. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-9887
OREGON STEEL MILLS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 94-0506370
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(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1000 S.W. BROADWAY
SUITE 2200
PORTLAND, OREGON 97205
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(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (503) 223-9228
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
------------------------ --------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share New York Stock Exchange
11% First Mortgage Notes due 2003 New York Stock Exchange
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
None
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 (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
--- ---
State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant.
BASED ON LAST SALE, JANUARY 31, 2002: $148,246,310
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's
classes of stock as of January 31, 2002:
COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE 25,786,854
---------------------------- -----------------------------
(Title of Class) (Number of shares outstanding)
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Proxy statement for the Registrant's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
held April 25, 2002 is incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
OREGON STEEL MILLS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
PART I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS.................................................... 1
General................................................1
Products...............................................3
Raw Materials and Semi-finished Slabs .................5
Marketing and Customers................................6
Competition and Other Market Factors...................7
Environmental Matters..................................9
Labor Dispute.........................................11
Employees.............................................13
2. PROPERTIES..................................................13
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS...........................................14
4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.........15
Executive Officers of the Registrant..................15
PART II
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS...........................16
6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.....................................16
7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.........17
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK...........................................24
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.................24
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE...............47
PART III
10. and 11. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION............................48
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT........................................48
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS..............48
PART IV
14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE AND
REPORTS ON FORM 8-K...................................49
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Oregon Steel Mills, Inc.("Company" or "Registrant") was founded in 1926
by William G. Gilmore and was incorporated in California in 1928. The Company
reincorporated in Delaware in 1974. The Company changed its name in December
1987 from Gilmore Steel Corporation to Oregon Steel Mills, Inc.
During 2001, the Company and its subsidiaries operated two steel
minimills and seven finishing facilities in the western United States and
Canada. The Company manufactures and markets one of the broadest lines of
specialty and commodity steel products of any domestic minimill company. The
Company emphasizes the cost efficient production of higher margin specialty
steel products targeted at a diverse customer base located primarily west of the
Mississippi River and in western Canada. The Company's manufacturing flexibility
allows it to manage actively its product mix in response to changes in customer
demand and individual product cycles. The Company is organized into two business
units known as the Oregon Steel Division and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills ("RMSM")
Division.
The Oregon Steel Division is centered on the Company's steel plate
minimill in Portland, Oregon ("Portland Mill"), which supplies steel for the
Company's steel plate and large diameter pipe finishing facilities. The Oregon
Steel Division's steel pipe mill in Napa, California ("Napa Pipe Mill") is a
large diameter steel pipe mill and fabrication facility. The Oregon Steel
Division also produces large diameter pipe and electric resistance welded
("ERW") pipe at its 60% owned pipe mill in Camrose, Alberta, Canada ("Camrose
Pipe Mill").
The RMSM Division consists of steelmaking and finishing facilities of
CF&I Steel, L.P. ("CF&I") (dba Rocky Mountain Steel Mills) located in Pueblo,
Colorado ("Pueblo Mill"). The Company owns 87% of New CF&I, Inc. ("New CF&I"),
which owns a 95.2% general partnership interest in CF&I. In addition, the
Company owns directly a 4.3% limited partnership interest in CF&I. The Pueblo
Mill is a steel minimill which supplies steel for the Company's rail, rod and
bar, and seamless tubular finishing mills.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION
PORTLAND MILL. The Portland Mill is the only hot-rolled steel plate
minimill and steel plate production facility in the eleven western states. The
Portland Mill has the capability to produce slab thicknesses of 6", 7", 8" or 9"
and finished steel plate in widths up to 136".
During 1997, the Company completed the construction of a Steckel
Combination Mill ("Combination Mill") at its Portland Mill. The project included
installation of a new reheat furnace, a 4-high rolling mill with coiling
furnaces, a vertical edger, a down coiler, on-line accelerated cooling, hot
leveling and shearing equipment, extended roll lines, and a fully automated
hydraulic gauge control system.
The Combination Mill gives the Company the ability to produce steel plate
in commercially preferred dimensions and sizes, increase its manufacturing
flexibility and, as production increases, supply substantially all the Company's
plate requirements for large diameter line pipe, as well as coiled plate for
applications such as the smaller diameter ERW pipe manufactured at the Camrose
Pipe Mill. The Combination Mill produces discrete steel plate in widths from 48"
to 136" and in thicknesses from 3/16" to 8". Coiled plate can be produced in
widths of 48" to 120" (although widths beyond 96" are not commercially viable),
and in thicknesses that range from 0.09" to 0.75". With the Combination Mill,
the Company is in a position to produce all grades of discrete steel plate and
coiled plate for all of the Company's commodity and specialty plate markets,
including heat-treated applications.
NAPA PIPE MILL. The Napa Pipe Mill produces large diameter steel pipe of
a quality suitable for use in high pressure oil and gas transmission pipelines.
The Napa Pipe Mill can produce pipe with an outside diameter ranging from 16" to
42", with wall thicknesses of up to 1-1/16" and in lengths of up to 80 feet, and
can process two different sizes of pipe simultaneously in its two finishing
sec-
-1-
tions. Although the Portland Mill can supply substantially all of the Napa
Pipe Mill's specialty plate requirements, due to market conditions and other
considerations, the Napa Pipe Mill may purchase steel plate from third-party
suppliers.
CAMROSE PIPE MILL. The Company acquired a 60% interest in the Camrose
Pipe Mill in June 1992 from Stelco, Inc. ("Stelco"), a large Canadian steel
producer. The Camrose Pipe Mill has two pipe manufacturing mills, a large
diameter pipe mill similar to the Napa Pipe Mill and an ERW pipe mill which
produces steel pipe used by the oil and gas industry. The large diameter pipe
mill produces pipe in lengths of up to 80 feet with a diameter ranging from 20"
to 42" with maximum wall thickness of up to 5/8". The ERW mill produces pipe in
sizes ranging from 4.5" to 16" in diameter.
See Part I, Item 2, "Properties", for discussion of the operating
capacities of the Portland Mill, the Napa Pipe Mill and the Camrose Pipe Mill.
RMSM DIVISION
On March 3, 1993, New CF&I, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
acquired a 95.2% interest in a newly formed limited partnership, CF&I Steel,
L.P. ("CF&I"), a Delaware limited partnership. The remaining 4.8% interest was
owned by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC"). CF&I then purchased
substantially all of the steelmaking, fabricating, metals and railroad business
assets of CF&I Steel Corporation. In August of 1994, New CF&I sold a 10% equity
interest in New CF&I to a subsidiary of Nippon Steel Corporation ("Nippon"). In
connection with that sale, Nippon agreed to license to the Company a proprietary
technology for producing deep head-hardened ("DHH") rail products as well as to
provide certain production equipment to produce DHH rail. In November 1995, the
Company sold equity interests totaling 3% in New CF&I to two subsidiaries of the
Nissho Iwai Group ("Nissho Iwai"), a large Japanese trading company. In 1997,
the Company purchased the 4.8% interest in CF&I owned by the PBGC. In 1998, the
Company sold a 0.5% interest in CF&I to a subsidiary of Nippon.
Shortly after the acquisition of the Pueblo Mill in 1993, the Company
began a series of major capital improvements designed to increase yields,
improve productivity and quality and expand the Company's ability to offer
specialty rail, rod and bar products. The primary components of the capital
improvements at the Pueblo Mill are outlined below.
STEELMAKING. The Company installed a ladle refining furnace and a vacuum
degassing facility and upgraded both continuous casters. During 1995, the
Company eliminated ingot casting and replaced it with more efficient continuous
casting methods that allow the Company to cast directly into blooms. These
improvements expanded the Pueblo Mill steelmaking capacity to 1.2 million tons.
ROD AND BAR MILL. At the time of its acquisition, the rod and bar mills
at the Pueblo Mill were relatively old and located in separate facilities, which
resulted in significant inefficiencies as the Company shifted production between
them in response to market conditions. In 1995, the Company commenced operation
of a new combination rod and bar mill with a new reheat furnace and a high speed
rod train, capable of producing commodity and specialty grades of rod and bar
products. These improvements enable the Company to produce a wider range of high
margin specialty products, such as high-carbon rod, merchant bar and other
specialty bar products, and larger rod coil sizes, which the Company believes
are preferred by many of its customers.
RAIL MANUFACTURING. At the time of the Company's acquisition of the
Pueblo Mill, rail was produced by ingot casting using energy-intensive processes
with significant yield losses as the ingots were reheated, reduced to blooms and
then rolled into rail. Continuous casting has increased rail yields and
decreased rail manufacturing costs. In 1996, the Company invested in its
railmaking capacity by entering into the agreement with Nippon for the license
of its proprietary technology to produce DHH rail, and acquired the production
equipment necessary to produce the specialty rail. DHH rail is considered by the
rail industry to be longer lasting and of higher quality than rail produced
using conventional methods and, accordingly, the DHH rail usually has a
corresponding higher average selling price. The Company believes it is able to
meet the needs of a broad array of rail customers with both traditional and DHH
rail.
SEAMLESS PIPE. Seamless pipe produced at the Pueblo Mill consists of
seamless casing, coupling stock and standard and line pipe. Seamless pipe casing
is used as a structural retainer for the walls
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of oil or gas wells. Standard and line pipe are used to transport liquids and
gasses both above and underground. The Company's seamless pipe mill is equipped
to produce the most widely used sizes of seamless pipe (7" outside diameter
through 10-3/4" outside diameter) in all standard lengths. The Company's
production capability includes carbon and heat treated tubular products. The
Company also sells semi-finished seamless pipe (referred to as green tubes) for
processing and finishing by others. Due to market conditions, the seamless mill
has been temporarily shut down since November 2001.
See Part I, Item 2, "Properties", for discussion of the operating
capacities of the Pueblo Mill.
PRODUCTS
OVERVIEW
The Company manufactures and markets one of the broadest lines of
specialty and commodity steel products of any domestic minimill company. Through
acquisitions and capital improvements, the Company has expanded its range of
finished products from two in 1991, discrete plate and large diameter welded
pipe, to eight currently by adding ERW pipe, rail, rod, bar, seamless pipe and
coiled plate. It has also expanded its primary selling region from the western
United States to national and international markets. (See Note 3 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.)
The following chart identifies the Company's principal products and the
primary markets for those products.
