UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended October 3, 2009
 
[  ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From _____ to ____
Commission file number 0-19687

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

 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
57-0426694
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
     
2155 West Croft Circle
Spartanburg, South Carolina
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
29302
(Zip code)
 
(864) 585-3605
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes (X)       No (  )
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ( )       No (X)
(Not yet applicable to Registrant)

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

Larger accelerated filer (  )
Accelerated filer (X) 
Non-accelerated filer (  ) (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  (  )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes  (  )    No  (X)  
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of November 5, 2009 was 6,266,576.
 
 
 
1

 
 
 
Synalloy Corporation
 
 
Index
 
 
 PART I.                      FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 Item 1.
Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
Condensed consolidated balance sheets - October 3, 2009 and January 3, 2009
 
Condensed consolidated statements of operations - Three and nine months ended October 3, 2009 and
September 27, 2008
 
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows - Nine months ended October 3, 2009 and
September 27, 2008
 
Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements - October 3, 2009
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
   
 
PART II.                      OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
Signatures and Certifications
 

 
 

 
2

 
 
PART I
           
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
           
Synalloy Corporation
           
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
Oct 3, 2009
   
Jan 3, 2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Note)
 
Assets
           
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 13,657,126     $ 97,215  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
    13,307,919       17,310,419  
Inventories
               
Raw materials
    6,180,158       11,508,920  
Work-in-process
    9,931,792       16,755,349  
Finished goods
    8,581,161       10,572,756  
Total inventories
    24,693,111       38,837,025  
Income taxes receivable
    -       1,187,866  
Deferred income taxes
    2,287,000       2,265,949  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    453,203       215,157  
Current assets of discontinued operations
    -       7,982,235  
      Total current assets
    54,398,359       67,895,866  
                 
Cash value of life insurance
    2,911,224       2,867,975  
Property, plant & equipment, net of accumulated
               
depreciation of $36,377,282 and $35,221,563
    15,667,310       15,177,584  
Goodwill
    2,354,730       1,354,730  
Deferred charges, net
    20,093       70,535  
Assets of discontinued operations
    -       6,999,487  
Total assets
  $ 75,351,716     $ 94,366,177  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
Current liabilities
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ -     $ 466,667  
Accounts payable
    3,879,408       8,176,181  
Accrued expenses
    3,558,807       6,259,334  
Current portion of environmental reserves
    730,726       554,000  
Income taxes payable
    1,707,307       -  
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
    -       3,222,934  
      Total current liabilities
    9,876,248       18,679,116  
Long-term debt
    -       9,958,981  
Environmental reserves
    810,000       810,000  
Deferred compensation
    377,799       369,512  
Deferred income taxes
    1,316,000       1,682,000  
Shareholders' equity
               
Common stock, par value $1 per share - authorized
               
12,000,000 shares; issued 8,000,000 shares
    8,000,000       8,000,000  
Capital in excess of par value
    820,306       752,765  
Retained earnings
    69,400,045       69,529,995  
Less cost of Common Stock in treasury:
               
1,733,424 and 1,752,466 shares
    (15,248,682 )     (15,416,192 )
Total shareholders' equity
    62,971,669       62,866,568  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 75,351,716     $ 94,366,177  
 
Note: The balance sheet at January 3, 2009 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date.
 
            See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               
 
 
3
 
 
 
Synalloy Corporation
                       
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                   
                         
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
Oct 3, 2009
   
Sep 27, 2008
   
Oct 3, 2009
   
Sep 27, 2008
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 25,712,110     $ 38,867,631     $ 77,797,009     $ 130,611,887  
Cost of goods sold
    22,690,998       34,442,093       69,875,540       112,348,451  
                                 
Gross profit
    3,021,112       4,425,538       7,921,469       18,263,436  
Selling, general and administrative
                               
    expense
    2,394,490       2,361,513       7,056,502       8,086,429  
                                 
Operating income
    626,622       2,064,025       864,967       10,177,007  
Other (income) and expense
                               
  Interest expense
    90,676       144,768       285,148       498,324  
  Change in fair value of interest
                               
       rate swap
    (37,000 )     3,000       (114,000 )     3,000  
  Other, net
    145,726       (4 )     143,844       (220 )
                                 
