Insteel Industries - 10-Q quarterly report FY

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (336) 786-2141

     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.

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

     The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of August 10, 2005 was 9,435,375.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands except for per share data)
(Unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

     The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Insteel Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the audited financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These financial statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2004 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC.

     The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 2, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending October 1, 2005.

     The Company accounts for its employee stock option plans under the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principals Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations, and has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure, an amendment for FASB Statement No. 123.” Certain of the options issued under the Company’s stock option plans allow for cashless stock option exercises, and in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 44, are accounted for as variable plans. Under variable plan accounting, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period when the market price of a company’s stock exceeds the exercise price of the options granted and is adjusted on a recurring basis to reflect changes in market valuation. Final compensation expense is measured upon exercise of the option.

     SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, permits companies to recognize the fair value of all stock-based awards on the grant date as expense over the vesting period. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Because the Company’s stock-based compensation plans have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because changes in subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, the Company believes that the existing option valuation models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of awards from the plan. Therefore, as permitted, the Company applies the existing accounting rules under APB No. 25 and provides pro forma net earnings and net earnings per share disclosures for stock-based awards made during the indicated periods as if the fair value method defined in SFAS No. 123, as amended, had been applied. Net earnings and net earnings per share for the three months and nine months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, are as follows:

     In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” which requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and purchases under employee stock purchase plans, to be recognized as an operating expense over the requisite service period based on fair values measured on grant dates. SFAS No. 123R may be adopted using either the modified prospective transition method or the modified retrospective method. The magnitude of the increase in compensation expense will be dependent on the number of option shares granted, their timing and vesting period and the method used to calculate the fair value of the awards, among other factors. SFAS No. 123R is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will have on its future results of operations and cash flows.

     During the quarter ended April 2, 2005, the Company granted 41,400 shares of restricted stock to key employees and directors which had a total market value of $742,000 as of the grant date. The Company recorded amortization expense of $60,000 and $85,000 (net of tax) for the three and nine-month periods ending July 2, 2005, respectively, pertaining to the restricted stock and will continue to amortize the remaining unamortized balance over the vesting period of one to three years.

     The Company has recorded the following amounts for deferred income tax assets and accrued income taxes on its consolidated balance sheet as of July 2, 2005: a current deferred income tax asset of $1.2 million in prepaid expenses and other, a noncurrent deferred income tax asset of $4.7 million (net of valuation allowance) in other assets, and accrued income taxes payable of $4.5 million in accrued expenses. The Company has utilized $2.8 million of gross state operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) during the current year and has a remaining balance of $16.1 million which begin to expire in seven years, but principally expire in 16 — 19 years.

     The realization of the Company’s deferred income tax assets is entirely dependent upon the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income. Generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) require that the Company periodically assess the need to establish a valuation allowance against its deferred income tax assets to the extent the Company no longer believes it is more likely than not that they will be fully utilized. As of October 2, 2004, the Company had recorded a valuation allowance of $864,000 pertaining to various state NOLs that were not anticipated to be utilized which was reduced to $756,000 as of July 2, 2005 based on the income generated during the nine-month period. The valuation allowance established by the Company is subject to periodic review and adjustment based on changes in facts and circumstances and would be reduced should the Company utilize the state NOLs against which an allowance had been provided.

     Retirement plans. The Company has one defined benefit pension plan, the Insteel Wire Products Company Retirement Income Plan for Hourly Employees, Wilmington, Delaware (the “Delaware Plan”). The Delaware Plan provides benefits for eligible employees based primarily upon years of service. The Company’s funding policy is to contribute amounts at least equal to those required by law. The Company has contributed $443,000 to the Delaware Plan during the nine-month period ended July 2, 2005 and it expects to contribute $558,000 for the entire fiscal year ending October 1, 2005. The net periodic pension costs and related components for the Delaware Plan for the three months and nine months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, are as follows:

     In connection with the collective bargaining agreement that was reached between the Company and the labor union at the Delaware facility in November 2004, the Delaware Plan was frozen whereby there will be no new participants in the plan going forward. The Company intends for the Delaware Plan to eventually cease upon the retirement of the remaining active employees that are participants in the plan and payment of the associated benefit obligations.

     Supplemental employee retirement plan. The Company has Retirement Security Agreements (each, a “SERP”) with certain of its employees (each, a “Participant”). Under the SERPs, Participants are entitled to cash benefits upon retirement at age 65, payable annually for 15 years. The SERPs are supported by life insurance policies on the Participants purchased by the Company. The cash benefits paid under the SERPs were $78,000 during the nine-month period ended July 2, 2005 and are expected to be $114,000 for the entire fiscal year ending October 1, 2005. The net periodic cost associated with the SERPs was $101,000 and $31,000 for the three months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, and $355,000 and $92,000 for the nine months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively.

