Edgar Filing: UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS INC

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Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2010

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

For the Transition Period from to

Commission File Number 000-25032

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY

PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE

25-1724540

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

600 Mayer Street

Bridgeville, PA 15017

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(412) 257-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files. Yes ¨ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO x

As of November 1, 2010, there were 6,791,652 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issued and outstanding.

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (the “Company”) with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements looking forward in time, including statements regarding future growth, cost savings, expanded production capacity, broader product lines, greater capacity to meet customer quality reliability, price and delivery needs, enhanced competitive posture, effect of new accounting pronouncements and no material financial impact from litigation or contingencies are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The Company’s actual results may be affected by a wide range of factors including future compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the concentrated nature of the Company’s customer base to date and the Company’s dependence on its significant customers; the receipt, pricing and timing of future customer orders; changes in product mix; the limited number of raw material and energy suppliers and significant fluctuations that may occur in raw material and energy prices; the Company’s reliance on the continuing operation of critical manufacturing equipment; risks associated with labor matters; the Company’s ongoing requirement for continued compliance with safety and environmental regulations; the ultimate outcome of the Company’s current and future litigation matters; and the impact of various economic, credit and market risk uncertainties. Many of these factors are not within the Company’s control and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein. Any unfavorable change in the foregoing or other factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the Company’s control.


	DESCRIPTION	PAGE NO.
PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations		1

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)		1

	Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets		2

	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flow		3

	Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements		4

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		8

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		13

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		13

PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		13

Item 1A.	Risk Factors		14

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		14

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		14

Item 4.	Reserved		14

Item 5.	Other Information		14

Item 6.	Exhibits		14

SIGNATURES			15

CERTIFICATIONS

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Information)

(Unaudited)


	For the Three-month period ended September 30,						For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Net sales	$	51,870		$	25,286		$	137,840		$	98,235
Cost of products sold		41,555			22,571			112,909			94,527
Selling and administrative expenses		4,001			2,258			9,952			9,101


Operating income (loss)		6,314			457			14,979			(5,393	)
Interest expense		(126	)		(19	)		(334	)		(70	)
Other income		10			71			11			136


Income (loss) before taxes		6,198			509			14,656			(5,327	)
Income tax provision (benefit)		2,107			197			4,983			(1,413	)


Net income (loss)	$	4,091		$	312		$	9,673		$	(3,914	)


Earnings (loss) per share – Basic	$	0.60		$	0.05		$	1.43		$	(0.58	)


Earnings (loss) per share – Diluted	$	0.60		$	0.05		$	1.41		$	(0.58	)


Weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding
Basic		6,785,753			6,769,086			6,777,915			6,751,036
Diluted		6,856,951			6,818,040			6,850,369			6,751,036

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

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Three-month period ended September 30,						Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Net income (loss)	$	4,091		$	312		$	9,673		$	(3,914	)
Net change in fair market value of:
Interest rate swap		(57	)		(102	)		(228	)		(189	)
Nickel hedge contracts		—			148			(94	)		148
Tax effect		21			(16	)		118			16


Comprehensive income (loss)	$	4,055		$	342		$	9,469		$	(3,939	)

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

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)


	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
	(Unaudited)			(Derived from audited statements)

ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	41,153		$	42,349
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,045 and $2,132, respectively)		29,798			17,028
Inventory, net		57,885			41,322
Other current assets		5,496			9,344


Total current assets		134,332			110,043
Property, plant and equipment, net		70,674			70,085
Other assets		1,494			1,586


Total assets	$	206,500		$	181,714


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable	$	14,943		$	7,783
Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance		4,059			734
Accrued employment costs		5,097			1,178
Current portion of long-term debt		2,834			2,223
Other current liabilities		269			553


Total current liabilities		27,202			12,471
Long-term debt		8,697			10,823
Deferred taxes		14,975			14,049
Other liabilities		373			145


Total liabilities		51,247			37,488


Commitments and contingencies		—			—

Stockholders’ equity
Senior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share; 1,980,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding		—			—
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 7,071,102 and 7,043,899 shares issued		7			7
Additional paid-in capital		40,595			38,776
Retained earnings		116,807			107,134
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(237	)		(32	)
Treasury Stock at cost; 282,850 and 270,795 common shares held		(1,919	)		(1,659	)


