Universal Stainless & Alloy Products (USAP) 10-Q 2015 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2015

OR

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

For the Transition Period from              to             

Commission File Number 000-25032

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE	25-1724540
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

600 Mayer Street

Bridgeville, PA 15017

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(412) 257-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☑
Non-accelerated filer	☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☑

As of October 28, 2015, there were 7,102,924 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding.

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

Table of Contents

	DESCRIPTION	PAGE NO.
PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements	1
	Consolidated Statements of Operations	1
	Consolidated Balance Sheets	2
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow	3
	Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements	4
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	9
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	18
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	18
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION	19
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	19
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	19
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	19
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	19
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	19
Item 5.	Other Information	19
Item 6.	Exhibits	19
SIGNATURES		20

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Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Information)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2015		2014			2015		2014
Net sales	$	43,371	$	53,626	$	148,964	$	152,602
Cost of products sold		43,781		44,983		138,478		129,489
Gross margin		(410)		8,643		10,486		23,113
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,218		5,520		14,873		15,317
Goodwill impairment		20,268		-		20,268		-
Operating (loss) income		(25,896)		3,123		(24,655)		7,796
Interest expense and other financing costs		(633)		(949)		(2,180)		(2,854)
Other expense, net		(55)		(4)		(88)		(1)
(Loss) income before income taxes		(26,584)		2,170		(26,923)		4,941
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(9,539)		775		(9,647)		2,596
Net (loss) income	$	(17,045)	$	1,395	$	(17,276)	$	2,345
Net (loss) income per common share - Basic	$	(2.41)	$	0.20	$	(2.45)	$	0.33
Net (loss) income per common share - Diluted	$	(2.41)	$	0.20	$	(2.45)	$	0.33
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
Basic		7,070,924		7,039,823		7,062,373		7,028,658
Diluted		7,070,924		7,539,291		7,062,373		7,114,121

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
			(Derived from
			audited
	(Unaudited)		statements)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash	$	406	$	142
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $22 and $17, respectively)		23,179		29,057
Inventory, net		88,341		101,070
Deferred income taxes		5,213		9,683
Other current assets		2,825		2,681
Total current assets		119,964		142,633
Property, plant and equipment, net		196,474		199,795
Goodwill		-		20,268
Other long-term assets		912		1,861
Total assets	$	317,350	$	364,557
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	13,638	$	25,009
Accrued employment costs		3,774		6,011
Current portion of long-term debt		3,000		3,000
Other current liabilities		1,001		861
Total current liabilities		21,413		34,881
Long-term debt		79,600		83,875
Deferred income taxes		28,053		42,108
Other long-term liabilities		56		63
Total liabilities		129,122		160,927
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Stockholders’ equity:
Senior preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share; 1,980,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding		-		-
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,395,779 and 7,371,018 shares issued, respectively		7		7
Additional paid-in capital		54,684		52,810
Retained earnings		135,827		153,103
Treasury stock, at cost; 292,855 common shares held		(2,290)		(2,290)
Total stockholders’ equity		188,228		203,630
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	317,350	$	364,557

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Nine months ended
	September 30,
	2015		2014
Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(17,276)	$	2,345
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		14,109		13,026
Deferred income tax		(9,585)		2,310
Share-based compensation expense		1,487		1,564
Goodwill impairment		20,268		-
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net		5,878		(12,079)
Inventory, net		11,288		(12,440)
Accounts payable		(11,371)		6,541
Accrued employment costs		(2,237)		2,277
Income taxes		(226)		246
Other, net		213		482
Net cash provided by operating activities		12,548		4,272
Investing Activity:
Capital expenditures		(8,397)		(6,077)
Net cash used in investing activity		(8,397)		(6,077)
Financing Activities:
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		76,898		82,416
Payments on revolving credit facility		(78,923)		(78,871)
Payments on term loan facility		(2,250)		(2,250)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock		388		908
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(3,887)		2,203
Net increase in cash		264		398
Cash at beginning of period		142		307
Cash at end of period	$	406	$	705

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

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UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1:  Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“Universal”, “we”, “our” or the “Company”), manufacture and market semi-finished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. Our manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, heat treating, hot and cold rolling, forging, machining and cold drawing of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. Our products are sold to service centers, forgers, rerollers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers. Our customers further process our products for use in a variety of industries, including the aerospace, power generation, oil and gas and heavy equipment manufacturing industries. We also perform conversion services on materials supplied by customers.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial reports and the instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations. However, we believe that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our most recently audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements for the periods shown. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future period. The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from our estimates. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly–owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standard Updates (“ASUs”).  Recently issued ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) which was amended, in August 2015, by ASU 2015-14 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. This topic converges the guidance within U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards and supersedes Accounting Standards Codification 605, Revenue Recognition.  The new standard requires companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  The new standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, provide guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively, and improve guidance for multiple-element arrangements.  The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.  We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03,"Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs."  ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts.  The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period, and early application is permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” ("ASU 2015-11") to simplify the guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory, excluding inventory measured using last-in, first out or the retail inventory method. Under the new standard, inventory should be at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The new accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-11 on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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Note 2:  Net (loss) income per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share:

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	2015		2014		2015		2014
Numerator:
Net (loss) income	$	(17,045)	$	1,395	$	(17,276)	$	2,345
Adjustment for interest expense on convertible notes (A)		-		132		-		-
Net (loss) income, as adjusted	$	(17,045)	$	1,527	$	(17,276)	$	2,345
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding		7,070,924		7,039,823		7,062,373		7,028,658
Weighted average effect of dilutive stock options and other stock compensation		-		72,072		-		85,463
Weighted average effect of assumed conversion of convertible notes		-		427,396		-		-
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, as adjusted		7,070,924		7,539,291		7,062,373		7,114,121
Net (loss) income per common share:
Net (loss) income per common share - Basic	$	(2.41)	$	0.20	$	(2.45)	$	0.33
Net (loss) income per common share - Diluted	$	(2.41)	$	0.20	$	(2.45)	$	0.33

(A)   An adjustment for interest expense on convertible notes was excluded from the (loss) income per share calculation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 as a result of the convertible notes being antidilutive.

