UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2011

or,

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

Commission File Number 1-5415

A. M. Castle & Co.

Maryland		36-0879160
(State or Other Jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation of organization)
3400 North Wolf Road, Franklin Park, Illinois		60131
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone, including area code 847/455-7111

None

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o

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

Large Accelerated Filer o		Accelerated Filer þ		Non-Accelerated Filer o		Smaller Reporting Company o

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class		Outstanding at May 2, 2011
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value		23,020,886 shares

 

 

A. M. CASTLE & CO.

Table of Contents

		Page
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited):
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations			4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows			5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			6-15
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			16-21
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk			21
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			21
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			22
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			22
Item 6. Exhibits			23
Signatures			23
Exhibit Index			24
Exhibit 31.1
Exhibit 31.2
Exhibit 32.1

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.		Financial Statements (unaudited)

Amounts in thousands, except par value and per share data

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

		As of
		March 31,				December 31,
		2011				2010
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	43,829			$	36,716
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $3,675 and $3,848			158,269				128,365
Inventories, principally on last-in, first-out basis (replacement cost higher by $125,472 and $122,340)			143,670				130,917
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			8,253				6,832
Income tax receivable			1,847				8,192
Total current assets			355,868				311,022
Investment in joint venture			30,330				27,879
Goodwill			50,130				50,110
Intangible assets			39,797				41,427
Prepaid pension cost			19,172				18,580
Other assets			3,736				3,619
Property, plant and equipment
Land			5,197				5,195
Building			52,412				52,277
Machinery and equipment			173,728				182,178
Property, plant and equipment, at cost			231,337				239,650
Less — accumulated depreciation			(155,699	)			(162,935	)
Property, plant and equipment, net			75,638				76,715
Total assets		$	574,671			$	529,352
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	116,457			$	71,764
Accrued liabilities			25,333				31,320
Income taxes payable			4,232				2,357
Deferred income taxes			2,216				2,461
Current portion of long-term debt			7,993				8,012
Total current liabilities			156,231				115,914
Long-term debt, less current portion			61,860				61,127
Deferred income taxes			26,114				26,754
Other non-current liabilities			3,348				3,390
Pension and post retirement benefit obligations			8,820				8,708
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - 10,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010			—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 30,000 shares authorized; 23,149 shares issued and 22,980 outstanding at March 31, 2011 and 23,149 shares issued and 22,986 outstanding at December 31, 2010			231				231
Additional paid-in capital			181,427				180,519
Retained earnings			153,450				150,747
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(14,483	)			(15,812	)
Treasury stock, at cost - 169 shares at March 31, 2011 and 163 shares at December 31, 2010			(2,327	)			(2,226	)
Total stockholders’ equity			318,298				313,459
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	574,671			$	529,352

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Net sales		$	272,788			$	222,996
Costs and expenses:
Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)			201,428				169,043
Warehouse, processing and delivery expense			33,142				28,904
Sales, general, and administrative expense			31,121				26,942
Depreciation and amortization expense			4,999				5,150
Operating income (loss)			2,098				(7,043	)
Interest expense, net			(986	)			(1,293	)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture			1,112				(8,336	)
Income taxes			(1,268	)			2,848
Loss before equity in earnings of joint venture			(156	)			(5,488	)
Equity in earnings of joint venture			2,859				866
Net income (loss)		$	2,703			$	(4,622	)
Basic income (loss) per share		$	0.12			$	(0.20	)
Diluted income (loss) per share		$	0.12			$	(0.20	)
Dividends per common share		$	—			$	—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)		$	2,703			$	(4,622	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			4,999				5,150
Amortization of deferred gain			(95	)			(218	)
Loss on sale of fixed assets			39				—
Equity in earnings of joint venture			(2,859	)			(866	)
Dividends from joint venture			408				83
Deferred tax benefit			(963	)			(810	)
Share-based compensation expense			828				336
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements			(77	)			—
Increase (decrease) from changes, net of acquisitions, in:
Accounts receivable			(28,335	)			(20,767	)
Inventories			(11,127	)			9,108
Other current assets			(3,847	)			(979	)
Other assets			(64	)			(44	)
Prepaid pension costs			(458	)			(262	)
Accounts payable			44,241				17,759
Accrued liabilities			(4,346	)			1,766
Income taxes payable and receivable			8,216				(389	)
Postretirement benefit obligations and other liabilities			18				154
Net cash from operating activities			9,281				5,399
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(1,809	)			(1,953	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,809	)			(1,953	)
Financing activities:
Short-term (repayments) borrowings, net			—				(4,153	)
Repayments of long-term debt			(102	)			(299	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements			77				—
Net cash used in financing activities			(25	)			(4,452	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(334	)			(1,105	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			7,113				(2,111	)
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of year			36,716				28,311
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period		$	43,829			$	26,200

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

A. M. Castle & Co.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited — Amounts in thousands except per share data and percentages

(1) Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by A. M. Castle & Co. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2010 is derived from the audited financial statements at that date. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, the unaudited statements, included herein, contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of financial results for the interim period. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. The 2011 interim results reported herein may not necessarily be indicative of the results of the Company’s operations for the full year.

