Form 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


FORM 10-K

 


 

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

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006

OR

 

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

Commission File Number 000-25032

 


UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

DELAWARE   25-1724540

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

600 MAYER STREET, BRIDGEVILLE, PA 15017   (412) 257-7600
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)   (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: [None]

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

Title of Class

Common Stock, par value $.001 per share

 


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  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  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definitions of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One)

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  x

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

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2006, based on the closing price of $29.27 per share on that date, was $36,310,079. For the purposes of this disclosure only, the registrant has assumed that its directors, executive officers, and beneficial owners of 5% or more of the registrant’s Common Stock are the affiliates of the registrant. The registrant has made no determination that such persons are “affiliates” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933.

As of February 28, 2007, there were 6,636,074 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issued and outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference portions of the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held May 15, 2007.

 



FINANCIAL REVIEW

 

PART I      
Item 1.    Business    3
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    8
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments    10
Item 2.    Properties    10
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings    10
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    10
PART II      
Item 5.    Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    10
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data    13
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    14
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    21
Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    22
Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    37
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures    38
Item 9B.    Other Information    38
PART III      
Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance    38
Item 11.    Executive Compensation    38
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    38
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence    38
Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    39
PART IV      
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    39

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”), which was incorporated in 1994, manufactures and markets semi-finished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. The Company’s manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, heat treating, hot and cold rolling, machining and cold drawing of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. The Company’s products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers. The Company’s customers further process its products for use in a variety of industries, including the aerospace, power generation, petrochemical and heavy equipment manufacturing industries. The Company also performs conversion services on materials supplied by customers that lack certain of the Company’s production facilities or that are subject to their own capacity constraints.

The Company comprises three operating locations and one corporate headquarters. For segment reporting, the Bridgeville and Titusville facilities have been aggregated into one reportable segment, Universal Stainless & Alloy Products. Dunkirk Specialty Steel represents the second reportable segment.

The Company’s products are manufactured in a wide variety of grades, widths and gauges in response to customer specifications. At its Bridgeville facility, the Company produces specialty steel products in the form of long products (ingots, blooms, billets and bars) and flat rolled products (slabs and plates). Certain grades requiring vacuum-arc remelting (“VAR”) may be transported to the Titusville facility to complete that process and then be transported back to the Bridgeville facility for further processing. The semi-finished long products are primarily used by the Company’s Dunkirk facility and certain customers to produce finished bar, rod and wire products, and the semi-finished flat rolled products are used by customers to produce fine-gauge plate, sheet and strip products. The finished bar products manufactured by the Company are primarily used by original equipment manufacturers and by service center customers for distribution to a variety of end users. The Company also produces customized shapes primarily for original equipment manufacturers that are cold rolled from purchased coiled strip, flat bar or extruded bar at its Precision Rolled Products department (“PRP”), located at its Titusville facility.

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

The specialty steel industry is a relatively small but distinct segment of the overall steel industry. Specialty steels include stainless steels, high-speed and tool steels, electrical steels, high-temperature alloys, magnetic alloys and electronic alloys. Specialty steels are made with a high alloy content, which enables their use in environments that demand exceptional hardness, toughness, strength and resistance to heat, corrosion or abrasion, or combinations thereof. Specialty steels generally must conform to more demanding customer specifications for consistency, straightness and surface finish than carbon steels. Annual domestic consumption of specialty steels approximated 2.8 million tons in 2005 according to the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (“SSINA”). Of this amount, approximately 2.0 million tons of specialty steels consumed domestically represented stainless steel sheet and strip and electrical alloy products that the Company does not produce. According to SSINA data through September 30, 2006, consumption in 2006 has increased 11% from 2005 levels.

The Company primarily manufactures its products within the following product lines and, generally, in response to customer orders:

Stainless Steel. Stainless steel, which represents the largest part of the specialty steel market, contains elements such as nickel, chrome and molybdenum that give it the unique qualities of high strength, good wear characteristics, natural attractiveness, ease of maintenance and resistance to rust, corrosion and heat. Stainless steel is used, among other applications, in the automotive, aerospace and power generation industries, as well as in the manufacture of food handling, health and medical, chemical processing and pollution control equipment. The increased number of applications for stainless steel has resulted in the development of a greater variety of stainless steel metallurgical grades than carbon steel.

Tool Steel. Tool steels contain elements of manganese, silicon, chrome and molybdenum to produce specific hardness characteristics that enable them to form, cut, shape and shear other materials in the manufacturing process. Heating and cooling at precise rates in the heat-treating process bring out these hardness characteristics. Tool steels are utilized in the manufacturing of metals, plastics, paper and aluminum extrusions, pharmaceuticals, electronics and optics.

High-Temperature Alloy Steel. These steels are designed to meet critical requirements of heat resistance and structural integrity. They generally have very high nickel content relative to other types of specialty steels. High-temperature alloy steels are manufactured for use generally in the aerospace industry.

 

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High-Strength Low Alloy Steel. High-strength low alloy steel is a relative term that refers to those steels that maintain alloying elements that range in versatility. The alloy element of nickel, chrome and molybdenum in such steels typically exceeds the alloy element of carbon steels but not that of high-temperature alloy steel. High-strength low alloy steels are manufactured for use generally in the aerospace industry.

Net sales by principal product line were as follows:

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006    2005    2004
(dollars in thousands)               

Stainless steel

   $ 151,633    $ 135,588    $ 94,530

Tool steel

     23,389      20,737      17,075

High-strength low alloy steel

     16,467      6,606      3,682

High-temperature alloy steel

     9,837      3,694      2,468

Conversion service

     2,137      3,030      2,386

Other

     410      367      501
                    

Total net sales

   $ 203,873    $ 170,022    $ 120,642
                    

RAW MATERIALS

The Company’s Bridgeville facility depends on the delivery of key raw materials for its day-to-day operations. These key raw materials are ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal and alloys, primarily consisting of nickel, chrome, molybdenum and copper. Scrap metal is primarily generated by industrial sources and is purchased through a number of scrap brokers and dealers. Alloys are generally purchased from domestic agents and originate in Australia, Canada, China, Russia and South Africa. Political disruptions in countries such as these could cause supply interruptions and affect the availability and price of the raw materials purchased by the Company.

The Bridgeville facility supplies semi-finished specialty steel products as starting materials to the Company’s Titusville and Dunkirk facilities. Semi-finished specialty steel starting materials, not capable of being produced by the Company at a competitive cost, are purchased from other suppliers. The Company generally purchases these starting materials from steel strip coil suppliers, extruders, flat rolled producers and service centers. The Company believes that adequate supplies of starting material will continue to be available.

The cost of raw materials represents more than 50% of the Company’s total cost of products sold in 2006 and 2005 due to significant increases in transaction prices for raw materials purchased. Raw material prices vary based on numerous factors, including quality, and are subject to frequent market fluctuations. Future raw material prices cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Therefore, the Company does not maintain any long-term written agreements with any of its raw material suppliers.

The Company has implemented a sales price surcharge mechanism on its products to help offset the impact of raw material price fluctuations. For substantially all semi-finished products, the surcharge is calculated at the time of order entry, based on average raw material prices reported for the previous 20-day period. For substantially all finished products, the surcharge is calculated based on average raw material prices reported for the previous 20-day period from the promised ship date. While the material surcharge mechanism is designed to offset modest fluctuations in raw material prices, it can not immediately absorb significant spikes in raw material prices. A material change in raw material prices within a short period of time could have a material adverse effect on the financial results of the Company, and there can be no assurance that the raw material surcharge mechanism will completely offset immediate changes in the Company’s raw material costs.

ENERGY AGREEMENTS

The production of specialty steel requires the ready availability of substantial amounts of electricity and natural gas for which the Company negotiates competitive agreements for the supply of energy and natural gas. While the Company believes that its energy agreements allow it to compete effectively within the specialty steel industry, the potential of curtailments exists as a result of decreased supplies during periods of increased demand for electricity and natural gas. These interruptions not only can adversely affect the operating performance of the Company, but also can lead to increased costs. In 2005, the Company implemented a sales price surcharge mechanism on its products to help offset the impact of natural gas price fluctuations.

CUSTOMERS

The Company’s customer base increased from 501 customers at December 31, 2005 to 504 customers at December 31, 2006. The Company’s five largest customers in the aggregate accounted for approximately 43% and 46% of net sales for the years

 

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ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Sales to Carpenter Technology Corporation (“CRS”), Reliance Steel & Aluminum and Fry Steel accounted for 12.5%, 10.5% and 10.4% of the Company’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006, respectively, and accounted for 17.2%, 7.6% and 9.5% of the Company’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2005, respectively. The accounts receivable balances from these customers comprised approximately 23% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2006 and 2005. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

The Company maintains a supply contract agreement with Talley Metals, a subsidiary of CRS, that continues to automatically renew with the placement of new orders each month and requires a 90-day written notice to terminate by either party. Talley Metals is required under the agreement to purchase a minimum of 1,000 tons of stainless reroll billet products each calendar month and average at least 1,250 tons per month during the last twelve-month period. The value of the contract on a monthly basis will depend on product mix and key raw material prices.

BACKLOG

The Company primarily manufactures products to meet specific customer orders. The Company’s backlog of orders on hand as of December 31, 2006, was approximately $120 million as compared to approximately $116 million at the same time in 2005. The increase in the backlog is primarily due to strong product demand and base price increases implemented during 2006. Customer orders are generally subject to cancellation with the payment of a penalty charge prior to delivery. The Company’s backlog may not be indicative of actual sales and therefore should not be used as a measure of future revenue.

COMPETITION

Competition in the Company’s markets is based upon product quality, delivery capability, customer service and price. Maintaining high standards of product quality, while responding quickly to customer needs and keeping production costs at competitive levels, is essential to the Company’s ability to compete in its markets.

Annual domestic U.S. consumption of specialty steel products of the type manufactured by the Company approximates one million tons. The Company restricts its participation in this market by limiting the volume of commodity stainless steel products it markets because of the highly competitive nature of the commodity business.

The Company believes that nine domestic companies that manufacture one or more similar specialty steel products are significant competitors, including Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (“ATI”) and CRS. There are many smaller producing companies and material converters in the United States who are also considered to be competitors of the Company.

High import penetration of specialty steel products, especially stainless and tool steels, also impacts the competitive nature within the United States. Unfair pricing practices by foreign producers have resulted in high import penetration into the U.S. markets in which the Company participates. According to SSINA, import penetration for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 was 53% and 41%, respectively, for stainless bar, and 63% and 65%, respectively, for stainless rod. Import penetration was lower than these levels during the first nine months of 2006, with stainless bar at 50% and stainless rod 44% import penetration.

The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (the “CDSOA”) provides for payment of import duties collected by the U.S. Treasury to domestic companies injured by unfair foreign trade practices. The assets purchased for the operations of Dunkirk Specialty Steel were previously owned and operated by AL Tech Specialty Steel, Inc. and Empire Specialty Steel, Inc. During their ownership, both organizations participated in several anti-dumping lawsuits with other domestic specialty steel producers. The Company has joined other domestic producers in the filing of trade actions against foreign producers.

In 2003 and in accordance with the CDSOA, the Company filed claims to receive its appropriate share of the import duties collected and was notified that it was awarded $604,000, of which $10,000 was received in 2003. The remaining payment was not received until 2004, when a favorable ruling was issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in connection with a lawsuit challenging the distribution method of the import duties. In 2004, the Company received $507,000, net of expenses incurred, as part of its 2004 award. In January 2005, the Company received an additional $59,000 from the U.S. Treasury, representing an increase in the total allocation of available funds awarded to the Company for 2004. In December 2005, the Company received a net payment of $358,000 as its 2005 award, and, in November 2006, the Company received a net payment of $463,000 as its 2006 award.

The Company expects to benefit from the CDSOA until its scheduled expiration on September 30, 2007. The amount of future benefits is dependent on the amount of import duties collected and the relationship of Dunkirk Specialty Steel’s claim in relation to claims filed by other domestic specialty steel producers.

 

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The Company also faces competition from producers of certain alternative materials, particularly aluminum, composites and plastics. Any competitive factors that adversely affect the market for finished products manufactured by the Company or its customers could indirectly adversely affect the demand for the Company’s specialty steel products. See the information under the heading “Competition” in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

The Company considers the maintenance of good relations with its employees to be important to the successful conduct of its business. The Company has profit-sharing plans for certain salaried employees and all of its United Steelworkers (the “USW”) represented employees and has equity ownership programs for all of its eligible employees, in an effort to forge an alliance between its employees’ interests and those of the Company’s stockholders. At December 31, 2006, the Company had 316 employees at its Bridgeville facility, 47 employees at its Titusville facility and 164 employees at its Dunkirk facility, of whom 258, 40 and 140 were USW members, respectively.

Collective Bargaining Agreements

The Company recognizes the USW as the exclusive representative for the Company’s hourly employees with respect to the terms and conditions of their employment. The Company has entered into the following collective bargaining agreements:

 

Facility   Commencement Date   Expiration Date
Dunkirk   February 2002   October 2007
Bridgeville   December 2002   August 2008
Titusville   October 2005   September 2010

The Company believes a critical component of its collective bargaining agreements is the inclusion of a profit sharing plan. Under the plans, the hourly employees are entitled to receive 8.5% of their respective facilities’ annual pretax profits in excess of $1.0 million at Bridgeville and Dunkirk, and in excess of $500,000 at Titusville.

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company provides group life and health insurance plans for its hourly and salary employees. The Company also maintains separate 401(k) retirement plans for its hourly and salary employees. Pursuant to each plan, participants may elect to make pre-tax and after-tax contributions to the plan, subject to certain limitations imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition, the Company is required to make periodic contributions to the plans based on service, except as described below.