Income from continuing operations
                               
before income tax
    427,220       1,916,261       549,975       9,675,903  
Provision for income taxes
    146,000       655,000       188,000       3,295,000  
                                 
Net income from continuing operations
    281,220       1,261,261       361,975       6,380,903  
                                 
Income (loss) from discontinued
                               
operations before income taxes
    281,495       (29,439 )     211,891       172,726  
                                 
Tax provision (benefit)
    96,000       (10,000 )     72,000       58,000  
                                 
Net income (loss) from discontinued
                               
operations
    185,495       (19,439 )     139,891       114,726  
                                 
Net income
  $ 466,715     $ 1,241,822     $ 501,866     $ 6,495,629  
                                 
                                 
Net income (loss) per basic common share
                         
Continuing operations
  $ .04     $ .20     $ .06     $ 1.02  
Discontinued operations
  $ .03     $ (.00 )   $ .02     $ .02  
Net income
  $ .07     $ .20     $ .08     $ 1.04  
                                 
Net income (loss) per diluted common share
                         
Continuing operations
  $ .04     $ .20     $ .06     $ 1.01  
Discontinued operations
  $ .03     $ (.00 )   $ .02     $ .02  
Net income
  $ .07     $ .20     $ .08     $ 1.03  
                                 
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding
                               
Basic
    6,266,576       6,247,534       6,260,215       6,244,121  
  Dilutive effect from stock
                               
    options and grants
    11,320       49,021       6,589       46,268  
Diluted
    6,277,896       6,296,555       6,266,804       6,290,389  
                                 
                                 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
                 
 
 
4

 
 
Synalloy Corporation
           
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
           
(Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
   
Oct 3, 2009
   
Sep 27, 2008
 
Operating activities
           
 Net income from continuing operations
  $ 361,975     $ 6,380,903  
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
               
    provided by (used in) continuing operating activities:
               
    Depreciation expense
    1,968,904       1,862,924  
    Amortization of deferred charges
    50,442       26,442  
    Deferred income taxes
    (387,051 )     1,385,051  
    Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    235,593       523,524  
    Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (20,721 )     -  
    Cash value of life insurance
    (43,249 )     (39,522 )
    Environmental reserves
    176,726       76,723  
    Issuance of treasury stock for director fees
    75,010       74,970  
    Employee stock option and stock grant compensation
    158,126       162,019  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
        Accounts receivable
    5,008,477       (6,501,925 )
        Inventories
    16,599,310       (2,154,296 )
        Other assets and liabilities
    (197,701 )     (61,622 )
        Accounts payable
    (4,755,584 )     4,755,499  
        Accrued expenses
    (2,710,506 )     (2,592,279 )
        Income taxes payable
    1,253,173       1,012,460  
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities
    17,772,924       4,910,871  
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operating activities
    1,478,154       (2,562,693 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    19,251,078       2,348,178  
Investing activities
               
     Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (1,383,903 )     (2,818,901 )
     Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    1,150,643       -  
     Acquisition of Ram-Fab, Inc.
    (5,707,773 )     -  
Net cash used in continuing investing activities
    (5,941,033 )     (2,818,901 )
     Sale of Blackman Uhler Specialties, LLC assets, net
    10,365,757       -  
     Sale of Organic Pigments, LLC assets, net
    1,441,006       -  
     Other
    (501,346 )     (512,871 )
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued investing activities
    11,305,417       (512,871 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    5,364,384       (3,331,772 )
Financing activities
               
     Net (payments on) proceeds from long-term debt
    (10,425,648 )     2,531,155  
     Proceeds from exercised stock options
    -       4,618  
     Excess tax benefits from Stock Grant Plan
    1,914       13,720  
     Dividends Paid
    (631,817 )     (1,566,294 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (11,055,551 )     983,199  
     Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    13,559,911       (395 )
     Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    97,215       28,269  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 13,657,126     $ 27,874  
                 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               
 

 
 
5

 
 
Synalloy Corporation
 
Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
October 3, 2009
 
 
NOTE 1-- BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine-month period ended October 3, 2009, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending January 2, 2010. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 3, 2009.
 
