-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, GOyrl6QydYkUIA+m65BfvuoBx6LoK1F6eu/hnb6zYqMZS3y2Zma/X7DTnliR3SoC t45yg9Z35gnKbHMcUghtgg== 0001193125-04-191123.txt : 20041109 0001193125-04-191123.hdr.sgml : 20041109 20041109151015 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-04-191123 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20041109 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20041109 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: RYERSON TULL INC /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000790528 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES [5051] IRS NUMBER: 363425828 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-09117 FILM NUMBER: 041129190 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2621 WEST 15TH PLACE CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60608 BUSINESS PHONE: 7737622121 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2621 WEST 15TH PLACE CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60608 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: INLAND STEEL INDUSTRIES INC /DE/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q

Third Quarter – 2004


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the period ended September 30, 2004

 

or

 

¨ 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 1-9117

 

I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 36-3425828

 


 

RYERSON TULL, INC.

(a Delaware Corporation)

 


 

2621 West 15th Place

Chicago, Illinois 60608

Telephone: (773) 762-2121

 


 

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

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 25,017,045 shares of the Company’s Common Stock ($1.00 par value per share) were outstanding as of November 3, 2004.

 


 

 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

RYERSON TULL, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

 

     Dollars in Millions (except per share data)

 
     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

NET SALES

   $ 898.7     $ 551.4     $ 2,398.3     $ 1,641.9  

Cost of materials sold

     747.4       448.4       1,961.6       1,325.7  
    


 


 


 


GROSS PROFIT

     151.3       103.0       436.7       316.2  

Warehousing and delivery

     63.3       56.8       183.5       169.5  

Selling, general and administrative

     56.8       46.5       161.9       141.5  

Restructuring and plant closure costs

     3.0       0.9       3.6       2.4  

Gain on the sale of assets

     (2.3 )     —         (4.7 )     —    
    


 


 


 


OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS)

     30.5       (1.2 )     92.4       2.8  

Other revenue and expense, net

     —         —         0.1       0.1  

Interest and other expense on debt

     (6.0 )     (4.2 )     (16.0 )     (14.0 )
    


 


 


 


INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     24.5       (5.4 )     76.5       (11.1 )

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

     9.4       (2.2 )     29.3       (4.5 )
    


 


 


 


INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     15.1       (3.2 )     47.2       (6.6 )

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

                                

Adjustment to gain on sale, net of tax

     2.3       —         3.5       —    
    


 


 


 


NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 17.4     $ (3.2 )   $ 50.7     $ (6.6 )
    


 


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements

 

1


RYERSON TULL, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

 

     Dollars in Millions (except per share data)

 
     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

                                

Basic:

                                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.61     $ (0.13 )   $ 1.89     $ (0.27 )

Discontinued operations – adjustment to gain on sale

     0.09       —         0.14       —    
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 0.70     $ (0.13 )   $ 2.03     $ (0.27 )
    


 


 


 


Diluted:

                                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.59     $ (0.13 )   $ 1.83     $ (0.27 )

Discontinued operations – adjustment to gain on sale

     0.09       —         0.14       —    
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 0.68     $ (0.13 )   $ 1.97     $ (0.27 )
    


 


 


 


STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

                                

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 17.4     $ (3.2 )   $ 50.7     $ (6.6 )

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

                                

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

     (0.1 )     —         (0.1 )     —    

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     1.4       (0.5 )     1.8       3.5  
    


 


 


 


COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 18.7     $ (3.7 )   $ 52.4     $ (3.1 )
    


 


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements

 

2


RYERSON TULL, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

     Dollars in Millions

 
     Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2004

    2003

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                

Net income (loss)

   $ 50.7     $ (6.6 )
    


 


Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used for operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     16.3       17.8  

Deferred employee benefit funding/cost

     (12.2 )     (49.9 )

Deferred income taxes

     11.7       (1.1 )

Restructuring and plant closure costs

     3.3       0.1  

Discontinued operations - adjustment to the gain on the sale, net of tax

     (3.5 )     —    

Gain on the sale of assets

     (4.7 )     —    

Change in assets and liabilities:

                

Receivables

     (205.0 )     (48.3 )

Inventories

     (82.9 )     22.7  

Other assets and income tax receivable

     3.7       (7.8 )

Accounts payable

     96.6       41.2  

Accrued liabilities

     9.1       (14.1 )

Other items

     (0.2 )     2.3  
    


 


Net adjustments

     (167.8 )     (37.1 )
    


 


Net cash used for operating activities

     (117.1 )     (43.7 )
    


 


INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (37.9 )     —    

Capital expenditures

     (21.4 )     (8.9 )

Investment in joint venture

     (2.0 )     (3.4 )

Loan to joint venture

     (3.2 )     —    

Loan repayment from joint venture

     2.0       —    

Proceeds from sales of assets

     16.0       3.4  
    


 


Net cash used for investing activities

     (46.5 )     (8.9 )
    


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                

Redemption of debt assumed in acquisition

     (13.5 )     —    

Proceeds from credit facility borrowings

     486.0       205.0  

Repayment of credit facility borrowings

     (305.0 )     (80.0 )

Net short-term proceeds/(repayments) under credit facility

     (6.0 )     (43.0 )

Net increase/(decrease) in book overdrafts

     20.5       (20.5 )

Borrowing agreement issuance costs

     (1.2 )     —    

Dividends paid

     (3.9 )     (3.9 )

Cash received on option exercises

     1.6       —    
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     178.5       57.6  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     14.9       5.0  

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year

     13.7       12.6  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

   $ 28.6     $ 17.6  
    


 


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES

                

Cash paid (received) during the period for:

                

Interest

   $ 16.2     $ 15.0  

Income taxes, net

     8.8       (2.4 )

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements

 

3


RYERSON TULL, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

 

     Dollars in Millions

     September 30, 2004

   December 31, 2003

ASSETS

                           

CURRENT ASSETS

                           

Cash and cash equivalents

          $ 28.6           $ 13.7

Restricted cash

            0.9             1.1

Receivables less provision for allowances, claims and doubtful accounts of $13.2 and $11.7, respectively

            487.8             257.8

Inventories

            555.3             437.6

Income taxes receivable

            —               4.2
           

         

Total current assets

            1,072.6             714.4

INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES

            15.7             11.4

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

                           

Valued on basis of cost

   $ 610.7           $ 592.4       

Less accumulated depreciation

     373.1      237.6      367.4      225.0
    

         

      

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

            128.9             146.0

INTANGIBLE PENSION ASSET

            10.2             10.2

OTHER ASSETS

            9.5             7.4
           

         

Total Assets

          $ 1,474.5           $ 1,114.4
           

         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                           

CURRENT LIABILITIES

                           

Accounts payable

          $ 284.1           $ 144.9

Salaries, wages and commissions

            29.5             18.3

Other accrued liabilities

            44.2             47.8
           

         

Total current liabilities

            357.8             211.0

LONG-TERM DEBT

            441.2             266.3

DEFERRED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND OTHER

            242.6             254.8
           

         

Total liabilities

            1,041.6             732.1

COMMITMENTS & CONTINGENCIES

                           

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Schedule A)

            432.9             382.3
           

         

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

          $ 1,474.5           $ 1,114.4
           

         

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements

 

4


RYERSON TULL, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1 / FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results of any other periods or for the year. The financial statements as of September 30, 2004 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003 are unaudited, but in the opinion of management include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

NOTE 2 / INVENTORIES

 

Inventories were classified as follows:

 

     September 30, 2004

   December 31, 2003

     (Dollars in Millions)

In process and finished products

   $ 555.0    $ 437.4

Supplies

     0.3      0.2
    

  

Total

   $ 555.3    $ 437.6
    

  

 

Replacement costs for the LIFO inventories exceeded LIFO values by approximately $293 million and $61 million on September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

5


NOTE 3 / EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

    

Dollars and Shares

in Millions

(except per share data)


 
     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share

                              

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 15.1    $ (3.2 )   $ 47.2    $ (6.6 )

Less preferred stock dividends

     —        —         0.2      0.2  
    

  


 

  


Income (loss) from continuing operations available to common shareholders

   $ 15.1    $ (3.2 )   $ 47.0    $ (6.8 )

Discontinued operations - adjustment to the gain on sale

     2.3      —         3.5      —    
    

  


 

  


Net income (loss) available to common stockholders

   $ 17.4    $ (3.2 )   $ 50.5    $ (6.8 )
    

  


 

  


Average shares of common stock outstanding

     25.0      24.8       24.9      24.8  
    

  


 

  


Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.61    $ (0.13 )   $ 1.89    $ (0.27 )

Discontinued operations - adjustment to the gain on sale

     0.09      —         0.14      —    
    

  


 

  


Net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.70    $ (0.13 )   $ 2.03    $ (0.27 )
    

  


 

  


Diluted earnings (loss) per share

                              

Income (loss) from continuing operations available to common stockholders

   $ 15.1    $ (3.2 )   $ 47.0    $ (6.8 )

Discontinued operations - adjustment to the gain on sale

     2.3      —         3.5      —    

Effect of convertible preferred stock

     —        —         0.2      —    
    

  


 

  


Net income (loss) available to common stockholders and assumed conversions

   $ 17.4    $ (3.2 )   $ 50.7    $ (6.8 )
    

  


 

  


Average shares of common stock outstanding

     25.0      24.8       24.9      24.8  

Dilutive effect of stock options

     0.6      —         0.6      —    

Stock based compensation

     —        —         0.1      —    

Convertible securities

     0.1      —         0.1      —    
    

  


 

  


Shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share calculation

     25.7      24.8       25.7      24.8  
    

  


 

  


Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.59    $ (0.13 )   $ 1.83    $ (0.27 )

Discontinued operations - adjustment to the gain on sale

     0.09      —         0.14      —    
    

  


 

  


Net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.68    $ (0.13 )   $ 1.97    $ (0.27 )
    

  


 

  


 

Options to purchase 1,564,890 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $16.03 per share to $38.35 per share were outstanding during the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares. In the third quarter and the first nine months of 2003, options to purchase 3,983,676 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $6.43 per share to $48.44 per share were outstanding, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would be antidilutive.

 

6


NOTE 4 / STOCK OPTION PLANS

 

The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the stock option plans. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively (in millions, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 

Net income (loss) - as reported

   $ 17.4    $ (3.2 )   $ 50.7    $ (6.6 )

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all stock option awards, net of related tax effects

     0.2      0.4       0.6      1.2  
    

  


 

  


Net income (loss) - pro forma

   $ 17.2    $ (3.6 )   $ 50.1    $ (7.8 )
    

  


 

  


Earnings per share:

                              

Basic - as reported

   $ 0.70    $ (0.13 )   $ 2.03    $ (0.27 )
    

  


 

  


Basic - pro forma

   $ 0.69    $ (0.15 )   $ 2.01    $ (0.32 )
    

  


 

  


Diluted - as reported

   $ 0.68    $ (0.13 )   $ 1.97    $ (0.27 )
    

  


 

  


Diluted - pro forma

   $ 0.67    $ (0.15 )   $ 1.95    $ (0.32 )
    

  


 

  


 

NOTE 5 / RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

 

2004

 

In the third quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a charge of $3.0 million as a result of consolidating two locations into one facility in the Northeast region of the United States. The charge consists of employee-related costs, including severance for 30 employees. The restructuring actions associated with the charge will be completed by year-end 2004. $0.2 million of the $3.0 million charge will be used for future cash outlays. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company utilized $2.8 million of the $3.0 million accrual.

 

In the second quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a charge of $0.6 million as a result of workforce reductions. The charge consists of employee-related costs, including severance for 3 employees. The restructuring actions associated with the charge will be completed by year-end 2004. $0.1 million of the $0.6 million charge will be used for future cash outlays. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company utilized the remaining accrual balance.

 

7


2003

 

In the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company recorded a charge of $3.8 million as a result of consolidating plants in the Midwest and South regions of the United States. Included in the charge was severance for 58 employees. Also included was $0.9 million for additional rent at a facility that was closed in the 2000 restructuring. The restructuring actions associated with the $3.8 million charge have been completed. In the third quarter of 2003, the Company recorded a charge of $0.9 million as a result of consolidating plants in the East and Central Mountain regions and consolidating sales and administrative services in the Pacific Northwest. Included in the charge was severance for 53 employees. The restructuring actions associated with the $0.9 million charge have been completed. In the second quarter of 2003, the Company recorded a charge of $1.5 million as a result of workforce reductions. The charge consisted of employee-related costs, including severance for 17 employees. The restructuring actions associated with the $1.5 million charge have been completed.

 

Excluding the $0.9 million adjustment to the 2000 restructuring, 2003 restructuring and plant closure costs totaled $5.3 million. This charge consisted of employee-related and tenancy costs and will be used for future cash outlays. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, the Company utilized $0.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of the $5.3 million charge. The September 30, 2004 accrual balance of $0.5 million is related primarily to employee costs and will be paid through 2005.

 

2002

 

In the second quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a charge of $2.0 million for costs associated with the closure of a facility in the southern United States. The charge consisted primarily of employee-related cash costs. Included in the charge was severance for 40 employees. The restructuring actions have been completed. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company utilized the remaining year-end 2002 accrual balance of $0.3 million.

 

2001

 

In the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $19.4 million as a result of workforce reductions and plant consolidation. In the third quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a charge of $0.7 million as an adjustment to the $19.4 million recorded in 2001 resulting in a total restructuring charge of $20.1 million. The $20.1 million charge consisted of $10.3 million of non-cash asset write-offs and $9.8 million of future cash outlays for employee-related costs and tenancy costs. The additional $0.7 million charge recorded in 2002 was due to a reduction in the market value of assets in a multi-employer pension plan from the initial estimate in 2001 to the final calculation of the withdrawal liability in 2002. The remaining multi-employer pension plan withdrawal liability of $0.6 million will be funded through 2005. As part of the restructuring, certain facilities in Michigan were closed and the Company consolidated two facilities into one location in Chicago. Included in the charge was severance for 178 employees. The 2001 restructuring actions were completed by year-end 2002. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, the Company utilized $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of the 2001 restructuring reserve. The September 30, 2004 accrual balance of $0.9 million is related to employee and tenancy costs.

 

In preparation for the Company’s planned disposition of one of the properties in Chicago, the Company retained an environmental consultant to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental studies. Based on the consultant’s reports on environmental contaminants at the site, the Company believes that the $2 million reserve established in the fourth quarter of 2001 is adequate to cover potential remediation costs for environmental issues identified in the consultant’s reports.

 

8


2000

 

During 2000, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $23.3 million, consisting of $10.7 million of asset write-offs and $12.6 million of future cash outlays for employee-related costs and tenancy costs. The charge was the result of realigning geographic divisions to improve responsiveness to local markets, exiting non-core businesses and centralizing administrative services to achieve economies of scale. Included in the charge was severance for 319 employees. The restructuring actions were completed by December 31, 2000. Based on court rulings in the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company recorded an additional $0.9 million reserve for future lease payments for a facility closed in the 2000 restructuring. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, the Company utilized $0.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of the restructuring reserve. The September 30, 2004 accrual balance of $2.3 million is related to tenancy and other costs that will be paid through 2008.

