PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in various litigation matters, including administrative proceedings, regulatory proceedings, governmental investigations, environmental matters, and commercial and construction contract disputes, none of which are expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
We may also be involved from time to time in various governmental investigations, regulatory proceedings or judicial actions seeking penalties, injunctive relief, and/or remediation under federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. The United States EPA has conducted such investigations and proceedings involving us, in some instances along with state environmental regulators, under various environmental laws, including RCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Some of these matters have resulted in fines or penalties, for which a total of $485,000 is recorded in our financial statements as of September 30, 2020.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Except as stated below, no material changes have occurred to the indicated risk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could also exacerbate other risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Pandemics, epidemics, widespread illness or other health issues, such as the recent novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, liquidity, and stock price.
The COVID-19 pandemic has and may continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, liquidity and stock price. Other pandemics, epidemics, widespread illness or other health issues could also adversely affect us. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in various government actions globally, including United States federal and state governmental actions designed to slow the spread of the virus and its impacts. These actions have included quarantines, “shelter in place,” “stay at home” and “social distancing” orders, business shutdowns or restrictions, travel restrictions and other mitigation efforts, which, among other things, have impacted and may further impact demand for our products, as well as our supply chain. These measures, along with further voluntary measures by businesses and individuals, have impacted and may further impact our working conditions, productivity and operations, as well as those of our customers, suppliers, vendors and business partners. These mitigation measures have also adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the United States and world economies, resulting in increased unemployment in the United States and the communities in which we operate. However, due to our variable compensation system that rewards productivity, as well as our low fixed cost structure, we have not and do not expect in the future to significantly reduce our workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have been identified by governmental authorities as a critical infrastructure industry and have been deemed an essential business in all of the states in which we operate. This has permitted us to continue to advance our commitment to our customers and meet their demand by operating our business consistent with federal guidelines and state and local orders, including social distancing guidelines. Our teams are our most valued priority, and we have implemented numerous process and procedural initiatives to ensure the health and safety of our people, their families and our communities. We have adjusted schedules to support social distancing, provided additional and more frequent sanitizing applications, provided additional protective measures, and many other items. These health and safety initiatives have not and are not expected to have a material effect on our operations, but further required limitations and restrictions could adversely affect our results of operations.
Additionally, while we have not currently curtailed our operations, a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic or resurgence or further spread of the virus could further materially reduce demand for our products and thus, reduce the productivity of our operations and have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Certain of our suppliers and customers, such as those in the automotive, energy and related industries, have experienced temporary shutdowns or significant demand reductions, adversely affecting our operations. Further reduced demand for our products or raw material supply availability due to shutdowns or slowdowns in businesses could further adversely affect our volumes and margins, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Prolonged shutdowns of critical equipment suppliers, or their suppliers, to our planned capital improvements, including our under construction Sinton, Texas Flat Roll Steel Mill expected to commence operations mid-year 2021, could, if they were to occur, cause our planned expansions to be delayed. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused volatility in the financial and capital markets, which has adversely affected our stock price and may adversely affect our ability to access and the costs associated with accessing the debt or equity capital markets, which could adversely affect our liquidity, which as of September 30, 2020 was approximately $2.5 billion, consisting of approximately $1.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $1.2 billion in availability under our undrawn credit facility.