 
As further discussed in note 10, the Company disposed of certain operations during 2009.  Accordingly, for comparative purposes, certain amounts in the 2008 financial statements have been reclassified to reflect discontinued operations. Operating and investing portions of the 2009 cash flow statement attributable to the discontinued operations have been separately disclosed, which in prior periods were reported on a combined basis as a single amount. The cash flow statement for 2008 has been revised to conform to the 2009 presentation.
 
 
NOTE 2--INVENTORIES
 
 
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market.
 
 
NOTE 3--STOCK OPTIONS AND EMPLOYEE STOCK GRANTS
 
 
The Company has two stock option plans in effect at October 3, 2009. During the first nine months of 2009, there were no options exercised by employees or directors. Stock options compensation cost has been charged against income before taxes for the unvested options of $19,000 and $57,000 with the offset recorded in shareholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended October 3, 2009, respectively, and the three and nine months ended September 28, 2008, respectively. As of October 3, 2009, there was $26,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the Company's stock option plans which is expected to be recognized over the next four months.
 
 
On February 12, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company approved and granted under the Company’s 2005 Stock Awards Plan, 5,500 shares under the Plan to certain management employees of the Company. The stock awards vest in 20 percent increments annually on a cumulative basis, beginning one year after the date of grant. In order for the awards to vest, the employee must be in the continuous employment of the Company since the date of the award. Any portion of an award that has not vested will be forfeited upon termination of employment. The Company may terminate any portion of the award that has not vested upon an employee’s failure to comply with all conditions of the award or the Plan. Shares representing awards that have not yet vested will be held in escrow by the Company. An employee is not entitled to any voting rights with respect to any shares not yet vested, and the shares are not transferable. Compensation costs charged against income totaled $32,000 and $101,000 before income taxes of $11,000 and $35,000 for the three and nine months ended October 3, 2009, respectively. Compensation costs for the same periods of 2008 included $36,000 and $105,000, respectively, for stock awards. As of October 3, 2009, there was $343,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock grants under the Company’s Stock Awards Plan.
 
 

 
6

 
 
Synalloy Corporation
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
October 3, 2009
 
 
A summary of Plan activity for the Company’s Stock Awards Plan for 2009 is as follows:
 
         
Weighted
 
         
Average
 
         
Grant Date
 
   
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
             
Outstanding at January 3, 2009
    25,244     $ 21.62  
                 
Granted
    5,500     $ 5.22  
Vested
    (6,382 )   $ 21.97  
Forfeited or expired
    (440 )   $ 24.61  
                 
Outstanding at October 3, 2009
    23,922     $ 17.70  
 

 
 
NOTE 4--INCOME TAXES
 
 
The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits accrued at October 3, 2009 and January 3, 2009. Approximately $216,000 of unrecognized tax benefits were accrued at September 27, 2008, which were recognized in the fourth quarter of 2008 that favorably affected the effective income tax rate in 2008. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. The Company has substantially concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters and substantially all material state and local income tax matters for years through 2002. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company did not have any interest or penalties accrued at October 3, 2009, and had $106,000 accrued for interest and $0 accrued for penalties at September 27, 2008.
 
 
NOTE 5--PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS
 
 
On February 12, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company voted to pay an annual dividend of $.10 per share which was paid on March 10, 2009 to holders of record on February 24, 2009, for a total of $632,000, and declared and paid a $.25 dividend for a total of $1,566,000 in the first quarter of 2008. The Board presently plans to review at the end of each fiscal year the financial performance and capital needed to support future growth to determine the amount of cash dividend, if any, which is appropriate.
 
 

 
 

 
 
7

 
Synalloy Corporation
 
Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
October 3, 2009
 
 
NOTE 6--SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
 
The following information is for continuing operations only.
 
