UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission file number 1-4304

 

Commercial Metals Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(214) 689-4300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained herein, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or amendment to this Form 10-K.  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):

 

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the common stock on February 26, 2010, held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of $16.40 per share on February 26, 2010, on the New York Stock Exchange was approximately $1,612,607,063. (For purposes of determination of this amount, only directors, executive officers and 10% or greater stockholders have been deemed affiliates.)

 

The number of shares outstanding of common stock as of October 20, 2010 was 114,358,610.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

 

Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference into the listed Part of Form 10-K:

 

Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held January 17, 2011 — Part III

 

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I					3
Item 1:		Business			3
Item 1A:		Risk Factors			12
Item 1B:		Unresolved Staff Comments			20
Item 2:		Properties			20
Item 3:		Legal Proceedings			21
Item 4:		Removed and Reserved			22
PART II					22
Item 5:		Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities			22
Item 6:		Selected Financial Data			25
Item 7:		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			25
Item 7A:		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			41
Item 8:		Financial Statements and Supplementary Data			43
Item 9:		Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure			71
Item 9A:		Controls and Procedures			71
Item 9B:		Other Information			72
PART III					72
Item 10:		Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance			72
Item 11:		Executive Compensation			74
Item 12:		Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters			74
Item 13:		Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence			74
Item 14:		Principal Accountant Fees and Services			74
PART IV					75
Item 15:		Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules			75
		Signatures			81
EX-10.III.A
EX-10.III.I
EX-10.III.L
EX-10.III.M
EX-10.III.V
EX-10.III.W
EX-10.III.X
EX-10.III.Y
EX-12
EX-21
EX-23
EX-31.A
EX-31.B
EX-32.A
EX-32.B

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

     We recycle, manufacture, fabricate and distribute steel and metal products and related materials and services through a network of locations throughout the United States and internationally. Prior to December 1, 2009, we organized our business into the following five segments: Americas Recycling, Americas Mills, Americas Fabrication and Distribution, all operating as part of the CMC Americas Divisions, with the CMC International Division comprised of two segments, International Mills and International Fabrication and Distribution. Effective December 1, 2009, we implemented a new organizational structure. As a result, the CMC Americas Division operates utilizing three segments: Americas Recycling, America Mills and Americas Fabrication. The CMC International Division operates utilizing two segments: International Mills (comprised of all mills, recycling and fabrication operations located outside of the U.S.) and International Marketing and Distribution, which includes all marketing and distribution operations located outside the Americas as well as two U.S. based trading and distribution divisions, CMC Cometals, located in Fort Lee, New Jersey and CMC Cometals — Steel (previously CMC Dallas Trading) located in Irving, Texas. All prior period information has been recast to be presented in the new organizational structure.

     We were incorporated in 1946 in the State of Delaware. Our predecessor company, a metals recycling business, has existed since approximately 1915. We maintain our executive offices at 6565 MacArthur Boulevard in Irving, Texas, telephone number (214) 689-4300. Our fiscal year ends August 31 and all references in this Form 10-K to years refer to the fiscal year ended August 31 of that year unless otherwise noted. Financial information for the last three fiscal years concerning our five business segments and the geographic areas of our operations is incorporated herein by reference from “Note 15. Business Segments” of the notes to consolidated financial statements which are in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

     Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to these reports will be made available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our Internet website, http://www.cmc.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise stated in these reports, the information contained on our website or available by hyperlink from our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or other documents we file with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CMC AMERICAS DIVISION OPERATIONS

AMERICAS RECYCLING SEGMENT

     The Americas Recycling segment processes scrap metals for use as a raw material by manufacturers of new metal products. This segment operates 43 scrap metal processing facilities with 19 locations in Texas, 8 in Florida, 4 in South Carolina, 2 in each of Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee and one each in Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

     We purchase ferrous and nonferrous scrap metals, processed and unprocessed, from a variety of sources in a variety of forms for our metals recycling plants. Sources of metal for recycling include manufacturing and industrial plants, metal fabrication plants, electric utilities, machine shops, factories, railroads, refineries, shipyards, ordinance depots, demolition businesses, automobile salvage and wrecking firms. Collectively, small scrap metal collection firms are a major supplier.

     In 2010, our scrap metal recycling segment’s plants processed and shipped approximately 2,535,000 tons of scrap metal compared to 2,033,000 tons in 2009. Ferrous scrap metals comprised the largest tonnage of metals recycled at approximately 2,289,000 tons, an increase of approximately 472,000 tons as compared to 2009. We shipped approximately 239,000 tons of nonferrous scrap metals, primarily aluminum, copper and stainless steel, an increase of approximately 36,000 tons as compared to 2009. With the exception of precious metals, our scrap metal

recycling plants recycle and process practically all types of metal. In addition, one scrap metal recycling facility operated by our Americas Mills segment processed 429,000 tons of primarily ferrous scrap metal for consumption at the adjoining Americas Mills facility during 2010.

     Our scrap metal recycling plants typically consist of an office and warehouse building equipped with specialized equipment for processing both ferrous and nonferrous metal located on several acres of land that we use for receiving, sorting, processing and storing metals. Several of our scrap metal recycling plants use a small portion of their site or a nearby location to display and sell metal products that may be reused for their original purpose without further processing. We equip our larger plants with scales, shears, baling presses, briquetting machines, conveyors and magnetic separators which enable these plants to efficiently process large volumes of scrap metals.

     Two plants have extensive equipment that segregates metallic content from large quantities of insulated wire. To facilitate processing, shipping and receiving, we equip our ferrous metal processing centers with presses, shredders or hydraulic shears to prepare and compress scrap metal for easier handling. Cranes are utilized to handle scrap metals for processing and to load material for shipment. Many facilities have rail access as processed ferrous scrap is primarily transported to consumers by open gondola railcar or barge when water access is available.

     Americas Recycling owns six large shredding machines, four in Texas and one each in Florida and South Carolina, capable of pulverizing obsolete automobiles or other sources of scrap metal. We have three additional shredders, one operated by our Americas Mills segment and two by our International Mills segment.

     We sell scrap metals to steel mills and foundries, aluminum sheet and ingot manufacturers, brass and bronze ingot makers, copper refineries and mills, secondary lead smelters, specialty steel mills, high temperature alloy manufacturers and other consumers. Ferrous scrap metal is the primary raw material for electric arc furnaces such as those operated by our Americas Mills segment and other minimills. Some minimills periodically supplement purchases of ferrous scrap metal with direct reduced iron and pig iron for certain product lines. Our Irving office coordinates the sales of scrap metals from our scrap metal processing plants to our customers. We negotiate export sales through our network of foreign offices as well as our Irving office.

     We do not purchase a material amount of scrap metal from one source. One customer represents 15% of our Americas Recycling segment’s revenues. Our recycling segment competes with other scrap metals processors and primary nonferrous metals producers, both domestic and foreign, for sales of nonferrous materials. Consumers of nonferrous scrap metals frequently can utilize primary or “virgin” ingot processed by mining companies instead of nonferrous scrap metals. The prices of nonferrous scrap metals are closely related to, but generally less than, the prices of primary or “virgin” ingot.

AMERICAS MILLS SEGMENT

     We conduct our Americas Mills operations through a network of:

	•		5 steel mills, commonly referred to as “minimills” or in the case of the Arizona mill a “micro mill,” that produce one or more of reinforcing bar, angles, flats, rounds, small beams, fence-post sections and other shapes;
	•		a copper tube minimill; and
	•		one scrap metal shredder processing facility that directly supports the adjoining steel minimill.

     We operate four steel minimills which are located in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas and one micro mill located in Arizona. We utilize a fleet of trucks that we own as well as private haulers to transport finished products from the mills to our customers and our fabricating shops. To minimize the cost of our products, to the extent feasibly consistent with market conditions and working capital demands, we prefer to operate all mills near full capacity. Market conditions such as increases in quantities of competing imported steel, production rates at domestic competitors, customer inventory levels or a decrease in construction activity may reduce demand for our products and limit our ability to operate the mills at full capacity. Through our operations and capital improvements, we strive to increase productivity and capacity at the mills and enhance our product mix. Since the steel mill

business is capital intensive, we make substantial capital expenditures on a regular basis to remain competitive with other low cost producers. Over the past three fiscal years we have spent approximately $232 million or 27% of our total capital expenditures on projects at the steel mills operated by our Americas Mills segment.

     The following table compares the amount of steel (in short tons) melted, rolled and shipped by our five steel mills in the past three fiscal years:

		2010				2009				2008
Tons melted			2,077,000				1,599,000				2,396,000
Tons rolled			1,734,000				1,478,000				2,101,000
Tons shipped			2,156,000				1,736,000				2,528,000

     We acquired our largest steel minimill in 1963. It is located in Seguin, Texas, near San Antonio. In 1983, we acquired our minimill in Birmingham, Alabama, and in 1994 we acquired our minimill in Cayce, South Carolina. We have operated our smallest mill since 1987, and it is located near Magnolia, Arkansas. In September, 2009, we opened our newest mill, in Mesa, Arizona.

     The Texas, Alabama and South Carolina minimills each consist of:

	•		melt shop with electric arc furnace that melts ferrous scrap metal;
	•		continuous casting equipment that shapes the molten metal into billets;
	•		reheating furnace that prepares billets for rolling;
	•		rolling mill that forms products from heated billets;
	•		mechanical cooling bed that receives hot product from the rolling mill;
	•		finishing facilities that cut, straighten, bundle and prepare products for shipping; and
	•		supporting facilities such as maintenance, warehouse and office areas.

     Descriptions of minimill capacity, particularly rolling capacity, are highly dependent on the specific product mix manufactured. Each of our minimills can and do roll many different types and sizes of products in their range depending on market conditions including pricing and demand. Therefore our capacity estimates assume a typical product mix and will vary with the products actually produced. Our Texas minimill has annual capacity of approximately 1,000,000 tons melted and 900,000 rolled. Our Alabama minimill’s annual capacity is approximately 700,000 tons melted and 575,000 tons rolled. We have annual capacity at our South Carolina minimill of approximately 800,000 tons melted and 900,000 tons rolled. Our Arizona micro mill has annual capacity of approximately 280,000 tons melted and rolled. We have annual capacity at our Arkansas minimill of approximately 150,000 tons rolled.

     Our Texas minimill manufactures a full line of bar size products including reinforcing bar, angles, rounds, channels, flats, and special sections used primarily in building highways, reinforcing concrete structures and manufacturing. It sells primarily to the construction, service center, energy, petrochemical, and original equipment manufacturing industries. The Texas minimill primarily ships its products to customers located in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. It also ships products to approximately 20 other states and to Mexico. Our Texas minimill melted 896,000 tons during 2010 compared to 746,000 tons during 2009, and rolled 731,000 tons, an increase of 64,000 tons from 2009.

     The Alabama minimill recorded 2010 melt shop production of 456,000 tons, an increase of 114,000 tons from 2009. It rolled 283,000 tons, an increase of 48,000 tons from 2009. The minimill primarily manufactures products that are larger in size as compared to products manufactured by our other three minimills. Such larger size products include mid-size structural steel products including angles, channels, beams of up to eight inches and special bar quality rounds and flats. It does not produce reinforcing bar. Our Alabama minimill sells primarily to service centers, as well as to the construction, manufacturing, and fabricating industries. The Alabama minimill primarily ships its products to customers located in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and Mississippi.

     Our South Carolina minimill manufactures a full line of bar size products which primarily includes steel

reinforcing bar. The minimill also manufactures angles, rounds, squares, fence post sections and flats. The South Carolina minimill ships its products to customers located in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic areas which include the states from Florida through southern New England. During 2010, the minimill melted 565,000 tons and rolled 475,000 tons compared to 511,000 tons melted and 481,000 tons rolled during 2009.

     In September 2009, we began full operations at our new micro mill in Arizona. The micro mill utilizes a “continuous continuous” design where metal flows uninterrupted from melting to casting to rolling. It is more compact than existing, larger capacity steel minimills and production is dedicated to a limited product range, primarily reinforcing bar. We also operate a reinforcing bar fabrication facility located on the same site. During 2010, the micro mill melted 160,000 tons and rolled 153,000 tons.

     The primary raw material for our Texas, Alabama, South Carolina and Arizona mills is ferrous scrap metal. We purchase the raw material from suppliers generally within a 300 mile radius of each minimill including a substantial amount from the CMC Americas Recycling segment. Our Texas minimill runs a shredding facility as a part of the mill operations with that entire shredder’s processed ferrous scrap consumed at the Texas minimill. We believe the supply of ferrous scrap metal is adequate to meet our future needs, but it has historically been subject to significant price fluctuations which have occurred more rapidly over the last six years. All four mills also consume large amounts of electricity and natural gas. We have not had any significant curtailments and believe that supplies are adequate. The supply and demand of regional and national energy and the extent of applicable regulatory oversight of rates charged by providers affect the prices we pay for electricity and natural gas.

     The smaller Arkansas minimill does not have a melt shop or continuous casting equipment. The Arkansas minimill manufacturing process begins with a reheating furnace utilizing used rail primarily salvaged from railroad abandonments and excess billets acquired either from our other mills or unrelated suppliers as its raw material. The remainder of the manufacturing process utilizes a rolling mill, cooling bed and finishing equipment and support facilities similar to, but on a smaller scale, than those at our other minimills. The Arkansas minimill primarily manufactures metal fence post stock, small diameter reinforcing bar, sign posts and bed frame angles with some flats, angles and squares. At our Arkansas minimill and at our facilities in San Marcos, Texas, Brigham City, Utah, and Cayce, South Carolina, we fabricate fence post stock into studded “T” metal fence posts. Since our Arkansas minimill does not have melting facilities, the minimill depends on an adequate supply of competitively priced used rail or billets. The availability of these raw materials fluctuates with the pace of railroad abandonments, rail replacement by railroads, demand for used rail from competing domestic and foreign rail rerolling mills and the level of excess billet production offered for sale at steel producers.

     Our subsidiary, CMC Howell Metal Company, operates a copper tube minimill in New Market, Virginia, which manufactures copper tube, primarily water tubing, for the plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration industries. It recently supplemented its product line with selected steel products and copper fittings. Both high quality copper scrap and occasionally virgin copper ingot are melted, cast, extruded and drawn into tubing. The minimill supplies tubing in straight lengths and coils for use in commercial, industrial and residential construction and by original equipment manufacturers. Our customers, largely equipment manufacturers, wholesale plumbing supply firms and large home improvement retailers, are located in 44 states and supplied directly from the minimill as well as from our four warehouses. The demand for copper tube depends on the level of new apartment, hotel/motel and residential construction and renovation. Copper scrap is readily available, but subject to rapid price fluctuations. The price or supply of virgin copper causes the price of copper scrap to fluctuate rapidly. Our Americas Recycling segment supplies a portion of the copper scrap needed by CMC Howell. CMC Howell’s facilities include melting, casting, piercing, extruding, drawing, finishing and office facilities. During 2010, the facility produced approximately 41 million pounds of copper tube. CMC Howell has annual manufacturing capacity of approximately 80 million pounds.

     No single customer purchases 10% or more of our Americas Mills segment’s production. Due to the nature of certain stock products we sell in the Americas Mills segment, we do not have a long lead time between receipt of a purchase order and delivery. We generally fill orders for stock products from inventory or with products near completion. As a result, we do not believe that backlog levels are a significant factor in the evaluation of these operations. Backlog for our mills at August 31, 2010 was approximately $244 million as compared to $142 million at August 31, 2009.

AMERICAS FABRICATION SEGMENT

     We conduct our Americas Fabrication operations through a network of:

	•		steel plants that bend, cut, weld and fabricate steel, primarily reinforcing bar and angles;
	•		warehouses that sell or rent products for the installation of concrete;
	•		plants that produce steel fence posts; and
	•		plants that treat steel with heat to strengthen and provide flexibility.

     Steel Fabrication. Our Americas Fabrication segment operates 57 facilities that we consider to be engaged in the various aspects of steel fabrication. Most of the facilities engage in general fabrication of reinforcing and structural steel with four facilities fabricating only steel fence posts. We obtain steel for these facilities from our own mills, purchases from other steel manufacturers through our distribution business and directly from unrelated steel vendors. In 2010, we shipped 979,000 tons of fabricated steel, a decrease of 170,000 tons from 2009.