Total stockholders’ equity		155,253			144,226


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	206,500		$	181,714

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

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)


	For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010			2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	9,673		$	(3,914	)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		4,055			3,583
Deferred income tax		945			1,015
Share-based compensation expense		1,476			766
Tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		(99	)		(86	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net		(12,770	)		17,152
Inventory, net		(16,563	)		20,678
Trade accounts payable		7,160			(12,518	)
Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance payable		3,325			345
Accrued employment costs		3,919			(1,492	)
Accrued income taxes		3,730			—
Other, net		16			60


Net cash provided by operating activities		4,867			25,589


Cash flow from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		17			60
Capital expenditures		(5,148	)		(10,304	)


Net cash used in investing activities		(5,131	)		(10,244	)


Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt proceeds		—			12,000
State grant funding the purchase of new equipment		500			—
Long-term debt repayments		(1,515	)		(300	)
Deferred financing costs		—			(84	)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock		244			313
Purchase of treasury stock		(260	)		—
Tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements		99			86


Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(932	)		12,015


Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(1,196	)		27,360
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		42,349			14,812


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	41,153		$	42,172


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	$	321		$	51
Income taxes paid, net of (refunds) received	$	245		$	(1,275	)

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

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. Accordingly, these statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements, and notes thereto, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited, consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments, all of which were of a normal, recurring nature, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and the consolidated results of operations and of cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.

Note 2 – Common Stock

The reconciliation of the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding utilized for the earnings per common share computations are as follows:


	For the Three-month period ended September 30,				For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding		6,785,753		6,769,086		6,777,915		6,751,036
Effect of dilutive securities		71,198		48,954		72,454		—


Weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, as adjusted		6,856,951		6,818,040		6,850,369		6,751,036

The Company had 35,129 common stock equivalents outstanding for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 which were not included in the common share computation for earnings (loss) per share as the common stock equivalents were anti-dilutive.

Note 3 – Inventory

The major classes of inventory are as follows:


*(dollars in thousands)*	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
Raw materials and supplies	$	7,554		$	5,585
Semi-finished and finished steel products		46,602			32,969
Inventory reserves		(803	)		(1,152	)
Operating materials		4,532			3,920


Total inventory, net	$	57,885		$	41,322

Note 4 – Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:


*(dollars in thousands)*	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
Land and land improvements	$	2,683		$	2,603
Buildings		15,536			14,479
Machinery and equipment		90,062			86,276
Construction in progress		3,986			4,284


		112,267			107,642
Accumulated depreciation		(41,593	)		(37,557	))


Property, plant and equipment, net	$	70,674		$	70,085

Note 5 – Long-Term Debt

In February 2009, the Company executed an unsecured credit agreement with PNC Bank which provides for a $12.0 million term loan (“Term Loan”) scheduled to mature on February 28, 2014 and a $15.0 million revolving credit facility with a term expiring on June 30, 2012. There was no balance outstanding under the revolver at September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009. Quarterly Term Loan principal payments of $600,000 began in May 2010. Interest on both facilities is based on short-term market rates, which may be adjusted if the Company does not maintain certain financial ratios. PNC Bank also charges a commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility of 0.25%, provided certain financial ratios are maintained. The Company is required to be in compliance with three financial covenants: a minimum leverage ratio, a minimum debt service ratio and minimum tangible net worth. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at September 30, 2010.

The Company maintains two separate loan agreements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Commerce, aggregating to $600,000. A $200,000 15-year loan bears interest at 5% per annum with the term ending in 2011, and a $400,000 20-year loan bears interest at 6% per annum with the term ending in 2016. Dunkirk Specialty Steel issued two ten-year, 5% interest-bearing notes payable to the New York Job Development Authority for the combined amount of $3.0 million, which mature in 2012. The remaining unpaid balance of all government loans was $0.7 million at September 30, 2010 and $1.0 million at December 31, 2009.