   
THREE MONTHS ENDED
   
NINE MONTHS ENDED
 
   
Oct 3, 2009
   
Sep 27, 2008
   
Oct 3, 2009
   
Sep 27, 2008
 
                         
Net sales
                       
Metals Segment
  $ 16,857,000     $ 29,102,000     $ 53,619,000     $ 103,669,000  
Specialty Chemicals Segment
    8,855,000       9,766,000       24,178,000       26,943,000  
    $ 25,712,000     $ 38,868,000     $ 77,797,000     $ 130,612,000  
Operating income
                               
Metals Segment
  $ 307,000     $ 1,858,000     $ 973,000     $ 10,522,000  
Specialty Chemicals Segment
    1,004,000       776,000       1,940,000       1,753,000  
      1,311,000       2,634,000       2,913,000       12,275,000  
Unallocated expenses
                               
Corporate
    684,000       570,000       2,048,000       2,098,000  
Interest and debt expense
    91,000       145,000       285,000       498,000  
Change in fair value of interest
                               
    rate swap
    (37,000 )     3,000       (114,000 )     3,000  
Other expense
    146,000       -       144,000       -  
Income from continuing operations
                         
    before income taxes
  $ 427,000     $ 1,916,000     $ 550,000     $ 9,676,000  
 
 
The Specialty Chemicals segment previously contained Blackman Uhler Specialties, LLC (“BU”) business and the Organic Pigments (“OP”) business, both of which have been disposed of and are considered discontinued operations, as discussed in Note 10.  Accordingly, the segment information for the Specialty Chemicals Segment has been revised to exclude the results of operations of these discontinued operations.
 
 
NOTE 7--FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
 
On February 23, 2006, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract with its bank with a notional amount of $4,500,000 pursuant to which the Company receives interest at Libor and pays interest at a fixed interest rate of 5.27 percent. The contract runs from March 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010, which equates to the expiration date of the bank Credit Agreement. The Company has accrued a $262,000 liability in accrued interest as of October 3, 2009 to reflect the fair market value of the swap, compared to $376,000 accrued at January 3, 2009. The Company has estimated the fair value using an amount provided by the counterparty which represents the settlement amount of the contract if it were liquidated on the date of the financial statements. Although the swap is expected to effectively offset variable interest in the borrowing, hedge accounting is not utilized. Therefore, changes in its fair value are being recorded in current assets or liabilities, as appropriate, with corresponding offsetting entries to other expense in the income statement. The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable and cash value of life insurance approximate their fair value.
 
 
 
8

 
Synalloy Corporation
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
October 3, 2009
 
 
NOTE 8--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
The Company performs an evaluation of events that occur after a balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued for potential recognition or disclosure of such events in its financial statements.  The Company evaluated subsequent events through November 12, 2009, the date that the financial statements were issued.
 
 
NOTE 9--PURCHASE OF RAM-FAB, INC.
 
On August 31, 2009, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Ram-Fab, Inc. to acquire certain assets and assume certain liabilities of its business for a purchase price of $5,708,000. Ram-Fab, Inc. is a pipe fabricator located in Crossett, Arkansas. The acquisition was for cash and was paid from currently available funds. The purchase price of Ram-Fab, Inc. has initially been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed according to their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition.  This allocation included accounts receivable of $1,093,000, inventories of $2,334,000, other assets of $33,000, machinery and equipment of $1,707,000, tax-deductible goodwill of $1,000,000, and current liabilities of $459,000. The Company also entered into a Lease Agreement to lease Ram-Fab, Inc.’s property and plant buildings with an option to purchase the property and plant buildings for a purchase price of approximately $2,000,000 on or after March 1, 2010. The company had annual sales of approximately $18,000,000 over the past 12 months and was profitable. Historically, its primary business was to fabricate both carbon and stainless piping systems. Management will focus on expanding the carbon fabrication business which is a product line that we believe is strategically important for future growth. The carbon business will complement our stainless steel piping systems’ operations generating new opportunities for stainless steel piping systems since many projects require that bidders quote both carbon and stainless steel fabrication. The new company will operate as Ram-Fab, LLC and will be assigned to our Metals Segment.
 
NOTE 10--SALE OF BLACKMAN UHLER SPECIALTIES, LLC and DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
On October 2, 2009, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with SantoLubes Manufacturing, LLC (“SM”) to sell the specialty chemical business of Blackman Uhler Specialties, LLC (“BU”) for a purchase price of $10,366,000, along with certain property, plant and equipment held by Synalloy Corporation for a purchase price of $1,130,000, all located at the Spartanburg, SC location. The purchase price of approximately $11,496,000, payable in cash, was equal to the approximate net book values of the assets sold as of October 3, 2009, the effective date of the sale, and the Company has recorded a loss of approximately $250,000 resulting primarily from transaction fees and other costs related to the transaction. Divesting BU’s specialty chemicals business has freed up resources and working capital to allow further expansion into the Company’s metals businesses. The Company has entered into a lease agreement with SM to lease office space in Spartanburg for corporate operations and has also entered into an outsourcing agreement with SM to provide SM with certain accounting and administration functions.
 

