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval;

(cid:404) 
(cid:404) provide for our Board of Directors to be divided into two classes of directors serving staggered terms;
(cid:404) 
(cid:404) 

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 11.3% 
of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2020. 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

Page 20 

  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
   
 
General Risks

Climate change may cause changes in weather patterns and increase the frequency or severity of weather events and 
flooding.  

An increase in severe weather events and flooding may adversely impact us, our operations, and our ability to procure raw
materials and process and transport our products and could result in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations. Extreme weather conditions may increase our costs, temporarily impact our production capabilities or 
cause damage to our facilities. Severe weather may also adversely impact our suppliers and our customers and their ability
to deliver and/or purchase and transport our products.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None. 

Page 21 

 
 
 
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

Owned or
Leased

Carbon 
Flat

Cleveland 

Minneapolis 

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

Plymouth, 
Minnesota
Plymouth,
Minnesota

127,000  Corporate offices, coil processing and 

Owned 

distribution center

121,500  Coil and plate processing, distribution

Owned 

center and offices 

59,500  Plate processing, distribution center and 

Leased (2) 

offices 

62,000  Plate processing, fabrication and 

Owned 

distribution center

196,800  Coil and plate processing, distribution

Owned 

center and offices 

112,200  Plate processing, fabrication, distribution 

Owned 

center and offices 

Chambersburg  Chambersburg,

157,000  Plate processing, distribution center and 

Owned 

Pennsylvania 
Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania 

Iowa 

Bettendorf, Iowa 

Winder 

Winder, Georgia 

offices 

150,000  Plate processing, fabrication,

Owned 

manufacturing, distribution center and 
offices 

244,000  Coil and plate processing, fabrication, 
distribution center and offices 
285,000  Coil and plate processing, fabrication, 
distribution center and offices 

Owned 

Owned 

Buford, Georgia 

120,000  Coil and plate processing, fabrication, and 

Leased (3)

distribution center

Detroit 

Detroit, Michigan  256,000  Coil processing, distribution center and 

Owned 

Kentucky 

Gary 

Connecticut 

Chicago 

Berlin Metals 

McCullough 
Industries 
Streetsboro 

Mexico 
Rock Hill 

offices

100,000  Plate processing, fabrication and 

distribution center

107,000  Distribution center and offices 

Owned 

Owned 

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)   

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)   

Mt. Sterling, 
Kentuckyk
Mt. Sterling,
Kentuckyk
Gary, Indiana 

183,000  Coil processing, distribution center and 

Owned 

offices

134,000  Coil processing, distribution center and 

Milford,
Connecticut 
Schaumburg, 
Illinois
Hammond, Indiana  117,950  Coil processing, distribution center and 

122,500  Coil and sheet processing, distribution 

center and offices 

offices

Kenton, Ohio 

75,000  Manufacturing facility 

offices 

Owned 

Owned 

Leased (4) 

Owned 

Streetsboro, Ohio 

66,200 Coil and sheet processing, distribution

Owned 

center and offices 

43,200  Coil and sheet processing, distribution

Leased (5) 

Latrobe,
Pennsylvania 
Monterrey, Mexico  60,000  Distribution center 
Rock Hill, South
Carolina 

center

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)  

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)  

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)   

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)  

45,075  Distribution, processing center and offices  Owned 

Leased (6)  (cid:6447)(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)

Segment 
Specialty
Metals 
Flat

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)  

Tube 
and
Pipe

(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)(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)

(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)   

Page 22 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
Operation

Location

Square 
Feet

Function

Owned or
Leased

Carbon
Flat

Dallas 
Houston 
Springdale 

Kansas City 

Chicago 

St. Paul 
Charlotte 

Fond du Lac 

Indianapolis 

Quad Cities 
Des Moines 
Owatonna 

44,480  Distribution, processing center and offices  Owned 
30,000  Distribution, processing center and offices  Leased (7)    
12,200  Distribution, processing center and offices  Leased (8) 

11,300  Distribution, processing center and offices  Leased (9)

363,000  Corporate offices, fabrication and 

Owned 

Owned 
127,600  Distribution center, fabrication and offices  Owned 

distribution center

Carrollton, Texas 
Houston, Texas 
Springdale,
Arkansas
Riverside,
Missouri 
Romeoville,
Illinois
St. Paul, Minnesota  132,000  Distribution center and offices 
Locust, North
Carolina 
Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin 
Indianapolis,
Indiana
Milan, Illinois 
Ankeny, Iowa 
Owatonna, 
Minnesota

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

117,000  Distribution center and offices 

79,000  Distribution center and offices 

(cid:6447)(cid:6447)  

Owned 

Owned 

Owned 
Owned 
Owned 

Segment 
Specialty
Metals
Flat
(cid:6447)(cid:6447)

Tube 
and
Pipe

(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)

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5) 
(6) 

(7) 
(8) 
(9) 

The Bedford Heights facilities are all adjd acent 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 July 1, 2027.
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
f
quarter basis. We don’t intend to renew the lease upuu on expiration. 
The lease on this facility expires on October 31, 2022, with renewal options. 
The lease on this facility expires on July 1, 2021, with renewal options.
The lease on this facility expires on January 31, 2023, with renewal options 

-to-

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; San Antonio, Texas and a lease in Monterrey, Mexico, which 
expires in August 2021. 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 23 

  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 68, 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 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. 

Richard  T.  Marabito,  age  57,  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 52, 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 59, 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 44, 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 24 

  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
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  29,  2020,  we  estimate  there  were  approximately  64 holders  of  record  and  3,992  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, 2020. 

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. As of December 31, 2020, 360,212 shares remain authorized for
repurchase under the program.

rr

t

t

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

We did not have any unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. 

Page 25 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
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,
2020. 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.

2020 

For the Years Ended December 31, 
2019 
2017 
2018 
(in thousands, except per share data) 

2016 

Income Statement Data: 
Net sales 
Cost of materials sold 
Gross profit (a) 
Operating expenses (b) 
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 
d
Weighted average shares - diluted 

  $ 1,234,144    $  1,579,040    $ 1,715,081    $ 1,330,696    $  1,055,116 
820,040  
235,076 
229,328 
5,748 
5,273  
420 
(1,078)

979,099       1,280,110       1,372,954       1,055,212      
275,484      
255,045      
251,498      
254,472      
23,986      
573      
7,518      
7,411      
16,350      
(6,911)     
18,963    $ 
(5,595)   $ 

298,930      
282,320      
16,610      
11,289      
5,289      
3,856    $

342,127      
285,075      
57,052      
10,681      
46,064      
33,759    $

  $

  $
  $
  $

(0.49)   $ 
(0.49)   $ 
0.08    $ 

0.34    $
0.34    $
0.08    $

2.95    $
2.95    $
0.08    $

1.67    $ 
1.67    $ 
0.08    $ 

(0.10)
(0.10)
0.08  

11,447      
11,447      

11,509      
11,509      

11,432      
11,440      

11,381      
11,381      

11,210  
11,210 

Balance Sheet Data (as of December 31): 
Current assets (f) 
Current liabilities (f) 
Working capital (g) 
Total assets (f) 
Total debt 
t
Shareholders' equity 

  $

  $

402,204    $  419,842    $
101,087      
126,725      
318,755      
275,479      
640,605      
649,555      
192,925      
160,609      
301,010    $  308,352    $

562,769    $
128,427      
434,342      
760,740      
302,530      
306,991    $

420,136    $  364,940  
104,898 
111,147      
260,042  
308,989      
604,158      
556,068  
166,424  
197,165      
272,583    $  253,390 

(a)  Gross profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of materials sold (includes LIFO income of $1,517 and $3,669 in 2020
and 2019, respectively, LIFO expense of $8,408 and $2,707 in 2018 and 2017, respectively and LIFO income of $1,489
in 2016).

(b)  Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold. 
(c)  The year ended December 31, 2017, includes a $6.2 million benefit related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
(d)  Calculated by dividing net income (loss) by weighted average basic shares outstanding. 
(e)  Calculated by dividing net income (loss) by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. 
(f)  Prospective adjd ustment of deferred tax assets and liabilities in 2016, prior periods were not retrospectively adjd usted.
(g)  Calculated as current assets less current liabilities. 

Page 26 

 
  
 
  
  
 
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
      
        
        
        
        
 
 
   
   
   
   
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
  
   
   
   
   
    
    
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
  
   
   
   
   
    
    
    
    
 
 
  
  
 
 
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 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, prime tin mill products and fabricated parts.  Through the 
acquisition of Action Stainless. on December 14, 2020, our specialty metals flat products segment expanded its geographic 
footprint and enhanced its product offerings in stainless steel and aluminum plate, sheet, angles, rounds, flat bar, tubing and
pipe.  Action Stainless offers a range of processing, including plasma, laser and waterjet cutting and CNC machining.  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 acquisitions of McCullough and EZ Dumper in 
2019, our carbon flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include self-dumping metal hoppers and steel and 
stainless-steel dump inserts for pickup truck and service truck beds.  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. 