     On June 3, 2004, the Company entered into a new $82.0 million senior secured debt facility which has a four-year term maturing on June 2, 2008 consisting of a $60.0 million revolver, a $17.0 million Term Loan A and a $5.0 million Term Loan B. Proceeds from the new facility were used to pay off and terminate the Company’s previous credit facility (approximately $62.4 million outstanding as of the closing date) and will support the Company’s working capital, capital expenditure and general corporate requirements going forward. The new credit facility is secured by all of the Company’s assets.

     Advances under the revolving credit facility are limited to the lesser of the revolving credit commitment or a borrowing base amount that is calculated based upon a percentage of eligible receivables and inventories. On January 7, 2005, the Company and its lender agreed to an amendment to the credit facility which increased the amount of the revolver from $60.0 million to $75.0 million and expanded the maximum inventory borrowing base from $35.0 million to $45.0 million, providing additional liquidity. As of July 2, 2005, approximately $24.3 million was outstanding on the senior secured credit facility, with $19.4 million drawn and $42.9 million of additional borrowing capacity available on the revolver and $4.9 million outstanding on Term Loan A. Outstanding letters of credit on the revolver totaled $1.5 million as of July 2, 2005. The Credit Agreement provides for mandatory prepayments equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and voluntary prepayments of up to $625,000 each year on Term Loan A. Based on its Excess Cash Flow for fiscal 2004 (as defined in the Credit Agreement), in December 2004, the Company prepaid $11.4 million of term debt on its senior secured credit facility. The prepayment enabled the Company to pay off the $4.4 million balance outstanding on Term Loan B and pay down Term Loan A by $7.0 million, which reduced the Company’s average borrowing rate. The remaining balance on Term Loan A will continue to be amortized at $283,000 per month until it has been paid in its entirety.

     Interest rates on the revolver and Term Loan A are based upon (1) a base rate that is established at the higher of the prime rate or 0.50% plus the federal funds rate, or (2) at the election of the Company, a LIBOR rate, plus in either case, an applicable interest rate margin. The applicable interest rate margins were initially 1.50% for the base rate and 3.00% for the LIBOR rate on the revolver, and 2.25% for the base rate and 3.75% for the LIBOR rate on Term Loan A. Beginning on April 2, 2005, the applicable interest rate margins are adjusted on a quarterly basis based upon the Company’s leverage ratio within the following ranges: 1.00% — 1.75% for the base rate and 2.50% — 3.25% for the LIBOR rate on the revolver, and 1.50% — 2.25% for the base rate and 3.00% — 3.75% for the LIBOR rate on Term Loan A. In addition, the applicable interest rate margins may be adjusted further based on the amount of excess availability on the revolver and the occurrence of certain events of default provided for under the credit facility. Based on the Company’s leverage ratio as of July 2, 2005 and its excess availability, the applicable interest rate margins were 0.75% for the base rate and 2.25% for the LIBOR rate on the revolver, and 1.25% for the base rate and 2.75% for the LIBOR rate on Term Loan A. As of July 2, 2005, average interest rates on the credit facility were 5.57% on the revolver and 6.58% on Term Loan A.

     In connection with the refinancing of the previous credit facility, the Company terminated interest rate swap agreements for payments totaling $2.1 million and recorded a corresponding unrealized loss for hedging instruments in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 which, in accordance with GAAP, was amortized and recorded as interest expense through the original termination date of the swap agreements of January 31, 2005.

     The Company’s ability to borrow available amounts under the credit facility will be restricted or eliminated in the event of certain covenant breaches, events of default or if the Company is unable to make certain representations and warranties.

     Financial Covenants

     The terms of the credit facility require the Company to maintain certain fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios during the term of the credit facility. Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on October 2, 2004, the Company must have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 1.15 at the end of each fiscal quarter for the twelve-month period then ended (or, for the fiscal quarters ending on or before July 2, 2005, the period commencing on June 1, 2004 and ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter). In addition, beginning with the fiscal quarter ending January 1, 2005, the Company must maintain a Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not more than 3.25 as of the last day of each quarter through July 1, 2006, and not more than 3.00 thereafter. As of July 2, 2005, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the credit facility.

