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SYNALLOY CORPORATION

FORM 10-K FOR PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1, 2005

INDEX

Item 1

Business

Item 2

Properties

Item 3

Legal Proceedings

Item 4

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Item 5

Market for the Registrant's Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Item 6

Selected Financial Data

Item 7

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7a

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

Item 8

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Segment Information

 

Report of Management and Independent Auditors

Item 9

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B

Other Information

Item 10

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Item 11

Executive Compensation

Item 12

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Item 14

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Item 15

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Schedule II

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Exhibits

Index to Exhibits

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

X   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 1, 2005

 

OR

 

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

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-19687

SYNALLOY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

57-0426694
I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Croft Industrial Park, P.O. Box 5627, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29304
               (Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (864) 585-3605

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act :

None

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes X      No ___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes      No X

Based on the closing price as of July 3, 2004, which was the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $52.3 million. Based on the closing price of February 25, 2005, the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $52.2 million. The registrant did not have any non-voting common equity outstanding at either date.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of February 25, 2005 was 6,026,764.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Portions of the proxy statement for the annual shareholders' meeting are incorporated by reference into Part III.
page 1

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes and incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts are "forward looking statements." The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "plan" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those identified below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated: adverse economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product demand and acceptance risks, raw material and other increased costs, customer delays or difficulties in the production of products, unavailability of debt financing on acceptable terms and exposure to increased market interest rate risk, inability to comply with covenants and ratios required by our debt financing arrangements and other risks detailed from time-to-time in Synalloy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Synalloy Corporation assumes no obligation to update the information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PART I

Item 1 Business

Synalloy Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("the Company"), was incorporated in 1958 as the successor to a chemical manufacturing business founded in 1945. Its charter is perpetual. The name was changed on July 31, 1967 from Blackman Uhler Industries, Inc. On June 3, 1988, the state of incorporation was changed from South Carolina to Delaware. The Company's executive offices are located at Croft Industrial Park, Spartanburg, South Carolina.

General

Metals Segment-- This segment is comprised of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Synalloy Metals, Inc. which owns 100 percent of Bristol Metals, L.P., ("Bristol") located in Bristol, Tennessee.

Bristol manufactures welded pipe, primarily from stainless steel, but also from other corrosion-resistant metals. Pipe is produced in sizes from one-half inch to 112 inches in diameter and wall thickness up to one inch. Sixteen-inch and smaller pipe is made on equipment that forms and welds the pipe in a continuous process. Pipe larger than sixteen inches is formed on presses or rolls and welded on batch welding equipment. Pipe is normally produced in standard 20-foot lengths. However, Bristol has unusual capabilities in the production of long length pipe without circumferential welds. This can reduce installation cost for the customer. Lengths up to 60 feet can be produced in sizes up to sixteen inches in diameter. In larger sizes Bristol has a unique ability among domestic producers to make 48-foot lengths in sizes up to 36 inches. During 2004 Bristol added the ability to x-ray pipe in real time mode. This new technology was incorporated with updated material handling equipmen t to double the efficiency of x-raying pipe. Bristol is also expanding the capabilities for forming large pipe on its existing batch equipment. The project, which will be completed in the first quarter of 2005, will give Bristol its capability to produce 36-inch diameter pipe in 48-foot lengths and with increased wall thickness of up to one inch. The increase in wall thickness is allowing Bristol to make pipe of 12-inch through 112-inch diameter with a wall thickness of one inch. Also included in this project is the addition of a shear that has the capacity of shearing stainless steel plate up to one-inch thick.

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A significant amount of the pipe produced is further processed into piping systems that conform to engineered drawings furnished by the customers. This allows the customer to take advantage of the high quality and efficiency of Bristol's fabrication shop instead of performing all of the welding on the construction site. The pipe fabricating shop can make one and one-half diameter cold bends on one-half inch through eight-inch stainless pipe with thicknesses up through schedule 40. Most of the piping systems are produced from pipe manufactured by Bristol.

