Compensation Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Compensation Plan

Note 15: Compensation Plan

Participation Plan

In 2009, Ryerson Holding adopted the 2009 Participation Plan (as amended and restated, the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide incentive compensation to key employees of the Company by granting performance units. The value of the performance units is related to the appreciation in the value of the Company from and after the date of grant and the performance units vest over a period specified in the applicable award agreement, which typically vest over 44 months. The Plan may be altered, amended or terminated by the Company at any time. All performance units will terminate upon termination of the Plan or expiration on February 15, 2014. Participants in the Plan may be entitled to receive compensation for their vested units if certain performance-based “qualifying events” occur during the participant’s employment with the Company or during a short period following the participant’s death.

There are two “qualifying events” defined in the Plan: (1) A “qualifying sale event” in which there is a sale of some or all of the stock of Ryerson Holding then held by Ryerson Holding’s principal stockholders and (2) A “qualifying distribution” in which Ryerson Holding pays a cash dividend to its principal stockholders. Upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Event, participants with vested units may receive an amount equal to the difference between: (i) the value (as defined by the Plan) of the units on the date of the qualifying event, and (ii) the value of the units assigned on the date of grant. No amounts are due to participants until the total cash dividends and net proceeds from the sale of common stock to Ryerson Holding’s principal stockholder exceeds $875 million. Upon termination, with or without cause, units are forfeited, except in the case of death, as described in the Plan. As of December 31, 2012, 87,500,000 units have been authorized and granted, 50,312,500 units have been forfeited and 37,187,500 units have vested as of the date hereof. The Company is accounting for this Plan in accordance with FASB ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Since the occurrence of future “qualifying events” is not determinable or estimable, no liability or expense has been recognized to date. The fair value of the performance units are based upon cash dividends to and net proceeds from sales of common stock of Ryerson Holding by its principal stockholders through the end of each period that have occurred or are probable. The fair value of the performance units on their grant date in 2009 and at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, which included cash distributions of $35.0 million in 2012, $213.8 million in 2010 and $56.5 million in 2009, was zero.