UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

Filed by the Registrant þ

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

 

Olympic Steel, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olympic Steel, Inc., 5096 Richmond Road Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (216) 292-3800

 

To Our Shareholders:

 

You are invited to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Olympic Steel, Inc. to be held at One Eastern Steel Road, Milford, Connecticut 06460 on April 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. We are pleased to enclose the notice of our Annual Meeting of Shareholders, together with a Proxy Statement, a Proxy and an envelope for returning the Proxy.

 

You are asked to: (1) approve the election of Directors nominated by the Board of Directors and (2) ratify the selection of Olympic Steel’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2010. Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each proposal stated in the Proxy.

 

Please carefully review the Proxy Statement and then complete and sign your Proxy and return it promptly. If you attend the meeting and decide to vote in person, you may withdraw your Proxy at the meeting.

 

Your time and attention to this letter and the accompanying Proxy Statement and Proxy is appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Michael D. Siegal

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

April 1, 2010

Olympic Steel, Inc., 5096 Richmond Road Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (216) 292-3800

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 29, 2010

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Olympic Steel, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is referred to as the Company, will be held on April 29, 2010, at One Eastern Steel Road, Milford, Connecticut 06460 on April 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., for the following purposes:

 

1. To elect the following four directors to the class whose two-year term will expire in 2012: David A. Wolfort, Ralph M. Della Ratta, Martin H. Elrad and Howard L. Goldstein;

 

2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2010; and

 

3. To transact such other business that is properly brought before the meeting.

 

Only shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock on the books of the Company at the close of business on March 10, 2010 will be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

 

Your vote is important. All shareholders are invited to attend the meeting in person. However, to ensure your representation at the meeting, please mark, date and sign the enclosed proxy, and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope. Any shareholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if the shareholder returned a proxy.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

Christopher M. Kelly

Secretary

 

Cleveland, Ohio

 

April 1, 2010

 

 

THE ENCLOSED PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AND CAN BE RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

Table of Contents

 

2010 ANNUAL MEETING

 

April 29, 2010

 

This Proxy Statement is being mailed on or about April 1, 2010, to the shareholders of Olympic Steel, Inc., which is referred to as the Company, in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the enclosed form of proxy for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 29, 2010, at One Eastern Steel Road, Milford Connecticut 06460, at 11:00 a.m. Pursuant to the Title XVII, Chapter 1701 of the Ohio Revised Code, any shareholder signing and returning the enclosed proxy has the power to revoke it by giving notice of such revocation to the Company in writing or in the open meeting before any vote with respect to the matters set forth therein is taken. The representation in person or by proxy of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company, which we refer to as the Common Stock, entitled to vote is necessary to provide a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted in determining whether a quorum has been achieved.

 

The election of directors requires approval by a plurality of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect in determining the outcome of the vote on the election of directors. Although the Company’s independent auditors may be selected by the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board without shareholder approval, the Audit and Compliance Committee will consider the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock having voting power present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to be a ratification by the shareholders of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which we refer to as PwC, as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2010. As a result, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote cast against the proposal, but broker non-voters will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

 

The Company will bear the expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement. Although the Company has not retained a proxy solicitor to aid in the solicitation of proxies, it may do so in the future if the need arises, and does not believe that the cost of any such proxy solicitor will be material. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, certain directors, officers and other employees of the Company, none of whom will receive additional compensation therefor, may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail or by personal contacts. The Company will request brokers, banks and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send Proxy material to beneficial owners and will, upon request, reimburse them for their out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Annual Meeting has been called for the purposes of: (1) electing the following four Directors to the class whose two-year term will expire in 2012: David A. Wolfort, Ralph M. Della Ratta, Martin H. Elrad and Howard L. Goldstein; (2) ratifying the selection of PwC as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2010; and

(3) transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

 

The persons named in the enclosed proxy have been selected by the Board and will vote Common Stock represented by valid proxies. Unless otherwise indicated in the enclosed proxy, they intend to vote “FOR” the election of the Director-nominees named herein and “FOR” the ratification of the selection of PwC as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2010.

 

The Board has established the close of business on March 10, 2010 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote. On that date, 10,883,411 shares of Common Stock were outstanding and entitled to one vote per share on all matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board currently consists of seven members and is divided into two classes, whose members serve for a staggered, two-year term. The term of one class, which currently consists of three Directors, expires in 2011; the term of the other class, which consists of four Directors, expires in 2012.

 

The Board has nominated David A. Wolfort, Ralph M. Della Ratta, Martin H. Elrad and Howard L. Goldstein to be elected as Directors for a two-year term. The two-year term will end upon the election of Directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

At the Annual Meeting, the shares of Common Stock represented by valid proxies, unless otherwise specified, will be voted to elect the four Director-nominees. Each individual nominated for election as a Director of the Company has agreed to serve if elected. However, if any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve if elected, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as may be recommended by the Board. The Board has no reason to believe that the persons listed as nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve.

 

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. Certain information regarding each of the Company’s current directors, including his or her principal occupation and directorships during the past five years, is set forth below.

 

NOMINEES WITH TERMS THAT EXPIRE IN 2012

 

David A. Wolfort, age 57, joined the Board in 1987.  He became Chief Operating Officer of the Company in 1995 and assumed the role of President in 2001. Mr. Wolfort serves on the board of directors of the Metals Service Center Institute, or MSCI, a metals industry trade association, and was a past Chairman of both the MSCI Political Action Committee and the MSCI Government Affairs Committee. He is also a regional board member of the Northern Ohio Anti-Defamation League, a Trustee of Ohio University and a Trustee of the Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra). With his years of

experience at the Company, Mr. Wolfort brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge concerning the Company’s business operations and the competitive landscape of the metals industry.

 

Ralph M. Della Ratta, age 56, joined the Board in 2004. Since 2004, he has served as the Founder and Managing Director of Western Reserve Partners LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to this time, Mr. Della Ratta was the Senior Managing Director of Max Ventures, LLC, a venture capital firm, and the Senior Managing Director and Manager of the Investment Banking Division of McDonald Investments, Inc., an investment banking firm. Mr. Della Ratta serves on the board of directors of Western Reserve Partners LLC, McCormack Advisors International, a wealth management firm, and NDI, Inc., a business software company. Having served for most of his professional career in the investment banking industry, Mr. Della Ratta provides valuable financial knowledge as a member of the Board, the Nominating Committee and the Audit and Compliance Committee.

 

Martin H. Elrad, age 70, joined the Board in 1987.  As a private investor, Mr. Elrad provides substantial financial acumen and a unique perspective on market trends and conditions. Additionally, Mr. Elrad’s long history on the Board gives Mr. Elrad deep insight into the Company. Mr. Elrad serves as a member of the Board, the Compensation Committee and the Audit and Compliance Committee, and is Chairman of the Nominating Committee.

 

Howard L. Goldstein, age 57, joined the Board in 2004. He is the Managing Director of Mallah Furman, a certified public accounting firm, and has been a Senior Partner for over 25 years. Mr. Goldstein is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Florida Board of Accounting, the New Jersey Board of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As a certified public accountant, Mr. Goldstein’s broad knowledge and deep understanding of accounting principles and financial reporting rules and regulations make him a valuable asset, both as a member of the Board and as Chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee. Mr. Goldstein’s experience with the Company has also made him a valued member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee.