Bristol also has the capability of producing carbon and chrome piping systems from pipe purchased from outside suppliers since Bristol does not manufacture carbon or chrome pipe. Carbon and chrome pipe fabrication enhances the stainless fabrication business by allowing Bristol to quote inquiries utilizing any of these three material types. Bristol can also produce pressure vessels and reactors, tanks and other processing equipment.

In order to establish stronger business relationships, only a few raw material suppliers are used. Five suppliers furnish more than two-thirds of total dollar purchases of raw materials. However, raw materials are readily available from a number of different sources and the Company anticipates no difficulties in obtaining its requirements.

This segment's products are used principally by customers requiring materials that are corrosion-resistant or suitable for high-purity processes. The largest users are the chemical, petrochemical and pulp and paper industries with some other important industry users being mining, power generation, waste water treatment, liquid natural gas ("LNG"), brewery, food processing, petroleum and pharmaceutical.

Specialty Chemicals Segment-- This Segment includes three operating companies: Blackman Uhler Chemical Company (BU Specialties), a division of the Company; Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company, which owns 100 percent of Manufacturers Chemicals, L.P. (MC) and Organic-Pigments Corporation (OP). MC and OP are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. BU Specialties operates out of a plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina which is fully licensed for chemical manufacture and maintains a permitted waste treatment system. MC is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia and is fully licensed for chemical manufacture. OP is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Segment is a producer of specialty chemicals for the textile, carpet, chemical, paper, metals, photographic, pharmaceutical, agricultural, fiber and paint industries. The Company has been focusing on s pecialty chemicals as a primary growth area over the past several years. Facilities and equipment at the BU Specialties plant produce proprietary product and also provide toll and custom manufacturing of organic chemicals using reactions that include nitrations, hydrogenation, distillation, diazotizations, methylation and custom drying. These chemicals are used in a wide array of products including UV absorbers for plastics, Cetane improver for diesel fuel, absorbers for gaseous pollutants, herbicides, anti-wicking agents, fire retardants, processing aids for PVC, cosmetics, automotive products and paper resins.

The Company purchased MC in 1996. MC produces defoamers, surfactants, dye assists, softening agents, polymers and specialty lubricants for the textile, paper, chemical and metals industries. MC also manufactures chelating agents and water treatment chemicals. Manufacturing capabilities include a wide range of chemical reactions and mixing and blending applications. MC's products are sold to direct users in a variety of manufacturing areas, directly to other chemical companies in the form of intermediates or as finished products for resale, and as contract manufacturing where the customer provides formula specifications and, in some cases, raw materials.

The Company purchased OP in 1998. OP manufactures aqueous pigment dispersions sold to the textile industry and used in printing inks for use on paper and in paints for the industrial coatings industry. OP also sells pigments to the flexographic printing and graphic arts industries. Pigment colors

page 3

are uniquely suitable for printing of multi-colored patterns. Raw materials used to manufacture pigments consist chiefly of organic intermediates and inorganic chemicals which are purchased from manufacturers in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, raw materials are readily available and management does not anticipate any difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies. The addition of OP provided the ability to produce higher solid and finer particle size dispersions providing opportunities to diversify into non-textile applications.

In 2000, MC acquired the assets of a manufacturer of sulfated fats and oils. The manufacturing equipment for these products was moved to the Cleveland, Tennessee plant where both capacity and chilling capabilities were increased. These products are used as lubricants, wetting agents, detergents and emulsifiers in a variety of chemical formulations. The addition of these capabilities and processes broadens the range of sulfated products already manufactured at MC.

In 2001, the Company acquired the assets of a manufacturer and reseller of chemical specialties and dyestuffs located in Dalton, Georgia. Dalton resells chemical specialties and heavy chemicals and blends and resells dyestuffs to the carpet and rug industries, selected textile mills and the wire drawing industry. The manufacture of the liquid products is done primarily at the Cleveland plant, and the warehousing and dye blending operation along with the shade matching lab and sales offices are located at a leased facility in Dalton. In addition, Dalton markets the chemical specialties produced at other Specialty Chemicals Segment locations.