 

NOTE 6 / COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

ISC/Ispat Transaction

 

In 1998, Ryerson Tull, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) sold its steel manufacturing segment (“ISC”) to Ispat International N.V. and certain of its affiliates (“Ispat”) pursuant to an agreement of sale and merger (the “ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to that Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify Ispat up to $90 million for losses incurred in connection with breaches of representations and warranties contained in the agreement and for expenditures and losses incurred relating to certain environmental liabilities. Ispat was required to make all such indemnification claims prior to March 31, 2000, other than claims related to tax matters, certain organizational matters and environmental matters.

 

As part of the sale transaction, the Inland Steel Industries Pension Plan was transferred to Ispat. As a condition to completing the ISC/Ispat transaction, Ispat and the Company entered into an agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) to provide certain financial commitments to reduce the underfunding of that pension plan (the “Ispat Pension Plan”) and to secure the Plan’s unfunded benefit liabilities on a termination basis. These commitments included a Company guaranty of $50 million of the obligations of Ispat to the PBGC in the event of a distress or involuntary termination of the Ispat Pension Plan.

 

In August 2001, the Company established a $50 million letter of credit in favor of the PBGC as security for the guaranty. Under the agreement among the PBGC, Ispat and the Company, by July 16, 2003, Ispat was required to take all necessary action to provide adequate replacement security to the PBGC, which would permit the Company to terminate the guaranty and the related letter of credit. Ispat did not provide the replacement security by such date, and the Company, in accordance with the aforementioned agreement, renewed its letter of credit on July 16, 2003 (the “PBGC Letter of Credit”), on a year-to-year basis until December 20, 2006. On September 15, 2003, the PBGC Letter of Credit and guaranty were reduced to $29 million pursuant to certain agreements signed on that date and described below.

 

On May 29, 2001, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Ispat that settled certain claims, other than those related to environmental liabilities and certain property tax matters, for approximately $15 million, which applied against the $90 million indemnification cap. Ispat also notified the Company of certain environmental matters of which Ispat was aware, of certain environmental expenses that it had incurred or might incur, of certain property tax matters and of other matters arising under ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement for which Ispat believed it was entitled to indemnification under that Agreement.

 

On September 15, 2003, the Company and Ispat settled all environmental and other indemnification claims between them arising from the ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement, including certain matters related to the Ispat Pension Plan. The Company had previously established an accrual to cover these claims. Under this second settlement agreement:

 

  The Company contributed $21 million to the Ispat Pension Plan.

 

  Ispat released the Company from any remaining environmental and other indemnification obligations arising out of the ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement.

 

  Ispat agreed to make specified monthly contributions to the Ispat Pension Plan totaling $29 million over the twelve-month period beginning January 2004, to reduce and discharge the Company’s PBGC Letter of Credit, as described below.

 

  Ispat agreed to share certain property tax refunds and to pay to the Ispat Pension Plan an amount equal to the cash received or the face amount of any related credit or non-cash refund, which would pro-rata reduce Ispat’s monthly contributions.

 

  Ispat agreed to pay the Company one-third of any environmental insurance proceeds (less certain fees and expenses incurred in pursuing such claims), up to a maximum of $21 million, related to the Company’s environmental indemnifications under the ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement.

 

9


On September 15, 2003, the Company also entered into an agreement with Ispat and the PBGC under which the PBGC agreed that any contributions described above (the “Contributions”) made by Ispat or the Company to the Ispat Pension Plan would reduce and discharge the PBGC Letter of Credit and the Company’s guaranty on a dollar-for-dollar basis, until each was reduced to zero. The Company had a $5.5 million liability recorded related to this guaranty to the PBGC. Based on Ispat making the required monthly Contributions, the Company reduced the liability related to the PBGC guaranty to $3.5 million in the second quarter 2004 and recorded a favorable $1.2 million after-tax adjustment to the gain on the sale of ISC. During the third quarter of 2004, Ispat made the final monthly Contributions. As a result, the PBGC Letter of Credit was reduced to zero, and the Company reduced the liability related to the PBGC guaranty to zero and recorded a favorable $2.3 million after-tax adjustment to the gain on the sale of ISC. Except for claims which could be made under Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, for the period in which the Company was the sponsor of the Ispat Pension Plan, the Company has no further liability with respect to the Ispat Pension Plan.

 

Other Matters

 

The Company is currently a defendant in antitrust litigation; the Company believes that this suit is without merit and has answered the complaint denying all claims and allegations. The trial court entered judgment on June 15, 2004 sustaining the Company’s summary judgment motion and those of the other defendants on all claims. On July 13, 2004, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal. The Company cannot determine at this time whether any potential liability related to this litigation would materially affect its

 

10


financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. There are various claims and pending actions against the Company other than those related to the ISC/Ispat transaction and the antitrust litigation. The amount of liability, if any, for these claims and actions at September 30, 2004 is not determinable but, in the opinion of management, such liability, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

NOTE 7 / RESTRICTED CASH

 

In the first quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a $5.1 million pretax gain for the receipt of shares as a result of the demutualization of one of its insurance carriers, Prudential. This gain represented a portion of the total of $6.3 million of shares received. The remaining shares were attributable to participants of the optional life insurance plan and therefore the liability was recorded as a benefit payable.

 

In the second quarter of 2002, the Company sold all of the shares received. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded in that quarter income of $0.6 million, its allocable share of the gain on sale. This item was included in “other revenue and expense, net.” The portion of the sale proceeds attributable to optional life insurance plan participants ($1.3 million) is required to be used for the benefit of plan participants and as such, was recorded as “restricted cash” in the balance sheet. The restricted cash balance has earned interest totaling $0.1 million as of September 30, 2004. In the third quarter of 2002, the Company began making payments for the benefit of optional life insurance plan participants. At September 30, 2004, these payments totaled $0.5 million.

 

NOTE 8/RETIREMENT BENEFITS

 

In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits” (SFAS 132). Beginning with the quarter ended on March 31, 2004, SFAS 132 requires the disclosure of the following information regarding the Corporation’s pension and postretirement medical benefit plans.

 

For the quarter ended September 30:

 

     Pension Benefits

    Other Benefits

 
     Dollars in Millions

 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                                

Service cost

   $ 1     $ 1     $ 1     $ 1  

Interest cost

     6       6       2       3  

Expected return on assets

     (7 )     (7 )     —         —    

Amortization of prior service cost

     —         —         (1 )     (1 )

Recognized actuarial loss

     2       1       1       —    
    


 


 


 


Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 2     $ 1     $ 3     $ 3  
    


 


 


 


 

11


For the nine month period ended September 30:

 

     Pension Benefits

    Other Benefits

 
     Dollars in Millions

 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                                

Service cost

   $ 2     $ 2     $ 2     $ 2  

Interest cost

     19       19       8       9  

Expected return on assets

     (22 )     (21 )     —         —    

Amortization of prior service cost

     1       1       (3 )     (2 )

Recognized actuarial loss

     6       2       2       1  
    


 


 


 


Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 6     $ 3     $ 9     $ 10  
    


 


 


 


 

Contributions

 

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company made a voluntary contribution of $21.5 million to the Pension Trust. At September 30, 2004, the Company does not have an estimate of potential contributions in the next twelve months.

 

NOTE 9/RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act introduces a prescription drug benefit under Medicare and also provides that a nontaxable federal subsidy will be paid to sponsors of postretirement benefit plans that provide retirees with a drug benefit that is at least “actuarially equivalent” to the Medicare benefit. The Company sponsors certain postretirement medical benefit plans which provide prescription drugs and the receipt of the federal subsidy defined by the Act would reduce the liability for such plans and the annual cost.

 

In January 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a Staff Position document which acknowledged issues associated with measuring and recognizing the effect of the Act and allowed companies to elect to defer accounting for such effects until authoritative guidance on the accounting for the federal subsidy was issued. In May 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position SFAS No. 106-2 (“FSP 106-2”), “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” FSP 106-2 provides guidance on the accounting, disclosure, effective date and transition rules related to the Act. FSP 106-2 requires companies to account for the effect of the subsidy on benefits attributed to past service as an actuarial experience gain and as a reduction of the service cost component of net periodic health care costs for amounts attributable to current service, if the benefit provided is at least actuarially equivalent to the Medicare benefit. The Company adopted FSP 106-2 in the third quarter of 2004. However, the Company’s APBO and net periodic benefit cost do not reflect any amount associated with the subsidy because the Company is unable to conclude whether the benefits provided by the plan are actuarially equivalent to the Medicare Part D benefit under the Act.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51,

 

12


“Consolidated Financial Statements,” to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or in which equity investors do not bear the residual economic risks. The interpretation was immediately applicable to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) created after January 31, 2003, and to VIEs in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. As originally issued, it applied in the fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to VIEs in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that was acquired before February 1, 2003. In October 2003, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 46-6, which defers the effective date for FIN 46 to the first interim or annual period ending after March 15, 2004 for non-special-purpose entity VIEs created before February 1, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

NOTE 10/ACQUISITIONS

 

On July 30, 2004, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the equity interests in J & F Steel, LLC (“J&F”), in which the Company invested a total of approximately $59 million, by paying $37.9 million in cash, net of $4.5 million of cash acquired, and assuming $13.5 million of debt. The transaction is also subject to a post-closing adjustment, which is estimated to be $3.3 million. During the third quarter, the Company redeemed the $13.5 million of outstanding debt. The acquisition has been accounted for by the purchase method of accounting, and the purchase price has been allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company funded the transaction by drawing on its revolving credit facility.

 

The table below summarizes the pro forma results of the Company as if the acquisition of J & F had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented:

 

     Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2004


   Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2004


Net sales

   $ 914.3    $ 2,501.7

Income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting changes

     15.5      51.1

Net income

     15.5      51.1
    

  

Net income per share:

             

Basic

   $ 0.71    $ 2.19
    

  

Diluted

   $ 0.69    $ 2.12
    

  

 

NOTE 11/LONG-TERM DEBT

 

The Company amended its revolving credit agreement effective on July 30, 2004 simultaneous with the close of the J&F transaction. The amendment included an increase in the size of the facility from $450 million to $525 million and an extension of the final maturity date from December 19, 2006 to July 30, 2008. The amendment increased availability blocks from $45 million to $50 million, of which $30 million will become available only upon the consent of lenders holding 85 percent of facility commitments. The remaining $20 million of availability blocks becomes available if the Company meets certain financial ratios. At September 30, 2004, as a result of meeting required financial ratios, the $20 million availability block has become available for borrowing. All other items and conditions of the revolving credit agreement remain materially the same as previously disclosed. The Company paid $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2004 for fees associated with the amended revolving credit facility, which will be amortized over the term of the amended facility.

 

NOTE 12/SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On October 26, 2004, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Integris Metals, Inc., a joint venture between Alcoa Inc. and BHP Billiton. Integris is one of North America’s largest metals service centers, with a strong position in aluminum and stainless steel. The Company will purchase all of the equity interest in Integris for $410 million plus assumption of Integris’ debt, which was approximately $250 million as of October 1, 2004. The transaction is expected to be completed by early 2005, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

 

The Company plans to finance the acquisition with cash on hand and borrowing under new secured credit facilities, and intends to refinance a portion of these borrowings with funds raised through debt and/or equity offerings in the capital markets, as market conditions permit. The agreement provides for a breakup fee of up to $20 million to be paid by the Company if the transaction is not finalized by the end of January 2005. The Company’s preliminary estimate of goodwill associated with the acquisition is approximately $100 million.

 

On November 4, 2004, the Company, Inc. announced the pricing of its Rule 144A private offering of $145 million aggregate principal amount of 3.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024. The closing of the offering is expected to take place on November 10, 2004. The initial purchasers will have the option to purchase up to an additional aggregate principal amount of $30 million of Convertible Senior Notes. The issue price of the Notes is 100 percent of principal amount, with a discount to the initial purchasers of 3.0%.

 

Holders may convert the Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock on or prior to the trading day preceding the stated maturity, under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) commencing after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2020, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock is greater than or equal to 125% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter; (2) at any time on or after January 1, 2020, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock on any date on or after December 31, 2019 is greater than or equal to 125% of the conversion price; (3) subject to certain limitations, during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per Note for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the conversion rate and the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock; (4) if the Company calls the Notes for redemption; or (5) upon the occurrence of certain corporate transactions.

 

The Notes will be convertible into the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion price of approximately $21.37 per share (equal to an initial conversion rate of 46.7880 shares per $1,000 principal amount) upon the occurrence of certain events. The conversion rate is subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. Upon conversion, the Company will deliver cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being converted and the Company’s total conversion obligation (the market value of the common stock into which the Notes are convertible), and common stock in respect of the remainder. Following the issuance of the Notes, the payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock in excess of $0.20 per year per share will result in an adjustment to the conversion rate of the Notes.

 

13


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

The Company is a general line materials, primarily metals, distributor and processor, offering a broad line of sheet, bar, tube and plate products. It purchases large quantities of metal products from primary producers and sells these materials in smaller quantities to a wide variety of metals-consuming industries. The Company processes more than one-half of the metals products that it sells by burning, sawing, slitting, blanking, cutting to length or other techniques. Revenue is recognized upon shipment to customers, which is substantially the same as recognizing revenue upon delivery given the proximity of distribution sites to customers. The Company’s profitability is dependent upon its ability to purchase material at competitive prices, to achieve adequate sales volume and to minimize operating expenses.

 

The metals service center industry is generally considered cyclical with periods of strong demand and higher prices followed by periods of weaker demand and lower prices due to the cyclical nature of the industries in which the largest consumers of metals operate. During 2003, the metals service center industry continued to be adversely affected by weak economic conditions in the manufacturing sector of the United States which started in the second half of 2000. The metals service center industry has experienced a significant recovery during the first nine months of 2004.

 

Results of Operations - Comparison of Third Quarter 2004 to Third Quarter 2003

 

For the third quarter of 2004, the Company reported consolidated net income of $17.4 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, as compared with a net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

 

Included in the third quarter 2004 results are a pretax charge of $3.0 million, $1.8 million after-tax or $0.07 per share, associated with a plant consolidation. $0.2 million of the $3.0 million accrual is for future cash outflows. The Company expects to realize future annual cost and cash flow savings of $1.5 million from this restructuring action. The third quarter of 2004 also includes a $2.3 million pretax, $1.4 million after-tax or $0.05 per share, gain on the sale of property in Oregon and Indiana and a $2.3 million, or $0.09 per share, favorable after-tax adjustment to the gain on sale of the Inland Steel Company. Included in the third quarter 2003 results is a pretax charge of $0.9 million, $0.5 million after-tax or $0.02 per share, for costs associated with plant consolidations.

 

Sales for the third quarter of 2004 increased 63 percent to $898.7 million from the same period a year ago. The Company benefited from higher metals prices due to tight metals supplies and from increased demand from the metals-consuming sector of the economy. The Company also benefited from two months’ sales contribution from J&F Steel which was purchased on July 30, 2004. Average selling price increased 49 percent, while volume increased 10 percent, from the third quarter of 2003. Tons shipped in the third quarter of 2004 increased to 709,700 from 648,100 in the year-ago period.