 

DIRECTORS WITH TERMS THAT EXPIRE IN 2011

 

Michael D. Siegal, age 57, joined the Board in 1984.  He became Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 1984 and assumed the role of Chairman of the Board in 1994. Mr. Siegal serves on the board of directors of University Hospitals-Rainbow Baby’s Investment Committee and the MSCI. He is also the Chairman of the Development Corporation for Israel Bonds and the Campaign Chairman of the Cleveland Jewish Federation. With nearly 26 years of executive experience at the Company, Mr. Siegal possess proven managerial skills and first hand knowledge of nearly every aspect of the Company’s business operations. As a member of the founding family of the Company, Mr. Siegal also brings to the Board knowledge and understanding of the evolution of a family business into a successful public company. Mr. Siegal is also a substantial long-term shareholder of the Company.

Arthur F. Anton, age 52, joined the Board in 2009.  He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Swagelok Company, a fluid systems technologies company. Since 1998, Mr. Anton has served in the following positions at the Swagelok Company: President and Chief Operating Officer, from 2001 to 2004; Executive Vice President, from 2000 to 2001; and Chief Financial Officer, from 1998 to 2000. He is a former Partner of Ernst & Young LLP, a professional services organization. Since 2006, Mr. Anton has served on the board of directors of The Sherwin-Williams Company, a coatings manufacturer. He also serves on the board of directors of University Hospitals Health System, a regional health system, The Greater Cleveland Partnership, a private-sector economic development organization, and the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network, a private-sector small business development organization. As the head of a large private corporation, Mr. Anton provides valuable insight into the successful operation of a business, which serves him well as a member of the Compensation Committee. As a former partner at Ernst & Young LLP and a member of the audit committee of The Sherwin-Williams Company, Mr. Anton possesses a detailed understanding of accounting principles and practice.

 

James B. Meathe, age 52, joined the Board in 2001.  Since 2005, he has served as Managing Partner of Walloon Ventures, a real estate development and custom home building firm. Prior to this time, Mr. Meathe served as Vice Chairman from 2004 to 2005 and President and Chief Operating Officer from 2003 to 2004 of Palmer & Cay, Inc., an insurance and brokerage firm, and as Managing Director and Chairman Midwest Region of Marsh Inc., a risk and insurance services firm, from 1999 to 2002. He also served on the board of directors and was a member of the compensation committee of Boykin Lodging Company, a hotel management group, from 2003 until its sale in 2006. With his prior experience in the insurance and risk management industries, Mr. Meathe provides a unique perspective as a member of the Board and as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors recommends that shareholders
vote “FOR” the Board of Directors’ nominees.

 

PwC served as independent auditors of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2009 and has been retained by the Audit and Compliance Committee to do so for the year ending December 31, 2010.

 

Shareholder ratification of the selection of PwC as the Company’s independent auditors is not required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Code of Regulations or otherwise. However, the Board is submitting the selection of PwC to the shareholders for ratification. If the shareholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit and Compliance Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain the firm. In such event, the Audit and Compliance Committee may retain PwC, notwithstanding the fact that the shareholders did not ratify the selection, or select another nationally recognized accounting firm without resubmitting the matter to the shareholders. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit and Compliance Committee reserves the right in its discretion to select a different nationally recognized accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change

would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the selection of PwC as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2010.

 

The Board held four regularly scheduled meetings and two telephonic meetings in 2009. The Board has a standing Audit and Compliance Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee. The Audit and Compliance Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee held four, five and one meetings, respectively, in 2009. The committees receive their authority and assignments from, and report to, the Board.

 

All of the current Directors attended at least seventy-five percent of the Board and applicable Board committee meetings held during 2009. In addition to holding regular Board committee meetings, the Board members and committee members also reviewed and considered matters and documents and communicated with each other apart from the meetings. The Board determines the independence of each Director and each Director-nominee in accordance with the independence standards set forth in the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Board has determined that Messrs. Della Ratta, Elrad, Anton, Goldstein and Meathe are independent Directors, as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements.

 

Audit and Compliance Committee.  The Audit and Compliance Committee is chaired by Mr. Goldstein and also consists of Messrs. Elrad and Della Ratta. The Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for monitoring and overseeing our internal controls and financial reporting processes, as well as the independent audit of our consolidated financial statements by our independent auditors. Each committee member is an “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements and applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC. Mr. Goldstein has been designated by the Board as the “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules and satisfies the Nasdaq’s professional experience requirements. The Audit and Compliance Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be found on our website at www.olysteel.com. Additional information on the committee and its activities is set forth in the “Audit Committee Report” below.

 

Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee is chaired by Mr. Meathe and also consists of Messrs. Elrad, Goldstein and Anton. Mr. Anton joined the Compensation Committee in 2010. Each committee member is an “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements. The primary purposes of the Compensation Committee are to assist the Board in meeting its responsibilities with regard to oversight and determination of executive compensation and to administer our equity-based or equity-linked compensation plans, bonus plans, supplemental executive retirement plan

and deferred compensation plans after consultation with management. The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the Board for approval the base salary, annual bonus, long-term incentive compensation and other compensation, perquisites and special or supplemental benefits for our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. The Compensation Committee also makes recommendations concerning our employee benefit policies and has authority to administer our equity compensation plans. The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire compensation consultants and legal, accounting, financial and other advisors, as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. Management assists the Compensation Committee in its administration of the executive compensation program by recommending individual and Company goals and by providing data regarding performance. As in prior years, during 2009, our Compensation Committee engaged Towers Watson (formerly known as Towers Perrin before its merger with Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc.), a global professional services firm that provides human resources consulting services, as an outside independent compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee on our compensation program. The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be found on our website at www.olysteel.com. Additional information on the committee and its activities is set forth in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Compensation Committee Report” below.

 

Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee is chaired by Mr. Elrad and also consists of Messrs. Della Ratta and Goldstein. This committee functions to advise and make recommendations to the Board concerning the selection of candidates as nominees for Directors, including those individuals recommended by shareholders. The Nominating Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be found on our website at www.olysteel.com. Each committee member is an “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements.

 

BOARD AND COMMITTEE POLICIES

 

Shareholder Communications.  Shareholders may send written communications to the Board or any one or more of the individual Directors by mail to Olympic Steel, Inc., 5096 Richmond Road, Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146. Any shareholder who wishes to send a written communication to any member of the Board may do so in care of our Secretary, who will forward any communications directly to the Board or the individual Director(s) specified in the communication.

 

Director Nominations Process.  The Board’s process for identifying and evaluating nominees for Director consists principally of evaluating candidates who are recommended by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee also may, on a periodic basis, solicit ideas for possible candidates from a number of sources, including current members of the Board, senior level executives, individuals personally known to members of the Board and employment of one or more search firms.

 

Except as may be required by rules promulgated by Nasdaq or the SEC, there are currently no specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by each candidate for the Board, nor are there specific qualities or skills that are necessary for one or more of the members of the Board to possess. In evaluating the suitability of the candidates, the Nominating Committee takes into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate.

These factors may include, among other things, issues of character, judgment, independence, expertise, diversity of experience, length of service, other commitments and the like. The committee evaluates such factors, among others, and considers each individual candidate in the context of the current perceived needs of the Board as a whole and of committees of the Board.

 

The Nominating Committee will consider Director candidates recommended by shareholders if properly submitted. Shareholders wishing to suggest persons for consideration as nominees for election to the Board at the 2011 Annual Meeting may do so by providing written notice to us in care of our Secretary no later than December 31, 2010. Such recommendation must include the information required of Director-nominations by our Amended and Restated Code of Regulations. Assuming that a properly submitted shareholder recommendation for a potential nominee is received and appropriate biographical and background information is provided, the Nominating Committee and the Board will follow the same process and apply the same criteria as they do for candidates submitted by other sources.