     Negative Covenants

     In addition, the terms of the credit facility restrict the Company’s ability to, among other things: engage in certain business combinations or divestitures; make capital expenditures in excess of applicable limitations; make investments in or loans to third parties, unless certain conditions are met with respect to such investments or loans; pay cash dividends in excess of applicable limitations; incur or assume indebtedness; issue securities; enter into certain transactions with affiliates of the Company; or permit liens to encumber the Company’s property and assets. The Company is limited to Capital Expenditures (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not more than $7.0 million for each fiscal year through the year ending September 29, 2007, and for the period beginning on September 30, 2007 and ending on June 2, 2008, plus for any of these periods, up to a $2.0 million carryover of the amount by which actual Capital Expenditures are less than the applicable limitation for the prior period. Based upon the carryover amount from the prior fiscal year, the Company is currently limited to $9.0 million of Capital Expenditures for the fiscal year ending October 1, 2005. For the nine months ended July 2, 2005, Capital Expenditures amounted to $4.9 million.

     On March 14, 2005 the Company and its lender agreed to an amendment to the credit facility which increased the permitted amount of cash dividend payments to (i) $875,000 in the aggregate in fiscal 2005 and (ii) $3.5 million in any fiscal year after fiscal 2005. As of July 2, 2005, the Company was in compliance with all of the negative covenants under the credit facility.

     Events of Default

     Under the terms of the credit facility, an event of default will occur with respect to the Company upon the occurrence of, among other things: a default or breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any agreement resulting in the acceleration of amounts due in excess of $500,000 under such other agreement; certain payment defaults by

the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $500,000; certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company; an entry of judgment against the Company or any of its subsidiaries for greater than $500,000, which amount is not covered by insurance; or a change of control of the Company.

     The reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) is as follows:

     Options to purchase 29,000 shares and 354,000 shares for the three months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, were antidilutive and were not included in the diluted EPS computations. Options to purchase 13,000 shares and 519,000 shares for the nine months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, were antidilutive and were not included in the diluted EPS computations. Options to purchase 271,000 shares and 321,000 shares were exercised during the nine months ended July 2, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, resulting in an increase in common stock of $543,000 and $642,000, and a reduction in additional paid-in capital of $391,000 and $310,000.

     Balance sheet information:

     The Company’s operations are organized into two business units: Concrete Reinforcing Products and Industrial Wire Products, each of which constitutes a reportable segment. The Concrete Reinforcing Products business unit manufactures and markets welded wire fabric and PC strand for the concrete construction industry. The Industrial Wire Products business unit manufactures and markets tire bead wire for tire manufacturers and industrial wire for commercial and industrial applications. The Company’s business unit structure was primarily established for purposes of administrative oversight for the manufacturing and selling activities associated with the business unit’s product lines and is consistent with the way in which the Company is managed, both organizationally and from an internal financial reporting standpoint. The managers of each of the business units report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and as defined by SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” the CEO is the Company’s chief operating decision maker. The CEO evaluates performance and allocates resources to the business units using information about their revenues and gross profit.

     Financial information for the Company’s reportable segments is as follows:

     The Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2004 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended June 26, 2004 have been restated to reflect additional compensation expense resulting from a correction in the accounting for the Company’s stock option plans. Following are the associated changes as reflected in the restated financial statements:

     This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, particularly under the caption “Outlook” below. When used in this report, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and the Company can provide no assurances that such plans, intentions or expectations will be implemented or achieved. All forward-looking statements are based on information that is current as of the date of this report. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in detail in the Company’s periodic reports, in particular under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended October 2, 2004, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You should carefully read these risk factors.

     All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only to the respective dates on which such statements are made and the Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect any future events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

     It is not possible to anticipate and list all risks and uncertainties that may affect the future operations or financial performance of the Company; however, they include, but are not limited to, the following:

     The Company’s operations are organized into two business units: Concrete Reinforcing Products and Industrial Wire Products, each of which constitutes a reportable segment. The Concrete Reinforcing Products business unit manufactures and markets welded wire fabric and PC strand for the concrete construction industry. The Industrial Wire Products business unit manufactures and markets tire bead wire for tire manufacturers and industrial wire for commercial and industrial applications.

Statements of Operations — Selected Data
($ in thousands)

     Net sales for the quarter decreased 2% to $94.4 million from $96.8 million in the same year-ago period as a result of lower average selling prices for the Company’s products on flat shipments. Average selling prices for the quarter decreased 2% while shipments were unchanged from the prior year levels. Sales of concrete reinforcing products decreased 2% to $85.6 million, or 91% of consolidated sales from $87.2 million, or 90% of consolidated sales in the year-ago quarter due to lower average selling prices. Sales of industrial wire products decreased 9% to $8.8 million, or 9% of consolidated sales from $9.6 million, or 10% of consolidated sales in the year-ago quarter due to reduced shipments.