We had options to purchase 708,550 and 442,300 shares of common stock outstanding at an average price of $29.31 and $35.20 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which were excluded in the computation of diluted net (loss) income per common share.  We had options to purchase 595,675 and 351,800 shares of common stock outstanding at an average price of $31.98 and $36.31 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which were excluded in the computation of diluted net (loss) income per common share. These outstanding options were not included in the computation of diluted net (loss) income per common share because their respective exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common stock. The calculation of diluted net (loss) income per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 excluded 427,396 and 427,914 shares, respectively, for the assumed conversion of convertible notes as a result of being antidilutive.  The calculation of diluted net (loss) income per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 excluded 427,914 shares for the assumed conversion of convertible notes as a result of being antidilutive.  In addition, the calculation of dilutive earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 excluded 11,800 and 31,432 shares, respectively, for the assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock under our stock share incentive plans, as a result of being in a net loss position.

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Note 3:  Inventory

Our raw material and starting stock inventory is primarily comprised of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal and alloys such as nickel, chrome, molybdenum, cobalt and copper. Our semi-finished and finished steel products are work-in-process in various stages of production or are finished products waiting to be shipped to our customers.  Operating materials are primarily comprised of forge dies and production molds and rolls that are consumed over their useful lives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we amortized these operating materials in the amount of $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively.  This expense is recorded as a component of cost of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations and included as a part of our total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market with cost principally determined on a weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead. We assess market based upon actual and estimated transactions at or around the balance sheet date. Typically, we reserve for slow-moving inventory and inventory that is being evaluated under our quality control process. The reserves are based upon management’s expected method of disposition.  Inventories consisted of the following:

	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2015		2014
Raw materials and starting stock	$	7,809	$	8,943
Semi-finished and finished steel products		73,022		84,816
Operating materials		8,767		8,759
Gross inventory		89,598		102,518
Inventory reserves		(1,257)		(1,448)
Total inventory, net	$	88,341	$	101,070

Note 4:  Goodwill

We test goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a two-step quantitative test, which involves comparing the estimated fair value of the associated reporting unit to its carrying value.  The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that fair value is less than its carrying amount.  Factors considered as part of the qualitative assessment include entity-specific, industry, market and general economic conditions.  We may elect to bypass this qualitative assessment and perform a two-step quantitative test.  We test for goodwill impairment using a combination of valuation techniques, which include consideration of a market-based approach (guideline company method) and an income approach (discounted cash flow method), in determining fair value in the annual impairment test of goodwill.  We believe that the combination of the valuation models provides a more appropriate valuation by taking into account different marketplace participant assumptions.  Both methods utilize market data in the derivation of a value estimate and are forward-looking in nature.  The guideline assessment of future performance and the discounted cash flow method utilize a market-derived rate of return to discount anticipated performance.

We conduct our annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each year.  Other events and changes in circumstances may also require goodwill to be tested for impairment between annual measurement dates. While a decline in stock price and market capitalization is not specifically cited as a goodwill impairment indicator, a company’s stock price and market capitalization should be considered in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less that its carrying value. Additionally, a significant decline in a company’s stock price may suggest that an adverse change in the business climate may have caused the fair value of the reporting unit to fall below its carrying value. The financial and credit market volatility directly impacts our fair value measurement through our stock price that we use to determine our market capitalization. During times of volatility, significant judgment must be applied to determine whether credit or stock price changes are a short-term swing or a longer-term trend.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company has experienced a significant and sustained drop in its share price and continued weak operating results driven by slower market conditions.  As a result of these conditions, the Company determined that an interim goodwill impairment review was required in accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other”.  Based on the guidance in ASC 350, the Company performed the two-step quantitative analysis.  Under the first step, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the fair value of the Company and, therefore,  the second step of the analysis was performed.  The fair value was estimated using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based on projected discounted cash flows and a market approach, which estimates fair value using the recent stock price of the Company.  The income approach is supported by a Level 3 fair value measurement, which means that the valuation reflects the Company’s own estimates of market participant

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assumptions.  The market approach is supported by a Level 1 fair value measurement which is the observable stock price of the Company.  The income approach was weighted 30% and the market approach was weighted 70% in determining the fair value.  This assessment resulted in the recognition of a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $20.3 million, which eliminated all goodwill from the balance sheet at September 30, 2015.  The after-tax impact of this charge was $13.1 million.  As a result of the step two analysis no other assets were deemed to be impaired at September 30, 2015.