 

Board Leadership and Risk Oversight.  Michael D. Siegal serves as both the Company’s Chairman of the Board and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Board has no policy with respect to the separation of these offices. The Board of Directors believes that this issue is part of the succession planning process and that it is in the best interests of the Company for the Board to consider it each time that it elects the Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors recognizes that there may be circumstances in the future that would lead it to separate these offices, but it believes that there is no reason to do so at this time.

 

As both a director and officer, Mr. Siegal fulfills a valuable leadership role that the Board believes is essential to the continued success of the Company’s business operations. Mr. Siegal has served the Company in an executive role for 26 years, and the experience and deep knowledge base he brings to both positions are invaluable. In the Board’s opinion, Mr. Siegal’s dual role enhances the Company’s ability to coordinate long-term strategic direction with important business opportunities at the operational level and enhances his ability to provide insight and direction on important strategic initiatives impacting the Company and its shareholders to both management and the independent directors.

 

The Board generally oversees the Company’s risk management. The Board regularly reviews issues that present particular risks to the Company, including those involving competition, customer demands, economic conditions, planning, strategy, finance, facilities and operations. Additionally, the Audit Committee also reviews risks relating to the Company’s financial statements and financing arrangements. The Board believes that this approach provides appropriate checks and balances against undue risk taking.

 

Annual Meeting Attendance.  The Board does not have a formal policy with regard to Directors’ attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. However, because a Board meeting usually precedes the Annual Meeting, all Directors are urged to attend. Last year, all Directors were present at the Annual Meeting.

CODE OF ETHICS

 

We have adopted a Business Ethics Policy. The full text of the Business Ethics Policy is available through the “Investor Relations” section of our website under the “Corporate Governance” option at www.olysteel.com. The Business Ethics Policy applies not only to our executive and financial officers, but also to all of our employees. We intend to disclose any amendments to the Business Ethics Policy, and all waivers of the Business Ethics Policy relating to our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and President and Chief Operating Officer by posting such information on our website.

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of March 10, 2010 (unless otherwise indicated) by each person or entity known to us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock based upon information furnished to us or derived by us from publicly available records.

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of March 10, 2010 by our Directors, each of the Executive Officers named in the summary compensation table included herein, whom we refer to as the named executive officers, and all the Directors and Executive Officers as a group.

 

 

 

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own greater than 10% of the Company’s Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership to the SEC. Officers, directors and more than 10% shareholders are required by the SEC to furnish to the Company copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. To our knowledge, based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company during 2009 and Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company with respect to 2009, or a written representation from the reporting person that no Form 5 is required, all filings required to be made by the Company’s officers and directors were timely made.

 

Introduction

 

We are a leading U.S. steel service center with 55 years of experience. Our primary focus is on the direct sale and distribution of large volumes of processed carbon, coated, aluminum and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate steel products. We operate as an intermediary between steel producers and manufacturers that require processed steel for their operations. As further discussed in this section, our compensation and benefit programs are designed to reward our employees when they help us achieve business objectives.

 

The following are the highlights of our executive compensation program for 2009:

 

 

The following discussion and analysis of our 2009 executive compensation, which may include forward-looking statements, should be read together with the compensation tables and related disclosures that follow this section.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

 

The goals of our executive compensation program are to support our long-term business strategy and link our executives’ interests with those of our shareholders. We designed the compensation program to, among other things, provide incentives for executives to help us achieve business objectives and give the Compensation Committee the flexibility necessary to reward executives for achieving such objectives. The Compensation Committee’s strategy for achieving these goals is to:

 

 

Role of Compensation Committee and Management

 

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies and plans that govern the base salaries, bonuses and other compensation elements for our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers named in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table below, whom we refer to as our named executive officers.

 

Management has a minor role in helping the Compensation Committee administer the executive compensation program by recommending individual and Company performance goals, including offering suggestions for key metrics for use in our incentive program, and by providing data regarding actual performance. Otherwise, management is not involved in establishing executive compensation. As in prior years, the Compensation Committee engaged Towers Perrin, a global professional services firm that provides human resources consulting services, as our compensation consultant to advise the Compensation Committee on our compensation program.

 

Role of Compensation Consultant

 

Generally, Towers Watson’s role in the executive compensation program is to compare the base salaries, annual cash incentive awards and long-term compensation of our named executive officers to the compensation paid to executives in similar positions both within and outside the steel service center industry in order to provide market “benchmarks” for the Compensation Committee to assess in evaluating and determining the compensation of our named executive officers. Historically, Towers Watson has compiled compensation data for a group of steel and steel-related companies.

The Compensation Committee has historically used the peer group of steel-related companies, together with other similar-sized, high-performing manufacturing companies, as a peer group in analyzing the competitiveness of our executive compensation. Because of the pay reduction actions taken by our named executive officers in 2009, the Compensation Committee did not evaluate the compensation of our named executive officers against the peer group.

 

A representative of Towers Watson participated in the December 14, 2009 telephonic meeting of the Compensation Committee meeting. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, Towers Watson did not provide us with any other services outside of those associated with the role of advising us on our executive compensation program.

 

Compensation Allocation

 

Our executive compensation program consists of three primary components: base salary, annual cash incentive payouts and long-term compensation in the form of stock options and other equity-based awards. We also provide our executives with the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) retirement and profit-sharing plan, and a non-qualified defined contribution plan. Certain health, disability and life insurance and other customary fringe benefits also are available to our named executive officers, who participate in these fringe benefits on the same basis as our other employees. Each named executive officer also has entered into an agreement with us that provides for certain benefits upon a change in control.

 

In determining the relative allocation of these elements of compensation, the Compensation Committee seeks to provide an amount of long-term compensation, both in the form of equity and cash incentives, that is sufficient to align the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders, while also providing adequate short-term compensation, primarily in the form of cash, to attract and retain talented executives. The Compensation Committee takes into account various qualitative and quantitative indicators of Company and individual performance in determining the level and composition of compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers. While the Compensation Committee considers our financial and operating performance, the Compensation Committee generally does not apply any specific quantitative formula in making base salary decisions, except with respect to the cash incentive award opportunities, as described below. The Compensation Committee also appreciates the importance of achievements that may be difficult to quantify — such as individual performance — and, accordingly, recognizes qualitative factors that include successful supervision of major corporate projects and demonstrated leadership ability.

 

The Compensation Committee believes that the elements of the executive compensation program discussed below advance our business objectives and the interests of our shareholders by attracting and retaining the executive leadership necessary for growth and motivating our executives to increase shareholder value.

 

Elements of Compensation

 

Base Salaries.  The annual base salary of our named executive officers is based upon an evaluation of their significant contributions against established objectives as individuals and as a team, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The base salaries for

Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito are subject to minimum amounts established in accordance with their respective employment agreements. As noted above, when establishing base salaries for our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers the cash compensation offered by companies in other steel and steel-related companies, as well as other similar sized companies outside of the steel industry, and obtains the recommendations of Towers Watson and management in order to determine the range of the base salaries. As mentioned above, the Compensation Committee also considered recommendations from Mr. Siegal in determining salary levels for our other named executive officers. As discussed further in the next paragraph, the Compensation Committee reviews the base salaries of our named executive officers on an individual basis periodically, rather than annually, and determines the base salary of our named executive officers after considering the above factors and the individual’s particular talents, skills, experience, industry knowledge and functional responsibilities and duties. The Compensation Committee does not consider whether an individual named executive officer has earned any incentive compensation in prior years in determining base salaries.

