e10vq

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


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

For the Quarterly Period Ended October 1, 2005


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

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-13198

MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Georgia		38-0811650
(State or other jurisdiction of		(IRS Employer
Incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

1021 W. Birchwood, Morton, Illinois 61550
(Address of principal executive offices)

(309) 266-7176
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No þ

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

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based upon the last reported sale price on the OTC Market) on the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $10,500,000.


	Outstanding as of
	November 4, 2005
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value		4,880,878
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value		100,000

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Nine Months Ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	October 1, 2005			September 25, 2004			October 1, 2005			September 25, 2004
Net sales	$	43,339			46,146			151,020			136,772
Cost of sales		37,909			40,828			130,867			119,800


Gross profit		5,430			5,318			20,153			16,972

Operating expenses:
Selling expenses		757			802			2,335			2,389
Administrative expenses		3,028			2,727			8,893			8,094


Total operating expenses		3,785			3,529			11,228			10,483


Operating income		1,645			1,789			8,925			6,489


Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(1,393	)		(1,405	)		(4,200	)		(3,135	)
Interest on redeemable preferred stock		—			—			—			(249	)
Gain on redemption of preferred stock		566			566			2,266			2,266
Other		—			40			62			123


Total other income (expense)		(827	)		(799	)		(1,872	)		(995	)


Earnings before income taxes		818			990			7,053			5,494

Income taxes		80			25			600			175


Net earnings	$	738			965			6,453			5,319


Earnings per common share — basic	$	0.15			0.20			1.31			1.14


Earnings per common share — diluted	$	0.13			0.15			1.09			0.91

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
October 1, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Dollars, except par values, in thousands)


	October 1, 2005			December 31, 2004
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Trade accounts receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts and returns of $168 in 2005 and $160 in 2004	$	13,047			9,788
Unbilled receivables		1,653			2,741
Inventories		18,786			19,218
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,118			1,324
Deferred income taxes		2,700			2,700


Total current assets		38,304			35,771


Property, plant, and equipment, net		22,409			22,390
Note receivable		—			1,102
Intangible assets, at cost, less accumulated amortization		600			649
Deferred income taxes		5,400			5,400
Other assets		1,415			1,833

	$	68,128			67,145

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Current liabilities:
Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance	$	2,578			2,801
Current installments of long-term debt		5,959			3,295
Accounts payable		18,412			17,860
Accrued expenses		3,719			4,687
Income taxes payable		188			200
Redeemable preferred stock		500			500

Total current liabilities		31,356			29,343


Long-term debt, excluding current installments		35,004			40,280
Other liabilities		368			368
Redeemable preferred stock		3,501			6,167
Warrants payable		2,223			1,791

Total liabilities		72,452			77,949

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Class A common stock — $0.01 par value. Authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 4,880,878 in 2005 and 4,723,878 shares in 2004		49			47
Class B common stock — $0.01 par value. Authorized 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding 100,000 shares in 2005 and 2004		1			1
Additional paid-in capital		20,947			20,922
Accumulated deficit		(25,321	)		(31,774	)

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)		(4,324	)		(10,804	)

	$	68,128			67,145

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)


	October 1,			September 25,
	2005			2004
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	6,453			5,319
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets		3,996			4,238
Other amortization and accretion		1,082			769
Provision for bad debts and returns		35			38
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments		(85	)		—
Gain on sale of fixed assets		—			2
Gain on redemption of preferred stock		(2,266	)		(2,266	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable		(3,294	)		(5,415	)
Decrease (increase) in unbilled receivables		1,088			(2,778	)
Increase in accrued interest receivable		—			81
Decrease (increase) in inventories		432			(5,174	)
Increase in prepaid expenses		(858	)		(1,092	)
Decrease in other assets		557			130
Increase in accounts payable		552			4,575
Decrease in income taxes payable		(12	)		(250	)
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities		(883	)		(338	)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		6,797			(2,161	)

Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(4,049	)		(4,217	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		20			30
Payments received on notes receivable for sale of business		1,102			100

Net cash used in investing activities		(2,927	)		(4,087	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in checks issued in excess of bank balance		(223	)		663
Net advances (repayments) on revolving debt		(300	)		6,418
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases		(2,962	)		(3,033	)
Retirement of revolving debt in connection with refinancing		—			(14,650	)
Retirement of term debt in connection with refinancing		—			(22,153	)
Proceeds from issuance of revolving debt		—			7,200
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—			34,000
Redemption of preferred stock		(400	)		(400	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		27			—
Debt issuance costs		(12	)		(1,797	)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(3,870	)		6,248


Net change in cash		—			—

Cash at beginning of period		—			—


Cash at end of period	$	—			—


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	$	2,951			1,447


Income taxes	$	612			387

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Three and Nine Months Ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004
(Unaudited)

(1) Nature of Business

Through our operating subsidiaries, we are a contract manufacturer and supplier of high-quality fabricated sheet metal components and subassemblies for construction, industrial and agricultural original equipment manufacturers located primarily in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States.

(2) Interim Financial Data

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements at October 1, 2005, and for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, are unaudited and reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and other adjustments which, in the opinion of our management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results, and cash flows for the interim periods indicated. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for a complete financial presentation.

Our fiscal quarters end on a Saturday (nearest to a quarter end) except for the fourth quarter which ends on December 31. For both the quarters ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004 there were 63 shipping days, with average daily net sales of $687,900 and $732,500, respectively. For the nine months ended October 1, 2005 there were 192 shipping days with average daily net sales of $786,600, and for the nine months ended September 25, 2004 there were 187 shipping days with average daily net sales of $731,400. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full fiscal year. You should read the condensed consolidated financial statements in connection with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Morton Industrial Group, Inc. contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed on March 29, 2005.