     Gross profit for the quarter decreased 46% to $17.8 million, or 18.8% of net sales from $32.7 million, or 33.8% of net sales. The decline in gross profit was primarily driven by decreased spreads between average selling prices and raw material costs together with higher unit conversion costs largely due to lower production levels. Gross profit for the Company’s concrete reinforcing products decreased 42% to $18.0 million, or 21.0% of net sales from $31.2 million, or 35.8% of net sales in the prior year. Industrial wire products incurred a gross loss of $164,000 compared to gross profit of $1.5 million, or 15.6% of net sales in the prior year due to reduced shipments and higher maintenance costs.

     Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A expense”) decreased 39% to $3.7 million, or 3.9% of net sales in the quarter from $6.1 million, or 6.3% of net sales in the same year-ago period. The decrease in SG&A expense was primarily due to lower compensation expense associated with the Company’s stock options that are subject to variable accounting treatment resulting from the decline in the price of the Company’s stock during the current year ($3.2 million) partially offset by higher expenses associated with the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley internal control compliance efforts and outside consulting services ($383,000) together with increased employee benefit costs ($202,000).

     Interest expense for the quarter decreased $1.5 million, or 68%, to $712,000 from $2.2 million in the same year-ago period. The decrease was due to lower average borrowing levels on the Company’s senior secured credit facility ($695,000), lower amortization expense associated with capitalized financing fees and the unrealized loss on the terminated interest rate swaps ($504,000) and lower average interest rates ($330,000).

     The Company’s earnings from continuing operations before income taxes for the quarter were $13.4 million compared to $25.7 million in the same year-ago period primarily due to lower gross profit in the current year which was partially offset by the reductions in SG&A and interest expense.

     The effective income tax rate for the quarter decreased to 37.1% from 40.4% in the same year-ago period primarily due to the reduction in taxable income related to disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options which are accounted for as variable awards for book purposes.

     The Company recorded a $95,000 gain (net of income taxes of $59,000) in the current quarter related to the collection of a note receivable associated with Insteel Construction Systems (“ICS”), a discontinued operation, that had previously been reserved. In May 1997, the Company sold the assets of ICS to ICS 3-D Panel Works, Inc. (“ICSPW”), a new corporation organized by the division’s management group. Howard O. Woltz, Jr., Chairman of the Company, is a principal Shareholder and a member of the board of directors of ICSPW.

     The Company’s net earnings for the quarter were $8.5 million, or $0.90 per diluted share compared to $15.3 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, in the same year-ago period. Excluding the gain on the disposal of assets associated with a discontinued operation, earnings from continuing operations for the current year quarter were $8.4 million, or $0.89 per diluted share.

     Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 increased 11% to $250.7 million from $226.8 million in the same year-ago period as higher average selling prices for the Company’s products more than offset lower shipments. The increase in selling prices was largely driven by escalating raw material costs that the Company was able to pass through to its customers. The decrease in shipments was primarily due to inventory reduction measures that were pursued by customers during the current year. Average selling prices for the nine-month period increased 31% while shipments fell 15% from the same year-ago period. Sales of concrete reinforcing products increased 10% to $222.7 million, or 89% of consolidated sales from $202.8 million, or 89% of consolidated sales in the same year-ago period due to higher average selling prices. Sales of industrial wire products increased 17% to $28.0 million, or 11% of consolidated sales from $24.0 million, or 11% of consolidated sales in the same year-ago period due to higher average selling prices.

     Gross profit for the first nine months decreased 24% to $43.2 million, or 17.2% of net sales from $56.6 million, or 24.9% of net sales in the same year-ago period. The decrease in gross profit was driven by reduced shipments and higher unit conversion costs resulting from lower production levels which more then offset higher spreads between average selling prices and raw material costs in the current year. Gross profit for the Company’s concrete reinforcing products decreased 22% to $42.7 million, or 19.2% of net sales from $54.6 million, or 26.9% of net sales in the prior year. Gross profit for industrial wire products decreased 73% to $530,000, or 1.9% of net sales from $1.9 million, or 8.1% of net sales in the prior year.

     SG&A expense decreased 19% to $11.8 million, or 4.7% of net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 from $14.6 million, or 6.4% of net sales in the same year-ago period. The decrease in SG&A expense was primarily due to lower compensation expense associated with the Company’s stock options that are subject to variable accounting treatment resulting from the decline in the price of the Company’s stock during the current year ($3.0 million), reductions in bad debt expense ($467,000) and legal fees related to the antidumping and countervailing duty cases for PC strand in the prior year ($358,000), partially offset by higher expenses for the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley internal control compliance efforts ($307,000) and investor relations matters ($128,000).