The Company also participates in the Steelworkers Pension Trust (the “Trust”), a multi-employer defined-benefit pension plan that is open to all hourly and salaried employees associated with the Bridgeville facility. The Company makes periodic contributions to the Trust based on hours worked at a fixed rate for each hourly employee and a fixed monthly contribution on behalf of each salaried employee. The hourly employees may continue their contributions to the 401(k) retirement plan even though the Company contributions ceased. The Company also makes a monthly contribution to the 401(k) retirement plan on behalf of each salaried employee participating in the Trust. The amount of the contribution will be dependent upon each salaried employee’s contribution to the 401(k) retirement plan.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Under the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), the Company is authorized to issue up to 150,000 shares of Common Stock to its full-time employees, nearly all of whom are eligible to participate. Under the terms of the Plan, employees can choose as of January 1 and July 1 of each year to have up to 10% of their total earnings withheld to purchase up to 100 shares of the Company’s Common Stock each six-month period. The purchase price of the stock is 85% of the lower of its beginning-of-the-period or end-of-the-period market prices. At December 31, 2006, the Company had issued 90,311 shares of Common Stock since the plan’s inception.

Safety

The Company has established and seeks to maintain appropriate safety standards and policies for its employees. To encourage plant safety, the USW agreements provide that employees will be entitled to receive 50% of the savings, if any, of reduced workers’ compensation insurance premiums obtained due to reductions in the state experience modifier issued to the Company.

On February 28, 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Organization (“OSHA”) promulgated a revised workplace occupational exposure limit standard for hexavalent chromium. Companies that produce or work with

 

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stainless steel may be required to construct and install engineering controls necessary to meet the new exposure limits. The Company believes that it is compliant with the revised standard and continues to evaluate its ability to comply with the revised standard. There can be no assurance that the Company, or its customers, operate in compliance with the revised standard and may be obligated to install engineering controls necessary to meet the new exposure limits or that the Company, or its customers, would have the financial resources to do so.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The Company is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), including those governing discharges of pollutants into the air and water, and the generation, handling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous substances. The Company monitors its compliance with Environmental Laws applicable to it and, accordingly, believes that it is currently in compliance with all laws and regulations in all material respects. In December 2005, the Company received a Notice of Violation from the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) alleging violations of certain permitting issues at the Bridgeville facility. The Company is cooperating with the EPA to resolve these issues. The Company is subject periodically to environmental compliance reviews by various regulatory offices. The Company may be liable for the remediation of contamination associated with generation, handling and disposal activities. Environmental costs could be incurred, which may be significant, related to environmental compliance, at any time or from time to time in the future.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2006, certain information with respect to the executive officers of the Company:

 

NAME (AGE)

  

EXECUTIVE OFFICER SINCE

  

POSITION

Clarence M. McAninch (71)    1994    President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul McGrath (55)    1996   

Vice President of Operations,

General Counsel and Secretary

Richard M. Ubinger (47)    1994   

Vice President of Finance,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Clarence M. McAninch has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since July 1994. Mr. McAninch served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing, of the Stainless and Alloy Products Division of Armco from 1992 to 1994.

Paul A. McGrath has been Vice President of Operations of the Company since March 2001, General Counsel since January 1995 and was appointed Secretary in May 1996. Prior thereto, he was employed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation for approximately 24 years in various management positions.

Richard M. Ubinger has been Vice President of Finance of the Company since March 2001, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer since August 1994 and was appointed Assistant Secretary in November 1995 and Treasurer in May 1996. From 1981 to 1994, Mr. Ubinger was employed by Price Waterhouse LLP. Mr. Ubinger is a Certified Public Accountant.

On January 16, 2007, the Company announced that Kenneth W. Matz has been named President of the Company and that Mr. McAninch assumed the new title of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Matz, 55, had been employed by Gibraltar Industries since 1988 and served as President of its Processed Metals Group from 2002 to 2007. In addition, Mr. McGrath assumed the new title of Vice President of Administration, General Counsel and Secretary.

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

The Company does not consider its business to be materially dependent on patent or trademark protection, and believes it owns or maintains effective licenses covering all the intellectual property used in its business. The Company seeks to protect its proprietary information by use of confidentiality and non-competition agreements with certain employees.

ACCOUNTING MATTER

In the future, the Company will be required to establish and maintain an effective control environment in order to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act relating to internal controls over financial reporting. Section 404 of the

 

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Sarbanes-Oxley Act will require our independent registered public accounting firm to attest as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting beginning in the year the Company is required to comply, which currently would be the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. The Company is currently reviewing its internal control program for any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses and opportunities to improve the effectiveness of its control environment.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, as well as proxy and information statements that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), are available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.univstainless.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with the SEC. The contents of our website are not part of this Form 10-K. You also may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, like the Company, that file electronically with the SEC.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The Company’s business and results of operations are subject to a wide range of substantial business and economic factors including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below, many of which are not within the Company’s control. See the information under the heading “Forward-Looking Information Safe Harbor” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND CONCENTRATED CUSTOMER BASE

Net sales to the Company’s three largest customers and their affiliates approximated 34%, 34% and 40% of total 2006, 2005 and 2004 sales, respectively. The accounts receivable balances from these three customers comprised approximately 23% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2006 and 2005. The Company’s five largest customers in the aggregate accounted for approximately 43% of 2006 net sales and 33% of receivables. An adverse change in, or termination of, the Company’s relationship with one or more of its major customers or one or more of its market segments could have a material adverse effect upon the Company. See the information under the heading “Customers” in Item 1, Business, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

COMPETITION

The Company competes with domestic and foreign sources of specialty steel products. In addition, many of the finished products sold by the Company’s customers are in direct competition with finished products manufactured by foreign sources, which may affect the demand for those customers’ products. Any competitive factors that adversely affect the market for finished products manufactured by the Company or its customers could indirectly adversely affect the demand for the Company’s semi-finished products. Additionally, the Company’s products compete with products fashioned from alternative materials such as aluminum, composites and plastics, the production of which includes domestic and foreign enterprises. Competition in the Company’s field is intense and is expected to continue to be so in the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully in the future. See the information under the heading “Competition” in Item 1, Business, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

AEROSPACE MARKET

A large portion of the Company’s sales represent products sold to customers in the aerospace market. The aerospace market is historically cyclical due to both external and internal market factors. These factors include general economic conditions, airline profitability, demand for air travel, age of fleets, varying fuel and labor costs, price competition, and international and domestic political conditions such as military conflict and the threat of terrorism. The length and degree of cyclical fluctuation can be influenced by any one or a combination of these factors and therefore are difficult to predict with certainty. A downturn in the aerospace industry would adversely affect the demand for products and/or the prices at which the Company is able to sell its products, and its results of operations, business and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIALS AND COST OF RAW MATERIALS

The Company relies on a limited number of suppliers, some of which are foreign owned, for its raw material needs. Raw material prices are affected by cyclical, seasonal and other market factors. Alloys consumed by the Company are primarily available from foreign sources, some of which are located in countries that may be subject to unstable political and economic

 

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conditions. Those conditions might disrupt supplies or affect the prices of the raw materials used by the Company. The Company does not maintain long-term supply agreements with any of its independent suppliers. If its supply of raw materials were interrupted, the Company might not be able to obtain sufficient quantities of raw materials, or obtain sufficient quantities of such materials at satisfactory prices, which, in either case, could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. In addition, significant volatility in the price of the Company’s principal raw materials could adversely affect the Company’s financial results. See the information under the headings “Raw Materials” in Item 1, Business, and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

RELIANCE ON ENERGY AGREEMENTS

The manufacturing of specialty steels is an energy-intensive industry. While the Company believes that its energy agreements allow it to compete effectively within the specialty steel industry, the Company is subjected to curtailments as a result of decreased supplies and increased demand for electricity and natural gas. These interruptions not only can adversely affect the operating performance of the Company, but also can lead to increased costs for energy. See the information under the heading “Energy Agreements” in Item 1, Business, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

LABOR MATTERS

The Company has 438 employees out of a total of 527 who are covered under collective bargaining agreements. The collective bargaining agreement for the Dunkirk facility employees will expire in October 2007. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in concluding a collective bargaining agreement with the union to replace the one that expires.

RELIANCE ON CRITICAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT

The Company’s manufacturing processes are dependent upon certain critical pieces of specialty steel making equipment, such as the Company’s electric-arc furnace, its ESR and VAR furnaces, and its universal rolling mill. In the event a critical piece of equipment should become inoperative as a result of unexpected equipment failure, there can be no assurance that the Company’s operations would not be substantially curtailed, which may have a negative effect on the Company’s financial results. See Item 2, Properties.

SAFETY MATTERS

On February 28, 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Organization (“OSHA”) promulgated a revised workplace occupational exposure limit standard for hexavalent chromium. Companies that produce or work with stainless steel may be required to construct and install engineering controls necessary to meet the new exposure limits. The Company believes that it is compliant with the revised standard and continues to evaluate its ability to comply with the revised standard. There can be no assurance that the Company, or its customers, operate in compliance with the revised standard and may be obligated to install engineering controls necessary to meet the new exposure limits or that the Company, or its customers, would have the financial resources to do so.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In December 2005, the Company received a Notice of Violation from the EPA alleging violations of certain permitting issues at the Bridgeville facility. The Company is cooperating with the EPA to resolve these issues. See the information under the heading “Environmental” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 404 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In the future, the Company may be required to file a report on internal accounting controls, in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, with the filing of future Form 10-Ks. In order to comply, the Company will be required to increase the amount of documentation surrounding its internal control system and provide evidence that the system has been properly tested to support management’s conclusions. While the Company believes its internal control system is adequate in all material respects, there is no assurance that the Company will not identify a material weakness requiring disclosure in the future. See information under the heading “Accounting Matter” in Item 1, Business, and in Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

LEGAL MATTER

The Company is currently defending itself in a suit that alleges it manufactured steel product, utilized in the manufacturing of crankshafts, that was defective. After in-depth investigation, it is the Company’s position that the suit is without merit. While the Company believes that insurance coverage is available for the defense and damages, if any, relating to the claim, an unfavorable ruling in the suit could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. See Item 3, Legal Proceedings, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

9


ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company owns its Bridgeville facility, which consists of approximately 600,000 square feet of floor space on approximately 51 acres. The Bridgeville facility contains melting, remelting, conditioning, rolling, annealing and various other processing equipment. Substantially all products shipped from the Bridgeville facility are processed through its melt shop and universal rolling mill operations. In January 2007 the Company completed renovations to one of the buildings acquired from AK Steel (“AKS”) in 2005 and moved the Company’s executive offices into the building.

The Company owns its Titusville facility, which consists of seven buildings on approximately 10 acres, including two principal buildings of approximately 265,000 square feet in total area. The Titusville facility contains five VAR furnaces and various rolling and finishing equipment.

The Company owns its Dunkirk facility, which consists of approximately 800,000 square feet of floor space on approximately 82 acres. The Dunkirk facility processes semi-finished billet and bar stock through one or more of its four rolling mills. The products are then finished and shipped as finished bar, rod and wire products.

Specialty steel production is a capital-intensive industry. The Company believes that its facilities and equipment are suitable for its present needs. The Company believes, however, that it will continue to require capital from time to time to add new equipment and to repair or replace existing equipment to remain competitive and to enable it to manufacture quality products and provide delivery and other support service assurances to its customers.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On June 29, 2001, suit was filed against the Company in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania by Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (“Teledyne”). The suit alleges that steel product manufactured by the Company was defective and that the Company was or should have been aware of the defects. Teledyne has alleged that the steel supplied by the Company caused certain crankshafts sold by Teledyne to be defective. As a result, Teledyne is claiming damages relating to the recall, replacement and repair of aircraft engines.

After in-depth investigation, it is the Company’s position that the suit is without merit and it intends to vigorously defend that position. The Company is currently engaged in the pre-trial phase of the proceedings and believes that the final disposition of this suit will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and the results of operations of the Company. The trial is now listed on the May 2007 trial docket for the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2006.

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

At December 31, 2006, a total of 6,839,543 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, were issued and held by approximately 145 holders of record. There were 270,469 shares of the issued Common Stock of the Company held in treasury at December 31, 2006.

Certain holders of Common Stock and the Company are party to a stockholder agreement. That agreement maintains in effect certain registration rights granted to non-management stockholders, which provides to them two demand registration rights exercisable at any time upon written request for the registration of Restricted Shares of Common Stock having an aggregate net offering price of at least $5,000,000.

 

10


PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

The Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “USAP.” The following table sets forth the range of high and low sale prices per share of Common Stock, for the periods indicated below:

 

     2006    2005
     High    Low    High    Low

First quarter

   $ 26.25    $ 14.94    $ 18.33    $ 13.50

Second quarter

   $ 37.05    $ 22.52    $ 14.85    $ 12.00

Third quarter

   $ 30.47    $ 21.62    $ 17.24    $ 12.00

Fourth quarter

   $ 37.90    $ 21.56    $ 17.01    $ 12.22

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans at December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 

Plan Category

   Number of shares
to be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options
   Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding options
   Number of shares remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans A

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   378,900    $ 11.77    162,857

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  
                

Total

   378,900    $ 11.77    162,857
                

A

Includes 103,168 shares of common stock on stock options not issued under the Stock Incentive Plan and 59,689 available under the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

 

11


PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The performance graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s stock with the cumulative total return on the equity securities of NASDAQ Market Index and a peer group selected by the Company, including the following companies: ATI, CRS and the Timken Company. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2001 and reinvestment of dividends, if any, on the date of dividend payment. The performance graph represents past performance and should not be considered to be an indication of future performance.

COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

AMONG UNIVERSAL STAINLESS

NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX

LOGO

 

     FISCAL YEAR ENDING

COMPANY/PEER/MARKET

   12/31/2001    12/31/2002    12/31/2003    12/31/2004    12/30/2005    12/29/2006

Universal Stainless & Alloy Prod.

   $ 100.00    $ 72.89    $ 130.12    $ 178.94    $ 180.72    $ 403.37

Company Selected Peer Group

     100.00      68.61      108.53      173.86      245.21      440.60

NASDAQ Market Index

     100.00      69.75      104.88      113.70      116.19      128.12

 

12


PREFERRED STOCK

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company may, by vote of its Board of Directors, issue up to 1,980,000 shares of Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may have rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereon, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or designation of such series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. The issuance of Preferred Stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of Common Stock. The issuance of Preferred Stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock, including the loss of voting control to others.

The Company has no outstanding Preferred Stock and has no plans to issue any of the authorized Preferred Stock.