 

The base salaries paid to our named executive officers in 2009 were reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee, and the amounts paid are reflected in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table. Due to the ongoing global economic crisis, each named executive officer voluntarily reduced his or her 2009 base salary by 10%, effective April 1, 2009, in each case reducing the executive officer’s base salary below the contractual minimum provided in his respective employment agreement. The Compensation Committee has determined to keep base salaries at the same levels for 2010, which reflect the voluntary 10% reduction, until economic conditions warrant a change. The Compensation Committee believes that the salaries of each of our named executive officers are reasonable when measured against the range of base salaries offered by other companies in the peer group reviewed by the Compensation Committee and in light of our performance in 2009.

 

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation.  We believe that a significant portion of the compensation paid to our named executive officers should be based on our annual performance, so that the executives are appropriately motivated to maximize our operating performance each year. We have established our Senior Management Compensation Program to provide our executives, including our named executive officers, with the opportunity to earn an annual cash incentive payout. The objectives of our Senior Management Compensation Program include:

 

 

Under our Senior Management Compensation Program, our named executive officers receive a cash incentive award based on our pre-tax income results for the most recently completed fiscal year. Cash incentive award amounts earned based on pre-tax income results may then either be increased or reduced based on our annual performance in certain key metrics established in advance by the Compensation Committee, which key metrics may change from year to year and include safety, inventory turnover, expense control, reduction of aged inventory, days sales outstanding, achieving operating budgets and tonnage growth. In this way, award amounts under the Senior Management Compensation Program are directly tied to our performance, so that the participants have the opportunity to earn significant cash incentive awards for years in which we perform well, but also bear the risk of earning little or no cash incentive compensation for years in which we perform below expectations. Amounts earned under the Senior Management Compensation Program are paid out in three installments over a two-year period following the year in which the cash incentive was earned in order to increase the Senior Management Compensation Program’s retention value and encourage the executives not to compete with us in the event their employment is terminated prior to completion of the payment period. The timetable for these payments is further described below in the footnotes to the 2009 Summary Compensation Table.

 

As in past years, in 2009, the Compensation Committee granted an annual cash incentive award opportunity for each of Messrs. Siegal, Marabito and Wolfort of 1.5% of our consolidated pre-tax income, and for each of Ms. Potash and Mr. Manson of 0.5% of our consolidated pre-tax income. The Compensation Committee set the annual cash incentive payout amounts for Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito, in light of their significant functional responsibilities and duties and their positions as the most senior-level executives, at three times those established for Mr. Manson and Ms. Potash. As the annual cash incentive is tied directly to profitability, none of our senior managers earned an incentive during 2009, as disclosed in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table.

 

Long-Term Equity-Based Compensation.  The Compensation Committee believes that equity-based compensation awards are an appropriate means of aligning the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders by rewarding our executives based on increases in the prices of our Common Stock. Like base salary and the annual cash incentive payments, award levels are set with regard to competitive considerations, and each individual’s actual award is based upon the individual’s job responsibilities, performance, potential for increased responsibility and contributions, leadership ability and commitment to our strategic efforts. The timing and amount of previous awards to, and held by, the executive is reviewed, but is only one factor considered by the Compensation Committee in determining the size of any equity-based award grants.

 

Equity-based compensation awards are granted under the Olympic Steel, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, which is referred to as the Incentive Plan. The Incentive Plan authorizes us to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, and other stock- and cash-based awards to our employees, directors and consultants. For more information about our Incentive Plan and awards under that plan for 2009, see the 2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year-End Table and the accompanying narratives below.

 

On January 2, 2009, the Compensation Committee granted performance-earned restricted stock units for 54,024 shares of Common Stock to 21 members of our senior management under the Incentive Plan. Our named executive officers can earn these restricted stock units for the achievement of specific earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and return on invested capital targets for a 36-month period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending December 31, 2011. The Compensation Committee chose EBITDA as the first performance metric for this equity award because it believes EBITDA is a fair measure of our growth and profitability during the performance period, and is a fairly universal basis for valuing companies across or among industries. The Compensation Committee chose return on invested capital as the second performance metric in order to determine whether any growth and profitability demonstrated by increased EBITDA is achieved through an efficient use of capital. During this period, the two separate financial measures are weighted equally. No restricted stock units will be earned unless a threshold EBITDA amount is met, and then payouts for each financial measure are also subject to threshold achievement. The performance-earned restricted stock units are convertible into shares of Common Stock in 2012 if they vest based on achieving the specific performance metrics.

 

For this award, Messrs. Siegal, Marabito and Wolfort were each granted a target performance-earned restricted stock units opportunity equal to 35% of his base salary, and Ms. Potash and Mr. Manson were each granted a target performance-earned restricted stock units opportunity equal to 25% of his or her base salary. Each of these award opportunities was then equally divided between achievement of the EBITDA and return on invested capital financial measures (17.5% each for Messrs. Siegal, Marabito and Wolfort, and 12.5% each for Ms. Potash and Mr. Manson). Based on actual performance, each named executive officer can earn up to 150%, or as little as 0%, of his or her total award opportunity.

 

For each financial measure, the Compensation Committee established threshold, target and maximum performance goals to help determine the value of restricted stock units earned based on actual performance measured at the end of the performance period. The following table indicates the award amounts that may be earned based on actual achievement:

 

 

 

We will interpolate these earned percentages for an actual achievement that measures between performance goal levels above the threshold performance goal. Although we view our performance targets as ambitious goals for the performance-earned restricted stock unit awards, we believe that they are achievable during the performance period if our named executive officers continue to provide superior performance. For more information on these performance-earned restricted stock unit awards, see the 2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year-End Table and their accompanying narratives.

 

Similar performance-earned restricted shares were awarded to senior management in 2007 and 2008. The 2007 awards lapsed on December 31, 2009, as minimum required performance measurements were not met. The 2008 and 2009 awards are also at risk of lapsing on December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, respectively, if minimum performance measurements are not met.

 

In recognition of the cash compensation voluntarily waived by our named executive officers in 2009, the Compensation Committee approved a grant of restricted stock to each of our named executive officers effective as of January 4, 2010 in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing 20% of the named executive officer’s base salary by the closing price of our Common Stock on such grant date. Accordingly, our named executive officers received the following awards of restricted stock: Michael D. Siegal, 3,377 shares; Richard T. Marabito, 1,814 shares; David A. Wolfort, 3,070 shares; Esther Potash, 977 shares; and Richard A. Manson, 977 shares.

 

Personal Benefits and Perquisites.  In addition to their other compensation, our named executive officers also are eligible to receive other benefits, which the Compensation Committee believes are commensurate with the types of benefits and perquisites provided to other similarly situated executives, as determined based on the Compensation Committee’s review of information supplied by Towers Watson. The Compensation Committee believes these benefits are set at a reasonable level, are highly valued by recipients, have limited cost, are part of a competitive compensation program and are useful in attracting and retaining qualified executives. They are not tied to our performance. These benefits consist of medical, dental, disability and life insurance benefits and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contributions, pursuant to plans that are generally available to our employees. Perquisites consist of a car allowance, cell phone allowance, reimbursement for personal tax preparation and financial services fees, and payment of country club dues.

 

Retirement and Post-Employment Benefits.  We provide our executives with certain post-employment and severance benefits as summarized below and further described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee believes these benefits are vital to the attraction and retention of qualified executives. These benefits provide the executives with the opportunity to address long-term financial planning with a greater degree of certainty, and also address our interest in continuing to motivate executives in the event of corporate instability, such as a change of control or unforeseen industry changes.