     Interest expense for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 decreased $3.4 million, or 48%, to $3.7 million from $7.2 million in the same year-ago period. The decrease was due to lower average interest rates ($1.7 million) and lower average borrowing levels on the Company’s senior secured credit facility ($1.6 million), partially offset by higher amortization expense associated with the unrealized loss on the terminated interest rate swaps ($120,000).

     The Company’s earnings from continuing operations before income taxes for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 were $27.6 million compared to $36.2 million in the same year-ago period primarily due to lower gross profit which was partially offset by the reductions in SG&A and interest expense.

     The effective income tax rate decreased to 35.3% for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 from 40.3% in the same year-ago period. The lower effective rate was primarily due to the reduction in taxable income related to disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options which are accounted for as variable awards for book purposes, an increase in favorable book-to-tax differences and a reduction in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

     The Company recorded a $793,000 gain (net of income taxes of $488,000) in the current year on the disposal of real estate, the settlement on the release of an equipment lien and the collection of a note receivable that had previously been reserved associated with ICS, a discontinued operation. In May 1997, the Company sold the assets of ICS to ICSPW, a new corporation organized by the division’s management group. Howard O. Woltz, Jr., Chairman of the Company, is a principal Shareholder and a member of the board of directors of ICSPW. The real estate associated with ICS had been retained by the Company and leased to ICSPW while the equipment was sold to ICSPW with the Company retaining a secured interest.

     The Company’s net earnings for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 were $18.7 million, or $1.97 per diluted share compared to $21.6 million, or $2.44 per diluted share, in the same year-ago period. Excluding the gain on the disposal of assets associated with a discontinued operation, earnings from continuing operations for the current year were $17.9 million, or $1.89 per diluted share.

Selected Financial Data
($ in thousands)

     Operating activities provided $31.4 million of cash for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 compared to $23.7 million in the same year-ago period. The increase was primarily the result of the net change in the working capital components of receivables, inventories and accounts payable and accrued expenses which provided $6.2 million in the current year while using $11.0 million in the same year-ago period. The year-to-year change in the cash provided by the reduction in receivables ($16.4 million) and increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses ($8.8 million) more than offset the increase in inventories ($8.0 million) relative to the prior year. The increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses resulted largely from the restoration of traditional payment terms with the Company’s primary suppliers to the arrangements that were previously in existence prior to the tight supply conditions of the year-ago period and the substantial improvement in the Company’s financial performance. The increase in inventories in the current year was primarily driven by the decrease in shipments largely related to customer inventory reduction measures.

     Investing activities used $4.1 million of cash for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 compared to $1.9 million in the same year-ago period primarily due to capital outlays related to the expansion of the Company’s engineered structural mesh business and upgrades to its information systems infrastructure together with an increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies. These current year uses were partially offset by $1.4 million of net proceeds from the sale of assets and collection of notes receivable associated with Insteel Construction Systems, a discontinued operation that the Company exited in 1997. Under the terms of the Company’s credit facility, the Company is limited to capital expenditures of not more than $7.0 million for each fiscal year through the year ended September 29, 2007, and for the period beginning on September 30, 2007 and ending on June 2, 2008, plus for any of these periods, up to a $2.0 million carryover of the amount by which actual capital expenditures are less than the applicable limitation for the prior period. Since the Company’s 2004 capital expenditures were more than $2.0 million below the amount permitted by its credit facility, the capital expenditure limitation applicable for 2005 is $9.0 million. The Company is proceeding with expansions of its engineered structural mesh, PC strand

and concrete pipe reinforcing businesses which will together represent an investment of approximately $15.0 million and currently expects that its capital outlays will amount to $28.0 million over the 2005 — 2007 period with approximately $9.0 million occurring in 2005, $12.0 million in 2006 and $7.0 million in 2007, although the timing between the years and the amounts are subject to change based on any adjustments in the project timelines, future market conditions or the Company’s financial performance. As the Company proceeds with its capital expenditure program, if it appears that capital outlays for the applicable year will exceed the limitation in effect under the terms of the credit facility, the Company would pursue an increase in the amount of the limitation from its lender.

     Financing activities used $28.5 million of cash for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 compared to $20.4 million in the same year-ago period. The increase in financing requirements in the current year was primarily due to the $28.7 million reduction in long-term debt.