     We conduct steel fabrication activities in facilities located in Alabama at Birmingham; in Arkansas at Little Rock, Hope and Magnolia; in Arizona at Mesa; in California at Bloomington, Claremont, Etiwanda, Fontana, Fresno, Santee, Stockton, and Tracy; in Colorado at Brighton and Denver; in Florida at Fort Myers, Jacksonville, and Kissimmee; in Georgia at Garden City and Lawrenceville; in Illinois at Kankakee; in Louisiana at Baton Rouge, Keithville and Pearl River; in Mississippi at Lumberton; in Nevada at Las Vegas; in New Mexico at Albuquerque; in North Carolina at Gastonia; in Ohio at Cleveland; in Oklahoma at Oklahoma City; in South Carolina at Cayce (2), Columbia and Taylors (2); in Tennessee at Nashville; in Texas at Beaumont, Buda, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Harlingen, Houston (2), Laredo, Melissa, Pharr, San Antonio, San Marcos, Seguin, Victoria, Waco and Waxahachie (2); in Utah at Brigham City; and in Virginia at Farmville, Fredericksburg and Norfolk.

     Fabricated steel products are used primarily in the construction of commercial and non-commercial buildings, hospitals, convention centers, industrial plants, power plants, highways, bridges, arenas, stadiums, and dams. Generally, we sell fabricated steel in response to a bid solicitation from a construction contractor or the project owner. Typically, the contractor or owner of the project awards the job based on the competitive prices of the bids and does not individually negotiate with the bidders.

     On February 26, 2010, the Company’s Board approved a plan to exit the joist and deck business through the sale of those facilities. The joist and deck business specialized in fabricating joists, special beams and decking for floor and ceiling support. As a result, operations for this business have been excluded from the Americans Fabrication segment and presented as a discontinued operation for all periods presented. The majority of the deck assets were sold on August 4, 2010 and the majority of the joist assets were sold on September 27, 2010. See discussion in Note 5, Discontinued Operations, to our consolidated financial statements.

     Construction Services. We sell and rent construction related products and equipment to concrete installers and other construction businesses. We have 38 locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Idaho and California where we store and sell these products which, with the exception of a small portion of steel products, are purchased for resale from unrelated suppliers.

     Heat Treating. Our subsidiary, AHT, Inc. operates plants in Chicora, Pennsylvania, Struthers, Ohio and Pell City, Alabama that heat treat steel products for special applications. AHT works closely with our Alabama minimill, other steel mills and our distribution business that sell specialized heat-treated steel for customer specific use. Such steel is primarily used in original or special equipment manufacturing where special hardening or flexibility is required. A portion of this steel is used for post-manufactured armor plating. We have annual operating capacity in our heat treating operation of approximately 125,000 tons. We also operate a warehousing and distribution operation known as CMC Impact Metals which distributes not only the specialized products provided by AHT, but also similar products obtained from other similar specialty processors located around the world.

     Backlog in our steel fabrication operations was approximately $471 million at August 31, 2010 as compared to $621 million at August 31, 2009. Other backlogs in the Americas Fabrication segment are not considered material. No single customer accounts for 10% or more of our Americas Fabrication segment’s sales.

CMC INTERNATIONAL DIVISION OPERATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MILLS SEGMENT

     Our Swiss subsidiary, Commercial Metals International AG owns two steel minimills — CMC Zawiercie S.A. (“CMCZ”) with operations at Zawiercie, Poland and CMC Sisak d.o.o. (“CMCS”) with operations at Sisak, Croatia. These two mills along with our international recycling and fabrication operations constitute the International Mills segment.

     CMCZ is a steel minimill with equipment similar to our domestic steel minimills. We operate three rolling mills; one wire-rod mill and two bar mills including a specialty rod finishing mill. We own all or a substantial interest in several smaller metals related operations, including 14 scrap metals processing facilities in Poland that directly support CMCZ with approximately 40% of its scrap requirements.

     CMCZ has annual melting capacity of approximately 1,900,000 tons with annual rolling capacity of approximately 1,900,000 tons. During 2010, the facility melted 1,468,000 tons of steel compared to 1,269,000 tons the prior year; rolled 1,107,000 compared to the prior year’s 997,000 tons and shipped 1,387,000 tons compared to 1,258,000 tons during 2009. Principal products manufactured include rebar and wire rod as well as smaller quantities of merchant bar and billets. CMCZ is a significant manufacturer of rebar and wire rod in Central Europe selling rebar primarily to fabricators, distributors and construction companies. Principal customers for wire rod are meshmakers, end users and distributors. CMCZ’s products are generally sold to customers located within a market area of 400 miles of the mill. The majority of sales are to customers within Poland with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany being the major export markets. Ferrous scrap metal is the principal raw material for CMCZ and is generally obtained from scrap metal processors and generators within 400 miles of the mill. Ferrous scrap metal, electricity, natural gas and other necessary raw materials for the steel manufacturing process are generally readily available although subject to periodic significant price fluctuations. A large capacity scrap metal shredding facility similar to the largest shredder we operate in the United States is located at CMCZ and supplies CMCZ with a portion of its scrap metal requirements.

     During the third quarter of 2010, we hot commissioned our new flexible rolling mill at CMCZ. The new mill, designed to allow efficient and flexible production of an increased medium section product range, will complement the facility’s existing rolling mill dedicated primarily for rebar production. The new mill will have a rolling capacity of approximately 700,000 tons of rebar, merchant bar and wire rod.

     CMCS is an electric arc furnace steel pipe mill. Previous melting capacity at CMCS was approximately 80,000 tons and rolling capacity is approximately 120,000 tons. Prior to our purchase in September 2007, the mill had been operating at minimal production rates due to inadequate financing, poorly maintained equipment and poor employee morale. We commenced what amounted to a restart of the facility, employing new key managers, reviewing and revising operating, maintenance and safety procedures, staffing requirements and analyzing potential capital improvements to increase productivity. During the third quarter of 2010, we completed the planned electric arc furnace renovation and expect to complete a new ladle furnace in fiscal year 2011. These capital improvements are intended to increase melting capacity to approximately 360,000 tons. CMCS melted 89,000 tons, rolled 64,000 tons and shipped 61,000 tons in 2010.

     Our international fabrication operations have expanded downstream captive uses for a portion of the rebar and wire rod manufactured at CMCZ. We conduct rebar fabrication activities in Zawiercie and Zyrardow, Poland, and Rosslau, Germany. These three rebar fabrication facilities are similar to those operated by our domestic fabrication facilities and sell fabricated rebar to contractors for incorporation into construction projects generally within 200 miles of each facility. Apart from fabricated rebar, our units sell fabricated mesh, assembled rebar cages and other rebar byproducts. Total production capacity of these units is approximately 180,000 tons of steel products annually.

     Additionally, we operate a fabrication facility in Dabrowa Górnicza, Poland, that produces welded steel mesh, cold rolled wire rod and cold rolled reinforcing bar. This operation enables our international fabrications to supplement sales of fabricated reinforcing bar by also offering wire mesh to customers including metals service centers as well as construction contractors. At the end of fiscal year 2010, we upgraded this facility with two cold drawing lines and a fast and efficient mesh welding line which will increase our production capacities to 160,000 tons per year. With our cold drawn and mesh products we maintain a presence in the Polish market but we also sell to neighboring countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION SEGMENT

     Our International Marketing and Distribution operations buy and sell primary and secondary metals, fabricated metals, semi-finished, long, flat steel products and other industrial products. During the past year, the International Marketing and Distribution facilities sold approximately 2.3 million tons of steel products. We market and distribute these products through a network of offices, processing facilities and joint venture offices located around the world. We purchase steel products, industrial minerals, ores, metal concentrates and ferroalloys from producers in domestic and foreign markets. Occasionally, we purchase these materials from suppliers, such as trading companies or industrial consumers, who have a surplus of these materials. We utilize long-term contracts, spot market purchases and trading or barter transactions to purchase materials. To obtain favorable long term supply agreements, we occasionally offer assistance to producers by arranging structured finance transactions to suit their objectives. Our exposure to these structured finance transactions is negligible to our business. See discussion in Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, to our consolidated financial statements.

     We sell our products to customers, primarily manufacturers, in the steel, nonferrous metals, metal fabrication, chemical, refractory and transportation businesses. We sell directly to our customers through and with the assistance of our offices in Irving, Texas; Fort Lee, New Jersey; Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, Australia; Singapore; Zug, Switzerland; Kürten, Germany; Cardiff, United Kingdom; Temse, Belgium; Hong Kong; Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai China. We have a representative office in Moscow. We have agents or joint venture partners in additional offices located in significant international markets. Our network of offices shares information regarding demand for our materials, assists with negotiation and performance of contracts and other services for our customers, and identifies and maintains relationships with our sources of supply.

     In most transactions, we act as principal by taking title and ownership of the products. We are at times designated as a marketing representative, sometimes exclusively, by product suppliers. We utilize agents when appropriate, and on occasion we act as a broker for these products. We buy and sell these products in almost all major markets throughout the world where trade by American-owned companies is permitted.

     We market physical products as compared to companies that trade commodity futures contracts and frequently do not take delivery of the commodity. As a result of sophisticated global communications, our customers and suppliers often have easy access to quoted market prices, although such price quotes are not always indicative of actual transaction prices. Therefore, to distinguish ourselves we focus on value added services for both sellers and buyers. Our services include actual physical market pricing and trend information (in contrast to market information from more speculative metal exchange futures), technical information and assistance, financing, transportation and shipping (including chartering of vessels), storage, warehousing, just-in-time delivery, insurance, hedging and the ability to consolidate smaller purchases and sales into larger, more cost efficient transactions. These services are performed in the normal course of business and included in the transaction price as there is no separate revenue stream for each service. We attempt to limit exposure to price fluctuations by offsetting purchases with concurrent sales. We also enter into currency exchange contracts as economic hedges of sales and purchase commitments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar or the functional currency of our international subsidiaries. Our policies are designed to prohibit speculation on changes in the markets.

     We have investments of approximately 11% of the outstanding stock of a Czech Republic long products steel mill and approximately 24% of a Belgium business that processes and pickles hot rolled steel coil. Through marketing and distribution agreements, these investments allow us to expand our marketing and distribution activities by selling a portion of the products they produce and on occasion supplying a portion of their raw material requirements. Our marketing and distribution joint venture with the Czech Republic mill represents 15% of sales for this segment for the year ended August 31, 2010. This marketing and distribution agreement will expire on December 31, 2010.

     Our Australian operations are believed to be the largest marketer of imported steel in Australia. We utilize warehouse facilities at several Australian ports to facilitate distribution, including just-in-time delivery and logistics management. Our CMC Coil Steels Group is a major distributor and processor of steel sheet and coil products predominately procured from Australian sources but at times from our own import operations and has recently expanded into distribution of long products including reinforcing bar. Coil Steels operates processing facilities in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, warehouses in Adelaide and Perth and smaller regional sales outlets including Darwin, Townsville and Toowoomba. The Australian operations also operate an industrial products distribution business supplying metals related industries including steel mills, foundries and smelters.

     This segment also operates a recycling facility in Singapore. The facility is similar to those operated by the Recycling segment of CMC Americas but on a smaller scale, and is operated as part of the International Marketing and Distribution segment due to its oversight by managers in this segment.

     For a discussion of the risks attendant to our foreign operations, see “Risk Factors — Operating Internationally Carries Risks and Uncertainties which Could Negatively Affect Our Results of Operations.”

     For financial data on the above segments, see “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Note 15, Business Segments.”

SEASONALITY

     Many of our mills and fabrication facilities’ customers are in the construction business. Due to the increase in construction during the spring and summer months, our sales are generally higher in the third and fourth quarters than in the first and second quarters of our fiscal year.

COMPETITION

     We believe our Americas Recycling segment is one of the largest entities engaged in the recycling of nonferrous scrap metals in the United States. We are also a major regional processor of ferrous scrap metal. The scrap metal recycling business is subject to cyclical fluctuations based upon the availability and price of unprocessed scrap metal and the demand for steel and nonferrous metals. Buying prices and service to scrap suppliers and generators are the principal competitive factors for the recycling segment. The price offered for scrap metal is the principal competitive factor in acquiring material from smaller scrap metals collection firms, while industrial generators of scrap metal may also consider the importance of other factors such as supplying appropriate collection containers, timely removal, reliable documentation including accurate and detailed purchase records with customized reports, the ability to service multiple locations, insurance coverage, and the buyer’s financial strength.

     Our Americas Mills segment competes with regional, national and foreign manufacturers of steel and copper. We do not produce a significant percentage of the total domestic output of most of our products. However, we are considered a substantial supplier in the markets near our facilities. We compete primarily on the price and quality of our products and our service. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Industry.”

     Our Americas Fabrication segment competes with regional and national suppliers. We believe that we are among the largest fabricators of reinforcing bar in the United States. We also believe that we are the largest manufacturer of steel fence posts in the United States.

     We believe that CMCZ is the second largest supplier of wire rod and the second largest supplier of reinforcing bar in the Polish market. It competes with several large manufacturers of rebar and wire rod in Central and Eastern Europe, primarily on the basis of price and product availability.

     Our International Marketing and Distribution business is highly competitive. Our products in the distribution business are standard commodity items. We compete primarily on the price, quality and reliability of our products, our financing alternatives and our additional services. In this business, we compete with other domestic and foreign trading companies, some of which are larger and may have access to greater financial resources. In addition, some of

our competitors may be able to pursue business without being restricted by the laws of the United States. We also compete with industrial consumers who purchase directly from suppliers, and importers and manufacturers of semi-finished ferrous and nonferrous products. Our CMC Coil Steels Group, a distributor of steel sheet and coil in Australia, is believed to be the third largest distributor of those products in Australia.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

     A significant factor in our business is our compliance with environmental laws and regulations. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Industry” below. Compliance with and changes in various environmental requirements and environmental risks applicable to our industry may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

     Occasionally, we may be required to clean up or take certain remediation action with regard to sites we use or formerly used in our operations. We may also be required to pay for a portion of the costs of clean up or remediation at sites we never owned or on which we never operated if we are found to have arranged for treatment or disposal of hazardous substances on the sites. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), or equivalent state agency has named us a potentially responsible party (“PRP”), at several Federal Superfund sites or similar state sites. These agencies allege that we and other PRP’s are responsible for the cleanup of those sites solely because we sold scrap metals or other materials to unrelated manufacturers. With respect to the sale of scrap metals, we contend that an arm’s length sale of valuable scrap metal for use as a raw material in a manufacturing process that we have no control of should not constitute “an arrangement for disposal or treatment of hazardous substances” as defined under Federal law. In 2000 the Superfund Recycling Equity Act was signed into law which, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, provides legitimate sellers of scrap metal for recycling with some relief from Superfund liability under Federal law. Despite Congress’ clarification of the intent of the Federal law, some state laws and environmental agencies still seek to impose such liability. We believe efforts to impose such liability are contrary to public policy objectives and legislation encouraging recycling and promoting the use of recycled materials and we continue to support clarification of state laws and regulations consistent with Congress’ action.

     New Federal, state and local laws, regulations and the varying interpretations of such laws by regulatory agencies and the judiciary impact how much money we spend on environmental compliance. In addition, uncertainty regarding adequate control levels, testing and sampling procedures, new pollution control technology and cost benefit analysis based on market conditions impact our future expenditures in order to comply with environmental requirements. We cannot predict the total amount of capital expenditures or increases in operating costs or other expenses that may be required as a result of environmental compliance. We also do not know if we can pass such costs on to our customers through product price increases. During 2010, we incurred environmental costs including disposal, permits, license fees, tests, studies, remediation, consultant fees and environmental personnel expense of approximately $23 million. In addition, we estimate that we spent approximately $14 million during 2010 on capital expenditures for environmental projects. We believe that our facilities are in material compliance with currently applicable environmental laws and regulations. We anticipate capital expenditures for new environmental control facilities during 2011 to be approximately $3 million.