Note 5:  Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2015		2014
Revolving credit facility	$	52,350	$	51,350
Convertible notes		20,000		20,000
Term loan		10,250		15,500
Swing loan credit facility		-		25
Total debt		82,600		86,875
Less: current portion of long-term debt		(3,000)		(3,000)
Long-term debt	$	79,600	$	83,875

Credit Facility

We have a Credit Agreement (as amended to date, the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndication of banks which provides for a $105.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) and a $20.0 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan” and together with the Revolver, the “Facilities”) that expires in March 2017.  Under the Credit Agreement, our loan availability under the Revolver (“Borrowing Base”) is calculated monthly based upon our accounts receivable and inventory balances.  

We are required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% based on the daily unused portion of the Revolver. The Revolver also provides for up to $7.0 million of swing loans so long as the sum of the outstanding swing loans and the outstanding borrowings under the Revolver do not exceed our Borrowing Base at any given time. The Term Loan is payable in quarterly installments in the principal amount of $750,000, which began on July 1, 2013, with the balance of the Term Loan payable in full on March 19, 2017.  

Amounts outstanding under the Facilities, at our option, will bear interest at either a base rate or a LIBOR-based rate (the “LIBOR Option”), in either case calculated in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. We elected to use the LIBOR Option during the nine months ended September 30, 2015, which was 1.95% at September 30, 2015.  Interest on the Facilities is payable monthly.  

On October 23, 2015, the Company entered into a Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”) which is effective as of September 30, 2015.   Pursuant to the Fourth Amendment, the leverage ratio shall not exceed a ratio of 3.50 to 1.00 for the period ending September 30, 2015.  The leverage ratio covenant has been eliminated with respect to quarters ending after September 30, 2015, and testing under the fixed charge ratio covenant contained in the Credit Agreement has been delayed until September 30, 2016.  The Fourth Amendment adds a covenant whereby the Company must maintain at least $10.0 million of undrawn availability commencing on December 31, 2015.  In addition, the Fourth Amendment amends a covenant based on the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Fourth Amendment).  Pursuant to that amended covenant, the Company must maintain Consolidated EBITDA of $12.4 million, $10.2 million, $10.8 million, $16.8 million and $23.0 million for the prior four fiscal quarters for the periods then ended  December 31, 2015, March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  We were in compliance with our covenants at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Convertible Notes

In connection with the acquisition of the North Jackson facility, in August 2011, we issued $20.0 million in convertible notes (the “Notes”) to the sellers of the North Jackson facility as partial consideration of the acquisition.  The Notes are subordinated obligations and rank junior to the Facilities.  The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.0% per annum, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on each June 18 and December 18, beginning on December 18, 2011.  Unless earlier converted, the Notes mature and the unpaid principal balance is due on August 17, 2017.  The Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest are convertible into shares of our common stock at the option of the holder at an initial conversion price of $47.1675 per share of common stock.  The conversion price

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associated with the Notes may be adjusted in certain circumstances.  We may prepay any outstanding Notes, in whole or in part, during a fiscal quarter if our share price is greater than 140% of the then current conversion price for at least 20 of the trading days in the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding quarter.

Note 6:   Fair Value Measurement

The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the inputs used to determine fair value, which are as follows:

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

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

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

The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.

The carrying amounts of our cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated fair value at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 due to their short-term maturities (Level 1). The fair value of the Term Loan, Revolver and swing loans at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 approximated the carrying amount as the interest rate is based upon floating short-term interest rates (Level 2).  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of our Notes was approximately $20.5 million (Level 2).

Note 7:   Commitments and Contingencies

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

Note 8:  Income Taxes

Management estimates the annual effective income tax rate quarterly, based on current annual forecasted results. Items unrelated to current year ordinary income are recognized entirely in the period identified as a discrete item of tax. The quarterly income tax provision is comprised of tax on ordinary income provided at the most recent estimated annual effective tax rate, increased or decreased for the tax effect of discrete items.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our estimated annual effective tax rate applied to ordinary income was 35.7% and 34.0%, respectively. 

Including the effect of discrete items, our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was 35.8% and 52.5%, respectively and for the three months ended September 30, 3015 and 2014 was 35.9% and 35.7% respectively.  The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was reflective of a net discrete tax expense of $915,000.  The $915,000 of discrete tax expense primarily includes tax expense of $596,000 associated with the New York state tax rate reduction to 0% for New York qualified manufacturers, and tax expense of $247,000 associated with a Pennsylvania tax settlement related to certain expenses which had been deducted for state income tax purposes during the 2005-2007 tax years.

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ITEM  2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains or incorporates forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involves risks and uncertainties. The following information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial information and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially due to competitive factors and other factors referred to in Part 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward looking statement. These forward looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate, and management’s beliefs and assumptions. In addition, other written or oral statements that constitute forward looking statements may be made by us or on our behalf. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “may,” “target,” “project,” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict.

Business Overview

We manufacture and market semi-finished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. Our manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, heat treating, hot and cold rolling, forging, machining and cold drawing of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. Our products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers. Our customers further process our products for use in a variety of industries, including the aerospace, power generation, oil and gas and general industrial markets. We also perform conversion services on materials supplied by customers.