 

Gross profit per ton of $213 in the third quarter of 2004 increased from $159 per ton in the year-ago quarter as a result of the higher average selling prices. Gross profit as a percent of sales in the third quarter of 2004 declined to 16.8 percent from 18.7 percent a year ago, primarily as a result of increased material cost surcharges, which are passed-through without mark-up to contractual customers.

 

Total operating expenses increased 16 percent to $120.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 from $104.2 million a year ago. On a per ton basis, third quarter 2004 total operating expenses increased to $170 per ton from $161 per ton in the year-ago period. Warehousing and delivery expenses increased 11 percent to $63.3 million in the third quarter of 2004 from $56.8 million a year ago. The increase was due to the impact of the higher volume on variable expenses, primarily delivery expenses, to higher operating supplies and group insurance costs and to two months’ expenses from J&F Steel. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 22 percent to $56.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 from $46.5 million a year ago. The increase was primarily due to higher bonus accruals, higher pension and group insurance costs and to two months’ expenses from J&F Steel. Third quarter 2004 operating expenses also include the $3.0 million restructuring charge and $2.3 million gain on the sale of assets discussed above. Third quarter 2003 operating expenses also include the $0.9 million restructuring charge discussed above.

 

For the quarter, the Company reported an operating profit of $30.5 million, or $43 per ton, compared to an operating loss of $1.2 million, or $2 per ton, in the year-ago period.

 

14


Results of Operations - Comparison of First Nine Months 2004 to First Nine Months 2003

 

For the first nine months of 2004, the Company reported consolidated net income of $50.7 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, as compared with a net loss of $6.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.

 

Included in the 2004 results are a pretax charge of $3.6 million, $2.2 million after-tax or $0.08 per share, associated with plant consolidations and workforce reductions. $0.3 million of the $3.6 million restructuring accrual is for future cash outlays. 2004 results also include a $4.7 million pretax, $2.8 million after-tax or $0.11 per share, gain on the sale of property and a $3.5 million, or $0.14 per share, favorable after-tax adjustment to the gain on sale of the Inland Steel Company.

 

Included in the first nine months of 2003 results is a pretax charge of $2.4 million, $1.5 million after-tax or $0.06 per share, for costs associated with a workforce reduction.

 

Sales for the first nine months of 2004 increased 46 percent to $2,398.3 million from the same period a year ago as average selling price increased 32 percent and volume increased 11 percent. The Company benefited from higher metals prices due to tight metals supplies and from increased demand from the metals-consuming sector of the economy. Tons shipped in the first nine months of 2004 increased to 2,125,100 from 1,916,600 in the year-ago period.

 

Gross profit per ton of $205 in the first nine months of 2004 increased from $165 per ton in the year-ago period due to the 32 percent increase in average selling price. The gross profit as a percent of sales declined to 18.2 percent from 19.3 percent in the year-ago period, primarily as a result of increased material cost surcharges, which are passed-through without mark-up to contractual customers.

 

Total operating expenses increased 10 percent to $344.3 million in the first nine months of 2004 from $313.4 million a year ago. On a per ton basis, 2004 total operating expenses decreased to $162 per ton from $164 per ton in the year-ago period. Warehousing and delivery expenses increased 8 percent to $183.5 million in the first nine months of 2004 from $169.5 million a year ago. The increase was due to the impact of the higher volume on variable expenses, primarily delivery expenses, and to higher operating supplies and group insurance costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 14 percent to $161.9 million in the first nine months of 2004 from $141.5 million a year ago. The increase was primarily due to higher bonus accruals and higher pension and group insurance costs. Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2004 also include the $3.6 million restructuring charge and $4.7 million gain on the sale of assets discussed above. Operating expenses in the first nine months of 2003 also include the $2.4 million restructuring charge discussed above.

 

For the first nine months of 2004, the Company reported an operating profit of $92.4 million, or $43 per ton, compared to an operating profit of $2.8 million, or $1 per ton, in the year-ago period.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company had cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2004 of $28.6 million, compared to $13.7 million at December 31, 2003. Net cash used for operating activities was $117.1 million in the first nine months of 2004, including a $205.0 million increase in accounts receivable due to increased sales in the first nine months of 2004 compared to the fourth quarter of 2003 and a $96.6 million increase in accounts payable due to increases in the cost of materials. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company completed its acquisition of J&F Steel, in which the Company invested a total of approximately $59 million, by paying $37.9 million in cash, net of $4.5 million of cash acquired, and assuming $13.5 million of debt. The transaction is also subject to a post-closing adjustment, which is estimated to be $3.3 million. In addition to the J&F Steel acquisition, net cash used for investing activities of $46.5 million

 

15


included, capital expenditures of $21.4 million, a $2.0 million investment in a joint venture in Mexico, $8.0 million proceeds from the sale of a facility in Oregon, $2.7 million proceeds from the sale of a facility in Guadalajara, Mexico, and $2.4 million proceeds from the sale of property in California. Net cash provided by financing activities was $178.5 million, which included an increased in funded borrowing under the Company’s revolving credit agreement of $175.0 million and the redemption of the $13.5 million of debt assumed in the J&F Steel acquisition.

 

The Company amended its revolving credit agreement effective on July 30, 2004 simultaneous with the close of the J&F transaction. The amendment included an increase in the size of the facility from $450 million to $525 million and an extension of the final maturity date from December 19, 2006 to July 30, 2008. The amendment increased availability blocks from $45 million to $50 million, of which $30 million will become available only upon the consent of lenders holding 85 percent of facility commitments. The remaining $20 million of availability blocks becomes available if the Company meets certain financial ratios. All other terms and conditions of the revolving credit agreement remain materially the same as previously disclosed. The Company paid $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2004 for fees associated with the amended revolving credit facility, which will be amortized over the term of the amended facility.

 

At September 30, 2004, the Company had $341 million outstanding funded borrowing under its revolving credit agreement, $18 million of letters of credit issued under the credit facility and $136 million available under the $525 million revolving credit agreement, compared to $151 million available on December 31, 2003 under the then current $450 million facility. Total credit availability is limited by the amount of eligible account receivables and inventory pledged as collateral under the agreement, up to a maximum of $525 million, as well as the availability blocks discussed above. At September 30, 2004, as a result of meeting required financial ratios, the $20 million availability block has become available for borrowing. The remaining $30 million will become available only upon the consent of lenders holding 85 percent of facility commitments. In addition, the availability blocks will increase each quarter beginning in April 2005 through the maturity of the Company’s 91/8% Notes in July 2006. (See discussion of Notes below). These additional blocked amounts will be used to repay the Notes at maturity. The total increase in the availability block over the six quarters (second quarter of 2005 through July of 2006) will equal the outstanding principal value of the Notes, which is currently $100 million. Letters of credit issued under the facility also reduce the amount available for borrowing. Interest rates under the credit facility are at market levels and are variable. At September 30, 2004, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings under the credit facility was 4.1 percent.

 

Proceeds from credit facility borrowings and repayments of credit facility borrowings in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows represent borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit agreement with original maturities of three months or more. Net short-term proceeds/(repayments) under the credit facility represent borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility with original maturities less than three months. The combined effect of all of the above resulted in an increase in borrowings under the revolving credit facility of $175 million in the first nine months of 2004. As a result, long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet increased from $266.3 million at December 31, 2003 to $441.2 million at September 30, 2004. The increase in borrowings was attributable to higher working capital requirements, the acquisition of J&F Steel discussed above and a $21.5 million voluntary pension contribution.

 

16


The following table presents contractual obligations at September 30, 2004:

 

    

Payments Due by Period

September 30, 2004

(Dollars in Millions)


Contractual Obligations *


   Total

   Less
than 1
year


   1-3
years


   4-5
years


   After 5
years


Long-Term Note

   $ 100    $ —      $ 100    $ —      $ —  

Revolving Credit Agreement

     341      —        —        341      —  

Interest on Long-Term Note and Revolving Credit Agreement

     68      23      34      11      —  

Purchase Obligations

     82      82      —        —        —  

Operating Leases

     69      14      23      14      18
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 660    $ 119    $ 157    $ 366    $ 18

* The contractual obligations disclosed above do not include the Company’s potential future pension funding obligations (see discussion below).

 

The Company’s credit agreement permits stock repurchases, the payment of dividends and repurchase of the Company’s 9 1/8% Notes due in 2006. Stock repurchases, dividends and repurchase of the 2006 Notes are subject to annual and aggregate limits and restricted by specific liquidity tests. In the most restrictive case the Company would be prohibited from repurchasing the 2006 Notes until the maturity date and would be limited to a maximum payment of $7.5 million in dividends in any calendar year and $3 million in stock repurchases in any twelve-month period. As of September 30, 2004, the Company was not subject to the most restrictive limitations.

 

The revolving credit agreement also contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the creation of certain kinds of secured indebtedness and of certain kinds of subsidiary debt, take or pay contracts, transactions with affiliates, mergers and consolidations, and sales of assets. There is also a covenant that no event, circumstance or development has occurred that would have a material adverse effect on the Company. The revolving credit agreement also includes cross-default provisions to other financing arrangements. The Company was in compliance with the revolving credit facility covenants at September 30, 2004.

 

The Company believes that cash flow from operations and proceeds from the revolving credit facility will provide sufficient funds to meet the Company’s contractual obligations and operating requirements for the next year. The current $525 million credit facility terminates effective July 30, 2008. The Company believes that on termination of its current facility it will be able to obtain a replacement credit facility secured by the Company’s inventory and accounts receivable. Additionally, the Company believes that new public or private debt financing is a potential future source of funding. In the event the Company were to seek such debt financing, the ability to complete any future financing and the amount, terms and cost of any such future financing would be subject to debt market conditions at that time.

 

In August 2001, the Company established a $50 million letter of

 

17


credit in favor of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) as discussed below under—“ISC/Ispat Transaction.”

 

At September 30, 2004, $100 million of the Company’s 9 1/8% Notes due July 15, 2006 remain outstanding. The indenture under which the Notes were issued in 1996 contains covenants limiting, among other things, the creation of certain types of secured indebtedness, sale and leaseback transactions, the repurchase of capital stock, transactions with affiliates and mergers, consolidations and certain sales of assets. In addition, the Notes restrict the payment of dividends if the Company’s consolidated net worth does not exceed a minimum level. The Company is in compliance with this net worth test. The Notes also include a cross-default provision in the event of a default in the revolving credit facility. The Company was in compliance with the indenture covenants at September 30, 2004.

 

At year-end 2003, pension liabilities exceeded trust assets by $102 million. The Company does not have any ERISA-required pension plan contributions for 2004 but the Company made a voluntary contribution of $21.5 million in the third quarter of 2004 to improve the plan’s funded status. The Company does not expect to have any ERISA-required pension contribution funding in 2005, but could have future sizable pension contribution requirements. Future contribution requirements depend on the investment returns on plan assets and the impact on pension liabilities due to discount rates. The Company is unable to determine the amount or timing of any such contributions required by ERISA or whether any such contributions would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company believes that cash flow from operations and its credit facility described above will provide sufficient funds if the Company elects to make a contribution in 2005.

 

Mexican Joint Venture

 

In the first quarter of 2004, the Company contributed $2.0 million to increase its equity investment in Collado Ryerson, a joint venture in Mexico with G. Collado S.A. de C.V. After equal contributions from both joint venture partners, the Company’s ownership interest remained at 49.99%. The Company also loaned $0.7 million to the joint venture in the first quarter of 2004, with repayment due in 2006, and loaned an additional $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2004 and an additional $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2004. In the third quarter of 2004, Collado Ryerson repaid $2.0 million of their outstanding loan due to the Company.

 

ISC/Ispat Transaction

 

In 1998, Ryerson Tull, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) sold its steel manufacturing segment (“ISC”) to Ispat International N.V. and certain of its affiliates (“Ispat”) pursuant to an agreement of sale and merger (the “ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to that agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify Ispat up to $90 million for losses incurred in connection with breaches of representations and warranties contained in the agreement and for expenditures and losses incurred

 

18


relating to certain environmental liabilities. Ispat was required to make all such indemnification claims prior to March 31, 2000, other than claims related to tax matters, certain organizational matters and environmental matters.

 

As part of the sale transaction, the Inland Steel Industries Pension Plan was transferred to Ispat. As a condition to completing the ISC/Ispat transaction, Ispat and the Company entered into an agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) to provide certain financial commitments to reduce the underfunding of that pension plan (the “Ispat Pension Plan”) and to secure the Plan’s unfunded benefit liabilities on a termination basis. These commitments included a Company guaranty of $50 million of the obligations of Ispat to the PBGC in the event of a distress or involuntary termination of the Ispat Pension Plan.

 

In August 2001, the Company established a $50 million letter of credit in favor of the PBGC as security for the guaranty. Under the agreement among the PBGC, Ispat and the Company, by July 16, 2003, Ispat was required to take all necessary action to provide adequate replacement security to the PBGC, which would permit the Company to terminate the guaranty and the related letter of credit. Ispat did not provide the replacement security by such date, and the Company, in accordance with the aforementioned agreement, renewed its letter of credit on July 16, 2003 (the “PBGC Letter of Credit”), on a year-to-year basis until December 20, 2006. On September 15, 2003, the PBGC Letter of Credit and guaranty were reduced to $29 million pursuant to certain agreements signed on that date and described below.

 

On May 29, 2001, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Ispat that settled certain claims, other than those related to environmental liabilities and certain property tax matters, for approximately $15 million, which applied against the $90 million indemnification cap. Ispat also notified the Company of certain environmental matters of which Ispat was aware, of certain environmental expenses that it had incurred or might incur, of certain property tax matters and of other matters arising under ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement for which Ispat believed it was entitled to indemnification under that Agreement.

 

On September 15, 2003, the Company and Ispat settled all environmental and other indemnification claims between them arising from the ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement including certain matters related to the Ispat Pension Plan. The Company had previously established an accrual to cover these claims. Under this second settlement agreement:

 

  The Company contributed $21 million to the Ispat Pension Plan.

 

  Ispat released the Company from any remaining environmental and other indemnification obligations arising out of the ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement.

 

  Ispat agreed to make specified monthly contributions to the Ispat Pension Plan totaling $29 million over the twelve-month period beginning January 2004, to reduce and discharge the Company’s PBGC Letter of Credit, as described below.

 

  Ispat agreed to share certain property tax refunds and to pay to the Ispat Pension Plan an amount equal to the cash received or the face amount of any related credit or non-cash refund, which would pro-rata reduce Ispat’s monthly contributions.

 

  Ispat agreed to pay the Company one-third of any environmental insurance proceeds (less certain fees and expenses incurred in pursuing such claims), up to a maximum of $21 million, related to the Company’s environmental indemnifications under the ISC/Ispat Merger Agreement.

 

On September 15, 2003, the Company also entered into an agreement with Ispat and the PBGC under which the PBGC agreed that any contributions described above (the “Contributions”) made by Ispat or the Company to the Ispat Pension Plan would reduce and discharge the PBGC Letter of Credit and the Company’s guaranty on a dollar-for-dollar basis, until each of the PBGC Letter of Credit and the guaranty was reduced to zero. The Company had a $5.5 million liability recorded related to this guaranty to the PBGC.

