Ryerson Holding Corp [RYI] Filings

NOTE 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Ryerson Holding Corporation (“Ryerson Holding”), a Delaware corporation, is the parent company of Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. (“JT Ryerson”), a Delaware corporation. Affiliates of Platinum Equity, LLC (“Platinum”) own approximately 21,037,500 shares of our common stock, which is approximately 54% of our outstanding common stock.

We are a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals with operations in the United States (“U.S.”) through JT Ryerson, in Canada through our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Ryerson Canada, Inc., a Canadian corporation (“Ryerson Canada”), and in Mexico through our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Ryerson Metals de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., a Mexican corporation (“Ryerson Mexico”). In addition to our North American operations, we conduct materials processing and distribution operations in China through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Ryerson China Limited (“Ryerson China”), a Chinese limited liability company. Unless the context indicates otherwise, Ryerson Holding, JT Ryerson, Ryerson Canada, Ryerson China, and Ryerson Mexico together with their subsidiaries, are collectively referred to herein as “Ryerson,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company.”

Results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results of any future periods or for the year. The condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2022 and for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 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. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data contained in this report was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

NOTE 2: RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

NOTE 3: CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH

We had cash restricted for the purposes of covering letters of credit that can be presented for potential insurance claims.

NOTE 4: INVENTORIES

The Company primarily uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of valuing inventory. In the first quarter of 2022, we changed the method we use to estimate LIFO on an interim basis.  This is a change in accounting estimate that is inseparable from a change in accounting principle. Historically, interim LIFO calculations were based on actual inventory levels and costs at each interim period. In the first quarter of 2022, we elected to recognize the interim effects of the LIFO inventory valuation method by projecting expected year-end inventory levels and LIFO costs and allocating that projection to the interim quarters on a pro-rata basis.

NOTE 5: GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired, amounted to $124.9 million and $124.1 million at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. We recognized $0.8 million of additional goodwill during the first three months of 2022. See Note 6: Acquisitions for further information. Pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other,” we review the recoverability of goodwill annually as of October 1 or whenever significant events or changes occur which might impair the recovery of recorded amounts. The most recently completed impairment test of goodwill was performed as of October 1, 2021, and it was determined that no impairment existed.

Other intangible assets with finite useful lives continue to be amortized over their useful lives. We recorded an additional $0.4 million of intangible assets during the first three months of 2022.  See Note 6: Acquisitions for further information. We review the recoverability of our long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.

NOTE 6: ACQUISITIONS

On February 28, 2022, Ryerson Canada paid $3.0 million to acquire substantially all of the assets of Apogee Steel Fabrication Incorporated (“Apogee”), a sheet metal fabricator located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Apogee is a full-line fabrication company providing sheering, punching, forming, and laser cut processing in addition to welding and hardware assembly services. Apogee provides complex fabrication assemblies in stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon sheet and adds to Ryerson’s value-added processing capabilities. The acquisition is not material to our consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 7: LONG-TERM DEBT

Ryerson Credit Facility              

On November 5, 2020, Ryerson entered into a fourth amendment of its $1.0 billion revolving credit facility to extend the maturity date from November 16, 2021 to November 5, 2025 (as amended, the “Ryerson Credit Facility” or “Credit Facility”). This fourth amendment also added the ability to convert up to $100 million of commitments under the Ryerson Credit Facility into a “first-in, last-out” sub-facility (the “FILO Facility”). Subject to certain limitations, such conversion can be made from time to time (but no more than twice in the aggregate) prior to the date that is two years after November 5, 2020.

At March 31, 2022, Ryerson had $294.0 million of outstanding borrowings, $14 million of letters of credit issued, and $691 million available under the Ryerson Credit Facility compared to $316.0 million of outstanding borrowings, $14 million of letters of credit issued, and $670 million available at December 31, 2021. Total credit availability is limited by the amount of eligible accounts receivable, inventory, and qualified cash pledged as collateral under the agreement insofar as Ryerson is subject to a borrowing base comprised of the aggregate of these three amounts, less applicable reserves. Eligible accounts receivable, at any date of determination, is comprised of the aggregate value of all accounts directly created by a borrower in the ordinary course of business arising out of the sale of goods or the rendering of services, each of which has been invoiced, with such receivables adjusted to exclude various ineligible accounts, including, among other things, those to which a borrower (or guarantor, as applicable) does not have sole and absolute title and accounts arising out of a sale to an employee, officer, director, or affiliate of a borrower (or guarantor, as applicable). Eligible inventory, at any date of determination, is comprised of the net orderly liquidation value of all inventory owned by a borrower. Qualified cash consists of cash in an eligible deposit account that is subject to customary restrictions and liens in favor of the lenders.

Amounts outstanding under the Ryerson Credit Facility bear interest at (i) a rate determined by reference to (A) the base rate (the highest of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, Bank of America, N.A.’s prime rate, and the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%, however, in no event shall the base rate be less than 1.25%), or (B) a LIBOR rate (with a floor of 0.25%) or, (ii) for Ryerson Holding’s Canadian subsidiary that is a borrower, (A) a rate determined by reference to the Canadian base rate (the greatest of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, Bank of America-Canada Branch’s “base rate” for commercial loans in U.S. Dollars made at its “base rate”, and the 30 day LIBOR rate plus 1.00%), (B) the prime rate (the greater of Bank of America-Canada Branch’s “prime rate” for commercial loans made by it in Canada in Canadian Dollars and the one-month Canadian bankers’ acceptance rate (with a floor of 0.25%) plus 1.00%, or (C) the bankers’ acceptance rate, however, in no event shall the Canadian base rate or the Canadian prime rate be less than 1.25%).  Through November 5, 2021 the spread over the base rate and prime rate was fixed at 0.50% and the spread over the LIBOR for the bankers’ acceptances was fixed at 1.50%. After November 5, 2021, the spread over the base rate and prime rate is between 0.25% and 0.50% and the spread over the LIBOR for the bankers’ acceptances is between 1.25% and 1.50%, depending on the amount available to be borrowed under the Ryerson Credit Facility. The spread with respect to the FILO Facility, if any, will be determined at the time the commitments under the Ryerson Credit Facility are converted into such FILO Facility. Ryerson also pays commitment fees on amounts not borrowed at a rate of 0.225%. Overdue amounts and all amounts owed during the existence of a default bear interest at 2.00% above the rate otherwise applicable thereto. Loans advanced under the FILO Facility may only be prepaid if all then outstanding revolving loans are repaid in full. LIBOR rates will stop being published on June 30, 2023, at that time the interest rate on the Ryerson Credit Facility will be replaced by the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”).