(3) Inventories

The Company’s inventories, in thousands of dollars, at October 1, 2005, and December 31, 2004, are summarized as follows:


	October 1,		December 31,
	2005		2004
Finished goods	$	7,914	$	8,361
Work-in-process		4,374		4,765
Raw materials		6,498		6,092

	$	18,786	$	19,218

(4) Earnings Per Share

The following reflects the reconciliation of the components of the basic and diluted earnings per common share computations:


	Quarter Ended October 1, 2005							Quarter Ended September 25, 2004
	Earnings		Shares		Per Share			Earnings		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount			(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
Basic	$	738,000		4,980,878	$	0.15		$	965,000		4,660,547	$	0.20

Effect of dilutive securities, stock options and warrants		—		969,377		(0.02	)		—		1,321,752		(0.05	)


Diluted	$	738,000		5,950,255	$	0.13		$	965,000		5,982,299	$	0.15


	Nine Months Ended October 1, 2005							Nine Months September 25, 2004
	Earnings		Shares		Per Share			Earnings		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount			(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
Basic	$	6,453,000		4,940,835	$	1.31		$	5,319,000		4,660,547	$	1.14

Effect of dilutive securities, stock options and warrants		—		999,025		(0.22	)		—		1,191,165		(0.23	)


Diluted	$	6,453,000		5,939,860	$	1.09		$	5,319,000		5,851,712	$	0.91

During the nine months ended September 25, 2004, 51,650 options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their anti-dilutive effect.

(5) Segment Reporting

We have only one segment — the contract metals fabrication segment.

(6) Debt and Warrants

March 26, 2004 Refinancing and Subsequent Amendments

On March 26, 2004, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with a syndicate of banks led by Harris Trust and Savings Bank, As Agent (referred to as the Harris syndicate), and also on March 26, 2004, entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement with BMO Nesbitt Burns Capital (U.S.) Inc., As Agent. These agreements were effective on March 26, 2004.

On June 23, 2004, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and also on June 23, 2004, entered into an Amended and Restated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement with BMO Nesbitt Burns Capital (U.S.) Inc., As Agent. The effect of the June 23, 2004 amendments was to increase the amount due to BMO Nesbitt Burns Capital (U.S.) Inc., As Agent, by $2,000,000, reduce the balance outstanding under the four-year secured term loan described below by $1,000,000 and reduce the balance outstanding under the secured revolving credit facility described below by $1,000,000.

On February 8, 2005, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and also on February 8, 2005, entered into the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement. The effect of the February 8, 2005 amendment was to redefine “borrowing base” to allow the Company greater flexibility in its steel procurement processes and increase the capital expenditures limit for 2005.

Under the terms of the agreements and amendments, effective as of December 31, 2004, and as of October 1, 2005, the Company has:

A four-year secured term loan in the amount of $21,000,000 with variable rate interest; principal payments are due in quarterly installments of $500,000 which began June 30, 2004 and continued through March 31, 2005 and due in quarterly installments of $750,000 beginning June 30, 2005 through December 31, 2007 with the balance of $10,117,500 due on March 31, 2008. Mandatory principal payments totaling $632,500 related to an asset sale were made in September 2004, March 2005 and May 2005. Annually, an additional mandatory principal payment will become due on the term loan 90 days subsequent to year end if the Company’s EBITDA for the calendar year exceeds the sum of its cash payments for principal, interest, income taxes and capital expenditures, as defined. For classification purposes in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, $2,500,000 (75% of the estimated excess, as defined) has been classified as current installments of long-term debt as of October 1, 2005 for the estimated mandatory principal payment due by March 30, 2006. The unpaid term debt as of October 1, 2005 is $16,867,500.

A secured revolving credit facility with a limit of $18,000,000 with variable rate interest, with an initial revolving credit balance of $8,700,000 and with initial availability of $5,400,000 as of March 26, 2004. At October 1, 2005, the Company has a revolving credit balance of $11,100,000 and availability of $5,412,000. The balance is due March 31, 2008. The amount available under the revolving credit facility is limited to 85% of eligible accounts receivable and 60% of eligible inventories. The facility requires a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the facility.

		At the Company’s option, for both the secured term loan and the secured revolving credit facility, interest will be at either a bank base rate plus applicable margin, or an adjusted LIBOR plus a LIBOR applicable margin. At inception, the bank rate plus applicable margin was 6.75% and the adjusted LIBOR plus a LIBOR applicable margin was 5.35%. At October 1, 2005, those rates were approximately 8.50% and 7.30%, respectively.

		The Company entered into a swap agreement effective June 30, 2004 on $10,750,000 (the original notional amount) of its term debt. Under this agreement, the Company pays a fixed LIBOR rate of 3.72% on the notional amount, which is payable quarterly. In accordance with the term loan agreement, the Company also pays an interest margin which adjusts in steps based on achieved operating and leverage metrics (4.00% during the first three months of 2005, and then reduced to 3.50%). The notional amount for the period from July 3 through October 1, 2005 was $9,625,000. The swap agreement is for the purpose of limiting the effects of interest rate increases on approximately one-half of the Company’s variable rate term debt. The “all-in” rate on the notional amount was 7.22% for the third quarter of 2005. The swap agreement expires March 31, 2008.