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 27 

  
   
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.

aa

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 the acquisition of Action 
Stainless & Alloys, Inc. on December 14, 2020, our specialty metals flat products segment expanded its geographic footprint
and enhanced its product offerings in stainless steel and aluminum plate, sheet, angles, rounds, flat bar, tubing and pipe.
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.

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. 

Combined, the carbon and specialty metals flat products segments have 27 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 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
personnel, expenses related to being a publicly traded entity such as board of directors’ expenses, audit expenses, and various
other professional fees. 

Page 28 

  
  
  
 
 
  
Results of Operations

This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2020 and 2019 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2020 and 
2019. Discussions of 2018 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2019 and 2018 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, 2019. 

t

2020 Compared to 2019

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted people, businesses and economies across the world and the stay-at-home or 
shelter-in-place orders enacted in several U.S. states during 2020 required some businesses to close, or significantly reduce
their  hours.  The  stay-at-home  or  shelter-in-place  orders,  and  business  closures  related  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic,
substantially impacted our results of operations during 2020, primarily during the second and third quarters of 2020. 

We are considered an essential business and all of our production facilities and offices remained open in all states. Beginning
at the end of the first quarter of 2020 and continuing through the end of the second quarter, many of our customers, particularly 
those  associated  with  the  automotive  industry,  temporarily  closed  their  facilities,  reduced  hours  or  staggered  production
schedules.   Since the end of the second quarter of 2020, customers have generally re-opened their facilities or increased 
production levels.  Our carbon flat products segment was significantly impacted as automotive and OEM customers were
temporarily closed or significantly reduced production levels.  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, our specialty metals flat 
products segment and tubular and pipe products segment remained profitable during 2020.  

Our results of operations are impacted by the market price of metals.  Metals prices fluctuate significantly and changes to our
net  sales,  cost  of  materials  sold,  gross  profit,  cost  of  inventory  and  profitability,  are  all  impacted  by  industry  metals 
pricing.  Metals prices fluctuated significantly during 2020.  Prices increased during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the 
year-end  price  of  2019,  decreased  during  the  second  quarter,  and  then  modestly  increased  during  the  third  quarter  of 
2020.  During the fourth quarter of 2020, prices increased by 64% from the third quarter of 2020 and for some metals we sell, 
ill result in higher
reached record prices at the end of 2020.  Prices continue to increase in the first quarter of 2021, which w
selling prices and enhanced margins during the first quarter of 2021.  Despite the rapid pricing increase in the fourth quarter
of  2020,  average metals prices  in  2020 were 4%  lower  than  average  metals  prices  in 2019.   The  lower  metals prices  are
primarily due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on metal demand. 

f

Transactional or  “spot”  selling prices generally  move  in tandem with market  price  changes,  while  indexed 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
average selling prices increase, and net sales increase, gross profit and operating expenses as a percentage of net sales will 
generally decrease. 

Consolidated Operations

The following table sets forth certain consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 
(dollars shown in thousands): 

2020 

2019 

$

   % of net sales    

$

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

  $

  $

1,234,144      
979,099      
255,045      
254,472      
573      
(73)     
7,411      
(6,911)     
(1,316)     
(5,595)     

100.0    $
79.3      
20.7      
20.6      
0.0      
(0.0)     
0.6      
(0.6)     
(0.1)     
(0.5)   $

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

   % of net sales  
100.0 
81.1 
18.9  
17.9  
1.1 
(0.0)
0.7  
0.3 
0.1  
0.2  

(a)  Includes $1,517 and $3,669 of LIFO income in 2020 and 2019, 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 29 

  
  
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
Net sales decreased $344.9 million, or 21.8%, to $1.2 billion in 2020 from $1.6 billion in 2019. Carbon flat products net sales
decreased $236.6 million, or 25.5%, in 2020 compared to 2019 and were 55.9% of total net sales in 2020 compared to 58.7%
in 2019. Specialty metals flat products net sales decreased $50.4 million, or 13.9%, to $313.2 million in 2020 compared to
2019 and were 25.4% of total net sales in 2020 compared to 23.0% in 2019. Tubular and pipe products net sales decreased 
$57.8 million, or 20.0%, to $230.7 million in 2020 compared to 2019 and were 18.7% of total net sales in 2020 compared to 
18.3% of total net sales in 2019. The decrease in sales was due to a 11.1% decrease in sales volume and an 12.1% decrease 
in  average  selling  prices.  Average  selling  prices  in  2020  were  $1,110  per  ton,  compared  to  $1,263  per  ton  in  2019.  The
decrease  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 $301.0 million, or 23.5%, to $1.0 billion in 2020 from $1.28 billion in 2019. During 2020,
we recorded LIFO income of $1.5 million compared to $3.7 million in 2019. The decrease in cost of materials sold in 2020 
is primarily related to decreased sales volume and the decreased metals pricing in 2020 compared to 2019. 

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) increased to 20.7% in 2020 from 
18.9% in 2019. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales in 2020 was primarily due to the impact of lower 
average selling prices in 2020 compared to 2019.

Operating expenses (as defined in footnote (c) in the table above) decreased $27.8 million, or 9.9%, to $254.5 million in 2020
from $282.3 million in 2019. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 20.6% in 2020 from 17.9% in 
2019. Operating expenses in the carbon flat products segment decreased $19.6 million, operating expenses in the specialty 
metals flat products segment decreased $3.3 million, operating expenses in the tubular and pipe products segment decreased
$3.5  million,  and  corporate  expenses  decreased  $1.5  million.  Operating  expenses  decreased  in  all  categories,  except 
depreciation  and  amortization  expenses,  due  to  decreased  variable  expenses  such  as  distribution,  labor  expenses,  and 
warehouse  expenses  associated  with  the  decreased  shipping  volumes  discussed  above,  decreased  performance-based 
incentive compensation, and our COVID-19 related cost reduction efforts. Operating expenses in 2020 include $3.6 million
of restructuring and other charges related to the loss on sale of idled real estate, charges related to the exit from our lease
d 
f
Monterrey, Mexico facility and COVID-19 related severance and bad debt expense, which were recorded to the carbon and 
specialty metals flat products segments. 

Interest and other expense on debt totaled $7.4 million in 2020 compared to $11.3 million in 2019. Our effective borrowing
rate, exclusive of deferred financing fees and commitment fees, was 3.25% in 2020 compared to 4.0% in 2019. The decreased 
effective  borrowing  rate  is  due  to  the  decrease  in  LIBOR  compared  to  2019.  Total  average  borrowings  decreased  $69.2
million, or 26.9% to $188.4 million in 2020 from $257.6 million in 2019, primarily related to decreased working capital needs
in 2020. 

Loss before income taxes totaled $6.9 million in 2020 compared to income before income taxes of $5.3 million in 2019. 

d

An income tax benefit of 19.0% was recorded in 2020, compared to an income tax provision of 27.1% in 2019. The lower
rate was primarily attributable to the impact of permanently non-deductible items on a pre-tax loss. 

Net loss in 2020 totaled $5.6 million, or $0.49 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $3.9 million, or $0.34
per basic and diluted share, in 2019.

Page 30 

  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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, 2020 and 2019 (dollars shown in thousands, except per ton data): 

aa

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) 

2020 

% of net
sales 

$

     849,688        
     48,021        
     897,709        

2019 

% of net
sales 

$
       943,536        
66,804        
      1,010,340        

  $ 690,273      
769        
     551,788      
     138,485      
     148,774      
  $ (10,289)     

100.0    $ 926,903      
917        
79.9       763,549      
20.1       163,354      
21.6       168,377      
(5,023)     
(1.6)   $

100.0 

82.4 
17.6  
18.2  
(0.6)

(a)  Gross profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of materials sold. 
(b)  Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold.   

Tons sold decreased 113 thousand tons, or 11.1%, to 898 thousand tons in 2020 from 1.01 million tons in 2019. Toll tons 
sold decreased 19 thousand tons, or 28.1% to 48 thousand tons in 2020 from 67 thousand tons in 2019. Collectively temporary 
closures, reduced hours and staggered production schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, discussed in the overview of 
Results of Operations above, primarily during the second quarter of 2020, negatively impacted our tons sold during 2020. 
We expect sales volumes in 2021 to increase over 2020.

Net sales decreased $236.6 million, or 25.5%, to $690.3 million in 2019 from $926.9 million in 2019. Average selling prices 
in 2020 decreased 16.2% to $769 per ton, compared to $917 per ton in 2019. The decrease in sales was due to an 11.1% 
decrease in sales volume and a 16.2% decrease in average selling prices. 

Cost  of  materials  sold  decreased  $211.8  million,  or  27.7%,  to  $551.8  million  in  2020  from  $763.5  million  in  2019.  The
decrease in cost of materials sold was due to an 18.7% decrease in metals pricing and an 11.1% decrease in sales volume 
during 2020 compared to 2019.

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (a) in the table above) increased to 20.1% in 2020 from 
17.6% in 2019. The average gross profit per ton sold decreased $8 per ton, or 4.6%, to $154 in 2020 from $162 in 2019. 