EMPLOYEES

     During the past year, the Company has adjusted its workforce by implementing global reductions in force of approximately 1,500 employees, with approximately 1,400 of those reductions affecting employees in the U.S. As of August 31, 2010, we had 11,558 employees. The Americas Recycling segment employed 1,496 people, the Americas Mills segment employed 2,008 people, the Americas Fabrication segment employed 3,354 people, the International Mills segment employed 3,471 people and the International Marketing and Distribution segment employed 657 people. As of August 31, 2010, we had 572 employees providing services to our divisions and subsidiaries in shared service operations, general corporate administration (including treasury, tax, IT, internal audit and other services), and management. Production employees at one metals recycling plant and five fabrication facilities are represented by unions for collective bargaining purposes. Approximately one half of International Mills’ employees are represented by unions. We believe that our labor relations are generally good to excellent and our work force is highly motivated.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

     Before making an investment in our company, you should be aware of various risks, including those described below. You should carefully consider these risk factors together with all of the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected and you may lose all or part of your investment.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRY

OUR INDUSTRY IS AFFECTED BY GLOBAL ECONOMIC FACTORS INCLUDING THE RISK OF A RECESSION AND OUR CUSTOMERS’ ACCESS TO CREDIT FACILITIES.

     Our financial results are substantially dependent upon the overall economic conditions in the United States and the European Union. A continued recession in the United States, the European Union, or globally — or the public perception that a recession is continuing — could further substantially decrease the demand for our products and adversely affect our business. Many of our products are commodities subject to cyclical fluctuations in supply and demand in metal consuming industries and construction. Metals industries have historically been vulnerable to significant declines in consumption and product pricing during prolonged periods of economic downturn. Likewise the pace of construction has historically slowed significantly during economic downturns. Many of our customers rely on access to credit to adequately fund their operations or to finance construction projects. The inability of our customers to access credit facilities will adversely affect our business by reducing our sales, increasing our exposure to accounts receivable, increasing our bad debts and reducing our profitability. Our geographic concentration in the southern and southwestern United States as well as Central Europe, Australia, China, and the Middle East exposes us to the local market conditions in these regions. Economic downturns in these areas or decisions by governments that have an impact on the level and pace of overall economic activity in a particular region could also adversely affect our sales and profitability.

OUR INDUSTRY IS CYCLICAL AND PROLONGED ECONOMIC DECLINES COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS.

     Our business supports cyclical industries such as commercial, residential and government construction, energy, metals service center, petrochemical and original equipment manufacturing. These industries may experience significant fluctuations in demand for our products based on economic conditions, energy prices, consumer demand and decisions by governments to fund infrastructure projects such as highways, schools, energy plants and airports. Many of these factors are beyond our control. As a result of the volatility in the industries we serve, we may have difficulty increasing or maintaining our level of sales or profitability. If the industries we serve suffer a prolonged downturn, then our business may be adversely affected. Although the residential housing market is not a significant direct factor in our business, related commercial and infrastructure construction activities, such as shopping centers, schools and roads could be impacted by a prolonged slump in new housing construction.

     Our industry is characterized by low backlogs, which means that our results of operations are promptly affected by short-term economic fluctuations.

A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN CHINA’S STEEL CONSUMPTION OR INCREASED CHINESE STEEL PRODUCTION SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEEDING LOCAL DEMAND MAY RESULT IN CHINA BECOMING A LARGE EXPORTER OF STEEL AND DISRUPTION TO WORLD STEEL MARKETS.

     Chinese economic expansion has affected the availability and heightened the volatility of many commodities that we market and use in our manufacturing process, including steel. Expansions and contractions in China’s economy can have major effects on the price of our finished steel products and many commodities that affect us such as secondary metals, energy, marine freight rates, steel making supplies such as ferroalloys and graphite electrodes and materials we market such as iron ore and coke. Should Chinese demand weaken or Chinese steel production be allowed to expand unchecked to the point that it significantly exceeds the country’s consumption, prices for many of the products that we both sell to and export from China may fall causing erosion in our gross margins and subjecting us to possible renegotiation of contracts or increases in bad debts. Significant exports from China of steel in the product lines we manufacture would cause selling prices to decline and negatively impact our volumes and gross margins.

RAPID AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE PRICE OF METALS COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR INDUSTRY.

     Prices for most metals in which we deal have experienced increased volatility over the last several years and the substantial rapid decreases or increases impact us in several ways. Some of our operations, such as, the fabrication operations, may benefit from rapidly decreasing steel prices as their material cost for previously contracted fixed price work declines. Others, such as our Americas Mills and International Mills segments, would likely experience reduced margins and may be forced to liquidate high cost inventory at reduced margins or losses until prices stabilized. Sudden increases could have the opposite effect. Overall, we believe that rapid substantial price changes are not to our industry’s benefit. Our customer and supplier base would be impacted due to uncertainty as to future prices. A reluctance to purchase inventory in the face of extreme price decreases or to sell quickly during a period of rapid price increases would likely reduce our volume of business. Marginal industry participants or speculators may attempt to participate to an unhealthy extent during a period of rapid price escalation with a substantial risk of contract default should prices suddenly reverse. Risks of default in contract performance by customers or suppliers as well as an increased risk of bad debts and customer credit exposure would increase during periods of rapid and substantial price changes.

EXCESS CAPACITY IN OUR INDUSTRY COULD INCREASE THE LEVEL OF STEEL IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES RESULTING IN LOWER DOMESTIC PRICES WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR SALES, MARGINS AND PROFITABILITY.

     Steel-making capacity exceeds demand for steel products in some countries. Rather than reducing employment by rationalizing capacity with consumption, steel manufacturers in these countries (often with local government assistance or subsidies in various forms) have traditionally periodically exported steel at prices significantly below their home market prices and which may not reflect their costs of production or capital. This supply of imports can decrease the sensitivity of domestic steel prices to increases in demand or decrease our ability to recover our manufacturing costs. The excess capacity may create downward pressure on our steel prices which could adversely affect our sales, margins and profitability.

COMPLIANCE WITH AND CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND REMEDIATION REQUIREMENTS COULD RESULT IN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATING COSTS.

     Existing laws or regulations, as currently interpreted or reinterpreted in the future, or future laws or regulations, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations is a significant factor in our business. We are subject to local, state, Federal and international environmental laws and regulations concerning, among other matters, waste disposal, air emissions, waste and storm water effluent and disposal and employee health. New facilities that we may build, especially steel minimills, are required to obtain several environmental permits before significant construction or commencement of operations. Delays in obtaining permits or unanticipated conditions in such permits could delay the project or increase construction costs or operating expenses. Our manufacturing and recycling operations produce significant amounts of by-products, some of which are handled as industrial waste or hazardous waste. For example, our minimills generate electric arc furnace dust (“EAF dust”), which the EPA and other regulatory authorities classify as hazardous waste. EAF dust requires special handling, recycling or disposal.

     In addition, the primary feed materials for the shredders operated by our scrap metal recycling facilities are automobile hulks and obsolete household appliances. Approximately 20% of the weight of an automobile hull consists of unrecyclable material known as shredder fluff. After the segregation of ferrous and saleable nonferrous metals, shredder fluff remains. We, along with others in the recycling industry, interpret Federal regulations to require shredder fluff to meet certain criteria and pass a toxic leaching test to avoid classification as a hazardous waste. We also endeavor to remove hazardous contaminants from the feed material prior to shredding. As a result, we believe the shredder fluff we generate is not normally considered or properly classified as hazardous waste. If the laws, regulations or testing methods change with regard to EAF dust or shredder fluff or other by-products, we may incur additional significant expenditures.

     Although we believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, legal requirements are changing frequently and are subject to interpretation. New laws, regulations and changing interpretations by regulatory authorities, together with uncertainty regarding adequate pollution control levels, testing and sampling procedures, new pollution control technology and cost benefit analysis based on market conditions are all factors that may increase our future expenditures to comply with environmental requirements. Accordingly, we are unable to predict the ultimate cost of future compliance with these requirements or their effect on our operations. We cannot predict whether such costs can be passed on to customers through product price increases. Competitors in various regions or countries where environmental regulation might not be so restrictive, subject to different interpretation or generally not enforced, may enjoy a competitive advantage.

     We may also be required to conduct additional clean up at sites where we have already participated in remediation efforts or to take remediation action with regard to sites formerly used in connection with our operations. We may be required to pay for a portion or all of the costs of clean up or remediation at sites we never owned or on which we never operated if we are found to have arranged for treatment or disposal of hazardous substances on the sites. In cases of joint and several liability, we may be obligated to pay a disproportionate share of cleanup costs if other responsible parties are financially insolvent.

INCREASED REGULATION ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS COULD IMPOSE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL COSTS ON BOTH OUR STEELMAKING AND METALS RECYCLING OPERATIONS.

     The U.S. government and various governmental agencies have introduced or are contemplating regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change. International treaties or agreements may also result in increasing regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, including the introduction of carbon emissions trading mechanisms. Any such regulation regarding climate change and greenhouse gas, or GHG emissions could impose significant costs on our steelmaking and metals recycling operations and on the operations of our customers and suppliers, including increased energy, capital equipment, environmental monitoring and reporting and other costs in order to comply with current or future laws or regulations concerning and limitations imposed on our operations by virtue of climate change and GHG emissions laws and regulations. The potential costs of “allowances,” “offsets” or “credits” that may be part of potential cap-and-trade programs or similar future regulatory measures are still uncertain. Any adopted future climate change and GHG regulations could negatively impact our ability (and that of our customers and suppliers) to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to such limitations. From a medium and long-term perspective, we may see an increase in costs relating to our assets that emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases as a result of these regulatory initiatives. These regulatory initiatives will be either voluntary or mandatory and may impact our operations directly or through our suppliers or customers. Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our financial condition, operating performance and ability to compete.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMPANY

POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS ON OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS CREDIT FACILITIES MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS.

     Although we believe we have adequate access to several sources of contractually committed borrowings and other available credit facilities (see the discussion at page 37 of our liquidity), we could be adversely affected if our banks, the buyers of our commercial paper or other of the traditional sources supplying our short term borrowing requirements refused to honor their contract commitments or ceased lending. While we believe the lending institutions participating in our credit arrangements are financially capable, events in the global credit markets, including the failure, takeover or rescue by various government entities of major financial institutions, have created uncertainty of credit availability to an extent not experienced in recent decades. Our commercial paper program is ranked in the third highest category by Moody’s Investors Service (P-3) and by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (A-3). Our senior unsecured debt is investment grade rated by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (BBB-) and Moody’s Investors Service (Baa3). In determining our credit ratings, the rating agencies consider a number of both quantitative and qualitative factors. These factors include earnings, fixed charges such as interest, cash flows, total

debt outstanding, off balance sheet obligations and other commitments, total capitalization and various ratios calculated from these factors. The rating agencies also consider predictability of cash flows, business strategy and diversity, industry conditions and contingencies. Lower ratings on our commercial paper program or our senior unsecured debt could impair our ability to obtain additional financing and will increase the cost of the financing that we do obtain.

SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS MAY DEFAULT ON THE DEBTS THEY OWE TO US.

     Should the recent constraints on access to credit continue for a prolonged period some of our customers may struggle or fail to meet their obligations, especially if they in turn experience defaults on receivables due from their customers. A continued recession could result in our incurring bad debt costs in excess of our expectations and prior experience. In certain markets we have experienced a consolidation among those entities to whom we sell. This consolidation, along with higher metals and other commodity prices, has resulted in an increased credit risk spread among fewer customers often without a corresponding strengthening of their financial status. We have expanded our use of credit insurance for accounts receivable in our businesses. While we believe the insurance companies with whom our accounts receivable are insured are capable of meeting their contract obligations, it is possible that we may not be capable of recovering all of our insured losses should they experience significant losses threatening their viability. Additionally, credit insurance policies typically have relatively short policy periods and require pre-approval of customers with maximum insured limits established by customer. Should credit insurers incur large losses, the insurance may be more difficult to secure and when available likely only at increased costs with decreased coverage. While in many international sales transactions we require letters of credit from financial institutions which we believe to be financially secure, we may be at risk in the event the financial institution subsequently fails and the customer is unable to pay for the products we sold. A significant amount of our accounts receivable are considered to be open account uninsured accounts receivable. We regularly maintain a substantial amount of accounts receivable, at year end $824 million. During the fiscal year, we had net reductions to bad debt expense of $2.6 million, charged off accounts receivable of $11.6 million and had recoveries of $1.8 million and at year end our allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $30 million.

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF OUR CUSTOMERS’ NON-COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS.

     Most consumers of the metals products we sell have been negatively impacted by the recession. Many of our customers have experienced reductions, some substantial, in their operations. Prices for many of the metals products we sell have declined, some substantially. These factors have contributed to attempts by some customers to seek renegotiation or cancellation of their existing purchase commitments. Some of our customers have breached previously agreed upon contracts to buy our products by refusing delivery of the products. Where appropriate we have and will in the future pursue litigation to recover our damages resulting from customer contract defaults. A large number of our customers defaulting on existing contractual obligations to purchase our products would have a material impact on our results of operations.

THE AGREEMENTS GOVERNING THE NOTES AND OUR OTHER DEBT CONTAIN FINANCIAL COVENANTS AND IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON OUR BUSINESS.

     The indenture governing our 5.625% notes due 2013, 6.50% notes due 2017 and 7.35% notes due 2018 contains restrictions on our ability to create liens, sell assets, enter into sale and leaseback transactions and consolidate or merge. In addition, our credit facility contains covenants that place restrictions on our ability to, among other things:

	•		create liens;
	•		enter into transactions with affiliates;
	•		sell assets;
	•		in the case of some of our subsidiaries, guarantee debt; and
	•		consolidate or merge.

     Our credit facility also requires that we meet certain financial tests and maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum debt to capitalization and interest coverage ratios and a minimum liquidity requirement.

     Other agreements that we may enter into in the future may contain covenants imposing significant restrictions on our business that are similar to, or in addition to, the covenants under our existing agreements. These restrictions may affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise.

     Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. The breach of any of these restrictions could result in a default under the indenture governing the notes or under our other debt agreements. An event of default under our debt agreements would permit some of our lenders to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. If we were unable to repay debt to our secured lenders or if we incur secured debt in the future, these lenders could proceed against the collateral securing that debt. In addition, acceleration of our other indebtedness may cause us to be unable to make interest payments on the notes.

FLUCTUATIONS IN THE VALUE OF THE U.S. DOLLAR RELATIVE TO OTHER CURRENCIES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

     Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar can be expected to affect our business. In particular major changes in the rate of exchange of China’s renminbi or the value of the euro to the U.S. dollar could negatively impact our business. A strong U.S. dollar makes imported metal products less expensive, resulting in more imports of steel products into the United States by our foreign competitors while a weak U.S. dollar may have the opposite impact on imports. With the exception of exports of nonferrous scrap metal by our Americas Recycling segment we have not recently been a significant exporter of metal products from our United States operations. Economic difficulties in some large steel producing regions of the world resulting in lower local demand for steel products have historically encouraged greater steel exports to the United States at depressed prices which can be exacerbated by a strong dollar. As a result, our products which are made in the United States may become relatively more expensive as compared to imported steel, which has had and in the future could have a negative impact on our sales, revenues, profitability and cash flows.

     A strong U.S. dollar hampers our international marketing and distribution business. Weak local currencies limit the amount of U.S. dollar denominated products that we can import for our international operations and limit our ability to be competitive against local producers selling in local currencies.

OPERATING INTERNATIONALLY CARRIES RISKS AND UNCERTANTIES WHICH COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

     We have our heaviest concentration of manufacturing facilities in the United States but also have significant facilities in Europe and Australia. Our marketing and trading offices are located in most major markets of the world with our suppliers and our customers located throughout the world. Our marketing and distribution segment relies on substantial international shipments of materials and products in the ordinary course of its business. Our stability, growth and profitability are subject to a number of risks inherent in doing business internationally in addition to the currency exchange risk discussed above, including:

	•		political, military, terrorist or major pandemic events;
	•		legal and regulatory requirements or limitations imposed by foreign governments (particularly those with significant steel consumption or steel related production including China, Brazil, Russia and India) including quotas, tariffs or other protectionist trade barriers, adverse tax law changes, nationalization or currency restrictions;
	•		disruptions or delays in shipments caused by customs compliance or government agencies; and
	•		potential difficulties in staffing and managing local operations.