The Specialty Chemicals Segment maintains seven laboratories for applied research and quality control which are staffed by 28 employees.

Please see Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about the Company's segments.

Sales and Distribution

Metals Segment-- The Metals Segment utilizes separate sales organizations for its different product groups. Stainless steel pipe is sold nationwide under the Brismet trade name through authorized stocking distributors at warehouse locations throughout the country. In addition, large quantity orders are shipped directly from Bristol's plant to end-user customers. Producing sales and providing service to the distributors and end-user customers are the Vice President of Sales, two outside sales employees, four independent manufacturers' representatives and seven inside sales employees. Reference should be made to Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Piping systems are sold nationwide under the Bristol Piping Systems trade name by three outside sales employees. They are under the direction of the Vice President in charge of piping systems who spends over half of his time in sales and service to customers. Piping systems are marketed to engineering firms and construction companies or directly to project owners. Orders are normally received as a result of competitive bids submitted in response to inquiries and bid proposals.

Specialty Chemicals Segment-- Specialty chemicals are sold directly to various industries nationwide by ten full-time outside sales employees and seven manufacturers' representatives. In addition, the President and market development manager of MC devote a substantial part of their time to sales.

Competition

Metals Segment-- Welded stainless steel pipe is the largest sales volume product of the Metals Segment. Although information is not publicly available regarding the sales of most other producers of

page 4

this product, management believes that the Company is one of the larger domestic producers of such pipe. This commodity product is highly competitive with eight known domestic producers and imports from many different countries. The largest sales volume among the specialized products comes from fabricating stainless, nickel alloys and chrome alloys piping systems. Management believes the Company is one of the larger producers of such systems. There is also significant competition in the piping systems markets with nine known domestic suppliers with similar capabilities as Bristol, along with many other smaller suppliers.

Specialty Chemicals Segment-- The Company is the sole producer of certain specialty chemicals manufactured for other companies under processing agreements and also produces proprietary specialty chemicals. The Company's sales of specialty products are insignificant compared to the overall market for specialty chemicals. The market for most of the products is highly competitive and many competitors have substantially greater resources than does the Company. The market for dyes and pigments is highly competitive and the Company has less than ten percent of the market for its products.

Environmental Matters

Environmental expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to future revenue generation are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or cleanups are probable and the costs of these assessments and/or cleanups can be reasonably estimated. See Note I to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Research and Development Activities

The Company spent approximately $551,000 in 2004, $457,000 in 2003 and $524,000 in 2002 on research and development programs in its Specialty Chemicals Segment. Nine individuals, all of whom are graduate chemists, are engaged primarily in research and development of new products and processes, the improvement of existing products and processes, and the development of new applications for existing products.

Seasonal Nature of the Business

The annual requirements of certain specialty chemicals are produced over a period of a few months as requested by the customers. Accordingly, the sales of these products may vary significantly from one quarter to another.

Backlogs

The Specialty Chemicals Segment operates primarily on the basis of delivering products soon after orders are received. Accordingly, backlogs are not a factor in these businesses. The same applies to commodity pipe sales in the Metals Segment. However, backlogs are important in the piping systems products because they are produced only after orders are received, generally as the result of competitive bidding. Order backlogs for these products were $11,500,000 at the end of 2004, all of which should be completed in 2005, and $6,700,000 and $5,800,000 at the 2003 and 2002 respective year ends.

Employee Relations

As of January 1, 2005, the Company had 442 employees. The Company considers relations with employees to be satisfactory. The number of employees of the Company represented by unions at the

page 5

Bristol, Tennessee facility is 176. They are represented by two locals affiliated with the AFL-CIO and one local affiliated with the Teamsters. Collective bargaining contracts will expire in February 2009, December 2009 and March 2010

Financial Information About Geographic Areas

Information about revenues derived from domestic and foreign customers is set forth in Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 2 Properties

The Company operates the major plants and facilities listed below, all of which are in adequate condition for their current usage. All facilities throughout the Company are adequately insured. The buildings are of various types of construction including brick, steel, concrete, concrete block and sheet metal. All have adequate transportation facilities for both raw materials and finished products. The Company owns all of these plants and facilities, except as noted.