     The Company’s total debt-to-capital ratio decreased to 21% at July 2, 2005 from 62% at June 26, 2004 due to the combined impact of a $31.5 million reduction in long-term debt and a $33.9 million increase in shareholders’ equity over the year-ago levels. The Company believes that, in the absence of significant unanticipated cash demands, net cash generated by operating activities and amounts available under its revolving credit facility will be sufficient to satisfy its expected working capital and capital expenditure requirements.

     On June 3, 2004, the Company entered into a new $82.0 million senior secured debt facility which has a four-year term maturing on June 2, 2008 consisting of a $60.0 million revolver, a $17.0 million Term Loan A and a $5.0 million Term Loan B. Proceeds from the new facility were used to pay off and terminate the Company’s previous credit facility (approximately $62.4 million outstanding as of the closing date) and will support the Company’s working capital, capital expenditure and general corporate requirements going forward. The new credit facility is secured by all of the Company’s assets.

     Advances under the revolving credit facility are limited to the lesser of the revolving credit commitment or a borrowing base amount that is calculated based upon a percentage of eligible receivables and inventories. On January 7, 2005, the Company and its lender agreed to an amendment to the credit facility which increased the amount of the revolver from $60.0 million to $75.0 million and expanded the maximum inventory borrowing base from $35.0 million to $45.0 million, providing additional liquidity. As of July 2, 2005, approximately $24.3 million was outstanding on the senior secured credit facility, with $19.4 million drawn and $42.9 million of additional borrowing capacity available on the revolver and $4.9 million outstanding on Term Loan A. Outstanding letters of credit on the revolver totaled $1.5 million as of July 2, 2005. The Credit Agreement provides for mandatory prepayments equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and voluntary prepayments of up to $625,000 each year on Term Loan A. Based on its Excess Cash Flow for fiscal 2004 (as defined in the Credit Agreement), in December 2004, the Company prepaid $11.4 million of term debt on its senior secured credit facility. The prepayment enabled the Company to pay off the $4.4 million balance outstanding on Term Loan B and pay down Term Loan A by $7.0 million, which reduced the Company’s average borrowing rate. The remaining balance on Term Loan A will continue to be amortized at $283,000 per month until it has been paid in its entirety.

     Interest rates on the revolver and Term Loan A are based upon (1) a base rate that is established at the higher of the prime rate or 0.50% plus the federal funds rate, or (2) at the election of the Company, a LIBOR rate, plus in either case, an applicable interest rate margin. The applicable interest rate margins were initially 1.50% for the base rate and 3.00% for the LIBOR rate on the revolver, and 2.25% for the base rate and 3.75% for the LIBOR rate on Term Loan A. Beginning on April 2, 2005, the applicable interest rate margins are adjusted on a quarterly basis based upon the Company’s leverage ratio within the following ranges: 1.00% — 1.75% for the base rate and 2.50% — 3.25% for the LIBOR rate on the revolver, and 1.50% — 2.25% for the base rate and 3.00% — 3.75% for the LIBOR rate on Term Loan A. In addition, the applicable interest rate margins may be adjusted further based on the amount of excess availability on the revolver and the occurrence of certain events of default provided for under the credit facility. Based on the Company’s leverage ratio as of July 2, 2005 and its excess availability, the applicable interest rate margins were 0.75% for the base rate and 2.25% for the LIBOR rate on the revolver, and 1.25% for the base rate and 2.75% for the LIBOR rate on Term Loan A. As of July 2, 2005, average interest rates on the credit facility were 5.57% on the revolver and 6.58% on Term Loan A.

     In connection with the refinancing of the previous credit facility, the Company terminated interest rate swap agreements for payments totaling $2.1 million and recorded a corresponding unrealized loss for hedging instruments in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 which, in accordance with GAAP, was amortized and recorded as interest expense through the original termination date of the swap agreements of January 31, 2005.

     The Company’s ability to borrow available amounts under the credit facility will be restricted or eliminated in the event of certain covenant breaches, events of default or if the Company is unable to make certain representations and warranties.