Sales in the third quarter of 2015 were $43.4 million, a decrease of $6.2 million, or 12.6%, from the second quarter of 2015 and a decrease of $10.3 million, or 19.1%, from the third quarter of 2014. Sales were generally lower due to the reduction in surcharges caused by falling commodity prices and lower volume caused by customer inventory destocking.  The decline in commodity prices led to the slowing in sales during the third quarter.    Sales in the third quarter 2015 declined compared to the second quarter of 2015 in most targeted end use markets with aerospace down 7.7%, power generation down 24.8%, oil and gas down 32.4%, heavy equipment down 18.5%, and conversion services and other sales down 15.4%.  Compared to the third quarter of 2014, sales to aerospace decreased by 12.3%, heavy equipment decreased by 13.2%, power generation decreased 33.2%, oil and gas decreased 45.7% and general industrial, conversion services and other sales declined 23.9%. Through nine months of 2015, sales of $149.0 million are $3.6 million, or 2.4%, less than the comparable period of 2014 with aerospace and heavy equipment contributing positively and all other end markets declining.  During the third quarter of 2015, our sales of premium alloy products, which we define as all vacuum induction, melt products, represented $4.4 million, or 10.2%, of total net sales.  This compared to second quarter 2015 premium alloy sales of $4.2 million or 8.6%.  Premium alloy sales in the first nine months of 2015 totaled $13.7 million, or an increase of 33.6% over the same period of 2014.  Our premium alloy products are primarily sold to the aerospace end market.  Our backlog, before surcharges, at September 30, 2015 was $39.0 million, a decline of $9.9 million, or 20.2%, compared to June 30, 2015, and a decline of $22.1 million, or 36.2%, since December 31, 2014. 

The Company’s gross margin for the third quarter of 2015 was a negative $0.4 million, or a negative 0.9% of net sales, and included before-tax charges of $3.5 million associated with temporarily idling plant capacity, non-cash inventory write-downs, reducing hourly and salary workforce, and costs associated with an unauthorized substitution by a vendor of a critical supply part for the melting process. Before including these pre-tax charges, the gross margin for the third quarter of 2015 was $3.1 million, or 7.1% of total sales, compared with $8.6 million, or 16.1% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2014, and $5.2 million, or 10.5% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2015.  The Company’s gross margin in 2015 has been negatively impacted by the sustained misalignment of material cost of product shipped with surcharges due to the decline in commodity prices over the past year.

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $5.2 million in the third quarter 2015, below the $5.5 million in the third quarter 2014, driven primarily by reduced variable incentive compensation, and slightly higher than the $5.0 million reported in the second quarter 2015.  The increase in SG&A in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2015 is primarily a result of intangible write-off costs recognized due to the exit of a non-compete agreement.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company has experienced a significant and sustained drop in its share price and continued weak operating results driven by slower market conditions.  As a result of these conditions, the Company determined that an interim goodwill impairment review was required in accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other”.  Based on the guidance in ASC 350, the Company performed the two-step quantitative analysis.  Under the first step, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the fair value of the Company and, therefore, the second step of the analysis was performed.  The fair value was estimated using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based on projected discounted cash flows and a

9

market approach, which estimates fair value using the recent stock price of the Company.  The income approach is supported by a Level 3 fair value measurement, which means that the valuation reflects the Company’s own estimates of market participant assumptions.  The market approach is supported by a Level 1 fair value measurement which is the observable stock price of the Company.  The income approach was weighted 30% and the market approach was weighted 70% in determining the fair value.  This assessment resulted in the recognition of a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $20.3 million, which eliminated all goodwill from the balance sheet at September 30, 2015.  The after-tax impact of this charge was $13.1 million.  As a result of the step two analysis no other assets were deemed to be impaired at September 30, 2015.

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Results of Operations

Three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 

	Three months ended September 30,
(in thousands, except shipped ton information)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales			Amount	Percentage of net sales		Dollar / ton variance		Percentage variance
Net sales:
Stainless steel	$	32,627	75.2	%	$	41,561	77.5	%	$	(8,934)	(21.5)	%
High-strength low alloy steel		3,838	8.8			4,541	8.5			(703)	(15.5)
Tool steel		4,240	9.8			4,254	7.9			(14)	(0.3)
High-temperature alloy steel		1,512	3.5			1,555	2.9			(43)	(2.8)
Conversion services and other sales		1,154	2.7			1,715	3.2			(561)	(32.7)
Total net sales		43,371	100.0			53,626	100.0			(10,255)	(19.1)
Cost of products sold		43,781	100.9			44,983	83.9			(1,202)	(2.7)
Gross margin		(410)	(0.9)			8,643	16.1			(9,053)	(104.7)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,218	12.0			5,520	10.3			(302)	(5.5)
Goodwill impairment		20,268	46.7			-	-			20,268	NM
Operating (loss) income		(25,896)	(59.6)			3,123	5.8			(29,019)	NM
Interest expense		(586)	(1.4)			(789)	(1.5)			203	(25.7)
Deferred financing amortization		(47)	(0.1)			(160)	(0.3)			113	(70.6)
Other expense, net		(55)	(0.1)			(4)	-			(51)	NM
(Loss) income before income taxes		(26,584)	(61.2)			2,170	4.0			(28,754)	NM
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(9,539)	(22.0)			775	1.4			(10,314)	NM
Net (loss) income	$	(17,045)	(39.2)	%	$	1,395	2.6	%	$	(18,440)	NM
Tons shipped		7,622				10,216				(2,594)	(25.4)	%
Sales dollars per shipped ton	$	5,690			$	5,249			$	441	8.4	%