3)		Senior secured subordinated notes totaling $12,000,000 with cash interest of 12% and payment-in-kind interest of 2% and 4% with no principal amortization, and the balances due March 26, 2009. This debt is subordinated to the secured term loan and the revolving credit facility with respect to both payment and lien priority. The unpaid senior secured subordinated debt, including accumulated payment-in-kind interest as of October 1, 2005 is $12,657,300.

		Related to the senior secured subordinated note, on March 26, 2004, the Company issued 545,467 warrants to purchase shares of its Class A Common Stock for $0.02 per share to the senior subordinated debt lenders; these warrants expire March 26, 2014. The warrant holder may exercise the warrants at any time. The holders may put the warrants to the Company, at the then fair market value, at the earlier of: a) five years from the date of issue; b) a change of control; c) a default on the senior secured subordinated loan; or d) a prepayment of 75% or more of the original principal balance of the senior secured subordinated loan.

		The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants at the date of issue, March 26, 2004, and as of October 1, 2005, to be $1,500,000 and $2,223,000 respectively. The $2,223,000 estimate is reported as warrants payable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The fair value at the date of issue was recorded as debt discount, and is being amortized using the effective yield method over 5 years, the term of the related senior secured subordinated note. The Company reports the warrants at fair value and records changes in the fair value as interest expense.

		The stock purchase warrant includes provisions that will reduce the 545,467 warrants that can be exercised or put to the Company if: a) a change of control occurs prior to 5 years from the date of issue and the Company achieves specified net equity levels; or b) if a change of control has not occurred prior to 5 years from the date of issue and the Company achieves specified EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) levels. The number of warrants could be reduced to any one of several levels, but no lower than 290,278. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company achieved the EBITDA level that reduced the maximum number of warrants that may be put or exercised to 479,589.

The Company has provided bank letters of credit totaling $1,488,000 to two creditors. One letter of credit is in support of operating lease payments; this letter of credit is for $618,000 and is scheduled to expire at the end of December 2005; related replacement leases could require continuation of a portion of this letter of credit. The other letter of credit, in the amount of $870,000 supports future potential payments by the Company related to workers’ compensation claims. This letter of credit will renew on an annual basis until the need for the letter of credit expires. Based on workers’ compensation claims experience, the amount of this letter of credit is subject to adjustment on December 31, 2005. The outstanding letters of credit decrease, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the amount of revolving line of credit available under the secured revolving credit facility.

In connection with these loans, the Company has granted the lenders a lien on all of the Company’s accounts receivable, inventories, equipment, land and buildings, and various other assets. These agreements contain restrictions on capital expenditures, additional debt or liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and asset sales and prohibit payments such as dividends or stock repurchases. These agreements also contain financial covenants, including a total funded debt to EBITDA ratio, a total senior funded debt to EBITDA ratio, a minimum EBITDA ratio, and a fixed charge coverage ratio. As of October 1, 2005, we were in compliance with all debt covenants.

(7) Stock Option Plan

The Company accounts for its stock option plan in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. As such, the Company records compensation

expense on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price. The Company issues options at the current market price on the date of issuance and, accordingly, has not recognized any stock-based employee compensation cost for stock options in the financial statements.

No options were granted in 2004 or during the first nine months of 2005.

Had we determined compensation cost based on the fair value at the grant date for our stock options under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, our net earnings, in thousands of dollars, would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:


	Quarter Ended			Quarter Ended
Dollars in thousands, except per share data	October 1, 2005			September 25, 2004
Net earnings as reported	$	738			965
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards		(9	)		(12	)

Pro forma	$	729			953

Basic earnings per share:
As reported	$	0.15			0.20
Pro forma	$	0.15			0.20
Diluted earnings per share:
As reported	$	0.13			0.15
Pro forma	$	0.13			0.15


	Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
Dollars in thousands, except per share data	October 1, 2005			September 25, 2004
Net earnings as reported	$	6,453			5,319
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards		(28	)		(36	)

Pro forma	$	6,425			(5,283	)

Basic earnings per share:
As reported	$	1.31			1.14
Pro forma	$	1.30			1.13
Diluted earnings per share:
As reported	$	1.09			0.91
Pro forma	$	1.08			0.90

(8) Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2004, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) Statement No. 123R (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment was issued. SFAS No. 123R addresses the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, with a primary focus on transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. This Statement is a revision to Statement 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and its related implementation guidance. This Statement will require the fair value of all stock option awards issued to employees to be recorded as compensation expense over the related vesting period. This Statement also requires the recognition of compensation expense of any unvested stock option awards outstanding at the date of adoption, as the options vest. The Company is in the process of determining the impact of this Statement. This statement will be adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2006, as permitted by rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In December 2004, SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs was issued. SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage). Under this Statement, such items will be recognized as current-period charges. In addition, the Statement requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. This Statement is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2006. The Company has not determined the impact of this Statement.

In May 2005, SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections was issued. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application for voluntary changes in accounting principle unless impractical to do so. Retrospective application refers to the application of a different accounting principle to previously issued financial statements as if that principle had always been used. This Statement is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2006. The Company does not expect this Statement to have an impact on its financial statements.

(9) Redeemable Preferred Stock

The Company and Worthington entered into a stock redemption agreement, dated December 23, 2003, that provides for 30 monthly redemption payments of $50,000 each over a three-year period (10 payments each year in 2004, 2005 and 2006) to redeem all of the preferred stock. Each payment redeems 333 (or 334) shares of the 10,000 shares outstanding and will result in a gain on redemption of $283,000 (or $284,000). Redemption payments made during both the three and nine month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004 resulted in the “gain on redemption of preferred stock” of $566,000 and $2,266,000, respectively, which is reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. If shares are not redeemed in accordance with the provisions of this agreement, the redemption price remains at $1,000 per share. As part of this agreement, all litigation between the Company and Worthington was settled and dismissed.