Note 6 – Derivatives and Hedging Activities

To manage interest rate risk, the Company has entered into an interest rate swap that effectively converts the floating-rate Term Loan into a fixed-rate debt instrument. The interest rate swap agreement minimizes the impact of interest rate changes on the Company’s floating-rate debt and is designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of the change in the fair value of the interest rate swap is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (within stockholders’ equity). The Company utilizes the interest rate swap to maintain a fixed-rate of 4.515% on the Term Loan until its maturity on February 28, 2014. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases ratably over its term, as does the Term Loan, and was $10.8 million at September 30, 2010.

In July 2009, the Company entered into nickel futures contracts to minimize the price change impact of anticipated purchases of nickel over the life of a customer short-term supply agreement which was designated as and accounted for as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of the change in the fair value of the nickel hedge agreements was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The last nickel hedge contract expired on March 31, 2010.

The location and amounts recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for the derivative instrument are as follows:


(dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
Other current assets	$	—		$	94
Other assets		136			53
Other current liabilities		—			(34	)
Other liabilities		(373	)		(145	)

Stockholders’ equity, other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(237	)	$	(32	)

Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements

The Company adopted “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. It also defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy prescribed by the standard contains three levels as follows:

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

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

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

The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability. The interest rate swap is recorded at fair value based on Level 2 quoted LIBOR swap rates adjusted for credit and non-performance risk. The nickel futures contracts were recorded at fair value based on Level 2 quoted futures rates. Financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable, short-term debt and other current liabilities. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximated fair value at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 due to their short-term maturities. The fair value of the Term Loan approximates the carrying amount due to the interest rate being based on one-month floating Libor rates. The carrying value of $731,000 of long-term government debt instruments at September 30, 2010 had a weighted average maturity of 15 months and approximates fair value based on current borrowing rates available for financings with similar terms and maturities.

Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies

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

At September 30, 2010, the Company maintains reserves that it believes are adequate for outstanding product claims, workers compensation claims, and legal actions.

Note 9 – Income Taxes

The tax rate used for interim periods is the estimated annual effective tax rate, based on the current estimate of full year results, except that taxes related to specific events, if any, are recorded in the interim period in which they occur.

At June 30, 2009, the Company recorded a $742,000 negative tax adjustment primarily for the reconciliation of tax balances to 2008 federal and state income tax returns filed. Approximately $200,000 of this adjustment was the cumulative adjustment related to interim period recognition of fiscal year 2009 tax expense (benefit), as discussed in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes, 270 Interim Reporting, and reduced the estimated annual effective income tax rate utilized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2009 from 40.3% to 37.2% at June 30, 2009, which had no impact on the annual effective tax rate. In addition, the Company determined that $370,000 of this adjustment related to prior periods and was not considered material to any prior period or to 2009 that would require the restatement of prior period financial statements. The remaining $172,000 of adjustments consisted of $48,000 relating to 2009 tax provision-to-tax return adjustments to properly report state tax credits, and the remaining $124,000 related to other timing differences, primarily state bonus depreciation adjustments.

The provision for income taxes is based on the estimated income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2010. The effective income tax (benefit) rate calculated based on ordinary operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 34.0% as compared to tax rates of 38.7% and (26.5%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The Company is expected to benefit from the Domestic Production Activities Deduction in the current tax year due to anticipated taxable income. No such deduction was available in the prior year due to a net operating loss. The 2009 federal net operating loss was carried back and applied to prior tax years; the state losses were carried forward. The December 31, 2009 state tax benefit included state net operating loss carryforwards of $281,000, expiring in 2029, currently expected to be utilized in 2010 and 2011. The Company had $1.9 million of state tax credit carryforwards at both September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, attributable to New York Empire Zone tax credits with no expiration date.