NM – Not meaningful

Market Segment Information
	Three months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales		Amount		Percentage of net sales		Dollar variance		Percentage variance
Net sales:
Service centers	$	30,153	69.5	%	$	36,897	68.7	%	$	(6,744)	(18.3)	%
Forgers		4,664	10.8			6,257	11.7			(1,593)	(25.5)
Rerollers		2,868	6.6			5,405	10.1			(2,537)	(46.9)
Original equipment manufacturers		4,532	10.4			3,352	6.3			1,180	35.2
Conversion services and other sales		1,154	2.7			1,715	3.2			(561)	(32.7)
Total net sales	$	43,371	100.0	%	$	53,626	100.0	%	$	(10,255)	(19.1)	%

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Melt Type Information
	Three months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales			Amount	Percentage of net sales		Dollar variance		Percentage variance
Net sales:
Specialty alloys	$	37,801	87.1	%	$	48,608	90.6	%	$	(10,807)	(22.2)	%
Premium alloys (A)		4,416	10.2			3,303	6.2			1,113	33.7
Conversion services and other sales		1,154	2.7			1,715	3.2			(561)	(32.7)
Total net sales	$	43,371	100.0	%	$	53,626	100.0	%	$	(10,255)	(19.1)	%

(A) Premium alloys represent all vacuum induction melted (VIM) products.

The majority of our products are sold to service centers/processors rather than the ultimate end market customers. The end market information in this Quarterly Report is our estimate based upon our knowledge of our customers and the grade of material sold to them, which they will in-turn sell to the ultimate end market customer.

End Market Information
	Three months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales		Amount		Percentage of net sales		Dollar variance		Percentage variance
Net sales:
Aerospace	$	28,036	64.6	%	$	31,972	59.6	%	$	(3,936)	(12.3)	%
Power generation		3,817	8.8			5,710	10.7			(1,893)	(33.2)
Oil & gas		2,782	6.4			5,121	9.5			(2,339)	(45.7)
Heavy equipment		4,057	9.4			4,672	8.7			(615)	(13.2)
General industrial, conversion services and other sales		4,679	10.8			6,151	11.5			(1,472)	(23.9)
Total net sales	$	43,371	100.0	%	$	53,626	100.0	%	$	(10,255)	(19.1)	%

Net sales:

Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2015 decreased $10.3 million, or 19.1%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014.  This decrease primarily reflects a 25.4%  decrease in consolidated shipments and approximately 42% decrease in average surcharge for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same prior year period.  Despite the decrease in surcharges, our sales dollars per shipped ton increased by 8.4% from the three months ended September 30, 2014 to the three months ended September 30, 2015 reflecting a shift to a higher value product mix.  Our product sales to all of our end markets decreased, as noted in the above table.  During the three months ended September  30, 2015, premium alloy sales increased when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Our premium alloy sales were 10.2% of total sales for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to 6.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Our premium alloy sales are primarily for the aerospace end market.

Gross margin:

The Company’s gross margin for the third quarter of 2015 was negative $0.4 million, or negative 0.9% of net sales, and included before-tax charges of $3.5 million associated with temporarily idling plant capacity, non-cash inventory write-downs, reducing hourly and salary workforce, and costs associated with an unauthorized substitution by a vendor of a critical supply part for the melting process. Before including these pre-tax charges, the gross margin for the third quarter of 2015 was $3.1 million, or 7.1% of total sales,

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compared with $8.6 million, or 16.1% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2014, and $5.2 million, or 10.5% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2015.  The Company’s gross margin in 2015 has been negatively impacted by the sustained misalignment of material cost of product shipped with surcharges due to the steady decline in commodity prices over the past year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses:

Our SG&A expenses consist primarily of employee costs, which include salaries, payroll taxes and benefit related costs, legal and accounting services, stock compensation and insurance costs.  SG&A expenses decreased by approximately $0.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to a decrease in variable incentive compensation expense.  In addition, SG&A expenses include approximately $0.3 million for the write off of a non-compete agreement that was exited in the third quarter of 2015.  As a percentage of sales, our SG&A expenses increased from 10.3% during the three months ended September 30, 2014 to 12.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 primarily as a result of the 19.1%  decrease in our net sales quarter over quarter.     

Goodwill Impairment:

As of September 30, 2015, the Company has experienced a significant and sustained drop in its share price and continued weak operating results driven by slower market conditions.  As a result of these conditions, the Company determined that an interim goodwill impairment review was required in accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other”.  Based on the guidance in ASC 350, the Company performed the two-step quantitative analysis.  Under the first step, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the fair value of the Company and, therefore, the second step of the analysis was performed.  The fair value was estimated using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based on projected discounted cash flows and a market approach, which estimates fair value using the recent stock price of the Company.  The income approach is supported by a Level 3 fair value measurement, which means that the valuation reflects the Company’s own estimates of market participant assumptions.  The market approach is supported by a Level 1 fair value measurement which is the observable stock price of the Company.  The income approach was weighted 30% and the market approach was weighted 70% in determining the fair value.  This assessment resulted in the recognition of a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $20.3 million, which eliminated all goodwill from the balance sheet at September 30, 2015.  The after-tax impact of this charge was $13.1 million.  As a result of the step two analysis no other assets were deemed to be impaired at September 30, 2015.

Interest expense and other financing costs:

Interest expense decreased from $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This decrease is primarily due to lower interest rates incurred on our debt in 2015 when compared to 2014.  Our interest rates are determined by a LIBOR-based rate plus an applicable margin based upon our quarterly leverage ratio. 