These types of events may affect our ability to operate our business and could negatively affect our results of operations.

WE RELY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS FOR OUR MINIMILL OPERATIONS. DISRUPTIONS IN DELIVERY OR SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN ENERGY COSTS, INCLUDING CRUDE OIL PRICES, COULD ADVERSLY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE.

     Minimills melt steel scrap in electric arc furnaces and use natural gas to heat steel billets for rolling into finished products. As large consumers of electricity and gas, often the largest in the geographic area where our minimills are located, we must have dependable delivery of electricity and natural gas in order to operate. Accordingly, we are at risk in the event of an energy disruption. Prolonged black-outs or brown-outs or disruptions caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes or by political considerations would substantially disrupt our production. While we have not suffered prolonged production delays due to our inability to access electricity or natural gas several of our competitors have experienced such occurrences. Prolonged substantial increases in energy costs would have an adverse effect on the costs of operating our minimills and would negatively impact our gross margins unless we were able to fully pass through the additional expense. Our finished steel products are typically delivered by truck. Rapid increases in the price of fuel attributable to increases in crude oil prices will have a negative impact on our costs and many of our customers’ financial results which could result in reduced margins and declining demand for our products. Rapid increases in fuel costs may also negatively impact our ability to charter ships for international deliveries at anticipated freight rates thereby decreasing our margins on those transactions or causing our customers to look for alternative sources.

IF WE LOSE THE SERVICES OF KEY EMPLOYEES WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE OUR OPERATIONS AND MEET OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.

     Our future success depends, in large part, on the continued service of our officers and other key employees and our ability to continue to attract and retain additional highly qualified personnel. These employees are integral to our success based on their expertise and knowledge of our business and products. We compete for such personnel with other companies including public and private company competitors who may periodically offer more favorable terms of employment. The loss or interruption of the services of a number of our key employees could reduce our ability to effectively manage our operations due to the fact that we may not be able to find in a timely manner, appropriate replacement personnel should the need arise.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY COMPETING WITH COMPANIES THAT HAVE A LOWER COST STRUCTURE OR ACCESS TO GREATER FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

     We compete with regional, national and foreign manufacturers and traders. Consolidation among participants in the steel manufacturing and recycling industries has resulted in fewer competitors but several which are significantly larger. Some of our larger competitors have greater financial resources and more diverse businesses than us. Some of our foreign competitors may be able to pursue business opportunities without regard for the laws and regulations with which we must comply, such as environmental regulations. These companies may have a lower cost structure, more operating flexibility and consequently they may be able to offer better prices and more services than we can. There is no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully with these companies. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

OUR STEEL MINIMILL BUSINESS REQUIRES CONTINUOUS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN.

     We must make regular substantial capital investments in our steel minimills to lower production costs and remain competitive. We cannot be certain that we will have sufficient internally generated cash or acceptable external financing to make necessary substantial capital expenditures in the future. The availability of external financing depends on many factors outside of our control, including capital market conditions and the overall performance of the economy. If funding is insufficient, we may be unable to develop or enhance our minimills, take advantage of business opportunities and respond to competitive pressures.

SCRAP AND OTHER SUPPLIES FOR OUR BUSINESSES ARE SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT PRICE FLUCTUATIONS, WHICH MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

     We depend on ferrous scrap, the primary feedstock for our steel minimills and other supplies such as graphite electrodes and ferroalloys for our steel minimill operations. Although we believe that the supply of scrap is adequate to meet future needs, the price of scrap and other supplies has historically been subject to significant fluctuation. Our future profitability will be adversely affected if we are unable to pass on to our customers increased raw material and supply costs. We may not be able to adjust our product prices to recover the costs of rapid increases in material prices, especially over the short-term and in our domestic fabrication segment’s fixed price fabrication contracts.

     The raw material used in manufacturing copper tubing is copper scrap, supplemented occasionally by virgin copper ingot. Copper scrap has generally been readily available, and a small portion of our copper scrap comes from our metal recycling yards. However, copper scrap is subject to rapid price fluctuations related to the price and supply of virgin copper. Price increases for high quality copper scrap could adversely affect our business. Our Arkansas mill does not have melting capacity, so it is dependent on an adequate supply of competitively priced used rail. The availability of used rail fluctuates with the pace of railroad abandonments, rail replacement by railroads in the United States and abroad and demand for used rail from other domestic and foreign rail rerolling mills. Price increases for used rail could adversely affect our business.

UNEXPECTED EQUIPMENT FAILURES MAY LEAD TO PRODUCTION CURTAILMENTS OR SHUTDOWNS.

     Interruptions in our production capabilities will adversely affect our production costs, steel available for sales and earnings for the affected period. In addition to equipment failures, our facilities are also subject to the risk of catastrophic loss due to unanticipated events such as fires, explosions or violent weather conditions. Our manufacturing processes are dependent upon critical pieces of steel-making equipment, such as our furnaces, continuous casters and rolling equipment, as well as electrical equipment, such as transformers. This equipment may, on occasion, be out of service as a result of unanticipated failures. We have experienced and may in the future experience material plant shutdowns or periods of reduced production as a result of such equipment failures.

COMPETITION FROM OTHER MATERIALS MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OR PROSPECTS.

     In many applications, steel competes with other materials, such as aluminum and plastics (particularly in the automobile industry), cement, composites, glass and wood. Increased use of or additional substitutes for steel products could adversely affect future market prices and demand for steel products.

HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY EXPOSE US TO LOSS OR LIMIT OUR POTENTIAL GAINS.

     Our product lines and worldwide operations expose us to risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange, commodity prices and interest rates. As part of our risk management program, we use financial instruments, including commodity futures or forwards, foreign currency exchange forward contracts and interest rate swaps. While intended to reduce the effects of the fluctuations, these transactions may limit our potential gains or expose us to loss. Should our counterparties to such transactions or the sponsors of the exchanges through which these transactions are offered, such as the London Metal Exchange, fail to honor their obligations due to financial distress we would be exposed to potential losses or the inability to recover anticipated gains from these transactions.

     We enter into the foreign currency exchange forwards as economic hedges of trade commitments or anticipated commitments denominated in currencies other than the functional currency to mitigate the effects of changes in currency rates. Although we do not enter into these instruments for trading purposes or speculation, and although our management believes all of these instruments are economically effective as hedges of underlying physical transactions, these foreign exchange commitments are dependent on timely performance by our counterparties. Their failure to perform could result in our having to close these hedges without the anticipated underlying transaction and could result in losses if foreign currency exchange rates have changed.

WE ARE INVOLVED AND MAY IN THE FUTURE BECOME INVOLVED IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS THAT MAY RESULT IN FINES, PENALTIES OR JUDGMENTS BEING ASSESSED AGAINST US OR LIABILITY IMPOSED UPON US WHICH WE CANNOT PRESENTLY ESTIMATE OR REASONABLY FORESEE AND WHICH MAY HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON OUR EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS.

     Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, called CERCLA or Superfund, or similar state statutes, we may have obligations to conduct investigation and remediation activities associated with alleged releases of hazardous substances or to reimburse the EPA (or state agencies as applicable) for such activities and to pay for natural resource damages associated with alleged releases. We have been named a potentially responsible party at several Federal and state Superfund sites because the EPA or an equivalent state agency contends that we and other potentially responsible scrap metal suppliers are liable for the cleanup of those sites as a result of having sold scrap metal to unrelated manufacturers for recycling as a raw material in the manufacture of new products. We are involved in litigation or administrative proceedings with regard to several of these sites in which we are contesting, or at the appropriate time may contest, our liability at the sites. In addition, we have received information requests with regard to other sites which may be under consideration by the EPA as potential CERCLA sites.

     Although we are unable to estimate precisely the ultimate dollar amount of exposure to loss in connection with various environmental matters or the effect on our consolidated financial position, we make accruals as warranted. Due to inherent uncertainties, including evolving remediation technology, changing regulations, possible third-party contributions, the inherent shortcomings of the estimation process, the uncertainties involved in litigation and other factors, the amounts we accrue could vary significantly from the amounts we ultimately are required to pay, which could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and cash flow.

WE ARE SUBJECT TO LITIGATION WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR PROFITABILITY.

     We are involved in various litigation matters, including regulatory proceedings, administrative proceedings, governmental investigations, environmental matters and construction contract disputes. The nature of our operations also exposes us to possible litigation claims in the future. Although we make every effort to avoid litigation, these matters are not totally within our control. We will contest these matters vigorously and have made insurance claims where appropriate, but because of the uncertain nature of litigation and coverage decisions, we cannot predict the outcome of these matters. These matters could have a material adverse affect on our financial condition and profitability. Litigation is very costly, and the costs associated with prosecuting and defending litigation matters could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and profitability. Although we are unable to estimate precisely the ultimate dollar amount of exposure to loss in connection with litigation matters, we make accruals as warranted. However, the amounts that we accrue could vary significantly from the amounts we actually pay, due to inherent uncertainties and the inherent shortcomings of the estimation process, the uncertainties involved in litigation and other factors.

SOME OF OUR OPERATIONS PRESENT SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH.

     The industrial activities conducted at our facilities present significant risk of serious injury or death to our employees, customers or other visitors to our operations, notwithstanding our safety precautions, including our material compliance with Federal, state and local employee health and safety regulations. While we have in place policies and procedures to minimize such risks, we may nevertheless be unable to avoid material liabilities for an injury or death. Even though we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to address the risk of incurring material liabilities for injury or death, there can be no assurance that the insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available on the terms acceptable to us, or at all, which could result in material liabilities to us for an injury or death.

OUR SYSTEM OF INTERNAL CONTROLS MUST BE AUDITED ANNUALLY AND THE OCCURRENCE OF A MATERIAL WEAKNESS MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS REPUTATION, CREDIT RATINGS AND PARTICIPATION IN CAPITAL MARKETS.

     Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, management must assess the design and functioning of our system of financial internal control. Our independent registered public accounting firm must then certify the effectiveness of our internal controls. Discovery and disclosure of a material weakness, by definition, may have a material adverse impact on our financial statements. Such an occurrence may discourage certain customers or suppliers from doing business with us, may cause downgrades in our debt ratings leading to higher borrowing costs, and may affect how our stock trades. This may in turn negatively affect our ability to access public debt or equity markets for capital.

HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION COULD RESULT IN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED COSTS AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR WORKFORCE.

     Recently enacted health care mandates may cause us to evaluate the scope of health benefits offered to our workforce, the method in which they are delivered, and increase our and our employees’ costs. If we are not able to offer a competitive level of benefits, it may negatively affect the hiring and retention of qualified personnel. Higher health care costs may reduce our earnings resulting in (i) an inability to reinvest sufficient capital in our operations, (ii) an inability to sustain dividends, (iii) lowered debt ratings and (iv) an increase in the cost of capital, all of which may have a negative effect on our share price.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

     None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

     Our Texas steel minimill is located on approximately 660 acres of land that we own. Our Texas minimill facilities include several buildings that occupy approximately 850,000 square feet. Our Alabama steel minimill is located on approximately 70 acres of land, and it includes several buildings that occupy approximately 540,000 square feet. We utilize our facilities at the Texas and Alabama steel minimills for manufacturing, storage, office and other related uses. Our South Carolina steel minimill is located on approximately 110 acres of land, and the buildings occupy approximately 700,000 square feet. Our Arkansas steel minimill is located on approximately 140 acres of land, and the buildings occupy approximately 240,000 square feet. Our Arizona steel micro mill is located on approximately 230 acres of land, and the buildings occupy approximately 130,000 square feet. We lease approximately 30 acres of land at the Alabama minimill and all the land at the Arkansas and South Carolina minimills in connection with revenue bond financing or property tax incentives. We may purchase the land at the termination of the leases or earlier for a nominal sum. Howell Metal Company owns approximately 75 acres of land in New Market, Virginia, with buildings occupying approximately 410,000 square feet.

     Our Americas Recycling segment’s plants occupy approximately 820 acres of land that we own in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The recycling segment’s other scrap metal processing locations are on approximately 50 acres of leased land.

     The facilities of our Americas Fabrication segment utilize approximately 1,400 acres of land, of which we lease approximately 100 acres of land, at various locations in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

     CMCZ’s steel manufacturing operations are located in Zawiercie in South Central Poland about 40 kilometers from Katowice. CMCZ and subsidiaries lease approximately 98% of the 2 million square meters of land utilized by the principal operations with a small balance owned. The land is leased from the State of Poland under contracts with 99 year durations and are considered to create a right of perpetual usufruct. The leases expire beginning in 2089 through 2100. The principal operations are conducted in buildings having an area of approximately 260,000 square meters. The seven major buildings in use have all been constructed on or after 1974. The real estate is also developed with over 130 other buildings including warehouses, administrative offices, workshops, garage, transformer stations, pumping stations, gas stations, boiler houses, gate houses and contains some structures leased to unrelated parties, CMCZ subsidiaries and affiliated companies. Other much smaller tracts of land are leased or

owned in nearby communities including those utilized by six affiliated scrap processing facilities. Our international fabrication operations utilize approximately 136,000 square meters of land which is either owned or subject to a perpetual usufruct.

     CMCS is located on approximately 880,000 square meters, which we own, at Sisak in Central Croatia, approximately 30 miles southeast of Zagreb. The principal operations are conducted in buildings having an area of approximately 180,000 square meters.

     We own two warehouse buildings which our operations in Australia utilize, one of which is located on leased real estate. We lease the other warehouse facilities located in Australia as well as our Australian headquarters, marketing and administration offices.

     We lease the office space occupied by our corporate headquarters as well as that occupied by all of our marketing and distribution offices.

     The leases on the leased properties described above will expire on various dates and with the exception of the CMCZ leases described above, generally over the next six years. Several of the leases have renewal options. We have had little difficulty renewing such leases as they expire. We estimate our minimum annual rental obligation for real estate operating leases in effect at August 31, 2010, to be paid during fiscal 2011, to be approximately $24 million. We also lease a portion of the equipment we use in our plants. We estimate our minimum annual rental obligation for equipment operating leases in effect at August 31, 2010, to be paid during fiscal 2011, to be approximately $17 million.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     On September 18, 2008, we were served with a class action antitrust lawsuit alleging violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, brought by Standard Iron Works of Scranton, Pennsylvania, against nine steel manufacturing companies, including Commercial Metals Company. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that the defendants conspired to fix, raise, maintain and stabilize the price at which steel products were sold in the United States by artificially restricting the supply of such steel products. The lawsuit, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class consisting of all purchasers of steel products directly from the defendants between January 1, 2005 and September 2008, seeks treble damages and costs, including reasonable attorney fees and pre- and post-judgment interest. Since the filing of this lawsuit, additional plaintiffs have filed class action lawsuits naming the same defendants and containing allegations substantially identical to those of the Standard Iron Works complaint. We believe that the lawsuits are without merit and plan to aggressively defend the actions.

     We have received notices from the EPA or state agencies with similar responsibility that we and numerous other parties are considered PRPs and may be obligated under CERCLA, or similar state statute, to pay for the cost of remedial investigation, feasibility studies and ultimately remediation to correct alleged releases of hazardous substances at ten locations. We may contest our designation as a PRP with regard to certain sites, while at other sites we are participating with other named PRPs in agreements or negotiations that have resulted or that we expect will result in agreements to remediate the sites. The EPA or respective state agency refers to these locations, none of which involve real estate we ever owned or conducted operations upon, as the Sapp Battery Site in Cottondale, Florida, the Interstate Lead Company Site in Leeds, Alabama, the Ross Metals Site in Rossville, Tennessee, the Li Tungsten Site in Glen Cove, New York, the Peak Oil Site in Tampa, Florida, the R&H Oil Site in San Antonio, Texas, the SoGreen/Parramore Site in Tifton, Georgia, the Stoller Site in Jericho, South Carolina, the Jensen Drive site in Houston, Texas, and the Industrial Salvage site in Corpus Christi, Texas. During 2010, we acquired a 70% interest in the real property at Jensen Drive as part of the remediation of that site. We have periodically received information requests from government environmental agencies with regard to other sites that are apparently under consideration for designation as listed sites under CERCLA or similar state statutes. Often we do not receive any further communication with regard to these sites. We do not know if any of these inquiries will ultimately result in a demand for payment from us.