Location



Principal Operations


Building  Square  Feet


Land Acres

Spartanburg, SC

Corporate headquarters; Chemical manufacturing and warehouse facilities

211,000

60.9

Cleveland, TN

Chemical manufacturing

90,000

8.6

Greensboro, NC

Chemical manufacturing

57,000

3.7

Bristol, TN

Manufacturing of stainless steel pipe and stainless steel piping systems

218,000

73.1

Dalton, GA

Dye blending and warehouse facilities (1)

32,000

2.0

Augusta, GA

Chemical manufacturing(2)

52,500

46.0

(1) Leased facility.
(2) Plant closed in 2001.

Item 3 Legal Proceedings

For a discussion of legal proceedings, see Notes I and O to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 4 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of security holders through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.

PART II

Item 5 Market for the Registrant's Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company had 1,009 common shareholders of record at January 1, 2005. The Company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ National Market System of The NASDAQ Stock Market and changed its trading symbol to SYNL effective October 6, 2003. In 2001, the Company's Board of Directors voted to suspend cash dividends, and on July 26, 2002, the Company entered into a new credit agreement which prohibits the payment of dividends. The prices shown below are the last reported high and low

page 6

sales prices for the common stock for each full quarterly period in the last two fiscal years as quoted on The NASDAQ National Market System.

2004

2003

Qtr

High

Low

High

Low

-------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

1st

$ 8.69

$ 6.52

$ 4.24

$ 3.96

2nd

10.62

6.70

5.50

3.97

3rd

10.75

9.25

6.40

5.30

4th

10.75

9.40

8.54

5.50

The information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth under Part III, Item 12 of this Form 10-K. Pursuant to the compensation arrangement with directors discussed under Item 12 "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" in this Form 10-K, on February 5, 2004, the Company issued to each of its directors except Ralph Matera, 2,852 shares of its common stock (an aggregate of 14,260 shares). Issuance of these shares was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 because no public offering was involved. During the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005, the Registrant issued shares of common stock to the following classes of persons upon the exercise of options issued pursuant to the Registrant's 1998 Stock Option Plan. Issuance of these shares was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 because the issu ance did not involve a public offering.

Date Issued

Class of Purchasers

# of Shares Issued

Aggregate Exercise Price

-------------------

---------------------------------------

---------------------------

------------------------------------

5/17/2004

Officers and Employees

11,200

$52,080

9/1/2004

Officers and Employees

4,800

$22,320

page 7

 

Item 6 Selected Financial Data

(Dollars amounts in thousands except for per share data)

Selected Financial Data and Other Financial Information

 

2004

 

2003
(1)

 

2002
(1)

 

2001
(1)

 

2000
(1)

----------

---------

----------

----------

----------

Operations

Net sales

$

99,839

$

80,408

$

74,351

$

76,986

$

95,233

Gross profit

13,976

8,389

6,174

8,461

14,425

Selling, general & administrative expense

9,432

8,177

8,001

7,975

8,635

Asset impairment & environmental costs

-

490

481

-

3,351

Operating income (loss)

4,544

(278)

(2,308)

486

2,439

Net income (loss) continuing operations

2,274

(580)

(1,633)

(17)

850

Net loss discontinued operations

(1,100)

(840)

(2,975)

(307)

(1,933)

Net income (loss)

1,174

(1,421)

(4,843)

(318)

(1,083)