DIVIDENDS

The Company has never paid a cash dividend on its Common Stock. The Company’s Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”) currently limits the payment of cash dividends payable on its Common Stock to 50% of the Company’s excess cash flow per fiscal year. Excess cash flow represents the amount of the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization that is greater than the sum of the Company’s payments for interest, income taxes, the principal portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, and capital expenditures.

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006    2005    2004    2003     2002
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)                          

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

             

Net sales

   $ 203,873    $ 170,022    $ 120,642    $ 68,989     $ 70,877

Operating income (loss)

     32,399      20,629      10,269      (2,382 )     3,023

Net income (loss)

     20,614      13,056      7,131      (1,417 )     2,092

FINANCIAL POSITION AT YEAR-END

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,909    $ 620    $ 241    $ 4,735     $ 3,308

Total assets

     155,115      129,027      107,840      84,925       84,044

Long-term debt

     17,228      17,317      12,190      5,599       7,502

Stockholders’ equity

     104,548      81,003      66,937      59,436       60,801

COMMON SHARE DATA

             

Basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 3.20    $ 2.05    $ 1.13    $ (0.23 )   $ 0.34

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

     3.12      2.02      1.12      (0.23 )     0.34

 

13


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., headquartered in Bridgeville, Pa., manufactures and markets a broad line of semi-finished and finished specialty steels, including stainless steel, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. The Company’s products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers.

An analysis of the Company’s operations is as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

For the years ended December 31,

   Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
(dollars in thousands)                                  

NET SALES

               

Stainless steel

   $ 151,633    74.4 %   $ 135,588    79.7 %   $ 94,530    78.4 %

Tool steel

     23,389    11.5       20,737    12.2       17,075    14.2  

High-strength low alloy steel

     16,467    8.1       6,606    3.9       3,682    3.0  

High-temperature alloy steel

     9,837    4.8       3,694    2.2       2,468    2.0  

Conversion services

     2,137    1.0       3,030    1.8       2,386    2.0  

Other

     410    0.2       367    0.2       501    0.4  
                                       

Total net sales

     203,873    100.0       170,022    100.0       120,642    100.0  

Total cost of products sold

     160,682    78.8       140,952    82.9       102,972    85.4  

Selling and administrative expenses

     10,792    5.3       8,441    5.0       7,401    6.1  
                                       

Operating income

   $ 32,399    15.9 %   $ 20,629    12.1 %   $ 10,269    8.5 %
                                       

Net sales by market segment are as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

For the years ended December 31,

   Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
(dollars in thousands)                                  

Service centers

   $ 101,510    49.8 %   $ 73,213    43.1 %   $ 52,261    43.3 %

Forgers

     38,539    18.9       29,914    17.6       22,008    18.2  

Rerollers

     33,273    16.3       39,254    23.1       30,200    25.0  

Original equipment manufacturers

     18,368    9.0       13,992    8.2       8,349    6.9  

Wire redrawers

     9,660    4.8       10,263    6.0       5,008    4.2  

Conversion services

     2,137    1.0       3,030    1.8       2,386    2.0  

Miscellaneous

     386    0.2       356    0.2       430    0.4  
                                       

Net sales

   $ 203,873    100.0 %   $ 170,022    100.0 %   $ 120,642    100.0 %
                                       

Tons shipped

     50,485        51,233        48,350   
                           

2006 Results as Compared to 2005: The increase in net sales in 2006 reflects increased shipments of higher value-added products, primarily those that require vacuum-arc or electro-slag remelted steels, as well as higher surcharges assessed due to increased raw material costs. A substantial percentage of the net sales increase was derived from shipments of product to serve the increased demands of the aerospace market. Raw material costs, especially nickel, increased significantly during 2006 as a result of an increase in the global demand for stainless steel and supply volatility.

Cost of products sold, as a percent of net sales, decreased in 2006 as compared to 2005. This decrease is primarily due to the Company’s shift in product mix as well as the impact of rising raw material costs throughout 2006. The duration of the production cycle permitted the Company’s Dunkirk Specialty Steel facility to assess surcharges based on raw material costs that were higher than those costs incurred at the time the raw materials were purchased.

Selling and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher employment costs resulting from continued growth of the business, and included $273,000 related to the January 1, 2006 adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), using the modified prospective method. Compensation related to stock-based compensation plans was not previously recognized as expense under the former accounting guidance, APB Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards totaled $570,000 at December 31, 2006. At such date, the weighted-average period over which this unrecognized expense was expected to be recognized was 25 months.

 

14


The Company also expensed $367,000 related to a software project the Company terminated during the year and $413,000 related to fees paid for outside consultants to assist the Company in evaluating its current system of internal accounting controls for purposes of future compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, the Company established a reserve of $193,000 for the probable settlement of an EPA violation and $200,000 for certain commercial product-claim issues that were more than offset by a $104,000 write-off of software development costs, the $184,000 write-off of an office building at the Dunkirk Specialty Steel facility and the receipt of an additional property tax invoice from AK Steel related to the Bridgeville Facility that required the Company to record an additional expense of $174,000 in 2005.

Interest expense and other financing costs increased from $851,000 in 2005 to $1.1 million in 2006. The increase was primarily due to the Company funding the increase in working capital to support higher raw material costs with a revolving line of credit and higher interest rates. This increase was partially offset by lower interest expense associated with existing term debt as the Company continued to fund its scheduled payments.

Other income, net increased from $437,000 in 2005 to $522,000 in 2006. The increase was primarily due to the receipt of $463,000, net of expenses, under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (“CDSOA”) in 2006 in comparison to $414,000 received in 2005.

The 2006 effective income tax rate was 35.2% compared to a 35.4% tax rate in 2005. The change in the effective income tax rate is primarily attributable to a favorable shift of apportioned income for state income tax purposes as well as the impact of recognizing a $180,000 tax credit in Pennsylvania as a result of participating in the state’s Educational Improvement Tax in 2006.

2005 Results as Compared to 2004: The increase in net sales in 2005 reflects increased shipments of higher value-added niche products, primarily for the aerospace, power generation, petrochemical and tool steel markets, as well as the adoption of surcharge mechanisms for additional raw material components and price increases implemented during the past two-year period.

Cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales, decreased in 2005 as compared to 2004. This decrease is primarily due to an improved mix of higher-margin products shipped, in conjunction with the impact of raw material surcharges and base price increases, implemented over the past two years, which more than offset higher raw material, labor, energy and other manufacturing supply costs.

Selling and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher employment costs related to the continued growth of the business in 2005, higher property taxes and the write-off of a building held for sale, which were partially offset by a reduction in the bad debt provision. Under a previous lease agreement, the Company was responsible to reimburse AKS for a portion of the property taxes assessed against the Bridgeville facility. In June 2005, the Company received an invoice for prior year property taxes that required the Company to record an additional expense of $174,000. Attempts to sell the Dunkirk office building since February 2002 have not been successful, and the Company had no prospective buyers. The change in circumstances caused the Company’s management to write off the $184,000 carrying value of the Dunkirk office building. A substantial portion of the 2004 bad debt expense was related to one customer who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and to a second financially distressed customer’s inability to pay its outstanding receivable balance at December 31, 2004. In 2005, the Company received a partial payment of $110,000 from this customer.

Interest expense and other financing costs increased from $422,000 in 2004 to $851,000 in 2005. The increase is primarily due to a $5.0 million increase in the average balance of the revolving line of credit over the prior year, coupled with increasing the term loan by $8.1 million in June 2005.

Other income, net is primarily attributed to the receipt of funds under the CDSOA. In 2003, the Company received notice that it was awarded $604,000, of which $10,000 was received. The remaining payment was not received until 2004 when a favorable ruling was issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in connection with a lawsuit challenging the distribution method of the import duties. In addition, the Company received $507,000, net of expenses incurred, in 2004 as part of its 2004 award. In 2005, the Company received an additional $59,000 from the U.S. Treasury, representing an increase in the total allocation of available funds awarded to the Company for 2004, as well as a net payment of $358,000 related to its 2005 award.

The effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were 35.4% and 35.0%, respectively. The rate increase is primarily attributable to an increase in the federal statutory rate from 34% to 35% due to the level of income the Company achieved in 2005, partially offset by the manufacturer’s tax exemption, initially permitted in 2005.

 

15


BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS

The Company comprises three operating locations and one corporate headquarters. For segment reporting, the Bridgeville and Titusville facilities have been aggregated into one reportable segment, Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, because of the management reporting structure in place. The Universal Stainless & Alloy Products manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, treating and hot and cold rolling of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. Dunkirk Specialty Steel’s manufacturing process involves hot rolling and finishing specialty steel bar, rod and wire products.

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS SEGMENT

An analysis of the segment’s operations is as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

For the years ended December 31,

   Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
(dollars in thousands)                                  

NET SALES

               

Stainless steel

   $ 102,372    57.1 %   $ 90,530    59.1 %   $ 65,208    60.2 %

Tool steel

     21,747    12.1       20,047    13.1       16,672    15.4  

High-temperature alloy steel

     8,177    4.6       3,199    2.1       2,182    2.0  

High-strength low alloy steel

     3,787    2.1       3,254    2.1       1,576    1.5  

Conversion service

     1,530    0.9       2,534    1.6       1,961    1.8  

Other

     325    0.2       295    0.2       427    0.4  
                                       
     137,938    77.0       119,859    78.2       88,026    81.3  

Intersegment

     41,232    23.0       33,399    21.8       20,208    18.7  
                                       

Total net sales

     179,170    100.0       153,258    100.0       108,234    100.0  

Material cost of sales

     85,298    47.6       75,568    49.3       49,967    46.2  

Operation cost of sales

     66,790    37.3       56,885    37.1       45,521    42.1  

Selling and administrative expenses

     7,392    4.1       5,791    3.8       5,253    4.8  
                                       

Operating income

   $ 19,690    11.0 %   $ 15,014    9.8 %   $ 7,493    6.9 %
                                       

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $25.9 million, or 17%, in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2005 primarily due to increased shipments of higher value-added products to the forger, service center and OEM markets, offset by decreased shipments to the reroller market and a reduction in conversion services rendered, as well as the impact of price increases implemented since January 1, 2005 and higher surcharges assessed due to increased raw material costs. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $4.7 million primarily due to the impact of the favorable product mix, higher surcharges assessed and base price increases implemented, more than offsetting higher raw material, labor, energy and other manufacturing costs.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased by $45.0 million, or 41.6%, in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2004 primarily due to the adoption of raw material surcharge mechanisms, which offset increased material cost of sales of $25.6 million for the period. The remaining increase is primarily due to increased shipments of higher value-added niche products and several price increases implemented during the past two-year period. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased by $7.5 million primarily due to increased production volumes, improved mix of products shipped and higher selling prices, partially offset by higher raw material, labor, utilities and other manufacturing supply costs.

16


DUNKIRK SPECIALTY STEEL SEGMENT

An analysis of the segment’s operations is as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

For the years ended December 31,

   Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
(dollars in thousands)                                  

NET SALES

               

Stainless steel

   $ 49,261    70.1 %   $ 45,058    85.0 %   $ 29,322    84.4 %

High-strength low alloy steel

     8,290    11.8       3,407    6.4       2,106    6.1  

High-temperature alloy steel

     6,050    8.6       440    0.8       286    0.8  

Tool steel

     1,642    2.3       690    1.3       403    1.2  

Conversion services

     607    0.9       496    0.9       425    1.2  

Other

     85    0.1       72    0.1       74    0.2  
                                       
     65,935    93.8       50,163    94.6       32,616    93.9  

Intersegment

     4,320    6.2       2,848    5.4       2,107    6.1  
                                       

Total net sales

     70,255    100.0       53,011    100.0       34,723    100.0  

Material cost of sales

     38,705    55.1       29,496    55.6       17,834    51.4  

Operation cost of sales

     16,654    23.7       14,141    26.7       11,653    33.5  

Selling and administrative expense

     3,400    4.8       2,650    5.0       2,148    6.2  
                                       

Operating income

   $ 11,496    16.4 %   $ 6,724    8.9 %   $ 3,088    8.9 %
                                       

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $17.2 million, or 33%, in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2005 primarily due to increased shipments of higher value-added products requiring vacuum-arc remelting, as well as the impact of price increases implemented since January 1, 2005 and higher surcharges assessed due to increased raw material costs. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $4.8 million primarily due to the impact of the favorable product mix, higher surcharges assessed and base price increases implemented, more than offsetting higher raw material, labor, energy and other manufacturing costs.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2005 for this segment increased by $18.3 million, or 52.7%, in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2004 primarily due to the adoption of raw material surcharge mechanisms, which offset increased material cost of sales of $11.7 million for the period. The remaining increase is primarily due to increased shipments of higher value-added niche products and several price increases implemented during the past two-year period. Operating income increased by $3.6 million primarily due to increased production volumes, improved mix of products shipped and higher selling prices, partially offset by higher raw material, labor, utilities and other manufacturing supply costs.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company generated cash from operations of $6.3 million and $3.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and used cash for operations of $9.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2004. Cash received from sales of $198.7 million, $167.2 million and $108.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, represent the primary source of cash from operations. An analysis of the primary uses of cash is as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

For the years ended December 31,

   Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
(dollars in thousands)                                  

Raw material purchases

   $ 92,117    47.9 %   $ 88,772    54.1 %   $ 58,121    49.2 %

Employment costs

     36,094    18.8       30,931    18.9       26,310    22.3  

Utilities

     18,528    9.6       17,812    10.9       12,976    11.0  

Other

     45,700    23.7       26,419    16.1       20,722    17.5  
                                       

Total uses of cash

   $ 192,439    100.0 %   $ 163,934    100.0 %   $ 118,129    100.0 %
                                       

Cash used for raw material purchases increased in 2006 in comparison to 2005 and 2004 primarily due to higher transaction prices. The Company continuously monitors market price fluctuations of its key raw materials. The following table reflects the average market values per pound for selected months during the last three-year period.

