Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR) today reported results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended May 31, 2008.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, net sales were a record $868.9 million, an increase of 10% from $786.6 million last year. Fourth quarter net earnings were $53.9 million and earnings per diluted share were $0.68 compared to $38.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Operating income for the fourth quarter included $4.9 million in pre-tax restructuring charges, $1.1 million of which was non-cash, primarily related to previously announced plant closures in the Metal Framing segment and professional fees in Other. These charges had a negative impact of $0.04 on reported earnings per share.

For fiscal year 2008, net sales of $3,067.2 million, were 3% higher than the $2,971.8 million reported last year. Net earnings were $107.1 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, compared to $113.9 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, for fiscal 2007. Annual results were negatively impacted by $18.1 million in pre-tax restructuring charges, or $0.15 per share, related to early retirement, severance, professional fees, and plant closures. Certain professional fees totaling $3.3 million reported in selling, general and administrative expense in the previous three quarters have been reclassified to restructuring charges in each respective quarter to maintain consistency of treatment with the presentation in the current quarter.

Chairman and CEO comments

“We are pleased with our excellent fourth quarter results and the year-over-year performance of our business segments, particularly the return to profitability in the fourth quarter for metal framing and the continued strong results from pressure cylinders,” said Chairman and CEO John P. McConnell. “We also had record results from our joint venture Worthington Armstrong (WAVE) and also a very good quarter from Serviacero Worthington.”

“Across the company, we have been focused on cutting costs, expanding our market reach through new products and services, and steering through a volatile and demanding steel pricing environment. We believe these efforts are helping us transform and strengthen the businesses, but we are aware of the uncertainty in some of our key markets and the potential for volatility in steel pricing throughout fiscal 2009.”

Fourth Quarter and Year-End Highlights

• The Pressure Cylinders segment set a new quarterly record for net sales and units shipped and an annual record for net sales.
• The Metal Framing segment returned to operating profitability for the quarter.
• Equity income from nine unconsolidated joint ventures totaled $21.9 million for the quarter and $67.5 million for the year. Worthington Armstrong Venture (WAVE) had record sales and earnings for the quarter and the year.
• Cash dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures totaled $16.5 million for the quarter and $58.9 million for the year. WAVE contributed $14.0 million and $54.0 million of the cash dividends received for those periods.
• Cash provided by operating activities was $180.5 million for fiscal 2008 compared to $180.4 million for fiscal 2007, while capital expenditures were $47.5 million and $57.7 million for the same periods.
• During the fourth quarter, $13.5 million was paid to shareholders in a regular quarterly dividend. For the year, dividends paid to shareholders totaled $55.6 million. At year end, the dividend yielded a 3.4% annualized return.
• During fiscal 2008, the company repurchased 6.5 million common shares, reducing total outstanding shares to 79.3 million at year end. Currently 9.1 million shares remain authorized for repurchase.

Quarterly Segment Results

In the Steel Processing segment, quarterly net sales rose 14%, or $52.2 million, to $412.7 million from $360.5 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2007. The increase in sales was the result of higher average selling prices, up 18% relative to the prior year. Volumes declined 3% as the weakness in toll processing, which is closely tied to the automotive end markets, was nearly offset by a successful sales initiative for direct processing business. Operating income increased because of a wider spread between average selling prices and material costs.

In the Metal Framing segment, net sales increased 15%, or $29.9 million, to $225.5 million from $195.6 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2007. Relative to the prior year, this sales increase was the result of higher pricing (up 15%) and a slight increase in volumes (up 1%). Operating income rose significantly, primarily as a result of an improved spread between selling prices and material costs. Reported results were reduced by $2.1 million in pre-tax restructuring charges related to previously announced plant closures (see press release dated September 25, 2007, for more detail).

In the Pressure Cylinders segment, net sales increased 1%, or $1.4 million, to $170.7 million from $169.3 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2007. Stronger foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar positively impacted reported U.S. dollar sales of the non-U.S. operations by $9.9 million compared to last year. The impact of improved volumes in the North American market was offset by lower average pricing, resulting from changes to the product mix, and lower volumes in the European market. While operating income was lower than in the year ago record quarter, the results were well above previous historical levels due to continued strength in both the European and North American operations.

Worthington’s joint ventures added significantly to fourth quarter results, as equity income from the nine unconsolidated affiliates rose 31% totaling $21.9 million, compared to $16.7 million in the year ago quarter. Equity income increased due primarily to WAVE and to Worthington’s new Mexican joint venture, Serviacero Worthington. WAVE continued to contribute the vast majority of equity earnings. Its earnings set a new record, up 32% from the record set last year. Fiscal 2008 was the best year in the history of the WAVE joint venture for both sales and earnings.