 

19


Based on Ispat making the required monthly Contributions, the Company reduced the liability related to the PBGC guaranty to $3.5 million in the second quarter 2004 and recorded a favorable $1.2 million after-tax adjustment to the gain on the sale of ISC. During the third quarter of 2004, Ispat made the final monthly Contributions. As a result, the PBGC Letter of Credit was reduced to zero, and the Company reduced the liability related to the PBGC guaranty to zero and recorded a favorable $2.3 million after-tax adjustment to the gain on the sale of ISC. Except for claims which could be made under Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, for the period in which the Company was the sponsor of the Ispat Pension Plan the Company has no further liability with respect to the Ispat Pension Plan.

 

Subsequent Events

 

On October 26, 2004, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Integris Metals, Inc., a joint venture between Alcoa Inc. and BHP Billiton. Integris is one of North America’s largest metals service centers, with a strong position in aluminum and stainless steel. The Company will purchase all of the equity interest in Integris for $410 million plus assumption of Integris’ debt, which was approximately $250 million as of October 1, 2004. The transaction is expected to be completed by early 2005, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

 

The Company plans to finance the acquisition with cash on hand and borrowing under new secured credit facilities, and intends to refinance a portion of these borrowings with funds raised through debt and/or equity offerings in the capital markets, as market conditions permit. The agreement provides for a breakup fee of up to $20 million to be paid by the Company if the transaction is not finalized by the end of January 2005. The Company’s preliminary estimate of goodwill associated with the acquisition is approximately $100 million.

 

On November 4, 2004, the Company announced the pricing of its Rule 144A private offering of $145 million aggregate principal amount of 3.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024. The closing of the offering is expected to take place on November 10, 2004. The initial purchasers will have the option to purchase up to an additional aggregate principal amount of $30 million of Convertible Senior Notes. The issue price of the Notes is 100 percent of principal amount, with a discount to the initial purchasers of 3.0%.

 

Holders may convert the Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock on or prior to the trading day preceding the stated maturity, under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) commencing after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2020, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock is greater than or equal to 125% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter; (2) at any time on or after January 1, 2020, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock on any date on or after December 31, 2019 is greater than or equal to 125% of the conversion price; (3) subject to certain limitations, during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per Note for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the conversion rate and the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock; (4) if the Company calls the Notes for redemption; or (5) upon the occurrence of certain corporate transactions.

 

The Notes will be convertible into the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion price of approximately $21.37 per share (equal to an initial conversion rate of 46.7880 shares per $1,000 principal amount) upon the occurrence of certain events. The conversion rate is subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. Upon conversion, the Company will deliver cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being converted and the Company’s total conversion obligation, (the market value of the common stock into which the Notes are convertible), and common stock in respect of the remainder. Following the issuance of the Notes, the payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock in excess of $0.20 per year per share will result in an adjustment to the conversion rate of the Notes.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The Company has limited involvement with derivative financial instruments and does not use them for speculative or trading purposes. Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term investments with maturities of three months or less that are an integral part of the Company’s cash management portfolio. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and the current portions thereof using quoted market prices of Company debt securities recently traded and market-based prices of similar securities for those securities not recently traded was $447 million at September 30, 2004 and $273 million at December 31, 2003, as compared with the carrying value of $441 million and $266 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

20


Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluations required by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Report have been carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon such evaluations, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this Report that were identified in connection with the evaluation referred to above that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

21


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, the Company is named as a defendant in legal actions incidental to our ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the resolution of these claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We maintain liability insurance coverage to assist in protecting our assets from losses arising from or related to activities associated with business operations.

 

On April 22, 2002, Champagne Metals, an Oklahoma metals service center that processes and sells aluminum products, sued the Company and six other metals service centers in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The other defendants are Ken Mac Metals, Inc.; Samuel, Son & Co., Limited; Samuel Specialty Metals, Inc.; Metal West, L.L.C.; Integris Metals, Inc. and Earle M. Jorgensen Company. Champagne Metals alleges a conspiracy among the defendants to induce or coerce aluminum suppliers to refuse to designate it as a distributor in violation of federal and state antitrust laws and tortious interference with business and contractual relations. The complaint seeks damages with the exact amount to be proved at trial. Champagne Metals seeks treble damages on its antitrust claims and seeks punitive damages in addition to actual damages on its other claim. The Company believes that the suit is without merit, has answered the complaint denying all claims and allegations, and has filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. The trial court entered judgment on June 15, 2004 sustaining our summary judgment motion and those of the other defendants on all claims. Champagne filed a notice of appeal on July 13, 2004. The Company cannot determine at this time whether any potential liability related to this litigation would materially affect its results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

 

On January 14, 2003, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) advised the Company’s subsidiary Joseph T. Ryerson and Son, Inc. (“Ryerson”) and various other unrelated parties that they are potentially responsible parties under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) in connection with the cleanup of a waste disposal facility formerly operated by Liquid Dynamics in Chicago, Illinois. The estimated total amount of the proposed corrective measures is approximately $800,000. The notice alleged that Ryerson may have generated or transported hazardous substances to that facility. Ryerson has entered into an Administrative Order with approximately 40 potentially responsible parties and the USEPA to perform cleanup at the site and reimburse certain response costs. Ryerson does not expect its potential liability to materially affect its or the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2004, the Company had no issuer repurchases to be reported pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 703 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

On July 30, 2004, Ryerson Tull, Inc. (the “Company”), through its wholly owned subsidiary Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc., acquired 100% of the equity interest of J & F Steel, LLC (“J & F”) from Arbed Americas, LLC. The execution of the definitive agreement to purchase J & F was announced on June 15, 2004. The originally announced purchase price of $55 million, including assumption of debt, was increased to approximately $59 million, which amount includes an estimated post–closing adjustment in accordance with provisions of the Purchase Agreement, dated June 14, 2004, by and among the

 

22


Company, J & F Steel, LLC, Arbed Americas, LLC, Arcelor USA Holding, Inc. and Arcelor, S.A.. At closing, the Company paid approximately $22.3 million in cash to Arbed Americas, LLC, repaid approximately $19.5 million of J & F Steel’s intercompany borrowings, and deposited funds in escrow to pay principal, interest and fees for redemption of the $9 Million Town of Burns Harbor, Indiana, Adjustable Rate Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, Series 1996 (J & F Steel Corporation) and $4.5 Million Georgetown Charter Township, Michigan Limited Obligation Variable Rate 7-Day Demand Industrial Development Bonds, Series 1989 (J & F Steel Corporation Project). Additional purchase cost, consisting of acquisition expenses and the post-closing adjustment, is estimated to be $3.9 million. The purchase price was determined in arms’-length negotiation with seller Arbed Americas, LLC. None of Arbed Americas, LLC and its affiliates are affiliated with any of the Company, the Company’s directors and officers, or associates of the Company’s directors and officers.

 

The Company’s source of funds for the acquisition were funds borrowed under its revolving credit agreement with certain of its subsidiaries, a group of 14 lenders, JP Morgan Chase Bank as Administrative Agent, Security Agent and Swingline Bank, and General Electric Capital Corporation, as Syndication Agent and Security Agent. Simultaneously with the closing of the J & F acquisition, the revolving credit agreement was amended to increase the facility from $450 million to $525 million, to extend its termination date from December 31, 2006 to July 30, 2008, to add J & F as a borrower to the facility, and to make certain conforming and technical changes to the agreement.

 

As a result of the acquisition of J & F, the Company acquired four carbon flat rolled processing facilities and related equipment located in Burns Harbor, IN, Memphis, TN, Middleton, OH, and Jenison, MI. The Company intends to continue use of the facilities as carbon flat rolled processing facilities. The Company’s subsidiary, Joseph T. Ryerson and Son, Inc., (“Ryerson”) has met with union representatives to discuss the relocation of its Ryerson Tull Coil Processing division’s metals processing center at 111th Street, Chicago, IL, to J & F’s Burns Harbor location. As a result of these discussions, Ryerson and the union signed a memorandum of agreement on September 1, 2004 that established one collective bargaining agreement covering both locations, Burns Harbor and Chicago.

 

On October 26, 2004, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Integris Metals, Inc., a joint venture between Alcoa Inc. and BHP Billiton. Integris is one of North America’s largest metals service centers, with a strong position in aluminum and stainless steel. The Company will purchase all of the equity interest in Integris for $410 million plus assumption of Integris’ debt, which was approximately $250 million as of October 1, 2004. The transaction is expected to be completed by early 2005, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

The exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed in the “Exhibit Index,” which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

23


SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

RYERSON TULL, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Jay M. Gratz


    Jay M. Gratz
   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: November 9, 2004

 

24


Part I — Schedule A

 

RYERSON TULL, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

SUMMARY OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

     Dollars in Millions

 
     September 30, 2004

    December 31, 2003

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                                

Series A preferred stock ($1 par value)
- 79,968 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2004 and 80,003 as of
December 31, 2003

           $ 0.1             $ 0.1  

Common stock ($1 par value)
- 50,556,350 shares issued as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003

             50.6               50.6  

Capital in excess of par value

             857.5               861.2  

Retained earnings
Balance beginning of year

   $ 320.7             $ 339.9          

Net income (loss)

     50.7               (14.1 )        

Dividends

                                

Series A preferred stock -
$1.80 per share in 2004 and
$2.40 per share in 2003

     (0.1 )             (0.2 )        

Common Stock -
$ .15 per share in 2004 and
$.20 per share in 2003

     (3.8 )     367.5       (4.9 )     320.7  
    


         


       

Restricted stock awards

             (0.1 )             (0.1 )

Treasury stock, at cost
- 25,540,013 as of September 30, 2004 and
25,730,465 as of December 31, 2003

             (746.2 )             (752.0 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

                                

Minimum pension liability

     (100.3 )             (100.3 )        

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

     (0.1 )             —            

Foreign currency translation

     3.9       (96.5 )     2.1       (98.2 )
    


 


 


 


Total Stockholders’ Equity

           $ 432.9             $ 382.3  
            


         


 

25


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


 

Description


3.1   Copy of Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Ryerson Tull. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
3.2   By-Laws, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein).
4.1   Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A $2.40 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of Ryerson Tull. (Filed as part of Exhibit B to the definitive Proxy Statement of Inland Steel Company dated March 21, 1986 that was furnished to stockholders in connection with the annual meeting held April 23, 1986 (File No. 1-2438), and incorporated by reference herein.)
4.2   Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Ryerson Tull. (Filed as Exhibit 4-D to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1987 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
4.3   Rights Agreement as amended and restated as of April 1, 2004, between Ryerson Tull and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A-3 filed on April 1, 2004 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
4.4   Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1996, between Pre-merger Ryerson Tull and The Bank of New York. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Pre-merger Ryerson Tull’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 (File No. 1-11767), and incorporated by reference herein.)
4.5   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 25, 1999, between Ryerson Tull and The Bank of New York. (Filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
4.6   Specimen of 9 1/8% Notes due July 15, 2006. (Filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
    [The registrant hereby agrees to provide a copy of any other agreement relating to long-term debt at the request of the Commission.]
10.1*   Ryerson Tull Annual Incentive Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit A to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 1-11767) dated March 5, 2003 that was furnished to stockholders in connection with the annual meeting held April 16, 2003, and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.2*   Ryerson Tull 2002 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (Filed as Appendix B to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 1-11767) dated March 10, 2004 that was furnished to stockholders in connection with the annual meeting held April 21, 2004, and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.3*   Ryerson Tull 1999 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 1-11767), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.4*   Ryerson Tull 1996 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.D to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 1-11767), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.5*   Ryerson Tull 1995 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.E to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.6*   Ryerson Tull 1992 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.C to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.7*   Ryerson Tull Supplemental Retirement Plan for Covered Employees, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 1-11767), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.8*   Ryerson Tull Nonqualified Savings Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Exhibit
Number


 

Description


10.9*   Excerpt of Company’s Accident Insurance Policy as related to outside directors insurance (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.10*   Ryerson Tull Directors’ 1999 Stock Option Plan (Filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.11*   Ryerson Tull Directors Compensation Plan, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.12*   Severance Agreement dated January 28, 1998, between the Company and Jay. M. Gratz. (Filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2002 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.13*   Amendment dated November 6, 1998 to the Severance Agreement dated January 28, 1998 referred to in Exhibit 10.13 above between the Company and Jay M. Gratz. (Filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.14*   Amendment dated June 30, 2000 to the Severance Agreement dated January 28, 1998 referred to in Exhibit 10.13 between the Company and Jay M. Gratz. (Filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.15*   Form of Change in Control Agreement
10.16*   Schedule to Form of Change in Control Agreement as referred to in Exhibit 10.15
10.17*   Form of Change in Control Agreement
10.18*   Schedule to Form of Change in Control Agreement as referred to in Exhibit 10.17
10.19*   Employment Agreement dated September 1, 1999 between the Company and Jay M. Gratz. (Filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.20*   Employment Agreement dated September 1, 1999 between the Company and Gary J. Niederpruem. (Filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.21*   Employment Agreement dated December 1, 1999 between the Company and Neil S. Novich. (Filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.22*   Employment Agreement dated as of July 23, 2001 between the Company and James M. Delaney. (Filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.23*   Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement dated July 1, 1999 between the Company and Stephen E. Makarewicz. (Filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.24*   Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated June 24, 2003, between the Company and the parties listed on the schedule thereto (Filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.25*   Schedule to Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated June 24, 2003 (Filed as Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2004 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
10.26*   Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 26, 2004 between the Company, Alcoa, Inc. and BHP Billiton for Integris Metals, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 29, 2004 (File No. 1-9117), and incorporated by reference herein.)
31.1   Certificate of the Principal Executive Officer of the Company, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Exhibit
Number


 

Description


31.2   Certificate of the Principal Financial Officer of the Company, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1   Written Statement of Neil S. Novich, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2   Written Statement of Jay M. Gratz, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
EX-10.15 2 dex1015.htm FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT Form of Change in Control Agreement

EXHIBIT 10.15

 

[DATE]

 

________________

________________

________________

 

Dear             :

 

Ryerson Tull, Inc. (“RTI”) considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continuous employment of key management personnel of RTI and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). In this connection, the Board of Directors of RTI (the “Board”) recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change in control may exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of RTI and its stockholders.

 

The Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management, including yourself, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control of the Company. In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of your agreement set forth in Subsection 2(ii) hereof, RTI agrees that you shall receive the severance benefits set forth in this letter agreement (“Agreement”) in the event your employment with the Company is terminated subsequent to a “change in control of the Company” (as defined in Section 2 hereof) or in connection with a “potential change in control of the Company” (as defined in Section 2 hereof) under the circumstances described below. This Agreement shall constitute an amendment and restatement of and shall supersede any prior agreement entered into between you and RTI with respect to these matters. In the event that you receive severance benefits hereunder, such benefits shall be in lieu of, and you shall not be entitled to receive, any benefits or payments under any other severance plan or policy of the Company or any agreement with the Company and the provisions of Section 5 through 7 hereof shall supercede any provisions relating to comparable matters under such other severance plan or policy or such other agreement. In addition, if you are or become entitled to benefits from the Company pursuant to another agreement providing for benefits on account of a change in control or the law of a jurisdiction other than the United States or any state or territory thereof as a result of an event for which benefits are payable to you pursuant this Agreement, the benefits paid to you pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount paid to you pursuant to such other agreement or law.