BU along with Organic Pigment, LLC’s pigment dispersion business (“OP”), which was sold on March 6, 2009, were both physically located at the Spartanburg facility. OP completed all operating activities at the end of the third quarter. As a result, these two operations, which were included in the Specialty Chemicals Segment, are being reported as discontinued operations. Sales of the two businesses totaled $3,967,000 and $6,486,000 for the third quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $13,042,000 and $19,204,000 for the nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company has reclassified the prior year balances of assets and liabilities of these disposed businesses to assets and liabilities of discontinued operations as of January 3, 2009 for comparative purposes.
 

 
 
9

 
 
Synalloy Corporation
 
Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following is management's discussion of certain significant factors that affected the Company during the three and nine months ended October 3, 2009. As further discussed below, the Company disposed of two businesses in its Specialty Chemicals Segment during 2009.  Accordingly, the discussion below is focused on the results of continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Consolidated sales from continuing operations for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 decreased 34 percent and 40 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods one year ago. The Company showed net earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2009 of $281,000, or $.04 per share compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $1,261,000, or $.20 per share in 2008’s third quarter. The Company produced net earnings from continuing operations of $362,000, or $.06 per share in the first nine months of 2009, compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $6,381,000, or $1.02 per share for the same period of 2008. The Company recorded net earnings from discontinued operations of $186,000, or $.03 per share, and $140,000, or $.02 per share, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively, compared to a net loss from discontinued operations of $19,000, or $.00 per share, and net earnings of $115,000, or $.02 per share, for the same periods last year. As a result, the Company earned $467,000, or $.07 per share, and $502,000, or $.08 per share, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively, compared to net earnings of $1,242,000, or $.20 per share, and $6,496,000, or $1.03 per share, for the same periods last year.

Sales in the Specialty Chemicals Segment, which is composed solely of Manufacturers Chemicals, LLC as a result of the discontinued operations discussed below, decreased nine percent and ten percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively, from the same periods last year, as adjusted for discontinued operations. However, operating income increased 29 percent and 11 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively, from the same periods last year. During 2008, the Segment experienced rising raw material and energy costs throughout the year and while management increased prices in an effort to offset the cost increases, the increases were not sufficient enough to prevent the cost increase from impacting profitability. During 2009, the increases in raw material and energy costs have abated and in some cases have actually declined. Although Management has had to lower selling prices, price levels have remained at levels allowing the Segment to maintain a higher level of profitability as compared to last year. These conditions caused the decrease in sales and increase in operating income experienced in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 when compared to the same periods last year.

The Specialty Chemicals Segment began 2009 experiencing difficult conditions during the first two months of the first quarter. However, profits began to improve in March which has continued through the third quarter of 2009. With raw material prices apparently stabilized, the Segment should continue to generate consistent profit margins over the last quarter of 2009 and into 2010, assuming economic conditions do not deteriorate from their current levels. However, the depressed economic conditions make the Segment's performance uncertain over the next several quarters.

Sales in the Metals Segment declined 42 percent and 48 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively, from the same periods a year earlier, resulting from 40 percent and 32 percent decreases in average selling prices combined with six percent and 12 percent declines in unit volumes compared to the same periods of 2008. Sales of commodity pipe accounted for the declines as they were down 54 percent and 47 percent in the quarter and first nine months. Average selling prices of commodity pipe decreased 45 percent and 44 percent and unit volumes were down 17 percent and six percent in the quarter and first nine months, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2008. Non-commodity pipe and piping systems experienced a smaller decline in sales for the quarter, down 23 percent from 32 percent lower average selling prices offset by a 13 percent increase in unit volumes, when compared to the third quarter of 2008. The volume increase resulted primarily from the acquisition on August 31, 2009, of Ram-Fab, LLC. For the first nine months of 2009, sales declined 47 percent on decreases in average selling prices and unit volumes of 34 percent and 19 percent, respectively compared to 2008.