Operating  expenses  in  2020  decreased  $19.6  million,  or  11.6%,  to  $148.8  million  from  $168.4  million  in  2019.  As  a 
percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 21.6% in 2020 from 18.2% in 2019. Operating expenses decreased 
in all categories, except for depreciation and amortization expenses, due to decreased variable expenses such as distribution 
expense,  labor  expenses,  and  warehouse  expenses  due  to  the  decreased  shipping  volumes  discussed  above,  decreased 
performance-based incentive compensation and our COVID-19 related cost reduction efforts. Operating expenses in 2020 
include $3.6 million of restructuring and other charges related to the loss on sale of idled real estate, charges related to the 
exit from our leased Monterrey, Mexico facility and COVID-19 related severance and bad debt expense. 

Operating loss totaled $10.3 million in 2020 compared to $5.0 million in 2019.

Page 31 

  
 
  
 
    
  
  
 
   
   
  
 
  
      
 
 
    
      
  
  
  
  
 
 
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, 2020 and 2019 (dollars shown in thousands, except per ton data): 

aa

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 

2020 

2019 

% of net
sales 

% of net 
sales 

     115,354        
     11,319        
     126,673        

       130,104        
       11,724        
       141,828        

  $ 313,190      
2,472        
     266,434      
     46,756      
     35,090      
  $  11,666      

100.0    $ 363,634      
2,564        
85.1       310,931      
14.9       52,703      
11.2       38,382      
3.7    $ 14,321      

100.0 

85.5 
14.5  
10.6  
3.9 

(a)  Gross profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of materials sold. 
(b)  Operating expenses are calculated as total costs and expenses less the cost of materials sold.  

Tons sold decreased 15 thousand tons, or 10.7%, to 127 thousand tons in 2020 from 142 thousand tons in 2019. The decrease 
in tons sold in 2020 is related to decreased customer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Net sales decreased $50.4 million, or 13.9%, to $313.2 million in 2020 from $363.6 million in 2019. Average selling prices 
in 2020 decreased to $2,472 per ton, compared to $2,564 per ton in 2019. The decrease in sales was due to the 10.7% decrease 
in sales volume and a 3.6% decrease in the average selling prices during 2020 compared to 2019. 

Cost of materials sold decreased $44.5 million, or 14.3%, to $266.4 million in 2020 from $310.9 million in 2019. The decrease 
in cost of materials sold was primarily due to the decrease in sales volume in 2020 compared to 2019.

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (a) in the table above) increased to 14.9% in 2020 from
14.5% in 2019. The average gross profit per ton sold totaled $369 in 2020 compared to $372 per ton in 2019.

Operating expenses (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) decreased $3.3 million, or 8.6%, to $35.1 million in 2020 
from $38.4 million in 2019. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 11.2% of net sales in 2020 from 
10.6%  in  2019.  Variable  operating  expenses  decreased  as a  result  of  lower  shipping  volumes,  lower  performance-based
incentive compensation, and our COVID-19 related cost reduction efforts. 

Operating income for 2020 totaled $11.7 million compared to $14.3 million in 2019. 

Page 32 

  
 
  
 
    
  
  
  
 
   
    
 
   
 
  
 
 
    
      
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
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, 2020 and 2019 (dollars shown in thousands).

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

2020 

% of net
sales 

2019 

% of net
sales 

$

$
  $ 230,681       
     160,877       
     69,804       
     60,785       
9,019       
  $

100.0    $ 288,503       
69.7       205,630       
30.3       82,873       
26.3       64,266       
3.9    $ 18,607       

100.0 
71.3  
28.7  
22.2  
6.4 

(a)  Includes $1,517 and $3,669 of LIFO income in 2020 and 2019, 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.   

Net sales decreased $57.8 million, or 20.0%, to $230.7 million in 2020 from $288.5 million in 2019. The decrease in net sales 
was due to a 10.8% decrease in sales volume and a 10.4% decrease in average selling prices during 2020. The decrease in net 
sales in 2020 is related to decreased customer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cost of materials sold decreased $44.8 million, or 21.8%, to $160.9 million in 2020 from $205.6 million in 2019. The decrease 
in cost of materials sold is due to decreased sales volumes and decreased metals pricing. During 2020, we recorded $1.5 
million of LIFO income compared to $3.7 million during 2019. 

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit (as defined in footnote (b) in the table above) increased to 30.3% in 2020 compared
to 28.7%, in 2019. LIFO income increased gross profit by 0.7% of net sales in 2020 compared to 1.3% of net sales in 2019

Operating expenses (as defined in footnote (c) in the table above) decreased $3.5 million, or 5.4%, to $60.8 million in 2020 
from $64.3 million in 2019. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 26.3% in 2020 compared to 22.2% 
in 2019. Operating expenses decreased in all categories, primarily as a result of lower sales volumes and our COVID-19 
related cost reduction efforts. 

r

Operating income for 2020 totaled $9.0 million, compared to $18.6 million in 2019.

Corporate expenses

Corporate  expenses  decreased  $1.5  million,  or  13.0%,  to $9.8  million  in  2020  compared  to  $11.3  million  in  2019.  The 
decreases in corporate expenses are primarily attributable to decreased variable incentive compensation related to decreased 
operating income and our COVID-19 related cost reduction efforts. 

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  ABL  Credit  Facility  together  with  funds  generated  from  operations,  will  be 
sufficient to provide us with the liquidity necessary to fund anticipated working capital re
quirements, 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.

d

Page 33 

  
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
2020 Compared to 2019

Operating Activities

During 2020, we generated $61.7 million of net cash from operations, of which $14.5 million was generated from operating 
activities  and  $47.1  million  was  generated  from  working  capital.  Net  cash  from  operations  during  2020  was  primarily
comprised of the $20.0 million addback of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense to the net loss of $5.6 million. 
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. 

Working  capital  at  December  31,  2020  totaled  $275.5  million,  a  $43.3  million  decrease  from  December  31,  2019.  The 
decrease was primarily attributable to a $37.2 million decrease in inventory (resulting from lower inventory levels and lower 
average inventory costs in 2020 compared to 2019), and a $16.4 million increase in accounts payable and outstanding checks 
(resulting from increased inventory purchases and higher inventory costs at the end of 2020 compared to 2019) offset by a 
$14.8 million increase in accounts receivable (resulting primarily
 from increased sales prices and shipping volumes at the 
end of 2020 compared to 2019).

a

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities was $28.1 million during 2020, compared to $21.0 million during 2019. Investment 
activities in 2020 included the acquisition of Action Stainless for $19.5 million and $9.8 million of capital expenditures,
primarily attributable to processing equipment at our existing facilities. Investme
nt activities in 2019 included the acquisitions 
of  McCullough  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 2021, we expect our capital spending to be
less than our annual depreciation expense.

qq

Financing Activities

During  2020,  $33.6  million  of  cash  was  used  for  financing  activities,  which  primarily  consisted  of  $32.3  million  of  net 
repayments under our ABL Credit Facility, and $0.9 million of dividends paid. During 2019, $112.1 million of cash was used 
for financing activities, which primarily consisted of $109.6 million of net repayments under our ABL Credit Facility, $1.5
million of repurchases of common stock and $0.9 million of dividends paid.

In February 2021, our Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share, which is payable on 
March  15,  2021  to  shareholders  of  record  as  of  March  1,  2021.  Our  Board  previously  approved  2020  and  2019  regular 
quarterly  dividends  of  $0.02  per  share,  which  were  paid  in  March,  June,  September  and  December  of  2020  and  2019.
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, 2020) or (ii) to maintain availability equal to or greater than 15%
of the aggregate revolver commitments ($71.3 million as of December 31, 2020) 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. As of 
December 31, 2020, 360,212 shares remain authorized for repurchase under the program. 

Page 34 

  
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
During 2020 and 2019, we repurchased 15,000 and 109,505 shares, for an aggregate cost of $0.1 million and $1.5 million, 
respectively. There were no shares repurchased during 2018. 

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, 2020) or 10.0% of the aggregate borrowing base ($28.5 million at December 31, 2020) 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, 2020, we were in compliance with our covenants and had approximately $120.7 million of availability
under the ABL Credit Facility. 

As of December 31, 2020, $0.9 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 (Loss).

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%.

Page 35 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractual Obligations 

The following table reflects our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020

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

Total contractual obligations 

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

Total 
  $  160,609    $
11,689      
3,547      
28      
13,685      
  $  189,558    $

     Less than        
r
1 year 

years       3-5 years      

     1-3 
-    $
4,913      
914      
10      
-      
5,837    $

160,609    $ 
6,726      
1,429      
18      
11,157      
179,939    $ 

     More than    
5 years 

-    $ 
50      
817      
-      
2,079      
2,946    $ 

-  
- 
387  
- 
449  
836  

(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, 2020.
(c)  See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.   
(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)  Consists of retirement liabilities and deferred compensation payable in future years.

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, 2020, 
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

Page 36 

  
  
    
  
  
      
  
  
  
    
 
    
    
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 
red
measure fair value, we apply a fair value hierarchy that is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are conside
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.