Deferred financing fees decreased by approximately $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in the prior year.  The decrease is the result of a reduction to deferred financing fees to be paid. 

Income tax (benefit) provision:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our estimated annual effective tax rate applied to ordinary income was 35.7% and 34.0%, respectively. 

Including the effect of discrete items, our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was 35.9% and 35.7%, respectively.

Net income:

For the third quarter of 2015, the Company recorded a net loss of $17.0 million, or $2.41 per diluted share, including the after-tax non-cash intangible write-off charge of $13.2 million or $1.87 per diluted share as well as after-tax charges of $2.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, associated with temporarily idling plant capacity, non-cash inventory write-downs, reducing hourly and salary workforce, and costs associated with the unauthorized product substitution by a vendor.

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Nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 

	Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands, except shipped ton information)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales			Amount	Percentage of net sales		Dollar / ton variance		Percentage variance
Net sales:
Stainless steel	$	113,980	76.5	%	$	120,233	78.8	%	$	(6,253)	(5.2)	%
High-strength low alloy steel		13,270	8.9			11,787	7.7			1,483	12.6
Tool steel		13,133	8.8			11,315	7.4			1,818	16.1
High-temperature alloy steel		4,981	3.3			4,570	3.0			411	9.0
Conversion services and other sales		3,600	2.5			4,697	3.1			(1,097)	(23.4)
											#DIV/0!
Total net sales		148,964	100.0			152,602	100.0			(3,638)	(2.4)
Cost of products sold		138,478	93.0			129,489	84.9			8,989	6.9
											#DIV/0!
Gross margin		10,486	7.0			23,113	15.1			(12,627)	(54.6)
Selling and administrative expenses		14,873	10.0			15,317	10.0			(444)	(2.9)
Goodwill impairment		20,268	13.6			-	-			20,268	NM
											#DIV/0!
Operating (loss) income		(24,655)	(16.6)			7,796	5.1			(32,451)	(416.3)
Interest expense		(1,813)	(1.2)			(2,370)	(1.6)			557	(23.5)
Deferred financing amortization		(367)	(0.2)			(484)	(0.3)			117	(24.2)
Other expense, net		(88)	(0.1)			(1)	-			(87)	NM
											#DIV/0!
(Loss) income before income taxes		(26,923)	(18.1)			4,941	3.2			(31,864)	NM
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(9,647)	(6.5)			2,596	1.7			(12,243)	(471.6)
											#DIV/0!
Net (loss) income	$	(17,276)	(11.6)	%	$	2,345	1.5	%	$	(19,621)	NM
											#DIV/0!
Tons shipped		26,423				29,461				(3,038)	(10.3)	%
Sales dollars per shipped ton	$	5,638			$	5,180			$	458	8.8	%

NM – Not meaningful

Market Segment Information
	Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales		Amount		Percentage of net sales			Dollar variance	Percentage variance
Net sales:
Service centers	$	101,957	68.4	%	$	100,659	66.0	%	$	1,298	1.3	%
Forgers		12,452	8.4			19,719	12.9			(7,267)	(36.9)
Rerollers		13,687	9.2			16,257	10.7			(2,570)	(15.8)
Original equipment manufacturers		17,268	11.6			11,270	7.3			5,998	53.2
Conversion services and other sales		3,600	2.4			4,697	3.1			(1,097)	(23.4)
Total net sales	$	148,964	100.0	%	$	152,602	100.0	%	$	(3,638)	(2.4)	%

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Melt Type Information
	Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales			Amount	Percentage of net sales			Dollar variance	Percentage variance
Net sales:
Specialty alloys	$	131,664	88.4	%	$	137,648	90.2	%	$	(5,984)	(4.3)	%
Premium alloys (A)		13,700	9.2			10,257	6.7			3,443	33.6
Conversion services and other sales		3,600	2.4			4,697	3.1			(1,097)	(23.4)
Total net sales	$	148,964	100.0	%	$	152,602	100.0	%	$	(3,638)	(2.4)	%

(A) Premium alloys represent all vacuum induction melted (VIM) products.

The majority of our products are sold to service centers/processors rather than the ultimate end market customers. The end market information in this Quarterly Report is our estimate based upon our knowledge of our customers and the grade of material sold to them, which they will in-turn sell to the ultimate end market customer.

End Market Information
	Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2015				2014
	Amount		Percentage of net sales		Amount		Percentage of net sales			Dollar variance	Percentage variance
Net sales:
Aerospace	$	92,176	61.9	%	$	88,869	58.2	%	$	3,307	3.7	%
Power generation		16,215	10.9			17,677	11.6			(1,462)	(8.3)
Oil & gas		12,996	8.7			14,776	9.7			(1,780)	(12.0)
Heavy equipment		13,024	8.7			12,328	8.1			696	5.6
General industrial, conversion services and other sales		14,553	9.8			18,952	12.4			(4,399)	(23.2)
Total net sales	$	148,964	100.0	%	$	152,602	100.0	%	$	(3,638)	(2.4)	%

Net sales:

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 decreased $3.6 million, or 2.4%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Consolidated shipments for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by 10.3% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Despite downward pressure on pricing resulting from lower surcharges, our sales dollars per shipped ton increased by 8.8% from the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to the nine months ended September 30, 2015 indicating a shift to a higher value product mix.  Our product sales to the aerospace and heavy equipment end markets increased while sales to all other end markets decreased as noted above.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a $3.4 million, or 33.6%, increase in premium alloy sales when compared to the same period in 2014.  Our premium alloy sales increased from 6.7% of total sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to 9.2% in the current period.  Our premium alloy sales are primarily for the aerospace end market.