Note 10 – Business Segments

The Company is comprised of two business segments: Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, which consists of the Bridgeville and Titusville facilities, and Dunkirk Specialty Steel, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary located in Dunkirk, New York. The Universal Stainless & Alloy Products manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, treating and hot and cold rolling of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. Dunkirk Specialty Steel’s manufacturing process involves hot rolling and finishing of specialty steel bar, rod and wire products. The segment data are as follows:


*(dollars in thousands)*	For the Three-month period ended September 30,						For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
Net sales:
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products	$	46,210		$	21,669		$	127,160		$	85,233
Dunkirk Specialty Steel		16,833			8,486			41,180			30,074
Intersegment		(11,173	)		(4,869	)		(30,500	)		(17,072	)


Consolidated net sales	$	51,870		$	25,286		$	137,840		$	98,235


Operating income:
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products	$	4,365		$	60		$	13,085		$	(2,905	)
Dunkirk Specialty Steel		1,353			397			2,956			(2,488	)
Intersegment		596			—			(1,062	)		—


Total operating income (loss)	$	6,314		$	457		$	14,979		$	(5,393	)


Interest expense and other financing costs:
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products	$	117		$	6		$	304		$	24
Dunkirk Specialty Steel		9			13			30			46


Total interest expense and other financing costs	$	126		$	19		$	334		$	70


Other income
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products	$	7		$	8		$	8		$	56
Dunkirk Specialty Steel		3			63			3			80


Total other income	$	10		$	71		$	11		$	136


*(dollars in thousands)*	September 30, 2010		December 31, 2009
Total assets:
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products	$	118,226	$	96,047
Dunkirk Specialty Steel		40,210		31,133
Corporate assets		48,064		54,534


Total Assets	$	206,500	$	181,714

Item 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Items Affecting Comparability of Results

The Company recorded net income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 of $4.1 million and net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 of $9.7 million. The 2010 three-month and nine-month results include a favorable inventory adjustment of $976,000 for additional metal recovered as a result of a capital project streamlining the scrap loading area, and a $647,000 increase in stock option compensation as a result of changes in estimated forfeiture rates and to fully expense vested options.

The Company recorded net income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 of $312,000 and a net loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 of $3.9 million. The 2009 nine-month results includes a $742,000 negative tax adjustment primarily for the reconciliation of tax balances at June 30, 2009 to the 2008 tax returns prepared during the three-month period ended June 30, 2009 and the following unusual charges (totaling $6.0 million pre-tax) recorded during the three-month period ended March 31, 2009, primarily due to the deepening recession and economic uncertainty:

•

$1.9 million increase to the bad debt reserve due to the inability of a privately held service center customer to pay amounts owed on 2008 business and a related $0.5 million increase to inventory reserves;

•

$1.5 million due to a decline in raw material values and the consumption of high cost material during the quarter;

•

$1.0 million write-down of stock inventory;

•

$0.9 million attributed to the reduction of operating levels; and

•

$0.2 million resulting from a 20% reduction in salaried employees.

Results of Operations

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., headquartered in Bridgeville, Pa., manufactures and markets a broad line of semi-finished and finished specialty steels, including stainless steel, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. The Company’s products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, OEMs and wire redrawers.

An analysis of the Company’s operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:


(dollars in thousands)	For the Three-month period ended September 30,				For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Net sales:
Stainless steel	$	39,546	$	18,622	$	100,293	$	78,032
Tool steel		7,425		1,136		22,463		6,028
High-strength low alloy steel		2,579		2,565		7,576		7,675
High-temperature alloy steel		1,150		1,488		4,438		4,383
Conversion services		637		277		1,829		873
Other		533		1,198		1,241		1,244

Total net sales		51,870		25,286		137,840		98,235
Cost of products sold		41,555		22,571		112,909		94,527
Selling and administrative expenses		4,001		2,258		9,952		9,101

Operating income (loss)	$	6,314	$	457	$	14,979	$	(5,393	)

Three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the similar periods in 2009

Net sales for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 increased $26.6 million and $39.6 million, respectively, as compared to the similar periods in 2009. The increase for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 is primarily due to the increase in consolidated tons shipped of 111% and 45%, respectively. The increase in shipments is attributed to improved economic conditions and market demand which continued to recover in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to 2009. During 2009, weaker economic conditions resulted in “destocking” in the service center industry to bring inventory levels in line with significantly lower end-user demand. The increase in sales due to increased shipment volume was $24.0 million and $36.7 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2009.