Allowance for Credit Losses 

The allowance for credit losses is 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 credit losses each quarter.

a

f

Inventory Valuation

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

t

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 last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. At December 31, 2020 
and December 31, 2019, approximately $50.3 million, or 21.0% of consolidated inventory, and $39.1 million, or 14.3% 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. 

On  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Comprehensive  Income  (Loss),  “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. 

Page 37 

 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
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

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,  2020.  We  expect  no
significant increases or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits due to changes in tax positions within one year of December 
31, 2020. 

r

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

Page 38 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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 (Loss) 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 December 2019, the Financial Account Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2019-
12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The objective of this ASU is to simplify the
accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to general principles in ASC 740 and by clarifying and amending 
existing guidance within US generally accepted accounting principles, or US GAAP. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public
business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Different
components  of  the  guidance  require  retrospective,  modified  retrospective  or  prospective  adoption,  and  early  adoption  is
permitted.  We  will  adopt  this  guidance  when  it  becomes  effective,  in  the  first  quarter  of  2021,  and  the  impact  on  our 
Consolidated Financial Statements is not expected to be material.

ff

ff

In August 2017, 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. The adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2019, 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 on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated
Financial Statements. 

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
liabilities. The adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2019, did not have a material impact on our Statements of Comprehensive 
Income (Loss) or on the Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Page 39 

  
  
  
  
  
  
 
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our principal raw materials are carbon, coated and stainless steel, aluminum, pipe and tube, flat-rolled coil, sheet and plate 
that we typically purchase from multiple primary metals producers. The metals industry as a whole is cyclical and, at times, 
pricing and availability of metals can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, 
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  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 net realizable value 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 ABL 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. 

Rising metals prices result in higher working capital requirements for us and our customers. Some customers may not have 
sufficient credit lines or liquidity to absorb significant increases in the price of metals, especially given the negative impact 
of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we have generally been successful in the past in passing on producers’ price increases 
and surcharges to our customers, there is no guarantee that we will be able to pass on price increases to our customers in the 
future. Declining metals prices have generally adversely affected our net sales and net income, while increasing metals prices
have generally favorably affected our net sales and net income.

n

Approximately 45%, 46% and 48% of our consolidated net sales in 2020, 2019 and 2018, 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 ABL 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 2020, 2019 and 2018, 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, 2020 rates and, assuming no change in total debt from December 31, 2020 levels, the
additional annual interest expense to us would be approximately $0.9 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 40 

 
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
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 (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 ..  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 ....................................................................................  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018  ................................  
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 ............  
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equitytt  for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 ..................  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 ...........................  
yff ing Accounts for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 .................  
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualif

–

42
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
72

Page

Page 41 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss),
shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, 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, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the each of the two years in the period ended 
December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the 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, 2020, 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 25, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion.

k

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  regarding  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. 

Critical audit matter 

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that
was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that 
are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The
communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, 
and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or 
on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

aa

f

Inventory Valuation

As described further in Note 1, inventories not stated under the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, are stated at the lower of itsii
cost or net realizable value and inventories stated under the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, are stated at the lower of its 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. Mark
et value is typically replacement cost, unless it 
exceeds net realizable value. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s net inventory balance was $240.0 million. We identified 
the valuation of inventory as a critical audit matter.

f

The principal consideration for our determination that the valuation of inventory is a critical audit matter is that auditing
management’s evaluation of the estimates of the inventories net realizable value or market value is challenging due to the
high degree of subjective auditor judgment necessary in evaluating management’s assumptions of reasonably predictable 
costs  of  completion,  disposal  and  transportation  and  sales  prices.  These  significant  assumptions  are  forward-looking  and 
could be affected by future economic and market conditions. 

Page 42 

  
  
 
Our audit procedures related to the valuation of inventory included the following, among others:

(cid:404)  We  tested  the  design  and  operating  effectiveness  of  the  control  over  the  Company’s  inventory  carrying  value

adjd ustment determination process. 

(cid:404)  We analyzed the changing price of metals using data obtained from third party sources to assess pricing trends thataa
could result in a lower of cost or net realizable value or market adjustment and compared the trends we identified to
the assumptions used by management in their analysis.

(cid:404)  We selected a sample of sales invoices from the subsequent period and compared the selling price per the invoice to
the cost of the finished goods inventory on hand at December 31, 2020, deducting applicable costs to sell the product,
to determine if the inventory cost was less than net realizable value or market. We evaluated the sales price per the
invoice to corroborate our understanding of future sales prices. 

(cid:404)  We performed a sensitivity analysis on management’s estimated cost to complete, dispose, and transport and sales

prices. 

(cid:404)  The procedures performed included consideration of whether the information tested was consistent with evidence

obtained in other areas of the audit. 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP 

Cleveland, Ohio 
February 25, 2021 

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

Page 43 

  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
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, 2020, 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, 2020, 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, 2020, and our 
report dated February 25, 2021 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 25, 2021

Page 44 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
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  statements  of  comprehensive  income  (loss),  shareholders’  equity,  and  cash  flows  of 
Olympic Steel, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes
and schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts for the year ended December 31, 2018 listed in the accompanying index
(collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”).  In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements 
present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the year ended December 
31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.   

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express
f
an  opinion  on  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  based  on  our  audit.   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 audit 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  audit  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 
audit  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 audit provides 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 45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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,  2020.  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). 

Based on our assessment, we concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, 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, 2020 has been audited by Grant Thornton
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which appears herein. 

Page 46 

  
 
  
  
 
 
Olympic Steel, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
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 

t
Other loss, net

Income before interest and income taxes 

Interest and other expense on debt 

Income (loss) before income taxes 

Income tax provision (benefit) 

Net income (loss) 

ges 

Tax effect of hedges 

Total comprehensive income (loss) 

et income (loss) per share - basic 

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 

et income (loss) per share - diluted 

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 

2020 

2019 

2018 

  $

1,234,144    $

1,579,040     $

1,715,081 

979,099      
83,091      
71,451      
44,728      
26,050      
9,662      
17,936      
1,554      
1,233,571      
573      
(73)     
500      
7,411      
(6,911)     
(1,316)     
(5,595)   $

(2,579)     
645      
(7,529)   $

(0.49)   $
11,447      
(0.49)   $
11,447      

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 

  $

  $

  $

  $

k
Dividends declared per share of common stock 

  $ 

0.08    $

0.08     $

0.08 

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

Page 47 

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

Cash and cash equivalents 
Accounts receivable, net
t
Inventories, net (includes LIFO debit of $2,115 and $598 as of December 31, 2020 

  $

Assets 

and 2019, respectively) 
Prepaid expenses and other 
Total current assets 

Property and equipment, at cost
t
Accumulated depreciation 

t
Net property and equipment

Goodwill 
Intangible assets, net
t
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 

y
Shareholders' Equity

outstanding 

Common stock, without par value, 20,000 shares authorized; 11,075 issued; 11,075 

and 10,996 shares outstanding 

Treasuryrr  stock, at cost, 0 and 25 shares held 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 
Retained earnings 

Total shareholders' equityt  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 

  $

  $

  $

2020 

2019 

5,533    $
151,601      

5,742   
133,572   

240,001      
5,069      
402,204      
434,579      
(277,379)     
157,200      
5,123      
32,593      
18,131      
25,354      
640,605    $

87,291    $
10,985      
22,869      
5,580      
126,725      
160,609      
22,478      
9,818      
19,965      
339,595      

273,531   
6,997   
419,842   
417,124   
(260,331 )
156,793  
3,423   
29,259   
14,439   
25,799   
649,555   

69,452  
13,196  
12,958  
5,481  
101,087  
192,925   
14,511   
12,262   
20,418   
341,203   

-      

-   

132,382      
-      
(4,215)     
172,843      
301,010      
640,605    $

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

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

Page 48 

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

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from 

(used for) operating activities. 

Net income (loss) 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from 

operating activities - 

2020 

2019 

2018 

  $

(5,595)   $ 

3,856    $ 

33,759  

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 finance lease obligation 
Industrial revenue bond repayaa ments 
Credit facility fees and expenses 
Repurchase of common stock 
Dividends paid 

Net cash from (used for) financing activities 

Cash and cash equivalents: 

Net change 
Beginning balance 
Ending balance 

20,008      
2,026      
1,215      
(4,349)     
1,220      
14,525      

(14,790)     
37,186      
2,112      
23,333      
(6,893)     
6,179      
47,127      
61,652      

(19,500)     
(9,803)     
1,154      
(28,149)     

339,538      
(371,854)     
(242)     
-      
(124)     
(145)     
(885)     
(33,712)     

19,548      
(222)     
2,188      
(3,835)     
1,283      
22,818      

42,141      
95,836      
2,464      
(33,651)     
7,053      
(7,040)     
106,803      
129,621      

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

536,944      
(646,549)     
(63)     
-      
(100)     
(1,522)     
(879)     
(112,169)     

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  

(209)     
5,742      
5,533    $ 

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

6,310 
3,009  
9,319 

  $

Page 49 

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

Cash paid during the period
d

g

Interest paid 
Income taxes paid 

2020 

2019 

2018 

  $
  $

7,002    $
1    $

10,951     $
460     $

10,241  
11,316  

The Company incurred financing lease obligations of $1.4 million and $0.6 million during the years ended December 31,
2020 and 2019, respectively. This non-cash transaction has been excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. 