 

17


    

December

2006

  

June

2006

  

December

2005

  

June

2005

  

December

2004

  

June

2004

Nickel

   $ 15.68    $ 9.41    $ 6.09    $ 7.33    $ 6.25    $ 6.14

Chrome

   $ 0.64    $ 0.64    $ 0.51    $ 0.73    $ 0.70    $ 0.73

Molybdenum

   $ 24.87    $ 25.28    $ 27.11    $ 37.47    $ 32.46    $ 15.71

Carbon Scrap

   $ 0.10    $ 0.15    $ 0.12    $ 0.07    $ 0.18    $ 0.11

The average price of nickel in December 2006 increased 67% since June 2006, and 157% since December 2005. Increased demand from foreign (primarily China) and domestic sources and supply volatility caused raw material market values to rise significantly throughout 2006. A significant portion of the increase between June 2006 and December 2006 occurred during a two-week period in July 2006. This event had a material negative impact on the operating margins of the Universal Stainless & Alloy Product Segment and a material positive impact on the operating margins of the Dunkirk Specialty Steel Segment. While the material surcharge mechanism is designed to offset modest fluctuations in raw material prices, it can not immediately absorb significant spikes in raw material prices. A material decline in raw material prices within a short period of time could have a material adverse effect on the financial results of the Company, and there can be no assurance that the raw material surcharge mechanism will completely offset immediate changes in the Company’s raw material costs.

Increased employment costs are primarily due to higher production volumes and increased payouts under the Company’s profit-sharing and other incentive compensation plans, and higher employee-related insurance costs. Increased utility costs are primarily due to higher consumption and rates charged for electricity and natural gas. In October 2004, the Company’s electricity costs at the Bridgeville facility increased by approximately $200,000 per month due, in part, to a Public Utility Commission ruling that reduced the number of off-peak power hours available to conduct its melting operations, and increased energy market prices. The Company expects that electrical distribution costs at the Bridgeville facility will increase by $1.6 million in 2007 due to a rate increase effective January 6, 2007, assuming the same rate of consumption as 2006.

The increase in other uses of cash is primarily attributable to making payments for federal and state income taxes, net of refunds received of $11.8 million, $6.7 million and $1.5 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, as well as purchases of operating supplies and services to support higher production volumes.

At December 31, 2006, working capital approximated $80.3 million, as compared to $61.7 million at December 31, 2005. Accounts receivable represents $5.3 million and $3.4 million of the 2006 and 2005 increases in comparison to the prior year, which relates to the growth in net sales. Inventory, net of non-debt current liabilities, increased $11.6 million and $10.1 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively, in comparison to the prior year, primarily due to increased production volumes of higher margin products requiring longer production cycles and increased raw material costs incurred during the year. The cost of raw materials contained within work-in-process inventory is approximately $8.0 million higher at December 31, 2006, as compared to December 31, 2005, and $5.0 million higher at December 31, 2005, as compared to December 31, 2004, as a result of increased raw material transaction prices.

Capital Expenditures and Investments. The Company’s capital expenditures were approximately $7.7 million and $8.8 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Most of the 2006 expenditures were used to purchase additional equipment in response to increased demand, including a plate flattener, milling machines and a seventh VAR furnace installed at the Bridgeville facility. The 2005 expenditures also included purchases of additional equipment as well as a sixth VAR furnace, and the remainder was primarily for replacements of older fixed assets.

Capital expenditures are expected to approximate $10.0 million in 2007, based on current market conditions. The expenditures will be used principally for the purchase of new equipment and building improvements, and will be funded from operating cash flows. Commitments of additional capital expenditures may occur if market conditions continue to improve.

Capital Resources Including Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. The Company does not maintain off-balance sheet arrangements nor does it participate in non-exchange traded contracts requiring fair value accounting treatment or material related-party transaction arrangements.

PNC Credit Agreement. The Company is party to a credit agreement with PNC Bank (the “PNC Credit Agreement”), which establishes a $15.0 million revolving credit facility (“PNC Line”) with a term expiring on June 30, 2009. This credit agreement also provides for a $10.0 million term loan (“PNC Term Loan”) scheduled to mature on June 30, 2011. The outstanding principal balance under the PNC Term Loan is payable in twenty consecutive quarterly installments of $500,000, beginning on September 30, 2006. The PNC Line and PNC Term Loan are collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

18


Interest on borrowings under the PNC Line and PNC Term Loan is based on short-term market rates, which may be further adjusted, based upon the Company maintaining certain financial ratios. The Company pays a commitment fee on the unused portion of the PNC Line of 0.25%, provided it maintains certain financial ratios.

At December 31, 2006, the Company had $6.6 million of its $15.0 million revolving line of credit with PNC Bank available for borrowings. The Company is in compliance with all financial ratios and restrictive covenants it is required to maintain under the credit agreement as of December 31, 2006. The Company believes it will maintain compliance with the financial covenants in effect throughout 2007.

Government Financing Programs. The Company maintains two loan agreements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Commerce, aggregating $600,000. A $200,000 15-year loan bears interest at 5% per annum with the term ending in 2011, and a $400,000 20-year loan bears interest at 6% per annum with the term ending in 2016. In 1996, the Company entered into a ten-year, 6% interest-bearing loan with the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County Economic Development Fund in the amount of $1,514,000, and was fully amortized in 2006. In 2002, Dunkirk Specialty Steel issued two ten-year, 5% interest-bearing notes payable to the New York Job Development Authority for the combined amount of $3.0 million. As of December 31, 2006, the total principal balance of these government-financed debt instruments is $2.2 million.

Stock-Based Financing Activity. The Company issued 152,760 and 85,671 shares of its Common Stock for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, through its two stock-based compensation plans. In 2006, certain employees, officers and members of the Company’s Board of Directors exercised 144,125 stock options issued under the Stock Incentive Plan for $1,444,000 plus related tax benefits of $1,073,000. In 2005, certain employees and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors exercised 75,725 stock options issued under the Stock Incentive Plan for $703,000 plus related tax benefits of $207,000. The remaining shares were issued to employees participating in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

On October 19, 1998, the Company initiated a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to 315,000 shares of its outstanding Common Stock in open market transactions at market prices. The Company repurchased 412 shares in 2006, 157 shares in 2005 and no shares of Common Stock during 2004. The Company is authorized to repurchase 44,531 remaining shares of Common Stock under this program as of December 31, 2006.

Short- and Long-Term Liquidity. The Company expects to meet substantially all of its short-term liquidity requirements resulting from operations and current capital investment plans with internally generated funds and borrowings under the PNC Credit Agreement. At December 31, 2006, the Company had $2.9 million in cash and $6.6 million available under the PNC Line. In addition, the ratio of current assets to current liabilities at December 31, 2005 was 4.2:1 compared with 3.9:1 at December 31, 2005, and the debt to total capitalization ratio was 15.8% compared with 18.9%, respectively.

The Company’s long-term liquidity depends upon its ability to obtain additional orders from its existing customers, attract new customers and control costs. Additional sources of financing may be required to fund growth initiatives identified by the Company.

Contractual Obligations. At December 31, 2006, the Company had the following contractual obligations:

 

          Payments Due by Period
     Total    Less than 1 Year    1–3 Years    3–5 Years    More than 5 Years

Long-term debt

   $ 22,484    $ 3,469    $ 17,322    $ 1,618    $ 75

Operating lease obligations

     81      40      41      —        —  

Purchase obligations

     7,839      7,839      —        —        —  
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 30,404    $ 11,348    $ 17,363    $ 1,618    $ 75
                                  

Long-term debt includes the PNC Term Loan. The Company has a rate of interest of 6.65% at December 31, 2006. The table assumes the Company will maintain that interest rate until maturity. Long-term debt also includes an $8.4 million outstanding balance on the PNC Line, currently due to expire on June 30, 2009. The table assumes the PNC Line will not be extended and would mature at the current outstanding amount. Purchase obligations include the value of all open purchase orders with established quantities and purchase prices as well as minimum purchase commitments.

Supply Contract. The Company maintains a supply contract agreement with Talley Metals that continues to automatically renew with the placement of new orders each month and requires a 90-day written notice to terminate by either party. In addition, Talley Metals is required under the agreement to purchase a minimum of 1,000 tons of stainless reroll billet products each calendar month and average at least 1,250 tons per month during the last 12-month period. The value of the contract on a monthly basis will depend on product mix and key raw material prices.

 

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Import Protections. The CDSOA provides for payment of import duties collected by the U.S. Treasury Department to domestic companies injured by unfair foreign trade practices. The assets purchased by Dunkirk Specialty Steel were previously owned and operated by AL Tech Specialty Steel, Inc. and Empire Specialty Steel, Inc. During their ownership, both organizations participated in several anti-dumping lawsuits with other domestic specialty steel producers. In accordance with the CDSOA, the Company filed claims to receive their appropriate share of the import duties collected and received a net payment of $463,000 in 2006. The Company expects to benefit from the CDSOA until its scheduled expiration on September 30, 2007. The amount of future benefit is dependent on the amount of import duties collected and the relationship of Dunkirk Specialty Steel’s claim in relation to claims filed by other domestic specialty steel producers

EFFECTS OF INFLATION

Despite modest inflation in recent years, rising costs, in particular the cost of certain raw materials and energy, continue to affect operations. The Company strives to mitigate the effects of inflation through cost containment, productivity improvements, sales price increases and surcharges.

CONTINGENT ITEMS

Product Claims. The Company is subject to various claims and legal actions that arise in the normal course of conducting business. At December 31, 2006, the Company established a reserve of $200,000 for commercial product-claims related to three sales by Dunkirk Specialty Steel.

Environmental Matters. The Company, as well as other steel companies, is subject to demanding environmental standards imposed by federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. In December 2005, the Company received a Notice of Violation from the EPA alleging violations of certain permitting issues. The Company is cooperating with the EPA to resolve these issues, and believes it will not have a material adverse effect on financial condition. The Company is not aware of any other environmental condition that currently exists at any of its facilities that would cause a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.

Legal Matters. On June 29, 2001, suit was filed against the Company in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania by Teledyne. The suit alleges that steel product manufactured by the Company was defective and that the Company was or should have been aware of the defects. Teledyne has alleged that the steel supplied by the Company caused certain crankshafts sold by Teledyne to be defective. As a result, Teledyne is claiming damages relating to the recall, replacement and repair of aircraft engines.

After in-depth investigation, it is the Company’s position that the suit is without merit and it intends to vigorously defend that position, is currently engaged in the pre-trial phase of the proceedings, and believes that the final disposition of this suit will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and the results of operations of the Company. The trial is now listed on the May 2007 trial docket for the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Critical Accounting Policies. Revenue recognition is the most critical accounting policy of the Company. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when both risk of loss and title have transferred to the customer, which in most cases coincides with shipment of the related products, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company manufactures specialty steel product to customer purchase order specifications and in recognition of requirements for product acceptance. Material certification forms are executed, indicating compliance with the customer purchase orders, before the specialty steel products are packed and shipped to the customer. Occasionally customers request that the packed products be held at the Company’s facility beyond the stated shipment date. In these situations, the Company receives written confirmation of the request, and acknowledgement that title has passed to the customer and that normal payment terms apply. Such amounts included in revenue for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were less than 1% of net sales.

Revenue from conversion services is recognized when the performance of the service is complete. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.

In addition, management constantly monitors the ability to collect its unpaid sales invoices and the valuation of its inventory. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers currently operating under the protection of the federal bankruptcy law and other amounts that are deemed potentially not collectible with a reserve equal to 15% of 90-day or older balances. However, the total reserve will not be less than 1% of total accounts receivable.

 

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The cost of inventory is principally determined by the first in, first-out (FIFO) method for material costs as well as the average cost method for operation costs. An inventory reserve is provided for material on hand for which management believes cost exceeds fair market value and for material on hand for more than one year not assigned to a specific customer order.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment annually by each operating facility. An impairment write-down will be recognized whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable through estimated future undiscounted cash flows. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of such long-lived assets, no impairment reserve had been deemed necessary as of December 31, 2006 and 2005. Attempts to sell the Dunkirk office building since February 2002 have not been successful, and the Company had no prospective buyers. The change in circumstances caused the Company’s management to write off the $184,000 carrying value of the Dunkirk office building during first quarter 2005. Retirements and disposals are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss reflected in operating income.

In addition, management assesses the need to record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company believes it will generate sufficient income in addition to taxable income generated from the reversal of its temporary differences to utilize the deferred tax assets recorded at December 31, 2006.

New Accounting Pronouncements. See information under the heading “Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies” within “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on the Company’s financial statements.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

The Company enters 2007 with a total backlog of approximately $120 million and expects demand for aerospace, power generation, petrochemical and tool steel products to remain strong throughout the year. The Company also expects that its results will improve in 2007 in conjunction with the third quarter 2006 installation of a seventh VAR furnace at the Bridgeville facility that should increase the production output for certain higher-value-added products, and the installation of additional equipment in 2007.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION SAFE HARBOR

The Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements looking forward in time, including statements regarding future growth, cost savings, expanded production capacity, broader product lines, greater capacity to meet customer quality reliability, price and delivery needs, enhanced competitive posture, effect of new accounting pronouncements and no material financial impact from litigation or contingencies are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The Company’s actual results will be affected by a wide range of factors, including those items described in Item 1A, Risk Factors. Many of these factors are not within the Company’s control and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein. Any unfavorable change in the foregoing or other factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the Company’s control.

 

ITEM  7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to reduce its financial risk. The Company’s customers and suppliers absorb fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the Company maintains some long-term, fixed cost supply agreements for its major purchase requirements. Prices for the Company’s raw materials and natural gas requirements are subject to frequent market fluctuations, and profit margins may decline in the event market values increase. Selling price increases and surcharges are implemented to offset raw material and natural gas market price increases.

The cost of raw materials represents more than 50% of the Company’s total cost of products sold in 2006 and 2005 due to significant increases in transaction prices for raw materials purchased. Raw material prices vary based on numerous factors, including quality, and are subject to frequent market fluctuations. Future raw material prices cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Therefore, the Company does not maintain any long-term written agreements with any of its raw material suppliers.