 

We provide Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito, as our most valuable executives, with the opportunity to participate in our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which is a non-qualified defined contribution savings plan. Under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, we provide an annual contribution for each participating executive, a

portion of which is based only on the participant’s continued service with us, and an additional amount that is dependent on our return on invested capital for the applicable year. Each of these contribution components is referenced as a specified percentage of the executive’s base salary and cash incentive award amount for the year. Effective January 1, 2008, Ms. Potash also participates in our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. We provide an annual contribution for Ms. Potash based on her continued service with us. She does not receive an additional contribution based on our return on invested capital. In addition, each of the members of our senior management group, including our named executive officers, also may participate in our Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, a non-qualified voluntary contributory savings plan under which a participant may defer all or any portion of his annual incentive award and up to 90% of his base salary into one or more investment options that are the same as those available to all of our employees who participate under our 401(k) plan. The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan are further described below under the 2009 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table.

 

To ensure the continuity of corporate management and the continued dedication of key executives during any period of uncertainty caused by a possible change in control, we entered into management retention agreements with each of our named executive officers, which agreements provide for the payment and provision of certain benefits if there is a change of control of the Company and a termination of the executive’s employment with the surviving entity within a certain period after the change in control. We also have entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito that provide for the payment of certain severance benefits upon termination of employment other than after a change in control of the Company. These agreements help ensure that our executive’s interests remain aligned with those of our shareholders during any time when an executive’s continued employment may be in jeopardy. They also provide some level of income continuity should an executive’s employment be terminated without cause. These agreements are further described under Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control below.

 

Other Compensation Policies

 

Effect of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code denies a publicly held corporation a federal income tax deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million in a taxable year paid to each of its chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. Certain “performance-based” compensation, such as stock options awarded at fair market value, is not subject to the limitation on deductibility provided that certain shareholder approval and independent director requirements are met. To the extent consistent with our compensation policies and the Compensation Committee’s assessment of the interests of shareholders, we seek to design our executive compensation programs to preserve our ability to deduct compensation paid to executives under these programs. However, the Compensation Committee also weighs the burdens of such compliance against the benefits to be obtained by us and may pay compensation that is not deductible or fully deductible if it determines that such payments are in our best interests. For example, bonuses paid under our Senior Management Compensation Program historically were not intended to satisfy the

requirements for the performance-based compensation exemption from Section 162(m). The Compensation Committee has determined, however, that, to the extent practicable in view of its compensation philosophy, it will seek to structure our cash bonuses to satisfy the requirements for the performance-based exemption from Section 162(m). Therefore, we have adopted the Incentive Plan pursuant to shareholder approval and intend to award future cash bonuses under the plan as we believe that such bonuses paid to executives in accordance with the plan will qualify for the exemption for performance-based compensation.

 

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.  Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code generally provides that arrangements involving the deferral of compensation that do not comply in form and operation with Section 409A or are not exempt from Section 409A are subject to increased tax, penalties and interest. If a deferred compensation arrangement does not comply with, or is not exempt from, Section 409A, employees may be subject to accelerated or additional tax, or interest or penalties, with respect to the compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that deferred compensation arrangements that do not comply with Section 409A would be of significantly diminished value to our executives. Accordingly, we intend to design our future deferred compensation arrangements, and have amended our previously adopted deferred compensation arrangements, to comply with Section 409A.

 

Risk Profile of Compensation Programs.  The Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s executive compensation program has been designed to provide the appropriate level of incentives that do not encourage our executive officers to take unnecessary risks in managing our business. As discussed above, a majority of our executive officers’ compensation is performance-based, consistent with our executive compensation policy. Our Senior Management Compensation Program is designed to reward annual financial and/or strategic performance in areas considered critical to the short and long-term success of the Company. In addition, our Incentive Plan awards are directly aligned with long-term stockholder interests through their link to our stock price and longer-term performance periods. In combination, the Compensation Committee believes that the various elements of the Senior Management Compensation Program and the Incentive Plan sufficiently tie our executives’ compensation opportunities to the Company’s sustained long-term performance.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and this Proxy Statement.

 

This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Compensation Committee:

 

James B. Meathe, Chairman

Martin H. Elrad

Howard L. Goldstein

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

 

During 2009, the Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Meathe, Elrad, and Goldstein. Mr. Thomas M. Forman was also a member of the Committee until his retirement from the Board in April 2009. None of the members of the Compensation Committee is (or ever was) an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. There are no Compensation Committee interlocks as defined by applicable SEC rules.

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation earned during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 by our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of our three other named executive officers:

 

 

 

2009 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

 

The following table sets forth plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers during 2009.

 

 

 

Retention Agreements and Employment Agreements

 

We have entered into retention agreements and employment agreements with certain of our named executive officers. For more information about these agreements, see Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In Control below.

Senior Management Compensation Program

 

Our named executive officers, Commercial Vice Presidents, General Managers, certain Managers and other employees, as determined by our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our Senior Management Compensation Program, which was amended effective January 1, 2005. As discussed above in Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our Senior Management Compensation Program provides for an annual cash incentive payout to participants based on our pre-tax income results for the most recently completed fiscal year, which payout amounts may be increased or decreased based on our annual performance in certain key metrics established in advance by the Compensation Committee.

 

Annual cash incentive payouts, if any, are paid to participants as follows: 50% of the annual cash incentive payout amount is paid to the participant following our year-end earnings release for the year in which the amount is earned; 12.5% of the annual cash incentive payout amount is paid to the participant following our year-end earnings release for the first year after the year in which the amount is earned; and 37.5% of the annual cash incentive payout amount is paid to the participant following our year-end earnings release for the second year after the year in which the amount is earned. However, if the remaining 50% of the cash incentive payout amount is less than 25% of the participant’s base salary in the year in which the incentive was earned, then the entire cash incentive payout amount is paid to the participant at the time of the initial payment.

 

Eligible participants may defer amounts paid pursuant to our Senior Management Compensation Program under our Executive Deferred Compensation Plan described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. A participant who is not employed by us at the end of our fiscal year will forfeit the participant’s annual cash incentive award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a participant who terminates employment with us due to death, disability or retirement is eligible for a full or pro-rata annual cash incentive award at the discretion of our Compensation Committee. Additionally, a pro-rata annual cash incentive award will be paid in the event of a change of control.

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2009 FISCAL YEAR-END

 

The following table sets forth outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2009.

 

 

Stock Option Plan

 

We adopted the Olympic Steel, Inc. Stock Option Plan, which we refer to as the Stock Option Plan, effective January 6, 1994. It expired in January 2009, though options outstanding under our Stock Option Plan upon its expiration will remain in effect until their respective termination dates. We authorized an aggregate of 1,300,000 shares of our Common Stock for issuance under the Stock Option Plan, none of which currently remains available for issuance of awards. Employees, non-employee directors and independent consultants were eligible to receive stock options under the Stock Option Plan. As of March 1, 2010, 17 employees and outside directors had outstanding options exercisable under the Stock Option Plan. In 2007, we granted options for the final 24,170 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option Plan.

 

The exercise price for stock options issued under the Stock Option Plan was established as the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. For the 2007 grants, the price used was the closing price of shares on The Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant. Stock options became exercisable in accordance with the terms established by our Compensation Committee and expire ten years from the date of grant. Previously granted stock options have been issued with vesting schedules ranging from six months to three years. To the extent possible, we issued shares of our treasury stock to option holders in satisfaction of shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options. Stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan generally terminate in the event of termination of employment or services. However, under certain circumstances, options may be exercised within three months after the date of termination of employment or services, or within one year of a participant’s death, but in any event not beyond the original term of the stock option. Upon a change in control (as defined in the Stock Option Plan) of the Company, all stock options may become immediately exercisable or may be terminated at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

 

Incentive Plan

 

The Incentive Plan provides us with the authorization to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares and other stock- and cash-based awards to our employees, directors and consultants. Under the Incentive Plan, 500,000 shares of our Common Stock are available for equity grants.