PRODUCTS MARKETS
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OREGON STEEL DIVISION Specialty steel plate Steel service centers
Heavy equipment
manufacturers
Railcar manufacturers
Pressure vessel
manufacturers
Welded pipe mills
Commodity steel and Steel service centers
coiled plate Construction
Ship and barge
manufacturers
Heavy equipment
manufacturers
Large diameter steel Oil and petroleum natural
pipe gas transmission
pipelines
Construction
Electric resistance Oil and natural gas line
welded (ERW)pipe pipe
Construction
RMSM DIVISION Rail Rail transportation
Rod and Bar products Construction
Durable goods
Capital equipment
Seamless pipe Oil and petroleum producers
Semi-finished Seamless tube mills
-3-
The following table sets forth for the period indicated the tonnage
shipped and the Company's total shipments by product class:
TONS SHIPPED
-----------------------------------
PRODUCT CLASS 2001 2000 1999
------------- ----- ----- -----
Oregon Steel Division:
Steel Plate 463,100 709,900 432,200
Coiled Plate 8,900 16,900 18,000
Large Diameter Steel Pipe 281,300 71,300 491,200
Electric Resistance Welded Pipe 76,400 73,400 28,400
--------- --------- ---------
Total Oregon Steel Division 829,700 871,500 969,800
--------- --------- ---------
RMSM Division:
Rail 246,000 314,700 299,000
Rod and Bar 432,500 395,100 407,600
Seamless Pipe (1) 97,700 10,400 19,600
Semi-finished 4,700 36,800 8,700
--------- --------- ---------
Total RMSM Division 780,900 757,000 734,900
--------- --------- ---------
Total Company 1,610,600 1,628,500 1,704,700
========= ========= =========
- --------------
(1) The Company suspended operation at the seamless pipe mill in May 1999.
Operation of the mill resumed in October 2000. Operations were again
suspended in November 2001.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION
STEEL PLATE. The Company's specialty grade and commodity steel plate is
produced at the Portland Mill on the Combination Mill. The Combination Mill
allows for the production of discrete plate widths up to 136" and coiled plate
up to 96" wide. The majority of steel plate is commonly produced and consumed in
standard widths and lengths, such as 96" x 240". Specialty steel plate consists
of hot-rolled carbon, high-strength-low-alloy, alloy and heat-treated steel
plate. Specialty steel plate has superior strength and performance
characteristics as compared to commodity steel plate and is typically made to
order for customers seeking specific properties, such as improved malleability,
hardness or abrasion resistance, impact resistance or toughness, higher strength
and ability to be more easily machined and welded. These improved properties are
achieved by chemically refining the steel by either adding or removing specific
elements, and by accurate temperature control while hot-rolling or heat-treating
the plate. Specialty steel plate is used to manufacture railroad cars, mobile
equipment, bridges and buildings, pressure vessels and machinery components.
Commodity steel plate is used in a variety of applications such as the
manufacture of storage tanks, machinery parts, ships and barges, and general
load bearing structures. Coiled plate is the feeder stock for the manufacture of
ERW pipe, welded tubing, spiral welded pipe and for conversion into
cut-to-length plate.
The heat-treating process of quenching and tempering improves the
strength, toughness, and hardness of the steel. Quenched and tempered steel is
used extensively in the mining industry, the manufacture of heavy transportation
equipment, construction and logging equipment, and armored vehicles for the
military. In early 1994, the Company installed a hot leveler at the heat-treat
facility which flattens the steel plate following heat-treatment and ensures
that the steel plate will retain its desired shape after cooling. These
additions enable the Company to manufacture a superior hardened plate product.
LARGE DIAMETER STEEL PIPE. The Company manufactures large diameter,
double submerged arc-welded ("DSAW") steel pipe at its Napa and Camrose Pipe
Mills. Large diameter pipe is manufactured to demanding specifications and is
produced in sizes ranging from 16" to 42" in outside diameter with wall
thickness of up to 1 1/16" and in lengths of up to 80 feet. At the Napa Pipe
Mill the Company also offers customers several options, which include internal
linings, external coatings, double end pipe joining and full body ultrasonic
inspection. Ultrasonic inspection allows examination of the ends, long seam
welds and the entire pipe body for steelmaking or pipemaking defects and records
the results. The Company's large diameter pipe is used primarily in pressurized
underground or underwater oil and gas transmission pipelines where high quality
is absolutely necessary.
-4-
The Company's ability to produce high-quality large diameter pipe and
other specialty steel plate products was enhanced by the installation of the
vacuum degassing facility at the Portland Mill in 1993. The vacuum degassing
process reduces the hydrogen content of the final product, which increases its
resistance to hydrogen-induced cracking. The vacuum degassing facility enables
the Company to produce some of the highest quality steel plate and line pipe
steel.
ERW PIPE. The Company produces smaller diameter ERW pipe at the Camrose
Pipe Mill. ERW pipe is produced in sizes ranging from approximately 4.5" to 16"
in diameter. The pipe is manufactured using coiled steel formed on a high
frequency ERW mill. The principal customers for this product are oil and gas
companies that use it for gathering lines to supply product to feed larger
pipeline systems.
RMSM DIVISION
RAIL. The Company produces standard carbon and high-strength
head-hardened rail at its Pueblo Mill. The Pueblo Mill is the sole manufacturer
of rail west of the Mississippi River and one of only two rail manufacturers in
the Western Hemisphere. Rails are manufactured in the six most popular rail
weights (ranging from 115 lb/yard through 141 lb/yard), in 39 and 80-foot
lengths. The primary customers for the Pueblo Mill's rail are the major western
railroads, with an increased share of the eastern railroad business in recent
years. The Company has also developed a major presence in the Canadian and
Mexican rail markets. Rail is also sold directly to rail contractors, transit
districts and short-line railroads.
As part of its capital improvement program, the Company improved its rail
manufacturing facilities to include the production of in-line head-hardened
rail. In-line head-hardened rail is produced through a proprietary technology,
known as deep head-hardened or DHH technology, which is licensed from a third
party. In 2001, the Company produced approximately 90,000 tons of head-hardened
product using the DHH technology. The in-line DHH technology allows the Company
to produce head-hardened product up to the capacity of the rail facility. Rail
produced using the improved in-line technology is considered by many rail
customers to be longer lasting and of higher quality than rail produced with
traditional off-line techniques. In 2001, the Pueblo Mill began producing and
marketing an improved head-hardened rail called High Carbon Pearlite ("HCP").
This rail metallurgy was designed for heavy application situations such as heavy
tonnage curves. During 1998 the Pueblo Mill completed a rail dock expansion
project which increased rail mill annual shipping capacity from 450,000 tons to
over 500,000 tons.
ROD AND BAR PRODUCTS. The Company's rod and bar mill located at the
Pueblo Mill is able to produce coils of up to 6,000 pounds. The improved steel
quality and finishing capabilities allow the Company to manufacture rods up to
1" in diameter, and to manufacture a variety of high-carbon rod products such as
those used for spring wire, wire rope and tire bead. The Company produces
several sizes of coiled rebar in the most popular grades for the reinforcement
of concrete products.
SEAMLESS PIPE. The Company's seamless pipe mill at the Pueblo Mill
produces seamless casing, coupling stock and standard and line pipe. The primary
use of these products is in the transmission and recovery of oil and natural gas
resources, through either above ground or subterranean pipelines. The seamless
mill produces both carbon and heat-treated tubular products. The Company also
markets green tubes to other tubular mills for processing and finishing. Due to
market conditions, the seamless mill has been temporarily shut down since
November 2001.
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-FINISHED SLABS
The Company's principal raw material for the steel minimills at the
Portland and Pueblo Mills is ferrous scrap metal derived from, among other
sources, junked automobiles, railroad cars and railroad track materials and
demolition scrap from obsolete structures, containers and machines. In addition,
direct-reduction iron ("DRI"), hot-briquetted iron ("HBI") and pig iron
(collectively "alternate metallics") can substitute for a limited portion of the
scrap used in minimill steel production, although the sources and availability
of alternate metallics are substantially more limited than those of scrap. The
purchase prices for scrap and alternate metallics are subject to market forces
largely beyond the control of the Company, and are impacted by demand from
domestic and foreign steel producers, freight costs, speculation by scrap
brokers and other conditions. The cost of scrap and alternate metallics to the
Company can vary significantly, and the Company's product
-5-
prices often cannot be adjusted, especially in the short-term, to recover the
costs of increases in scrap and alternate metallics prices.
The long-term demand for steel scrap and its importance to the domestic
steel industry may increase as steelmakers continue to expand scrap-based
electric arc furnace capacity; however, the Company believes that near-term
supplies of steel scrap will continue to be available in sufficient quantities
at competitive prices. In addition, while alternate metallics are not
currently cost competitive with steel scrap, a sustained increase in the price
of steel scrap could result in increased implementation of these alternative
materials.
With the expanded plate finishing capability available to the Company
from the 1997 completion of the Combination Mill, along with the manufacturing
flexibility to purchase semi-finished steel slabs at a lower cost, the Company
has consequently purchased material quantities of semi-finished steel slabs on
the open market since 1999 and each year thereafter.
These purchases are made on the spot market and are dependent upon slab
availability. The slab market and pricing are subject to significant volatility
and slabs may not be available at reasonable prices in the future. The Company
expects semi-finished slab purchases to represent approximately 60% of its
production needs for finished plate in 2002.
MARKETING AND CUSTOMERS
Steel products are sold by the Company principally through its own sales
organizations, which have sales offices at various locations in the United
States and Canada and, as appropriate, through foreign sales agents. In addition
to selling to customers who consume steel products directly, the Company also
sells to intermediaries such as steel service centers, distributors, processors
and converters.
The sales force is organized both geographically and by product line.
The Company has separate sales forces for plate, coiled plate, large diameter
steel pipe, ERW pipe, rod and bar, and rail products. Most of the Company's
sales are initiated by contacts between sales representatives and customers.
Accordingly, the Company does not incur substantial advertising or other
promotional expenses for the sale of its products. Except for contracts entered
into from time to time to supply rail and large diameter steel pipe to
significant projects (see Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Conditions and Results of Operation"), the Company does not have
any significant ongoing contracts with customers, and orders placed with the
Company generally are cancelable by the customer prior to production. Although
no single customer or group of affiliated customers represented more than 10% of
the Company's sales in 2001, during 1999 the Company had sales to a single
customer, Alliance Pipeline L.P., which accounted for nearly one-third of its
sales for the year. The Company expects that sales to one customer, Kern River
Gas Transmission Company for the Kern River Expansion Project, in 2002 will
represent more than 25% of total sales.