     The EPA notified us and other alleged PRPs that under Sec. 106 of CERCLA we and the other PRPs could be subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 per day and the imposition of treble damages if we and the other PRPs refuse to clean up the Peak Oil, Sapp Battery, SoGreen/Parramore and Stoller site as ordered by the EPA. We are presently participating in PRP organizations at these sites which are paying for certain site remediation expenses. We do not believe that the EPA will pursue any fines against us if we continue to participate in the PRP groups or if we have adequate defenses to the EPA’s imposition of fines against us in these matters.

     In 1993, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission entered an order against our wholly-owned subsidiary CMC Oil Company, or CMC Oil, which has been inactive since 1985. As a result of the order, CMC Oil is subject to a judgment which the Federal District Court upheld in 1994 and the Court of Appeals affirmed in 1995. The order found CMC Oil liable for overcharges constituting violations of crude oil reseller regulations from December 1977 to January 1979. The alleged overcharges occurred in connection with our joint venture transactions with RFB Petroleum, Inc. The overcharges total approximately $1,330,000 plus interest calculated from the transaction dates to the date of the District Court judgment under the Department of Energy’s interest rate policy, and with interest thereafter at the rate of 6.48% per annum. Although CMC Oil accrued a liability on its books during 1995, it does not have sufficient assets to satisfy the judgment. No claim has ever been asserted against us as a result of the CMC Oil litigation. We will vigorously defend ourselves if any such claim is asserted.

     We believe that adequate provision has been made in the financial statements for the potential impact of any loss in connection with the above-described legal proceedings, environmental matters, government proceedings, and disputes that could result in additional litigation, some of which may have a material impact on earnings and cash flows for a particular quarter. Management believes that the outcome of the suits and proceedings mentioned, and other miscellaneous litigation and proceedings now pending, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial position or liquidity.

ITEM 4. REMOVED AND RESERVED

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

MARKET AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION

     The table below summarizes the high and low sales prices reported on the New York Stock Exchange for our common stock and the quarterly cash dividends we paid for the past two fiscal years.

PRICE RANGE
OF COMMON STOCK

2010
FISCAL
QUARTER		HIGH				LOW				CASH DIVIDENDS
1st		$	21.29			$	13.30			12 cents
2nd			17.52				13.16			12 cents
3rd			18.18				12.66			12 cents
4th			16.49				12.12			12 cents

2009
FISCAL
QUARTER		HIGH				LOW				CASH DIVIDENDS
1st		$	25.76			$	6.25			12 cents
2nd			14.37				8.50			12 cents
3rd			17.53				8.83			12 cents
4th			18.54				13.18			12 cents

     Since 1982, our common stock has been listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. From 1959 until the NYSE listing in 1982, our common stock was traded on the American Stock Exchange. The number of shareholders of record of our common stock at October 22, 2010, was 4,744.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

     Information about our equity compensation plans as of August 31, 2010, that was either approved or not approved by our stockholders is as follows:

C.

NUMBER OF SECURITIES

A.

REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE

NUMBER OF SECURITIES

B.

ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY

TO BE ISSUED

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE

COMPENSATION PLANS

UPON EXERCISE OF

EXERCISE PRICE OF

(EXCLUDING SECURITIES

OUTSTANDING OPTIONS,

OUTSTANDING OPTIONS,

REFLECTED IN COLUMN

PLAN CATEGORY

WARRANTS AND RIGHTS

WARRANTS AND RIGHTS

(A))

Equity Compensation plans approved by security holders

3,922,016

$

23.67

6,566,043

Equity Compensation plans not approved by security holders

—

—

—

TOTAL

3,922,016

$

23.67

6,566,043

 

STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The following graph compares the cumulative total return of our common stock during the five year period beginning September 1, 2005 and ending August 31, 2010 with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index also known as the “S&P 500” and the Standard & Poor’s Steel Industry Group Index also known as the “S&P Steel Group.” Each index assumes $100 invested at the close of trading August 31, 2005, and reinvestment of dividends.

 

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Among Commercial Metals Company, The S&P 500 Index
and The S&P Steel Index

 

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The table below sets forth a summary of our selected consolidated financial information for the periods indicated. The per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect any stock splits and stock dividends.

FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

		2010				2009				2008				2007			2006
Net sales *		$	6,306,102			$	6,409,376			$	9,896,637			$	7,881,472			$	6,814,463
Net earnings (loss) attributable to CMC			(205,344	)			20,802				231,966				355,431				356,347
Diluted earnings (loss) per share			(1.81	)			0.18				1.97				2.92				2.89
Total assets			3,706,153				3,687,556				4,746,371				3,472,663				2,898,868
Stockholders’ equity attributable to CMC			1,250,736				1,529,693				1,638,383				1,548,567				1,220,104
Long-term debt			1,197,282				1,181,740				1,197,533				706,817				322,086
Cash dividends per share			0.48				0.48				0.45				0.33				0.17
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			**				1.20				4.78				11.16				14.80

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and business, and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including net earnings (loss), economic conditions, credit availability, product pricing and demand, currency valuation, production rates, energy expense, interest rates, inventory levels, acquisitions, construction and operation of new facilities and general market conditions. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by phrases such as we or our management “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans to,” “ought,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “appears,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “outlook” or other similar words or phrases. There are inherent risks and uncertainties in any forward-looking statements. Variances will occur and some could be materially different from our current opinion. Developments that could impact our expectations include the following:

	•		absence of global economic recovery or possible recession relapse;
	•		solvency of financial institutions and their ability or willingness to lend;
	•		success or failure of governmental efforts to stimulate the economy including restoring credit availability and confidence in a recovery;
	•		continued debt problems in Greece and other countries within the euro zone;
	•		customer non-compliance with contracts;
	•		construction activity;
	•		decisions by governments affecting the level of steel imports, including tariffs and duties;
	•		litigation claims and settlements;

	•		difficulties or delays in the execution of construction contracts resulting in cost overruns or contract disputes;
	•		unsuccessful implementation of new technology;
	•		metals pricing over which we exert little influence;
	•		increased capacity and product availability from competing steel minimills and other steel suppliers including import quantities and pricing;
	•		execution of cost minimization strategies;
	•		ability to retain key executives;
	•		court decisions;
	•		industry consolidation or changes in production capacity or utilization;
	•		global factors including political and military uncertainties;
	•		currency fluctuations;
	•		interest rate changes;
	•		scrap metal, energy, insurance and supply prices;
	•		severe weather, especially in Poland; and
	•		the pace of overall economic activity, particularly in China.

See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. These factors and the other risk factors described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, we cannot assure you that the actual results or developments we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us. Given these uncertainties, we caution prospective investors not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We recycle, manufacture, market and distribute steel and metal products through a network of over 220 locations in the United States and internationally.

Our business is organized into the following five segments: Americas Recycling, Americas Mills, Americas Fabrication, International Mills and International Marketing and Distribution. Our domestic and international distribution business activities consist only of physical transactions and not market speculation.

Americas Recycling Operations

We conduct our recycling operations through metal processing plants located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Americas Mills Operations

We conduct our domestic mills operations through a network of:

	•		steel mills, commonly referred to as “minimills” or in the case of the Arizona mill a “micro mill,” that produce one or more of reinforcing bar, angles, flats, rounds, small beams, fence-post sections and other shapes; and
	•		a copper tube minimill which is aggregated with the Company’s steel minimills because it has similar economic characteristics; and
	•		one scrap metal shredder processing facility that directly supports the adjoining steel minimill.

Americas Fabrication Operations

We conduct our domestic fabrication operations through a network of:

	•		steel plants that bend, weld, cut and fabricate steel, primarily reinforcing bar and angles;
	•		warehouses that sell or rent products for the installation of concrete;
	•		plants that produce steel fence posts; and
	•		plants that treat steel with heat to strengthen and provide flexibility.

International Mills Operations

International Mills includes our Polish (“CMCZ”) and Croatian (“CMCS”) mills, as well as our recycling and fabrication operations in Europe, and have been presented as a separate segment because the economic characteristics of the market and the regulatory environment in which our international mills operate is different from our domestic minimills. We conduct our operations through:

	•		two rolling mills that produce primarily reinforcing bar and high quality merchant products;
	•		a rolling mill that produces primarily wire rod;
	•		a specialty rod finishing mill;
	•		our scrap processing facilities that directly support the CMCZ minimill;
	•		four steel fabrication plants primarily for reinforcing bar and mesh; and
	•		an electric arc furnace based steel pipe manufacturer.

International Marketing and Distribution Operations

We market and distribute steel, copper and aluminum coil, sheet and tubing, ores, metal concentrates, industrial minerals, ferroalloys and chemicals through our network of marketing and distribution offices, processing facilities and joint ventures domestically and internationally. Our customers use these products in a variety of industries.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The following are important accounting policies, estimates and assumptions that you should understand as you review our financial statements. We apply these accounting policies and make these estimates and assumptions to prepare financial statements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Our use of these accounting policies, estimates and assumptions affects our results of operations and our reported amounts of assets and liabilities. Where we have used estimates or assumptions, actual results could differ significantly from our estimates.

Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts We recognize sales when title passes to the customer either when goods are shipped or when they are delivered based on the terms of the sale, there is persuasive evidence of an agreement, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. When we estimate that a contract with one of our customers will result in a loss, we accrue the calculated loss as soon as it is probable and estimable. We account for fabrication projects based on the percentage of completion accounting method. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect our estimate of the uncollectability of accounts receivable. These reserves are based on historical trends, current market conditions and customers’ financial condition.

Contingencies In the ordinary course of conducting our business, we become involved in litigation, administrative proceedings and government investigations, including environmental matters. We may incur settlements, fines, penalties or judgments because of some of these matters. While we are unable to estimate precisely the ultimate dollar amount of exposure or loss in connection with these matters, we make accruals as warranted. The amounts we accrue could vary substantially from amounts we pay due to several factors including the following: evolving remediation technology, changing regulations, possible third-party contributions, the inherent shortcomings of the estimation process, and the uncertainties involved in litigation. Accordingly, we cannot always estimate a meaningful range of possible exposure. We believe that we have adequately provided in our consolidated financial statements for the impact of these contingencies. We also believe that the outcomes will not significantly affect the long-term results of operations or our financial position. However, they may have a material impact on earnings for a particular quarter.

Inventory Cost We determine inventory cost for most domestic inventories by the last-in, first-out method, or LIFO. We calculate our LIFO reserve by using quantities and costs at period end and recording the resulting LIFO income or expense in its entirety. Inventory cost for international and remaining inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out method, or FIFO. We record all inventories at the lower of their cost or market value.

Goodwill We test for impairment of goodwill by estimating the fair value of each reporting unit compared to its carrying value. Our reporting units are based on our internal reporting structure and represent an operating segment or a reporting level below an operating segment. Additionally, our reporting units are aggregated based upon similar economic characteristics, nature of products and services, nature of production processes, type of customers and distribution methods. We have determined our reporting units that have a significant amount of goodwill to be our domestic recycling and domestic fabrication segments. We use a discounted cash flow model to calculate the fair value of our reporting units. The model includes a number of significant assumptions and estimates regarding future cash flows including discount rates, volumes, prices, capital expenditures and the impact of current market conditions. These estimates could be materially impacted by adverse changes in market conditions. We perform the goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and when changes in circumstances indicate an impairment event may have occurred. Based on our analysis during the fourth quarter of 2010, the estimated fair value of our reporting units substantially exceeded their carrying values.

Long-Lived Assets We evaluate the carrying value of property, plant and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets whenever a change in circumstances indicates that the carrying value may not be recoverable from the undiscounted future cash flows from operations. If an impairment exists, the net book values are reduced to fair values as warranted. Our domestic and international mills, fabrication and recycling businesses are capital intensive. Some of the estimated values for assets that we currently use in our operations are based upon judgments and assumptions of future undiscounted cash flows that the assets will produce. If these assets were for sale, our estimates of their values could be significantly different because of market conditions, specific transaction terms and a buyer’s different viewpoint of future cash flows. Also, we depreciate property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciable lives are based on our estimate of the assets’ economically useful lives and are evaluated annually. To the extent that an asset’s actual life differs from our estimate, there could be an impact on depreciation expense or a gain/loss on the disposal of the asset in a later period. We expense major maintenance costs as incurred.

Other Accounting Policies and New Accounting Pronouncements See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Results of Operations

		Year ended August 31,
(in millions except share data)		2010				2009				2008
Net sales*		$	6,306			$	6,409			$	9,897
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CMC			(166.7	)			1.7				244.6
Per diluted share			(1.47	)			0.02				2.08
Adjusted EBITDA			14.9				275.2				531.4
International net sales			3,091				2,731				4,591
As % of total sales			49	%			43	%			46	%
LIFO (income) expense** effect on net earnings attributable to CMC			(7.4	)			(208.4	)			209.1
Per diluted share			(0.07	)			(1.83	)			1.78

In the table above, we have included a financial statement measure that was not derived in accordance with GAAP. We use adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment charges) as a non-GAAP performance measure. In calculating adjusted EBITDA, we exclude our largest recurring non-cash charge, depreciation, amortization and impairment charges. Adjusted EBITDA provides a core operational performance measurement that compares results without the need to adjust for Federal, state and local taxes which have considerable variation between domestic jurisdictions. Tax regulations in international operations add additional complexity. Also, we exclude interest cost in our calculation of adjusted EBITDA. The results are, therefore, without consideration of financing alternatives of capital employed. We use adjusted EBITDA as one guideline to assess our unleveraged performance return on our investments. Adjusted EBITDA is also the target benchmark for our long-term cash incentive performance plan for management and part of a debt compliance test for our revolving credit agreement and our accounts receivable securitization program. Reconciliations from net earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CMC to adjusted EDITDA are provided below for the years ended August 31:

(in millions)		2010				2009				2008
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to CMC		$	(166.7	)		$	1.7			$	244.6
Interest expense			75.5				77.0				58.3
Income taxes (benefit)			(38.1	)			0.7				112.3
Depreciation, amortization and impairment charges			168.4				151.4				124.4
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations		$	39.1			$	230.8				539.6
Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations			(24.2	)			44.4				(8.2	)
Adjusted EBITDA		$	14.9			$	275.2			$	531.4

Our adjusted EBITDA does not include interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment charges. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and our ability to generate revenues. Because we use capital assets, depreciation, amortization and impairment charges are also necessary elements of our costs. Also, the payment of income taxes is a necessary element of our operations. Therefore, any measures that exclude these elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is appropriate to consider both net earnings (loss) determined under GAAP, as well as adjusted EBITDA, to evaluate our performance. Also, we separately analyze any significant fluctuations in interest expense, depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and income taxes.

The following events and performances had a significant financial impact during 2010 as compared to 2009 or are expected to be significant for our future operations:

	1.		In response to volatile prices, weakening demand, and continued global liquidity and credit crisis, we recorded the following consolidated expenses in continuing operations during 2010: lower of cost or market inventory adjustments of $45.8 million and severance costs of $9.8 million.
	2.		During the second quarter of 2010, we decided to exit the joist and deck business and incurred $31.3 million of charges to impair fixed assets and intangibles, $11.7 million of severance and $7.4 million of inventory charges. This division previously included in the Americas Fabrication segment is presented as a discontinued operation.
	3.		We recorded after-tax LIFO income of $7.4 million ($0.07 per diluted share) compared to LIFO income of $208.4 million ($1.83 per diluted share) in 2009.
	4.		Improved demand drove prices and volumes for our Americas Recycling segment which resulted in an 81% increase in net sales and a $104.8 million increase in adjusted operating results.
	5.		Net sales of the Americas Mills segment increased 11% due to higher shipments but adjusted operating profit declined 87% from lower average selling prices combined with an increase in material costs.
	6.		Our Americas Fabrication segment showed a 29% decrease in net sales and an adjusted operating loss of $107.8 million from the continued decline in market demand and lower average selling prices.
	7.		Net sales of our International Mills segment remained flat as compared to 2009 but showed a 23% decrease in adjusted operating loss from improved demand and pricing in construction markets in Poland offset by continuing losses in Croatia.