1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue in effect until the first anniversary of the date on which RTI gives you a written notice of termination of the Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence: (i) if your employer is a direct or indirect subsidiary of RTI, this Agreement shall terminate on the date on which RTI ceases to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80 percent of your employer for any reason which does not constitute a change in control of the Company, and (ii) if a change in control of the Company or a potential change in control of the Company shall have occurred during the original or extended term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of thirty-six (36) months beyond the month in which such change in control or potential change in control of the Company occurred unless earlier terminated under clause (i) next above.

 

2. Change in Control; Potential Change in Control. a) No benefits shall be payable hereunder unless there shall have been a potential change in control or a change in control of the Company, as set forth below. For purposes of this Agreement, a “change in control of the Company” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(A) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than (w) the Company, (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (y) an underwriter temporarily holding voting securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (z) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the security holders of RTI in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of voting securities of RTI, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of RTI (not including in the voting securities beneficially owned by such person any voting securities acquired directly from RTI or its affiliates) representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of RTI’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

(B) during any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with RTI to effect a transaction described in clauses (A), (C) or (D) of this Subsection 2(i)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by RTI’s security holders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (“Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;

 

(C) there occurs a merger or consolidation of RTI with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of RTI outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of RTI or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of RTI (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of RTI’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

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(D) the holders of voting securities of RTI approve a plan of complete liquidation of RTI or an agreement for the sale or disposition by RTI of all or substantially all of RTI’s assets; or

 

(E) there occurs:

 

(x) a sale or disposition, directly or indirectly, other than to a person described in subclause (w), (x) or (z) of clause (A) of this Subsection 2(i), of voting securities of your employer, any direct or indirect parent company of your employer or any company that is a subsidiary of your employer and is also a significant subsidiary (as defined below) of RTI (your employer and such a parent or subsidiary being a “Related Company”), representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of such Related Company then outstanding;

 

(y) a merger or consolidation of a Related Company with any other corporation, other than:

 

(1) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Related Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Related Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;

 

(2) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Related Company (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Related Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

(3) a merger or consolidation which would result in 50% or more of the combined voting power of the surviving company being beneficially owned by RTI or by a majority owned direct or indirect subsidiary of RTI; or

 

(z) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of a Related Company to a person other than RTI or a majority owned direct or indirect subsidiary of RTI.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no change in control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred under this Subsection 2(i) if (I) such transaction includes or involves a sale to the public or a distribution to the stockholders of RTI of more than 50% of the

 

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voting securities of your employer or a direct or indirect parent of your employer, and (II) your employer or a direct or indirect parent of your employer agrees to become a successor to RTI under this Agreement or you are covered by an agreement providing for benefits upon a change in control of your employer following an event described clause (E). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning given to such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, a “potential change in control of the Company” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(A) RTI enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a change in control of the Company;

 

(B) any person (including RTI) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a change in control of the Company;

 

(C) any person, other than (w) the Company, (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (y) an underwriter temporarily holding voting securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (z) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the security holders of RTI in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of voting securities of RTI, who is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of voting securities of RTI representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of RTI’s then outstanding voting securities, increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such person on the date hereof; or

 

(D) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a potential change in control of the Company has occurred.

 

You agree that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a potential change in control of the Company, you will remain in the employ of the Company until the earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the occurrence of such potential change in control of the Company, (ii) the termination by you of your employment by reason of Disability or Retirement, as defined in Subsection 3(i), or (iii) the occurrence of a change in control of the Company. If your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in Subsection 3(ii) below) coincident with or prior to a change in control of the Company and within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of a potential change in control of the Company and a change in control of the Company occurs within six (6) months after such termination, you shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits hereunder as if your termination of employment without Cause followed a change in control of the Company; provided, however, that no benefits shall be payable under this sentence if prior to the change in control of the Company, RTI ceased to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the voting securities of your employer.

 

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(iii) The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, a change in control of the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred with respect to you if:

 

(A) the event first giving rise to the potential change in control of the Company involves a publicly announced transaction or publicly announced proposed transaction which at the time of the announcement has not been previously approved by the Board and you are “part of a purchasing group” (as defined below) proposing the transaction;

 

(B) you are part of a purchasing group which consummates the change in control transaction; or

 

(C) the change in control of the Company would otherwise occur under Subsection 2(i)(D) due to the sale of a significant subsidiary, which significant subsidiary constitutes all or substantially all of the assets of RTI and you are not employed by RTI or the significant subsidiary which is the subject of the transaction.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, you shall be deemed “part of a purchasing group” if you are an equity participant or have agreed to become an equity participant in the purchasing company or group (except for (A) passive ownership of less than 1% of the stock of the purchasing company or (B) ownership of equity participation in the purchasing company or group which is otherwise not deemed to be significant, as determined prior to the change in control of the Company by a majority of the non-employee Continuing Directors).

 

3. Termination Following Change in Control. If a change in control of the Company, as defined in Section 2 hereof, shall have occurred, you shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Subsection 4(iii) hereof upon the subsequent termination of your employment during the term of this Agreement unless such termination is (A) because of your death, Disability or Retirement, (B) by the Company for Cause, or (C) by you other than for Good Reason.

 

(i) Disability; Retirement. If, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been absent from the full-time performance of your duties with the Company for six (6) consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties, your employment may be terminated for “Disability”. Termination by the Company or you of your employment based on “Retirement” shall mean termination on or after your normal retirement age in accordance with the Company’s retirement policy generally applicable to its salaried employees or in accordance with any retirement arrangement established with your consent with respect to you.

 

(ii) Cause. Termination by the Company of your employment for “Cause” shall mean termination upon (A) the willful and continued failure by you to substantially perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the issuance of a Notice of Termination by you for Good Reason as defined in Subsections 3(iv) and 3(iii), respectively) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to you by the Board, which

 

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demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (B) the willful engaging by you in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this Subsection 3(ii), no act, or failure to act, on your part shall be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to you and an opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board you were guilty of conduct set forth above in clauses (A) or (B) of the first sentence of this Subsection 3(ii) and specifying the particulars thereof in detail; provided that, in the event of a dispute concerning the application of this provision, no claim by the Company that Cause exists shall be given effect unless the Company establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that Cause exists.

 

(iii) Good Reason. You shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without your express written consent, the occurrence after a change in control of the Company of any of the following circumstances unless, in the case of paragraphs (A), (E), (F), (G) or (H), such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination, as defined in Subsections 3(v) and 3(iv), respectively, given in respect thereof:

 

(A) the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent with your status as an executive officer of the Company or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of your responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the change in control of the Company other than any such alteration primarily attributable to the fact that the Company may no longer be a public company;

 

(B) a reduction by the Company in your annual base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

 

(C) the Company’s requiring that your principal place of business be at an office located more than 50 miles from where your principal place of business is located immediately prior to the change in control of the Company, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with your business travel obligations immediately prior to the change in control of the Company;

 

(D) the failure by the Company, without your consent, to pay to you any portion of your current compensation, or to pay to you any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company, within seven (7) days of the date such compensation is due;

 

(E) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in which you participate immediately prior to the change in control of the Company which is material to your total compensation, including but not limited to the Ryerson Tull Annual Incentive Plan (the “Annual Incentive Plan”), Ryerson Tull 2002 Incentive Stock

 

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Plan and any successor thereto (collectively, the “Incentive Stock Plans”), Ryerson Tull Nonqualified Savings Plan (the “Nonqualified Savings Plan”), or the Ryerson Tull Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”) or any substitute or alternative plans adopted prior to the change in control, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the failure by the Company to continue your participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of your participation relative to other participants, as existed at the time of the change in control;

 

(F) the failure by the Company to continue to provide you with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by you under any of the Company’s defined contribution plan, life insurance, medical, dental, or short-term and long term disability plans or programs in which you were participating at the time of the change in control of the Company, the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the change in control of the Company, or the failure by the Company to provide you with the number of paid vacation days to which you are entitled on the basis of years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the change in control of the Company;

 

(G) the failure of RTI to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 5 hereof; or

 

(H) any purported termination of your employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Subsection 3(iv) below (and, if applicable, the requirements of Subsection 3(ii) above); for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

 

Your right to terminate your employment pursuant to this Section 3 shall not be affected by your incapacity due to physical or mental illness. Your continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder. For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good Reason, any claim by you that Good Reason exists shall be presumed to be correct unless the Company establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist.

 

(iv) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of your employment by the Company or by you shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 6 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of your employment under the provision so indicated.

 

(v) Date of Termination, Etc. “Date of Termination” shall mean (A) if your employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties during

 

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such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if your employment is terminated pursuant to Subsection 3(ii) or 3(iii) above or for any other reason (other than Disability), the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection 3(ii) above shall not be less than thirty (30) days, and in the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection 3(iii) above shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given); provided that if within fifteen (15) days after any Notice of Termination is given, or, if later, prior to the Date of Termination (as determined without regard to this proviso), the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected) but shall be deemed to be within the thirty-six (36) month period following a change in control of the Company; provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Company will continue to pay you your full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, base salary) and continue you as a participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans and programs in which you were participating when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Subsection 3(v). Amounts paid under this Subsection 3(v) are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

 

4. Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability. Following a change in control of the Company, as defined by Subsection 2(i), upon termination of your employment or during a period of Disability you shall be entitled to the following benefits:

 

(i) During any period that you fail to perform your full-time duties with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall continue to receive your base salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period, together with all compensation payable to you under the Pension Plan, Supplemental Plan, Annual Incentive Plan, Savings Plan and Nonqualified Savings Plan during such period, until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Subsection 3(i) hereof. Thereafter, in the event your employment shall be terminated, your benefits shall be determined under the Company’s retirement, insurance and other compensation plans and programs then in effect in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs.

 

(ii) If your employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by you other than for Good Reason, Disability, death or Retirement, the Company shall pay you your full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, plus all other amounts to which you are entitled under any compensation plan of the Company at the time such payments are due, and the Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.

 

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(iii) If your employment by the Company shall be terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability, or (b) by you for Good Reason, then you shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits provided below subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation, paragraph (K) below and Section 7 hereof.

 

(A) The Company shall pay you your full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, plus all other amounts to which you are entitled under any compensation plan or program of the Company, at the time such payments are due, except as otherwise provided below.

 

(B) In lieu of any further salary payments to you for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay as severance pay to you severance payments equal to three times the sum of (x) your annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the circumstance giving rise to the Notice of Termination given in respect thereof, and (y) the greater of (I) your target award under the Annual Incentive Plan or similar successor plan for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, or (II) the average annual amount of the Award paid to you pursuant to the Annual Incentive Plan or similar successor plan with respect to the five years immediately preceding that in which the Date of Termination occurs, such average annual amount being calculated by aggregating all such Awards paid with respect to such five years and dividing such aggregate amount by the number of years for which such an Award was actually paid to you. You acknowledge that an amount equal to one times the sum of (x) plus (y) above is in consideration of your agreement to the terms of Sections 5 through 7 below and shall be payable in equal monthly or more frequent intervals over a 36-month period commencing on your Date of Termination. The balance of the amount payable under this Paragraph B shall be paid in a lump sum.

 

(C) Notwithstanding any provision of the Annual Incentive Plan, the Company shall pay to you a lump sum amount under that plan at least equal to the sum of (x) any incentive compensation under the Annual Incentive Plan which has been allocated or awarded to you for a completed fiscal year or other measuring period preceding the Date of Termination but has not yet been paid, and (y) a pro rata portion to the Date of Termination for the current fiscal year or other measuring period of the amount equal to the Target Award percentage applicable to you under the Annual Incentive Plan or similar successor plan on the Date of Termination times your annual base salary then in effect.

 

(D) In lieu of shares of common stock of RTI (“RTI Shares”) issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted to you under RTI’s stock option plans (“Options”) (which Options shall be cancelled upon the making of the payment referred to below), you shall receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the excess of (x) in the case of incentive stock options (as defined in section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) (“ISOs”), granted after the date of this Agreement (without regard to any renewal hereof), the closing price of RTI’s shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions on or nearest the Date of Termination, or in the case of all other Options (other than ISOs granted prior to the date of this Agreement (without regard to any renewal hereof)), the Change in

 

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Control Price (as defined below), over (y) the per share exercise price of each Option then held by you (whether or not then fully exercisable), times (ii) the number of RTI Shares covered by each such Option. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Change in Control Price” means: (1) with respect to a merger or consolidation of RTI described in Subsection 2(i)(C) in which the consideration per share of RTI’s common stock to be paid for the acquisition of shares of common stock specified in the agreement of merger or consolidation is all in cash, the highest such consideration per share; (2) with respect to a change in control of the Company by reason of an acquisition of voting securities described in Subsection 2(i)(A), the highest price per share for any share of RTI’s common stock paid by any holder of any of the securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of RTI giving rise to the change in control of the Company; and (3) with respect to a change in control of the Company by reason of a merger or consolidation of RTI (other than a merger or consolidation described in Clause (1) next above), stockholder approval of an agreement or plan described in Subsection 2(i)(D), a change in the composition of the Board described in Subsection 2(i)(B) or a change in control of the Company pursuant to Subsection 2(i)(E) (relating to mergers, consolidations and sales of securities or assets of a Related Company), the highest price per share of common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions (or, if such shares are not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, such other principal market on which such shares are traded) during the sixty (60) day period ending on the date the change in control of the Company occurs.

 

(E) To the extent not otherwise vested in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Incentive Stock Plans, you shall be fully vested in any restricted shares issued thereunder. You shall receive an amount in cash with respect to each performance share award granted under the Incentive Stock Plans which was outstanding on the date of the change in control which is equal to (i)the Change in Control Price, multiplied by (ii) 100% of the target award amount under such performance share award, and further multiplied by (iii) a fraction, the denominator of which is the number of months (rounded to the nearest whole number) in the original performance cycle for such performance share award, and the numerator of which is the number of months (rounded to the nearest whole number) of such performance cycle elapsed prior to the date of the change in control of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company’s market capitalization as of the date of the change in control is less than $250 million, “30%” shall be substituted for “100%” in clause (ii) above; and, provided further, that the foregoing amount shall be in lieu of any other payment with respect to such performance share award, and if you receive any payment with respect to such performance share award after the change in control, but prior to your Date of Termination, it shall reduce, but not below zero, the amount to which you are entitled under this paragraph (E) with respect to such award.

 

(F) The Company shall also pay to you all legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of such termination (including all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of Section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder). Such payments shall be made within five (5)

 

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days after your request for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require. You shall be entitled to select your legal counsel, and your rights to payment pursuant to this paragraph (F) shall not be affected by the final outcome of any dispute with the Company.

 

(G) This paragraph (G) applies in the event that (i) you become entitled to any payments or benefits under this Agreement (the “Contract Payments”), and (ii) the aggregate present value (calculated in accordance with Section 280G of the Code) exceeds by fifteen percent or more the threshold amount at which you become subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, i.e. such present value exceeds by fifteen percent or more an amount equal to three times your “base amount” determined under Section 280G of the Code. In that case, the Company shall pay to you, no later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination, an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount retained by you, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Contract Payments and such other Total Payments and any federal and state and local income and other payroll taxes and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by this paragraph (G), shall be equal to the Contract Payments and such other Total Payments.