Non-cash investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of $220 and $169 of capital expenditures financed by accounts payable, respectively.

(2) New Accounting Standards

Standards Adopted

Effective January 1, 2011, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-29, “Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations.” The ASU specifies that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments to this guidance also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The adoption of the ASU will impact disclosures in future interim and annual financial statements issued if the Company enters into business combinations.

(3) Earnings Per Share

Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus common stock equivalents. Common stock equivalents consist of employee and director stock options, restricted stock awards, and other share-based payment awards, which have been included in the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. The following table is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
Numerator:
Net income (loss)		$	2,703			$	(4,622	)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			22,773				22,652
Effect of dilutive securities:
Outstanding common stock equivalents			689				—
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss )per share			23,462				22,652
Basic earnings (loss) per share		$	0.12			$	(0.20	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share		$	0.12			$	(0.20	)
Excluded outstanding share-based awards having an anti-dilutive effect			20				796

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the undistributed earnings (losses) attributed to participating securities, which represent certain non-vested shares granted by the Company, were approximately one percent of total net income (loss).

(4) Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

		March 31, 2011				December 31, 2010
LONG-TERM DEBT
6.76% insurance company loan due in scheduled installments through 2015		$	42,835			$	42,835
U.S. Revolver B			26,512				25,704
Other, primarily capital leases			506				600
Total long-term debt			69,853				69,139
Less current portion			(7,993	)			(8,012	)
Total long-term portion			61,860				61,127
TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT		$	69,853			$	69,139

The Company’s amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2008 Senior Credit Facility”) provides a $230,000 five-year secured revolver consisting of (i) a $170,000 revolving “A” loan (the “U.S. Revolver A”), (ii) a $50,000 multicurrency revolving “B” loan (the “U.S. Revolver B”), and (iii) a Canadian dollar $9,784 revolving loan (corresponding to $10,000 in U.S. dollars as of the amendment closing date; availability expressed in U.S. dollars changes based on movement in the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar). The maturity date of the 2008 Senior Credit Facility is January 2, 2013.

Effective April 27, 2011, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to the 2008 Senior Credit Facility, dated April 21, 2011. Effective on the same date, the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries entered into an Amendment No. 3 to Note Agreement, dated April 21, 2011, with The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company to amend certain terms in its existing note agreement pursuant to which the Company previously issued its long-term notes so as to be substantially the same as the amended senior credit facility.

The Second Amendment to the 2008 Senior Credit Facility provides: (i) for an amendment to the calculation of the covenant relating to the percentage of consolidated total assets of the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries that must be assets of the U.S. Borrower; and (ii) that for the purposes of determining compliance with the covenants contained in the amended senior credit facility, any election by the Company to measure an item of indebtedness using fair value (as permitted by Accounting Standards Codification 825 or any similar accounting standard) shall be disregarded.

There is no debt outstanding under the U.S. Revolver A. The U.S. Revolver B is classified as long-term as the Company’s cash projections indicate that amounts outstanding (which are denominated in British pounds) under this instrument are not expected to be repaid within the next 12 months. Available revolving credit capacity is primarily used to fund working capital needs. Taking into consideration the most recent borrowing base calculation as of March 31, 2011, which reflects trade receivables, inventory, letters of credit and other outstanding secured indebtedness, available credit capacity consisted of the following:

										Weighted Average
		Outstanding								Interest Rate for the Three
		Borrowings as of				Availability as of				Months ended March 31,
Debt type		March 31, 2011				March 31, 2011				2011
U.S. Revolver A			—			$	96,724				0.20	%
U.S. Revolver B			26,512				23,488				1.53	%
Canadian facility			—				10,076				3.41	%

The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt as of March 31, 2011, including current maturities, was estimated to be $42,059 compared to a carrying value of $42,835. The fair value of the fixed rate debt was determined using a market approach, which estimates fair value based on companies with similar credit quality and size of debt issuances. As of March 31, 2011, the estimated fair value of the Company’s debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility is $24,982, assuming the total amount of debt outstanding at the end of the period was outstanding until the maturity of the Company’s facility in January 2013. Although borrowings could be materially greater or less than the current amount of borrowings outstanding at the end of the period, it is not practical to estimate the amounts that may be outstanding during future periods since there is no predetermined borrowing or repayment schedule. The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility is lower than the carrying value of $26,512 since the terms of this facility are more favorable than those that might be expected to be available in the current lending environment.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company remained in compliance with the covenants of its financing agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital and working capital-to-debt ratios and a minimum adjusted consolidated net worth as defined within the agreements.