	8.		Our International Marketing and Distribution segment reported a 13% decline in net sales, however, reported adjusted operating profit of $74.7 million resulting from margin expansion from this segment’s global presence and ability to participate in markets experiencing economic recovery.
	9.		Significant capital expenditure projects in 2010 include a new flexible rolling mill at CMCZ (Poland) and a new furnace at CMCS (Croatia) which were completed during the third quarter of 2010. A new ladle metallurgical station was commissioned in September 2010.

Segments

Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts below are calculated before income taxes. Financial results for our reportable segments are consistent with the basis and manner in which we internally disaggregate financial information for making operating decisions. See Note 15, Business Segments, to the consolidated financial statements.

We use adjusted operating profit (loss) to compare and evaluate the financial performance of our segments. Adjusted operating profit (loss) is the sum of our earnings (loss) before income taxes and financing costs.

The following table shows net sales and adjusted operating profit (loss) by business segment:

		Year ended August 31,
(in millions)		2010				2009				2008
Net sales:
Americas Recycling		$	1,424			$	785			$	2,189
Americas Mills			1,395				1,253				1,966
Americas Fabrication			1,140				1,596				1,741
International Mills			764				754				1,234
International Marketing and Distribution			2,464				2,827				3,975
Corporate			4				(11	)			(2	)
Eliminations			(885	)			(795	)			(1,206	)
Adjusted operating profit (loss):
Americas Recycling			15.2				(89.6	)			145.8
Americas Mills			33.3				263.4				207.8
Americas Fabrication			(107.8	)			145.7				(8.6	)
International Mills			(73.5	)			(96.0	)			99.7
International Marketing and Distribution			74.7				(53.1	)			82.1
Corporate			(70.7	)			(94.8	)			(99.5	)
Eliminations			3.6				8.2				(0.5	)
Discontinued Operations			(59.8	)			32.6				(18.9	)

LIFO Impact on Adjusted Operating Profit (Loss) LIFO is an inventory costing method that assumes the most recent inventory purchases or goods manufactured are sold first. This results in current sales prices offset against current inventory costs. In periods of rising prices it has the effect of eliminating inflationary profits from operations. In periods of declining prices it has the effect of eliminating deflationary losses from operations. In either case the goal is to reflect economic profit. The table below reflects LIFO income or (expense) representing decreases or (increases) in the LIFO inventory reserve. International Mills is not included in this table as it uses FIFO valuation exclusively for its inventory:

		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
		August 31,								August 31,
(in thousands)		2010				2009				2010				2009
Americas Recycling		$	3,142			$	(8,253	)		$	(11,072	)		$	27,049
Americas Mills			10,665				(8,713	)			(27,327	)			135,541
Americas Fabrication			6,553				21,833				(9,968	)			86,859
International Marketing and Distribution			6,556				24,176				40,372				6,065
Discontinued Operations			9,030				8,476				19,356				65,081
Consolidated pre-tax LIFO income (expense)		$	35,946			$	37,519			$	11,361			$	320,595

2010 Compared to 2009

Americas Recycling During 2010, scrap prices, metal margins and shipments increased as this segment began recovering from the economic recession that significantly impacted operating results in 2009. Adjusted operating profit for 2010 was driven by improved margins from both prices and volumes and cost containment efforts. Metal margins were negatively impacted by LIFO expense of $11.1 million in 2010 as compared to LIFO income of $27.0 million in 2009. Ferrous pricing was stronger as domestic mill operating rates increased and general manufacturing output was higher. Nonferrous pricing was driven by strong export demand, primarily from Asia. We exported 10% of our ferrous scrap tonnage and 40% of our nonferrous scrap tonnage during the year.

The following table reflects our Americas Recycling segment’s average selling prices per ton and tons shipped (in thousands) for the year ended August 31:

										Increase
		2010				2009				Amount				%
Average ferrous selling price		$	264			$	181			$	83				46	%
Average nonferrous selling price		$	2,634			$	1,824			$	810				44	%
Ferrous tons shipped			2,289				1,817				472				26	%
Nonferrous tons shipped			239				203				36				18	%
Total volume processed and shipped			2,535				2,033				502				25	%

Americas Mills We include our five domestic steel mills and our copper tube minimill in our Americas Mills segment.

Within the segment, adjusted operating profit for our five domestic steel mills was $29.8 million for 2010 as compared to $239.6 million for 2009. Adjusted operating profit primarily declined from ferrous margin compression as scrap prices increased at a greater rate than average selling prices and start-up costs at our new mill in Arizona. Additionally, we recorded LIFO expense of $19.2 million in 2010 as compared to LIFO income of $121.0 million in 2009. Our mills ran at 63% utilization during 2010 as compared to 60% during 2009. Rebar accounted for 52% of tonnage shipped, a decrease from 58% in 2009. Higher production rates as well as price increases in some alloys and natural gas rates resulted in an overall increase of $9.4 million in electrode, alloys and energy costs.

The table below reflects steel and ferrous scrap prices per ton for the year ended August 31:

										Increase (Decrease)
		2010				2009				Amount				%
Average mill selling price (finished goods)		$	618			$	662			$	(44	)			(7	%)
Average mill selling price (total sales)			584				642				(58	)			(9	%)
Average cost of ferrous scrap consumed			292				254				38				15	%
Average FIFO metal margin			292				388				(96	)			(25	%)
Average ferrous scrap purchase price			259				195				64				33	%

The table below reflects our domestic steel mills’ operating statistics (short tons in thousands) for the year ended August 31:

										Increase
		2010				2009				Amount				%
Tons melted			2,077				1,599				478				30	%
Tons rolled			1,734				1,478				256				17	%
Tons shipped			2,156				1,736				420				24	%

Our copper tube minimill’s adjusted operating profit decreased $20.3 million to $3.5 million during 2010 as compared to 2009 primarily due to an increase in LIFO expense for 2010 of $22.7 million.

The table below reflects our copper tube minimill’s operating statistics for the year ended August 31:

										Decrease
(pounds in millions)		2010				2009				Amount				%
Pounds shipped			42.6				48.2				(5.6	)			(12	%)
Pounds produced			40.9				45.5				(4.6	)			(10	%)

Americas Fabrication This segment continues to face challenging market conditions including strong competition, weak selling prices, lack luster demand and high steel costs eroding profits. As a result, this segment experienced significant declines in the average selling price and shipments which resulted in an adjusted operating loss of $107.8 million as compared to a profit of $145.7 million in 2009. Results were also negatively impacted by a decline in LIFO income of $96.8 million in 2010 as compared to 2009. Public works remained the most positive end-use markets for this segment. Although most divisions reported a loss for the year, our post plants and specialty heat treating operations were profitable for 2010. The composite average fabrication selling price was $768 per ton, down from $1,037 per ton in 2009.

The tables below shows our average fabrication selling prices per short ton and total fabrication plant shipments for the year ended August 31:

										Decrease
Average selling price*		2010				2009				Amount				%
Rebar		$	720			$	980			$	(260	)			(27	%)
Structural			1,835				3,037				(1,202	)			(40	%)
Post			881				956				(75	)			(8	%)

										Increase (Decrease)
Tons shipped (in thousands)		2010				2009				Amount				%
Rebar			830				1,010				(180	)			(18	%)
Structural			54				70				(16	)			(23	%)
Post			95				69				26				38	%

International Mills CMC Zawiercie (“CMCZ”) had an adjusted operating loss of $31.6 million during 2010 as compared to an adjusted operating loss of $58.1 million during 2009. During 2010, this segment continued the trend of strong volumes combined with compressed metal margins. Metal margin continued to be compressed as ferrous scrap prices were driven by global demand while average selling prices increased slightly as the local market remained intensely competitive. Shipments included 297 thousand tons of billets compared to 241 thousand tons of billets in the prior year. During 2010, we hot commissioned our new flexible rolling mill which, when combined with our existing long products, wire rod mills and rod block, will enable us to upgrade, expand and tailor our product offerings.

The table below reflects CMCZ’s operating statistics (in thousands) and average prices per short ton:

										Increase (Decrease)
		2010				2009				Amount				%
Tons melted			1,468				1,269				199				16	%
Tons rolled			1,107				997				110				11	%
Tons shipped			1,387				1,258				129				10	%
Average mill selling price (total sales)			1,382	PLN			1,351	PLN			31	PLN			2	%
Averaged ferrous scrap production cost			880	PLN			785	PLN			95	PLN			12	%
Average metal margin			502	PLN			566	PLN			(64	) PLN			(11	%)
Average ferrous scrap purchase price			730	PLN			613	PLN			117	PLN			19	%
Average mill selling price (total sales)		$	461			$	457			$	4				1	%
Average ferrous scrap production cost		$	295			$	255			$	40				16	%
Average metal margin		$	166			$	202			$	(36	)			(18	%)
Average ferrous scrap purchase price		$	244			$	202			$	42				21	%

CMC Sisak (“CMCS”) reported an adjusted operating loss of $41.9 million during 2010 as compared to an adjusted operating loss of $37.9 million during 2009 as the challenging economic conditions remained. CMCS melted 89 thousand tons, rolled 64 thousand tons and shipped 61 thousand tons during 2010 as compared to 49 thousand tons melted, 63 thousand tons rolled and 67 thousand tons shipped during 2009. CMCS completed its furnace renovation during 2010, produced 40 thousand tons of steel with the new furnace and significantly increased its backlog.

Our fabrication operations in Poland and Germany had an adjusted operating loss of $4.7 million during 2010, a decrease in adjusted operating loss of $13.9 million from 2009. These results are included in the overall results of CMCZ discussed above.

International Marketing and Distribution This segment reported a decrease in sales, but an increase in adjusted operating results primarily from our international geographic presence and ability to participate in markets recovering from the global recession, primarily Asia and several markets in Europe. Additionally, improved pricing minimized the need for contract and inventory loss charges during 2010. Each of our major geographic marketing operations were profitable for 2010.

Corporate Our corporate expenses decreased $24.1 million in 2010 to $70.7 million primarily due to our cost containment initiative and fewer costs associated with the global installation of SAP software.

Consolidated Data The LIFO method of inventory valuation increased our net loss from continuing operations by $5.2 million ($0.05 per diluted share) for 2010 as compared to increasing our net earnings by $166.1 million ($1.46 per diluted share) for 2009. Our overall selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased by $94.0 million, or 15%, for 2010 as compared to 2009. SG&A expenses primarily declined from our cost containment initiative, reductions in bad debt expense and fewer costs incurred with the global installation of SAP software.

Our interest expense decreased by $1.5 million to $75.5 million during 2010 as compared to 2009 from the favorable impact of interest rate swap transactions of $5.7 million and a reduction in the use of discounted letters of credit offset by less capitalized interest as a result of completed capital projects during 2010.

Our effective tax rate from continuing operations for the year ended August 31, 2010 was 18.6% as compared to 38.6% in 2009. Our effective tax rate for 2010 varies from our statutory rate due to lower tax rate jurisdictions incurring losses along with the recording of valuation allowances against the deferred tax asset of the Company’s Croatian and German subsidiaries due to the uncertainty of their realization.

Discontinued Operations Adjusted operating results for our divisions classified as discontinued operations decreased to a loss of $59.8 million from adjusted operating profit of $32.6 million in 2009. The decrease in adjusted operating results is primarily due to significant costs associated with our decision to exit our joist and deck business during the second quarter of 2010. Additionally, these divisions recorded a LIFO income of $19.4 million in 2010 as compared to LIFO income of $65.1 million in 2009. The results for 2009 include our joist and deck business in addition to one of our U.S. trading divisions which was winding down operations in 2009 and dissolved as of August 31, 2009.

Outlook

By August 31, 2011, we believe the long-delayed recovery in U.S. non-residential construction should begin. Public non-residential construction remains our most consistent domestic market. Through September 2010, barely half of the stimulus dollars aimed at highway funds had been dispersed. With high unemployment, tight credit, and a general lack of confidence, private non-residential construction will, in all likelihood, remain weak during the year ending August 31, 2011. China has many years of growth ahead. Poland will be in high gear in anticipation of hosting the 2012 Euro Cup. Croatia’s accession to the European Union should be resolved, opening new markets for pipe sales.

By segment, we anticipate Americas Recycling to improve as industrial manufacturing recovers. Our Americas Mills should benefit as well. Though our micromill in Arizona has proven new technology, it will require significant recovery in state budgets, particularly California, to meet profit expectations. Our Americas Fabrication operations are mid-to-late cycle exposed; the challenges will continue. With a new regional structure in the Americas, we believe we can better harness the benefits of our vertical integration. Our greatest opportunities for turnarounds are the utilization of our enhanced product mix in Poland and stemming our losses in Croatia. Our global marketing expertise is expected to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. And everywhere, we will strive to operate under a lower cost structure with improvements in business processes and efficiencies.

2009 Compared to 2008

Americas Recycling During 2009, this segment experienced a decline in scrap prices and market demand resulting in reduced net sales and an adjusted operating loss as compared to 2008, a year with record operating results. The decline in gross margins for ferrous and nonferrous was almost evenly attributable to both volume and prices as compared to 2008. The decrease in margins was partially offset by a swing of $43.9 million in LIFO income due to declining prices during 2009. Ferrous and nonferrous pricing reversed the declining trends of the opening six months of fiscal 2009. We exported 11% of our ferrous scrap and 25% of our nonferrous scrap during the year.

The following table reflects our Americas Recycling segment’s average selling prices per ton and tons shipped (in thousands) for the year ended August 31:

										Decrease
		2009				2008				Amount				%
Average ferrous selling price		$	181			$	346			$	(165	)			(48	%)
Average nonferrous selling price		$	1,824			$	3,037			$	(1,213	)			(40	%)
Ferrous tons shipped			1,817				3,053				(1,236	)			(40	%)
Nonferrous tons shipped			203				305				(102	)			(33	%)
Total volume processed and shipped			2,033				3,391				(1,358	)			(40	%)

Americas Mills We include our four domestic steel minimills and our copper tube minimill in our Americas Mills segment. While this segment had a decrease in net sales during 2009 as compared to 2008, adjusted operating profit increased due to LIFO income recorded in 2009 as compared to LIFO expense recorded in 2008.

Within the segment, adjusted operating profit for our four domestic steel minimills was $239.6 million for 2009 as compared to $195.3 million for 2008. Metal margins increased over 2008 primarily due to rapidly declining ferrous scrap prices in excess of selling prices and a swing in LIFO income of $223.0 million. Tons shipped declined as compared to 2008, but were rising late in fiscal 2009 as a result of restocking, seasonal demand and continued public sector projects. Our mills ran at 60% utilization during 2009 as compared to 89% during 2008. We rolled 30% fewer tons in 2009 as compared to 2008 to meet lagging demand. Rebar accounted for 58% of tonnage shipped, an increase from 45% in 2008. The price premium of merchant bar over reinforcing bar averaged $206 per ton, up $86 per ton from 2008. Lower production rates as well as price decreases in some alloys and natural gas rates resulted in an overall decrease of $76.4 million in electrode, alloys and energy costs. During the fourth quarter of 2009, we completed construction of our new micro mill in Arizona and in September of 2009 began start-up operations.