Gross margin:

The Company’s gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $10.5 million, or 7% of net sales, and included before-tax charges of $3.5 million associated with temporarily idling plant capacity, non-cash inventory write-downs, reducing hourly and salary workforce, and costs associated with an unauthorized substitution by a vendor of a critical supply part for the melting

15

process.  Before including these pre-tax charges, the gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was approximately $14.0 million, or 9.4% of net sales, compared with $23.1 million and 15.1% of net sales for the same period in 2014.  The Company’s gross margin in 2015 has been negatively impacted by the sustained misalignment of material cost of product shipped with surcharges due to the decline in commodity prices over the past year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses:

Our SG&A expenses decreased by $0.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to decreased variable incentive compensation.  In addition, SG&A expenses include approximately $0.3 million for the write off of a non-compete agreement that was exited in the third quarter of 2015.   As a percentage of sales, our SG&A expenses were flat when comparing the 9 months ended September 30, 2015 to the same period in the prior year.

Goodwill Impairment:

As of September 30, 2015, the Company has experienced a significant and sustained drop in its share price and continued weak operating results driven by slower market conditions.  As a result of these conditions, the Company determined that an interim goodwill impairment review was required in accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other”.  Based on the guidance in ASC 350, the Company performed the two-step quantitative analysis.  Under the first step, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the fair value of the Company and, therefore, the second step of the analysis was performed.  The fair value was estimated using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based on projected discounted cash flows and a market approach, which estimates fair value using the recent stock price of the Company.  The income approach is supported by a Level 3 fair value measurement, which means that the valuation reflects the Company’s own estimates of market participant assumptions.  The market approach is supported by a Level 1 fair value measurement which is the observable stock price of the Company.  The income approach was weighted 30% and the market approach was weighted 70% in determining the fair value.  This assessment resulted in the recognition of a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $20.3 million, which eliminated all goodwill from the balance sheet at September 30, 2015.  The after-tax impact of this charge was $13.1 million.  As a result of the step two analysis no other assets were deemed to be impaired at September 30, 2015.

Interest expense and other financing costs:

Interest expense decreased from $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. This decrease is primarily due to lower interest rates incurred on our debt in 2015 when compared to 2014. Our interest rates are determined by a LIBOR-based rate plus an applicable margin based upon our quarterly leverage ratio. 

Deferred financing fees were $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $0.5 million for the same period in the prior year.  The decrease is the result of a reduction to deferred financing fees to be paid. 

Income tax (benefit) provision:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our estimated annual effective tax rate applied to ordinary income was 35.7% and 34.0%, respectively. 

Including the effect of discrete items, our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was 35.8% and 52.5%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was reflective of a net discrete tax expense of $915,000.  The $915,000 of discrete tax expense primarily includes tax expense of $596,000 associated with the New York state tax rate reduction to 0% for New York qualified manufacturers, and tax expense of $247,000 associated with a Pennsylvania tax settlement related to certain expenses which had been deducted for state income tax purposes during the 2005-2007 tax years.

Net income:

For the first nine months of 2015, the net loss was $17.3 million, or $2.45 per diluted share, including the after-tax non-cash intangible write-off charge of $13.2 million or $1.87 per diluted share, as well as after-tax charges of $2.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, associated with temporarily idling plant capacity, non-cash inventory write-downs, reducing hourly and salary workforce, and costs associated with the unauthorized product substitution by a vendor. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, we have financed our operating activities through cash provided by operations and cash provided through our credit facilities.  At September 30, 2015, our managed working capital, defined as net accounts receivable plus net inventory minus accounts payable, decreased by $7.2 million to $97.9 million compared to $105.1 million at December 31, 2014.  Our net accounts receivable balances decreased $5.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2014.  Inventory levels decreased by $12.8 million to $88.3 million as of September 30, 2015 from  $101.1 million as of December 31, 2014 due to a reduction in melting to better align inventory with lower commercial activity. As a result of lower operating activity, our

16

accounts payable balance decreased by $11.4 million to $13.6 million as of September 30, 2015 from $25.0 million as of December 31, 2014.

Net cash provided by operating activities:  

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we generated net cash from operating activities of $12.5 million.  Accounts receivable generated $5.9 million of cash while changes in inventory and accounts payable largely offset.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, accrued employment costs decreased by $2.2 million as a result of the payout of 2014 variable compensation.    During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, our net income adjusted for non-cash expenses generated approximately $9.0 million of cash. 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we generated net cash from operating activities of $4.3 million.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, our net income adjusted for non-cash expenses generated approximately $19.2 million of cash.  The increase in our net inventory and net accounts receivable used $12.4 million and $12.1 million of cash, respectively, which was partially offset by the net increase in our accounts payable and other accruals and assets which provided $9.5 million in cash. 

Net cash used in investing activity: 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we used $8.4 million in cash for capital expenditures compared to $6.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The primary reason for increased capital spending during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 is timing associated with significant projects started in the second half of 2014 which carried over and were completed in the first half of 2015.    