(10) Unbilled Receivables

During both the three and nine month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, the Company incurred increased costs for the purchase of raw materials as a result of dynamic changes in the U.S. steel markets. The Company’s supplier agreements with key customers allow surcharges for the pass-through of the additional raw material costs. The Company has recognized as net sales, and also recognized an identical amount as cost of sales, surcharge amounts of approximately $6.1 million and $5.4 million for the three-month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, respectively, and $23.9 million and $12.4 million for the nine-month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, respectively. The Company has classified unbilled surcharges in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as “unbilled receivables”. The surcharges are generally invoiced to the Company’s customers within weeks following the end of the month in which the related product is sold. As of October 1, 2005, the unpaid amount of billed surcharges included in accounts receivable is approximately $1.8 million.

During the second and third quarters of 2005, the Company reached agreements with most customers to increase unit prices to include agreed upon amounts relating to the raw material cost increases; accordingly, the surcharges for the pass-through of raw material cost increases should be substantially discontinued by the end of calendar year 2005. Any future significant changes in the costs of raw materials would be subject to discussion by the Company and its customers.

(11) Reclassifications

The Company reclassified certain deferred financing costs as other assets, instead of intangible assets in its condensed consolidated balance sheet effective as of July 2, 2005. A corresponding reclassification has been made in the December 31, 2004 balances.

Also, amortization expense related to the deferred financing costs has been reclassified as interest expense, rather than as general and administrative costs for all periods presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis describes changes in the Company’s financial condition since December 31, 2004. The analysis of results of operations compares the three- and nine-month periods ended October 1, 2005 to the corresponding periods ended September 25, 2004. Any references to December 31, 2004 relate to data found in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2005.

GENERAL

We are a contract manufacturer of highly engineered metal components and subassemblies for construction, industrial and agricultural original equipment manufacturers. Our largest customers, Caterpillar Inc. and Deere & Co., accounted for approximately 91% of our net sales for the nine-month period ended October 1, 2005, and accounted for approximately 87% and 88% of our net sales for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Historically, the Company has been a fabricator of sheet metal products. Subsequent to a merger in January 1998, when the Company became a publicly-traded entity, the Company acquired six facilities that fabricated either injection molded or thermoformed plastic components. These facilities operated as Morton Custom Plastics, LLC. The Company subsequently determined that is was appropriate to focus solely on its core competency, sheet metal fabrication, and offered for sale its plastics fabrication facilities, the last of which was sold in June 2003.

As a part of a 1999 plastics facilities acquisition, the Company issued $10 million of redeemable preferred stock with a maturity date of April 2004. The Company negotiated a settlement in December 2003 with the holder of the preferred stock, and began making redemption payments in January 2004. If the Company pays redemption payments according to the terms of the settlement agreement, the payments will aggregate $1.5 million over a three-year period ending in 2006. As of October 1, 2005, there were $600,000 of remaining payments.

Since June 2003, the Company has focused solely on its core business, sheet metal fabrication (the Company’s continuing operations). The Company recognized net earnings of over $12.8 million and $1.2 million from its continuing operations in 2004 and 2003, respectively, but had incurred losses from its continuing operations in 2001 and 2002 when demand by the Company’s customers was depressed. These losses from continuing operations as well as the acquisition and subsequent disposition of certain plastics facilities created pressure on our liquidity; that pressure declined when we entered into the new credit facility described below in early 2004, and as customer demand increased. The $12.8 million of net earnings in 2004 included a gain on the redemption of preferred stock of $2.8 million and an income tax benefit of $5.8 million.

To take advantage of the potential for growth in 2004 and beyond, and to be able to effectively serve our customers, we had to be able to ensure an adequate flow of raw materials into our production processes, be able to hire and train additional employees and be able to fund our need for new manufacturing equipment and meet our other working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company entered into a new credit facility in March 2004, and amendments to that facility in June 2004 and February 2005 that are described below. The new credit facility (March 2004) provided additional availability at the closing of approximately $5 million, while the June 2004 amendment provided $1 million of additional availability. Management believes that the new credit facility will permit the Company to meet its liquidity requirements driven by raw material, manpower and capital expenditure requirements through the term of the facility, which matures in March 2008.

As noted above, two customers account for a significant portion of our net sales. Caterpillar Inc. and Deere & Co. are both forecasting greater orders for fabricated parts supplied by Morton Industrial Group, Inc. for the remainder of 2005 and beyond. We believe that this demand is being fueled by the improved economic conditions in the United States. The Company has responded by hiring additional manpower, adding capital equipment as necessary and increasing the flow of purchased raw materials in a sometimes difficult steel market. The U.S. steel industry has restructured, consolidated and is challenged to meet growing domestic and international demand. The steel industry has been impacted by China’s growing consumption of scrap steel and coke, a raw material used in processing steel. Cosmetically sensitive sheet steel, our core commodity, has correspondingly seen inflationary pricing; however, most inflationary steel pricing becomes the responsibility of the Company’s customers. The inflationary price trends have reached what appears to be their highest levels and steel prices have started to decrease during the third quarter of 2005 and are expected to stabilize during the fourth quarter of 2005.