The table below reflects steel and ferrous scrap prices per ton for the year ended August 31:

										Increase (Decrease)
		2009				2008				Amount				%
Average mill selling price (finished goods)		$	662			$	723			$	(61	)			(8	%)
Average mill selling price (total sales)			642				691				(49	)			(7	%)
Average cost of ferrous scrap consumed			254				350				(96	)			(27	%)
Average FIFO metal margin			388				341				47				14	%
Average ferrous scrap purchase price			195				329				(134	)			(41	)%

The table below reflects our steel minimills’ operating statistics (short tons in thousands) for the year ended August 31:

										Decrease
		2009				2008				Amount				%
Tons melted			1,599				2,396				(797	)			(33	%)
Tons rolled			1,478				2,101				(623	)			(30	%)
Tons shipped			1,736				2,528				(792	)			(31	%)

Our copper tube minimill’s adjusted operating profit increased $11.3 million to $23.8 million in 2009 as compared to 2008 primarily due to an increase in LIFO income for 2009 of $22.3 million. Continued weakness remains in residential housing while demand is primarily from public projects and healthcare.

The table below reflects our copper tube minimill’s operating statistics for the year ended August 31:

										Decrease
(pounds in millions)		2009				2008				Amount				%
Pounds shipped			48.2				52.3				(4.1	)			(8	%)
Pounds produced			45.5				46.8				(1.3	)			(3	%)

Americas Fabrication During 2009, rebar, structural, and construction services were profitable while post operations incurred losses. Profits were attributable to margin improvements on lower material costs supplying relatively high-priced backlog shipments as compared to 2008 which included rising prices and margin compression for our fabrication business. As the economic conditions continued to deteriorate during 2009, the prices and the volume associated with the backlog decreased leading to lower sales and shipments during the end of fiscal 2009. Losses in post operations were caused by high-priced raw material in inventory running through production and strong competition for dwindling tons in joist operations. The composite average fabrication selling price was $1,037 per ton, up from $975 per ton in 2008. Rebar shipments were positively impacted by acquisitions of CMC Coating and CMC Regional Steel.

The tables below shows our average fabrication selling prices per short ton and total fabrication plant shipments for the year ended August 31:

										Increase
Average selling price*		2009				2008				Amount				%
Rebar		$	980			$	909			$	71				8	%
Structural			3,037				2,697				340				13	%
Post			956				834				122				15	%

										Decrease
Tons shipped (in thousands)		2009				2008				Amount				%
Rebar			1,010				1,061				(51	)			(5	%)
Structural			70				90				(20	)			(22	%)
Post			69				106				(37	)			(35	%)

International Mills Weak international steel markets, metal margin compression, mill start-up costs and lower of cost or market inventory adjustments caused by rapidly falling sales prices resulted in an adjusted operating loss for this segment in 2009. CMC Zawiercie (“CMCZ”) had an adjusted operating loss of $58.1 million in 2009 compared to an adjusted operating profit of $125.0 million in 2008 primarily due to compressed metal margins combined with a 12% decline in volume. Shipments included 241 thousand tons of billets compared to 373 thousand tons of billets in the prior year. We successfully rolled 22 thousand tons of material on our newly commissioned wire rod block.

The table below reflects CMCZ’s operating statistics (in thousands) and average prices per short ton:

										Decrease
		2009				2008				Amount				%
Tons melted			1,269				1,502				(233	)			(16	%)
Tons rolled			997				1,100				(103	)			(9	%)
Tons shipped			1,258				1,434				(176	)			(12	%)
Average mill selling price (total sales)			1,351	PLN			1,698	PLN			(347	) PLN			(20	%)
Averaged cost of ferrous scrap production cost			785	PLN			1,039	PLN			(254	) PLN			(24	%)
Average metal margin			566	PLN			659	PLN			(93	) PLN			(14	%)
Average ferrous scrap purchase price			613	PLN			905	PLN			(292	) PLN			(32	%)
Average mill selling price (total sales)		$	457			$	744			$	(287	)			(39	%)
Average cost of ferrous scrap production cost		$	255			$	441			$	(186	)			(42	%)
Average metal margin		$	202			$	303			$	(101	)			(33	%)
Average ferrous scrap purchase price		$	202			$	396			$	(194	)			(49	%)

CMCS reported an adjusted operating loss of $37.9 million during 2009 as compared to an adjusted operating loss of $25.3 million during 2008. The decline is primarily due to decreased demand including the collapse of energy markets, increased Chinese competition in the North Africa and Middle East markets and inventory valuation adjustments. CMCS melted 49 thousand tons, rolled 63 thousand tons and shipped 67 thousand tons during 2009 as compared to 34 thousand tons melted, 67 thousand tons rolled and 58 thousand tons shipped during 2008. Our yields have steadily improved during 2009, and we have successfully completed castings of all major sizes of billets from phase one of our upgraded melt shop.

Our fabrication operations in Poland and Germany had an adjusted operating loss of $18.6 million during 2009, a decrease in adjusted operating results of $20.6 million during 2008. These results are included in the overall results of CMCZ discussed above. We opened a fabrication facility in Zyrardow, Poland, located west of Warsaw during 2009.

International Marketing and Distribution This segment’s net sales decreased and we incurred an adjusted operating loss during 2009 driven by reduced market demand and inventory valuation adjustments as pricing fell during 2009. The downturn in steel markets continues in Europe while parts of Asia and Australia are showing signs of recovery. The global financial crisis contributed to customer noncompliance with contracts, market claims and price renegotiations. Additionally, demand was negatively impacted as customers were not willing to be exposed to lead times for imported material in the volatile pricing environment. Our largest challenge for this segment remains in our domestic steel import and distribution business which incurred substantial losses. This segment recorded approximately $96 million of inventory charges, $19 million of bad debt expense and $10 million of contract losses during 2009. Our raw materials import business remained profitable.

In August 2007, CMC’s Board approved a plan to offer for sale a division which was involved with the buying, selling and distribution of nonferrous metals. At August 31, 2009, in connection with the closure of the division, all inventory of this division had been sold or absorbed by other divisions of the Company. See Note 5, Discontinued Operations, to the consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Our corporate expenses decreased $4.7 million in 2009 to $94.8 million primarily due to reductions in bonus and profit sharing expenses and costs incurred for the global installation of SAP software which were offset by increased salary and severance expense.

Consolidated Data The LIFO method of inventory valuation increased our net earnings from continuing operations by $166.1 million ($1.46 per diluted share) for 2009 as compared to decreasing our net earnings by $185.4 million ($1.58 diluted share) for 2008. Our overall selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased by $34.2 million (5%) for 2009 as compared to 2008. SG&A expense primarily declined due to decreased bonus and profit sharing expenses and cost incurred for the global installation of SAP software partially offset by increased salary expense because of company growth, including recent acquisitions, increased bad debt expense and severance expense.

Our interest expense increased by $18.7 million to $77.0 million during 2009 as compared to 2008 primarily due to the issuance of $500 million in senior unsecured notes in August 2008 and increased debt outstanding internationally during the current fiscal year which was offset in part by the repayment of $100 million senior unsecured notes in February 2009.

Our effective tax rate from continuing operations for the year ended August 31, 2009 was 38.6% as compared to 31.4% in 2008. Our effective tax rate for 2009 varies from our statutory rate due to lower tax rate jurisdictions (predominately international) incurring losses and higher rate jurisdictions generating income. As of August 31, 2009, it is our intention to indefinitely reinvest earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries. As a result, the deferred income tax liability relating to prior periods has been reversed positively impacting our effective tax rate for 2009.

Discontinued Operations Adjusted operating profit for our divisions classified as discontinued operations increased to $32.6 million from adjusted operating loss of $18.9 million in 2008. The change primarily resulted from LIFO income of $65.1 million in 2009 as compared to LIFO expense of $36.5 million in 2008 offset by increased operating losses and costs incurred with ceasing operations for one of our U.S. trading operations in 2009.

2010 Liquidity and Capital Resources

See Note 6, Credit Arrangements, to the consolidated financial statements.

We believe we have adequate access to several sources of contractually committed borrowings and other available credit facilities, however, we could be adversely affected if our banks, the potential buyers of our commercial paper or other of the traditional sources supplying our short-term borrowing requirements refuse to honor their contractual commitments, cease lending or declare bankruptcy. While we believe the lending institutions participating in our credit arrangements are financially capable, recent events in the global credit markets, including the failure, takeover or rescue by various government entities of major financial institutions, have created uncertainty of credit availability to an extent not experienced in recent decades.

The table below reflects our sources, facilities and availability of liquidity and capital resources as of August 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

		Total Facility				Availability
Cash and cash equivalents		$	399,313			$	N/A
Commercial paper program*			400,000				390,000
Domestic accounts receivable securitization			100,000				100,000
International accounts receivable sales facilities			166,457				62,521
Bank credit facilities — uncommitted			793,478				379,155
Notes due from 2013 to 2018			1,100,000				**
CMCZ term note			69,716				—
CMCS term facility			50,682				31,676
Trade financing arrangements			**				As required
Equipment notes			6,710				**

We utilize uncommitted credit facilities to meet short-term working capital needs. Our uncommitted credit facilities primarily support import letters of credit (including accounts payable settled under bankers’ acceptances), foreign exchange transactions and short term advances.

Our 5.625% $200 million notes due November 2013, 6.50% $400 million notes due July 2017 and our 7.35% $500 million notes due August 2018 require interest only payments until maturity. Our CMCZ note requires quarterly interest and principal payments and our CMCS facility requires quarterly interest and principal payments beginning in 2011. We expect cash from operations to be sufficient to meet all interest and principal payments due within the next twelve months and we believe we will be able to get additional financing or refinance these notes when they mature.

Certain of our financing agreements include various financial covenants. We amended the existing revolving credit facility and accounts receivable securitization agreement to modify the covenant structure which requires us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio (Adjusted EBITDA to interest expense) of not less than 2.50 to 1.00 for the six month cumulative period ended August 31, 2010, nine month cumulative period ending November 30, 2010, twelve month cumulative period ending February 28, 2011 and for each fiscal quarter on a rolling twelve month cumulative period thereafter. At August 31, 2010, our interest coverage ratio was 3.49 to 1.00. The agreements also require us to maintain liquidity of at least $300 million (cash, short-term investments, and accounts receivable securitization capacity combined) through November 30, 2010 and at August 31, 2010 we had liquidity of $499.3 million. The agreements did not change the existing debt to capitalization ratio covenant which requires us to maintain a ratio not greater than 0.60 to 1.00. At August 31, 2010, the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio was 0.52 to 1.00. Current market conditions, including volatility of metal prices, LIFO adjustments, mark to market adjustments on inventories, reserves for future job losses, the level of allowance for doubtful accounts, the amount of interest capitalized on capital projects and the effect of interest rate changes on our interest rate swaps could impact our ability to meet the interest coverage ratio for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The revolving credit facility and accounts receivable securitization are used as alternative sources of liquidity. Our public debt does not contain these covenants.

The CMCZ term note contains certain financial covenants. The agreement requires a debt to equity ratio of not greater than 0.80 to 1.00 and a tangible net worth to exceed PLN 600 million ($190 million). At August 31, 2010, CMCZ was in compliance with both of these covenants with the debt to equity ratio at 0.75 to 1.00 and tangible net worth of PLN 669 million ($212 million). Additionally, the agreement requires a debt to EBITDA ratio not greater than 3.50 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of not less than 1.20 to 1.00. At August 31, 2010, CMCZ was not in compliance with these covenants which resulted in a guarantee by the Company continuing to be effective. As a result of the guarantee, the financial covenant requirements became void; however, all other terms of the loan remain in effect, including the payment schedule. The guarantee will cease to be effective when CMCZ is in compliance with the financial covenants of the parent guarantee for two consecutive quarters.

We regularly maintain a substantial amount of accounts receivable. Recent economic conditions and a continued recession have had negative effects on the liquidity of our customers which has resulted in higher defaults on accounts receivable and additional bad debt expense. We actively monitor our accounts receivable and record allowances as soon as we believe they are uncollectible based on current market conditions and customers’ financial condition. Continued pressure on the liquidity of our customers could result in additional reserves as we make our assessments in the future. We use credit insurance both in the U.S. and internationally to mitigate the risk of customer insolvency. We estimate the amount of credit insured receivables (and those covered by export letters of credit) was approximately 60% of total receivables at August 31, 2010.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements For added flexibility, we may secure financing through securitization and sales of certain accounts receivable both in the U.S. and internationally. See Note 3, Sales of Accounts Receivable, to the consolidated financial statements. We may sell accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to replace those receivables that have been collected from our customers. Our domestic securitization program contains certain cross-default provisions whereby a termination event could occur should we default under another credit arrangement, and contains covenants that conform to the same requirements contained in our revolving credit agreement. Compliance with these covenants is discussed above.

Cash Flows Our cash flows from operating activities primarily result from sales of steel and related products, and to a lesser extent, sales of nonferrous metal products. We also sell and rent construction-related products and accessories. We have a diverse and generally stable customer base. We use futures or forward contracts as needed to mitigate the risks from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and metals commodity prices. See Note 7, Financial Instruments, Market and Credit Risk, to the consolidated financial statements.

During 2010, we generated $44.9 million of net cash flows from operating activities as compared to generating $806.5 million in 2009. Significant fluctuations in working capital were as follows:

	•		Accounts receivable — accounts receivable increased during 2010 as sales and prices improved, as compared to sales and prices significantly declining during 2009 due to the global recession;
	•		Inventory — more cash was used during 2010 as inventory balances were significantly reduced at the end of fiscal 2009 because of customer destocking in 2009; and
	•		Accounts payable — less cash was used during 2010 as current liabilities had been reduced at the end of fiscal 2009 due to low volume from the global recession and as higher volume in 2010 increased accounts payable.

During 2010, we used $133.6 million of net cash flows from investing activities as compared to $368.0 million in 2009. We invested $127.1 million in property, plant and equipment during 2010, a decrease of $242.6 million from 2009. Additionally, proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment increased $20.3 million as compared to 2009. These were partially offset by a use of cash for deposits for letters of credit of $26.9 million.

We expect our total capital budget for fiscal 2011 to be approximately $150 million. We continually assess our capital spending and reevaluate our requirements based on current and expected results.

During 2010, we generated $84.6 million from financing activities as compared to using $246.5 million during 2009. The increase in cash generated was primarily due to the increase in documentary letters of credit of $117.4 million in 2010 as compared to the decrease in documentary letters of credit of $83.3 million in 2009 and net borrowings on short-term and long-term debt of $7.1 million in 2010 as compared to net repayments of $94.7 million in 2009. During 2010, we made no purchases of our common stock as part of our stock repurchase program compared to using $18.5 million in 2009. Our cash dividends have remained consistent at approximately $54 million for both periods.

Our contractual obligations for the next twelve months of approximately $696 million are typically expenditures with normal revenue producing activities. We believe our cash flows from operating activities and debt facilities are adequate to fund our ongoing operations and planned capital expenditures.

Contractual Obligations

The following table represents our contractual obligations as of August 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

		Payments Due By Period*
						Less than												More than
Contractual Obligations:		Total				1 Year				1-3 Years				3-5 Years				5 Years
Long-term debt(1)		$	1,227,870			$	30,588			$	58,317			$	214,758			$	924,207
Notes payable			6,453				6,453				—				—				—
Interest(2)			432,637				65,681				125,565				109,057				132,334
Commercial paper			10,000				10,000				—				—				—
Operating leases(3)			156,033				40,965				57,689				33,988				23,391
Purchase obligations(4)			671,635				541,850				78,742				41,540				9,503
Total contractual cash obligations		$	2,504,628			$	695,537			$	320,313			$	399,343			$	1,089,435

*		We have not discounted the cash obligations in this table.
(1)		Total amounts are included in the August 31, 2010 consolidated balance sheet. See Note 6, Credit Arrangements, to the consolidated financial statements.
(2)		Interest payments related to our short-term debt are not included in the table as they do not represent a significant obligation as of August 31, 2010.
(3)		Includes minimum lease payment obligations for non-cancelable equipment and real-estate leases in effect as of August 31, 2010. See Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements.
(4)		Approximately 80% of these purchase obligations are for inventory items to be sold in the ordinary course of business. Purchase obligations include all enforceable, legally binding agreements to purchase goods or services that specify all significant terms, regardless of the duration of the agreement. Agreements with variable terms are excluded because we are unable to estimate the minimum amounts. Another significant obligation relates to capital expenditures.