 

Stock Options.  If an award under the Incentive Plan is made in the form of stock options, the price of the option cannot be less than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, fair market value for all purposes under the Incentive Plan is the last closing price of a share of our Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, or, if applicable, on another national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is principally traded, on the date for which the determination of fair market value is made, or, if there are no sales of

Common Stock on such date, then on the most recent immediately preceding date on which there were any sales of Common Stock on such principal trading exchange. The term of stock options cannot exceed ten years. The Compensation Committee is entitled to set all conditions in connection with a participant’s right to exercise an award and may impose such conditions as it sees fit. No participant may be awarded incentive stock options that are first exercisable during any calendar year which involve shares having a fair market value, determined at the time of grant, in excess of $100,000. Options are settled in shares.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights.  Awards under the Incentive Plan may take the form of stock appreciation rights, which allow the holder to realize the value of the difference between the market price of our Common Stock at the time that the rights are granted and the market value of that stock when the rights are exercised. The term of stock appreciation rights cannot exceed ten years. If the value of the stock has not increased during that time, the rights will have no value. Stock appreciation rights may be settled in cash, shares or a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Compensation Committee and provided in the applicable award agreement.

 

Restricted Share and Restricted Share Units.  Awards under the Incentive Plan may take the form of restricted shares and restricted share units, which involve the granting of shares to participants subject to restrictions on transferability and any other restrictions the Compensation Committee may impose. The restrictions lapse if either the holder remains employed by us for a period of time established by the Compensation Committee under the applicable award agreement or satisfies other restrictions, including performance-based restrictions, during the period of time established by the Compensation Committee. Restricted share units are similar to restricted shares except that no shares are actually awarded to the participant on the date of grant and the holder typically does not enjoy any shareholder rights (including voting) with respect to the units. Restricted share awards and restricted share unit awards are settled in shares.

 

Performance Shares.  Awards under the Incentive Plan may take the form of performance shares. The period of time over which performance goals are measured must be set in advance of establishing the performance goal or goals for the period of time and will be of such duration as the Compensation Committee shall determine. Performance shares may be settled in shares.

 

Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards.  Other stock-based awards are awards of stock-based compensation that do not fit within the scope of the other specifically enumerated types of awards. The Compensation Committee may make cash-based awards with a range of payments levels. Cash-based awards may be based upon the achievement of performance goals. Other stock-based awards and cash-based awards may be settled in cash, shares or a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Compensation Committee and provided in the applicable award agreement. Under the Incentive Plan, cash-based awards may not be settled with restricted stock.

 

There were no stock option exercises by our named executive officers during 2009, nor did any restricted shares held by our named executive officers vest in 2009.

 

None of the named executive officers participates in a defined benefit pension plan sponsored by us. All named executive officers participate in the same defined contribution plan as all of our other non-union employees.

 

The following table sets forth information relating to participation by the named executive officers in our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and Executive Deferred Compensation Plan during 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

On January 1, 2005, we established the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan in order to provide unfunded deferred compensation to a select group of our officers, management and highly compensated employees. Currently, Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito and Ms. Potash are the only named executive officers who participate in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

 

The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan provides for a single lump sum payment to participants of their vested account balance, as adjusted for earnings and losses prior to distribution, following a “qualified” retirement from the Company. Participants who retire from the Company after attaining the age of 62 will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of their vested account balance six months after the date of retirement. Participants who retire from the Company after attaining the age of 55, but prior to attaining the age of 62, will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of their vested account balance

after the later of the attainment of the age of 62 or six months following the date of retirement.

 

Generally, benefits under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan vest at the end of the five-year period after the executive becomes a participant in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. The benefits of Ms. Potash, who became a participant in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on January 1, 2008, vest according to this schedule. However, the benefits of Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito are fully vested in the plan.

 

Participants’ benefits under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan will become fully vested upon (1) death while an employee of the Company, (2) termination of employment due to disability, (3) the effective date of any termination of the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, or (4) the date of a change of control.

 

We annually allocate a deemed “base contribution” under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for each participant in an amount equal to thirteen percent (13%) of a participant’s “Applied Compensation.” A participant’s “Applied Compensation” is the sum of: (1) the participant’s annual base salary; plus (2) the lesser of (a) the actual bonus earned by the participant under the Senior Management Compensation Program in the applicable year, or (b) 50% of the participant’s annual base salary earned in the applicable year. Additionally, in the case of Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito, we annually allocate an “incentive contribution” under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for each participant, based on our return on invested capital for the applicable year, in an amount of 0 to 19.6% of the participant’s Applied Compensation. The percentage is determined in accordance with the following table:

 

 

A participant’s account will be credited with earnings and losses based on the performance of investment funds selected by the participant. Account balances are credited with earnings, gains or losses based on the performance of investment options that are the same as those available to all of our employees who participate under our 401(k) plan.

Earnings under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan are based on the following underlying funds, which had the following annual returns in 2009:

 

 

 

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

 

The Olympic Steel, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, is a non-qualified contributory savings plan we established, effective December 1, 2004, for the purpose of providing a tax effective deferred compensation opportunity for a select group of our management and/or highly compensated employees. Currently, Mr. Wolfort is the only participant who has elected to participate in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

Participants may defer all or any portion of their annual incentive award and up to 90% of their base salary to the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Each Participant is eligible to designate one or more investment options that are available under our 401(k) and profit-sharing plan as the deemed investment(s) for the participant’s deferred compensation account or such other investment options determined appropriate in the sole discretion of the Board. Employee deferrals are credited with earnings, gains or losses based on the performance of investment options that are available under our 401(k) and profit-sharing plan and selected by the employee. Earnings under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan are based on the same funds, with same annual returns for 2009, as described above with respect to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. A participant’s contributions

are always 100% vested, and distributions from the plan will be paid in cash in a single lump sum upon termination of employment.

 

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION
OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

Retention Agreements

 

We have executed retention agreements with Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort, Marabito and Manson and Ms. Potash. Under these agreements, which do not become operative unless we incur a change in control (as defined in the agreements), we agreed to continue the employment of the officer for a certain period following the change in control in the same position with the same duties and responsibilities and at the same compensation level as existed prior to the change in control. If the officer’s employment is terminated without cause or by the officer for “good reason” during such period, or if the officer terminates his employment for any reason or no reason during the 12-month period following a change in control, the officer is entitled to receive a lump-sum severance payment with continuation of medical, dental, disability and life insurance benefits for one year (two years in the cases of Messrs. Siegal and Wolfort). The applicable period for Mr. Manson and Ms. Potash is one year and their severance payment is equal to the average of their respective last three years’ compensation. The applicable period for Mr. Marabito is two years and his severance payment is equal to two times the average of his last three years’ compensation. The applicable period for Messrs. Siegal and Wolfort is two years and their severance payment is equal to 2.99 times the average of their respective last three years’ compensation. Under our long-term equity-based incentive program, upon a change in control, each of our named executive officers would also be entitled to receive a payout for his or her performance-earned restricted stock units award made under our Incentive Plan, as discussed above, at the greater of the target level or actual achievement for the performance period.

 

Compensation for purposes of this calculation includes salary, cash bonus, Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan on behalf of the officer, personal tax preparation fees, and automobile allowance (and country club dues in the cases of Messrs. Siegal and Wolfort). These retention agreements also provide that, in the event that any of the payments or benefits described above would constitute a “parachute payment” under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G, the payments or benefits provided will be reduced so that no portion is subject to the excise tax imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 4999, but only to the extent such reduction will result in a net after tax benefit to the officer. Each of the retention agreements contains a non-competition prohibition for one year post-employment (two years in the cases of Messrs. Siegal and Wolfort).

