EXHIBIT 99



                    COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY SIGNS AGREEMENT
                 TO SELL HEAVY STRUCTURAL FABRICATION ASSETS OF
                     SMI-OWEN STEEL COMPANY, INC. SUBSIDIARY


         Dallas -- February 14, 2002 -- Commercial Metals Company (CMC: NYSE),
headquartered in Dallas, Texas, announced today the signing of a definitive
agreement with a subsidiary of ADF Group, Inc. for the sale of substantially all
assets of SMI-Owen Steel Company's heavy structural steel fabrication and
installation operation located on South Beltline Boulevard in Columbia, South
Carolina. The closing is contingent on the satisfaction by the parties of
certain conditions. The South Carolina Steel and SMI Rebar South Carolina
divisions of SMI-Owen Steel Company, Inc. are not part of the transaction and
will continue normal operations.

         Binh Huynh, Executive Vice President of the CMC Steel Group, said,
"Commercial Metals has diversified its downstream operations in rebar
fabrication, small to medium structural fabrication, concrete-related products,
joists and other specialty areas. Heavy structural fabrication and installation
on the scale of projects undertaken by this division of SMI-Owen Steel Company
are not considered core to our growth strategy. The capital released by this
pending sale will be used to implement that growth strategy and we believe
generate greater returns for our shareholders."


                                     (more)






Page 2

         Commercial Metals Company and its subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and
market steel and metal products and related materials and services through a
network of over 130 locations including 4 steel minimills, 27 steel fabrication
plants, 5 steel joist plants, a castellated and cellular beam fabricating plant,
4 steel fence post manufacturing plants, 2 heat treating plants, a railcar
rebuilding facility, 24 concrete-related product warehouses, a railroad salvage
company, a copper tube mill, 43 metal recycling facilities and 16 marketing and
trading offices in the United States and in strategic overseas markets.

         Paragraphs one and two of this news release contain forward-looking
statements regarding the outlook for the Company's financial results including
net earnings, return on invested capital, and possible acquisitions. These
forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as the
company or its management "believe," "expects," "anticipates," or other words or
phrases of similar impact. There is inherent risk and uncertainty in any
forward-looking statements. Variances will occur and some could be materially
different from management's current opinion. Developments that could impact the
Company's expectations include delays or postponement of contract closings, lack
of adequate alternative investment opportunities, interest rate changes,
construction activity, global factors including credit availability, currency
fluctuations, energy prices, and decisions by governments impacting the level of
steel imports and pace of overall economic activity.



                                     -(END)-


Contact:        Debbie Okle
                Director, Public Relations
                214.689.4354