 

21


The Company has implemented a sales price surcharge mechanism on its products to help offset the impact of raw material price fluctuations. For substantially all semi-finished products, the surcharge is calculated at the time of order entry, based on average raw material prices reported for the previous 20-day period. For substantially all finished products, the surcharge is calculated based on average raw material prices reported for the previous 20-day period from the promised ship date. While the material surcharge mechanism is designed to offset modest fluctuations in raw material prices, it can not immediately absorb significant spikes in raw material prices. A material change in raw material prices within a short period of time could have a material adverse effect on the financial results of the Company and there can be no assurance that the raw material surcharge mechanism will completely offset immediate changes in the Company’s raw material costs.

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates related to its long-term debt. At December 31, 2006, $2.2 million of the Company’s total long-term debt has fixed interest rates. The remaining $17.4 million represents the outstanding balance on the PNC Line and PNC Term Loan that bear variable interest rates. Since the interest rate on this debt floats with the short-term market rate of interest, the Company is exposed to the risk that these interest rates may increase. For example, a hypothetical 1% increase in the rate of interest on $17.4 million of outstanding floating-rate loans would result in increased annual interest costs of $174,000.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006. In addition, our audits included the financial statement schedule as of December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 included in the index at Item 15 (2) (Schedule II). These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

/s/ Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.

Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 1, 2007

 

22


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006     2005     2004  
(dollars in thousands, except per share information)                   

Net sales

   $ 203,873     $ 170,022     $ 120,642  

Cost of products sold

     160,682       140,952       102,972  

Selling and administrative expenses

     10,792       8,441       7,401  
                        

Operating income

     32,399       20,629       10,269  

Interest expense and other financing costs

     (1,106 )     (851 )     (422 )

Other income, net

     522       437       1,119  
                        

Income before income tax expense

     31,815       20,215       10,966  

Provision for income taxes

     11,201       7,159       3,835  
                        

Net income

   $ 20,614     $ 13,056     $ 7,131  
                        

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

      

Basic

   $ 3.20     $ 2.05     $ 1.13  

Diluted

   $ 3.12     $ 2.02     $ 1.12  

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARES USED TO COMPUTE EARNINGS PER SHARE

      

Basic

     6,451,037       6,375,257       6,304,909  

Diluted

     6,612,530       6,479,114       6,379,579  
                        

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

 

23


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

December 31,

   2006     2005  
(dollars in thousands)             

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,909     $ 620  

Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $338 and $271)

     33,308       27,963  

Inventory

     66,019       51,398  

Deferred taxes

     1,611       1,084  

Other current assets

     1,433       1,706  
                

Total current assets

     105,280       82,771  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     49,251       45,761  

Other assets

     584       495  
                

Total assets

   $ 155,115     $ 129,027  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Trade accounts payable

   $ 13,123     $ 12,579  

Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance

     3,427       3,101  

Current portion of long-term debt

     2,364       1,555  

Accrued employment costs

     4,121       2,958  

Other current liabilities

     1,902       914  
                

Total current liabilities

     24,937       21,107  

Long-term debt

     17,228       17,317  

Deferred taxes

     8,402       9,600  
                

Total liabilities

     50,567       48,024  
                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Senior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share; 1,980,000 shares authorized; 0 shares outstanding

     —         —    

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 6,839,543 and 6,686,783 shares issued

     7       7  

Additional paid-in capital

     32,654       29,712  

Retained earnings

     73,532       52,918  

Treasury Stock at cost; 270,469 and 270,057 common shares held

     (1,645 )     (1,634 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     104,548       81,003  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 155,115     $ 129,027  
                

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

 

24


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006     2005     2004  
(dollars in thousands, except per share information)                   

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

   $ 20,614     $ 13,056     $ 7,131  

Adjustments to reconcile to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     3,337       3,085       3,061  

Loss on retirement of fixed assets

     911       705       —    

Deferred taxes (decrease) increase

     (1,836 )     (90 )     724  

Stock-based compensation expense

     273       —         —    

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     —         207       51  

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

     (1,073 )     —         —    

Changes in assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     (5,345 )     (3,401 )     (11,872 )

Inventory

     (14,621 )     (13,080 )     (16,037 )

Accounts payable

     544       913       4,981  

Accrued employment costs

     1,163       1,128       997  

Refundable income taxes received

     10       145       1,443  

Other, net

     2,324       663       (196 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     6,301       3,331       (9,717 )
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Acquisition of assets and real property through purchase agreements

     —         (344 )     —    

Capital expenditures

     (7,716 )     (8,464 )     (3,586 )
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7,716 )     (8,808 )     (3,586 )
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Net borrowings (repayments) under revolving line of credit

     2,275       (2,518 )     8,635  

Proceeds from long-term debt

     —         8,050       —    

Long-term debt repayment

     (1,555 )     (894 )     (1,944 )

Increase in outstanding checks in excess of bank balance

     326       463       1,825  

Deferred financing costs

     —         (48 )     (26 )

Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock

     1,585       803       319  

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

     1,073       —         —    
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     3,704       5,856       8,809  
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     2,289       379       (4,494 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     620       241       4,735  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 2,909     $ 620     $ 241  
                        

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

      

Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)

   $ 1,063     $ 779     $ 410  

Income taxes paid

   $ 11,778     $ 6,693     $ 1,545  
                        

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

 

25


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies

Description of the Company. Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (the “Company”) manufactures and markets semi-finished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. The Company’s manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, treating, and hot and cold rolling of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. The Company’s products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, original equipment manufacturers, which primarily include the power generation and aerospace industries, and wire redrawers. The Company also performs conversion services on materials supplied by customers that lack certain of the Company’s production facilities or that are subject to their own capacity constraints.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are based on known information available as of the balance sheet date. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has no interests in any unconsolidated entity nor does it have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements other than operating leases.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value, and include cash and securities having a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase.

Concentration of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company limits its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by placing its investments in high-grade short-term instruments. With respect to accounts receivable, the Company limits its credit risk by performing ongoing credit evaluations and, when deemed necessary, requiring letters of credit, guarantees or cash collateral. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers currently operating under the protection of the federal bankruptcy law and other amounts that are deemed potentially not collectible with a reserve equal to 15% of 90-day or older balances. However, the total reserve will not be less than 1% of total accounts receivable. Receivables are charged-off to the allowance when they are deemed to be uncollectible. Bad debt expense for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $77,000, $125,000 and $471,000, respectively.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost principally determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The average cost method is also utilized. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead within the guidelines of normal plant capacity. Provisions are made for slow-moving inventory based upon management’s expected method of disposition.

The Company purchases scrap metal and alloy additives, principally nickel, chrome and molybdenum, for its melting operation. A substantial portion of the alloy additives is available only from foreign sources, some of which are located in countries that may be subject to unstable political and economic conditions. Those conditions might disrupt supplies or affect the prices of the raw materials used by the Company. The Company maintains sales price surcharges to help offset the impact of raw material price fluctuations.

Included in inventory are operating materials consisting of production molds and rolls that will normally be consumed within one year.

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Costs incurred in connection with the construction or major rebuild of facilities, including interest directly related to the project, are capitalized as construction in progress. No depreciation is recognized on these assets until placed in service. Retirements and disposals are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss reflected in operating income. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and costs of improvements and renewals are capitalized. Major maintenance costs are expensed in the same annual period as incurred; however, the estimated costs are expensed throughout the year on a pro rata basis. Maintenance expense for the fiscal year 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $12,020,000, $11,928,000 and $9,203,000, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of buildings and land improvements are between 5 and 25 years, and the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment are between 5 and 20 years. Direct costs incurred in the development and implementation

 

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of internal-use software are capitalized and recorded within property, plant and equipment, and amortized on a straight-line basis over its anticipated useful life, which generally does not exceed three years. Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $3,315,000, $3,058,000 and $3,046,000, respectively.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment. Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. Adjustments are made if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than book value. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of such long-lived assets, no impairment reserve had been deemed necessary as of December 31, 2006 and 2005. Attempts to sell the Dunkirk office building since February 2002 have not been successful, and the Company had no prospective buyers. The change in circumstances caused the Company’s management to write off the $184,000 carrying value of the Dunkirk office building to selling and administrative expenses in 2005.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when both risk of loss and title have transferred to the customer, which in most cases coincides with shipment of the related products, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue from conversion services is recognized when the performance of the service is complete. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.

Revenue is also recognized in certain situations in which products available for shipment are held at the Company’s facility beyond the stated shipment date at the customer’s specific request. The Company manufactures specialty steel product to customer purchase order specifications and in recognition of requirements for product acceptance. Material certification forms are executed, indicating compliance with the customer purchase orders, before the specialty steel products are packed and shipped to the customer. Occasionally customers request that the packed products be held at the Company’s facility beyond the stated shipment date. In these situations, the Company receives written confirmation of the request, and acknowledgement that title has passed to the customer and that normal payment terms apply. Such amounts included in revenue for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were less than 1% of net sales.

Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for unused tax credits earned and the tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The Company uses the liability method to account for income taxes, which requires deferred taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid. Valuation allowances are provided for a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that such asset will not be realized.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans. Prior to January 1, 2006, employee compensation expense under stock option plans was reported only if options were granted below market price at grant date in accordance with the intrinsic value method of Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. Because the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options always equaled the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense was recognized on options granted. On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”). This Statement replaces FASB Statement No. 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25. SFAS 123R eliminates the ability to account for stock-based compensation using APB 25 and requires that such transactions be recognized as compensation expense in the income statement based on their fair values on the measurement date, which, for the Company, is the date of the grant. The Company transitioned to fair-value based accounting for stock-based compensation using a modified version of prospective application (“modified prospective application”). Under modified prospective application, as it is applicable to the Company, SFAS 123R applies to new awards and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after January 1, 2006. Additionally, compensation cost for the portion of awards for which the requisite service has not been rendered (generally referring to non-vested awards) that were outstanding as of January 1, 2006 will be recognized as the remaining requisite service is rendered during the period of and/or the periods after the adoption of SFAS 123R. The attribution of compensation cost for those earlier awards is based on the same method and on the same grant-date fair values previously determined for the pro forma disclosures required for companies that did not previously adopt the fair value accounting method for stock-based employee compensation. Compensation expense for non-vested stock awards is based on the fair value of the awards, which is calculated on the measurement date, the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized ratably over the service period of the award. The tax effects of exercising stock options are added to additional paid-in capital at the exercise date.

Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common shares are determined using the treasury stock method. Under the

 

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treasury stock method, exercise of options is assumed at the beginning of the period when the average stock price during the period exceeds the exercise price of outstanding options, and common shares are assumed issued. The assumed proceeds from the exercise of stock options are used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period. The incremental shares to be issued are considered to be the dilutive potential common shares outstanding.

New Accounting Pronouncements. In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position entitled “Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities” (“FSP”). The FSP amends an American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Industry Audit guide and is applicable to all industries that accrue for planned major maintenance activities. The FSP prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance costs, which is the policy the Company presently uses to record planned plant outage costs on an interim basis within a fiscal year. The FSP is effective as of the beginning of the Company’s 2007 fiscal year, with retrospective application to all prior periods presented. Under the FSP, the Company will report results using the deferral method whereby material major equipment maintenance costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized into expense over the subsequent six-month period, while other maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The restatement of maintenance expenses for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 is expected to change previously reported financial data by the following amounts:

 

     Increase (Decrease) in Previously Reported Amounts  
     2006     2005     2004  
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)                   

Cost of products sold

   $ 40     $ 484     $ (696 )

Net income

     (24 )     (298 )     428  

Earnings per common share:

      

Basic

   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.05 )   $ 0.07  

Diluted

   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.05 )   $ 0.06  
                        

In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 108 “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 requires that public companies utilize a “dual-approach” when assessing the quantitative effects of financial misstatements. This dual approach includes both an income statement-focused assessment and a balance sheet-focused assessment. The guidance in SAB 108 is effective for annual financial statements for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This Interpretation provides clarification related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” This Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company believes there are no known uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2006.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting for Changes and Error Corrections – A Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3, effective for years beginning after December 15, 2005. The adoption of this Statement did not have an effect on the financial statements.

Reclassifications. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2006 presentation.

Note 2: Inventory

The major classes of inventory are as follows:

 

December 31,

   2006    2005
(dollars in thousands)          

Raw materials and supplies

   $ 9,558    $ 5,192

Semi-finished and finished steel products

     54,891      44,010

Operating materials

     1,570      2,196
             

Total inventory

   $ 66,019    $ 51,398
             

 

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Note 3: Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

 

December 31,

   2006     2005  
(dollars in thousands)             

Land and land improvements

   $ 1,573     $ 1,396  

Buildings

     8,469       7,531  

Machinery and equipment

     63,484       54,232  

Construction in progress

     1,330       4,892  
                
     74,856       68,051  

Accumulated depreciation

     (25,605 )     (22,290 )
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 49,251     $ 45,761  
                

In 2003, the Company entered into a $200,000 Deferred Loan Agreement that matured on December 31, 2006 with the Dunkirk Local Development Corporation. No principal or interest payments were required under the Deferred Loan Agreement provided that the Company hired and retained 30 new employees through the Deferred Loan Agreement maturation date, with more than 50% of those jobs made available to certain Dunkirk City residents. The Company previously applied the proceeds to reduce the acquisition cost of new equipment at the Company’s Dunkirk facility, in anticipation of meeting the employment provisions of the loan. As of December 31, 2006, the Company believes that it met all of the conditions of the Deferred Loan Agreement.

Property, plant and equipment included a capital lease with Armco, which merged with and into AKSt in 1999, for the ESR building, which houses the Company’s four electro-slag remelting (“ESR”) furnaces, a new vacuum-arc remelting furnace and ancillary equipment. In October 2005, the Company purchased the ESR building and certain other parcels.

In 2005, the Company wrote off $342,000 at the Bridgeville facility, mainly for flat bar processing equipment. The write-off was a result of the Company’s decision to move its small flat bar production to the Dunkirk facility. The Company also wrote off $259,000 of Bridgeville production-related fixed assets and $104,000 of corporate software costs that were retired or being replaced.

In 2006, the Company wrote off $911,000 of capitalized assets including $367,000 related to a capitalized software project the Company terminated during the year.