The Company does not have a general policy permitting return of purchased
steel products except for product defects. The Company does not routinely offer
extended payment terms to its customers.
The demand for a majority of the Company's products is not generally
subject to significant seasonal trends. The Company's rail products are impacted
by seasonal demand, as dictated by the major railroads' procurement schedules.
Demand for oil country tubular goods ("OCTG"), which include both seamless pipe
and ERW pipe, can be subject to seasonal factors, particularly for sales to
Canadian customers. Overall demand for OCTG is subject to significant
fluctuations due to the volatility of oil and gas prices and North American
drilling activity as well as other factors including competition from imports.
The Company does not have material contracts with the United States government
and does not have any major supply contracts subject to renegotiation.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION
SPECIALTY STEEL PLATE. Customers for specialty steel are located
throughout the United States, but the Company is most competitive west of the
Mississippi River, where transportation costs are less of a factor. Typical
customers include steel service centers and equipment manufacturers. Typical end
uses include pressure vessels, construction and mining equipment, machine parts
and military armor.
-6-
COMMODITY STEEL PLATE. Most of the customers for the Company's commodity
steel plate are located in the western United States, primarily in the Pacific
Northwest. The Company's commodity steel plate is typically sold to steel
service centers, fabricators and equipment manufacturers. Service centers
typically resell to other users with or without additional processing such as
cutting to a specific shape. Frequent end uses of commodity steel plate include
the manufacture of rail cars, storage tanks, machinery parts, bridges, barges
and ships.
LARGE DIAMETER STEEL PIPE. Large diameter steel pipe is marketed on a
global basis, and sales generally consist of a small number of large orders from
natural gas pipeline companies, public utilities and oil and gas producing
companies. The Company believes that the quality of its pipe enables it to
compete effectively in international as well as domestic markets. Domestically,
the Company has historically been most competitive in the steel pipe market west
of the Mississippi River. The Camrose Pipe Mill is most competitive in western
Canada. Sales of large diameter pipe generally involve the Company responding to
requests to submit bids.
ERW PIPE. The principal customers for ERW pipe produced at the Camrose
Pipe Mill are in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, where most of
Canada's natural gas and oil reserves are located. The Company believes its
proximity to these gas fields gives the Company a competitive advantage. Demand
for ERW pipe produced at the Camrose Pipe Mill is largely dependent on the level
of exploration and drilling activity in the gas fields of western Canada.
RMSM DIVISION
RAIL. The primary customers for the Pueblo Mill's rail are the major
western railroads, with an increased share of the eastern railroad business in
recent years. The Company has also developed a major presence in the Canadian
and Mexican rail markets. Rail is also sold directly to rail distributors,
transit districts and short-line railroads. The Company believes its proximity
to the North American rail markets benefits the Company's marketing efforts.
BAR PRODUCTS. The Company sells its bar products (primarily reinforcing
bar) to fabricators and distributors. The majority of these customers are
located in the United States, west of the Mississippi River.
ROD PRODUCTS. The Company's wire rod products are sold primarily to
wire drawers ranging in location from the Midwest to the West Coast. The demand
for wire rod is dependent upon a wide variety of markets, including
agricultural, construction, capital equipment and the durable goods segments.
The Company entered the high carbon rod market during 1995 as a direct result of
the investment in the new rolling facility. Since that time, the Company's
participation in the higher margin, high carbon rod market has steadily
increased, to the point where it now represents nearly two-thirds of total rod
product shipments. Typical end uses of high carbon rod include spring wire, wire
rope and tire bead.
SEAMLESS PIPE. The Company's seamless pipe is sold primarily through an
exclusive distribution agreement. The distributor markets seamless casing, along
with its own product offerings, to a large number of oil exploration and
production companies. Sales of seamless pipe are made both through the
distributor and, on a limited basis, directly to companies outside of the OCTG
industry, such as construction companies. The market for the Company's seamless
pipe is primarily domestic. The demand for this product is determined in large
part by the number and drilling depths of the oil and gas drilling rigs working
in the United States.
COMPETITION AND OTHER MARKET FACTORS
The steel industry is cyclical in nature, and high levels of steel
imports, worldwide production overcapacity and other factors have adversely
affected the domestic steel industry in recent years. The Company also is
subject to industry trends and conditions, such as the presence or absence of
sustained economic growth and construction activity, currency exchange rates and
other factors. The Company is particularly sensitive to trends in the oil and
gas, construction, capital equipment, rail transportation and durable goods
segments, because these industries are significant markets for the Company's
products.
Competition within the steel industry is intense. The Company competes
primarily on the basis of product quality, price and responsiveness to customer
needs. Many of the Company's competitors are larger and have substantially
greater capital resources, more modern technology and
-7-
lower labor and raw material costs than the Company. Moreover, U.S. steel
producers have historically faced significant competition from foreign
producers. The highly competitive nature of the industry, combined with excess
production capacity in some products, results in significant sales pricing
pressure for certain of the Company's products.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION
SPECIALTY STEEL PLATE. The Company's principal domestic competitor in the
specialty steel plate market is Bethlehem Steel Corp. ("Bethlehem"), the largest
plate producer in North America and currently operating under an October 2001
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Bethlehem owns five plate mills located in
Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, of which three are currently operating,
with an estimated annual capacity in excess of 2 million tons. Bethlehem
aggressively markets to major national accounts in fabrication and heavy-duty
manufacturing as a single source supplier. Although not a major competitor in
the western states, U.S. Steel Corporation, located in Indiana, is the second
largest domestic specialty plate producer and does represent a significant
competitor in the Midwest.
COMMODITY STEEL PLATE. The Company's principal domestic commodity plate
competitor is IPSCO Inc. ("IPSCO"). IPSCO brought into production a green field
120" steckel mill in Iowa in 1998, with that mill operating to nearly the same
specifications as the Portland Mill. IPSCO also operates a smaller steckel mill
in Saskatchewan, Canada, and in early 2001, completed a new steckel mill in
Mobile, Alabama. IPSCO competes primarily in the Midwest commodity plate market,
in other selected target markets and in the coiled plate market throughout the
U.S. During the fourth quarter of 2000, Nucor Corporation completed construction
of and began selling plate from a one million-ton steel plate facility in
Hertford County, North Carolina, which has further increased competition in the
steel plate market.
Until its recent shut down in November 2000 and subsequent Chapter 11
bankruptcy filing in January 2002, Geneva Steel ("Geneva") was a major
competitor of the Company in the commodity plate market. Geneva has an
integrated steelmaking facility in Utah, the only one west of the Mississippi,
and had historically produced approximately 1.8 million tons of commodity plate
per year. With the shut down, the Company expects an increase in its product
sales to meet market demands.
LARGE DIAMETER PIPE. The Company's principal domestic competitors in the
large diameter steel pipe market at this time are Berg Steel Pipe Corporation,
located in Florida, and South Texas Steel, located in Texas. International
competitors consist primarily of pipe producers from Japan, Europe and Canada,
with the principal Canadian competitor being IPSCO. Demand for the Company's
pipe in recent years is primarily a function of new construction of oil and gas
transportation pipelines and to a lesser extent maintenance and replacement of
existing pipelines. Construction of new pipelines domestically depends to some
degree on the level of oil and gas exploration and drilling activity.
ERW PIPE. The competition in the market for ERW pipe is based on
availability, price, product quality and responsiveness to customers. The need
for this product has a direct correlation to the number of drilling rigs in the
United States and Canada. Principal competitors in the ERW product in western
Canada are IPSCO and Prudential Steel Ltd., located in Calgary, Alberta.
RMSM DIVISION
RAIL. The majority of current rail requirements in the United States are
replacement rails for existing rail lines. Imports have been a significant
factor in the domestic rail market in recent years. The Company's capital
expenditure program at the Pueblo Mill provided the rail production facilities
with continuous cast steel capability and in-line head-hardening rail
capabilities necessary to compete with other producers. Pennsylvania Steel
Technologies, a division of Bethlehem, is the only other domestic rail producer.
ROD AND BAR. The competition in bar products includes a group of
minimills that have a geographical location close to the markets in or around
the Rocky Mountains. The Company's market for wire rod ranges from the Midwest
to the West Coast. Domestic rod competitors include North Star Steel, Cascade
Steel Rolling Mills, Keystone Steel and Wire for commodity grades and GS
Industries, Ivaco Rolling Mills and North Star Steel for high carbon rod
products.
-8-
SEAMLESS PIPE. The Company's primary competitors in seamless pipe include
a number of domestic and foreign manufacturers. The Company has the flexibility
to produce relatively small volumes of specified products on short notice in
response to customer requirements. Principal domestic competitors include U.S.
Steel Corporation and North Star Steel for seamless product. Lone Star Steel
competes with its welded ERW pipe in lieu of seamless, which is acceptable for
some applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company is subject to extensive United States and foreign, federal,
state and local environmental laws and regulations concerning, among other
things, wastewater, air emissions, toxic use reduction and hazardous materials
disposal. The Portland and Pueblo Mills are classified in the same manner as
other similar steel mills in the industry as generating hazardous waste
materials because the melting operation of the electric arc furnace produces
dust that contains heavy metals. This dust, which constitutes the largest waste
stream generated at these facilities, must be managed in accordance with
applicable laws and regulations.
The Clean Air Act Amendments ("CAA") of 1990 imposed responsibilities on
many industrial sources of air emissions, including the Company's plants. In
addition, the monitoring and reporting requirements of the law subject all
companies with significant air emissions to increased regulatory scrutiny. The
Company submitted applications in 1995 to the Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality ("DEQ") and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
("CDPHE") for permits under Title V of the CAA for the Portland and Pueblo
Mills, respectively. A Title V permit was issued for the Portland Mill and
related operations in December 2000. The CDPHE issued the final portion of the
Title V permit for the Pueblo Mill in December 2001, certain terms of which have
been administratively challenged by the Company and are the subject of
negotiations with the CDPHE. Depending on the results of that challenge and
those negotiations, the Title V permit for the Pueblo Mill may be issued under
conditions that would require the Company to make future capital expenditures or
curtail operations. See "Environmental Matters-RMSM Division" below for a
description of CAA compliance issues relating to the Pueblo Mill. The Company
does not know the ultimate cost of compliance with the CAA, which will depend on
a number of site-specific factors. Regardless of the outcome of the matters
discussed below, the Company anticipates that it will be required to incur
additional expenses and make additional capital expenditures as a result of the
law and future laws regulating air emissions.