In pricing our products, we consider the volume of the product to be manufactured, required engineering resources and the complexity of the product. Our customers typically expect us to offset any manufacturing cost increases with improvements in production flow, efficiency, productivity or engineering redesigns. As a part of their supplier development programs, our primary customers initiate cost improvement efforts on a regular basis.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Third quarter, 2005 versus third quarter, 2004

Net sales for the quarter ended October 1, 2005 were $43.3 million compared to $46.1 million for the quarter ended September 25, 2004, a decrease of $2.8 million or 6.1%. The volume portion of net sales decreased approximately $3.5 million, which resulted primarily from lower unit sales of construction-related equipment components of approximately $1.5 million for the comparable quarters, while changes in unit volume increased industrial related revenues by approximately $1.0 million and decreased agricultural-related revenues by approximately $3.0 million for the comparable quarters. Also, sales for the quarter ended October 1, 2005 included surcharges passed through to our customers of approximately $6.1 million, compared to $5.4 million for the quarter ended September 25, 2004. Most of the revenue decrease came from decreased unit sales to our two largest customers, Deere & Co. and Caterpillar Inc. Based upon customer forecasts and the addition of new customers, the Company currently anticipates unit demand for

calendar year 2005 that will modestly exceed calendar year 2004. Our ability to increase revenues is subject to a number of factors, including the continuing demand that we now forecast, the availability of raw materials, principally steel, and the availability of working capital to support that growth. Over the past six quarters, steel prices have generally increased as steel supply has tightened, due in part to the national economic growth, China’s growing steel consumption, and reduced domestic steel production capacity. We believe that these prices have reached their highest levels, and are now beginning to decrease during the third quarter of 2005; the Company does not anticipate any significant changes in unit margins (measured in dollars) under these changing market conditions because of the expected reduction in surcharge billings as described in Note 10. Historically we have been able to negotiate with our customers to have them absorb increases in our raw material costs, and, as indicated in Note 10 above, we have billed such cost increases to our customers.

Sales to Caterpillar Inc. and Deere & Co. aggregated approximately 87% and 89% of our net sales for the third quarters of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Gross profit for the quarter ended October 1, 2005 was $5.4 million compared with $5.3 million for the quarter ended September 25, 2004, an increase of $0.1 million. The Company’s gross profit percentage increased to 12.5% from 11.5%; however, this gross profit percentage for the quarters ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004 was negatively impacted by approximately 2.1% and 1.6%, respectively, by passing through to customers, at cost with no margin, the increased steel costs described in Note 10 above. Setting aside the impact of passing these costs through to customers at no margin, the gross profit percentage would have increased to 14.6% and 13.1% for the third quarters of 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in margin percentage is a result of the Company’s continuing focus on cost savings programs including 6 Sigma and various lean manufacturing concepts. We use internal metrics to measure our success in achieving various productivity, quality, on-time delivery and profitability goals.

Selling and administrative expenses for the quarter ended October 1, 2005 amounted to $3.8 million, or 8.7% of sales, compared with $3.5 million, or 7.6% of sales in the same quarter a year ago. This increased expense relates primarily to personnel costs related to meeting customer demands.

Interest expense for both the quarters ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004 amounted to $1.4 million. Interest expense for the quarter ended October 1, 2005 also includes $94,000 of debt discount amortization and a $144,000 adjustment related to the valuation of the warrants liability less a favorable mark-to-market adjustment of $93,000 on our interest rate swap agreements described above. For the quarter ended September 25, 2004, interest expense includes $75,000 of debt discount amortization, and a $60,000 adjustment related to the valuation of the warrants liability and a mark-to-market adjustment of $135,000 on our interest rate swap agreement described above.

As a result of a preferred stock settlement agreement, the Company made three preferred stock redemption payments during both the three-month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, which resulted in the “gain on redemption of preferred stock” of $566,000 in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

For the three months ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, we recognized income tax expense of $80,000 and $25,000 related to state income taxes and the Federal alternative minimum tax. For Federal income taxes, we have utilized net operating loss carryforwards and decreased the valuation allowance accordingly.

First nine months, 2005 versus first nine months, 2004

Net sales for the nine months ended October 1, 2005 were $ 151.0 million compared to $136.8 million for the nine months ended September 25, 2004, an increase of $14.2 million or 10.4%. The volume portion of the sales increase, totaling approximately $3.4 million, resulted primarily from increased unit demand by existing customers (original equipment manufacturers) of construction-related equipment components offset by a decrease in industrial components. Higher unit sales of construction and agricultural-related equipment components increased revenues by approximately $3.9 million, and $2.3 million, respectively, for the comparable periods while changes in unit volumes of industrial related components decreased revenues by $2.8 million for the comparable periods. In addition, sales for the nine months ended October 1, 2005 included surcharges passed through to our customers of approximately $23.9 million, compared to $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 25, 2004. Most of the revenue growth came from increased sales to our two largest customers, Deere & Co. and Caterpillar Inc. Based upon customer forecasts and the addition of new customers, the Company currently anticipates unit demand for calendar year 2005 that will modestly exceed calendar year 2004. Our ability to increase revenues is subject to a number of factors, including the continuing demand that we now forecast, the availability of raw materials, principally steel, and the availability of working capital to support that growth. Over the past six quarters, steel prices

have increased as steel supply has tightened, due in part to the national economic recovery, China’s growing steel consumption, and reduced domestic steel production capacity. We believe that these prices have reached their highest levels, and began to decrease during the third quarter of 2005; the Company does not anticipate any significant changes in unit margins (measured in dollars) under these changing market conditions because of the expected reduction in surcharge billings as described in Note 10. There could be periods when steel is not available on demand. We are working with our steel suppliers to attempt to address these issues. Historically we have been able to negotiate with our customers to have them absorb increases in our raw material costs, and, as indicated in Note 10 above, we have billed such cost increases to our customers.