Market Segment Information


(dollars in thousands)	For the Three-month period ended September 30,				For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Net sales:
Service centers	$	25,592	$	8,393	$	66,597	$	39,042
Forgers		8,533		7,778		31,644		31,169
Rerollers		11,560		1,940		24,112		9,904
Original equipment manufacturers		3,788		4,980		9,786		13,176
Wire redrawers		1,391		720		2,812		2,827
Conversion services		641		277		1,833		873
Miscellaneous		365		1,198		1,056		1,244


Total net sales	$	51,870	$	25,286	$	137,840	$	98,235


Tons Shipped		11,758		5,562		32,008		22,010

Cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales, was 80.1% and 89.3% for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and was 81.9% and 96.2% for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The results for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 include a $976,000 favorable inventory adjustment in 2010, as described above, and $3.9 million of the 2009 unusual charges outlined above, representing 0.7% and 4.0% of net sales, respectively. The improved proportion of cost of sales to sales in 2010 is also attributable to fixed operating costs being spread over higher production volumes as a result of increased product orders. The third quarter 2010 gross margin of $10.3 million was 19.1% of sales compared to 10.7% in the 2009 third quarter. The third quarter 2010 included a favorable inventory adjustment of $976,000, as described above. Excluding this adjustment, our gross margin was 17.9% of sales for the quarter. For the first nine months of 2010, the gross margin of $24.9 million was 18.1% of sales compared to 3.8% for the same period of 2009.

Selling and administrative expenses increased by $1.7 million and $900,000 in the three-month period and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the similar periods in 2009. The increase of $1.7 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 is due to an increase in stock option compensation expense as a result of changes in estimated forfeiture rates and to fully expense vested options, and an increase in accrued incentive compensation. The increase in expense recorded in the nine-month period is primarily due to an increase in accrued incentive compensation and an increase in stock option compensation as a result of changes in estimated forfeiture rates and to fully expense vested options which was partially offset by $2.1 million of the unusual charges incurred in the 2009 first quarter, outlined above.

At June 30, 2009, the Company recorded a $742,000 negative tax adjustment primarily for the reconciliation of tax balances to 2008 federal and state income tax returns. Approximately $200,000 of this adjustment is the cumulative adjustment related to interim period recognition of fiscal year 2009 tax expense (benefit), as discussed in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes, 270 Interim Reporting, and reduced the effective income tax rate utilized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2009 from 40.3% to 37.2% at June 30, 2009, which had no impact to the annual effective tax rate. In addition, the Company has determined that $370,000 of this adjustment related to prior periods and was not considered material to any prior period or to 2009 that would require the restatement of prior period financial statements. The remaining $172,000 of adjustments consisted of $48,000 relating to 2009 tax provision-to-tax return adjustments to properly report state tax credits, and the remaining $124,000 related to other timing differences, primarily state bonus depreciation adjustments. The effective income tax (benefit) rate in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 was 34% as compared to a benefit of (37.2)% before discrete items for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009.

The provision for income taxes is based on the estimated income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2010. The effective income tax rate calculated based on ordinary operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 34.0% as compared to tax rates of 38.7% and (26.5%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The Company is expected to benefit from the Domestic Production Activities Deduction in the current tax year due to anticipated taxable income. No such deduction was available in the prior year due to a net operating loss. The 2009 federal net operating loss was carried back and applied to prior tax years; the state losses were carried forward. The December 31, 2009 state tax benefit included state net operating loss carryforwards of $281,000, expiring in 2029, currently expected to be utilized in 2010 and 2011. The Company had $1.9 million of state tax credit carryforwards at both September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, attributable to New York Empire Zone tax credits with no expiration date.