The Company's future expenditures for installation of and improvements to
environmental control facilities, remediation of environmental conditions,
penalties for violations of environmental laws, and other similar matters are
difficult to predict accurately. It is likely that the Company will be subject
to increasingly stringent environmental standards, including those relating to
air emissions, waste water and storm water discharge and hazardous materials
use, storage, handling and disposal. It is also likely that the Company will be
required to make potentially significant expenditures relating to environmental
matters on an ongoing basis. Although the Company has established the reserves
for environmental matters described below, additional measures may be required
by environmental authorities and additional environmental hazards, each
necessitating further expenditures, may be asserted by these authorities or
private parties. Accordingly, the costs of environmental matters may exceed the
amounts reserved. Expenditures of the nature described below or liabilities
resulting from hazardous substances located on the Company's currently or
previously owned properties or used or generated in the conduct of its business,
or resulting from circumstances, actions, proceedings or claims relating to
environmental matters, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's
consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION
In May 2000, the Company entered into a Voluntary Clean-up Agreement with
the DEQ committing the Company to conduct an investigation of whether, and to
what extent, past or present operations at the Portland Mill may have affected
sediment quality in the Willamette River. Based on preliminary findings, the DEQ
has requested the Company to begin a full remedial investigation ("RI"),
including areas of investigation throughout the Portland Mill, and implement
source control as required. The Company estimates that costs of the RI study
could range from $732,000 to $1,872,000 over the next two years. Based on a best
estimate, the Company has accrued a
-9-
liability of $1,159,000 as of December 31, 2001. The Company has also recorded a
$1,159,000 receivable for insurance proceeds that are expected to cover these RI
costs. Based upon the results of the RI, the DEQ may require the Company to
incur costs associated with additional phases of investigation, remedial action
or implementation of source controls, which could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's results of operations, as it may cause costs to exceed
available insurance amounts. The Company is unable at this time to determine if
the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or loss is either probable or remote,
or to estimate a dollar amount range for a potential loss.
In a related manner, in December 2000 the Company received a general
notice letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), identifying
it, along with 68 other entities, as a potentially responsible party ("PRP")
under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
("CERCLA") with respect to contamination in a portion of the Willamette River
that has been designated as the "Portland Harbor Superfund Site." The letter
advised the Company that it may be liable for costs of remedial investigation
and remedial action at the site (which liability, under CERCLA, is joint and
several with other PRPs) as well as for natural resource damages that may be
associated with any releases of contaminants (principally at the Portland Mill
site) for which the Company has liability. At this time, nine private and public
entities have signed an Administrative Order on Consent ("AOC") to perform a
remedial investigation/feasibility study ("RI/FS") of the Portland Harbor
Superfund Site under EPA oversight. The RI/FS is expected to take three to five
years to complete. The Company is a member of the Lower Willamette Group, which
is funding that investigation, but the Company is not a signatory to the AOC.
Although the EPA has not yet defined the boundaries of the Portland Harbor
Superfund Site, the AOC requires the RI/FS to focus on an "initial study area"
that does not now include the portion of the Willamette River adjacent to the
Portland Mill. The study area, however, may be expanded. At the conclusion of
the RI/FS, the EPA will issue a Record of Decision setting forth any remedial
action that it requires to be implemented by the PRPs. A determination that the
Company is a PRP could cause the Company to incur costs associated with remedial
action, natural resource damage and natural resource restoration, which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations. The
Company is unable to estimate a dollar amount range for any related remedial
action that may be implemented by the EPA.
On April 18, 2001, the United Steelworkers of America (the "Union"),
along with two other groups, filed suit against the Company under the citizen
suit provisions of the CAA in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon. The suit
alleges that the Company has violated various air emission limits and conditions
of its operating permits at the Portland Mill approximately 100 times since
1995. The suit seeks injunctive relief and unspecified civil penalties. The
Company filed a response to the suit on July 24, 2001, disputing many of the
suit's allegations, and trial is expected to be scheduled for the summer of
2003. The Company believes it has factual and legal defenses to the allegations
and intends to defend the matter vigorously. Although the Company believes it
will prevail, it is not presently possible to estimate the liability if there is
ultimately an adverse determination.
RMSM DIVISION
In connection with the acquisition of the Pueblo Mill, CF&I accrued a
liability of $36.7 million for environmental remediation related to the prior
owner's operations. CF&I believed this amount was the best estimate of costs
from a range of $23.1 million to $43.6 million. CF&I's estimate of this
liability was based on two remediation investigations conducted by environmental
engineering consultants, and included costs for the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act facility investigation, a corrective measures study, remedial
action, and operation and maintenance associated with the proposed remedial
actions. In October 1995, CF&I and the CDPHE finalized a postclosure permit for
hazardous waste units at the Pueblo Mill. As part of the postclosure permit
requirements, CF&I must conduct a corrective action program for the 82 solid
waste management units at the facility and continue to address projects on a
prioritized corrective action schedule which substantially reflects a
straight-line rate of expenditure over 30 years. The State of Colorado mandated
that the schedule for corrective action could be accelerated if new data
indicated a greater threat existed to the environment than was presently
believed to exist. At December 31, 2001, the accrued liability was $30.8
million, of which $28.5 million was classified as non-current on the
consolidated balance sheet.
The CDPHE inspected the Pueblo Mill in 1999 for possible environmental
violations, and in the fourth quarter of 1999 issued a Compliance Advisory
indicating that air quality regulations had
-10-
been violated, which was followed by the filing of a judicial enforcement action
("Action") in the first quarter of 2000. In March 2002, CF&I and CDPHE reached a
settlement of the Action, which remains subject to the approval of the presiding
judge. The proposed settlement provides for CF&I to pay $300,000 in penalties,
fund $1.5 million of community projects, and to pay approximately $400,000 for
consulting services. CF&I will also be required to make certain capital
improvements expected to cost approximately $20 million, including converting to
the new single New Source Performance Standards ("NSPS") Subpart AAa ("NSPS
AAa") compliant furnace discussed below. The proposed settlement provides that
the two existing furnaces will be permanently shut down 18 months after the
issuance of a Prevention of Significant Deterioration ("PSD") air permit. It is
expected the PSD air permit will be issued on or before September 30, 2002.
In May 2000, the EPA issued a final determination that one of the two
electric arc furnaces at the Pueblo Mill was subject to federal NSPS - Subpart
AA ("NSPS AA"). This determination was contrary to an earlier "grandfather"
determination first made in 1996 by CDPHE. CF&I appealed the EPA determination
in the federal Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and that appeal is pending. CF&I
is prepared, however, to voluntarily exceed the NSPS AA requirements at issue by
converting to a new single furnace that will meet NSPS AAa standards, which are
stricter than NSPS AA standards. Based on negotiations with the EPA, the Company
believes it will reach a resolution that will allow for a compliance schedule to
accommodate the conversion to the new single furnace. The Company expects that,
to resolve the EPA matter, it will be required to commit to the conversion to
the new furnace (to be completed approximately two years after permit approval
and expect to cost, with all related emission control improvements,
approximately $20.0 million), and to pay approximately $450,000 in penalties and
fund certain supplemental environmental projects valued at approximately $1.1
million, including the installation of certain pollution control equipment at
the Pueblo Mill. The above mentioned expenditures for supplemental environmental
projects will be both capital and non-capital expenditures.
In response to the CDPHE settlement and the resolution of the EPA action,
CF&I has accrued $3.0 million as of December 31, 2001 for possible fines and
non-capital related expenditures.
In December 2001, the State of Colorado issued a Title V air discharge
permit to CF&I under the CAA requiring that the furnace subject to the EPA
action operate in compliance with NSPS AA standards. This permit's compliance
schedule required the furnace to operate in compliance with these standards by
March 22, 2002. The State of Colorado entered a stay of this compliance schedule
on March 22, 2002, effective until April 18, 2002, when the permit is expected
to be modified to incorporate the longer compliance schedule that is part of the
settlement with the CDPHE and is part of the negotiations with the EPA. This
modification would give CF&I adequate time to convert to a single NSPS AAa
compliant furnace. Any decrease in steelmaking production during the furnace
conversion period when both furnaces are expected to be shut down will be offset
by the Company purchasing semi-finished steel ("billets") for conversion into
rod products at spot market prices at costs comparable to internally generated
billets. Pricing and availability of billets is subject to significant
volatility. However, the Company believes that near term supplies of billets
will continue to be available in sufficient quantities at favorable prices.
In a related matter, in April 2000 the Union filed suit in U.S. District
Court in Denver, Colorado, asserting that the Company and CF&I had violated the
CAA at the Pueblo Mill for a period extending over five years. On July 6, 2001,
the presiding judge dismissed the suit. The Union has appealed the decision. The
Company intends to defend this matter vigorously. While the Company does not
believe the suit will have a material adverse effect on its results of
operations, the result of litigation, such as this, is difficult to predict and
an adverse outcome with significant penalties is possible. It is not presently
possible to estimate the liability if there is ultimately an adverse
determination on appeal.
LABOR DISPUTE
The labor contract at CF&I expired on September 30, 1997. After a brief
contract extension intended to help facilitate a possible agreement, on October
3, 1997, the Union initiated a strike at CF&I for approximately 1,000 bargaining
unit employees. The parties, however, failed to reach final agreement on a new
labor contract due to differences on economic issues. As a result of contingency
planning, CF&I was able to avoid complete suspension of operations at the Pueblo
Mill by utilizing a combination of new hires, striking employees who returned to
work, contractors and salaried employees.
-11-
On December 30, 1997, the Union called off the strike and made an
unconditional offer on behalf of its members to return to work. At the time of
this offer, because CF&I had permanently replaced the striking employees, only a
few vacancies existed at the Pueblo Mill. Since that time, vacancies have
occurred and have been filled by formerly striking employees ("Unreinstated
Employees"). As of December 31, 2001, approximately 680 Unreinstated Employees
have either returned to work or have declined CF&I's offer of equivalent work.
At December 31, 2001, approximately 250 Unreinstated Employees remain
unreinstated.