     Financial Covenants

     The terms of the credit facility require the Company to maintain certain fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios during the term of the credit facility. Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on October 2, 2004, the Company must have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 1.15 at the end of each fiscal quarter for the twelve-month period then ended (or, for the fiscal quarters ending on or before July 2, 2005, the period commencing on June 1, 2004 and ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter). In addition, beginning with the fiscal quarter ending January 1, 2005, the Company must maintain a Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not more than 3.25 as of the last day of each quarter through July 1, 2006, and not more than 3.00 thereafter. As of July 2, 2005, the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and Leverage Ratio (each as defined in the Credit Agreement) were 2.18 and 0.50, respectively, as calculated below, and it was in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the credit facility.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
For the thirteen-month period ended July 2, 2005

Leverage Ratio
For the twelve-month period ended July 2, 2005

     The Company’s credit facility includes financial covenants such as a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and Leverage Ratio, as defined above, that are derived from non-GAAP financial measures, particularly, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as defined in the Company’s Credit Agreement (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Adjusted EBITDA includes additional adjustments to GAAP net earnings as set forth in the table above. The Company’s management uses Adjusted EBITDA and the debt covenant ratios to measure compliance with its debt covenants and evaluate the operations of the Company. Management believes this presentation is appropriate and enables investors to (i) evaluate the Company’s compliance with the financial covenants of its credit facility and (ii) assess the Company’s performance over the periods presented. Adjusted EBITDA and the debt covenant ratios as presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and the debt covenant ratios (i) should not be considered as an alternative to net earnings (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of the Company’s financial performance, (ii) is not an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of the

Company’s liquidity, and (iii) is not indicative of funds available to fund the Company’s cash needs because of needed capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations, or other cash commitments and uncertainties.

     Negative Covenants

     In addition, the terms of the credit facility restrict the Company’s ability to, among other things: engage in certain business combinations or divestitures; make capital expenditures in excess of applicable limitations; make investments in or loans to third parties, unless certain conditions are met with respect to such investments or loans; pay cash dividends in excess of applicable limitations; incur or assume indebtedness; issue securities; enter into certain transactions with affiliates of the Company; or permit liens to encumber the Company’s property and assets. The Company is limited to Capital Expenditures (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not more than $7.0 million for each fiscal year through the year ending September 29, 2007, and for the period beginning on September 30, 2007 and ending on June 2, 2008, plus for any of these periods, up to a $2.0 million carryover of the amount by which actual Capital Expenditures are less than the applicable limitation for the prior period. Based upon the carryover amount from the prior fiscal year, the Company is currently limited to $9.0 million of Capital Expenditures for the fiscal year ending October 1, 2005. For the nine months ended July 2, 2005, Capital Expenditures amounted to $4.9 million.

     On March 14, 2005 the Company and its lender agreed to an amendment to the credit facility which increased the permitted amount of cash dividend payments to (i) $875,000 in the aggregate in fiscal 2005 and (ii) $3.5 million in any fiscal year after fiscal 2005. As of July 2, 2005, the Company was in compliance with all of the negative covenants under the credit facility.

     Events of Default

     Under the terms of the credit facility, an event of default will occur with respect to the Company upon the occurrence of, among other things: a default or breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any agreement resulting in the acceleration of amounts due in excess of $500,000 under such other agreement; certain payment defaults by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $500,000; certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company; an entry of judgment against the Company or any of its subsidiaries for greater than $500,000, which amount is not covered by insurance; or a change of control of the Company.

     The Company has no material transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, as defined by Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K of the SEC, that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future impact on its financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses.

     The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States. The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on these financial statements. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires the application of these accounting policies in addition to certain estimates and judgments by the Company’s management. The Company’s estimates and judgments are based on current available information, actuarial estimates, historical results and other assumptions believed to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

     The following critical accounting policies are used in the preparation of the financial statements:

     Revenue recognition and credit risk. The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when the product is shipped and risk of loss and title has passed to the customer. Substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from customers that are located in the U.S. and the Company generally requires no collateral depending upon the creditworthiness of the account. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon its assessment of the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other information. There is no disproportionate concentration of credit risk.

     Allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to change significantly, adjustments to the allowances may be required. While the Company believes its

recorded trade receivables will be collected, in the event of default in payment of a trade receivable, the Company would follow normal collection procedures.

     Excess and obsolete inventory reserves. The Company writes down the carrying value of its inventory for estimated obsolescence to reflect the lower of the cost of the inventory or its estimated net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions for the Company’s products are substantially different than those projected by management, adjustments to these reserves may be required.

     Valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets. The Company has recorded valuation allowances related to a portion of its deferred income tax assets for which it cannot support the presumption that expected realization meets a “more likely than not” criteria. If the timing or amount of future taxable income is different than management’s current estimates, adjustments to the valuation allowances may be necessary.

     Accruals for self-insured liabilities and litigation. The Company has accrued its estimate of the probable costs related to self-insured medical and workers’ compensation claims and legal matters. These estimates have been developed in consultation with the Company’s legal counsel and other advisors and are based on management’s current understanding of the underlying facts and circumstances. Because of uncertainties related to the ultimate outcome of these issues as well as the possibility of changes in the underlying facts and circumstances, adjustments to these reserves may be required in the future.