Sales to Caterpillar Inc. and Deere & Co. aggregated approximately 91% and 85% of our net sales for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Gross profit for the nine months ended October 1, 2005 was $20.2 million compared with $17.0 million for the nine months ended September 25, 2004, an increase of $3.2 million or 18.7%. The Company’s gross profit percentage increased to 13.3% from 12.4%, and the gross profit percentage for the nine month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004 was negatively impacted approximately 2.6% and 1.3%, respectively, by passing through to customers, at cost with no margin, the increased steel costs described in Note 10 above. Setting aside the impact of passing these costs through to customers at no margin, the gross profit percentage would have increased to 15.9% and 13.7% for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in margin percentage is a result of the Company’s continuing focus on cost savings programs including 6 Sigma and various lean manufacturing concepts. We use internal metrics to measure our success in achieving various productivity, quality, on-time delivery and profitability goals.

Selling and administrative expenses for the nine months ended October 1, 2005 amounted to $11.2 million, or 7.4% of sales, compared with $10.5 million, or 7.7% of sales in the same period a year ago. This increased expense related primarily to personnel costs related to increasing sales and customer demands.

Interest expense for the nine months ended October 1, 2005 amounted to $4.2 million compared to $3.1 million in the comparable period a year ago. This increase resulted from higher average levels of debt in 2005, as well as higher interest rates in the first nine months of 2005 vs. the first nine months of 2004. The debt increase results from the new credit facility which has provided necessary working capital for the Company’s operations. Interest expense for the nine months ended October 1, 2005 also includes $281,800 of debt discount amortization and a $432,100 adjustment related to the valuation of the warrants liability, partially offset by a favorable mark-to-market adjustment of $177,900 on our interest rate swap agreement described above. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 25, 2004 also includes $150,000 of debt discount amortization, a $120,000 adjustment related to the valuation of the warrants liability, and an unfavorable mark-to-market adjustment of $135,000 on our interest rate swap agreement described above.

“Interest on redeemable preferred stock” relates to the accretion of the discount on redeemable preferred stock during 2004. The redeemable preferred stock was fully accreted in April 2004.

As a result of a preferred stock settlement agreement, the Company made eight preferred stock redemption payments during both the nine-month periods ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, which resulted in the “gain on redemption of preferred stock” of $2,266,000 in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

For the nine months ended October 1, 2005 and September 25, 2004, we recognized income tax expense of $600,000 and $175,000 related to state income taxes and the Federal alternative minimum tax. For Federal income taxes, we have utilized net operating loss carryforwards and decreased the valuation allowance accordingly.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Historically, we have funded our business with cash flows from operations, management of our working capital and borrowings under revolving credit and term loan facilities.

Our consolidated working capital at October 1, 2005 was $6.9 million compared to $6.4 million at December 31, 2004. This represents an increase in working capital of approximately $0.5 million. This working capital increase results primarily from increased accounts receivable related to increased sales during 2005 compared to sales during November and December 2004, offset by an anticipated excess cash flow payment described in Note 6. Working capital needs have also been increased by the process of passing-through to customers the increased costs of steel as described in Note 10 above. The increased current asset is financed by the revolving line of credit which is classified as long-term debt.

March 26, 2004 Refinancing and Subsequent Amendments

Under the terms of the agreements and amendments, effective as of December 31, 2004, and as of October 1, 2005, the Company has:

1)		A four-year secured term loan in the amount of $21,000,000 with variable rate interest; principal payments are due in quarterly installments of $500,000 which began June 30, 2004 and continued through March 31, 2005 and due in quarterly installments of $750,000 beginning June 30, 2005 through December 31, 2007 with the balance of $10,117,500 due on March 31, 2008. Mandatory principal payments totaling $632,500 related to an asset sale were made in September 2004, March 2005 and May 2005. Annually, an additional mandatory principal payment will become due on the term loan 90 days subsequent to year end if the Company’s EBITDA for the calendar year exceeds the sum of its cash payments for principal, interest, income taxes and capital expenditures, as defined. For classification purposes in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, $2,500,000 (75% of the estimated excess, as defined) has been classified as current installments of long-term debt as of October 1, 2005 for the estimated mandatory principal payment due by March 30, 2006. The unpaid term debt as of October 1, 2005 is $16,867,500.

2)		A secured revolving credit facility with a limit of $18,000,000 with variable rate interest, with an initial revolving credit balance of $8,700,000 and with initial availability of $5,400,000 as of March 26, 2004. At October 1, 2005, the Company has a revolving credit balance of $11,100,000 and availability of $5,412,000. The balance is due March 31, 2008. The amount available under the revolving credit facility is limited to 85% of eligible accounts receivable and 60% of eligible inventories. The facility requires a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the facility.

		At the Company’s option, for both the secured term loan and the secured revolving credit facility, interest will be at either a bank base rate plus applicable margin, or an adjusted LIBOR plus a LIBOR applicable margin. At inception, the bank rate plus applicable margin was 6.75% and the adjusted LIBOR plus a LIBOR applicable margin was 5.35%. At October 1, 2005, those rates were approximately 8.50% and 7.30%, respectively.