(5) Fair Value Measurements

The three-tier value hierarchy the Company utilizes, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies, is:

Level 1—Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3—Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting our own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

The fair value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying values. The cash equivalents shown in the table below consist of money market funds that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and as a result are classified as Level 1. The assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
As of March 31, 2011:
Cash equivalents		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
As of December 31, 2010:
Cash equivalents		$	6,350			$	—			$	—			$	6,350

(6) Segment Reporting

The Company distributes and performs processing on both metals and plastics. Although the distribution processes are similar, the customer markets, supplier bases and types of products are different. Additionally, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision-maker, reviews and manages these two businesses separately. As such, these businesses are considered reportable segments and are reported accordingly.

In its Metals segment, the Company’s marketing strategy focuses on distributing highly engineered specialty grades and alloys of metals as well as providing specialized processing services designed to meet very precise specifications. Core products include alloy, aluminum, stainless, nickel, titanium and carbon. Inventories of these products assume many forms such as plate, sheet, extrusions, round bar, hexagon bar, square and flat bar, tubing and coil. Depending on the size of the facility and the nature of the markets it serves, service centers are equipped as needed with bar saws, plate saws, oxygen and plasma arc flame cutting machinery, water-jet cutting, stress relieving and annealing furnaces, surface grinding equipment and sheet shearing equipment. This segment also performs various specialized fabrications for its customers through pre-qualified subcontractors that thermally process, turn, polish and straighten alloy and carbon bar.

The Company’s Plastics segment consists exclusively of a wholly-owned subsidiary that operates as Total Plastics, Inc. (“TPI”) headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Plastics segment stocks and distributes a wide variety of plastics in forms that include plate, rod, tube, clear sheet, tape, gaskets and fittings. Processing activities within this segment include cut to length, cut to shape, bending and forming according to customer specifications. The Plastics segment’s diverse customer base consists of companies in the retail (point-of-purchase), marine, office furniture and fixtures, safety products, life sciences applications, transportation and general manufacturing industries. TPI has locations throughout the upper northeast and midwest regions of the U.S. and one facility in Florida from which it services a wide variety of users of industrial plastics.

The accounting policies of all segments are the same as described in Note 1, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Management evaluates the performance of its business segments based on operating income.

Segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

		Net				Operating				Capital				Depreciation &
		Sales				Income (Loss)				Expenditures				Amortization
2011
Metals segment		$	244,589			$	3,586			$	1,317			$	4,685
Plastics segment			28,199				562				492				314
Other			—				(2,050	)			—				—
Consolidated		$	272,788			$	2,098			$	1,809			$	4,999
2010
Metals segment		$	199,674			$	(5,821	)		$	1,888			$	4,820
Plastics segment			23,322				163				65				330
Other			—				(1,385	)			—				—
Consolidated		$	222,996			$	(7,043	)		$	1,953			$	5,150

“Other” — Operating income (loss) includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments, which are shared by both the Metals and Plastics segments.

Below are reconciliations of segment data to the consolidated financial statements:

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
Operating income (loss)		$	2,098			$	(7,043	)
Interest expense, net			(986	)			(1,293	)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture			1,112				(8,336	)
Equity in earnings of joint venture			2,859				866
Consolidated income (loss) before income taxes		$	3,971			$	(7,470	)

Segment information for total assets is as follows:

		March 31,				December 31,
		2011				2010
Metals segment		$	491,009			$	454,345
Plastics segment			53,332				47,128
Other			30,330				27,879
Consolidated		$	574,671			$	529,352

“Other” — Total assets consist of the Company’s investment in joint venture.

(7) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in carrying amounts of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2011 were as follows:

		Metals				Plastics
		Segment				Segment				Total
Balance as of January 1, 2011
Goodwill		$	97,354			$	12,973			$	110,327
Accumulated impairment losses			(60,217	)			—				(60,217	)
Balance as of January 1, 2011			37,137				12,973				50,110
Currency valuation			20				—				20
Balance as of March 31, 2011
Goodwill			97,374				12,973				110,347
Accumulated impairment losses			(60,217	)			—				(60,217	)
Balance as of March 31, 2011		$	37,157			$	12,973			$	50,130

The Company’s annual test for goodwill impairment is completed as of January 1^st each year. Based on the January 1, 2011 test, the Company determined that there was no impairment of goodwill.