Business Segment Results

An analysis of net sales and operating income for the reportable segments for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Segment


(dollars in thousands)	For the Three-month period ended September 30,				For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Net sales:
Stainless steel	$	26,647	$	13,123	$	70,588	$	57,352
Tool steel		7,159		1,096		21,803		5,835
High-strength low alloy steel		371		1,084		1,755		2,746
High-temperature alloy steel		507		514		1,727		1,641
Conversion services		542		152		1,385		546
Other		546		1,185		1,209		1,225


		35,772		17,154		98,467		69,345
Intersegment		10,438		4,515		28,693		15,888


Total net sales		46,210		21,669		127,160		85,233
Material cost of sales		22,778		8,999		60,667		39,710
Operation cost of sales		16,366		11,060		46,677		41,651
Selling and administrative expenses		2,701		1,550		6,731		6,777


Operating income (loss)	$	4,365	$	60	$	13,085	$	(2,905	)

Net sales for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 for this segment, which consists of the Bridgeville and Titusville facilities, increased by $24.5 million, or 113.3%, in comparison to the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 and by $41.9 million, or 49.2%, in comparison to the similar 2009 nine-month period. Tons shipped increased 118.8% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to the similar 2009 period. A 461% increase in service center plate shipments was accompanied by a 324% increase in reroller shipments, a 221% increase in service center long products shipments, and an 11% increase in forger shipments. Tons shipped increased 48.3% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to the similar 2009 period. The increase in shipments is attributed to improved economic conditions and market demand which continued to recover in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to 2009. During 2009, weaker economic conditions resulted in ‘destocking’ in the service center industry to bring inventory levels in line with significantly lower end-user demand.

Operating income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 increased by $4.3 million and $16.0 million, respectively, as compared to the similar periods in 2009. The results for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 include a $976,000 favorable inventory adjustment in 2010, as described above, and $5.0 million of the 2009 unusual charges outlined above, representing 0.8% and 5.8% of net sales, respectively. Excluding the impact of the unusual charges, material costs, as a percentage of sales, increased to 51.4% and 48.5% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, from 41.5% and 43.9% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively, as a result of higher material costs in the year 2010. Excluding the impact of the unusual charges, operation costs, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 35.4% and 36.7% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, from 51.0% and 48.1% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The improved proportion of cost of sales to sales in 2010 is also attributable to fixed operating costs being spread over higher production volumes as a result of increased product orders.

Selling and administrative expenses increased by $1.2 million in the three-month period and were unchanged in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the similar periods in 2009. The increase of $1.2 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 is primarily due to an increase in accrued incentive compensation and an increase in stock option compensation in 2010 which was partially offset by $2.1 million of the unusual charges incurred in the 2009 first quarter, outlined above. The nine-month period was flat primarily due to an increase in accrued incentive compensation offset by the unusual charges incurred in the 2009 first quarter, outlined above.

Dunkirk Specialty Steel Segment


(dollars in thousands)	For the Three-month period ended September 30,					For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010			2009		2010		2009
Net sales:
Stainless steel	$	12,899		$	5,499	$	29,706	$	20,680
Tool steel		266			40		660		193
High-strength low alloy steel		2,208			1,481		5,821		4,929
High-temperature alloy steel		643			974		2,711		2,742
Conversion services		95			125		444		327
Other		(13	)		13		32		19


		16,098			8,132		39,374		28,890
Intersegment		735			354		1,806		1,184


Total net sales		16,833			8,486		41,180		30,074
Material cost of sales		10,430			4,524		24,242		19,663
Operation cost of sales		3,750			2,857		10,760		10,575
Selling and administrative expenses		1,300			708		3,222		2,324


Operating income (loss)	$	1,353		$	397	$	2,956	$	(2,488	)

Net sales for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 increased by $8.3 million, or 98.4%, in comparison to the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 and by $11.1 million, or 36.9%, in comparison to the similar 2009 nine-month period. Sales to service centers comprised 82.3% of external sales and 76.6% of 2010 external shipments. Service center sales increased by $7.2 million and $9.8 million for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the similar 2009 periods. Dunkirk segment external customer tons shipped increased 70.9% and 26.6%, respectively for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the similar 2009 periods.

Operating income increased by $956,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 as compared to September 30, 2009 and by $5.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to the similar 2009 nine-month period. The results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 include $1.0 million of the unusual charges outlined above, representing 3.2% of net sales. Excluding the impact of the unusual charges, material costs, as a percentage of sales, increased to 62.0% and decreased to 58.9% of sales for the three- and nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to 53.3% and 62.9% for the similar 2009 periods. Excluding the impact of unusual charges, operation costs, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 22.3% and 26.1% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, from 33.7% and 34.7% for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively. This improvement was primarily due to fixed operating costs being spread over higher production volumes.