		The Company entered into a swap agreement effective June 30, 2004 on $10,750,000 (the original notional amount) of its term debt. Under this agreement, the Company pays a fixed LIBOR rate of 3.72% on the notional amount, which is payable quarterly. In accordance with the term loan agreement, the Company also pays an interest margin which adjusts in steps based on achieved operating and leverage metrics (4.00% during the first three months of 2005, and then reduced to 3.50%). The notional amount for the period from July 3 through October 1, 2005 was $9,625,000. The swap agreement is for the purpose of limiting the effects of interest rate increases on approximately one-half of the Company’s variable rate term debt. The “all-in” rate on the notional amount was 7.22% for the third quarter of 2005. The swap agreement expires March 31, 2008.

3)		Senior secured subordinated notes totaling $12,000,000 with cash interest of 12% and payment-in-kind interest of 2% and 4% with no principal amortization, and the balances due March 26, 2009. This debt is subordinated to the secured term loan and the revolving credit facility with respect to both payment and lien priority. The unpaid senior secured subordinated debt, including accumulated payment-in-kind interest as of October 1, 2005 is $12,657,300.

		Related to the senior secured subordinated note, on March 26, 2004, the Company issued 545,467 warrants to purchase shares of its Class A Common Stock for $0.02 per share to the senior subordinated debt lenders; these warrants expire March 26, 2014. The warrant holder may exercise the warrants at any time. The holders may put the warrants to the Company, at the then fair market value, at the earlier of: a) five years from the date of issue; b) a change of control; c) a default on the senior secured subordinated loan; or d) a prepayment of 75% or more of the original principal balance of the senior secured subordinated loan.

		The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants at the date of issue, March 26, 2004, and as of October 1, 2005, to be $1,500,000 and $2,223,000 respectively. The $2,223,000 estimate is reported as warrants payable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The fair value at the date of issue was recorded as debt discount, and is being amortized using the effective yield method over 5 years, the term of the related senior secured subordinated note. The Company reports the warrants at fair value and records changes in the fair value as interest expense.

		The stock purchase warrant includes provisions that will reduce the 545,467 warrants that can be exercised or put to the Company if: a) a change of control occurs prior to 5 years from the date of issue and the Company achieves specified net equity levels; or b) if a change of control has not occurred prior to 5 years from the date of issue and the Company achieves specified EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) levels. The number of warrants could be reduced to any one of several levels, but no lower than 290,278. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company achieved the EBITDA level that reduced the maximum number of warrants that may be put or exercised to 479,589.

Historically, we have met our near term liquidity requirements with cash flows from operations, our bank revolving credit facility, and management of our working capital to reflect current levels of operations. Management expects that cash flows from operations, working capital management and availability under the bank revolving credit facility described above will permit us to meet our liquidity requirements through the term of the credit facility.

Redeemable Preferred Stock

Pursuant to a 1999 agreement to purchase certain assets of Worthington Custom Plastics, Inc. (“Worthington”), the Company issued 10,000 shares of its preferred stock, without par value, to Worthington. The preferred stock was mandatorily redeemable on April 15, 2004 at $1,000 per share. The Company and Worthington have entered into a stock redemption agreement, dated December 23, 2003, that provides for 30 monthly redemption payments of $50,000 each over a three-year period (10 payments each year in 2004, 2005 and 2006) to fully redeem the preferred stock. Each $50,000 payment and redemption of 333 (or 334) shares reduces the $10 million face value of the redeemable preferred stock by $333,000 (or $334,000). If shares are not redeemed in accordance with the provisions of this agreement, the redemption price remains at $1,000 per share.

Capital Expenditures

We incurred $4.0 million of capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2005, including approximately $2.1 million related to expansion activities and approximately $1.9 million for the normal update and replacement of manufacturing equipment.

We estimate that our capital expenditures in 2005 will total approximately $5.5 million, of which $3.0 million will be for expansion activities and the remaining $2.5 million will be for the normal update and replacement of manufacturing equipment.

Significant Cash Commitments

The Company has significant future cash commitments, primarily scheduled principal and interest payments and scheduled lease payments. Interest is estimated only through the maturity dates of the term loan, the revolving line of credit and senior subordinated debt; interest past those maturity dates, when “balloon” payments are scheduled, is not projected in the following table.

The following table estimates the Company’s contractual obligations at October 1, 2005:


	Payments Due by Period
			Less than						After
	Total		1 Year		1-3 Years		4-5 Years		5 Years
	(In thousands)
Bank indebtedness
Term loan	$	16,868		5,500		11,368		—		—
Revolving line of credit		11,100		—		11,100		—		—
Senior subordinated debt		12,657		—		—		12,657		—
Other debt obligations		1,355		513		842		—		—
Interest — estimated		10,700		3,500		7,200		—		—
Operating leases		14,581		5,650		7,393		1,538		—
Preferred stock redemption		600		500		100		—		—

Total contractual cash obligations	$	67,861		15,663		38,003		14,195		—

Under its bank credit facility, the Company had $1,488,000 of standby letters of credit outstanding at October 1, 2005 in connection with lease obligations and its workers compensation program.

Management expects that cash flows from operations, working capital management and availability under its bank revolving line of credit will permit us to meet our liquidity requirements through the term of the credit facility.