The table below reflects the approximate amounts that would be payable to each named executive officer under their retention agreement assuming that we incurred a change in control at December 31, 2009, that the officer’s employment was terminated in a manner triggering payment of the above benefits, and that no reduction of benefits would be made in order to avoid excise taxes imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 4999.

 

 

 

Employment Agreements

 

Siegal Employment Agreement.  On January 7, 2010, we entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Michael D. Siegal pursuant to which Mr. Siegal will serve as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for a term ending January 1, 2013, with an automatic three-year extension unless we or Mr. Siegal provide notice otherwise on or before July 1, 2012. Under the agreement, Mr. Siegal is to receive a base salary of $750,000 per year. Notwithstanding the contractual amount of base salary provided in his employment contract, we entered into a separate agreement with Mr. Siegal whereby he will continue to receive a base salary of $571,725 per year and his base salary will not increase to the contract amount of $750,000 per year until economic conditions warrant, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

During the period of employment, Mr. Siegal will be eligible for a performance bonus under our Senior Management Compensation Program in place as of 2010, as amended, or such other bonus plan that replaces that plan, and Mr. Siegal will be eligible to participate in any long-term incentive plan that may be created or amended by the Board from time to

time. If we terminate Mr. Siegal’s employment without cause during his employment period, he will continue to receive his base salary, annual bonus and any other benefits applicable to him under the welfare and benefit plans we maintain, including Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan, coverage under our medical, dental, disability and life insurance programs, reimbursement for personal tax and financial planning, and an allowance for country club dues and automobile and cell phone allowances, as in effect on the date of termination, during the period ending on the earliest of (1) January 1, 2013, (2) a breach of the non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality clause, or (3) twenty-four months from the date of termination of employment. If Mr. Siegal’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, he or his estate will continue to receive his base salary, and he and/or his spouse and any minor children will be eligible to continue to participate in our health insurance programs for one year thereafter. If Mr. Siegal’s employment had been terminated due to death or disability as of December 31, 2009, he or his estate would be entitled to receive $599,823 in respect of his base salary and $13,172 in premiums under our medical and dental insurance programs. The employment agreement contains a two-year non-competition and non-solicitation prohibition and customary confidentiality provisions. Assuming that we terminated Mr. Siegal’s employment without cause as of December 31, 2009, he would be entitled to receive the following benefits: $1,199,646 in respect of his base salary, $0 in respect of his bonus, $167,478 in Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan, $32,930 in premiums for coverage under our medical, dental, disability and life insurance programs, $20,000 for reimbursement of personal tax and financial planning fees, and $86,130 allowances for country club dues, an automobile and a cell phone, for a total of $1,506,184.

 

Wolfort Employment Agreement.  Mr. Wolfort serves as our President and Chief Operating Officer pursuant to an employment agreement, effective January 1, 2006, expiring on January 1, 2011, with an automatic three-year extension unless we or Mr. Wolfort provide notice otherwise on or before July 1, 2010. Under the agreement, Mr. Wolfort received a base salary of $550,000, subject to possible future increases as determined by the Board of the Company or any duly authorized committee. Effective April 1, 2009, Mr. Wolfort voluntarily decreased his base salary by 10% from $550,000 to $495,000 (an amount below the contractual minimum base salary) due to unfavorable economic conditions.

 

During the period of employment, Mr. Wolfort will be eligible for a performance bonus under our Senior Management Compensation Program in place as of 2006, as amended, or such other bonus plan that replaces that plan, and Mr. Wolfort will be eligible to participate in any long-term incentive plan that may be created or amended by the Board from time to time. If we terminate Mr. Wolfort’s employment without cause during the employment term, he will continue to receive his base salary, annual bonus and any other benefits applicable to him under the welfare and benefit plans we maintain, including Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan, coverage under our medical, dental, disability and life insurance programs, reimbursement for personal tax and financial planning and an allowance for country club dues, an automobile and a cell phone, as in effect on the date of termination, for a period ending on the earlier of (1) December 31, 2010 (subject to extension), (2) a

breach of the non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality clause, or (3) twenty-four months from the date of termination of employment. If Mr. Wolfort’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, he or his estate will continue to receive his base salary, and he and/or his spouse and any minor children will be eligible to continue to participate in our health insurance programs for one year thereafter. If Mr. Wolfort’s employment had been terminated due to death or disability as of December 31, 2009, he or his estate would be entitled to receive $545,293 in respect of his base salary and $13,172 in premiums under our medical and dental insurance programs. The employment agreement contains a two-year non-competition and non-solicitation prohibition and customary confidentiality provisions. Assuming that we terminated Mr. Wolfort’s employment without cause as of December 31, 2009, he would be entitled to receive the following benefits: $1,090,586 in respect of his base salary, $0 in respect of his bonus, $153,588 in Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan, $35,794 in premiums for coverage under our medical, dental, disability and life insurance programs, $20,000 for reimbursement of personal tax and financial planning fees, and $87,686 allowances for country club dues, an automobile and a cell phone, for a total of $1,387,654.

 

Marabito Employment Agreement.  On August 8, 2006, we entered into an employment agreement with Richard T. Marabito pursuant to which Mr. Marabito will serve as our Chief Financial Officer for a term ending January 1, 2012, with an automatic three-year extension unless we or Mr. Marabito provide notice otherwise on or before July 1, 2011. Under the agreement, Mr. Marabito received a base salary of $341,250 for 2008, which is subject to possible future increases as determined by the Board. Effective April 1, 2009, Mr. Marabito voluntarily decreased his base salary by 10% from $341,250 to $307,125 (an amount below the contractual minimum base salary) due to unfavorable economic conditions.

 

During the period of employment, Mr. Marabito will be eligible for a performance bonus under our Senior Manager Compensation Program in place as of 2006, as amended, or such other bonus plan that replaces that plan, and Mr. Marabito will be eligible to participate in any long-term incentive plan that may be created or amended by the Board from time to time. If we terminate Mr. Marabito’s employment without cause during his employment period, he will continue to receive his base salary, annual bonus and any other benefits applicable to him under the welfare and benefit plans we maintain, including Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan, coverage under our medical, dental, disability and life insurance programs, reimbursement for personal tax and financial planning and an automobile and cell phone allowance, as in effect on the date of termination, during the period ending on the earlier of (1) January 1, 2012, (2) a breach of the non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality clause, or (3) twenty-four months from the date of termination of employment. If Mr. Marabito’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, he or his estate will continue to receive his base salary, and he and/or his spouse and any minor children will be eligible to continue to participate in our health insurance programs for one year thereafter. If Mr. Marabito’s employment had been terminated due to death or disability as of December 31, 2009, he or his estate would be entitled to receive $322,219 in respect of his base salary and $13,172 in premiums under our medical and dental insurance programs. The employment agreement contains a two-year non-competition and non-solicitation prohibition and customary confidentiality provisions. Assuming that we terminated

Mr. Marabito’s employment without cause as of December 31, 2009, he would be entitled to receive the following benefits: $644,438 in respect of his base salary, $0 in respect of his bonus, $96,770 in Company contributions to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and 401(k) and profit-sharing plan, $28,584 in premiums for coverage under our medical, dental, disability and life insurance programs, $16,000 for reimbursement of personal tax and financial planning fees, and $52,200 allowances for an automobile and a cell phone, for a total of $837,992.

 

Retirement Plans

 

Messrs. Siegal, Wolfort and Marabito and Ms. Potash are eligible to participate in our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and each of our named executive officers is eligible to participate in our Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. The aggregate account balance of each named executive officer under these plans and a description of the amounts payable to each such executive upon retirement from their employment with us are provided under the 2009 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table above.