 
 
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Synalloy Corporation
 
Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The significant decreases in selling prices together with unit volume declines in both commodity and non-commodity pipe and piping systems, when compared to the same periods in 2008, reflect the decrease in demand for these products resulting from the worldwide economic turmoil and recession. This led to the big decline in operating income in both the quarter and nine months compared to a year earlier. Although stainless steel surcharges, resulting primarily from the changes in nickel prices, incrementally increased over the six-month period from May to October of 2009, the averages for the third quarter and first nine months remained at levels equal to approximately half of 2008’s first nine-month averages. Although we cannot precisely calculate the effect of the price declines, we estimate that they reduced profits by about $200,000 in the quarter and $3,200,000 in the nine months compared to the same periods last year. The lower volumes also generated unabsorbed manufacturing costs and taken together with the lower selling prices and unit volumes, caused commodity pipe to incur modest losses for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009. Responding to the poor economy, many of the piping systems’ customers have extended their delivery dates throughout 2009 causing a decline in both dollar and unit volume sales compared to last year. Despite these factors, non-commodity pipe and piping system generated good operating results for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2009. However, the results were below the strong results achieved in the same periods of 2008 contributing to the operating income declines experienced in 2009 compared to the same periods of 2008.

On August 31, 2009, the Company acquired the business of Ram-Fab, Inc., a pipe fabricator located in Crossett, Arkansas, for a purchase price of $5,708,000 which includes $1,000,000 of goodwill. The acquisition was for cash and was paid from currently available funds. The company had annual sales of approximately $18,000,000 over the past 12 months and was profitable. Historically, its primary business was to fabricate both carbon and stainless piping systems. Management will focus on expanding the carbon fabrication business which is a product line that we believe is strategically important for future growth. The carbon business will complement our stainless steel piping systems’ operations generating new opportunities for stainless steel piping systems since many projects require that bidders quote both carbon and stainless steel fabrication.  Management is optimistic about the ability of Bristol's much larger marketing organization to generate additional sales of carbon fabrication for the acquired business from Bristol's present customer base. The ability to bid on carbon pipe fabrication will significantly expand the company's markets, especially in the energy and chemical industries.

Consolidated selling and administrative expense for the third quarter increased $33,000 or one percent, and for the first nine months of 2009 decreased $1,030,000 or 13 percent, compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2008.  The expense was nine percent of sales for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 compared to six percent for the same periods last year.  The increase for the third quarter of 2009 when compared to the prior year resulted from incurring various transaction costs associated with the sale the corporate property, plant and equipment (discussed below) being partially offset by lower profit-based incentive bonus expense due to lower profits earned in 2009 as compared to 2008. The decrease for the first nine months of 2009 resulted mainly from lower profit-based incentive bonus expense. Other (income) expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 reflects a $150,000 medical settlement with a former employee of its Augusta, Georgia chemical operation which was closed in 2001.

Management believes we have put the Company into a strong financial position capable of dealing with the chaotic economic conditions we currently face. The positive result of the huge price declines that have taken place in our Metals Segment is that working capital needs are decreased by reduced inventory values and accounts receivable. Even though profits were modest in the first nine months, cash flow from operations of $19,251,000 let us pay a $632,000 cash dividend and eliminate our bank debt totaling $10,426,000. Cash flows generated from operations along with the proceeds from the sale of BU provided funds to acquire and provide necessary working


 
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Synalloy Corporation
 
Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
capital for Ram-Fab, and increase our cash balance at October 3, 2009 to $13,657,000.  Our extremely strong balance sheet positions us well to take advantage of any opportunities that may emerge in the future.