As described above under “Redeemable Preferred Stock”, the Company and Worthington have entered into a preferred stock redemption agreement, dated December 23, 2003, that provides for 30 monthly redemption payments of $50,000 each over a three-year period (10 payments each year in 2004, 2005 and 2006) to fully redeem the preferred stock. Each $50,000 payment and redemption of 333 (or 334) shares reduces the $10 million face value of the redeemable preferred stock by $333,000 (or $334,000). If shares are not redeemed under the provision of this agreement, the redemption price remains at $1,000 per share. The significant cash commitments table above assumes that the remaining payments are made over the next fifteen months and that the redeemable preferred stock is retired for $1.5 million. Eighteen of the 30 redemption payments have been paid as of October 1, 2005.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

“Safe Harbor” Statement Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Of 1995: This quarterly report contains “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements containing the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects” and similar words. The forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: the loss of certain significant customers; the cyclicality of our construction and agricultural sales; the availability of working capital; the orders of our two major customers; general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the markets in which we operate or will operate; competition; and other factors referenced in the Company’s reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements. The forward looking statements contained herein speak only of the Company’s expectation as of the date of this quarterly report. We disclaim any obligations to update any such factors or publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

The Company uses both variable-rate debt and fixed rate debt to finance its operations. The variable-rate debt obligations expose the Company to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. The variable-rate debt includes both our revolving credit facility ($11.1 million at October 1, 2005) and our term note payable ($16.9 million at October 1, 2005).

To satisfy a requirement of the term loan, we entered into a swap agreement effective June 30, 2004 on $10,750,000 (the original notional amount) of our term debt. Under this agreement, the Company pays a fixed LIBOR rate of 3.72% on the notional amount, which is payable monthly. In accordance with the term loan agreement, the Company also pays an applicable margin which adjusts in steps based on achieved operating and leverage metrics (primarily at 4.00% during the first three months of 2005, and which decreased to 3.50% thereafter). The notional amount of the swap for the period from July 3 through October 1, 2005 was $9,625,000. The “all-in” rate on the notional amount in the first quarter of 2005 was 7.72% and during the second and third quarters of 2005 was 7.22%. The swap agreement expires March 31, 2008.

The interest on the other portion of the term loan is currently determined at the applicable margin described above plus a LIBOR rate. The Company has elected to use one-month, three-month and six-month LIBOR agreements in an effort to reduce the variability of interest payments related to this portion of the term debt. At October 1, 2005 the “all-in” rate including the LIBOR rate and applicable margin related to this portion of the term debt was approximately 7.30%.

The interest on the revolving credit facility is determined primarily at the applicable margin plus LIBOR rates. The Company has elected, at October 1, 2005, to use one month LIBOR agreements in an effort to reduce the variability of interest payments related to the revolving debt. The LIBOR agreements totaled $11.0 million at October 1, 2005; the corresponding average “all-in” rates including the LIBOR rates and applicable margin related to the revolving debt were approximately 7.30%. We pay the applicable margin plus the bank base rate on the revolving debt in excess of $11.0 million; at October 1, 2005 this rate was 8.50%.

If market rates of interest on our variable rate debt had been 100 basis points higher based on balances outstanding during the first nine months of 2005, our interest expense, on an annual basis, would have been approximately $325,000 higher.

The interest rates on the senior subordinated debt and the subordinated debt are fixed as described above.

Steel Commodity Risk

We are also subject to commodity price risk with respect to purchases of steel, which accounts for a significant portion of our cost of sales. In 2004, the costs of steel increased significantly during the year, and those costs appear to have reached their highest levels during the first nine months of 2005. The cost of steel began to decline during the third quarter of 2005. We have arrangements to pass through to our largest customers the increased costs of steel, thereby significantly reducing the risks associated with the higher costs of steel. These additional costs are invoiced to those customers as surcharges on a monthly basis.

During the second and third quarters of 2005, the Company reached agreements with key customers to increase unit prices to include agreed upon amounts relating to the raw material cost increases; accordingly, the surcharges for the pass-through of raw material cost increases should be substantially discontinued by the end of calendar year 2005.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, are effective.

The Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or its internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide

absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the control.

Changes in internal controls. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred in the third quarter of 2005 that may have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

We seek to maintain a system of internal accounting controls that are intended to provide reasonable assurances that our books and records accurately reflect our transactions and that our established policies and procedures are followed. There were no significant changes in our internal controls or, to our knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect our disclosure controls and procedures subsequent to the date we carried out this evaluation.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is involved in routine litigation. Management does not believe any legal proceedings would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Under the terms of our agreement with our senior secured lender, no amounts are available for the payment of dividends at October 1, 2005.


ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
SIGNATURES
Certification
Certification
Section 906 Certification
Certification
Certification
Section 906 Certification


11.		The computation can be determined from this report.

31.1		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)

31.2		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)

32.1		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


		MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC.

		By: /s/ Daryl R. Lindemann
		Daryl R. Lindemann

		Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

		Dated: November 15, 2005


/s/ William D. Morton
William D. Morton
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
November 15, 2005


/s/ Daryl R. Lindemann
Daryl R. Lindemann
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
November 15, 2005

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	Class A				Class B
	common stock				common stock				Additional
	Shares				Shares				paid-in		Accumulated
	issued		Amount		issued		Amount		capital		deficit		Total
Balance, December 31, 2004		4,723,878	$	47		100,000	$	1	$	20,922	$	(31,774)	$	(10,804	)

Net earnings		—		—		—		—		—		6,453		6,453

Stock options exercised		157,000		2		—		—		25		—		27


Balance, October 1, 2005		4,880,878	$	49		100,000	$	1	$	20,947	$	(25,321)	$	(4,324	)

1.		I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Morton Industrial Group, Inc.;

2.		Based on my knowledge, this quarterly 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 quarterly report;

3.		Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly 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 quarterly 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)) 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 quarterly 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 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

	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.

(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.


/s/ William D. Morton
William D. Morton
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
November 15, 2005