 

(H) For purposes of determining whether any of the payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, the amount of such Excise Tax, whether you are entitled to a Gross-Up Payment in accordance with paragraph (G) above, and whether your Total Payments will be reduced pursuant to Paragraph (K) below and the amount of such reduction, (i) any other payments or benefits received or to be received by you in connection with a change in control of the Company or your termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a change in control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a change in control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person (together with the Contract Payments, the “Total Payments”), shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code and all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(l) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless in the opinion of tax counsel selected by RTI’s independent auditors and reasonably acceptable to you, it is more likely than not that such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code in excess of the base amount allocable to such reasonable compensation within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, (ii) the amount of the Total Payments which shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the amount of the Total Payments or (B) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(l) of the Code (after applying clause (i) above), and (iii) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by RTI’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of determining the

 

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amount of the Gross-Up Payment, you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of your residence on the Date of Termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

(I) In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of termination of your employment, you shall repay to the Company at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal and state and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by you if such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax and/or a federal and state and local income tax deduction) plus interest on the amount of such repayment at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of the termination of your employment (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional gross-up payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.

 

(J) Except for the portion of the payments to be made over a 36-month period in accordance with paragraph (B) above, the payments provided for in paragraphs (B), (C), (D) and (E) above, shall be made not later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination, provided, however, that if the amounts of such payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to you on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the Company, of the minimum amount of such payments and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with interest at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event later than the thirtieth day after the Date of Termination. In the event that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, you shall promptly repay to the Company the amount of such excess (together with interest at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually).

 

(K) In the event that (i) you become entitled to any payments or benefits under this Agreement, but you are not entitled to a Gross-Up Payment under paragraph (G) above, the amount of payments and benefits to which you are entitled under this Agreement shall be reduced by the minimum amount necessary such that no part of your Total Payments (after such reduction) constitutes an excess parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(i) of the Code. You will be entitled to elect by written notice to the Company which payments or benefits are to be reduced; provided, however, that if you do not make such an election within ten days after receiving from the Company a written summary prepared by its independent auditors of the value of the

 

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payments and benefits for purposes of Section 280G of the Code, the reduction shall be made first from the amounts payable under paragraph (B) above and, then, as the Company may determined in its discretion, from the payments under paragraphs (C), (D) and (E) above. In the event that the amount of the reduction calculated under this paragraph K is subsequently determined to be too little to avoid an excess parachute payment or is greater than required to avoid an excess parachute payment, you shall promptly repay to the Company (if too little) or receive from the Company (if too great) an amount equal to the difference together with interest at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually.

 

(L) If your employment shall be terminated (A) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability or (B) by you for Good Reason, then for a thirty-six (36) month period after such termination, the Company shall arrange to provide you with: (1) life insurance and long-term disability, medical and dental benefits substantially similar to those which you are receiving immediately prior to the Notice of Termination, (2) financial advisory services similar to those provided currently to executives of the Company, if any, and (3) outplacement services. Benefits otherwise receivable by you pursuant to this Subsection 4(iv) shall be reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by you during the thirty-six (36) month period following your termination, and any such benefits actually received by you shall be reported to the Company. Any rights that you have to continuation of life, disability, accident or health coverage under applicable state or federal law shall be in addition to those provided under this Agreement.

 

(iv) If your employment shall be terminated (A) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability or (B) by you for Good Reason, then in addition to the retirement benefits to which you are entitled under the Pension Plan and Supplemental Plan or any successor plans thereto, the Company shall pay you in cash at the time and in the manner provided in paragraph (J) of Subsection 4(iii), a lump sum equal to the excess of (x) the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension (taking into account any early retirement subsidy associated therewith and determined as a straight life annuity commencing at age sixty-five (65) or any earlier date, but in no event earlier than the second anniversary of the Date of Termination whichever annuity yields a greater benefit) which you would have accrued under the terms of the Pension Plan and Supplemental Plan (without regard to any amendments to any such plans made subsequent to a change in control of the Company and on or prior to the Date of Termination, which amendment adversely affects in any manner the computation of retirement benefits thereunder), determined as if you were fully vested thereunder and had accumulated (after the Date of Termination) thirty-six (36) additional months of age and service credit thereunder at the higher of the rate of average compensation during the twelve (12) months prior to the change in control of the Company or the rate of average compensation used to calculate your benefits under such plans immediately preceding the Date of Termination, over (y) the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension (taking into account any early retirement subsidy associated therewith and determined as a straight life annuity commencing at age sixty-five (65) or any earlier date, but in no event earlier than the Date of Termination whichever annuity yields a greater benefit) which you had then accrued pursuant to the provisions of the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Plan. For purposes of this Subsection 4(v), “actuarial equivalent” shall be determined using the same assumptions utilized under the Pension Plan for purposes of determining alternative forms of benefits immediately prior to the change in control of the Company.

 

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(v) You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by you to the Company, or otherwise, except as provided in Subsection 4(iv).

 

(vi) In addition to all other amounts payable to you under this Section 4, you shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable to you under the Pension Plan, the Savings Plan, Supplemental Plan and Nonqualified Savings Plan and any other plan or agreement relating to retirement benefits.

 

5. Confidentiality and Ownership. You acknowledge and agree that the Confidential Information (as defined in paragraph (A) below) is the property of the Company. Accordingly, except as may be required by applicable law or the lawful order of a court or regulatory body, or except to the extent that you have express authorization from the Company to do otherwise, you will:

 

(A) Confidential Information. Keep secret and confidential indefinitely all Confidential Information and not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any other person, firm or business entity, or to use it in any way. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means all non-public information, observations or data relating to the Company which you have learned during your employment with the Company, whether or not a trade secret within the meaning of applicable law, including but not limited to: (i) new products and new product development; (ii) marketing strategies and plans, market experience with products, and market research; (iii) manufacturing processes, technologies and production plans and methods; (iv) formulas, research in progress and unpublished manuals or know how devices, methods, techniques, processes and inventions; (v) regulatory filings and communications; (vi) identity of and relationship with licensees, licensers or suppliers; (vi) finances, financial information, and financial management systems; (vii) technological and engineering data; (viii) identities of and information concerning customers, vendors and suppliers and prospective customers, vendors and suppliers; (ix) development, expansion and business strategies, plans and techniques; (x) computer programs; (xi) research and development activities; (xii) litigation and pending litigation; and (xiii) any other information or documents which you are told or reasonably ought to know the Company regards as proprietary or confidential.

 

(B) On your Date of Termination or at the Company’s earlier request, you will promptly return to the Company any and all records, documents, data, memoranda, reports, physical property, information, computer disks, tapes or software or other materials, and all copies thereof, relating to the business of the Company obtained by you during your employment with the Company. You further agree to deliver to the

 

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Company, at its request, any computer in your possession or control which has contained any Confidential Information for the purpose of ensuring that all Confidential Information stored on the computer has been delivered to the Company.

 

(C) You agree that all inventions, innovations, discoveries, improvements, developments, trade secrets, processes, procedures, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, and all similar or related information which relates to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by you while employed by the Company (“Work Product”) belong to the Company. You shall promptly inform the Company of such Work Product, and shall execute such assignments as may be necessary to transfer to the Company the benefits of the Work Product, in whole or in part, or conceived by you either alone or with others, which result from any work which you may do for or at the request of the Company, whether or not conceived by you while on holiday, on vacation, or off the premises of the Company, including such of the foregoing items conceived during the course of employment which are developed or perfected after your Date of Termination. You shall assist the Company or its nominee, to obtain patents, trademarks and service marks and agree to execute all documents and to take all other actions which are necessary or appropriate to secure to the Company the benefits thereof. Such patents, trademarks and service marks shall become the property of the Company. You shall deliver to the Company all sketches, drawings, models, figures, plans, outlines, descriptions or other information with respect thereto.

 

(D) To the extent that any court or agency seeks to have you disclose Confidential Information, you shall promptly inform the Company, and you shall take such reasonable steps to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information until the Company has been informed of such requested disclosure. To the extent that you obtain information on behalf of the Company that may be subject to attorney-client privilege as to the Company’s attorneys, you shall take reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to preserve such privilege.

 

(E) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 shall be construed so as to prevent you from using, in connection with your employment for yourself or an employer other than the Company, knowledge which was acquired by you during the course of your employment with the Company, and which is generally known to persons of your experience in other companies in the same industry other than through your acts or omission to act.

 

6. Noncompetition/Nonsolicitation. You acknowledge that the industry in which the Company is engaged is a highly competitive business, and that you are a key executive of the Company. You further acknowledge that as a result of your senior position within the Company, you have acquired and will acquire extensive Confidential Information and knowledge of the Company’s business and the industry in which it operates and will develop relationships with and knowledge of customers, employees, vendors and suppliers of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Accordingly, you agree that during the time you are employed by the Company (the “Employment Period”) and for a period of 36 months after your Date of Termination, you agree as follows:

 

15


(A) You will not directly or indirectly, own, operate, manage, control, participate or have any financial interest in, consult with, advise, engage in services for (whether for yourself or for any other person and whether as proprietor, principal, stockholder, partner, agent, director, officer, employee, consultant, independent contractor or in any other capacity), any Competitor of the Company, or in any manner engage in the start-up of a business (including by yourself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization through any other entity) in Competition with the Company, provided that, this shall not prevent you from ownership of 1% or less of the outstanding stock of any corporation listed on the New York or American Stock Exchange or included in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or ownership of securities in any entity affiliated with the Company. “Competitor” or “in Competition” refers to a person or entity, including metals-related internet marketplaces, engaged in the metal service center processing and/or distribution business.

 

(B) You will not directly or indirectly contact, call upon, solicit business from, sell or render services to, any customer of the Company with respect to the provision of services identical or similar to any service provided by the Company during the Employment Period or in the process of being provided as of your Date of Termination, for which you had any responsibility or about which you had any Confidential Information during the Employment Period.

 

(C) You will not directly or indirectly either alone or in cooperation with others, encourage any employees of the Company to seek or accept an employment or business relationship with a person or entity other than the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship of the Company and any subsidiary or affiliate and any employee thereof, including without limitation, to hire, solicit for hire, or discuss or encourage the employment of, any of the employees of the Company who were employed by the Company during the Employment Period; provided however, this shall not apply to an employee whose employment was terminated by the Company before your Date of Termination, if such termination was not caused by any direct or indirect involvement of you or your subsequent employer.

 

(D) You will not directly or indirectly either alone or in cooperation with others, encourage any supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee, or other business relation of the Company, cease or curtail doing business with the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company.

 

7. Reasonableness of Restrictions, Injunctive Relief and Remedies.

 

(A) You acknowledge that your rights to compete and disclose Confidential Information and trade secrets are limited hereby only to the extent necessary to protect the Company and that, in the event that your employment with the Company terminates for any reason, you will be able to earn a livelihood without violating the foregoing restrictions. You acknowledge that the restrictions cited herein are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company’s legitimate business interests.

 

16


(B) You acknowledge that the services to be rendered by you are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and, in connection with such services, you will have access to confidential information vital to the Company’s businesses. By reason of this, you consent and agree that if you violate any of the provisions of Section 5 or 6 above, the Company would sustain irreparable harm and, therefore, in addition to any other remedies which the Company may have under this Agreement or otherwise, you shall immediately forfeit all remaining payments and benefits to which you are entitled under this Agreement and the Company shall be entitled to an injunction from any court of competent jurisdiction restraining you from committing or continuing any such violation of this Agreement, including, without limitation, restraining you from disclosing, using for any purpose, selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of, in whole or in part, any trade secrets, Confidential Information, proprietary information, client or customer lists or other information pertaining to the financial condition, business, manner of operation, affairs, plans or prospects of the Company. You acknowledge that damages at law would not be an adequate remedy for violation of Section 5 or 6, and you therefore agree that the provisions may be specifically enforced against you in any court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to it for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages.

 

8. Successors; Binding Agreement. (i) RTI will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of RTI to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that RTI or the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of RTI to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle you to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as you would be entitled to hereunder if you terminate your employment for Good Reason following a change in control of the Company, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. In the event a successor of RTI assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, the term “RTI”, as used in this Agreement, shall mean such successor and the term “Company” shall mean, collectively, such successor and the affiliates of such successor.

 

(ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you should die while any amount would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.

 

9. Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, provided that all notice to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Board with a copy to the Secretary of RTI, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

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10. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. All references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law. The obligations of RTI and the Company under Section 4 shall survive the expiration of the term of this Agreement.

 

11. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

13. Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration. All claims by you for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the Board and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to you in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable opportunity to you for a review of the decision denying a claim and shall further allow you to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board within sixty (60) days after notification by the Board that your claim has been denied. Except as provided in Section 7 above, any further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Chicago, Illinois, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, provided, however, that the evidentiary standards set forth in this Agreement shall apply. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that you shall be entitled to seek specific performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

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If this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign and return to RTI the enclosed copy of this letter which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.

 

Sincerely,
RYERSON TULL, INC.

By

 

 


    Vice President - Human Resources

 

Agreed to this     th day of                         ,         

 

 

 


(Signature)

 

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EX-10.16 3 dex1016.htm SCHEDULE TO FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT Schedule to Form of Change in Control Agreement

Exhibit 10.16

 

Schedule to Form of Change in Control Agreement between

Ryerson Tull, Inc. and the following parties:

 

 

Neil S. Novich

Jay M. Gratz

Gary J. Niederpruem

EX-10.17 4 dex1017.htm FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT Form of Change in Control Agreement

EXHIBIT 10.17

 

[DATE]

 

_________________

_________________

_________________

 

Dear             :

 

Ryerson Tull, Inc. (“RTI”) considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continuous employment of key management personnel of RTI and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). In this connection, the Board of Directors of RTI (the “Board”) recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change in control may exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of RTI and its stockholders.

 

The Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management, including yourself, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control of the Company. In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of your agreement set forth in Subsection 2(ii) hereof, RTI agrees that you shall receive the severance benefits set forth in this letter agreement (“Agreement”) in the event your employment with the Company is terminated subsequent to a “change in control of the Company” (as defined in Section 2 hereof) or in connection with a “potential change in control of the Company” (as defined in Section 2 hereof) under the circumstances described below. This Agreement shall constitute an amendment and restatement of and shall supersede any prior agreement entered into between you and RTI with respect to these matters. In the event that you receive severance benefits hereunder, such benefits shall be in lieu of, and you shall not be entitled to receive, any benefits or payments under any other severance plan or policy of the Company or any agreement with the Company and the provisions of Section 5 through 7 hereof shall supercede any provisions relating to comparable matters under such other severance plan or policy or such other agreement. In addition, if you are or become entitled to benefits from the Company pursuant to another agreement providing for benefits on account of a change in control or the law of a jurisdiction other than the United States or any state or territory thereof as a result of an event for which benefits are payable to you pursuant this Agreement, the benefits paid to you pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount paid to you pursuant to such other agreement or law.


1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue in effect until the first anniversary of the date on which RTI gives you a written notice of termination of the Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence: (i) if your employer is a direct or indirect subsidiary of RTI, this Agreement shall terminate on the date on which RTI ceases to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80 percent of your employer for any reason which does not constitute a change in control of the Company, and (ii) if a change in control of the Company or a potential change in control of the Company shall have occurred during the original or extended term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of twenty-four (24) months beyond the month in which such change in control or potential change in control of the Company occurred unless earlier terminated under clause (i) next above.