NOTE 8: EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Components of net periodic benefit cost (credit), excluding service cost, are included in Other income and (expense), net in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The Company contributed $3.5 million to the pension plan funds through the three months ended March 31, 2022, and anticipates that it will have a minimum required pension contribution funding of approximately $2.3 million for the remaining nine months of 2022. The expected future contributions reflect recent pension funding relief measures under the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) passed in March 2021.

NOTE 9: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In October 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) named JT Ryerson as one of more than 100 businesses that may be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site (the “PHS Site”). On January 6, 2017, the EPA issued an initial Record of Decision (“ROD”) regarding the site. The ROD includes a combination of dredging, capping, and enhanced natural recovery that would take approximately thirteen years to construct plus additional time for monitored natural recovery, at an estimated present value cost of $1.05 billion. At a December 4, 2018 meeting with the Portland Harbor Participation and Common Interest Group (“PCI Group”), of which JT Ryerson is a member, the EPA indicated that it expected PRPs to submit a plan during 2019 to start remediation of the river and harbor per the ROD within the next two to three years. The EPA also indicated that it expected allocation of amounts among the parties to be determined in the same two to three-year time frame.

The EPA met with various PRPs throughout 2019 and 2020 regarding remedial design. The EPA did not include JT Ryerson in those meetings.  It did include Schnitzer Steel, which is developing a remedial design plan for the river area which includes the area where the former JT Ryerson facilities were located. Schnitzer Steel’s 2020 disclosures filed with the EPA acknowledged that Schnitzer Steel is the legal successor to the prior operators (including JT Ryerson) in the designated area. On February 12, 2021, the EPA announced that one hundred percent (100%) of the PHS Site is now in the active remedial design phase.

In June 2021, the EPA issued a Fact Sheet setting forth the status of the entire site. The primary area of relevance for JT Ryerson is River Mile 3.5 East, with Swan Island Basin being of secondary interest. For River Mile 3.5, remedial design work is ongoing; the Sufficiency Assessment and the Pre-Design Investigation work plans are finalized, and design investigation sampling is underway. Schnitzer Steel and MMGL Corp. are the working parties for River Mile 3.5. For Swan Island, remedial design is just beginning, with Daimler Trucks, Shipyard Commerce, and various government entities as the working parties. JT Ryerson has not been asked to participate in the remedial design phase.

The PCI Group has engaged a third party to prepare cost estimates for each of the Sediment Management Areas at the site. That work is still in progress and is expected to be completed in 2022. In the meantime, the voting parties of the PCI Group (which does not include JT Ryerson) have begun the “advocacy process,” during which the voting parties submit written arguments to the Allocation Team regarding how costs should be allocated among the various PRPs. This process is anticipated to be completed sometime in 2022 or early 2023. Once the advocacy process is completed, the Allocation Team will prepare a proposed allocation of costs among the PRPs. All PRPs, including JT Ryerson, will then participate in the “mediation process,” during which the PRPs will attempt to agree on a final cost allocation. The mediation process is currently anticipated to occur sometime in late 2022 or 2023.

The EPA has stated that it is willing to consider de minimis settlements, which JT Ryerson is trying to pursue; however, the EPA has not begun meeting with any of the smaller parties who have requested de minimis or de micromis status, stating that it does not have sufficient information to determine whether any parties meet such criteria and does not intend to begin those considerations until after the remedial design work is completed. It has met with selected parties that we believe to be larger targets. JT Ryerson has not been invited to meet with the EPA. As a result of the ongoing negotiations and filings over the ROD and the EPA’s decision not to meet with smaller parties, we cannot determine how allocations will be made and whether a de minimus settlement can be reached with the EPA.

As the EPA has not yet allocated responsibility for the contamination among the potentially responsible parties, including JT Ryerson, we do not currently have sufficient information available to us to determine whether the ROD will be executed as currently stated, whether and to what extent JT Ryerson may be held responsible for any of the identified contamination, and how much (if any) of the final plan’s costs might ultimately be allocated to JT Ryerson. Therefore, management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of potential loss at this time.     

There are various other claims and pending actions against the Company. The amount of liability, if any, for those claims and actions at March 31, 2022 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. We maintain liability insurance coverage to assist in protecting our assets from losses arising from or related to activities associated with business operations.

NOTE 10: DERIVATIVES AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Derivatives

The Company may use derivatives to partially offset its business exposure to commodity price, foreign currency, and interest rate fluctuations and their related impact on expected future cash flows and certain existing assets and liabilities. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, Company policy, accounting considerations, or the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in commodity pricing, foreign currency exchange, or interest rates. Interest rate swaps are entered into to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s floating-rate borrowings. We use foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge variability in cash flows in our Canada, Mexico, and China operations when a