 

2009 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table summarizes compensation paid to our non-employee directors in 2009:

 

 

 

During 2009, each Director who was not one of our employees received a $36,000 annual retainer, payable in quarterly installments and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board meetings. The Audit and Compliance Committee Chairman received an additional $8,000 and the Chairmen of the Compensation and Nominating Committees each received an additional $4,000. Directors who are also our employees receive no additional remuneration for serving as Directors. The 2009 retainers listed above reflect a 20% voluntary reduction from 2008 taken by our non-employee directors due to unfavorable economic conditions.

 

The Compensation Committee approved the grant of 1,800 time-based restricted stock units to each non-employee director, effective January 2, 2009. Subject to the terms of the Incentive Plan and the restricted stock units award agreement executed by each non-

employee director, the restricted stock units vested on January 1, 2010. The restricted stock units are not converted into shares of Common Stock until the director either resigns or is terminated from the Board.

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2009 regarding shares outstanding and available for issuance under the Stock Option Plan and the Incentive Plan:

 

 

We have adopted a written policy for the review of transactions with related persons. The policy generally requires review, approval or ratification of transactions involving amounts exceeding $120,000 in which we are a participant and in which a director, director-nominee, executive officer or a significant shareholder of the Company, or an immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, has a direct or indirect material interest. These transactions must be reported for review by our Audit and Compliance Committee. Following review, our Audit and Compliance Committee determines to approve or ratify these transactions, taking into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether they are on terms no less favorable to us than those available with other unaffiliated parties and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. The Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee has the authority to approve or ratify any related party transaction in which the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $500,000. The policy provides for standing pre-approval of certain related party transactions, even if the amounts involved exceed $120,000, including certain transactions involving: compensation paid to our executive officers and directors; other companies or charitable organizations where the amounts involved do not exceed $500,000 or 2% of the organization’s total annual revenues or receipts; proportional benefits to all shareholders; rates or charges determined by competitive bids; services as a common or contract carrier or public utility; and banking-related services.

 

Since 1956, a partnership partially owned by family members of Mr. Siegal has owned a Cleveland warehouse and currently leases it to us at an annual rental of $195,300. The lease expires in 2010, subject to one 10-year renewal.

 

The relationships described above have been reviewed and ratified in accordance with our policy for review of transactions with related persons.

 

The purpose of the Audit and Compliance Committee is to assist the Board in its general oversight of our financial reporting, internal controls and audit functions. The Audit and Compliance Committee charter describes in greater detail the full responsibilities of the committee and is available through the “Investor Relations” section of our website at www.olysteel.com. The Audit and Compliance Committee is comprised solely of independent Directors as defined by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market and by Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

The Audit and Compliance Committee has reviewed and discussed our consolidated financial statements with management and PwC, our independent auditors. Management is responsible for our financial statements and the financial reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. The independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB, and to issue a report thereon. The Audit and Compliance Committee monitors and oversees these processes on behalf of the Board.

 

Management continued to review and enhance the internal control evaluation process and the Audit and Compliance Committee was kept apprised of the progress of the evaluation and provided oversight and advice to management. In connection with this oversight, the Audit and Compliance Committee receives periodic updates provided by management and PwC at each regularly scheduled Audit and Compliance Committee meeting. These updates occur at least quarterly. The Audit and Compliance Committee also holds regular private sessions with PwC to discuss their audit plan for the year, the financial statements and risks of fraud. At the conclusion of the process, management provides the Audit and Compliance Committee with a report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which is reviewed by the Committee. The Audit and Compliance Committee also reviews the report of management contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC, as well as PwC’s Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K related to its integrated audit of our fiscal 2009 consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

 

As part of fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit and Compliance Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for 2009 with management and discussed with our independent auditors those matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3200T. The Audit and Compliance Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding PwC’s communications with the Audit and Compliance Committee and discussed that firm’s independence with representatives of the firm. The Audit and Compliance Committee also monitored the services provided by the independent auditors, pre-approved all audit-related services, discussed with PwC the effect of the non-audit services performed on auditor independence, and concluded that the provision of such

services by PwC was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in conducting its auditing functions.

 

Based upon the Audit and Compliance Committee’s review of the audited consolidated financial statements and its discussions with management and our independent auditors, the Audit and Compliance Committee recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

 

This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Audit and Compliance Committee:

 

Howard L. Goldstein, Chairman
Martin H. Elrad
Ralph M. Della Ratta

 

 

The Company has selected PwC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as its independent auditors for 2010. The decision to retain PwC was made by the Audit and Compliance Committee.

 

Audit Fees.  Aggregate fees for professional services rendered by PwC for the audit of our annual financial statements and for its review of the financial statements included in our Forms 10-Q were $536,700 for 2009 and $500,300 for 2008. Services performed in 2009 and 2008 include the audit of our annual financial statements, the internal control attestations required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the quarterly reviews of the financial statements included in our Forms 10-Q.

 

Audit-Related Fees.  Aggregate fees for assurance and related services by PwC that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and which were not reported under “Audit Fees” above were $4,975 in 2009 and $0 in 2008.

 

Tax Fees.  There were $2,500 in tax fees paid to PwC in both 2009 and 2008.

 

All Other Fees.  There were no other fees paid to PwC in 2009 or 2008.

 

Pre-Approval Policy.  All services listed above were pre-approved by the Audit and Compliance Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by PwC was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Audit and Compliance Committee Charter provides for pre-approval by the Audit and Compliance Committee of non-audit services provided by PwC.

 

To the extent that this proxy statement is incorporated by reference into any other filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the sections of this Proxy Statement entitled “Compensation Committee Report” and

“Audit Committee Report” will not be deemed incorporated, unless specifically provided otherwise in such filing.

 

The Board of the Company is not aware of any matter other than listed in the Notice of Meeting that is to be presented for action at the meeting. If any of the Board’s nominees is unavailable for election as a Director or for good cause will not serve, or if any other matter should properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof, it is intended that votes will be cast pursuant to the Proxy in respect thereto in accordance with the best judgment of the person or persons acting as proxies.

 

The deadline for shareholders to submit proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is expected to be December 10, 2010.

 

Shareholder nominations of a person for possible election as a Director for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company not later than December 31, 2010, and must be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the requirements set forth in our Amended and Restated Code of Regulations.

 

Proxies appointed by management will use their discretionary authority to vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend at our 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders if a shareholder raises a proposal which is not to be included in our proxy materials for such meeting and we do not receive proper notice of such proposal at our principal executive offices by February 8, 2011. If notice of any such proposal is timely received, the proxy holders may exercise discretionary authority with respect to such proposal only to the extent permitted by applicable SEC rules. Such proposal must in any circumstance be, under applicable law, an appropriate subject for shareholder action in order to be brought before the meeting.

 

Any such proposals should be sent in care of the Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices.

 

Our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2009, including our consolidated financial statements and the report thereon of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, is being mailed to shareholders with this Notice of the Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

 

This Proxy Statement is available free of charge on the Investor Relations section of our website through the “Financial Information” and “SEC Filings” links at (http://www.olysteel.com/sec _ filings.phtml). Our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2009 is available free of charge on the Investor Relations section of our website through the “Financial Information” and “Annual Reports” links at the following cookie-free site: (http://investor.shareholder.com/common/dar/dynamicreport.cfm?docid=a95ac239).

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

Christopher M. Kelly
Secretary
April 1, 2010

Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders, you can be sure your shares are
represented at the meeting by promptly returning
your proxy in the enclosed envelope.

 WO#
67536

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THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSALS.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Please mark your votes as indicated in this example		x

Mark Here for Address Change or Comments SEE REVERSE		c

Signature		Signature		Date

NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.

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Proxy	OLYMPIC STEEL	Proxy