On February 27, 1998, the Regional Director of the National Labor
Relations Board ("NLRB") Denver office issued a complaint against CF&I, alleging
violations of several provisions of the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA").
On August 17, 1998, a hearing on these allegations commenced before an
Administrative Law Judge ("Judge"). Testimony and other evidence were presented
at various sessions in the latter part of 1998 and early 1999, concluding on
February 25, 1999. On May 17, 2000, the Judge rendered a decision which, among
other things, found CF&I liable for certain unfair labor practices and ordered
as remedy the reinstatement of all 1,000 Unreinstated Employees, effective as of
December 30, 1997, with back pay and benefits, plus interest, less interim
earnings. Since January 1998, the Company has been returning unreinstated
strikers to jobs as positions became open. As noted above, there were
approximately 250 unreinstated strikers as of December 31, 2001. On August 2,
2000, CF&I filed an appeal with the NLRB in Washington, D.C. A separate hearing
concluded on February 2000, with the judge for that hearing rendering a decision
on August 7, 2000, that certain of the Union's actions undertaken since the
beginning of the strike did constitute misconduct and violations of certain
provisions of the NLRA. The Union has appealed this determination to the NLRB.
In both cases, the non-prevailing party in the NLRB's decision will be entitled
to appeal to the appropriate U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. CF&I believes both
the facts and the law fully support its position that the strike was economic in
nature and that it was not obligated to displace the properly hired replacement
employees. The Company does not believe that final judicial action on the strike
issues is likely for at least two to three years.
In the event there is an adverse determination of these issues,
Unreinstated Employees could be entitled to back pay, including benefits, plus
interest, from the date of the Union's unconditional offer to return to work
through the date of their reinstatement or a date deemed appropriate by the NLRB
or an appellate court. The number of Unreinstated Employees entitled to back pay
may be limited to the number of past and present replacement workers; however,
the Union might assert that all Unreinstated Employees should be entitled to
back pay. Personnel records, since the strike, do not provide sufficient
information necessary to provide a reasonable estimate of liability. Back pay is
generally determined by the quarterly earnings of those working less interim
wages earned elsewhere by the Unreinstated Employees. In addition to other
considerations, each Unreinstated Employee has a duty to take reasonable steps
to mitigate the liability for back pay by seeking employment elsewhere that has
comparable working conditions and compensation. Any estimate of the potential
liability for back pay will depend significantly on the ability to assess the
amount of interim wages earned by these employees since the beginning of the
strike, as noted above. Due to the lack of accurate information on interim
earnings for both reinstated and unreinstated workers and sentiment of the Union
towards the Company, it is not currently possible to obtain the necessary data
to calculate possible back pay. In addition, the NLRB's findings of misconduct
by the Union may mitigate any back pay award with respect to any Unreinstated
Employees proven to have taken part or participated in acts of misconduct during
and after the strike. Thus, it is not presently possible to estimate the
liability if there is ultimately an adverse determination against CF&I. An
ultimate adverse determination against CF&I on these issues may have a material
adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of
operations, or cash flows. CF&I does not intend to agree to any settlement of
this matter that will have a material adverse effect on the Company. In
connection with the ongoing labor dispute, the Union has undertaken certain
activities designed to exert public pressure on CF&I. Although such activities
have generated some publicity in news media, CF&I believes that they have had
little or no material impact on its operations.
During the strike by the Union at CF&I, certain bargaining unit employees
of the Colorado & Wyoming Railway Company ("C&W"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
New CF&I, refused to report
-12-
to work for an extended period of time, claiming that concerns for their safety
prevented them from crossing the picket line. The bargaining unit employees of
C&W were not on strike, and because the other C&W employees reported to work
without incident, C&W considered those employees to have quit their employment
and, accordingly, C&W declined to allow those individuals to return to work. The
various unions representing those individuals filed claims with C&W asserting
that C&W had violated certain provisions of the applicable collective bargaining
agreement, the Federal Railroad Safety Act ("FRSA"), or the Railway Labor Act.
In all of the claims, the unions demand reinstatement of the former employees
with their seniority intact, back pay and benefits.
The United Transportation Union, representing thirty of those former
employees, asserted that their members were protected under the FRSA and pursued
their claim before the Public Law Board ("PLB"). A hearing was held in November
1999, and the PLB, with one member dissenting, rendered an award on January 8,
2001 against C&W, ordering the reinstatement of those claimants who intend to
return to work for C&W, at their prior seniority, with back pay and benefits,
net of interim wages earned elsewhere. On February 6, 2001, C&W filed a petition
for review of that award in the District Court for the District of Colorado, and
intends to pursue this matter through the appropriate United States appellate
court, if necessary. Given the inability to determine the number of former
employees who intend to return to work at C&W and the extent to which the
adverse and mitigating factors discussed above will impact the liability for
back pay and benefits, it is not presently possible to estimate the liability if
there is ultimately an adverse determination against C&W.
The Transportation-Communications International Union, Brotherhood Railway
Carmen Division, representing six of those former C&W employees, asserted that
their members were protected under the terms of the collective bargaining
agreement and pursued their claim before a separate PLB. A hearing was held in
January 2001, and that PLB, with one member dissenting, rendered an award on
March 14, 2001 against C&W, ordering the reinstatement of those claimants who
intend to return to work for C&W, at their prior seniority, with back pay and
benefits, net of interim wages earned elsewhere. As of December 31, 2001, two of
the six former employees have accepted a settlement from C&W. The remaining four
do not agree with the award amount from the court. The Company does not believe
an adverse determination against C&W would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2001, the Company had approximately 2000 full-time
employees. Within the Oregon Steel Division, the employees of the Portland Mill,
the Napa Pipe Mill and the corporate headquarters are not represented by a
union. Approximately 15 employees at the Camrose Pipe Mill are members of the
Canadian Autoworkers Union ("CAU") and are working under the terms of a
collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2003. Approximately 600
employees of the RMSM Division work under collective bargaining agreements with
several unions, including the United Steelworkers of America. The Company and
the United Steelworkers of America have been unable to agree on terms for a new
labor agreement and are operating under the terms of the Company's last contract
offer, which was implemented in 1998. See "Business-Labor Dispute".
The domestic employees of the Oregon Steel Division participate in the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"). As of December 31, 2001, the ESOP owned
approximately 4% of the Company's outstanding common stock. At the discretion of
the Board of Directors, common stock is contributed to the ESOP. The Company
also has profit participation plans for its employees, with the exception of
bargaining unit employees of Camrose, which permit eligible employees to share
in the pretax income of their operating unit. The Company may modify, amend or
terminate the plans, at any time, subject to the terms of various labor
agreements.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
OREGON STEEL DIVISION
The Portland Mill is located on approximately 143 acres owned by the
Company in the Rivergate Industrial Park in Portland, Oregon, near the
confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers. The operating facilities
principally consist of an electric arc furnace, ladle metallurgy station, vacuum
degasser, slab casting equipment and the Combination Mill, as well as an
adminis-
-13-
trative office building. The Company's heat-treating facilities are located
nearby on a 5-acre site owned by the Company.
The Company owns approximately 152 acres in Napa, California, with the
Napa Pipe Mill occupying approximately 92 of these acres. The Company also owns
a 325,000 square foot steel fabricating facility adjacent to the Napa Pipe Mill.
The fabricating facility is not currently operated by the Company, but is
instead leased to operators on a short-term basis, and consists of industrial
buildings containing equipment for the production and assembly of large steel
products or components.
The Camrose Pipe Mill is located on approximately 67 acres in Camrose,
Alberta, Canada, with the large diameter pipe mill and the ERW pipe mill
occupying approximately four acres and three acres, respectively. In addition,
there is a 3,600 square foot office building on the site. The sales staff leases
office space in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The property, plant and equipment of
Camrose, and certain other assets, are collateral for the Camrose (CDN) $15
million revolving credit facility (see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements).
RMSM DIVISION
The Pueblo Mill is located in Pueblo, Colorado on approximately 570
acres. The operating facilities principally consist of two electric arc
furnaces, a ladle refining furnace and vacuum degassing system, two 6-strand
continuous round casters for producing semi-finished steel, and three finishing
mills (a rail mill, a seamless pipe mill, and a rod and bar mill). In October
2000, the Company reopened the seamless pipe mill that had been idle since its
shut down in May 1999. The seamless pipe mill was shut down again in November
2001.
At December 31, 2001, the Company had the following nominal capacities,
which are affected by product mix:
PRODUCTION PRODUCTION
CAPACITY IN 2001
---------- ----------
(TONS)
Portland Mill: Melting 840,000 473,300
Finishing 1,200,000 826,500
Napa Pipe Mill: Steel Pipe 400,000 290,000
Camrose Pipe Mill: Steel Pipe 320,000 78,000
Pueblo Mill: Melting 1,200,000 778,600
Finishing Mills (1) 1,200,000 748,000
- -------------------------
(1) Includes the production capacity and production in 2001 of 150,000 tons and
90,500 tons, respectively, of the seamless pipe mill.
The Company's 11% First Mortgage Notes ("Notes") are secured, in part,
by a lien on substantially all of the property, plant and equipment of the
Company, exclusive of Camrose. New CF&I and CF&I (collectively, the
"Guarantors") have pledged substantially all of their property, plant and
equipment and certain other assets as security for their guarantees of the
Notes. (See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Part I, Item 1, "Business - Environmental Matters", for discussion
of (a) the environmental investigation agreement entered into with the DEQ, (b)
the PRP notification received from the EPA, (c) the lawsuits initiated by the
Union alleging violations of the CAA, and (d) the negotiations with CDPHE and
EPA regarding environmental issues at RMSM.
See Part I, Item 1, "Business - Labor Dispute", for the status of the
labor dispute at RMSM.
The Company is party to various other claims, disputes, legal actions and
other proceedings involving contracts, employment and various other matters. In
the opinion of management, the outcome of these matters should not have a
material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition of the Company.
The Company maintains insurance against various risks, including certain
types of tort liability arising from the sale of its products. The Company does
not maintain insurance against liabili-
-14-
ty arising out of waste disposal, on-site remediation of environmental
contamination or earthquake damage to its Napa Mill and related properties
because of the high cost of that coverage. There is no assurance that the
insurance coverage carried by the Company will be available in the future at
reasonable rates, if at all.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
No matters were voted upon during the fourth quarter of the year ended
December 31, 2001.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Officers are elected by the Board of Directors of the Company to serve
for a period ending with the next succeeding annual meeting of the Board of
Directors held immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders.