 

2. Change in Control; Potential Change in Control. a) No benefits shall be payable hereunder unless there shall have been a potential change in control or a change in control of the Company, as set forth below. For purposes of this Agreement, a “change in control of the Company” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(A) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than (w) the Company, (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (y) an underwriter temporarily holding voting securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (z) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the security holders of RTI in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of voting securities of RTI, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of RTI (not including in the voting securities beneficially owned by such person any voting securities acquired directly from RTI or its affiliates) representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of RTI’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

(B) during any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with RTI to effect a transaction described in clauses (A), (C) or (D) of this Subsection 2(i)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by RTI’s security holders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (“Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;

 

(C) there occurs a merger or consolidation of RTI with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of RTI outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of RTI or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of RTI (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of RTI’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

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(D) the holders of voting securities of RTI approve a plan of complete liquidation of RTI or an agreement for the sale or disposition by RTI of all or substantially all of RTI’s assets; or

 

(E) there occurs:

 

(x) a sale or disposition, directly or indirectly, other than to a person described in subclause (w), (x) or (z) of clause (A) of this Subsection 2(i), of voting securities of your employer, any direct or indirect parent company of your employer or any company that is a subsidiary of your employer and is also a significant subsidiary (as defined below) of RTI (your employer and such a parent or subsidiary being a “Related Company”), representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of such Related Company then outstanding;

 

(y) a merger or consolidation of a Related Company with any other corporation, other than:

 

(1) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Related Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Related Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;

 

(2) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Related Company (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Related Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

(3) a merger or consolidation which would result in 50% or more of the combined voting power of the surviving company being beneficially owned by RTI or by a majority owned direct or indirect subsidiary of RTI; or

 

(z) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of a Related Company to a person other than RTI or a majority owned direct or indirect subsidiary of RTI.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no change in control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred under this Subsection 2(i) if (I) such transaction includes or involves a sale to the public or a distribution to the stockholders of RTI of more than 50% of the

 

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voting securities of your employer or a direct or indirect parent of your employer, and (II) your employer or a direct or indirect parent of your employer agrees to become a successor to RTI under this Agreement or you are covered by an agreement providing for benefits upon a change in control of your employer following an event described clause (E). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning given to such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, a “potential change in control of the Company” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(A) RTI enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a change in control of the Company;

 

(B) any person (including RTI) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a change in control of the Company;

 

(C) any person, other than (w) the Company, (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding voting securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (y) an underwriter temporarily holding voting securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (z) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the security holders of RTI in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of voting securities of RTI, who is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of voting securities of RTI representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of RTI’s then outstanding voting securities, increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such person on the date hereof; or

 

(D) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a potential change in control of the Company has occurred.

 

You agree that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a potential change in control of the Company, you will remain in the employ of the Company until the earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the occurrence of such potential change in control of the Company, (ii) the termination by you of your employment by reason of Disability or Retirement, as defined in Subsection 3(i), or (iii) the occurrence of a change in control of the Company. If your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in Subsection 3(ii) below) coincident with or prior to a change in control of the Company and within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of a potential change in control of the Company and a change in control of the Company occurs within six (6) months after such termination, you shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits hereunder as if your termination of employment without Cause followed a change in control of the Company; provided, however, that no benefits shall be payable under this sentence if prior to the change in control of the Company, RTI ceased to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the voting securities of your employer.

 

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(iii) The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, a change in control of the Company shall not be deemed to have occurred with respect to you if:

 

(A) the event first giving rise to the potential change in control of the Company involves a publicly announced transaction or publicly announced proposed transaction which at the time of the announcement has not been previously approved by the Board and you are “part of a purchasing group” (as defined below) proposing the transaction;

 

(B) you are part of a purchasing group which consummates the change in control transaction; or

 

(C) the change in control of the Company would otherwise occur under Subsection 2(i)(D) due to the sale of a significant subsidiary, which significant subsidiary constitutes all or substantially all of the assets of RTI and you are not employed by RTI or the significant subsidiary which is the subject of the transaction.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, you shall be deemed “part of a purchasing group” if you are an equity participant or have agreed to become an equity participant in the purchasing company or group (except for (A) passive ownership of less than 1% of the stock of the purchasing company or (B) ownership of equity participation in the purchasing company or group which is otherwise not deemed to be significant, as determined prior to the change in control of the Company by a majority of the non-employee Continuing Directors).

 

3. Termination Following Change in Control. If a change in control of the Company, as defined in Section 2 hereof, shall have occurred, you shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Subsection 4(iii) hereof upon the subsequent termination of your employment during the term of this Agreement unless such termination is (A) because of your death, Disability or Retirement, (B) by the Company for Cause, or (C) by you other than for Good Reason.

 

(i) Disability; Retirement. If, as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been absent from the full-time performance of your duties with the Company for six (6) consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties, your employment may be terminated for “Disability”. Termination by the Company or you of your employment based on “Retirement” shall mean termination on or after your normal retirement age in accordance with the Company’s retirement policy generally applicable to its salaried employees or in accordance with any retirement arrangement established with your consent with respect to you.

 

(ii) Cause. Termination by the Company of your employment for “Cause” shall mean termination upon (A) the willful and continued failure by you to substantially perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from your incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the issuance of a Notice of Termination by you for Good Reason as defined in Subsections 3(iv) and 3(iii), respectively) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to you by the Board, which

 

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demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that you have not substantially performed your duties, or (B) the willful engaging by you in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this Subsection 3(ii), no act, or failure to act, on your part shall be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you not in good faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to you and an opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board you were guilty of conduct set forth above in clauses (A) or (B) of the first sentence of this Subsection 3(ii) and specifying the particulars thereof in detail; provided that, in the event of a dispute concerning the application of this provision, no claim by the Company that Cause exists shall be given effect unless the Company establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that Cause exists.

 

(iii) Good Reason. You shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without your express written consent, the occurrence after a change in control of the Company of any of the following circumstances unless, in the case of paragraphs (A), (E), (F), (G) or (H), such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination, as defined in Subsections 3(v) and 3(iv), respectively, given in respect thereof:

 

(A) the assignment to you of any duties inconsistent with your status as an executive officer of the Company or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of your responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the change in control of the Company other than any such alteration primarily attributable to the fact that the Company may no longer be a public company;

 

(B) a reduction by the Company in your annual base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

 

(C) the Company’s requiring that your principal place of business be at an office located more than 50 miles from where your principal place of business is located immediately prior to the change in control of the Company, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with your business travel obligations immediately prior to the change in control of the Company;

 

(D) the failure by the Company, without your consent, to pay to you any portion of your current compensation, or to pay to you any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company, within seven (7) days of the date such compensation is due;

 

(E) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in which you participate immediately prior to the change in control of the Company which is material to your total compensation, including but not limited to the Ryerson Tull Annual Incentive Plan (the “Annual Incentive Plan”), Ryerson Tull 2002 Incentive Stock

 

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Plan and any successor thereto (collectively, the “Incentive Stock Plans”), Ryerson Tull Nonqualified Savings Plan (the “Nonqualified Savings Plan”), or the Ryerson Tull Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”) or any substitute or alternative plans adopted prior to the change in control, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the failure by the Company to continue your participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of your participation relative to other participants, as existed at the time of the change in control;

 

(F) the failure by the Company to continue to provide you with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by you under any of the Company’s defined contribution plan, life insurance, medical, dental, or short-term and long-term disability plans or programs in which you were participating at the time of the change in control of the Company, the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the change in control of the Company, or the failure by the Company to provide you with the number of paid vacation days to which you are entitled on the basis of years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the change in control of the Company;

 

(G) the failure of RTI to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 5 hereof; or

 

(H) any purported termination of your employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Subsection 3(iv) below (and, if applicable, the requirements of Subsection 3(ii) above); for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

 

Your right to terminate your employment pursuant to this Section 3 shall not be affected by your incapacity due to physical or mental illness. Your continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder. For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good Reason, any claim by you that Good Reason exists shall be presumed to be correct unless the Company establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist.

 

(iv) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination of your employment by the Company or by you shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 6 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of your employment under the provision so indicated.

 

(v) Date of Termination, Etc. “Date of Termination” shall mean (A) if your employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that you shall not have returned to the full-time performance of your duties during

 

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such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if your employment is terminated pursuant to Subsection 3(ii) or 3(iii) above or for any other reason (other than Disability), the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection 3(ii) above shall not be less than thirty (30) days, and in the case of a termination pursuant to Subsection 3(iii) above shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given); provided that if within fifteen (15) days after any Notice of Termination is given, or, if later, prior to the Date of Termination (as determined without regard to this proviso), the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected) but shall be deemed to be within the twenty four (24) month period following a change in control of the Company; provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Company will continue to pay you your full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, base salary) and continue you as a participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans and programs in which you were participating when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Subsection 3(v). Amounts paid under this Subsection 3(v) are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

 

4. Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability. Following a change in control of the Company, as defined by Subsection 2(i), upon termination of your employment or during a period of Disability you shall be entitled to the following benefits:

 

(i) During any period that you fail to perform your full-time duties with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall continue to receive your base salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period, together with all compensation payable to you under the Pension Plan, Supplemental Plan, Annual Incentive Plan, Savings Plan and Nonqualified Savings Plan during such period, until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Subsection 3(i) hereof. Thereafter, in the event your employment shall be terminated, your benefits shall be determined under the Company’s retirement, insurance and other compensation plans and programs then in effect in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs.

 

(ii) If your employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by you other than for Good Reason, Disability, death or Retirement, the Company shall pay you your full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, plus all other amounts to which you are entitled under any compensation plan of the Company at the time such payments are due, and the Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.

 

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(iii) If your employment by the Company shall be terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability, or (b) by you for Good Reason, then you shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits provided below subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation, paragraph (K) below and Section 7 hereof.

 

(A) The Company shall pay you your full base salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, plus all other amounts to which you are entitled under any compensation plan or program of the Company, at the time such payments are due, except as otherwise provided below.

 

(B) In lieu of any further salary payments to you for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay as severance pay to you severance payments equal to two times the sum of (x) your annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the circumstance giving rise to the Notice of Termination given in respect thereof, and (y) the greater of (I) your target award under the Annual Incentive Plan or similar successor plan for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, or (II) the average annual amount of the Award paid to you pursuant to the Annual Incentive Plan or similar successor plan with respect to the five years immediately preceding that in which the Date of Termination occurs, such average annual amount being calculated by aggregating all such Awards paid with respect to such five years and dividing such aggregate amount by the number of years for which such an Award was actually paid to you. You acknowledge that an amount equal to one times the sum of (x) plus (y) above is in consideration of your agreement to the terms of Sections 5 through 7 below and shall be payable in equal monthly or more frequent intervals over a 24-month period commencing on your Date of Termination. The balance of the amount payable under this Paragraph B shall be paid in a lump sum.

 

(C) Notwithstanding any provision of the Annual Incentive Plan, the Company shall pay to you a lump sum amount under that plan at least equal to the sum of (x) any incentive compensation under the Annual Incentive Plan which has been allocated or awarded to you for a completed fiscal year or other measuring period preceding the Date of Termination but has not yet been paid, and (y) a pro rata portion to the Date of Termination for the current fiscal year or other measuring period of the amount equal to the Target Award percentage applicable to you under the Annual Incentive Plan or similar successor plan on the Date of Termination times your annual base salary then in effect.

 

(D) In lieu of shares of common stock of RTI (“RTI Shares”) issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted to you under RTI’s stock option plans (“Options”) (which Options shall be cancelled upon the making of the payment referred to below), you shall receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the excess of (x) in the case of incentive stock options (as defined in section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) (“ISOs”), granted after the date of this Agreement (without regard to any renewal hereof), the closing price of RTI’s shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions on or nearest the Date of Termination, or in the case of all other Options (other than ISOs granted prior to the date of this Agreement (without regard to any renewal hereof)), the Change in

 

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Control Price (as defined below), over (y) the per share exercise price of each Option then held by you (whether or not then fully exercisable), times (ii) the number of RTI Shares covered by each such Option. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Change in Control Price” means: (1) with respect to a merger or consolidation of RTI described in Subsection 2(i)(C) in which the consideration per share of RTI’s common stock to be paid for the acquisition of shares of common stock specified in the agreement of merger or consolidation is all in cash, the highest such consideration per share; (2) with respect to a change in control of the Company by reason of an acquisition of voting securities described in Subsection 2(i)(A), the highest price per share for any share of RTI’s common stock paid by any holder of any of the securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of RTI giving rise to the change in control of the Company; and (3) with respect to a change in control of the Company by reason of a merger or consolidation of RTI (other than a merger or consolidation described in Clause (1) next above), stockholder approval of an agreement or plan described in Subsection 2(i)(D), a change in the composition of the Board described in Subsection 2(i)(B) or a change in control of the Company pursuant to Subsection 2(i)(E) (relating to mergers, consolidations and sales of securities or assets of a Related Company), the highest price per share of common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions (or, if such shares are not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, such other principal market on which such shares are traded) during the sixty (60) day period ending on the date the change in control of the Company occurs.

 

(E) To the extent not otherwise vested in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Incentive Stock Plans, you shall be fully vested in any restricted shares issued thereunder. You shall receive an amount in cash with respect to each performance share award granted under the Incentive Stock Plans which was outstanding on the date of the change in control which is equal to (i)the Change in Control Price, multiplied by (ii) 100% of the target award amount under such performance share award, and further multiplied by (iii) a fraction, the denominator of which is the number of months (rounded to the nearest whole number) in the original performance cycle for such performance share award, and the numerator of which is the number of months (rounded to the nearest whole number) of such performance cycle elapsed prior to the date of the change in control of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company’s market capitalization as of the date of the change in control is less than $250 million, “30%” shall be substituted for “100%” in clause (ii) above; and, provided further, that the foregoing amount shall be in lieu of any other payment with respect to such performance share award, and if you receive any payment with respect to such performance share award after the change in control, but prior to your Date of Termination, it shall reduce, but not below zero, the amount to which you are entitled under this paragraph (E) with respect to such award.

 

(F) The Company shall also pay to you all legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a result of such termination (including all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of Section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder). Such payments shall be made within five (5)

 

10


days after your request for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require. You shall be entitled to select your legal counsel, and your rights to payment pursuant to this paragraph (F) shall not be affected by the final outcome of any dispute with the Company.

 

(G) This paragraph (G) applies in the event that (i) you become entitled to any payments or benefits under this Agreement (the “Contract Payments”), and (ii) the aggregate present value (calculated in accordance with Section 280G of the Code) exceeds by fifteen percent or more the threshold amount at which you become subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, i.e. such present value exceeds by fifteen percent or more an amount equal to three times your “base amount” determined under Section 280G of the Code. In that case, the Company shall pay to you, no later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination, an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount retained by you, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Contract Payments and such other Total Payments and any federal and state and local income and other payroll taxes and Excise Tax upon the payment provided for by this paragraph (G), shall be equal to the Contract Payments and such other Total Payments.