The following summarizes the components of intangible assets:

		March 31, 2011								December 31, 2010
		Gross								Gross
		Carrying				Accumulated				Carrying				Accumulated
		Amount				Amortization				Amount				Amortization
Customer relationships		$	69,533			$	29,736			$	69,452			$	28,025
Non-compete agreements			2,888				2,888				2,888				2,888
Trade name			378				378				378				378
Total		$	72,799			$	33,002			$	72,718			$	31,291

The weighted-average amortization period for the customer relationship intangible assets is 10.8 years. Substantially all of the Company’s intangible assets were acquired as part of the acquisitions of Transtar on September 5, 2006 and Metals U.K. on January 3, 2008, respectively. For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, amortization expense was $1,663 and $1,771, respectively.

The following is a summary of the estimated annual amortization expense for 2011 and each of the next 4 years:

2011		$	6,631
2012			6,144
2013			6,144
2014			6,144
2015			6,144

(8) Inventories

Approximately eighty percent of the Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of LIFO cost or market. Final inventory determination under the LIFO costing method is made at the end of each fiscal year based on the actual inventory levels and costs at that time. Interim LIFO determinations, including those at March 31, 2011, are based on management’s estimates of future inventory levels and costs. The Company values its LIFO increments using the cost of its latest purchases during the periods reported.

Current replacement cost of inventories exceeded book value by $125,472 and $122,340 at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Income taxes would become payable on any realization of this excess from reductions in the level of inventories.

(9) Share-based Compensation

The Company accounts for its share-based compensation arrangements by recognizing compensation expense for the fair value of the share awards granted ratably over their vesting period. All compensation expense related to share-based compensation arrangements is recorded in sales, general and administrative expense. The unrecognized compensation cost as of March 31, 2011 associated with all share-based payment arrangements is $7,805 and the weighted average period over which it is to be expensed is 1.6 years.

2011 Long-Term Compensation Plan

On March 2, 2011, the Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company approved equity awards under the Company’s 2011 Long-Term Compensation Plan (“2011 LTC Plan”) for executive officers and other select personnel. The 2011 LTC Plan awards included restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance share units (“PSUs”). All 2011 LTC Plan awards are subject to the terms of the Company’s 2008 Restricted Stock, Stock Option and Equity Compensation Plan, which was subsequently amended and renamed to the 2008 A.M. Castle & Co. Omnibus Incentive Plan as of April 28, 2011.

The 2011 LTC Plan consists of three components of share-based payment awards as follows:

Restricted Share Units — the Company granted 112 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $17.13 per share unit, which was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The RSUs cliff vest on December 31, 2013. Each RSU that becomes vested entitles the participant to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares delivered may be reduced by the number of shares required to be withheld for federal and state withholding tax requirements (determined at the market price of Company shares at the time of payout).

Performance Share Units — the Company granted 225 PSUs, half of which contain a market- based performance condition and half of which contained a non-market-based performance condition.

PSUs containing a market-based performance condition - the potential award for PSUs containing a market-based performance condition is dependent on relative total shareholder return (“RTSR”), which is measured over a three-year performance period, beginning January 1^st of the year of grant. RTSR is measured against a group of peer companies either in the metals industry or in the industrial products distribution industry (the “RTSR Peer Group”). The number of performance shares, if any, that vest based on the performance achieved during the three-year performance period, will vest at the end of the three-year performance period. Compensation expense for performance awards containing a market condition is recognized regardless of whether the market condition is achieved to the extent the requisite service period condition is met. Each performance share that becomes vested entitles the participant to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares delivered may be reduced by the number of shares required to be withheld for federal and state withholding tax requirements (determined at the market price of Company shares at the time of payout).

The grant date fair value for the PSUs containing the RTSR market based performance condition under the 2011 LTC Plan of $23.89 was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:

		2011
Expected volatility			62.0	%
Risk-free interest rate			1.10	%
Expected life (in years)			2.84
Expected dividend yield			—

PSUs containing a non-market-based performance condition - the potential award for PSUs containing a non-market-based performance condition is determined based on the Company’s actual performance versus Company-specific target goals for Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) (as defined in the 2011 LTC Plan) for any one or more fiscal years during the three-year performance period beginning on January 1^st of the year of grant. Partial performance awards can be earned for performance less than the target goal, but in excess of minimum goals and award distributions twice the target can be achieved if the maximum goals are met or exceeded. The number of performance shares, if any, that vest based on the performance achieved during the three-year performance period, will vest at the end of the three-year performance period. Compensation expense recognized is based on management’s expectation of future performance compared to the pre-established performance goals. If the performance goals are not expected to be met, no compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized compensation expense is reversed. The grant date fair-value of the PSUs containing a non-market-based performance condition of $17.13 was established using the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.