The name of each executive officer of the Company, age as of February 1,
2002 and position(s) and office(s) held by each executive officer are as
follows:
DATE ASSUMED
NAME AGE POSITION(S) PRESENT POSITION(S)
- --------------------- --- ------------------------- -------------------
Joe E. Corvin 57 President and January 2000
Chief Executive
Officer
L. Ray Adams 51 Vice President, Finance March 1991
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
Michael D. Buckentin 40 Vice President, July 2001
Operations -
Oregon Steel Division
Larry R. Lawrence 54 Senior Vice President, July 2001
Operations -
Oregon Steel Division
Steven M. Rowan 56 Vice President, February 1992
Materials and
Transportation
Robert A. Simon 40 Vice President and September 2000
General Manager -
RMSM Division
Jeff S. Stewart 40 Corporate Controller January 2000
Each of the executive officers named above has been employed by the
Company in an executive or managerial role for at least five years.
-15-
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. At
December 31, 2001, the number of common stockholders of record was 899.
Information on quarterly dividends and common stock prices is shown on page 24
and incorporated herein by reference.
The Indenture under which the Company's Notes were issued contains
potential restrictions on new indebtedness and various types of disbursements,
including common stock dividends. One of the restrictions on cash dividends is
based on the Company's net income in relation to its fixed charges, as defined.
Under that restriction, there was no amount available for cash dividends at
December 31, 2001. (See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Part
II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources").
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---------- ----------- --------- ------------ ----------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE, TON AND PER TON AMOUNTS)
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Sales $ 780,887 $ 672,017 $ 884,649 $ 937,400 $ 789,380
Cost of sales 694,941 619,016 756,461 826,606 702,220
Settlement of litigation (3,391) -- (7,027) (7,037) --
Loss (gain) on sale of assets (10) (290) 501 (4,746) (2,228)
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 64,300 51,486 55,992 56,189 51,749
Profit participation and other incentive
compensation 244 698 10,540 2,890 7,157
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income 24,803 1,107 68,182 63,498 30,482
Interest expense (35,595) (34,936) (35,027) (38,485) (10,216)
Other income (expense), net 3,044 4,355 1,290 (484) 4,249
Minority interests (339) (7) (1,475) (4,213) (5,898)
Income tax benefit (expense) 2,159 11,216 (13,056) (8,387) (6,662)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss) $ (5,928) $ (18,265) $ 19,914 $ 11,929 $ 11,955
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
COMMON STOCK INFORMATION:
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share $(.22) $(.69) $.76 $.45 $.45
Cash dividends declared per share $.00 $.06 $.56 $.56 $.56
Weighted average common shares and
common equivalents outstanding 26,378 26,375 26,375 26,368 26,292
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT DECEMBER 31):
Working capital $ 53,462 $ 108,753 $ 101,177 $ 34,428 $ 115,322
Total assets 869,576 880,354 877,254 993,970 986,620
Current liabilities 205,607 126,748 101,660 252,516 147,496
Long-term debt 233,542 314,356 298,329 270,440 367,473
Total stockholders' equity 318,586 331,645 352,402 345,117 349,007
OTHER DATA:
Depreciation and amortization $ 46,097 $ 46,506 $ 47,411 $ 45,164 $ 28,642
Capital expenditures $ 12,933 $ 16,684 $ 15,908 $ 27,754 $ 81,670
Total tonnage sold:
Oregon Steel Division 829,700 871,500 969,800 808,800 567,000
RMSM Division 780,900 757,000 734,900 861,700 907,600
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total tonnage sold 1,610,600 1,628,500 1,704,700 1,670,500 1,474,600
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Operating margin (1) 2.7% 0.1% 7.0% 5.5% 3.6%
Operating income per ton sold (1) $13 $1 $36 $31 $19
- ----------------------------------
(1) Excludes settlement of litigation and gains and losses on sale of assets.
-16-
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following information contains forward-looking statements, which are
subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Statements made in this report that are not statements of
historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements made
in this report can be identified by forward-looking words such as, but not
limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "seek,"
"estimate," "continue," "may," "will," "would," "could," and similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those projected.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general business
and economic conditions; competitive products and pricing, as well as
fluctuations in demand; the supply of imported steel and subsidies provided by
foreign governments to support steel companies domiciled in their countries;
changes in U.S. or foreign trade policies affecting steel imports or exports;
potential equipment malfunction; work stoppages; plant construction and repair
delays; reduction in electricity supplies and the related increased costs and
possible interruptions of supply; changes in the availability and costs of raw
materials and supplies used by the Company; costs of environmental compliance
and the impact of governmental regulations; risks related to the outcome of the
pending union lawsuit, and failure of the Company to predict the impact of lost
revenues associated with interruption of the Company's, its customers' or
suppliers' operations.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its subsidiaries, which include wholly-owned Camrose Pipe Corporation, which
through ownership in another corporation holds a 60% interest in Camrose Pipe
Company ("Camrose"); and 87% owned New CF&I, which owns a 95.2% interest in
CF&I. The Company also directly owns an additional 4.3% interest in CF&I. In
January 1998, CF&I assumed the trade name Rocky Mountain Steel Mills. All
significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
The Company currently has two aggregated operating divisions known as the
Oregon Steel Division and the RMSM Division. (See Note 2 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements on discussion of the Company's aggregate reporting of its
operating units). The Oregon Steel Division is centered at the Portland Mill. In
addition to the Portland Mill, the Oregon Steel Division includes the Napa Pipe
Mill and the Camrose Pipe Mill. The RMSM Division consists of the steelmaking
and finishing facilities of the Pueblo Mill, as well as certain related
operations.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage
of sales represented by selected income statement items and information
regarding selected balance sheet data.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- -------
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of sales 89.0 92.1 85.5
Settlement of litigation (.4) -- (.8)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets -- -- .1
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 8.2 7.7 6.3
Profit participation and other incentive
compensation -- .1 1.2
------- ------- -----
Operating income 3.2 .1 7.7
Interest expense (4.6) (5.2) (3.9)
Other income (expense), net .4 .6 .1
Minority interests (.1) - (.2)
------- ------- -----
Pretax income (loss) (1.1) (4.5) 3.7
Income tax benefit (expense) .3 1.7 (1.4)
------- ------- -----
Net income (loss) (.8)% (2.8)% 2.3%
======= ======= =====
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT DECEMBER 31):
Current ratio 1.3:1 1.9:1 2.0:1
Total debt as a percent of capitalization 49.3% 49.6% 46.6%
Net book value per share $12.36 $12.87 $13.67
-17-
The following table sets forth by division, for the periods indicated,
tonnage sold, revenues and average selling price per ton.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
----- ----- -----
TOTAL TONNAGE SOLD:
Oregon Steel Division:
Plate and Coil 472,000 726,800 450,200
Welded Pipe 357,700 144,700 519,600
--------- --------- ---------
Total Oregon Steel Division 829,700 871,500 969,800
--------- --------- ---------
RMSM Division:
Rail 246,000 314,700 299,000
Rod and Bar 432,500 395,100 407,600
Seamless Pipe (1) 97,700 10,400 19,600
Semi-finished 4,700 36,800 8,700
--------- --------- ---------
Total RMSM Division 780,900 757,000 734,900
--------- --------- ---------
Total Company 1,610,600 1,628,500 1,704,700
========= ========= =========
PRODUCT SALES (IN THOUSANDS): (2)
Oregon Steel Division $ 414,994 $ 363,624 $ 566,353
RMSM Division 291,993 269,505 251,154
--------- --------- ---------
Total Company $ 706,987 $ 633,129 $ 817,507
========= ========= =========
AVERAGE SELLING PRICE PER TON: (2)
Oregon Steel Division $500 $417 $584
RMSM Division $374 $356 $342
Company Average $439 $389 $480
- -----------------------
(1) The Company suspended operation of the seamless pipe mill from May 1999
until October 2000. Operations were again suspended in November 2001.
(2) Product sales and average selling price per ton exclude freight revenues
in 2001, 2000 and 1999, and sale of electricity in 2001 and 2000.
The Company's long range strategic plan emphasizes the commitment to
increase the Company's offering of specialty products, particularly in the
plate, rail, rod and welded pipe businesses, while seeking to reduce the impact
of individual product cycles on the Company's financial performance. To achieve
these goals, the Company is developing additional product offerings and
extending its market from the western United States to a national marketing
presence.
The Company's operating results were positively affected in 2001 by, among
other things, increased demand for welded pipe products. However, increased
pricing pressure in plate products continued in 2001. As a consequence, the
Company continues to emphasize its sales and marketing efforts on both specialty
and commodity steel plate products. The specialty and commodity plate markets
have been impacted by both new sources of domestic supply and continued imports
from foreign suppliers, which has adversely affected average selling prices for
the Company's plate products. High fixed costs motivate steel producers to
maintain high output levels even in the face of falling prices, thereby
increasing further downward pressures on selling prices. The domestic steel
industry and the Company's business are highly cyclical in nature and these
factors have adversely affected the profitability of the Company.
On March 5, 2002, President Bush announced the imposition of restrictions
on a wide range of steel imports for three years, including a 30% tariff on
steel plate and hot-rolled coil and a 30% tariff on imports of steel slabs in
excess of 5.4 million tons in year one. The tariffs on steel plate, coil, and
slabs decline to 24% in year two and 18% in year three. The tariffs for steel
slabs are for imports in excess of 5.9 million tons in year two and 6.4 million
tons in year three. Imports from Mexico, a large exporter of slab to the U.S.,
and Canada and certain developing countries are exempted from these
restrictions. This action is expected to reduce the supply of certain steel
products available on the U.S. market, thereby increasing the prices domestic
steel manufacturers can charge for those products. The Company expects these
restrictions will not materially impact either the supply or the cost of steel
slabs, which it purchases on the open market to process into steel plate and
coil. Oregon Steel believes these restrictions will assist it in increasing
profitability. The legality of these restrictions may be challenged before the
World Trade Organization. Similarly, the President may adjust these restrictions
or lift them in their entirety, depending on economic and industry conditions.
Accordingly, these restrictions may not remain in place for the entire
three-year period.