Note 4: Long-Term Debt and Other Financing

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

December 31,

   2006     2005  
(dollars in thousands)             

PNC Term Loan

   $ 9,000     $ 10,000  

PNC Bank revolving credit facility

     8,392       6,117  

Government debt

     2,200       2,742  

Capital lease obligation

     —         13  
                
     19,592       18,872  

Less amounts due within one year

     (2,364 )     (1,555 )
                

Total long-term debt

   $ 17,228     $ 17,317  
                

The Company maintained a credit agreement with PNC Bank for a $15.0 million revolving credit facility (“PNC Line”) with a term expiring on June 30, 2006. This credit agreement also included a term loan (“PNC Term Loan”) scheduled to mature on June 30, 2006. In June 2005, the Company executed the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with PNC Bank that extended the $15.0 million revolving credit facility through June 30, 2009 and replaced the existing term loan having an outstanding principal balance of $1.9 million, with a new $10.0 million term loan scheduled to mature in June 2011. The outstanding principal balance is payable in twenty consecutive quarterly installments of $500,000 beginning September 30, 2006. The credit agreement is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

Interest on borrowings under the PNC Line and PNC Term Loan is based on short-term market rates, which may be further adjusted, based upon the Company maintaining certain financial ratios. PNC Bank reduced the commitment fee paid on the unused portion of the PNC Line from 0.5% to 0.25%, provided certain financial ratios are maintained. The Company is required to be in compliance with three financial covenants: a minimum leverage ratio, a minimum debt service ratio and a minimum tangible net worth. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at December 31, 2006.

 

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The Company maintains two separate loan agreements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Commerce, aggregating $600,000. A $200,000 15-year loan bears interest at 5% per annum with the term ending in 2011 and a $400,000 20-year loan bears interest at 6% per annum with the term ending in 2016. In 1996, the Company entered into a ten-year, 6% interest-bearing loan agreement with the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County Economic Development Fund in the amount of $1,514,000, and was fully amortized in 2006. On February 14, 2002, Dunkirk Specialty Steel issued two ten-year, 5% interest-bearing notes payable to the New York Job Development Authority for the combined amount of $3.0 million.

The Company leases certain office equipment and a vehicle. The aggregate annual principal payments due under the Company’s long-term debt and minimum lease payments under operating leases are as follows:

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2007    2008    2009    2010    2011    Thereafter    Total
(dollars in thousands)                                   

Long-term debt maturities

   $ 2,364    $ 2,383    $ 10,795    $ 2,423    $ 1,432    $ 195    $ 19,592

Operating lease minimum payments

     40      33      8      —        —        —        81

Note 5: Income Taxes

Components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006     2005     2004  
(dollars in thousands)                   

CURRENT PROVISION (BENEFIT)

      

Federal

   $ 11,957     $ 6,801     $ 3,373  

State

     1,080       448       (262 )
                        
     13,037       7,249       3,111  
                        

DEFERRED PROVISION (BENEFIT)

      

Federal

     (1,609 )     14       436  

State

     (227 )     (104 )     288  
                        
     (1,836 )     (90 )     724  
                        

Provision for income taxes

   $ 11,201     $ 7,159     $ 3,835  
                        

 

A reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006     2005     2004  

Federal statutory tax

     35.0 %     35.0 %     34.0 %

State income taxes, net of federal tax impact

     2.3       2.0       2.6  

Government grants, net of federal tax impact

     (0.8 )     (1.1 )     (1.5 )

Other, net

     (1.3 )     (0.5 )     (0.1 )
                        

Effective income tax rate

     35.2 %     35.4 %     35.0 %
                        

Dunkirk Specialty Steel operates in a New York State Empire Zone and is qualified to benefit from investments made and employees hired at the Dunkirk, New York facility for up to fifteen years from its 2002 acquisition date. The Company recognized tax credit benefits of $378,000 and $332,000 for fiscal year 2006 and 2005, respectively, of which $339,000 and $239,000 was applied against the respective year’s current tax provision. The balance of the credits, which have no expiration date, will be applied against future tax liabilities for income apportioned to New York State. The Company believes it will generate sufficient income in addition to taxable income generated from the reversal of its temporary differences to utilize this tax credit.

 

30


Deferred taxes result from the following:

 

December 31,

   2006    2005
(dollars in thousands)          

DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

     

Receivables

   $ 171    $ 124

Inventory

     811      584

Accrued liabilities

     478      306

FAS 123-R compensation expense

     80      —  

Dunkirk office building impairment

     71      70
             
     1,611      1,084

State tax carryforwards

     472      361
             
   $ 2,083    $ 1,445
             

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES

     

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 8,402    $ 9,600
             

State tax carryforwards represent New York Empire Zone tax credits with no expiration date and are included in other assets.

Note 6: Stockholders’ Equity

The Company has never paid a cash dividend on its Common Stock. The Company’s Credit Agreement with PNC Bank limits the payment of cash dividends payable on its Common Stock to 50% of the Company’s excess cash flow per fiscal year. Excess cash flow represents the amount of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization that is greater than the sum of the Company’s payments for interest, income taxes, the principal portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, and capital expenditures.

 

     Common Shares
Outstanding
   Common Stock    Additional
Paid-
In Capital
   Retained Earnings    Treasury Shares    Treasury Stock  
(dollars in thousands)                                

Balance at December 31, 2003

   6,564,306    $ 7      28,329    $ 32,731    269,900    $ (1,631 )

Common Stock issuance under Employee Stock Purchase Plan

   9,057         85         

Exercise of Stock Options

   27,749         285         

Net income

              7,131      
                                       

Balance at December 31, 2004

   6,601,112    $ 7    $ 28,699    $ 39,862    269,900    $ (1,631 )

Common Stock issuance under Employee Stock Purchase Plan

   9,946         103         

Exercise of Stock Options

   75,725         910         

Net income

              13,056      

Purchase of Treasury Stock

               157      (3 )
                                       

Balance at December 31, 2005

   6,686,783    $ 7    $ 29,712    $ 52,918    270,057    $ (1,634 )

Common Stock issuance under Employee Stock Purchase Plan

   8,635         152         

Exercise of Stock Options

   144,125         2,790         

Net income

              20,614      

Purchase of Treasury Stock

               412      (11 )
                                       

Balance at December 31, 2006

   6,839,543    $ 7    $ 32,654    $ 73,532    270,469    $ (1,645 )
                                       

On October 19, 1998, the Company initiated a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to 315,000 shares of its outstanding Common Stock in open market transactions at market prices. The Company is authorized to repurchase 44,531 remaining shares of Common Stock under this program as of December 31, 2006.

The Company has 1,980,000 authorized shares of Senior Preferred Stock. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, there were no shares issued or outstanding.

 

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Note 7: Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 is performed as follows:

 

     2006    2005    2004

For the years ended December 31,

   Income    Shares    Income    Shares    Income    Shares
(dollars in thousands)                              

Income available to common Stockholders

   $ 20,614    6,451,037    $ 13,056    6,375,257    $ 7,131    6,304,909

Effect of dilutive securities

     —      161,493      —      103,857      —      74,670
                                   

Income available to common Stockholders plus assumed conversion

   $ 20,614    6,612,530    $ 13,056    6,479,114    $ 7,131    6,379,579
                                   

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

                 

Basic

   $ 3.20       $ 2.05       $ 1.13   

Diluted

   $ 3.12       $ 2.02       $ 1.12   
                             

Note 8: Stock-Based Compensation Plans

At December 31, 2006, the Company has three incentive compensation plans that are described below:

STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

The Company maintains the Stock Incentive Plan that has been adopted and amended from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors, and approved by its stockholders. The Stock Incentive Plan permits the issuance of stock options to non-employee directors, other than those directors owning more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, officers and other key employees of the Company who are expected to contribute to the Company’s future growth and success. The Company may grant options up to a maximum of 950,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 103,168 are available for grant at December 31, 2006. The option price is equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of grant. Options granted to non-employee directors vest over a three-year period, and options granted to employees vest over a four-year period. All options under the Stock Incentive Plan will expire no later than ten years after the grant date. Forfeited options may be reissued and are included in the amount available for grants.

A summary of the Stock Incentive Plan activity as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 is presented below:

 

    

Shares Available for
Grant

    Non-Vested Stock Awards Outstanding    Stock Options Outstanding
     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-Average
Grant-Fair Value
   Number
of Shares
    Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

Balance, January 1, 2004

   246,668     103,839     $ 3.44    482,999     $ 8.99

Granted

   (92,000 )   92,000     $ 5.77    92,000     $ 11.15

Stock options exercised

          (27,749 )   $ 8.44

Stock awards vested

     (41,714 )   $ 3.82     

Forfeited

   35,575     (5,375 )   $ 7.86    (35,575 )   $ 8.95
                               

Balance, December 31, 2004

   190,243     148,750     $ 4.80    511,675     $ 9.14

Granted

   (50,000 )   50,000     $ 6.54    50,000     $ 14.84

Stock options exercised

          (75,725 )   $ 6.64

Stock awards vested

     (61,450 )   $ 4.46     

Forfeited

   3,300          (3,300 )   $ 11.25
                               

Balance, December 31, 2005

   143,543     137,300     $ 5.57    482,650     $ 9.69

Granted

   (60,000 )   60,000     $ 9.23    60,000     $ 21.36

Stock options exercised

          (144,125 )   $ 10.02

Stock awards vested

     (63,500 )   $ 5.15     

Forfeited

   19,625     (19,625 )   $ 10.15    (19,625 )   $ 10.15
                               

Balance, December 31, 2006

   103,168     114,175     $ 7.80    378,900     $ 11.77
                               

 

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The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2006:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of Exercise Prices

   Number
Outstanding
   Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
   Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
   Number
Exercisable
   Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

$5.12 to   $7.35

   124,300    4.6    $ 6.57    118,925    $ 6.64

$8.45 to   $9.94

   64,850    3.3    $ 9.75    62,300    $ 9.77

$10.83 to $13.42

   93,875    4.0    $ 11.85    65,250    $ 12.02

$14.18 to $18.15

   50,875    8.4    $ 15.27    18,250    $ 15.40

$19.25 to $32.20

   45,000    9.6    $ 24.94    —      $ —  
                            

Outstanding at end of year

   378,900    5.3    $ 11.77    264,725    $ 9.30
                            

Exercisable at end of year

   264,725    4.0         
                  

Proceeds from stock option exercises totaled $1.4 million in 2006, $703,000 in 2005 and $234,000 in 2004. Shares issued in connection with stock option exercises are issued from available authorized shares. Tax benefits realized from stock options exercised totaled $1.1 million in 2006, $207,000 in 2005 and $51,000 in 2004.

Based upon the closing stock price of $33.48, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options and outstanding exercisable stock options was $8.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2006. Intrinsic value of stock options is calculated as the amount by which the market price of USAP common stock exceeds the exercise price of the options. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $2.8 million in 2006, $538,000 in 2005 and $132,000 in 2004. The total fair value of share awards vested was $327,000 during 2006, $274,000 in 2005 and $180,000 in 2004.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123R on January 1, 2006. SFAS 123R requires that stock-based compensation to employees and directors be recognized as compensation expense in the income statement based on their fair values on the measurement date, which, for the Company, is the date of the grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods. The compensation expense recognized and its related tax effects are included in additional paid-in capital. Additional paid-in capital is further adjusted for the difference between compensation expense recorded under SFAS 123R and compensation expense reported for tax purposes upon actual exercise of employee stock options.

As a result of applying the provisions of SFAS 123R during 2006, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $273,000. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards. The tax benefit associated with the stock compensation expense recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations was $95,000. The increase in stock-based compensation expense related to stock options, resulted in a $0.02 decrease in both basic and diluted earnings per share during 2006. Cash flows from financing activities for 2006 included $1.1 million in cash inflows from excess tax benefits related to stock compensation. Such cash flows were previously reported as operating activities. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards totaled $570,000 at December 31, 2006. At such date, the weighted-average period over which this unrecognized expense was expected to be recognized was 25 months.

Valuation of Stock-Based Compensation. The fair value of the Corporation’s employee stock options granted is estimated on the measurement date, which, for the Corporation, is the date of grant. The Company has elected to use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which was previously used for the Company’s pro forma information required under SFAS 123. The Company’s determination of fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors.

The assumptions used to determine the fair value of options granted are detailed in the table below:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Risk-free interest rate

   3.19 to 5.04  %   3.76 to 4.50 %   3.01 to 3.81 %

Dividend yield

   0.0 %   0.0 %   0.0 %

Expected market price volatility

   50 to 60 %   40 to 45 %   45 to 50 %

Weighted-average expected market price volatility

   47.6 %   43.5 %   56.3 %

Expected term

   5.0 years     5.0 years     5.0 years  

 

33


The risk-free interest rate was developed using the U.S. Treasury yield curve for periods equal to the expected life of the options at the grant date. No dividend yield was assumed because the Company does not pay cash dividends on common stock and currently has no plans to pay a dividend. Expected volatility is based on the long-term historical volatility (estimated over a period equal to the expected term of the options) of the Company’s stock. In estimating the fair value of stock options under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately. The expected term of options granted represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding.

Pro Forma Net Income and Earnings Per Common Share. In accordance with SFAS 123R, the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for prior periods have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the impact of SFAS 123R. The following pro forma information presents net income and earnings per share for 2005 and 2004 as if the fair value method of SFAS 123 had been used to measure compensation cost for stock-based compensation plans. For purposes of these pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of stock options and stock awards is amortized to expense over the related vesting periods.

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2005     2004  
(dollars in thousands, except per share information)             

Net income, as reported

   $ 13,056     $ 7,131  

Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair-value-based method, net of taxes

     (201 )     (179 )
                

Pro forma net income

   $ 12,855     $ 6,952  
                

EARNINGS PER SHARE

    

Basic – as reported

   $ 2.05     $ 1.13  

Basic – pro forma

   $ 2.02     $ 1.10  

Diluted – as reported

   $ 2.02     $ 1.12  

Diluted – pro forma

   $ 1.98     $ 1.09  
                

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

Under the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Stock Purchase Plan”), the Company is authorized to issue up to 90,000 shares of Common Stock to its full-time employees, nearly all of whom are eligible to participate. At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company held May 17, 2006, shareholders approved an amendment to the Stock Purchase Plan to reserve an additional 60,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the plan. Under the terms of the plan, employees can choose as of January 1 and July 1 of each year to have up to 10% of their total earnings withheld to purchase up to 100 shares of the Company’s Common Stock each six-month period. The purchase price of the stock is 85% of the lower of its beginning-of-the-period or end-of-the-period market prices. At December 31, 2006, the Company has issued 90,311 shares of Common Stock since the plan’s inception.