Selling and administrative expenses increased by $592,000 in the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 and by $898,000 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the similar periods in 2009. The increases are due to an increase in 2010 for accrued incentive compensation.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has financed its operating activities through cash on hand at the beginning of the period and cash provided by operations. Working capital increased $9.5 million to $107.1 million at September 30, 2010 compared to $97.6 million at December 31, 2009. Accounts receivable increased $12.7 million as a result of increased sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 in comparison to the three-month period ended December 31, 2009. The $16.6 million increase in inventory at September 30, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009 is due primarily to a 53% increase in the volume of work-in-process inventory in response to the rise in the Company’s backlog. The backlog increased from $36 million at December 31, 2009 to $59 million at September 30, 2010, an increase of 63%. The raw material inventory increased 35% due to higher raw material purchase prices and a 5% increase in volume. The Company received a $4.1 million federal income tax refund in 2010 as a result of the 2009 federal net operating loss that was carried back and applied to prior tax years. Accounts payable increased $7.2 million, or 92%, related to the increase in production levels and raw material price increases. Accrued employment costs increased $3.9 as a result of increased profitability and production levels. The incentive compensation and profit sharing accruals increased $3.2 million and accrued wages increased $705,000 as compared to December 31, 2009.

The ratio of current assets to current liabilities decreased to 4.9:1 at September 30, 2010 from 8.8:1 at December 31, 2009. The debt to total capitalization ratio decreased from 8.3% at December 31, 2009 to 6.9% at September 30, 2010 due to $1.5 million in principal repayments and the increase in Stockholders’ Equity.

Cash received from sales of $52.6 million and $125.2 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, respectively, and of $29.5 million and $113.9 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively, represent the primary source of cash from operations. An analysis of the primary uses of cash is as follows:


*(dollars in thousands)*	For the Three-month period ended September 30,				For the Nine-month period ended September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
Raw material purchases	$	23,142	$	6,301	$	65,391	$	31,389
Employment costs		9,479		5,656		23,689		21,517
Utilities		3,396		2,926		10,614		12,269
Other		7,723		4,118		20,639		23,156


Total uses of cash	$	43,740	$	19,001	$	120,333	$	88,331

Cash used in raw material purchases increased in 2010 in comparison to 2009 primarily due to increased customer orders, as reflected in higher 2010 sales, the increase in the backlog, and higher material purchase prices. The Company continuously monitors market price fluctuations of its key raw materials. The following table reflects published average monthly market price indexes per pound for selected months during the last 18-month period.


	September 2010		December 2009		September 2009		December 2008
Nickel	$	10.27	$	7.74	$	7.93	$	4.39
Chrome	$	1.25	$	0.89	$	0.90	$	0.96
Molybdenum	$	15.61	$	11.47	$	14.44	$	9.85
Carbon scrap	$	0.19	$	0.15	$	0.15	$	0.11

The market values for these raw materials and others continue to fluctuate based on supply and demand, market disruptions and other factors. The Company maintains sales price surcharge mechanisms, priced at time of shipment, to mitigate the risk of substantial raw material cost fluctuations. There can be no assurance that these sales price adjustments will completely offset the Company’s raw material.

Increased cash payments for employment costs for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 are primarily due to increased labor hours worked in response to increased customer orders. Lower utility costs are primarily due to a 44% reduction in the rates paid for natural gas and a $493,000 reduction in the Bridgeville plant electric demand charges as the result of the installation of a capacitor bank to regulate the use of electricity. The decrease in other uses of cash, the majority of which is cash for production supplies, plant maintenance, outside conversion services, insurance and freight, is attributable to lower production volumes in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Payments for income taxes for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 increased $4.2 million from the same period in 2009 as a result of a federal tax refund in 2009 of $1.4 million compared with tax payments of $2.8 million in 2010. A Federal income tax refund of $4.1 million was received in the second quarter of 2010 and a refund of $1.4 million was received in the 2009 third quarter. Payments for income taxes for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 were $4.3 million compared with $173,000 for the same period in 2009.