Financial Position

Total assets

71,202

64,925

59,966

69,759

73,068

Working capital

35,088

28,706

20,060

21,141

25,483

Long-term debt, less current portion

21,205

18,761

10,000

10,000

10,000

Shareholders' equity

33,930

32,556

33,874

38,949

40,173

Financial Ratios

Current ratio

3.8

3.5

2.5

2.2

2.4

Gross profit to net sales

14%

10%

8%

11%

15%

Long-term debt to capital

38%

37%

23%

20%

20%

Return on average assets

3%

-

-

-

1%

Return on average equity

7%

-

-

-

2%

Per Share Data (income/(loss) - diluted)

Net income (loss) continuing operations

$

.37

$

(.10)

$

(.27)

$

-

$

.14

Net loss discontinued operations

(.18)

(.14)

(.50)

(.05)

(.31)

Net income (loss)

.19

(.24)

(.81)

(.05)

(.18)

Dividends declared and paid

-

-

-

.15

.20

Book value

5.64

5.44

5.68

6.53

6.74

Other Data

Depreciation and amortization

3,068

2,976

2,981

2,824

3,646

Capital expenditures

2,313

1,325

2,035

6,280

2,471

Employees at year end

442

470

406

472

510

Shareholders of record at year end

1,009

1,039

1,082

1,120

1,154

Average shares outstanding - diluted

6,142

5,997

5,964

5,965

6,166

Stock Price

Price range of Common Stock

High

$

10.75

$

8.54

$

5.05

$

7.65

$

9.13

Low

6.52

3.96

1.69

2.95

4.50

Close

9.90

6.92

4.13

3.60

4.75

(1) See Note Q to Consolidated Financial Statements.

page 8

 

Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under d ifferent assumptions or conditions. Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of any of the customers of the Company were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and current market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

As noted in Note I to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has accrued $1,121,000 in environmental remediation costs which, in management's best estimate, will satisfy anticipated costs of known remediation requirements as outlined in Note I. As a result of the evolving nature of the environmental regulations, the difficulty in estimating the extent and remedy of environmental contamination, and the availability and application of technology, the estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation are subject to uncertainties and it is not possible to predict the amount or timing of future costs of environmental matters which may subsequently be determined. Subject to the difficulty in estimating future environmental costs, the Company believes that the likelihood of material losses in excess of the amounts recorded is remote. However, any changes, including regulatory changes, may require the Company to record additional remediation reserves.

As noted in Notes C and Q to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has recorded asset impairment charges under SFAS 144 in each of the last three years including a $581,000 charge in 2004 as part of the loss recognized for discontinued operations. Based on assessments performed on the continuing assets of the Company, which indicated no write-downs were deemed necessary, the Company believes that it is unlikely that these types of impairment charges will continue to occur. However, if business conditions at any of the plant sites were to deteriorate to an extent where cash flows and other impairment measurements indicate values for the related long-lived assets are less than the carrying values of those assets, additional impairment charges may be necessary.

In the fourth quarter of 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statements No. 151, "Inventory Costs" and No. 153, "Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets," both having an effective date in June of 2005. The Company does not believe either statement will have an impact on the Company's financial statements.