The status of the PSUs that were granted under the 2011 LTC Plan as of March 31, 2011 is summarized below:

						Estimated				Maximum Number of
		Grant Date				Number of PSUs				PSUs that could
Share type		Fair Value				to be Issued				Potentially be Issued
Market-based performance condition		$	23.89				74				222
Non-market-based performance condition		$	17.13				69				222

(10) Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and all other non-owner changes to equity that are not reported in net income (loss). The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

		March 31,
		2011				2010
Net income (loss)		$	2,703			$	(4,622	)
Foreign currency translation gain			1,246				56
Pension cost amortization, net of tax			83				71
Total comprehensive income (loss)		$	4,032			$	(4,495	)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows:

		March 31,				December 31,
		2011				2010
Foreign currency translation losses		$	(2,504	)		$	(3,750	)
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax			(11,979	)			(12,062	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss		$	(14,483	)		$	(15,812	)

(11) Employee Benefit Plans

Components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for the three months ended are as follows:

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
Service cost		$	176			$	200
Interest cost			1,904				1,919
Expected return on assets			(2,514	)			(2,335	)
Amortization of prior service cost			81				65
Amortization of actuarial loss			57				55
Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit		$	(296	)		$	(96	)

As of March 31, 2011, the Company had not made any cash contributions to its pension plans for this fiscal year and does not anticipate making any significant cash contributions to its pension plans in 2011.

(12) Joint Venture

Kreher Steel Co., LLC is a 50% owned joint venture of the Company. It is a metals distributor of bulk quantities of alloy, special bar quality and stainless steel bars, headquartered in Melrose Park, Illinois.

The following information summarizes financial data for this joint venture for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
Net sales		$	63,599			$	38,645
Cost of materials			51,278				32,183
Income before taxes			6,728				2,029
Net income			5,718				1,732

(13) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

At March 31, 2011, the Company had $3,710 of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding which primarily consisted of $2,560 for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

The Company is a defendant in several lawsuits arising from the operation of its business. These lawsuits are incidental and occur in the normal course of the Company’s business affairs. It is the opinion of management, based on current knowledge, that no uninsured liability will result from the outcome of this litigation that would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows of the Company.

In April 2011, the United States Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), provided the Company with a proposed charging letter claiming it had violated export control regulations in connection with certain shipments of aluminum alloy bar between 2005 and January 2008 to customers in four countries (China, Malaysia, Mexico and Singapore), without the required export licenses. The Company had previously submitted to the BIS a voluntary self disclosure relating to these shipments, and export licenses were subsequently obtained for all shipments. The relevant export statutes provide for monetary penalties, and in some instances, denial of export privileges and exclusion from practice before the BIS if a violation is found. The Company is in on-going discussions with the BIS authorities regarding this matter. Absent a negotiated resolution, an administrative hearing would be set and, in such case, the Company would assert a vigorous defense. While the ultimate disposition of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management, based on the information available at this time, that the outcome of this matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

(14) Income Taxes

The Company or its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S., 29 states and 7 foreign jurisdictions. The tax years 2007 through 2010 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company or its subsidiaries is subject.

An audit of the Company’s 2008 and 2009 U.S. federal income tax returns is scheduled for the second quarter of 2011. Due to the potential for resolution of the examination or expiration of statues of limitations, it is reasonably possible that the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits may change within the next 12 months by a range of zero to $1,361.

The Company received its 2009 federal income tax refund of $6,344 during January 2011.

(15) Subsequent Events

During January 2011, the Company executed a new lease agreement to move the Company’s corporate headquarters to Oak Brook, Illinois. The relocation of the corporate headquarters is in process as of the date of this filing.

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

Amounts in millions except per share data

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information provided and statements contained in this report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this report and the Company assumes no obligation to update the information included in this report. Such forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business strategy. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “predict,” “plan,” or similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are many factors that could affect our actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those risk factors identified in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. All future written and oral forward-looking statements by us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to above. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, we do not have any obligations or intention to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances in the future or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto in ITEM 1 “Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)”.

Executive Overview

Economic Trends and Current Business Conditions

A. M. Castle & Co. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) experienced higher demand from its customer base in the first quarter of 2011 in both the Metals and Plastics segments, reflecting the continuing recovery in the global industrial economy and strength in many of the Company’s targeted end markets.