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

Page 50 

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

    Accumulated     
Other  

   Common       Treasury      Comprehensive    Retained     
   Stock  

Stock  

Loss  

    Earnings       Equity    

Total  

Balance at December 31, 2017 

Net income 
Payment of dividends 
Stock-based compensation 
r
Other 

Balance at December 31, 2018 

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

Balance at December 31, 2019 

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

Balance at December 31, 2020 

  $  129,453    $ 
-    $ 
  $ 
-      
1,324      
1      
  $  130,778    $ 

  $ 

-    $ 
-      
869      
-      
-      
-      
  $  131,647    $ 

  $

  $

-    $
-   
735   
-   
-   
-    
132,382    $

(337)   $ 
-    $ 
-      
205      
-      
(132)   $ 

-    $ 
-      
1,319      
(1,522)        

-      
-      
(335)   $ 

-    $
-   
480   
(145)   
-   
-    
-    $

-    $  143,467    $
33,759    $
-    $ 
(880)     
-      
-      
-      
-      
(1)     
-    $  176,345    $

-    $ 
-      
-      

3,856    $
(879)     
-      
-      
-      
(1)     
(2,281)   $  179,321    $

(2,281)     
-      

-    $
-    

-    
(1,934)  
-    
(4,215)   $

(5,595)   $
(885)  
-    
-    
-   
2   

172,843    $

272,583  
33,759 
(880) 
1,529 
- 
306,991  

3,856 
(879) 
2,188  
(1,522)
(2,281)
(1) 
308,352  

(5,595)
(885)
1,215 
(145)
(1,934)
2 
301,010 

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

Page 51 

  
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
  
   
   
  
      
        
         
        
        
  
    
    
    
  
    
       
       
       
       
   
    
    
    
      
    
    
  
    
       
       
       
       
   
 
 
   
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
Olympic Steel, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For The Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

1.  Summaryr oy fo Si

f

g
gi nigg fi icant Accountin
g Policies:

ff

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  segment  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  flat products  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 the acquisitions of McCullough 
Industries (McCullough) and certain assets related to the manufacturing of the EZ Dumper® hydraulic dump inserts (EZ 
Dumper) in 2019, the carbon flat products segment expanded its product offerings to include self-dumping metal hoppers and 
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 the acquisition of Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc. (Action Stainless) on December 14, 2020, the specialty metals flat 
products segment expanded its geographic footprint and enhanced its product offerings in stainless steel and aluminum plate,
sheet, angles, rounds, flat bar, tubing and pipe. Action Stainless offers a range of processing capabilities, including plasma,
laser and waterjet cutting and computer numerical control (CNC) machining. Through the 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 fabricates pressure
parts supplied to various industrial markets.

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.

f

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic.
The pandemic had a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the twelve months ended 
December 31, 2020, resulting in lower sales and a net loss for the year. The Company is an essential business and remains 
open  in  all  locations,  adhering  to  all  health  guidelines  to  operate  safely  provided  by  the Center  for  Disease  Control  and 
Prevention and local authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic had and could continue to have material and adverse effects on 
the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in the near term due to, but not limited to, (i) reduced sales and 
profit levels, (ii) the slower payment of accounts receivable and potential increases
 in uncollectible accounts receivable, (iii) 
falling metals prices that could lead to lower of cost or net realizable value inventory adjustments and the impairment of 
intangible and long-lived assets, (v) reduced availability and productivity of our employees, (vi) increased operational risks 
as a result of remote work arrangements, including the potential effects on internal controls, as well as cybersecurity risks 
and increased vulnerability to security breaches, information technology disruptions and other similar events, (vii) negative 
impacts on our liquidity position, (viii) inability to access our traditional financing sources on the same or reasonably similar 
terms as were available before the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ix) increased costs and less ability to access funds under our 
ABL Credit Facility (as defined below in Note 9) and the capital markets. The Company has implemented actions to maintain 
its financial health and liquidity. The Company continues to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all 
aspects of its business. However, as a result of the many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company 
is unable to predict the impact that it ultimately will have on its financial condition, results of operations, comprehensive loss, 
and cash flows. 

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. 

Page 52 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  56%,  57%  and  52%  of  its  total  steel
requirements from its three largest suppliers in 2020, 2019, and 2018, 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 25%, 29% and 29% of consolidated net sales 
in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. In addition, the Company’s largest customer accounted for approximately 2%, 5% and 
5%  of  consolidated  net  sales  in  2020,  2019,  and  2018,  respectively.  Sales  to  industrial  machinery  and  equipment 
manufacturers and their fabricators accounted for 45%, 46% and 48% of consolidated net sales in 2020, 2019, and 2018,
respectively.

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
on 
f
stated at their carrying value, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value. The fair value of marketable securities is based 
quoted market prices.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company’s allowance for credit losses 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 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 the allowance for credit losses each quarter. 

Page 53 

  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
Inventory Valuation

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

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 LIFO method. At December 31, 2020 and 
December  31,  2019,  approximately  $50.3  million,  or  21.0%  of  consolidated  inventory,  and  $39.1  million,  or  14.3%  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. 

On  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Comprehensive  Income  (Loss),  “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. 

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. 

Page 54 

  
  
  
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 ended 
December 31, 2020. The Company 
f
expects no significant increases or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits due to changes in tax positions within one year of 
December 31, 2020. 

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.

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  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 (Loss) 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 December 2019, the Financial Account Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2019-
12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The objective of this ASU is to simplify the 
accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to general principles in ASC 740 and by clarifying and amending 
existing  guidance  within  US  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  (US  GAAP).  ASU  2019-12  is  effective  for  public
business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Different
components  of  the  guidance  require  retrospective,  modified  retrospective  or  prospective  adoption,  and  early  adoption  is
permitted. The Company will adopt this guidance when it becomes effective, in the first quarter of 2021, and the impact on
our Consolidated Financial Statements is not expected to be material.

ff

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 

Page 55 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
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 on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company’s 
Consolidated Financial Statements. 

f

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 (Loss) or on the Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

d

2.  Acquisitions

On December 14, 2020, the Company acquired the assets of Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc. based outside of Dallas, Texas
for $19.5 million.  Action Stainless is a full line distributor of stainless steel and aluminum plate, sheet, angles, rounds, flat 
bar, tubing and pipe and offers a wide range of processing capabilities including plasma, laser and waterjet cutting and CNC
machining.  As of the effective date of the acquisition Action Stainless' results are included in the Company’s specialty metals 
flat products segment.  Upon the acquisition, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit facility to include the 
eligible assets of Action Stainless. 

ff

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.  

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 
and  specialized  industrial  markets.   As  of  the  effective  date  of  the  acquisition,  Be
rlin  Metals’  results  are  included  in  the 
f
Company’s specialty metals flat products segment in the Company’s 2018 financial results.  

Page 56 

  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
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 for 
acquisitions prior to 2020 and the preliminary allocation of the purchase price allocation of the fair market values of the assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed for Action Stainless.

a

Details of Acquisition (in thousands)     December 14, 2020      August 5, 2019       Januaryrr  2, 2019       April 2, 2018   
Assets acquired 

  Action Stainless 

As of 

EZ Dumper  
As of 

     McCullough  

As of 

     Berlin Metals   
As of 

t
Accounts receivable, net 
Inventories 
Property and equipment 
Prepaid expenses and other 
r
Goodwill 
Intangible assets 
Total assets acquired 
Total liabilities assumed 
Cash paid 

   $ 

   $ 

3,239     $ 
3,656       
10,610       
204       
1,700       
4,604       
24,013       
(4,513)      
19,500     $ 

-     $ 
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 Level 3 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. The total liabilities assumed for Action Stainless includes an 
immaterial earn-out amount. 

3.  Revenue Recogo nition

gg

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. 

Page 57 

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

Disaggregated Revenue by Products Sold
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020

Carbon flat 
products 

Specialty
metals flat
products 

Tubular and
pipe
products 

Total 

29.7 %     
9.6 %     
5.9 %     
9.6 %     
-        
-        
1.1 %     
55.9 %     

-       
-       
-       
-       
23.5%     
-       
1.9%     
25.4%     

-       
-       
-       
-       
-       
18.7%     
-       
18.7%     

29.7%
9.6% 
5.9%
9.6%
23.5%
18.7%
3.0%
100.0%

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

Carbon flat 
products 

Specialty
metals flat
products 

Tubular and
pipe
products 

Total 

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

-       
-       
-       
-       
20.9%     
-       
2.1%     
23.0%     

-       
-       
-       
-       
-       
18.3%     
-       
18.3%     

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

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

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

4.  Accounts Receivable:

Accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for credit losses and unissued credits of $3.6 million and $3.7 million as 
of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Credit loss expense totaled $1.2 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million in 2020, 
2019,  and  2018,  respectively.  The  allowance  for  credit  losses  is  maintained  at  a  level  considered  appropriate  based  on 
historical experience, specific customer collection issues that have been identified, current market conditions and estimates
for supportable forecasts when appropriate. 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
a
for credit losses and unissued credits.