-18-
The Company expects to ship approximately 1.8 million tons of product
during 2002. The Oregon Steel Division anticipates that it will ship more than
550,000 tons of welded pipe and approximately 460,000 tons of plate and coil
products during 2002. The increase in anticipated welded pipe shipments is due
primarily to the Kern River Expansion Project, which will require production of
more than 370,000 tons. The Company expects that this order will be completed
and shipped by the end of 2002. The RMSM Division anticipates that it will ship
approximately 370,000 tons of rail, approximately 440,000 tons of rod and bar
and approximately 58,000 tons of other products. Accordingly, the Company
believes it is well positioned for an upturn in the steel cycle and expects
revenue and cash flow growth in 2002.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and
results of operations are based upon its consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles ("GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires the
Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its
estimates. This includes allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories, income
taxes, contingencies and litigation. The Company bases its estimates on
historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances. This provides a basis for making judgments
about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily
apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates
under different assumptions or conditions, and these differences may be
material.
The Company believes the following critical accounting policies affect
its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its
consolidated financial statements.
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. 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 the Company's
customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to
make payments, additional allowances may be required.
INVENTORY. The Company's inventories, consisting of raw materials,
semi-finished and finished products, are stated at the lower of average cost or
market.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES. All material environmental remediation
liabilities for non-capital expenditures, which are both probable and estimable,
are recorded in the financial statements based on current technologies and
current environmental standards at the time of evaluation. Adjustments are made
when additional information is available that suggests different remediation
methods or when estimated time periods are changed, thereby affecting the total
cost. The best estimate of the probable cost within a range is recorded;
however, if there is no best estimate, the low end of the range is recorded and
the range is disclosed. Even though the Company has established certain reserves
for environmental remediation, additional remedial measures may be required by
environmental authorities and additional environmental hazards,
necessitating further remedial expenditures, may be asserted by these
authorities or private parties. Accordingly, the costs of remedial measures may
exceed the amounts reserved.
LITIGATION LIABILITIES. All material litigation liabilities, which are
both probable and estimable, are recorded in the financial statements based on
the nature of the litigation, progress of the case, and opinions of management
and legal counsel on the outcome. Adjustments are made when additional
information is available that alters opinions of management and legal counsel on
the outcome of the litigation. The best estimate of the probable cost within a
range is recorded; however, if there is no best estimate, the low end of the
range is recorded and the range is disclosed.
DEFERRED TAXES. Deferred income taxes reflect the differences between the
financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities at year-end based on
enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates. Tax credits are recognized as a
reduction of income tax expense in the year the credit arises. A valuation
allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the
amount more likely than not to be realized.
COMPARISON OF 2001 TO 2000
SALES. Consolidated sales for 2001 of $780.9 million increased $108.9
million, or 16.2%, from sales of $672.0 million for 2000. Included in 2001 sales
are $19.1 million in electricity sales and $54.8
-19-
million in freight revenue. Included in 2000 sales is $2.8 million in
electricity sales and $36.1 million in freight revenue. The Company does not
expect any sales of electricity in 2002. Revenues from product sales increased
11.7% to $707.0 million in 2001 from $633.1 million in 2000. Shipments were down
1.1% at 1,610,600 tons for 2001 compared to 1,628,500 tons for 2000. However,
the average product selling price per ton increased from $389 in 2000 to $439 in
2001. Growth in both product sales and related average selling prices were due
primarily by the shift in product mix from plate and coil products to welded and
seamless pipe products. Freight revenue increased in response to product sales
growth, as well as the product mix and customer preference on shipping.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION. For 2001, the division shipped 829,700 tons of
plate, coil and welded pipe products, compared to 871,500 tons in 2000. This
decrease was due to a weakness in market demand and also due, in large part, to
the 6-day temporary curtailment at the Portland Mill during August of 2001. This
curtailment was in response to the plate market decline. Despite the decline in
total shipments, average selling price per ton, net of revenues from the
electricity sales and shipping revenues, increased in 2001 to $500 from $417 in
the prior year. The increase was in large part due to greater mix of higher
priced welded pipe products attributable to the increased pipe orders at the
Napa Pipe Mill. The Company anticipates that the sale of welded pipe will
continue to account for a substantial portion of the division's product sales in
the foreseeable future. Also included in 2001 sales is $16.9 million in
electricity sales. The Company sold approximately 50% of excess power load in
its melting facility at the Portland Mill back to the local utility under an
electricity exchange contract, which has since expired.
RMSM DIVISION. For 2001, the division shipped 780,900 tons, compared to
757,000 tons in 2000. The increase was due to higher shipments of seamless pipe
and rod and bar products, partially offset by decreased rail shipments caused by
capital program reductions by the major railroads. Average product selling price
per ton increased to $374 in 2001 from $356 in 2000. The shift of product mix to
seamless pipe in 2001 was the principal reason for the improved pricing, as
seamless pipe has the highest selling price per ton of all the division's
products. Due to the adverse market conditions in the prior year, no seamless
products were shipped during the first nine months of 2000 because the operation
was temporarily shut down. While performance of seamless products for the first
half of 2001 was strong, market conditions again deteriorated as demand from oil
and gas distributors decreased toward the second half of the year, due to
significant decline of oil and natural gas prices. As a result, the seamless
mill was temporarily shut down in November 2001 and remains shut down. Also
included in 2001 sales is $2.2 million in electricity sales.
GROSS PROFITS. Gross profit was $85.9 million, or 11.0%, for 2001 compared
to $53.0 million, or 7.9%, for 2000. The increase of $32.9 million in gross
profit was primarily related to the increased sales of high-priced welded pipe
and seamless pipe products. Additionally, the sale of electricity positively
impacted gross profit margin. This increase in gross profit was partially offset
by continued manufacturing overhead costs at the Portland Mill that did not
decline with the lower melt shop production that occurred as a result of the
sale of electricity back to the local utility.
SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION. In 2001, the Company recorded a $3.4 million
gain from litigation settlements with various graphite electrode suppliers.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative
expenses ("SG&A") of $64.3 million for 2001 increased by 24.9%, from $51.5
million for 2000. SG&A expenses increased as a percentage of total sales to 8.2%
in 2001 from 7.7% in 2000. The increase was due in part to $3.1 million in
additional seamless pipe commission fees for 2001, as compared to commission
fees paid in 2000 when the seamless mill was shut down for the majority of that
year. In addition, shipping costs increased 18.1%, from $14.9 million in 2000 to
$17.6 million in 2001. This was a direct result of higher volume of shipments on
welded and seamless pipe in 2001. The remaining increase from the prior year was
due to higher general and administrative costs. This included an increase in bad
debt expense of $2.7 million and an increase in reserves for environmental and
other legal expenses of $4.0 million.
INTEREST EXPENSE. Total interest expense increased $700,000, or 2.0%, to
$35.6 million in 2001, compared to $34.9 million in 2000. The increase in
interest expense in 2001 was primarily due to the acceleration of amortized loan
fees, additional loan fees, and higher interest costs associated with the
amendment of the Company's credit facility in the third and fourth quarters of
2001.
-20-
INCOME TAX EXPENSE. Effective income tax benefit rate was 26.7% and 38.0%
for 2001 and 2000, respectively. The effective income tax rate for 2001 varied
principally from the combined state and federal statutory rate due to the
adjustments created by structural changes in the Company's foreign operations
and non-deductible fines and penalties.
COMPARISON OF 2000 TO 1999
SALES. Consolidated sales for 2000 of $672.0 million decreased $212.6
million, or 24%, from sales of $884.6 million for 1999. Included in 2000 sales
is $2.8 million in electricity sales and freight revenue of $36.1 million.
Included in 1999 sales is $67.1 million in freight revenue. Revenues from
product sales decreased 22.6% to $633.1 million in 2000 from $817.5 million in
1999. Shipments were down 4.5% at 1,628,500 tons for 2000 compared to 1,704,700
tons for 1999. The average product selling price per ton declined $91 from $480
for 1999 to $389 for 2000. The decrease in product sales and related average
selling price, primarily resulted from the shift in product mix from welded pipe
products to plate and coil products and declining average selling prices per ton
for plate and welded pipe offset in part by higher average selling prices
achieved on rail, seamless pipe and rod and bar products. Freight revenues
decreased as a result of decreased product sales.
OREGON STEEL DIVISION. For 2000, the division shipped 871,500 tons of
plate, coil and welded pipe products at an average product selling price per ton
of $417 compared to 969,800 tons with an average product selling price per ton
of $584 for 1999. The decline in the average product selling price results
primarily from the decrease in the percentage of higher priced welded pipe
products and a decrease in the average product selling price for both plate and
welded pipe. The decreased shipments were the result of the decrease in welded
pipe shipments, which were negatively affected by the completion of the Alliance
Pipeline contract in 1999 and by a weak domestic welded pipe market.
RMSM DIVISION. For 2000, the division shipped 757,000 tons at an average
product selling price per ton of $356 compared to 734,900 tons at an average
selling price per ton of $342 for 1999. The increase in average product selling
price resulted primarily from the shift in product mix to higher priced rail
products from rod and bar products and an increase in the average product
selling price for all of the Division's product lines for 2000 as compared to
1999. Seamless pipe was particularly affected, with the average selling price
increasing by $230 per ton as compared to the previous year. The seamless pipe
mill restarted operations in October 2000 after being idled in May 1999, in
response to the market opportunities created by the activity in oil and gas
drilling in the western United States and Canada.
GROSS PROFITS. Gross profit was $53.0 million, or 7.9%, for 2000 compared
to $128.2 million, or 14.5% for 1999. The $75.2 million decrease in gross profit
was primarily due to the reduction in welded pipe shipments for 2000, driven by
a lack of market demand, which led to decreases in both volume of shipments and
average selling price per ton for welded pipe. Also, the average gross profit
per ton for the Company's plate products was reduced due to declining average
selling prices for 2000 as compared to 1999. Offsetting these decreases were
improved average margins for the Company's rod and bar products, as the Company
was able to sell a greater percentage of specialty rod products for 2000 as
compared to 1999. The effect of restarting the seamless mill also mitigated the
decrease in gross profit, as the seamless mill was reopened with minimal
start-up costs in 2000, as opposed to the significant shutdown and severance
costs incurred in 1999 when operation of the mill was suspended.
SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION. The Company recorded a $7.0 million gain for
1999 from litigation settlements with various graphite electrode suppliers.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative
("SG&A") expenses at $51.5 million for 2000 decreased by 8.0% from $56.0 million
for 1999, primarily due to decreased shipping costs and reduced costs resulting
from a reduction in workforce at the Napa Pipe Mill. SG&A expenses increased as
a percentage of sales to 7.7% for 2000 from 6.3% for 1999, primarily due to the
decrease in sales revenue exceeding the corresponding declines in volume of
product shipped.
PROFIT PARTICIPATION. Profit participation plan expense was $698,000 for
2000 compared to $10.5 million for 1999. The decrease in 2000 reflects the
negative operating results of the Oregon Steel Division in 2000.
INTEREST EXPENSE. Total interest expense for 2000 was unchanged from 1999
at $35.0 million; however, the interest cost before capitalized interest was
lower at $35.8 million for 2000 as com-
-21-
pared to $36.0 million for 1999. The lower interest cost is primarily the result
of a reduction in average outstanding debt principal for 2000 as compared to
1999, but was partially offset by an increase in the Company's average borrowing
rate.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE. The Company's effective benefit rate for state and
federal taxes for 2000 was 38.0% as compared to an income tax rate of 39.6% for
1999.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At December 31, 2001, the Company's liquidity, comprised of cash, cash
equivalents, and funds available under its revolving credit agreement, amended
effective November 29, 2001 ("Amended Credit Agreement"), totaled approximately
$46.3 million, compared to $36.9 million at December 31, 2000.
Cash flow provided by operations for 2001 was $49.5 million compared to
cash flow used in operations of $3.0 million in 2000. The items primarily
affecting the $52.5 million increase in cash flows were the decrease in net loss
in 2001 ($12.3 million), a non-cash provision for deferred taxes recorded in
2001 ($9.2 million), a smaller increase in inventories ($2.6 million in 2001
versus $12.5 million in 2000), and a decrease in net receivables in 2001 of $2.0
million versus an increase in 2000 of $28.6 million. As an offset, operating
liabilities increased $18.0 million in 2001 versus a $25.3 million increase in
2000.
Net working capital at December 31, 2001 decreased $55.3 million compared
to December 31, 2000, reflecting a $23.6 million increase in current assets
offset by a $78.9 million increase in current liabilities. The increase in
current assets was primarily due to increased cash and deferred tax assets ($8.9
million and $10.7 million, respectively). An offset to the increase in current
assets was a $2.0 million decrease in net accounts receivable due to timing of
payments by customers. The accounts receivable for the year ended December 31,
2001, as measured in average daily sales outstanding, remained relatively
unchanged at 40 days, as compared to 39 days for the year ended December 31,
2000. The increase in current liabilities was primarily due to the increase in
short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt ($62.5 million). As the
Company's Amended Credit Agreement will expire in less than one year, the amount
outstanding, approximately $61.6 million, was reclassified from non-current debt
to current debt. Additionally, a $9.5 million minimum pension liability
adjustment at year-end and a $2.2 million increase for environmental reserves
contributed to the change in current liabilities. Generally weak financial
market conditions resulted in poor investment returns in the pension plans
for the year 2001, thus causing pension assets to be lower than actuarial
liabilities and requiring an additional liability to be recorded. The increase
for environmental reserves were in relation to the expected settlements with
the EPA and CDPHE at the RMSM Division. See "Business - Environmental Matters"
for a description of those matters.
The Company has outstanding $228.3 million principal amount of First
Mortgage Notes ("Notes"), due 2003, which bear interest at 11%. The Guarantors
guarantee the Notes. The Notes and the guarantees are secured by a lien on
substantially all the property, plant and equipment and certain other assets of
the Company (exclusive of Camrose) and the Guarantors. The collateral does not
include, among other things, accounts receivable and inventory. The Indenture
under which the Notes were issued contains restrictions on new indebtedness and
various types of disbursements, including dividends, based on the Company's net
income in relation to its fixed charges, as defined. Under these restrictions,
there was no amount available for cash dividends at December 31, 2001.
The Company maintains the Amended Credit Agreement, which expires on
September 30, 2002. The Guarantors guarantee the Amended Credit Agreement. At
December 31, 2001, the amount available was the lesser of $100 million (which
decreased to $85 million on January 1, 2002 and will again decrease to $75
million on April 1, 2002) or the sum of the product of the Company's eligible
domestic accounts receivable and inventory balances and specified advance rates.
The Amended Credit Agreement and guarantees are secured by these assets in
addition to a shared security interest in certain equity and intercompany
interests of the Company. Interest on the Amended Credit Agreement is based on
the prime rate plus a margin of 2.75%, 1.25%, 1.25% and 1.50%, for the first,
second, third and fourth quarter of 2001, respectively; and 1.75% thereafter. As
of December 31, 2001, the average interest rate for the Amended Credit Agreement
was 8.66%. The unused line fees are 0.38%. The Amended Credit Agreement contains
various restrictive covenants including minimum consolidated tangible net worth,
minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization coverage
ratio, maximum annual capital expenditures, limitations
-22-
on stockholder dividends and limitations on incurring new or additional debt
obligations other than provided by the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company
cannot pay cash dividends without prior approval from the lenders. At December
31, 2001, the outstanding balance on the Amended Credit Agreement was
approximately $61.6 million and approximately $34.0 million was available under
the Amended Credit Agreement at that time.
The Company is able to draw up to $15 million of the borrowings available
under the Amended Credit Agreement to support issuance of letters of credit and
similar contracts. At December 31, 2001, $4.4 million was restricted under
outstanding letters of credit.
CF&I incurred $67.5 million in term debt in 1993 as part of the purchase
price of certain assets, principally the Pueblo, Colorado steelmaking and
finishing facilities, from CF&I Steel Corporation. This debt is unsecured and is
payable over ten years, bearing interest at 9.5%. As of December 31, 2001, the
outstanding balance on the debt was $14.5 million, of which $5.1 million was
classified as long-term.
Camrose maintains a (CDN) $15 million revolving credit facility with a
Canadian bank, the proceeds of which may be used for working capital and general
business purposes by Camrose. The facility is collateralized by substantially
all of the assets of Camrose, and borrowings under this facility are limited to
an amount equal to the sum of the product of specified advance rates and
Camrose's eligible trade accounts receivable and inventories. This facility
expires in September 2003. At the Company's election, interest is payable based
on either the bank's Canadian dollar prime rate, the bank's U.S. dollar prime
rate, or LIBOR. As of December 31, 2001, the interest rate of this facility was
4.0%. Annual commitment fees are .25% of the unused portion of the credit line.
At December 31, 2001, the outstanding balance under the credit facility was
$220,000.
During 2001 the Company expended (exclusive of capital interest)
approximately $5.1 million and $7.8 million on capital projects at the Oregon
Steel Division and the RMSM Division, respectively.
Despite the unfavorable operating results for 2001, the Company has been
able to satisfy its needs for working capital and capital expenditures, due in
part on its ability to secure adequate financing arrangements. The Company
expects that operations will continue, with the realization of assets, and
discharge of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The Company
believes that its anticipated needs for working capital and capital expenditures
for the next twelve months will be met from funds generated from operations. The
Amended Credit Agreement expires on September 30, 2002 with available credit
limits reducing from $100 million at December 31, 2001 to $85 million at January
1, 2002 and further reducing to $75 million at April 1, 2002 through maturity.
Although the Company believes it will be able to replace the Amended Credit
Agreement on satisfactory terms, a replacement credit agreement is subject to
negotiation and the execution of definitive documentation. If the Company is
unable to replace the Amended Credit Agreement, at least in part, or if funds
generated from operations and available borrowings are not sufficient to meet
the Company's needs for working capital and capital expenditures, or if the
Company's cash needs are greater than anticipated, the Company will be required
to seek alternative financing. These alternative sources of financing may not be
available if required or, if available, may not be on terms satisfactory to the
Company. If the Company is unable to obtain alternative financing on
satisfactory terms, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business. In addition, the Notes are due in June 2003 and will need to be
refinanced by their maturity date. The Company is in discussions with financial
advisors to refinance the Notes in a private placement of notes exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder,
possibly during the second or third quarter of 2002.
The Company's level of indebtedness presents other risks to investors,
including the possibility that the Company and its subsidiaries may be unable to
generate cash sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on their
indebtedness when due. In that event, the holders of the indebtedness may be
able to declare all indebtedness owing to them to be due and payable
immediately, and to proceed against their collateral, if applicable. These
actions would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition,
the Company faces potential costs and liabilities associated with environmental
compliance and remediation issues and the labor dispute at the Pueblo Mill. See
"Business-Environmental Matters" and "Business-Labor Dispute" for a description
of those matters. Any costs or liabilities in excess of those expected by the
Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
-23-
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 2., in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements".
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company has entered into certain market-risk-sensitive financial
instruments for other than trading purposes, principally short-term debt.
The following discussion of market risks necessarily includes
forward-looking statements. Actual changes in market conditions and rates and
fair values may differ materially from those used in the sensitivity and fair
value calculations discussed. Factors which may cause actual results to differ
materially include, but are not limited to: greater than 10% changes in interest
rates or foreign currency exchange rates, changes in income or cash flows
requiring significant changes in the use of debt instruments or the cash flows
associated with them, or changes in commodity market conditions affecting
availability of materials in ways not predicted by the Company.
INTEREST RATE RISK
Sensitivity analysis was used to determine the potential impact that
market risk exposure may have on the fair values of the Company's financial
instruments, including debt and cash equivalents. The Company has assessed the
potential risk of loss in fair values from hypothetical changes in interest
rates by determining the effect on the present value of the future cash flows
related to these market sensitive instruments. The discount rates used for these
present value computations were selected based on market interest rates in
effect at December 31, 2001, plus or minus 10%.
A 10% decrease in interest rates with all other variables held constant
would result in an increase in the fair value of the Company's financial
instruments by $4.2 million. A 10% increase in interest rates with all other
variables held constant would result in a decrease in the fair value of the
Company's financial instruments by $4.7 million. There would not be a material
effect on consolidated earnings or consolidated cash flows from these changes
alone.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK
In general, the Company uses a single functional currency for all
receipts, payments and other settlements at its facilities. Occasionally,
transactions will be denominated in another currency and a foreign currency
forward exchange contract is used to hedge currency gains and losses; however,
at December 31, 2001, the Company did not have any open forward contracts.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA - UNAUDITED
2001 2000
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4TH 3RD 2ND 1ST 4TH 3RD 2ND 1ST
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(IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Sales