Metals segment sales increased 22.5% from the first quarter of 2010. Average tons sold per day increased 17.7% compared to the prior year quarter, which was primarily driven by growth in alloy bar, carbon bar and SBQ bar products. Key end-use markets that experienced increased demand in the first quarter include oil and gas, mining, general industrial and heavy equipment.

The Company’s Plastics segment reported a sales increase of 21.0% compared to the first quarter of 2010, due to increased pricing and higher sales volume reflecting continued strength in virtually all end-use markets, most notably in the automotive, life sciences and retail point-of-purchase display sectors.

Management uses the PMI provided by the Institute for Supply Management (website is www.ism.ws) as an external indicator for tracking the demand outlook and possible trends in its general manufacturing markets. The table below shows PMI trends from the first quarter of 2009 through the first quarter of 2011. Generally speaking, an index above 50.0 indicates growth in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy, while readings under 50.0 indicate contraction.

YEAR		Qtr 1				Qtr 2				Qtr 3				Qtr 4
2009			35.9				42.6				51.5				54.6
2010			58.2				58.8				55.4				56.8
2011			61.1

Material pricing and demand in both the Metals and Plastics segments of the Company’s business have historically proven to be difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy. A favorable PMI trend suggests that demand for some of the Company’s products and services, in particular those that are sold to the general manufacturing customer base in the U.S., could potentially be at a higher level in the near-term. The Company believes that its revenue trends typically correlate to the changes in PMI on a six to twelve month lag basis.

Results of Operations: First Quarter 2011 Comparisons to First Quarter 2010

Consolidated results by business segment are summarized in the following table for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

										Fav/(Unfav)
		2011				2010				$ Change				% Change
Net Sales
Metals		$	244.6			$	199.7			$	44.9				22.5	%
Plastics			28.2				23.3				4.9				21.0	%
Total Net Sales		$	272.8			$	223.0			$	49.8				22.3	%
Cost of Materials
Metals		$	182.0			$	153.0			$	(29.0	)			(19.0	)%
% of Metals Sales			74.4	%			76.6	%
Plastics			19.4				16.0				(3.4	)			(21.3	)%
% of Plastics Sales			68.8	%			68.7	%
Total Cost of Materials		$	201.4			$	169.0			$	(32.4	)			(19.2	)%
% of Total Sales			73.8	%			75.8	%
Operating Costs and Expenses
Metals		$	59.0			$	52.5			$	(6.5	)			(12.4	)%
Plastics			8.2				7.1				(1.1	)			(15.5	)%
Other			2.1				1.4				(0.7	)			(50.0	)%
Total Operating Costs & Expenses		$	69.3			$	61.0			$	(8.3	)			(13.6	)%
% of Total Sales			25.4	%			27.4	%
Operating Income (Loss)
Metals		$	3.6			$	(5.8	)		$	9.4				162.1	%
% of Metals Sales			1.5	%			(2.9	)%
Plastics			0.6				0.2				0.4				200.0	%
% of Plastics Sales			2.1	%			0.9	%
Other			(2.1	)			(1.4	)			(0.7	)			(50.0	)%
Total Operating Income (Loss)		$	2.1			$	(7.0	)		$	9.1				130.0	%
% of Total Sales			0.8	%			(3.1	)%

“Other” includes the costs of executive, legal and finance departments which are shared by both segments of the Company.

Net Sales:

Consolidated net sales were $272.8 million, an increase of $49.8 million, or 22.3%, compared to the first quarter of 2010. Higher net sales in the first quarter of 2011 were primarily the result of higher shipping volumes and increased pricing in the metals and plastics markets. Metals segment sales during the first quarter of 2011 of $244.6 million were $44.9 million, or 22.5%, higher than the same period last year. Average tons sold per day increased 17.7% compared to the prior year quarter. The first quarter of 2011 had one more shipping day than the prior year quarter. The increase in sales volume was driven primarily by alloy bar, carbon bar and SBQ bar products. Key end-use markets that experienced increased demand in the first quarter include oil and gas, mining, general industrial and heavy equipment.

Plastics segment sales during the first quarter of 2011 of $28.2 million were $4.9 million, or 21.0% higher than the first quarter of 2010 due to increased pricing and higher sales volume reflecting continued strength in virtually all end-use markets, most notably in the automotive, life sciences and retail point-of-purchase display sectors.