The Company had capital expenditures for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 of $5.1 million compared with $10.3 million for the same period in 2009. The decrease is primarily due to substantially completing the capital program for the upgrade of the Bridgeville facility melt shop, which comprised $2.1 million of the 2010 expenditures and $8.2 million of the 2009 expenditures respectively.

The Company has an unsecured credit agreement with PNC Bank which provides for a $12.0 million Term Loan scheduled to mature on February 28, 2014 and a $15.0 million revolving credit facility with the term expiring June 30, 2012. The Company anticipates that it will fund its 2010 working capital requirements and its capital expenditures primarily from internally generated funds and borrowings under the revolving credit facility, if necessary. At September 30, 2010, the Company had all of its $15.0 million revolving line of credit available for borrowings. The Company is in compliance with its covenants under the credit agreement as of September 30, 2010.

The Company also executed an interest rate swap with PNC Bank, with a notional amount of $12.0 million, to convert the LIBOR floating rate under the Term Loan to a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. Under the agreement, the Company’s interest rate is currently fixed at 4.515%. The Company recorded a liability of $373,000, equal to the fair value of the swap agreement at September 30, 2010. This fair value, net of tax, is reported as other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity. Changes in market interest rates will be reflected as changes to the fair value of the corresponding liability or receivable, although the Company’s actual interest rate payments will continue to be fixed at 4.515%.

The Company does not maintain off-balance sheet arrangements, nor does it participate in non-exchange traded contracts requiring fair value accounting treatment, or material related party transaction arrangements.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company manufactures specialty steel product to customer purchase order specifications and in recognition of requirements for product acceptance. Material certification forms are executed, indicating compliance with the customer purchase orders, before the specialty steel products are packed and shipped to the customer. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when both risk of loss and title have transferred to the customer, which in most cases coincides with shipment of the related products, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue from conversion services is recognized when the performance of the service is complete. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.

In addition, management constantly monitors the ability to collect its unpaid sales invoices and the valuation of its inventory. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers currently operating under the protection of the federal bankruptcy law and other amounts that are deemed potentially not collectible along with a reserve equal to 15% of 90-day or older balances not specifically reserved.

The cost of inventory is principally determined by the average cost method for material costs as well as the average cost method for operation costs. An inventory reserve is provided for material on hand for which management believes cost exceeds net realizable value and for material on hand for more than one year not assigned to a specific customer order.

Long-lived assets at each operating facility are reviewed for impairment annually. An impairment write-down will be recognized whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable through estimated future undiscounted cash flows. No triggering events occurred which would require management to assess the carrying values of such long-lived assets and no impairment reserve had been deemed necessary as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009. Retirements and disposals are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss reflected in operating income.

In addition, management assesses the need to record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company believes it will generate sufficient income in addition to taxable income generated from the reversal of its temporary differences to utilize the deferred tax assets recorded at September 30, 2010.

The Company’s current risk management strategies include the use of derivative instruments to minimize the risk of significant changes to interest rates used in long-term agreements or commodity values. In 2009, the Company entered into an interest rate swap that effectively converts the floating-rate Term Loan into a fixed-rate debt instrument. Also in 2009, the Company entered into nickel futures contracts to minimize the price change impact of anticipated purchases of nickel over the life of a customer short-term supply agreement, the last of which matured March 31, 2010. The interest rate swap and nickel futures contracts qualify as cash flow hedges and are marked-to-market at each reporting period date with unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive loss to the extent effective, and reclassified to interest expense or cost of sales in the period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company has reviewed the status of its market risk and believes there are no significant changes from that disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, except as provided in this Form 10-Q in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Item 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal period covered by this quarterly report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material changes from the legal proceedings disclosed in Item 3. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 1A.

RISK FACTORS

There are no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Item 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4.

RESERVED

Item 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 6.

EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NUMBER	DESCRIPTION

31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	Filed herewith.

31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	Filed herewith.

32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002	Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

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

November 9, 2010


/s/ Dennis M. Oates				/s/ Douglas M. McSorley
Dennis M. Oates				Douglas M. McSorley
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer				Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Executive Officer)				(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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