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities:  

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, our financing activities used $3.9 million in cash.  We made net payments of $2.0 million to reduce our borrowings under the Credit Agreement and made payments of $2.3 million on our Term Loan during the first nine months of 2015. We received $0.4 million in receipts from the exercise of stock options and the issuance of stock under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, our financing activities provided $2. 2 million in cash.  Net cash provided from borrowings under our credit facility was approximately $3.5 million.  Additionally, we received $0.9 million in receipts from the exercise of stock options and the issuance of stock under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  Our borrowings increased to support higher inventory and operating levels.

We believe that our cash flows from continuing operations as well as available borrowings under our credit facility are adequate to satisfy our working capital, capital expenditure requirements, and other contractual obligations for the foreseeable future, including at least the next 12 months.

We continuously monitor market price fluctuations of key raw materials.  The market values for these raw materials continue to fluctuate based on supply and demand, market disruptions, and other factors. We maintain sales price surcharge mechanisms on certain of our products, priced at time of shipment, to mitigate the risk of raw material cost fluctuations. There can be no assurance that these sales price adjustments will completely offset our raw material costs.

The following table reflects the average market values per pound for selected months during the last 18-month period:

		September		June		March		December
		2015		2015		2015		2014
Nickel	$	4.49	$	5.80	$	6.23	$	7.22
Chrome	$	1.06	$	1.10	$	1.12	$	1.12
Molybdenum	$	5.93	$	7.30	$	8.28	$	9.53
Carbon scrap	$	0.09	$	0.12	$	0.11	$	0.16
Sources:  Nickel is the daily average LME Cash Settlement Price; Chrome and Molybdenum is the final monthly average as published by Ryan’s Notes; Carbon is the consumer price for #1 Industrial Bundles in the Pittsburgh, PA area as reported in American Metal Market.

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We have a Credit Agreement, (as amended to date, the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndication of banks which provides for a $105.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) and a $20.0 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan” and together with the Revolver, the “Facilities”) that expires in March 2017.  Under the Credit Agreement, our loan availability under the Revolver (“Borrowing Base”) is calculated monthly based upon our accounts receivable and inventory balances.  

We are required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% based on the daily unused portion of the Revolver. The Revolver also provides for up to $7.0 million of swing loans so long as the sum of the outstanding swing loans and the outstanding borrowings under the Revolver do not exceed our Borrowing Base at any given time. The Term Loan is payable in quarterly installments in the principal amount of $750,000, which began on July 1, 2013, with the balance of the Term Loan payable in full on March 19, 2017.

Amounts outstanding under the Facilities, at our option, will bear interest at either a base rate or a LIBOR-based rate (the “LIBOR Option”), in either case calculated in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. We elected to use the LIBOR Option during the nine months ended September 30, 2015,  which was 1.95% at September 30, 2015.  Interest on the Facilities is payable monthly.  

In connection with the acquisition of the North Jackson facility, in August 2011, we issued $20.0 million in convertible notes (the “Notes”) to the sellers of the North Jackson facility as partial consideration of the acquisition.  The Notes are subordinated obligations and rank junior to the Facilities.  The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.0% per annum, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on each June 18 and December 18, beginning on December 18, 2011.  Unless earlier converted, the Notes mature and the unpaid principal balance is due on August 17, 2017.  The Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest are convertible into shares of our common stock at the option of the holder at an initial conversion price of $47.1675 per share of common stock.  The conversion price associated with the Notes may be adjusted in certain circumstances.  We may prepay any outstanding Notes, in whole or in part, on any date during a fiscal quarter if our share price is greater than 140% of the then current conversion price for at least 20 of the trading days in the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding quarter.  

On October 23, 2015, the Company entered into a Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”) which is effective as of September 30, 2015.   Pursuant to the Fourth Amendment, the leverage ratio shall not exceed a ratio of 3.50 to 1.00 for the period ending September 30, 2015.  The leverage ratio covenant has been eliminated with respect to quarters ending after September 30, 2015, and testing under the fixed charge ratio covenant contained in the Credit Agreement has been delayed until September 30, 2016.  The Fourth Amendment adds a covenant whereby the Company must maintain at least $10.0 million of undrawn availability commencing on December 31, 2015.  In addition, the Fourth Amendment amends a covenant based on the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Fourth Amendment).  Pursuant to that amended covenant, the Company must maintain Consolidated EBITDA of $12.4 million, $10.2 million, $10.8 million, $16.8 million and $23.0 million for the prior four fiscal quarters for the periods then ended December 31, 2015, March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  We were in compliance with our covenants at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Item 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company has reviewed its market risk and believes there are no significant changes from that disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, except as provided in this Form 10-Q in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Item  4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, including the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and its Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and its Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal period covered by this quarterly report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015 there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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Part  II.OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material changes from the legal proceedings disclosed in Item 3. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  

Item  1A.RISK FACTORS

There are no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  

Item  2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Item 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

Item 5.OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item  6.EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number	Exhibit
10.1	Employment Agreement, dated August 4, 2015, between the Company and Larry J. Pollock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015).
10.2	Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2015, between the Company and Graham McIntosh (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015).
10.3	Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2015, between the Company and Ross Wilkin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015).
10.4	Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dates as of October 23, 2015, by and among the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and PNC Bank National Association, as Administrative Agent  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 23, 2015).
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

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101 The following financial information from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and filed electronically herewith: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (filed herewith).

SIGNATURES

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

Date:  October 30, 2015
/s/    Dennis M. Oates	/s/    Ross C. Wilkin
Dennis M. Oates	Ross C. Wilkin
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer	Vice President of Finance,
(Principal Executive Officer)	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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