 

(H) For purposes of determining whether any of the payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, the amount of such Excise Tax, whether you are entitled to a Gross-Up Payment in accordance with paragraph (G) above, and whether your Total Payments will be reduced pursuant to Paragraph (K) below and the amount of such reduction, (i) any other payments or benefits received or to be received by you in connection with a change in control of the Company or your termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a change in control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a change in control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person (together with the Contract Payments, the “Total Payments”), shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code and all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(l) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless in the opinion of tax counsel selected by RTI’s independent auditors and reasonably acceptable to you, it is more likely than not that such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code in excess of the base amount allocable to such reasonable compensation within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, (ii) the amount of the Total Payments which shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the amount of the Total Payments or (B) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(l) of the Code (after applying clause (i) above), and (iii) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by RTI’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of determining the

 

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amount of the Gross-Up Payment, you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of your residence on the Date of Termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

(I) In the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of termination of your employment, you shall repay to the Company at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal and state and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by you if such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax and/or a federal and state and local income tax deduction) plus interest on the amount of such repayment at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of the termination of your employment (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional gross-up payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.

 

(J) Except for the portion of the payments to be made over a 24-month period in accordance with paragraph (B) above, the payments provided for in paragraphs (B), (C), (D) and (E) above, shall be made not later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination, provided, however, that if the amounts of such payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to you on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the Company, of the minimum amount of such payments and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with interest at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event later than the thirtieth day after the Date of Termination. In the event that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, you shall promptly repay to the Company the amount of such excess (together with interest at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually).

 

(K) In the event that (i) you become entitled to any payments or benefits under this Agreement, but you are not entitled to a Gross-Up Payment under paragraph (G) above, the amount of payments and benefits to which you are entitled under this Agreement shall be reduced by the minimum amount necessary such that no part of your Total Payments (after such reduction) constitutes an excess parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(i) of the Code. You will be entitled to elect by written notice to the Company which payments or benefits are to be reduced; provided, however, that if you do not make such an election within ten days after receiving from the Company a written summary prepared by its independent auditors of the value of the

 

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payments and benefits for purposes of Section 280G of the Code, the reduction shall be made first from the amounts payable under paragraph (B) above and, then, as the Company may determined in its discretion, from the payments under paragraphs (C), (D) and (E) above. In the event that the amount of the reduction calculated under this paragraph K is subsequently determined to be too little to avoid an excess parachute payment or is greater than required to avoid an excess parachute payment, you shall promptly repay to the Company (if too little) or receive from the Company (if too great) an amount equal to the difference together with interest at a rate equal to 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded semi-annually.

 

(L) If your employment shall be terminated (A) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability or (B) by you for Good Reason, then for a twenty-four (24) month period after such termination, the Company shall arrange to provide you with: (1) life insurance and long-term disability, medical and dental benefits substantially similar to those which you are receiving immediately prior to the Notice of Termination, (2) financial advisory services similar to those provided currently to executives of the Company, if any, and (3) outplacement services. Benefits otherwise receivable by you pursuant to this Subsection 4(iv) shall be reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by you during the twenty-four (24) month period following your termination, and any such benefits actually received by you shall be reported to the Company. Any rights that you have to continuation of life, disability, accident or health coverage under applicable state or federal law shall be in addition to those provided under this Agreement.

 

(iv) If your employment shall be terminated (A) by the Company other than for Cause, Retirement or Disability or (B) by you for Good Reason, then in addition to the retirement benefits to which you are entitled under the Pension Plan and Supplemental Plan or any successor plans thereto, the Company shall pay you in cash at the time and in the manner provided in paragraph (J) of Subsection 4(iii), a lump sum equal to the excess of (x) the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension (taking into account any early retirement subsidy associated therewith and determined as a straight life annuity commencing at age sixty-five (65) or any earlier date, but in no event earlier than the second anniversary of the Date of Termination whichever annuity yields a greater benefit) which you would have accrued under the terms of the Pension Plan and Supplemental Plan (without regard to any amendments to any such plans made subsequent to a change in control of the Company and on or prior to the Date of Termination, which amendment adversely affects in any manner the computation of retirement benefits thereunder), determined as if you were fully vested thereunder and had accumulated (after the Date of Termination) twenty-four (24) additional months of age and service credit thereunder at the higher of the rate of average compensation during the twelve (12) months prior to the change in control of the Company or the rate of average compensation used to calculate your benefits under such plans immediately preceding the Date of Termination, over (y) the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension (taking into account any early retirement subsidy associated therewith and determined as a straight life annuity commencing at age sixty-five (65) or any earlier date, but in no event earlier than the Date of Termination whichever annuity yields a greater benefit) which you had then accrued pursuant to the provisions of the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Plan. For purposes of this Subsection 4(v), “actuarial equivalent” shall be determined using the same assumptions utilized under the Pension Plan for purposes of determining alternative forms of benefits immediately prior to the change in control of the Company.

 

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(v) You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by you to the Company, or otherwise, except as provided in Subsection 4(iv).

 

(vi) In addition to all other amounts payable to you under this Section 4, you shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable to you under the Pension Plan, the Savings Plan, Supplemental Plan and Nonqualified Savings Plan and any other plan or agreement relating to retirement benefits.

 

5. Confidentiality and Ownership. You acknowledge and agree that the Confidential Information (as defined in paragraph (A) below) is the property of the Company. Accordingly, except as may be required by applicable law or the lawful order of a court or regulatory body, or except to the extent that you have express authorization from the Company to do otherwise, you will:

 

(A) Confidential Information. Keep secret and confidential indefinitely all Confidential Information and not disclose such Confidential Information, either directly or indirectly, to any other person, firm or business entity, or to use it in any way. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means all non-public information, observations or data relating to the Company which you have learned during your employment with the Company, whether or not a trade secret within the meaning of applicable law, including but not limited to: (i) new products and new product development; (ii) marketing strategies and plans, market experience with products, and market research; (iii) manufacturing processes, technologies and production plans and methods; (iv) formulas, research in progress and unpublished manuals or know how devices, methods, techniques, processes and inventions; (v) regulatory filings and communications; (vi) identity of and relationship with licensees, licensers or suppliers; (vi) finances, financial information, and financial management systems; (vii) technological and engineering data; (viii) identities of and information concerning customers, vendors and suppliers and prospective customers, vendors and suppliers; (ix) development, expansion and business strategies, plans and techniques; (x) computer programs; (xi) research and development activities; (xii) litigation and pending litigation; and (xiii) any other information or documents which you are told or reasonably ought to know the Company regards as proprietary or confidential.

 

(B) On your Date of Termination or at the Company’s earlier request, you will promptly return to the Company any and all records, documents, data, memoranda, reports, physical property, information, computer disks, tapes or software or other materials, and all copies thereof, relating to the business of the Company obtained by you during your employment with the Company. You further agree to deliver to the

 

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Company, at its request, any computer in your possession or control which has contained any Confidential Information for the purpose of ensuring that all Confidential Information stored on the computer has been delivered to the Company.

 

(C) You agree that all inventions, innovations, discoveries, improvements, developments, trade secrets, processes, procedures, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, and all similar or related information which relates to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by you while employed by the Company (“Work Product”) belong to the Company. You shall promptly inform the Company of such Work Product, and shall execute such assignments as may be necessary to transfer to the Company the benefits of the Work Product, in whole or in part, or conceived by you either alone or with others, which result from any work which you may do for or at the request of the Company, whether or not conceived by you while on holiday, on vacation, or off the premises of the Company, including such of the foregoing items conceived during the course of employment which are developed or perfected after your Date of Termination. You shall assist the Company or its nominee, to obtain patents, trademarks and service marks and agree to execute all documents and to take all other actions which are necessary or appropriate to secure to the Company the benefits thereof. Such patents, trademarks and service marks shall become the property of the Company. You shall deliver to the Company all sketches, drawings, models, figures, plans, outlines, descriptions or other information with respect thereto.

 

(D) To the extent that any court or agency seeks to have you disclose Confidential Information, you shall promptly inform the Company, and you shall take such reasonable steps to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information until the Company has been informed of such requested disclosure. To the extent that you obtain information on behalf of the Company that may be subject to attorney-client privilege as to the Company’s attorneys, you shall take reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to preserve such privilege.

 

(E) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 shall be construed so as to prevent you from using, in connection with your employment for yourself or an employer other than the Company, knowledge which was acquired by you during the course of your employment with the Company, and which is generally known to persons of your experience in other companies in the same industry other than through your acts or omission to act.

 

6. Noncompetition/Nonsolicitation. You acknowledge that the industry in which the Company is engaged is a highly competitive business, and that you are a key executive of the Company. You further acknowledge that as a result of your senior position within the Company, you have acquired and will acquire extensive Confidential Information and knowledge of the Company’s business and the industry in which it operates and will develop relationships with and knowledge of customers, employees, vendors and suppliers of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Accordingly, you agree that during the time you are employed by the Company (the “Employment Period”) and for a period of 24 months after your Date of Termination, you agree as follows:

 

15


(A) You will not directly or indirectly, own, operate, manage, control, participate or have any financial interest in, consult with, advise, engage in services for (whether for yourself or for any other person and whether as proprietor, principal, stockholder, partner, agent, director, officer, employee, consultant, independent contractor or in any other capacity), any Competitor of the Company, or in any manner engage in the start-up of a business (including by yourself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization through any other entity) in Competition with the Company, provided that, this shall not prevent you from ownership of 1% or less of the outstanding stock of any corporation listed on the New York or American Stock Exchange or included in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or ownership of securities in any entity affiliated with the Company. “Competitor” or “in Competition” refers to a person or entity, including metals-related internet marketplaces, engaged in the metal service center processing and/or distribution business.

 

(B) You will not directly or indirectly contact, call upon, solicit business from, sell or render services to, any customer of the Company with respect to the provision of services identical or similar to any service provided by the Company during the Employment Period or in the process of being provided as of your Date of Termination, for which you had any responsibility or about which you had any Confidential Information during the Employment Period.

 

(C) You will not directly or indirectly either alone or in cooperation with others, encourage any employees of the Company to seek or accept an employment or business relationship with a person or entity other than the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship of the Company and any subsidiary or affiliate and any employee thereof, including without limitation, to hire, solicit for hire, or discuss or encourage the employment of, any of the employees of the Company who were employed by the Company during the Employment Period; provided however, this shall not apply to an employee whose employment was terminated by the Company before your Date of Termination, if such termination was not caused by any direct or indirect involvement of you or your subsequent employer.

 

(D) You will not directly or indirectly either alone or in cooperation with others, encourage any supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee, or other business relation of the Company, cease or curtail doing business with the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company.

 

7. Reasonableness of Restrictions, Injunctive Relief and Remedies.

 

(A) You acknowledge that your rights to compete and disclose Confidential Information and trade secrets are limited hereby only to the extent necessary to protect the Company and that, in the event that your employment with the Company terminates for any reason, you will be able to earn a livelihood without violating the foregoing restrictions. You acknowledge that the restrictions cited herein are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company’s legitimate business interests.

 

16


(B) You acknowledge that the services to be rendered by you are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and, in connection with such services, you will have access to confidential information vital to the Company’s businesses. By reason of this, you consent and agree that if you violate any of the provisions of Section 5 or 6 above, the Company would sustain irreparable harm and, therefore, in addition to any other remedies which the Company may have under this Agreement or otherwise, you shall immediately forfeit all remaining payments and benefits to which you are entitled under this Agreement and the Company shall be entitled to an injunction from any court of competent jurisdiction restraining you from committing or continuing any such violation of this Agreement, including, without limitation, restraining you from disclosing, using for any purpose, selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of, in whole or in part, any trade secrets, Confidential Information, proprietary information, client or customer lists or other information pertaining to the financial condition, business, manner of operation, affairs, plans or prospects of the Company. You acknowledge that damages at law would not be an adequate remedy for violation of Section 5 or 6, and you therefore agree that the provisions may be specifically enforced against you in any court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to it for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages.

 

8. Successors; Binding Agreement. (i) RTI will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of RTI to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that RTI or the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of RTI to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle you to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as you would be entitled to hereunder if you terminate your employment for Good Reason following a change in control of the Company, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. In the event a successor of RTI assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, the term “RTI”, as used in this Agreement, shall mean such successor and the term “Company” shall mean, collectively, such successor and the affiliates of such successor.

 

(ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you should die while any amount would still be payable to you hereunder if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.

 

9. Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, provided that all notice to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the Board with a copy to the Secretary of RTI, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

17


10. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. All references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law. The obligations of RTI and the Company under Section 4 shall survive the expiration of the term of this Agreement.

 

11. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

13. Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration. All claims by you for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the Board and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to you in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable opportunity to you for a review of the decision denying a claim and shall further allow you to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board within sixty (60) days after notification by the Board that your claim has been denied. Except as provided in Section 7 above, any further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Chicago, Illinois, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, provided, however, that the evidentiary standards set forth in this Agreement shall apply. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that you shall be entitled to seek specific performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

18


If this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign and return to RTI the enclosed copy of this letter which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.

 

Sincerely,

RYERSON TULL, INC.

By

 

 


   

Vice President - Human Resources

 

Agreed to this        day of                         ,         

 

 

 


(Signature)

 

19

EX-10.18 5 dex1018.htm SCHEDULE TO FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT Schedule to Form of Change in Control Agreement

Exhibit 10.18

 

Schedule to Form of Change in Control Agreement between

Ryerson Tull, Inc. and the following parties:

 

 

James M. Delaney

Stephen E. Makarewicz

EX-31.1 6 dex311.htm SECTION 302 PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION Section 302 Principal Executive Officer Certification

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF THE

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

I, Neil S. Novich, as Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ryerson Tull, 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 officers 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; and

 

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 controls over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s last fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal controls 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 controls 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 controls over financial reporting.

 

Date:

 

 

November 9, 2004

 

Signature:  

/s/ NEIL S. Novich


    Neil S. Novich
    Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)

 

EX-31.2 7 dex312.htm SECTION 302 PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION Section 302 Principal Financial Officer Certification

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF THE

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

I, Jay M. Gratz, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ryerson Tull, 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 officers 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; and

 

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 controls over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s last fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal controls 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 controls 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 controls over financial reporting.

 

Date:

 

 

November 9, 2004

 

Signature:  

/s/ Jay M. Gratz


    Jay M. Gratz
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

EX-32.1 8 dex321.htm SECTION 906 CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION Section 906 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Certification

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

[LETTERHEAD]

 

Written Statement of the Chief Executive Officer

 

I, Neil S. Novich, as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ryerson Tull, Inc. (the “Company”), state and certify that this Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2004, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in this Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2004, fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ NEIL S. NOVICH


Neil S. Novich

Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

November 9, 2004

 

EX-32.2 9 dex322.htm SECTION 906 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION Section 906 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Certification

EXHIBIT 32.2

 

[LETTERHEAD]

 

Written Statement of the Chief Financial Officer

 

I, Jay M. Gratz, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ryerson Tull, Inc. (the “Company”), state and certify that this Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2004, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in this Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended September 30, 2004, fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/S/ JAY M. GRATZ


Jay M. Gratz

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

November 9, 2004

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