CASH INCENTIVE PLANS

The Company has a management cash incentive plan covering certain key executives and employees and profit-sharing plans that cover the remaining employees. The profit-sharing plans provide for the sharing of pre-tax profits in excess of specified amounts. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, the Company expensed $5,285,000, $3,510,000 and $1,965,000, respectively, under these plans.

Note 9: Retirement Plans

The Company has defined contribution retirement plans that cover substantially all employees. The Company accrues its contributions to the hourly employee plan based on time worked, while contributions to the salaried plan are accrued as a fixed amount per month. Company contributions to both plans are funded periodically.

Effective January 6, 2003, the Company began to participate in the Steelworkers Pension Trust (“Trust”), a multi-employer defined-benefit pension plan that is open to all hourly and salaried employees associated with the Bridgeville facility. The Company makes periodic contributions to the Trust based on hours worked at a fixed rate for each hourly employee and a fixed monthly contribution on behalf of each salaried employee. The hourly employees may continue their contributions to the defined contribution retirement plan even though the Company contributions ceased. The Company also makes a contribution to the defined contribution retirement plan on behalf of each salaried employee participating in the Trust. The amount of the contribution will be dependent upon each salaried employee’s contribution to the defined contribution retirement plan.

 

34


The total expense for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $888,000, $772,000 and $654,000, respectively, including $572,000, $449,000 and $399,000, respectively, for the multi-employer Trust. No other post-retirement benefit plans exist.

Note 10: Commitments and Contingencies

The Company, as well as other steel companies, is subject to demanding environmental standards imposed by federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. In December 2005, the Company received a Notice of Violation from the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) alleging violations of certain permitting issues. The Company has established a reserve of $193,000 for the probable settlement of the violation, is cooperating with the EPA to resolve these issues, and believes they will not have a material adverse effect on financial condition. The Company is not aware of any other environmental condition that currently exists at any of its facilities that would cause a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.

The Company is subject to various claims and legal actions that arise in the normal course of conducting business. At December 31, 2006, the Company established a reserve of $200,000 for commercial product-claims related to three sales by Dunkirk Specialty Steel.

On June 29, 2001, suit was filed against the Company in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania by Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (“Teledyne”). The suit alleges that steel product manufactured by the Company was defective and that the Company was or should have been aware of the defects. Teledyne has alleged that the steel supplied by the Company caused certain crankshafts sold by Teledyne to be defective. As a result, Teledyne is claiming damages relating to the recall, replacement and repair of aircraft engines.

After in-depth investigation, it is the Company’s position that the suit is without merit. The Company intends to vigorously defend that position, is currently engaged in the pre-trial phase of the proceedings, and believes that the final disposition of this suit will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and the results of operations of the Company. The trial is now listed on the May 2007 trial docket for the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

The Company maintains a supply contract agreement with Talley Metals Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of CRS (“Talley Metals”). While the initial term of the agreement expired December 31, 2002, the agreement continues to automatically renew with the placement of new orders each month and requires a 90-day written notice to terminate by either party. In addition, Talley Metals is required under the agreement to purchase a minimum of 1,000 tons of stainless reroll billet products each calendar month and to average at least 1,250 tons per month during the last 12-month period. The value of the contract on a monthly basis will depend on product mix and key raw material prices.

The CDSOA provides for payment of import duties collected by the U.S. Treasury to domestic companies injured by unfair foreign trade practices. The assets purchased by Dunkirk Specialty Steel were previously owned and operated by AL Tech Specialty Steel, Inc. and Empire Specialty Steel, Inc. During their ownership, both organizations participated in several anti-dumping lawsuits with other domestic specialty steel producers. In accordance with the CDSOA, the Company filed claims to receive its appropriate share of the import duties collected and, was notified that it was awarded $604,000, of which $10,000 was received in 2003. The remaining payment was not received until 2004 when a favorable ruling was issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a lawsuit challenging the distribution method of the import duties. In 2004 the Company received $507,000, net of expenses incurred, as part of its 2004 award. In January 2005, the Company received an additional $59,000 from the U.S. Treasury, representing an increase in the total allocation of available funds awarded to the Company for 2004. The Company received a net payment of $358,000 in December 2005 as its 2005 award. In 2006 the Company received $463,000, net of expenses incurred

The Company’s purchase obligations include the value of all open purchase orders with established quantities and purchase prices, as well as minimum purchase commitments, all made in the normal course of business. At December 31, 2006, the Company’s total purchase obligations were $7,839,000, all of which will be due in year 2007.

Note 11: Segment and Related Information

The Company comprises three operating locations and one corporate headquarters. For segment reporting, the Bridgeville and Titusville facilities have been aggregated into one reportable segment, Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, because of the management reporting structure in place. The Universal Stainless & Alloy Products manufacturing process involves melting, remelting, treating and hot and cold rolling of semi-finished and finished specialty steels. A second reportable

35


segment, Dunkirk Specialty Steel, was created in 2002 with the acquisition of certain assets and real property formerly owned by Empire Specialty Steel, Inc. Dunkirk Specialty Steel’s manufacturing process involves hot rolling and finishing specialty steel bar, rod and wire products.

At December 31, 2006, 83% of the Company’s 527 employees are covered by USW collective bargaining agreements, and 27% of employees are covered by an agreement for the Dunkirk facility that expires in October 2007.

The accounting policies of both reportable segments are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Sales between the segments are generally made at market-related prices. Corporate assets are primarily cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, deferred income taxes, and property, plant and equipment.

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006     2005     2004  
(dollars in thousands)                   

NET SALES

      

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 179,170     $ 153,258     $ 108,234  

Dunkirk Specialty Steel

     70,255       53,011       34,723  

Intersegmnet

     (45,552 )     (36,247 )     (22,315 )
                        
   $ 203,873     $ 170,022     $ 120,642  
                        

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

      

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 19,690     $ 15,014     $ 7,493  

Dunkirk Specialty Steel

     11,496       6,724       3,088  

Intersegment

     1,213       (1,109 )     (312 )
                        
   $ 32,399     $ 20,629     $ 10,269  
                        

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER FINANCING COSTS A

      

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 889     $ 608     $ 268  

Dunkirk Specialty Steel

     217       243       154  
                        
   $ 1,106     $ 851     $ 422  
                        

OTHER INCOME, NET

      

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 55     $ 19     $ 35  

Dunkirk Specialty Steel B

     467       418       1,084  
                        
   $ 522     $ 437     $ 1,119  
                        

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION

      

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 3,058     $ 2,858     $ 2,907  

Dunkirk Specialty Steel

     214       167       117  

Corporate

     65       60       37  
                        
   $ 3,337     $ 3,085     $ 3,061  
                        

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

      

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 6,397     $ 7,585     $ 3,047  

Dunkirk Specialty Steel

     41       1,150       478  

Corporate

     1,278       73       61  
                        
   $ 7,716     $ 8,808     $ 3,586  
                        

A

Includes amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount of $23,000, $27,000 and $15,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

B

Includes net receipt of import duties of $463,000 in 2006, $414,000 in 2005 and $1.1 million in 2004.

 

December 31,

   2006    2005
(dollars in thousands)          

ASSETS

     

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

   $ 117,744    $ 101,652

Dunkirk Specialty Steel

     31,473      25,602

Corporate

     5,898      1,773
             
   $ 155,115    $ 129,027
             

 

36


The following table presents net sales by product line:

 

For the years ended December 31,

   2006    2005    2004
(dollars in thousands)               

Stainless steel

   $ 151,633    $ 135,588    $ 94,530

Tool steel

     23,389      20,737      17,075

High-strength low alloy steel

     16,467      6,606      3,682

High-temperature alloy steel

     9,837      3,694      2,468

Conversion services

     2,137      3,030      2,386

Other

     410      367      501
                    

Total net sales

   $ 203,873    $ 170,022    $ 120,642
                    

Net sales to the Company’s three largest customers and their affiliates approximated 34%, 34% and 40% of total 2006, 2005 and 2004 sales, respectively. The accounts receivable balances from these customers comprised approximately 23% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

The Company derives less than 4% of its revenues from markets outside of the United States and the Company has no assets located outside the United States.

Note 12: Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

 

     First Quarter    Second Quarter    Third Quarter    Fourth Quarter
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)                    

2006 DATA

           

Net sales

   $ 44,937    $ 48,019    $ 55,110    $ 55,807

Gross profit margin

     8,617      10,327      12,198      12,049

Operating income

     6,361      7,448      9,160      9,430

Provision for income taxes

     2,195      2,585      3,199      3,222

Net income

     3,902      4,596      5,688      6,428
                           

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

   $ 0.61    $ 0.72    $ 0.88    $ 0.99

Diluted

   $ 0.59    $ 0.69    $ 0.86    $ 0.97
                           

2005 DATA

           

Net sales

   $ 43,019    $ 41,863    $ 43,097    $ 42,043

Gross profit margin

     6,609      7,666      7,405      7,390

Operating income

     4,702      5,281      5,362      5,284

Provision for income taxes

     1,652      1,831      1,850      1,826

Net income

     2,938      3,253      3,289      3,576
                           

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

   $ 0.46    $ 0.51    $ 0.52    $ 0.56

Diluted

   $ 0.45    $ 0.50    $ 0.51    $ 0.55
                           

The Company’s 2006 fourth quarter earnings were positively impacted by the receipt of import duties of $463,000 and a reduction in the annual income tax rate to 35.4% from 36.0%. The change in the effective income tax rate is primarily attributable to a favorable shift of apportioned income for state income tax purposes as well as the impact of recognizing a $180,000 tax credit in Pennsylvania as a result of participating in the state’s Educational Improvement Tax in the fourth quarter 2006. The Company’s 2005 fourth quarter earnings were positively impacted by the receipt of import duties of $358,000.

Earnings per share amounts for each quarter are required to be computed independently. As a result, their sum may not equal the total year earnings per share amounts.

 

ITEM  9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

 

37


ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in the timely identification of material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC. During the last fiscal quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information concerning the directors of the Company is set forth in the Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”) to be sent to stockholders in connection with the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 15, 2007, under the heading “Proposal No. 1—Election of Directors,” which information is incorporated by reference. With the exception of the information specifically incorporated herein by reference, the Company’s Proxy Statement is not to be deemed filed as part of this report for the purposes of this Item.

In addition to the information set forth under the caption “Executive Officers” in Part I of this report, the information concerning our directors required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Nominees for Election as Directors” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Proxy Statement”), which will be filed with the SEC, pursuant to Regulation 14A, not later than 120 days after the end of the 2006 fiscal year. Information concerning the Audit Committee and its “audit committee financial expert” required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Committees of the Board of Directors” in the Proxy Statement. Information required by this item regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated and made a part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information concerning the executive officers of the Company is contained in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers.”

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all directors and employees, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer. A copy is available, free of charge, through the Company’s website at http://www.univstainless.com. Information on the Company’s website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company intends to timely disclose any amendment of or waiver under the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on its website and will retain such information on its website as required by applicable SEC rules.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information concerning executive compensation is set forth in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation,” which information is incorporated by reference. With the exception of the information specifically incorporated herein by reference, the Company’s Proxy Statement is not to be deemed filed as part of this report for the purposes of this Item.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” which information is incorporated by reference. With the exception of the information specifically incorporated herein by reference, the Company’s Proxy Statement is not to be deemed filed as part of this report for the purposes of this Item.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information concerning certain relationships and related transactions, and director independence is set forth in the Proxy Statement under the heading “The Board of Directors,” which information is incorporated by reference. With the exception of the information specifically incorporated herein by reference, the Company’s Proxy Statement is not to be deemed filed as part of this report for the purposes of this Item.

38


ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information concerning principal accountant fees and services is set forth in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Principal Accountant Fees and Services,” which information is incorporated by reference. With the exception of the information specifically incorporated herein by reference, the Company’s Proxy Statement is not to be deemed filed as part of this report for the purposes of this Item.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:

1) Financial Statements

The list of financial statements required by this item is set forth in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and is incorporated herein by reference.

2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules:

SCHEDULE II – VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2005 and 2006

   Balance at
Beginning of Year
   Charged to Costs
and Expenses
  

Deductions/Net

Charge-Offs

    Balance at
End of Year
(Dollars in thousands)                     

INVENTORY RESERVE:

          

Year ended December 31, 2004

   $ 1,025    $ 379    $ (571 )   $ 833

Year ended December 31, 2005

     833      823      (1,019 )     637

Year ended December 31, 2006

     637      1,295      (356 )     1,576

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS:

          

Year ended December 31, 2004

   $ 163    $ 394    $ —       $ 557

Year ended December 31, 2005

     557      125      (410 )     272

Year ended December 31, 2006

     272      78      (12 )     338

3) Exhibits:

 

EXHIBIT

NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registration No. 33-85310.
3.2    By-laws of the Company    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registration No. 33-85310.
4.1    Specimen Copy of Stock Certificate for shares of Common Stock    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
10.1    Stockholders Agreement dated as of August 1, 1994, by and among the Company and its existing stockholders    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registration No. 33-85310.
10.2    Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2005, between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005.
10.3    Employment Agreement dated November 20, 1998 by and between the Company and Clarence M. McAninch    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.

 

39


10.4    Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1998 between the Company and Paul McGrath    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.
10.5    Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1998 between the Company and Richard M. Ubinger    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.
10.6    Employment Agreement dated December 28, 2006 between the Company and Kenneth W. Matz    Filed herewith.
10.7    Stock Incentive Plan    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.
10.8    Supply Contract Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2001, between the Company and Talley Metals Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Carpenter Technology Corporation    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
10.9    Promissory Note, dated as of February 13, 2002, between the Company and New York Job Development Authority    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
10.10    Promissory Note, dated as of February 14, 2002, between the Company and New York Job Development Authority    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
21.1    Subsidiaries of Registrant    Filed herewith.
23.1    Consent of Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.    Filed herewith.
24.1    Powers of Attorney    Included on the signature page herein.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith.