Cost of Materials:

Cost of materials (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) during the first quarter of 2011 was $201.4 million, an increase of $32.4 million, or 19.2%, compared to the first quarter of 2010. Material costs for the Metals segment for the first quarter of 2011 were $182.0 million or 74.4% as a percent of net sales compared to $153.0 million or 76.6% as a percent of sales for the first quarter of 2010. Material costs as a percentage of net sales were lower in the first quarter of 2011 than 2010 as the demand environment continued to improve in first quarter of 2011, which provided an improved pricing environment compared to the first quarter of 2010. As market prices for many products increased throughout the quarter, the Company was able to leverage its inventory position, which also contributed to the reduction in material costs as a percentage of net sales compared to the prior year period. The Metals segment recorded LIFO expense of $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2011 and $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2010. Material costs for the Plastics segment of 68.8% as a percent of net sales for the first quarter of 2011 were consistent with 68.7% for the same period last year. Management believes that consolidated material costs as a percentage of net sales will be comparable to first quarter 2011 levels for the balance of 2011.

Operating Expenses and Operating Income:

On a consolidated basis, operating costs and expenses increased $8.3 million, or 13.6%, compared to the first quarter of 2010. Operating costs and expenses were $69.3 million, or 25.4% of net sales, compared to $61.0 million, or 27.4% of net sales during the first quarter of 2010. The increase in operating expenses for the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010 primarily relates to the following:

	•		Warehouse, processing and delivery costs increased by $4.2 million of which $2.5 million is the result of higher sales volume as average tons sold per day increased 17.7% and $1.7 million is due to increased payroll costs as a result of headcount and merit increases;
	•		Sales, general and administrative costs increased by $4.2 million primarily due to increased payroll costs of $3.1 million due to headcount and merit increases; and

Consolidated operating income for the first quarter of 2011 was $2.1 million compared to operating loss of $7.0 million for the same period last year. The Company’s first quarter 2011 operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales increased to 0.8% from (3.1)% in the first quarter of 2010.

Other Income and Expense, Income Taxes and Net Income:

Interest expense was $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2011, a decrease of $0.3 million versus the same period in 2010 as a result of reduced borrowings of $13.4 million from the first quarter of 2010.

The Company recorded income tax expense of $1.3 million for the quarter ended March 31,2011 compared to an income tax benefit of $2.9 million for the same period last year. The Company’s effective tax rate is expressed as ‘Income tax expense or benefit’ as a percentage of ‘Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint venture.’ This calculation includes taxes on the joint venture income but excludes joint venture income. The effective tax rate for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were 114.0% and 34.2%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate compared to the first quarter of 2010 was primarily the result of higher earnings of the Company’s joint venture.

Equity in earnings of the Company’s joint venture was $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared to $0.9 million for the same period last year. The increase is a result of higher demand in virtually all end-use markets, most notably the automotive and energy sectors, and higher pricing for Kreher’s products compared to the same period last year.

Consolidated net income for the first quarter of 2011 was $2.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, versus net loss of $4.6 million, or a loss of $0.20 per diluted share, for the same period in 2010.

Accounting Policies:

There have been no changes in critical accounting policies from those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are earnings from operations, management of working capital and available borrowing capacity to fund working capital needs and growth initiatives.

In the first three months of 2011, the Company achieved net income of $2.7 million which contributed to the increase in net cash flow from operations to $9.3 million compared to $5.4 million for the first three months of 2010.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, net sales exceeded cash receipts from customers, resulting in a $28.3 million cash flow impact due to an increase in accounts receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to a $20.8 million cash flow impact due to an increase in accounts receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Net sales increased 22.3% from the first quarter of 2010. Average receivable days outstanding was 47.2 days for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to 49.5 days for first three months of 2010, reflecting faster collections.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, inventory purchases exceeded sales of inventory, resulting in an $11.1 million cash flow impact due to an increase in inventory for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to a $9.1 million cash flow impact due to a decrease in inventory for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Average days sales in inventory was 117.0 days for the three months ended March 31, 2011 versus 150.3 days for the first three months of 2010.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, purchases exceeded cash paid for inventories and other goods and services, resulting in a $39.9 million cash flow impact due to a net increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities compared to a $19.5 million cash flow impact due to a net increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities for the same period last year.

The Company received its 2009 federal income tax refund of approximately $6.3 million during January 2011.

Available revolving credit capacity is primarily used to fund working capital needs. Taking into consideration the most recent borrowing base calculation as of March 31, 2011, which reflects trade receivables, inventory, letters of credit and other outstanding secured indebtedness, available credit capacity consisted of the following:

										Weighted Average
		Outstanding								Interest Rate for the Three
		Borrowings as of				Availability as of				Months ended March 31,
Debt type		March 31, 2011				March 31, 2011				2011
U.S. Revolver A			—			$	96.7				0.20	%
U.S. Revolver B			26.5				23.5				1.53	%
Canadian facility			—				10.1				3.41	%

As of March 31, 2011, the Company had no short-term debt outstanding under its revolving credit facilities.