page 9

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The current ratio for the year ended January 1, 2005, was 3.8:1, which is up from the previous year-end ratios of 3.5:1 in 2003 and 2.5:1 in 2002. Working capital for 2004 increased $6,382,000 to $35,088,000 from the amount in 2003. Cash flows provided by operations totaled $504,000 coming from $4,280,000 provided by discontinuing operations offset by $3,776,000 used in continuing operations. The increase in working capital and use of cash flows from continuing operations came primarily from increases in inventories and accounts receivable of $7,836,000 and $3,238,000, respectively, offset by an increase of $399,000 in accounts payable and net income from continuing operations of $5,342,000 before depreciation and amortization expense of $3,068,000. The increases in inventories came from the Metals Segment due primarily to raw material cost increases and to a lesser extent, increased units discussed in the Metals Segment comparisons below. The accounts receivable increases w ere generated from increased sales activity experienced in December of 2004 as compared to the same period in 2003. The cash flows provided by discontinued operations were derived from declines in accounts receivable and inventories coupled with an increase in accounts payable totaling $1,433,000, $2,319,000 and $370,000, respectively. The cash flows were generated from the sale of the Company's liquid dye business in the first quarter of 2004 and the planned reduction of the remaining dye business assets in anticipation of selling off this business as discussed in the Discontinued Operations discussion below. An increase in line of credit borrowings of $2,444,000 funded capital expenditures of $2,313,000. The Company expects that cash flows from 2005 operations and available borrowings will be sufficient to make debt payments and fund estimated capital expenditures of $2,600,000 and normal operating requirements. On July 26, 2002, the Company entered into a new Credit Agreement with a new lender to provide a $19,000,000 line of credit. On July 24, 2003, the Agreement was amended increasing the borrowing amount to $23,000,000, primarily under the existing terms, and extending the expiration date to July 25, 2006. Borrowings under the Agreement are limited to a borrowing base calculation including eligible accounts receivable, inventories, and cash surrender value of the Company's life insurance as defined in the Agreement. As of January 1, 2005, the amount available for borrowing was $23,000,000 of which $21,205,000 was borrowed leaving $1,795,000 of availability. Covenants include, among others, a prohibition on the payment of dividends.

Results of Operations

Comparison of 2004 to 2003

The Company generated net earnings from continuing operations of $2,274,000, or $.37 per share, on a 24 percent sales increase to $99,839,000 in 2004. This compares to a loss from continuing operations of $580,000, or $.10 per share, in 2003. For the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company had earnings from continuing operations of $714,000, or $.12 per share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $508,000, or $.08 per share, on a twelve percent increase in sales to $24,308,000. The Company recorded losses from discontinued operations of $1,100,000, or $.18 per share, and $673,000, or $.11 per share, for the year and fourth quarter of 2004, respectively, compared to net losses of $840,000, or $.14 per share, and $764,000, or $.13 per share for the same periods of 2003. As a result, the Company earned $1,174,000, or $.19 per share, for 2004 and $40,000, or $.01 per share, for the fourth quarter compared to a loss in 2003 of $1,420,000, or $.24 pre share, and a loss of $1,272,000, or $.21 per sha re, for the fourth quarter of 2003.

Consolidated gross profits improved to 14 percent of sales in 2004 compared to ten percent experienced in 2003 coming primarily from the Metals Segment as discussed in the Metals Segment comparisons below. Consolidated selling, general and administrative expense for 2004 increased $1,255,000 to $9,432,000 compared to 2003, but declined as a percent of sales to nine percent in 2004 from ten percent in 2003. The dollar increase came primarily from a combination of profit incentives

page 10

paid in the Metals Segment and the recording of environmental charges in Corporate expenses discussed in the Corporate comparisons below.

Comparison of 2003 to 2002

For 2003, the Company incurred a consolidated loss from continuing operations of $580,000, or $.10 per share, on an eight percent sales increase to $80,408,000. This compares to a loss from continuing operations of $1,633,000, or $.27 per share, in 2002. For the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company had a loss from continuing operations of $508,000, or $.08 per share, compared to having net income from continuing operations of $120,000, or $.02 per share in 2002, on a twelve percent increase in sales to $21,782,000. The Company recorded losses from discontinued operations of $841,000, or $.14 per share, and $764,000, or $.13 per share, for the year and fourth quarter of 2003, respectively, compared to losses of $2,975,000, or $.50 per share, and $103,000, or $.02 per share for the same periods in 2002.

The Company incurred a consolidated loss for 2003 of $1,421,000, or $.24 per share compared to a loss of $4,843,000, or $.81 per share in 2002. For the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company had a loss of $1,272,000, or $.21 per share. This compares to net income of $17,000, or $.00 per share earned in the fourth quarter of 2002. Consolidated results from continuing operations in 2003 were significantly impacted by several transactions that were recorded during the year. In the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company recorded charges discussed in the 2003 compared to 2002 Segment comparisons below totaling $655,000, net of tax, or $.11 per share. Included in the 2003 other income are $150,000 of non-recurring income received from the sale of the Company's NASDAQ stock symbol, and $119,000 in dividend income received from the Company's life insurance policies, both recorded in the third quarter of 2003.