5.

II
Inventories:

Inventories consisted of the following:

(in thousands) 
Unprocessed 
Processed and finished 
Total 

As of December 31, 
2019 
2020 

  $

  $

194,614     $ 
45,387       
240,001     $ 

220,787 
52,744 
273,531 

Page 58 

  
 
  
 
    
     
    
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
    
     
    
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
 
    
  
During 2020, the Company recorded $1.5 million of LIFO income as a result of decreased metals pricing during 2020. The 
LIFO income increased the Company’s inventory balance and decreased its cost of materials sold. 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.

Our inventory quantities were reduced during 2020 and 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 years that have decrements. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 the effect of the LIFO decrement 
impacted cost of materials sold by an immaterial amount.

ff

If  the  FIFO  method  had  been  in  use,  inventories  would  have  been  $2.1  million  and  $0.6  million  lower  than  reported  at
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

6. Propert
PP

ytt  and Equipment:

Property and equipment consists of the following:

(in thousands) 

Depreciable
Lives 

December 31, 
2020 

December 31, 
2019 

     $ 

Land 
Land improvements 
Buildings and improvements 
Machineryrr  and equipment 
t
Furniture and fixtures 
Computer software and equipment      
Vehicles 
Financing lease 
Construction in progress 

t

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

- 

Less accumulated depreciation 
t
Net property and equipment 

     $ 

15,698    $ 
3,742      
148,507      
222,802      
6,699      
28,977      
2,504      
3,582      
2,068      
434,579      
(277,379)     
157,200    $ 

16,046  
3,675  
142,663  
213,994  
6,493 
28,653 
2,272  
613  
2,715 
417,124 
(260,331)
156,793 

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, primarily consisted of payments for additional 
processing equipment and ERP implementations 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 Action Stainless in 2020, 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. 

r

Page 59 

 
 
  
   
    
 
  
      
  
  
        
        
  
      
    
      
    
      
    
      
    
      
      
    
      
      
  
       
      
       
  
      
  
       
      
  
       
      
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
Goodwill, by reportable unit, was as follows as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The goodwill is
deductible for tax purposes. 

(in thousands) 
Balance as of December 31, 2018 

Acquisitions 
Impairments 

Balance as of December 31, 2019 

Acquisitions 
Impairments 

  $ 

Balance as of December 31, 2020 

  $ 

Carbon Flat
Products 

Specialty
Metals Flat
Products 

Tubular and
Pipe Products     

Total 

1,065    $ 
-      
-      
1,065      
-      
-      
1,065    $ 

2,358     $ 
-       
-       
2,358       
1,700       
-       
4,058     $ 

-    $ 
-      
-      
-      
-      
-      
-    $ 

3,423  
3,423 
3,423 
3,423 
1,700  
- 
5,123  

During  2020  and  2019,  a  qualitative  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, 2020 and 2019, 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 name - not subjb ect to amortization 

As of December 31, 2020 

Gross 
Carrying 
t
Amount

Accumulated 
Amortization      

Intangible 
Assets, 
t
Net 

21,442    $ 
259      
20,179      
41,880    $ 

(9,101)   $ 
(186)     
-      
(9,287)   $ 

12,341  
73  
20,179 
32,593 

As of December 31, 2019 

Gross 
Carrying 
t
Amount

Accumulated 
Amortization      

Intangible 
Assets, 
t
Net 

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

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

10,122  
142  
18,995 
29,259 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

The Company estimates that amortization expense for its intangible assets subject to amortization will be approximately $1.5 
million per year for the next two years and $1.4 million per year for the three years thereafter.  

8.  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  when  the  contract  conveys  the  right  to  control  the  use  of  identified  assets  for  a  period  in  exchange  for 
consideration. Upon identification and commencement of a lease, the Company establishes a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a 
lease liability. Operating leases are included in ROU assets, current portion of lease liabilities, and lease liabilities on the 
accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Financing leases are included in property, plant and equipment, other accrued 
liabilities and other long-term liabilities.

rr

The Company has remaining lease terms ranging from one year to 18 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 

Page 60 

 
   
   
 
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
 
    
    
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
 
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
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 (Loss) 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 years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019: 

(in thousands) 
Operating lease cost 
t
Finance lease cost
t
Amortization 
Interest on lease liabilities 

2020 

2019 

  $ 

7,089     $ 

7,013   

254       
54       
308     $ 

67  
15   
82   

  $ 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019: 

(in thousands) 

2020 

2019 

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 
Operating lease accumulated amortization 
Operating lease right of use asset, net 
t

Operating lease current liabilities 
Operating lease liabilities 

Page 61 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

6,996    $ 
54      
242      
7,292    $ 

6,913 
15 
63 
6,991 

2020 

2019 

36,060     $ 
(10,706 )     
25,354     $ 

5,580       
19,965       
25,545     $ 

31,506  
(5,808 ) 
25,698  

5,481   
20,418   
25,899   

  
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
       
         
  
    
    
  
  
 
 
   
  
  
      
        
  
      
        
  
    
    
  
 
 
    
 
  
       
         
 
 
  
   
  
       
         
 
    
    
 
  
(in thousands) 
Finance leases 
Finance lease 
Finance lease accumulated depreciation 
Finance lease, 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: 

2020 

2019 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

3,582     $ 
(333 )     
3,249     $ 

815       
2,453       
3,268     $ 

613  
(67 )
546  

108   
443   
551   

2020 

2019 

7         
6         

3.76%     
3.80%     

3.72%
4.01% 

(in thousands) 
Year Ending December 31, 

2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
Thereafter 
r

Total future minimum lease payments 
Less remaining imputed interest 

Total 

Operating 
Lease 

Finance
Lease  

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

6,405    $ 
5,384      
4,406      
3,773      
2,491      
6,407      
28,866    $ 
(3,321)     
25,545    $ 

914 
851 
578 
492 
325 
387  
3,547 
(279)
3,268 

9.  Debt:

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

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

t
Less current amount

t
Total long-term debt 

As of December 31, 

2020 

2019 

  $ 

  $ 

160,609    $ 
160,609      
-      
160,609    $ 

192,925   
192,925   
-   
192,925  

On December 14, 2020, the Company amended its Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement and entered 
into its existing Joinder and Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the ABL 
Credit Facility). The amendment includes the assets acquired from Action Stainless on December 14, 2020. The Company’s 
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 

aa

Page 62 

 
    
 
  
  
    
  
       
         
 
    
    
  
  
     
 
     
 
    
  
    
 
  
      
         
 
  
    
    
    
  
  
  
 
    
  
      
        
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
 
    
    
 
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
indebtedness;  (vii)  consolidate,  merge  or  transfer  all  or  substantially  all  of  the  Company’
s  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 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, 2020) or 10.0% of the aggregate borrowing
base  ($28.5  million  at  December  31,  2020)  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, 2020, the Company was in compliance with its covenants and had approximately $120.7 million of 
availability under the ABL Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, $0.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively, of bank financing fees were 
included in “Prepaid expenses and other” and “Other long-term assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
are included in “Interest and
m
The financing fees are being amortized over the five-year term of the ABL Credit Facility and
other expense on debt” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). 

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. 

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)
ABL Credit Facility 
Total principal paya ments 

  $
  $ 

2021 

2022 
160,609    $ 
160,609    $ 

-    $ 
-    $ 

2023 

2024 

2025 

Total 

-    $ 
-    $ 

-    $ 
-    $ 

-    $ 
-    $ 

160,609 
160,609  

The overall effective interest rate for all debt, exclusive of deferred financing fees and deferred commitment fees, amounted
to 3.25%, 4.0% and 3.7% in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest paid totaled $7.0 million, $11.0 million and $10.2 
million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Average total debt outstanding was $188.4 
million, $257.6 million and $275.3 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

10. Derivative Instruments:

Metals swaps

During 2020, 2019 and 2018, 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. 
There were no outstanding metal swaps at December 31, 2020. The Company entered into the swaps to mitigate its customers’ 
risk of volatility in the price of metals. The swaps are settled with the brokers at maturity. The economic benefit or loss arising 
from the changes in fair value of the swaps is contractually passed through to the customer. The primary risk associated with
the metals swaps is the ability of customers or third-party brokers to honor their agreements with the Company related to 
derivative instruments. If the customer or third-party brokers are unable to honor their agreements, the Company’s risk of 
loss is the fair value of the metals swaps. 

Page 63 

  
 
 
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
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  (Loss).  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 (Loss). The cumulative 
change in fair value of the metals swaps that had not yet settled as of December 31, 2019 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, 2020 and 2019 and had a fair value of $5.6 million and $3.0 million, 
respectively. 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 (Loss).