 

40


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on March 1, 2007.

 

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Clarence M. McAninch

  Clarence M. McAninch
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the officers and directors of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., whose signature appears below in so signing also makes, constitutes and appoints Clarence M. McAninch and Paul A. McGrath, and each of them acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to execute and cause to be filed with the SEC any and all amendment or amendments to this Report on Form 10-K, with exhibits thereto and other documents connected therewith and to perform any acts necessary to be done in order to file such documents, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

 

DATE

/s/ C. M. McANINCH

Clarence M. McAninch

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  March 1, 2007

/s/ RICHARD M. UBINGER

Richard M. Ubinger

   Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)   March 1, 2007

/s/ DOUGLAS M. DUNN

Douglas M. Dunn

   Director   March 1, 2007

/s/ GEORGE F. KEANE

George F. Keane

   Director   March 1, 2007

/s/ UDI TOLEDANO

Udi Toledano

   Director   March 1, 2007

 

41

Employment Agreement between the Company and Kenneth W. Matz

EXHIBIT 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 28th day of December 2006, by and between UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and KENNETH W. MATZ (the “Executive”).

WITNESSETH:

In consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and Executive agree as follows:

Article 1.—Employment

1.1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to serve the Company, for the period stated in Article 2 hereof (the “Term of Employment”) and upon the other terms and conditions herein provided.

1.2. Position and Responsibilities. The Company employs Executive, and Executive agrees to serve as President of the Company and to accept such other responsibilities as may be assigned to Executive by the Company from time to time during the Term of Employment.

1.3. Duties. During the Term of Employment, Executive shall devote all of his business time, attention, skill and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder.

Article 2.—Term

The Term of Employment shall commence as of January 15, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), and shall continue until December 31, 2008 (the “Initial Term”). Thereafter, subject to the termination provisions of this Agreement, this Agreement will be automatically extended for successive one year terms unless either party provides written notice to the other party on or before October 31 of any year of his or its election not to extend the term of this Agreement.

Article 3.—Compensation

3.1. Salary. As compensation to the Executive for the performance of services hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Executive a base salary (the “Salary”) of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($235,000.00) per year. The Salary payable to Executive shall be increased to TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($260,000.00) per year effective August 1, 2007 and to TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($275,000.00) per year on January 1, 2008. Installments of the Salary shall be paid to the Executive in accordance with the standard procedure of the Company, which at the present time is once every two weeks. During the period of this Agreement, Executive’s salary shall be reviewed at least annually and may be increased, but not decreased, if the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) acting after approval of the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), determines that an increase is appropriate on the basis of the types of factors it generally takes into account in increasing the salaries of employees similarly situated in the Company.

3.2. Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company will reimburse the Executive for those customary and necessary business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties and activities on behalf of the Company. Except as provided in this Agreement, such expenses will be reimbursed only on presentation by the Executive of appropriate documentation to substantiate such expenses pursuant to the policies and procedures of the Company governing reimbursement of business expenses to its executives.

3.3. Participation in Plans. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in any life, medical, dental, health, hospitalization, travel, accident and/or disability insurance plans and in any sick leave and/or salary continuation plan, vacation (which shall not be less than three (3) weeks per year), holiday pay, retirement or employee benefit plan or program generally offered by the Company to its salaried employees. In addition, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the variable incentive compensation plan and the perquisites described on Schedule A attached hereto.

Article 4.—Termination of Employment

4.1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof:

(a) “Disability” shall be deemed to have occurred at the same time as the Executive has been determined to be entitled to benefits under the Company’s Long Term Disability Plan then in effect.


(b) “Cause” shall mean any of the following: (i) Executive’s personal dishonesty or willful misconduct; (ii) Executive’s willful violation of any law or material rule or regulation, provided that such violation is demonstrably injurious to the assets, operations or business prospects of the Company; (iii) the conversion or embezzlement for the personal benefit of the Executive of corporate funds or property or a material business opportunity of the Company; (iv) the misuse by the Executive for his personal benefit of any trade secrets or other information of the Company in violation of the provisions of Article 7 of this Agreement; or (v) Executive’s material breach of any other provision of this Agreement which is not cured within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice of such breach from Company.

(c) “Good Reason” shall, absent the Executive’s express written consent to such action, mean the occurrence of any one of the following: (i) following a Change of Control, the removal of the Executive as President of the Company (by reason other than death, Disability or Cause); (ii) any breach by the Company of a material obligation under this Agreement; (iii) a substantial alteration in the nature or status of Executive’s duties and responsibilities that renders the Executive’s position to be of substantially less responsibility or scope; (iv) a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s Salary, except for proportional across-the-board salary reductions similarly affecting all senior executives of the Company; (v) the relocation of the principal executive offices of the Company to a location outside the Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan area or the Company requiring the Executive to be based anywhere other than the Company’s principal executive offices except for required travel on Company Business; or (vi) any material reduction by the Company of the benefits, taken as a whole, enjoyed by the Executive on the date of this Agreement under any savings, life insurance, medical, health and accident, disability or other employee welfare benefit plans or programs, including vacation programs, provided that this paragraph (vi) shall not apply to any proportional across the board reduction or action similarly affecting all senior executives of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event of “Good Reason” shall be deemed to have occurred unless Executive provides to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company written notice of the facts and circumstances which Executive believes constitutes Good Reason under this Section 4.1(c) and such facts and circumstances are not corrected or otherwise cured by the Company within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.

For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred on the earlier of (x) if, in any transaction or series of related transactions consummated in a ninety day period, more than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding voting common stock of the Company is sold to a person or group; (y) a merger or consolidation of the Company and another entity in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or in which more than fifty percent(50%) of the equity ownership of the Company changes, or (z) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(d) “Notice of Termination” shall mean written notice which shall indicate the specific termination or resignation provisions in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for such termination or resignation under the provision so indicated and the Company shall submit to the Executive a certified statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company approving such termination in the case of a Termination by the Company for Cause or Without Cause.

(e) “Date of Termination” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination as the effective date the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason or the Executive’s effective date of resignation, which ever is earlier.

Article 5.—Compensation Upon Termination

5.1. Death. If the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates by reason of his death, his beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive from the Company such amounts as are then provided pursuant to plans, programs or arrangements currently in effect or as approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

5.2. Disability. If the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates by reason of his Disability, the Company shall pay to the Executive for a period of one (1) month, an amount equal to 100% of his then monthly Salary and for a period of five (5) months, an amount equal to sixty percent (60%) of his then monthly Salary. Such disability payments shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll schedule. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive such amounts as are then provided pursuant to Company’s then existing disability plans, programs or arrangements.

5.3. Cause. If the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Company shall pay to the Executive his full base Salary through the Date of Termination but at a rate no greater than that in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, and the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.

5.4. By the Company Without Cause or by the Executive by Resignation for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated by the Company without Cause or is terminated by the Executive pursuant to his resignation for Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided below, which shall constitute complete satisfaction of the obligations of the Company to the Executive under this Agreement:


(a) The Company shall pay the Executive his full annual base Salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given.

(b) Subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay as severance pay to the Executive, a lump sum severance payment equal to the Executive’s full base Salary at the rate then in effect for a period of twelve (12) months.

(c) The Company will provide health care benefits as provided prior to the Date of Termination for the Executive and eligible dependents for a period of twelve (12) months at no cost to the Executive. This period will not reduce the eligible COBRA period.

(d) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payments provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer, or otherwise.

(e) Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, the Executive shall be entitled to receive all benefits to which the Executive is entitled under the terms of any of the Company’s qualified employee benefit plans and any other plan, program or arrangement relating to retirement or other benefits including, without limitation, any employee stock ownership plan or any plan now in effect which is established (with approval of the Board of Directors) as a supplement to any of the aforenamed plans, except as otherwise provided in such plans as a result of the Executive’s termination of employment.

Article 6.—Duties of Executive After Termination of Employment

6.1. Following any termination of Executive’s employment and for a period of ninety (90) days thereafter, the Executive shall fully cooperate with the Company in all matters relating to the winding up and orderly transfer of the Executive’s work on behalf of the Company. Not later than the effective date of any termination of the employment, the Executive will immediately deliver to the Company any and all of the Company’s property of any kind or nature whatsoever in the Executive’s possession, custody or control, including, without limitation any and all Confidential Information as that term is defined in Section 7 of this Agreement.

Article 7.—Confidential Information; Invention Assignment

7.1. Confidential Relationship. Executive understands and agrees that all company manuals, company policies, marketing plans and surveys, product designs, schematics, specifications and product location and installation data, formulae, processes, methods, machines, compositions, customer information, ideas, inventions, financial information and plans of the Company and all records, correspondence, files, customer lists, data and other information pertaining to or concerning the Company, its principals, vendors and customers (collectively the “Confidential Information”) contain valuable confidential information that is owned by the Company, and, therefore, that during the period of employment hereunder and at all times thereafter, Executive shall not utilize such Confidential Information for his own benefit or for the benefit of any person or entity other than the Company, nor shall he divulge or communicate any such Confidential Information to any person or entity without the express authorization of the Company. The Executive agrees that, on the termination of his employment, he will immediately surrender to the Company any and all Confidential Information in his possession pertaining to the Company and its business.

7.2. Assignment of Rights. All inventions, discoveries, designs, developments, technology, computer programs, writings and reports that are made or conceived of by the Executive in the course of his employment with the Company, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, shall become and remain the sole property of the Company without additional compensation to Executive. The Executive recognizes that all such works shall be considered works-for-hire and hereby transfers and assigns any right, title, copyright and interest that Executive acquires in such works to the Company and will, from time to time, give the Company all reasonable assistance, execute all papers and do all things that may reasonably be required to protect and preserve the rights of the Company in such works.

7.3. No Breach of Other Obligations. The Executive represents that, in the course of performing services for the Company, he will not breach any agreement he may have with others with respect to confidential information, and will not bring to the Company or use in any way any materials or documents obtained from others under an agreement of confidentiality.

Article 8.—Source of Payments

8.1. All payments provided for under this Agreement shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no other segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment. No trust or fiduciary relationship with respect to payments shall be deemed created hereby and, to the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the rights of a general creditor of the Company.


Article 9.—Miscellaneous

9.1. Indulgences, Etc. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of either party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence.

9.2. Notices. All notices or communications hereunder shall be in writing, addressed as follows:

 

To the Company:

      

To the Executive:

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

     Kenneth W. Matz

600 Mayer Street

     7780 Sugarbush Lane

Bridgeville, PA 15017

     Gates Mills, OH 44040

Any such notice or communication shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as above (or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time), and the actual date of receipt, as shown by the receipt therefor, shall determine the time at which notice was given.

9.3. Assignment; Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of the Executive and the successors and assigns of the Company, but neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise subject to hypothecation by the Executive.

9.4. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be amended or any provision hereof waived at any time only by written agreement of the parties hereto.

9.5. Governing Law. This Agreement and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, other than the conflict of laws provisions of such laws.

9.6. Severability. If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement not held so invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the remainder of such provision that is not held so invalid, and the remainder of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

9.7. Headings. The Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only; they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its interpretation.

9.8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

By:

 

/S/ C. M. McAninch

Title:

  Pres. & CEO

EXECUTIVE

By:

 

/S/ Kenneth W. Matz


Schedule A

Incentive Compensation And Perquisites

1. Incentive Compensation. Executive will be entitled to participate in the Company’s variable incentive compensation plan. The maximum award under such plan for the Executive shall be 100% of his annual base Salary. For calendar year 2007, the minimum incentive compensation award for Executive shall be $100,000.00. All payments under the variable incentive compensation plan shall subject to the terms and conditions of variable incentive compensation plan.

2. Stock Options. Executive shall be granted 25,000 stock options pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan. The exercise price of the stock options will be the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Effective Date. One third of the stock options will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the Effective Date. All stock options shall be subject to the terms and conditions of a separate stock option agreement to be entered into by Executive and the Company.

3. Automobile. The Company shall provide the Executive with an automobile allowance of $800.00 per month. The Company also shall reimburse the Executive for normal operating expenses associated with his automobile such as gas, oil and tires but excluding insurance.

4. Moving Expenses. A moving and relocation allowance will be provided as follows: $65,000 to be paid in a lump sum upon Executive’s relocation to the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and $35,000 to be paid to Executive on or before January 31, 2007.

5. Club Membership. The Company shall pay the membership dues for Executive at South Point Golf Club. Charges related to the use of the Club shall be the responsibility of the Executive.

Subsidiaries of Registrant

Exhibit 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT

Below are the only active wholly-owned subsidiaries of the registrant and its jurisdiction of organization.

 

    

Doing Business As

  

State of Incorporation

    
  Dunkirk Specialty Steel, LLC    Delaware   
  USAP Holdings, Inc.    Delaware   
Consent of Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 33-90970, No. 333-13509, No. 333-13511, No. 333-13599, No. 333-100263 and No. 333-136984) of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. of our report dated March 1, 2007 relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appear in this
Form 10-K.

 

/s/ Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.

Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

March 1, 2007

Section 302 Certification of the CEO

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Clarence M. McAninch, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 1, 2007

 

/s/ Clarence M. McAninch

Clarence M. McAninch

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Section 302 Certification of the CFO

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Richard M. Ubinger, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting

Date: March 1, 2007

 

/s/ Richard M. Ubinger

Richard M. Ubinger

Vice President of Finance,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Section 906 Certification of the CEO and CFO

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2006 as filed with the SEC on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned, in the capacities and on the dates indicated below, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to his knowledge:

 

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

 

Date:  March 1, 2007    

/s/ Clarence M. McAninch

   

Clarence M. McAninch

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date:  March 1, 2007    

/s/ Richard M. Ubinger

   

Richard M. Ubinger

Vice President of Finance,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)