Although consolidated selling, general and administrative expense for 2003 increased $176,000 to $8,177,000 compared to 2002, they declined as a percent of sales to ten percent from eleven percent. The decline in percentage of sales came from cost reductions of personnel and non-critical operating expense items, many of which impacted selling and administrative expense, implemented in the third quarter of 2002.

page 11

Metals Segment-- The following table summarizes operating results and backlogs for the three years indicated. Reference should be made to Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

2004

2003

2002

(Amount in thousands)

Amount

%

Amount

%

Amount

%

Net Sales

$ 62,565

100.0%

$ 48,674

100.0%

$ 43,364

100.0%

Cost of goods sold

53,950

86.2%

44,086

90.6%

41,411

95.5%

------------

---------

------------

---------

------------

---------

Gross profit

8,615

13.8%

4,588

9.4%

1,953

4.5%

Selling and administrative

expense

4,038

6.5%

3,285

6.7%

3,605

8.3%

------------

---------

------------

---------

------------

---------

Operating income (loss)

$ 4,577

7.3%

$ 1,303

2.7%

$ (1,652)

(3.8%)

========

=====

========

=====

========

=====

Special charges described below

Write-down of inventories

$ -

$ -

$ 671

Year-end backlogs -

Piping systems

$ 11,500

$ 6,700

$ 5,800

========

========

========

Comparison of 2004 to 2003 - Metals Segment

Dollar sales increased 29 percent for the year and 12 percent for the fourth quarter of 2004 from the same periods of 2003. The increase for the year resulted from 42 percent higher average selling prices partially offset by seven percent lower unit volumes. The increase for the quarter resulted from 77 percent higher average selling prices offset by 36 percent lower unit volumes. Surcharges paid on stainless steel raw materials increased throughout the year increasing from an average of about $.38 per pound in December 2003 to an average of about $.78 per pound in December 2004. The Segment was able to pass through most of these cost increases, which accounted for most of the increase in selling prices, and benefited throughout 2004 from selling price increases implemented to offset the continued increases in surcharges included in raw material costs. Because of the steadily increasing raw material and selling prices experienced throughout the year, the Segment generated higher profits from selling l ower cost inventories, which contributed to the significant gross profit improvement experienced for the year and fourth quarter compared to the same periods last year. The most noteworthy accomplishment in the Segment's pipe business in 2004 was a 72 percent increase in special alloy sales which rose to 21 percent of pipe sales. This is the highest level ever achieved and is the result of the Segment's focus on developing more non-commodity pipe business where profit margins are higher. Although the piping systems business had a loss for the year, after experiencing three consecutive quarters of losses in 2004, piping systems generated an operating profit for the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was the first one in 2004 where customers' scheduling requirements allowed piping systems to get a sufficient amount of work into the shop to enable the operation to operate profitably for the quarter. Piping systems' backlog ended the year at $11,500,000, all of which should be completed in 2005, compared to a $6 ,700,000 backlog at the end of 2003.

Selling and administrative expense increased $753,000, or 23 percent compared to 2003, but remained at seven percent of sales. The increase in dollars came primarily from increases in profit based incentives, sales commissions from increased sales, and bad debt expense. The Company increased

page 12

its reserves for bad debts to offset exposure from the higher level of accounts receivable consistent with the increase in sales activity experienced through 2004.