There was no net impact from the nickel swaps or embedded customer derivative agreements to the Company’s Consolidated 
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. The table below shows
the total impact to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
through “Net income (loss)” 
f
of the derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

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

Net Gain (Loss) Recognized
2019 

2020 

2018 

  $ 

  $ 

(1,520)   $ 
-      
55      
(55)     
(1,520)   $ 

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

- 
(5)
(79) 
79  
(5)

11.  Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities:

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 2020 and 2019, 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,  2020.  Following  is  a  description  of  the  valuation
methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2020: 

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.

Page 64 

  
  
 
  
    
    
 
    
    
    
  
  
 
Fixed rate interest rate hedge – 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. 

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

(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, 2020 

   Level 1       Level 2       Level 3       

Total  

  $ 
  $

-    $
-    $

5,620    $ 
5,620    $

-    $
-    $

5,620 
5,620  

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

   Level 1       Level 2       Level 3       

Total  

  $ 
  $

  $ 

  $

-    $
-    $

-    $
-      
-    $

4    $ 
4    $

4    $ 
3,041      
3,045    $

-    $
-    $

-    $
-      
-    $

4 
4  

4 
3,041 
3,045  

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  $160.6  million  and  $192.9  million  at  Decem
m
ber  31,  2020  and  2019,
respectively. Because the ABL Credit Facility was amended on December 14, 2020, management believes that its carrying
value approximates fair value. 

aa

12. Equitytt  Plans:

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 (RSUs), 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 RSUs, to each non-employee 
director as part of their annual compensation. The annual awards for 2020 and 2019 per director were $80,000. Subject to the 
terms of the Incentive 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 Incentive 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.  New  awards  under  the  Incentive  Plan  for  2020  were  suspended  as  part  of 
management’s COVID-19 related cost reduction efforts. 

Page 65 

 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
  
      
        
        
        
 
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
Under the Incentive 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, they 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
aa
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, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively,

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

  For the years ended December 31,
2018 

2019 

2020 

  $

1,265    $
1,024      

965    $ 
704      

643 
471 

All  pre-tax  charges  related  to  RSUs  were  included  in  the  caption  “Administrative  and  general”  on  the  accompanying 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The total compensation cost of non-vested awards totaled $1.7 
million and the weighted average remaining vesting period is 2 years as of December 31, 2020.

The following table summarizes the activity related to RSUs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 
2018: 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Weighted
Average 
Estimated 
Fair Value    

Number of 
Shares 

Weighted
Average 
Estimated
Fair Value     

Number of 
Shares 

Number of 
Shares 

Beginning balance 
Granted 
Converted into shares 
Forfeited 
Outstanding at December 31 
Vested at December 31 

636,086    $ 
70,588      
(94,161)     
(1,973)     
610,540    $ 
375,692    $ 

19.25      
11.92      
20.27      
18.14      
18.25     
18.88      

527,546    $ 
207,521      
(96,845)     
(2,136)     
636,086    $ 
419,721    $ 

20.65      
16.36      
20.59      
22.80      
19.25      
20.37      

469,069    $ 
84,283      
(19,097)     
(6,709)     
527,546    $ 
436,069    $ 

Weighted 
Average
Estimated 
Fair Value  
20.11  
22.33  
16.09  
16.98 
20.65  
20.42 

Of the RSUs granted in 2019 and 2018, 62,229 and 38,052, respectively, were used to fund supplemental executive retirement 
plan (SERP) contributions. No RSUs were used to fund the SERP in 2020. 

13. Commitments and Contingencies:

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. 

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. 

Page 66 

 
  
  
   
    
  
    
  
 
 
  
 
   
   
 
  
 
    
   
   
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
At December 31, 2020, approximately 269 of the hourly plant personnel are represented by nine separate collective bargaining 
units.   The  Indianapolis,  Indiana  union  agreement  expired  on  January  29,  2021.   The  employees  covered  by  the  union 
agreement continue to work as the new contract is negotiated.  The table below shows the expiration dates of the collective 
bargaining agreements. 

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

Expiration date
Januaryrr  29, 2021 
Mayaa  25, 2021 
August 12, 2021
March 31, 2022 
August 31, 2022
November 30, 2024 
March 4, 2025
Maya  31, 2025 
September 30, 2025 

14. Income Taxes:

II

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) 

 $

As of December 31, 
2019 

2018 

2020 

321   $ 
103     
59     
483     
(1,799)    
(1,316)  $ 

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

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

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 credit losses 
Accrued expenses 
Lease liabilities 
Interest rate hedge 
r
Other 

Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance 

Valuation allowance 
Total deferred tax assets 

Deferred tax liabilities: 

LIFO reserve 
Property and equipment 
Lease right of use assets 
Intangibles 

Total deferred tax liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities, net 

2020 

2019 

  $ 

  $ 

1,529    $
3,510      
440      
5,778      
7,348      
1,405      
390      
20,400      
(2,302)     
18,098      

(3,528)     
(13,562)     
(7,294)     
(3,532)     
(27,916)     
(9,818)   $

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)

Page 67 

  
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
     
       
       
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
 
   
 
      
        
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
      
        
 
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
The deferred tax liability decreased by $645 thousand related to the fixed interest rate hedge, which is recorded in “Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). 

f

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

(in thousands) 
Balance as of Januaryrr  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 

  $ 

  $ 

2020 

2019 

2018 

28    $ 
-      
8      
(8)     
28    $ 

27    $ 
-      
10      
(9)     
28    $ 

40  
(12) 
9  
(10)
27 

It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will not materially change in the next twelve months. The tax 
years 2017 through 2019 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.

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

t

U.S. federal statutoryrr  rate in effect 
t
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit 
t
Meals and entertainment 
Tax credits 
Stock based compensation 
All other, net 
t
Effective income tax rate 

2020 

2019 

2018 

21.0%   
1.0%   
(1.8)%   
2.0%   
(3.4)%   
0.2%   
19.0%   

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

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

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted and signed into law.
The CARES Act, among other items, contains a modification on the limitation of business interest for tax years beginning in 
2019 and 2020. The modification to Section 163(j) increases the allowable business interest deduction from 30% of adjusted
taxable income to 50% of adjusted taxable income. This modification increases the allowable interest expense deduction of 
the Company and results in less taxable income. As a result of the CARES Act, it is anticipated that the Company will not
have  any  disallowed  interest  expense  in  2020  for  federal  tax  purposes.  On  December  27,  2020  the  Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2021 (“the Appropriations Act”) was signed into law. The Appropriations Act, among other things, 
includes modifications to the meals and entertainment deduction, increased limitations on charitable deductions for corporate 
taxpayers, and enhancements of expiring tax “extender” provisions. The Company has completed its assessment of the impact 
of the legislation, and there is no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

Income  taxes  paid  in  2020,  2019  and  2018  totaled  $1  thousand,  $0.5  million  and  $11.3  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. The valuation allowances recorded as of December
31, 2020 and 2019 were related to certain state net operating losses and totaled $2.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively. 

Page 68 

  
    
   
  
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
SS

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

gn  and Earnin

gg
gs Per Share:

(in thousands, except per share data) 

For the years ended December 31,
2019

2020

2018

Weighted average basic shares outstanding 
Assumed exercise of stock options and issuance of stock awards     
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 
Net income (loss) 

11,447      
-      
11,447      
(5,595)   $ 
(0.49)   $ 
(0.49)   $ 

11,509      
-      
11,509      
3,856    $ 
0.34    $ 
0.34    $ 

11,432 
8  
11,440  
33,759 
2.95  
2.95  

  $ 
  $ 
  $ 

gs (loss) per share 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share 

16. Stock Repurchase Pro

SS

go ram:

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,  2020)  or  (ii)  to  maintain 
availability equal to or greater than 15.0% of the aggregate revolver commitments ($71.3 million as of December 31, 2020)
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. As of December 31, 2020, 360,212 shares remain authorized for repurchase under the program. 

f

During 2020 and 2019, the Company repurchased 15,000 and 109,505 shares, for an aggregate cost of $0.1 million and $1.5
million, respectively. There were no shares repurchased during 2018.

17. SeSS ge ment In
ff
gg

fn ormation:

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  segment  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 flat products 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 69 

  
  
  
      
        
        
 
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
The following table provides financial information by segment and reconciles the Company’s operating income by segment 
to the consolidated income (loss) before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

(in thousands) 
Net sales 

Carbon flat products 
Specialty metals flat products 
Tubular and pipe products 

Total net sales 

Depreciation and amortization 

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 

t
Other loss, net 

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

Income (loss) before income taxes 

  $ 

For the Year Ended December 31,  
2019
2020

2018

  $ 

690,273    $
313,190      
230,681      

926,903    $ 1,073,292 
343,479 
363,634      
298,310 
288,503      
  $  1,234,144    $ 1,579,040    $ 1,715,081 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

11,941    $
1,951      
5,478      
120      
19,490    $

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

(10,289)   $
11,666      
9,019      
(9,823)     
573    $
(73)     
500      
7,411      
(6,911)   $

(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 

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

Assets 

Flat products 
Tubular and pipe products 
Corporate 

Total assets 

  For the Year Ended December 31,
2018 

2020 

2019 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

7,589    $
2,214      
-      
9,803    $

6,996    $
3,169      
-      
10,165    $

19,985  
5,242  
488  
25,715  

404,269    $
235,516      
820      
640,605    $

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

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, 2020, 2019 and 2018. 