Outlook The Metals Segment’s business is highly dependent on capital expenditures which have been significantly impacted by the economic turmoil. Falling stainless steel prices, the depressed economy, and distributors’ reluctance to restock inventories, have created a poor pricing environment for our commodity pipe. After surcharges increased for six consecutive months since May 2009, they fell in November causing more uncertainty in the market. This has been offset somewhat by the implementation of six percent price increases from our steel suppliers on May 1, 2009 and July 1, 2009, which has been accepted in the market place. Management remains hopeful that the stimulus spending by the Federal Government, which includes a “Buy-American” provision covering iron and steel, will fund increased activity in the water and wastewater treatment area, a significant part of our piping systems business. Although Management is disappointed with the level of profitability in the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, we remain confident that we are in an excellent position to benefit from the eventual improvement in economic conditions. However, the impact from current economic conditions both domestically and worldwide makes it difficult to predict the performance of this Segment for the fourth quarter of 2009 as well as into 2010. We believe we are the largest and most capable domestic producer of non-commodity stainless pipe and an effective producer of commodity stainless pipe which should serve us well in the long run. We also continue to be optimistic about the piping systems business over the long term. Piping systems continues to maintain a strong backlog, with approximately 80 percent of the backlog coming from energy and water and wastewater treatment projects, and as discussed above, the Ram-Fab acquisition should allow us to expand piping systems’ business. Piping systems’ backlog was $54,000,000 at the end of the third quarter of 2009, which includes $13,000,000 from the Ram-Fab operation. This compares to $40,300,000 at the end of the second quarter of 2009 and $45,500,000 at the end of 2008. We estimate that approximately 70 percent of the backlog should be completed over the next 12 months.

Sale of Blackman Uhler Specialties & Discontinued Operations On October 2, 2009, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with SantoLubes Manufacturing, LLC (“SM”) to sell the specialty chemical business of Blackman Uhler Specialties, LLC (“BU”) for a purchase price of $10,366,000, along with certain property, plant and equipment held by Synalloy Corporation for a purchase price of $1,130,000, all located at the Spartanburg, SC location. The purchase price of approximately $11,496,000, payable in cash, was equal to the approximate net book values of the assets sold as of October 3, 2009, the effective date of the sale, and the Company has recorded a loss of approximately $250,000 resulting primarily from transaction fees and other costs related to the transaction. Divesting BU’s specialty chemicals business, which had annual sales of approximately $14,500,000, has freed up resources and working capital to allow further expansion into the Company’s metals businesses. The Company has entered into a lease agreement with SM to lease office space in Spartanburg for corporate operations and has also entered into an outsourcing agreement with SM to provide SM with certain accounting and administration functions.

BU along with Organic Pigment, LLC’s  pigment dispersion business (“OP”), which was sold on March 6, 2009 and had annual sales of approximately $7,000,000, were both physically located at the Spartanburg facility. OP completed all operating activities at the end of the third quarter. As a result, these operations, which were included in the Specialty Chemicals Segment, are being reported as discontinued operations.


 
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Synalloy Corporation
 
Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
 
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
 
This Form 10-Q includes and incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," “outlook” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those identified below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated: adverse economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product demand and acceptance risks; raw material and other increased costs; raw materials availability; customer delays or difficulties in the production of products; environmental issues; unavailability of debt financing on acceptable terms and exposure to increased market interest rate risk; inability to comply with covenants and ratios required by our debt financing arrangements; ability to weather the current economic downturn; loss of consumer or investor confidence and other risks detailed from time-to-time in Synalloy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Synalloy Corporation assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this Form 10-Q.
 
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
Information about the Company’s exposure to market risk was disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2009, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2009. Except for the elimination of the Company’s bank debt in the second quarter of 2009, there have been no material quantitative or qualitative changes in market risk exposure since the date of that filing.
 
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
 
Based on the evaluation required by 17 C.F.R. Section 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b) of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in 17 C.F.R. Sections 240.13a-15(e) and 240.15d-15(e)), the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that such controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, were effective.
 
There has been no change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 

 


 
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Synalloy Corporation
 
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
 

 Item 6.
 
Exhibits
   
The following exhibits are included herein:
 
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Executive Officer
 
 
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
 
 
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Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
 

 

 
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Synalloy Corporation
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
   
 
SYNALLOY CORPORATION
   
(Registrant)
     
     
Date: November 12, 2009
By:
/s/ Ronald H. Braam                 
   
Ronald H. Braam
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
     
Date:  November 12, 2009
By:
/s/ Gregory M. Bowie                   
   
Gregory M. Bowie
   
Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
     
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
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