     The Company continues to believe that a gradual recovery in nonresidential construction spending from the depressed levels of recent years together with the anticipated completion of inventory reduction measures within its customer base should lead to increased demand for its concrete reinforcing products through the remainder of fiscal 2005 and in fiscal 2006. Additionally, the Company expects government spending for infrastructure-related projects to increase with the enactment of the successor funding legislation to TEA-21 in August 2005. Improvements in the Company’s cost structure together with the rapidly rising cost of raw materials and changes in its selling practices caused margins to expand significantly in fiscal 2004. During the prior year, the combination of escalating prices and limited supplies of hot-rolled steel wire rod, the Company’s primary raw material, caused the Company, and many of its competitors, to adjust their product offerings and the availability of products in a more disciplined manner based upon relative profitability. Although raw material availability has improved and prices have trended downward during fiscal 2005, the Company believes that the favorable pricing and margin environment for its products should continue through the remainder of the year and into fiscal 2006.

     The recent expansions in domestic rod capacity have reduced the Company’s reliance on offshore sources for its raw materials which should enhance its flexibility in managing its inventory levels, particularly during periods of volatile demand. In addition, the Company’s trade payables have risen in connection with the restoration of traditional payment terms with its primary suppliers to the previous arrangements that existed prior to the tight supply conditions of a year ago and the substantial improvement in its financial performance. The Company believes that the expected operating cash flow generated by earnings and continued improvements in its working capital management will enable it to achieve further reductions in its debt level over the remainder of fiscal 2005.

     The Company is continuing to pursue a broad range of initiatives to improve its financial performance and reduce debt. Over the prior year, the Company focused on increasing the productivity levels and reducing the operating costs of its manufacturing facilities as well as its selling and administrative activities. Additional resources were directed towards the development of the Company’s ESM business as well as other niche products and these efforts will be intensified going forward. The Company is also proceeding with initiatives that will reconfigure and expand the capacity of its ESM, PC strand and pipe mesh businesses which are expected to favorably impact its operating costs and position it to satisfy future increases in demand in these markets. The Company anticipates that these actions together with the favorable outlook for the demand drivers of its products should favorably impact its future financial performance (see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”).

     The Company’s cash flows and earnings are subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates. The Company manages its exposure to these market risks through internally established policies and procedures and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments. The Company does not use financial instruments for trading purposes and is not a party to any leveraged derivatives. The

Company monitors its underlying market risk exposures on an ongoing basis and believes that it can modify or adapt its hedging strategies as necessary.

     The Company does not generally use derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposures to changes in commodity prices. The principal commodity price exposure is hot-rolled carbon steel wire rod, the Company’s primary raw material, which is purchased from both domestic and foreign suppliers and denominated in U.S. dollars. Historically the Company has typically negotiated quantities and pricing on a quarterly basis for both domestic and foreign steel wire rod purchases to manage its exposure to price fluctuations and to ensure adequate availability of material consistent with its requirements. Following the tight supply conditions that persisted for most of 2004 which led to an increase in the frequency and size of price adjustments, wire rod availability improved and pricing has trended lower during fiscal 2005. The Company’s ability to acquire steel wire rod from foreign sources on favorable terms is impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, foreign taxes, duties, tariffs, and other trade actions. Although changes in wire rod costs and the Company’s selling prices may be correlated over extended periods of time, depending upon market conditions, there may be periods during which it is unable to fully recover increased rod costs through higher selling prices, which reduces its gross profit and cash flow from operations.

     The Company has debt obligations that are sensitive to changes in interest rates under its senior secured credit facility. In connection with the refinancing that was completed on June 3, 2004, the Company terminated interest rate swap agreements required by its previous lenders for payments totaling $2.1 million and recorded a corresponding unrealized loss for hedging instruments in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 which, in accordance with GAAP, was amortized and recorded as interest expense through the original termination date of the swap agreements of January 31, 2005. Based on the Company’s interest rate exposure and floating rate debt levels as of July 2, 2005, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would have an estimated $243,000 impact on pre-tax earnings over a one-year period.

     The Company has not typically hedged foreign currency exposures related to transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, as such transactions have not been material in the past. The Company will occasionally hedge firm commitments for certain equipment purchases that are denominated in foreign currencies. The decision to hedge any such transactions is made by the Company on a case-by-case basis. There were no forward contracts outstanding as of July 2, 2005.

     The Company carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

     There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended July 2, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

a. Exhibits:

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