Management believes the Company will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations and planned working capital improvements to fund its ongoing capital expenditure programs and meet its debt obligations for at least the next twelve months. In addition, the Company has available borrowing capacity, as discussed above.

Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2011 were $1.8 million, a decrease of $0.1 million compared to the same period last year. Management believes that annual capital expenditures will approximate $14.0 million in 2011.

The Company’s principal payments on long-term debt, including the current portion of long- term debt, required during the next five years and thereafter are summarized below:

2011		$	8.0
2012			8.1
2013			35.1
2014			9.1
2015			9.6
2016 and beyond			—
Total debt		$	69.9

As of March 31, 2011 the Company remained in compliance with the covenants of its credit agreements, which require it to maintain certain funded debt-to-capital and working capital-to-debt ratios, and a minimum adjusted consolidated net worth, as defined in the Company’s credit agreements and outlined in the table below:

		Requirement per				Actual at
Covenant Description		Credit Agreement				March 31, 2011
Funded debt-to-capital ratio		less than 0.55					0.15
Working capital-to-debt ratio		greater than 1.0					4.32
Minimum adjusted consolidated net worth		$	262.7			$	330.3

As of March 31, 2011, the Company had $3.7 million of irrevocable letters of credit outstanding, which primarily consisted of $2.6 million for compliance with the insurance reserve requirements of its workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

Item 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to interest rate, commodity price and foreign exchange rate risks that arise in the normal course of business. There have been no significant or material changes to such risks since December 31, 2010. Refer to Item 7a in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2010 for further discussion of such risks.

Item 4.		Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

A review and evaluation was performed by the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 rule 240.13a-15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

In its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company reported that, based upon their review and evaluation, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010.

As part of its evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and in accordance with the framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, referred to as the Internal Control — Integrated Framework, the Company’s management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2011 that were identified in connection with the evaluation referred to in paragraph (a) above that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.		Legal Proceedings

In April 2011, the United States Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), provided the Company with a proposed charging letter claiming it had violated export control regulations in connection with certain shipments of aluminum alloy bar between 2005 and January 2008 to customers in four countries (China, Malaysia, Mexico and Singapore), without the required export licenses. The Company had previously submitted to the BIS a voluntary self disclosure relating to these shipments, and export licenses were subsequently obtained for all shipments. The relevant export statutes provide for monetary penalties, and in some instances, denial of export privileges and exclusion from practice before the BIS if a violation is found. The Company is in on-going discussions with the BIS authorities regarding this matter. Absent a negotiated resolution, an administrative hearing would be set and, in such case, the Company would assert a vigorous defense. While the ultimate disposition of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management, based on the information available at this time, that the outcome of this matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 2.		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The table below presents shares of the Company’s common stock which were acquired by the Company during the quarter ended March 31, 2011:

Maximum

Number (or

Total number

Approximate

of Shares

Dollar Value) of

Purchased as

Shares that

Total

Part of

May Yet Be

Number of

Average

Publicly

Purchased

Shares

Price

Announced

under the

Purchased

Paid per

Plans or

Plans or

Period

(1)

Share

Programs

Programs

January 1 through January 31

—

—

—

—

February 1 through February 28

5,973

$

16.44

—

—

March 1 through March 31

1,007

$

17.23

—

—

Total

6,980

$

16.56

—

—

(1)		The total number of shares purchased represents shares acquired by the Company from employees who tendered owned shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations on vesting of restricted stock or to satisfy the exercise price on stock option exercises.

Item 6.		Exhibits

Exhibit No.				Description
	10.28			Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 21, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 10.28 to Form 8-K filed May 3, 2011. Commission File No. 1-5415.
	10.29			Amendment No. 3 to Note Agreement, dated April 21, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 10.29 to Form 8-K filed May 3, 2011. Commission File No. 1-5415.
	10.30	*		2008 A. M. Castle Omnibus Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated April 28, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 10.30 to Form 8-K filed May 3, 2011. Commission File No. 1-5415.
	31.1			CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
	31.2			CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
	32.1			CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002

SIGNATURE

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

Exhibit Index

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:

Exhibit No.				Description		Page
	10.28			Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 21, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 10.28 to Form 8-K filed May 3, 2011. Commission File No. 1-5415.
	10.29			Amendment No. 3 to Note Agreement, dated April 21, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 10.29 to Form 8-K filed May 3, 2011. Commission File No. 1-5415.
	10.30	*		2008 A. M. Castle Omnibus Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated April 28, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 10.30 to Form 8-K filed May 3, 2011. Commission File No. 1-5415.
	31.1			CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002		E-1
	31.2			CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002		E-2
	32.1			CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002		E-3

*		Agreement is considered a compensatory plan or arrangement.