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. 

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

Page 70 

  
 
 
  
      
        
        
  
    
    
      
        
        
 
    
    
    
      
        
        
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
    
    
  
      
        
        
  
    
    
      
        
        
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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.  For the Action Stainless’ 401(k) retirement plans, 
the Company matched 100% of the first 3% of eligible compensation and one-half of the next 2% of each eligible employee’s
contribution, limited to 4% 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. 

f

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, 2025. CTI contributions to the Multiemployer Plan were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Retirement  plan  expense,  which  includes  all  Company  401(k),  SERP  defined  contributions  and  the  Multiemployer  Plan, 
amounted to $2.0 million, $3.0 million and $3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 
As part of the COVID-19 related cost reduction efforts, the Company suspended contributions into the SERP for 2020.

The fair values of the Company's SERP assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $7.6 and $4.9 million, respectively, 
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.  Related-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 71 

  
  
  
  
 
 
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(in thousands) 

Description 
Year Ended December 31, 2018 
Allowance for credit losses 
Tax valuation reserve 

Year Ended December 31, 2019 
Allowance for credit losses 
Tax valuation reserve 

Year Ended December 31, 2020 
Allowance for credit losses 
Tax valuation reserve 

Additions 

Balance at
Beginning 
of
Period 

Charged to
Costs and
Expenses     

Charged to
Other 

Accounts      Deductions     

Balance at
End 
of Period   

  $ 
  $ 

  $ 
  $ 

  $
  $

1,610    $ 
2,379    $ 

575    $ 
-    $ 

1,940    $ 
2,055    $ 

590    $ 
160    $ 

-    $ 
-    $ 

-    $ 
-    $ 

(245)   $ 
(324)   $ 

1,940  
2,055  

(565)   $ 
-    $ 

1,965  
2,215 

1,965    $
2,215    $

1,154    $
87    $

-    $
-    $

(1,393)   $
-    $

1,726 
2,302 

Page 72 

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

  $

  $
  $

  $

  $
  $

2020

Net sales 
Operating income (loss) (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      

  1st quarter    

2nd
quarter 

3rd
quarter 

    4th quarter      Year 

354,380    $  248,296    $
(7,485)     
(9,402)     
(6,454)   $
(0.56)   $
11,446      
(0.56)   $
11,446      

3,051      
795      
593    $ 
0.05    $ 
11,444      
0.05    $ 
11,459      

299,921    $
(363)     
(2,081)     
(1,520)   $
(0.13)   $
11,452      
(0.13)   $
11,452      

331,547    $  1,234,144 
573  
(6,911) 
(5,595)
(0.49) 
11,447  
(0.49)
11,447 

5,370      
3,777      
1,786    $ 
0.16    $ 
11,451      
0.16    $ 
11,475      

Market price of common stock: (b) 

High 
Low 

2019

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      

  $

18.05    $ 
8.44      

13.95    $
7.74      

12.64    $
9.68      

16.49    $ 
10.84      

18.05  
7.74  

  1st quarter    

2nd
quarter 

3rd
quarter 

    4th quarter      Year 

445,919    $  429,151    $
5,940      
2,707      
2,081    $
0.18    $
11,415      
0.18    $
11,415      

6,074      
2,846      
2,074    $ 
0.18    $ 
11,488      
0.18    $ 
11,488      

384,230    $
3,581      
1,024      
591    $
0.05    $
11,420      
0.05    $
11,420      

319,740    $  1,579,040 
16,610  
5,289  
3,856 
0.34 
11,509  
0.34 
11,509 

1,015      
(1,288)     
(890)   $ 
(0.08)   $ 
11,416      
(0.08)   $ 
11,416      

Market price of common stock: (b) 

High 
Low 

  $

20.24    $ 
14.00      

18.24    $
12.09      

16.28    $
9.99      

18.41    $ 
13.53      

20.24  
9.99  

(a)  Operating income (loss)  in 2020 includes $1,517 of LIFO income related to the Company's tubular and pipe products

segment. 

(b)  Represents the high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market. 
(c)  Operating income (loss)  in 2019 includes $3,669 of LIFO income related to the Company's tubular and pipe products

segment. 

Page 73 

    
  
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
    
    
    
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
      
        
        
        
        
 
    
    
  
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
    
    
    
  
      
        
        
        
        
 
      
        
        
        
        
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
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, 2020 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, 2020, 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, 2020 that 
have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None. 

Page 74 

  
  
  
  
 
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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 

Page 75 

 
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 (Lo
f
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

m
ss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 

(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

Description 

Reference

Exhibit 
3.1(i) 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation 

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 
Januaryr  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).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.28 to
Registrant's Form 10-K filed with the Commission 
on February 21, 2020
(Commission File No. 0-23320).

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 party
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 party 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 party thereto.
Description of Securities

y

y

Page 76 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Description 

Reference

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.29 to
Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the Commission on 
December 14, 2020 (Commission File No. 0-23320).

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
Januaryr  5, 2006 (Commission File No. 0-23320).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to 
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. 

Exhibit 
4.29 

10.8 * 

10.9 * 

Joinder and Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated 
Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2020, by 
and among Olympic Steel, Inc., Olympic Steel Lafayette, Inc., 
Olympic Steel Minneapolis, Inc., Olympic Steel Iowa, Inc., Oly 
Steel NC, Inc., IS Acquisition, Inc., Chicago Tube and Iron
Company, B Metals, Inc., MCI, Inc, and ACT Acquisition, Inc, the 
lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A.
as Agent for the Lenders.
Form of Management Retention Agreement for Senior Executive
Officers of the Company

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

10.20 * 

Olympic Steel, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

10.21 * 

Amended and Restated Olympic Steel, Inc. 2007 Omnibus  
Incentive Plan 

Page 77 

  
  
 
 
Description 

Reference

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 10.32 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).
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 10.1 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 

Exhibit 
10.30 * 

10.32 * 

10.33 * 

10.34 * 

10.37 * 

10.40 * 

10.41 * 

21 
23.1 

23.2 

24 
31.1 

31.2 

32.1 

32.2 

101.INS 

104 

Olympic Steel, Inc. Senior Manager Compensation Plan

Donald McNeeley Employment Agreement effective as of March 
31, 2016

Richard T. Marabito Employment Agreement effective as of 
December 21, 2018

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

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

Richard A. Manson Employment Agreement effective as of 
December 21, 2018

Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2020, between 
Olympic Steel, Inc. and Andrew S. Greiff

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
The following materials from Olympic Steel’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2020, formatted in 
Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the 
Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of 
Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iii) the Consolidated Statements of 
Cash Flows, (iv) the Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow
Information, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ 
Equity, (vi) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements 
and (vii) document and entity information.
Cover Pager Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL 
document).

y

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

t

Page 78 

 
 
  
  
  
 
 
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

Page 79 

  
  
 
 
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

Februaryrr  25, 2021 

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  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021 

Februaryrr  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021 

Februaryr  25, 2021  

Februaryr  25, 2021  

/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) 

/s/ Michael D. Siegal * 

   Michael D. Siegal, Executive Chairman of 

the Board

/s/ Arthur F. Anton * 

   Arthur F. Anton, Lead 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/ Richard P. Stovskykk  * 
   Richard P. Stovskykk , 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   

 Februaryrr  25, 2021 

Page 80 

 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
    
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
                             
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
       
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
    
Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return

The peer group consists of Worthington Industries, Inc., Ryerson Holding Corp., Friedman Industries, Inc., Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., and A.M. Castle & Co.

[This page intentionally left blank]

CORPORATE OFFICERS

Michael D. Siegal
(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)

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, 68
(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)
Olympic Steel

Richard T. Marabito, 57
(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, 68
Senior Advisor, 
Olympic Steel

Arthur F. Anton, 63
Lead Independent Director 

The Honorable Dirk A. Kempthorne, 69
President,  
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:46)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:83)

Idalene F. Kesner, Ph.D., 63
Dean,
(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:56)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:46)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)

Michael G. Rippey, 63
(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.

Richard P. Stovsky, 62
(cid:53)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:57)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:15)
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Vanessa L. Whiting, 61
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
Phone: (216) 292-3800
Fax: (216) 682-4065
www.olysteel.com

Stock Listing
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ 
(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
(800) 446-2617

2021 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held in a 
virtual format on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
For more information on how to attend and participate,
please see our 2021 Proxy Statement, available at 
olysteel.com/investor-relations/.

Independent Auditors
(cid:42)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:47)(cid:51)
1375 E. 9th Street, Suite 1500
Cleveland, OH 44114

Legal Counsel
Jones Day
North Point 
901 Lakeside Avenue
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)
Phone: (216) 672-0522
Email: ir@olysteel.com
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:3)
(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:21)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)
writing to Investor Relations at the Company’s Corporate 
Headquarters (address indicated above).

This product
is made from
recycled paper