Transformation

What began as a cost reduction program has grown into a much larger transformational initiative. In addition to the previously announced cost saving efforts, several initiatives are underway that focus on dramatically improving the operational and financial performance of the Company. These initiatives include a strategic search for new growth opportunities, increasing efficiency throughout the company, from the plant floor to the corporate office, and improving the supply chain. The intent behind these initiatives is to significantly transform the Company’s earnings potential over the next three years.

Previously announced cost reduction efforts related to overhead expense and plant closures continued through the fourth quarter with the following updates:

Other

Share Repurchases

During fiscal 2008, 6,451,500 shares were repurchased. A portion of the shares, 5,551,000, completed a 10 million share authorization announced on June 13, 2005. The balance, 900,500, was purchased under a 10 million share authorization announced on September 26, 2007. Purchases may occur from time to time, on the open market or in private transactions with consideration given to the market price of the stock, the nature of other investment opportunities, cash flow from operations and general economic conditions.

Dividend Declared

On May 19, 2008, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share payable June 29, 2008, to shareholders of record on June 15, 2008.

Subsequent Acquisition

On June 2, 2008, Worthington Industries acquired the assets of Sharon Stairs, a designer and manufacturer of steel egress stair systems for the commercial construction markets. Annual sales are expected to approximate $30 million and will be included in the results of Worthington-IBS, which is reported in Other.

Conference Call

Worthington will review fourth quarter and year end results during its quarterly conference call today, June 26, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Details regarding the conference call can be found on the company web site at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com

Corporate Profile

Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company with annual sales of approximately $3 billion. The Columbus, Ohio, based company is North America’s premier value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured metal products such as metal framing, pressure cylinders, automotive past model service stampings, metal ceiling grid systems and laser welded blanks. Worthington employs more than 8,000 people and operates 67 facilities in 11 countries.

Founded in 1955, the company operates under a long-standing corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule, with earning money for its shareholders as the first corporate goal. This philosophy, an unwavering commitment to the customer, and one of the strongest employee/employer partnerships in American industry serve as the company’s foundation.

Safe Harbor Statement

The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Statements by the company relating to future or expected growth, growth opportunities, performance, sales, operating results and earnings per share; projected capacity and working capital needs; pricing trends for raw materials and finished goods, and the impact of pricing changes; anticipated capital expenditures and asset sales; projected timing, results, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions or to facility startups, dispositions, shutdowns and consolidations; new products, services and markets; expectations for company and customer inventories, jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets; expected benefits from turnaround plans, plant closings, cost reduction efforts and other new initiatives; expectations for improvements in efficiencies or the supply chain; expectations for improving margins and increasing shareholder value; effects of judicial rulings and other non-historical matters constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, product demand and pricing; changes in product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of the company’s products; fluctuations in pricing, quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel), supplies, transportation, utilities and other items required by operations; effects of facility closures and the consolidation of operations; the effect of consolidation and other changes within the steel, automotive, construction and related industries; failure to maintain appropriate levels of inventories; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions such as head count reductions, facility closures and other expense reductions; the ability to realize other cost savings and operational efficiencies and improvements on a timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate, newly-acquired businesses and achieve synergies therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies within facilities and within the industry as a whole; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings) of customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom the company does business; the effect of national, regional and worldwide economic conditions generally and within major product markets, including a prolonged or substantial economic downturn; the effect of disruption in business of suppliers, customers, facilities and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events, equipment breakdowns, acts of war or terrorist activities or other causes; changes in customer inventories, spending patterns, product choices, and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business internationally, including economic, political and social instability, and foreign currency exposure; the ability to improve and maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; adverse claims experience with respect to workers compensation, product recalls or liability, casualty events or other matters; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or assumptions used by the company in the application of its significant accounting policies; level of imports and import prices in the company’s markets; the impact of judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; and other risks described from time to time in the company’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Worthington Industries, Inc.
Media Contact:
Cathy M. Lyttle, 614-438-3077
VP, Corporate Communications
E-mail: cmlyttle@WorthingtonIndustries.com
or
Investor Contact:
Allison M. Sanders, 614-840-3133
Director, Investor Relations
E-mail: asanders@WorthingtonIndustries.com
or
www.WorthingtonIndustries.com