Other Commercial Commitments

We maintain stand-by letters of credit to provide support for certain transactions that our insurance providers and suppliers request. At August 31, 2010, we had committed $39.4 million under these arrangements, of which $26.9 million is cash collateralized. All of the commitments expire within one year.

Contingencies

In the ordinary course of conducting our business, we become involved in litigation, administrative proceedings and government investigations, including environmental matters. We may incur settlements, fines, penalties or judgments because of some of these matters. While we are unable to estimate precisely the ultimate dollar amount of exposure or loss in connection with these matters, we make accruals as warranted. The amounts we accrue could vary substantially from amounts we pay due to several factors including the following: evolving remediation technology, changing regulations, possible third-party contributions, the inherent shortcomings of the estimation process, and the uncertainties involved in litigation. Accordingly, we cannot always estimate a meaningful range of possible exposure. We believe that we have adequately provided in our consolidated financial statements for the potential impact of these contingencies. We also believe that the outcomes will not significantly affect the long-term results of operations, our financial position or our liquidity. However, they may have a material impact on operations for a particular quarter.

Environmental and Other Matters

See Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements.

General We are subject to Federal, state and local pollution control laws and regulations in all locations where we have operating facilities. We anticipate that compliance with these laws and regulations will involve continuing capital expenditures and operating costs.

Our original business and one of our core businesses for over nine decades is metals recycling. In the present era of conservation of natural resources and ecological concerns, we are committed to sound ecological and business conduct. Certain governmental regulations regarding environmental concerns, however well intentioned, may expose us and the industry to potentially significant risks. We believe that recycled materials are commodities that are diverted by recyclers, such as us, from the solid waste streams because of their inherent value. Commodities are materials that are purchased and sold in public and private markets and commodities exchanges every day around the world. They are identified, purchased, sorted, processed and sold in accordance with carefully established industry specifications.

Solid and Hazardous Waste We currently own or lease, and in the past owned or leased, properties that have been used in our operations. Although we used operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, wastes may have been disposed or released on or under the properties or on or under locations where such wastes have been taken for disposal. We are currently involved in the investigation and remediation of several such properties. State and Federal laws applicable to wastes and contaminated properties have gradually become stricter over time. Under new laws, we could be required to remediate properties impacted by previously disposed wastes. We have been named as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) at a number of contaminated sites.

We generate wastes, including hazardous wastes, that are subject to the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state and/or local statutes where we operate. These statutes, regulations and laws may have limited disposal options for certain wastes.

Superfund The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) or an equivalent state agency notified us that we are considered a PRP at ten sites, none owned by us. We may be obligated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) or a similar state statute to conduct remedial investigation, feasibility studies, remediation and/or removal of alleged releases of hazardous substances or to reimburse the EPA for such activities. We are involved in litigation or administrative proceedings with regard to several of these sites in which we are contesting, or at the appropriate time we may contest, our liability at the sites. In addition, we have received information requests with regard to other sites which may be under consideration by the EPA as potential CERCLA sites. Because of various factors, including the ambiguity of the regulations, the difficulty of identifying the responsible parties for any particular site, the complexity of determining the relative liability among them, the uncertainty as to the most desirable remediation techniques and the amount of damages and cleanup costs and the extended time periods over which such costs may be incurred, we cannot reasonably estimate our ultimate costs of compliance with CERCLA. At August 31, 2010, based on currently available information, which is in many cases preliminary and incomplete, we had $1.1 million accrued for cleanup and remediation costs in connection with eight of the ten CERCLA sites. We have accrued for these liabilities based upon our best estimates. We are not able to reasonably estimate an amount for the two other CERCLA sites. The amounts paid and the expenses incurred on these sites for the years ended August 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were not material. Historically, the amounts that we have ultimately paid for such remediation activities have not been material.

Clean Water Act The Clean Water Act (“CWA”) imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of wastes into waters of the United States, a term broadly defined, or into publicly owned treatment works. These controls have become more stringent over time and it is probable that additional restrictions will be imposed in the future. Permits must generally be obtained to discharge pollutants into Federal waters or into publicly owned treatment works; comparable permits may be required at the state level. The CWA and many state agencies provide for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of pollutants. In addition, the EPA’s regulations and comparable state regulations may require us to obtain permits to discharge storm water runoff. In the event of an unauthorized discharge or non-compliance with permit requirements, we may be liable for penalties and costs.

Clean Air Act Our operations are subject to regulations at the Federal, state and local level for the control of emissions from sources of air pollution. New and modified sources of air pollutants are often required to obtain permits prior to commencing construction, modification and/or operations. Major sources of air pollutants are subject to more stringent requirements, including the potential need for additional permits and to increased scrutiny

in the context of enforcement. The EPA has been implementing its stationary emission control program through expanded enforcement of the New Source Review Program. Under this program, new or modified sources may be required to construct emission sources using what is referred to as the Best Available Control Technology, or in any areas that are not meeting national ambient air quality standards, using methods that satisfy requirements for Lowest Achievable Emission Rate. Additionally, the EPA is implementing new, more stringent standards for ozone and fine particulate matter. The EPA recently has promulgated new national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for steel mills which will require specific sources in this category to meet the standards by reflecting application of maximum achievable control technology. Compliance with the new standards could require additional expenditures.

In 2010, we incurred environmental expenses of $22.7 million. The expenses included the cost of environmental personnel at various divisions, permit and license fees, accruals and payments for studies, tests, assessments, remediation, consultant fees, baghouse dust removal and various other expenses. During 2010, $14.1 million of our capital expenditures related to costs directly associated with environmental compliance. At August 31, 2010, $9.8 million was accrued for environmental liabilities of which $5.9 million was classified as other long-term liabilities.

Dividends

We have paid quarterly cash dividends in each of the past 184 consecutive quarters. We paid dividends in 2010 at the rate of $0.12 per share for all quarters.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk

Approach to Minimizing Market Risk See Note 7, Financial Instruments, Market and Credit Risk, to the consolidated financial statements for disclosure regarding our approach to minimizing market risk. Also, see Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements. The following types of derivative instruments were outstanding at August 31, 2010, in accordance with our risk management program.

Currency Exchange Forwards We enter into currency exchange forward contracts as economic hedges of international trade commitments denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the Company or its subsidiaries. No single foreign currency poses a primary risk to us. Fluctuations that cause temporary disruptions in one market segment tend to open opportunities in other segments.

Commodity Prices We base pricing in some of our sales and purchase contracts on metal commodity futures exchange quotes which we determine at the beginning of the contract. Due to the volatility of the metal commodity indexes, we enter into metal commodity futures contracts for copper, aluminum, nickel and zinc. These futures mitigate the risk of unanticipated declines in gross margin due to the volatility of the commodity prices on these contractual commitments. Physical transaction quantities will not match exactly with standard commodity lot sizes, leading to minimal gains and losses from ineffectiveness.

Natural Gas We enter into natural gas forward contracts as economic hedges of the Company’s Americas Mills operations based on anticipated consumption of natural gas in order to mitigate the risk of unanticipated increase to operating cost due to the volatility of natural gas prices.

Freight We occasionally enter into freight forward contracts when sales commitments to customers include a fixed price freight component in order to minimize the effect of the volatility of ocean freight rates.

Interest Rates We enter into interest rate swap contracts to maintain a portion of our debt obligations at variable interest rates. These interest rate swap contracts, under which we have agreed to pay variable rates of interest and receive fixed rates of interest, are designated as fair value hedges of fixed rate debt. Our interest rate swap contract commitments were $500 million as of August 31, 2010. If interest rates increased or decreased by one percentage point, the impact on interest expense related to our variable-rate debt would be approximately $6 million and the impact on fair value of our long-term debt would be approximately $60 million as of August 31, 2010.

The following tables provide certain information regarding the foreign exchange and commodity financial instruments discussed above.

Gross foreign currency exchange contract commitments as of August 31, 2010:

Functional Currency						Foreign Currency								U.S.
		Amount						Amount				Range of		Equivalent
Type		(in thousands)				Type		(in thousands)				Hedge Rates*		(in thousands)
AUD			917			EUR			642			0.67 - 0.70		$	817
AUD			182			GBP			104			0.57			161
AUD			134			NZD**			167			1.24 - 1.27			120
AUD			103,758			USD			89,967			0.80 - 0.92			89,967
EUR			2,669			HRK			19,369			7.21 - 7.31			3,425
EUR			3,103			USD			3,992			1.28 - 1.29			3,992
GBP			3,864			EUR			4,707			0.81 - 0.83			5,998
GBP			4,096			USD			6,342			1.52 - 1.56			6,342
PLN			238,150			EUR			58,942			3.90 - 4.19			75,748
PLN			5,559			GBP			1,107			5.02			1,601
PLN			113,272			USD			35,139			2.98 - 3.32			35,139
PLN			1,102			SEK***			2,642			0.42			359
SGD			5,091			USD			3,750			1.36			3,750
USD			51,979			EUR			40,963			1.18 - 1.32			51,979
USD			27,916			GBP			18,100			1.54			27,916
USD			1,887			JPY			159,412			84.5			1,887
														$	309,201

*		Substantially all foreign currency exchange contracts mature within one year. The range of hedge rates represents functional to foreign currency conversion rates.
**		New Zealand dollar
***		Swedish krona

Gross metal commodity contract commitments as of August 31, 2010:

Range or

Total Contract

Long/

# of

Standard

Total

Amount of Hedge

Value at Inception

Terminal Exchange

Metal

Short

Lots

Lot Size

Weight

Rates Per MT/lb.

(in thousands)

London Metal Exchange

Aluminum

Long

121

25 MT

3,025 MT

$1,991.50 - 2,087.00

$

6,131

Aluminum

Short

3

25 MT

75 MT

2,045.00 - 2,046.00

153

Copper

Long

2

25 MT

54 MT

6,208.40 - 6,270.00

340

Copper

Short

2

25 MT

54 MT

6,670.09 - 7,304.64

375

Zinc

Long

1

25 MT

36 MT

1,670.00 - 1,730.00

62

New York Mercantile Exchange

Copper

Long

49

25,000 lbs.

1,225,000 lbs.

286.50 - 346.80

4,037

Copper

Short

635

25,000 lbs.

15,875,000 lbs.

275.85 - 342.95

51,192

Natural Gas

Long

14

10,000 MMBtu

140,000 MMBtu

4.53 - 4.63

644

$

62,934

•

MT = Metric Ton

•

MMBtu = One million British thermal units

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Internal control over financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes maintaining records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions; providing reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation of our financial statements; providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of company assets are made in accordance with management authorization; and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our financial statements would be prevented or detected.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of August 31, 2010. Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; their attestation report is included on page 44 of this Form 10-K.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Commercial Metals Company
Irving, Texas

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of August 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended August 31, 2010 of the Company and our report dated October 29, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s discontinued operations.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas
October 29, 2010

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Commercial Metals Company
Irving, Texas

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of August 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2010. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries at August 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, on February 26, 2010, the Company’s board approved a plan to exit the Joist and Deck business through the sale of those facilities. The gain on sale and results for all periods presented are included in income from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated October 29, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas
October 29, 2010

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

		Year ended August 31,
(in thousands, except share data)		2010				2009				2008
Net sales		$	6,306,102			$	6,409,376			$	9,896,637
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold			5,911,065				5,712,347				8,828,635
Selling, general and administrative expenses			524,135				618,131				652,290
Interest expense			75,508				76,964				58,254
			6,510,708				6,407,442				9,539,179
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes			(204,606	)			1,934				357,458
Income taxes (benefit)			(38,118	)			747				112,275
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations			(166,488	)			1,187				245,183
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before taxes			(59,762	)			31,991				(20,148	)
Income taxes (benefit)			(21,142	)			12,926				(7,469	)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations			(38,620	)			19,065				(12,679	)
Net earnings (loss)			(205,108	)			20,252				232,504
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests			236				(550	)			538
Net earnings (loss) attributable to CMC		$	(205,344	)		$	20,802			$	231,966
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to CMC:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$	(1.47	)		$	0.02			$	2.13
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations			(0.34	)			0.17				(0.11	)
Net earnings (loss)		$	(1.81	)		$	0.19			$	2.02
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to CMC:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$	(1.47	)		$	0.02			$	2.08
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations			(0.34	)			0.16				(0.11	)
Net earnings (loss)		$	(1.81	)		$	0.18			$	1.97

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

		August 31,
(in thousands, except share data)		2010				2009
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	399,313			$	405,603
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $29,721 and $42,134)			824,339				731,282
Inventories			674,680				678,541
Other			276,874				182,126
Total current assets			2,175,206				1,997,552
Property, plant and equipment:
Land			94,426				87,530
Buildings and improvements			540,285				502,031
Equipment			1,649,723				1,395,104
Construction in process			56,124				380,185
			2,340,558				2,364,850
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(1,108,290	)			(1,013,461	)
			1,232,268				1,351,389
Goodwill			71,580				74,236
Other assets			227,099				264,379
Total assets		$	3,706,153			$	3,687,556
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade		$	504,388			$	344,355
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit			226,633				109,210
Accrued expenses and other payables			324,897				327,212
Notes payable			6,453				1,759
Commercial paper			10,000				—
Current maturities of long-term debt			30,588				32,802
Total current liabilities			1,102,959				815,338
Deferred income taxes			43,668				44,564
Other long-term liabilities			108,870				113,850
Long-term debt			1,197,282				1,181,740
Total liabilities			2,452,779				2,155,492
Commitments and contingencies
CMC stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock			—				—
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued 129,060,664 shares; outstanding 114,325,349 and 112,573,433 shares			1,290				1,290
Additional paid-in capital			373,308				380,737
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(12,526	)			34,257
Retained earnings			1,178,372				1,438,205
			1,540,444				1,854,489
Less treasury stock 14,735,315 and 16,487,231 shares at cost			(289,708	)			(324,796	)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to CMC			1,250,736				1,529,693
Stockholders’ equity attributable to noncontrolling interests			2,638				2,371
Total equity			1,253,374				1,532,064
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,706,153			$	3,687,556

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

		Year ended August 31,
(in thousands)		2010				2009				2008
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)		$	(205,108	)		$	20,252			$	232,504
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			168,934				154,679				135,069
Provision for losses (recoveries) on receivables, net			(2,582	)			33,733				4,478
Share-based compensation			13,132				17,475				18,996
Deferred income taxes			59,286				(49,066	)			(4,379	)
Tax benefits from stock plans			(4,033	)			(926	)			(10,982	)
Net (gain) loss on sale of assets and other			(4,740	)			2,795				749
Write-down of inventory			53,203				127,056				—
Asset impairment			35,041				8,468				1,004
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable			(106,402	)			692,386				(287,052	)
Accounts receivable sold (repurchased), net			10,239				(129,227	)			45,348
Decrease (increase) in inventories			(60,612	)			533,896				(414,556	)
Decrease (increase) in other assets			(94,313	)			94,183				(166,528	)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses, other payables and income taxes			186,952				(691,912	)			395,987
Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities			(4,087	)			(7,256	)			5,906
Net cash flows from (used by) operating activities			44,910				806,536				(43,456	)
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(127,121	)			(369,694	)			(355,041	)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other			22,887				2,620				1,791
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(2,448	)			(906	)			(228,591	)
Increase in deposit for letters of credit			(26,930	)			—				—
Net cash flows used by investing activities			(133,612	)			(367,980	)			(581,841	)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in documentary letters of credit			117,423				(83,282	)			39,061
Short-term borrowings, net change			14,636				(26,244	)			(1,427	)
Repayments on long-term debt			(29,939	)			(132,496	)			(6,053	)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			22,438				64,014				596,669
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans			10,494				3,284				8,910
Treasury stock acquired			—				(18,514	)			(172,312	)
Cash dividends			(54,489	)			(54,139	)			(52,061	)
Tax benefits from stock plans			4,033				926				10,982
Contribution from noncontrolling interests			21				—				—
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities			84,617				(246,451	)			423,769
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(2,205	)			(5,528	)			1,279
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(6,290	)			186,577				(200,249	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			405,603				219,026				419,275
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$	399,313			$	405,603			$	219,026