Comparison of 2003 to 2002 - Metals Segment

Dollar sales increased 12 percent in 2003 compared to 2002. The increase for the year resulted from 19 percent higher average selling prices partially offset by six percent lower unit volumes. Surcharges paid on stainless steel raw materials increased throughout the year increasing from an average of about $.12 per pound in December 2002 to an average of about $.38 per pound in December 2003. The Segment was able to pass through most of these cost increases, which accounted for most of the increase in selling prices, especially in the fourth quarter. The increase in the year-to-date selling price also resulted from a change in product mix to a higher percentage of higher-margin large diameter pipe, experienced primarily in the second and third quarters of 2003. The combination of higher selling prices and favorable product mix along with cost reductions implemented in the third quarter of 2002 contributed to the significant gross profit improvement experienced for the year c ompared to the same period of 2002. While commodity pipe generated operating income for the year, piping systems did not fare as well, incurring losses for the year consistent with 2002. Piping systems' backlog maintained a better than average level throughout the year, ending the year at $6,700,000. However, due to the customers' scheduling requirements for our material, we were unable to get a sufficient amount of work into the shop to enable piping systems to operate profitably through the first nine months. The situation improved in the fourth quarter, and piping systems was able to generate a modest profit for the quarter.

Selling and administrative expense for 2003 decreased $320,000 compared to 2002, or nine percent, and declined slightly as a percentage of sales as a result of cost reductions implemented in September of 2002, including reductions of personnel and non-critical operating expense items, many of which impacted selling and administrative expense.

Specialty Chemicals Segment-- The following tables summarize operating results for the three years indicated. Reference should be made to Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

2004

2003

2002

(Amount in thousands)

Amount

%

Amount

%

Amount

%

Net Sales

$ 37,274

100.0%

$ 31,734

100.0%

$ 30,987

100.0%

Cost of goods sold

31,913

85.6%

27,932

88.0%

26,766

86.4%

------------

---------

------------

---------

------------

---------

Gross profit

5,361

14.4%

3,802

12.0%

4,221

13.6%

Selling and administrative

expense

3,822

10.3%

3,910

12.3%

3,520

11.4%

Long-lived asset impairment cost

-

-

490

1.5%

481

1.6%

------------

---------

------------

---------

------------

---------

Operating income (loss)

$ 1,539

4.1%

$ (598)

(1.8%)

$ 220

.6%

========

=====

========

=====

========

=====

Special charges described below

Write-down of inventories

$ -

$ 481

$ -

Write-down of plant & equipment

$ -

$ 490

$ 481

page 13

Comparison of 2004 to 2003- Specialty Chemicals Segment

Sales were up $5,540,000, or 17 percent, gross profits increased $1,559,000, or 41 percent, and operating income was $1,539,000 compared to a loss of $598,000 in 2004 compared to 2003, respectively. Favorable market conditions for most of the Segments' products and new product development at the Spartanburg location accounted for the increase in sales. The 41 percent increase in gross profits in 2004 compared to 2003 resulted from improved profitability at all three of the chemical plants, and from a $481,000 inventory charge in 2003 at the Greensboro plant discussed below. Unlike 2003, the Segment was able to pass some of the higher operating costs, especially energy costs, to its customers which allowed the Segment to generate additional margin contribution from the increased sales volume. For the fourth quarter of 2004, sales were up $830,000, or 11 percent and gross profits increased $610,000, or 167 percent compared to 2003. Fourth quarter operating income was $146,000 compared to a loss of $1,12 0,000 in the fourth quarter of 2003. The modest level of profitability in the fourth quarter was caused primarily by poor results at the Spartanburg plant because of the low level of contract campaigns. This location often has volatility in its production levels quarter to quarter because of the customers' scheduling requirements. Included in operating income in the fourth quarter of 2003 were the $481,000 inventory charge and a $490,000 impairment loss discussed below. Management is pleased with the dramatic improvement achieved without any benefit from a new product that was the object of much of the Segment's effort in 2004.

Selling and administrative expense declined $88,000 in 2004 compared to 2003, and declined as a percent of sales to ten percent in 2004 compared to 12 percent in 2003. The decline came primarily from reduced bad debt expense at OP caused by the need to increase bad debt reserves in 2003 to account for several customer bankruptcies.

Comparison of 2003 to 2002- Specialty Chemicals Segment

Sales were up a modest two percent and gross profits declined ten percent for 200