COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES INC/DE/
10-Q, 1998-11-10
ROLLING DRAWING & EXTRUDING OF NONFERROUS METALS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q
                                    ---------

     [x] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1998

                                       or

     [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

               For the transition period from ________ to ________

                                 --------------

                           Commission File No. 0-25642

                          COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                                      13-3245741
(State of incorporation)                (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

   500 West Jefferson Street
         19th Floor
     Louisville, Kentucky                            40202-2823
(Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (502) 589-8100

                                   ----------

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  proceeding 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     X    No ____

The registrant had 15,944,000  shares of common stock outstanding at November 2,
1998.

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

                          COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                    FORM 10-Q
                    For the Quarter Ended September 30, 1998

                                      INDEX

                         Part I - Financial Information


Item 1.  Financial Statements (unaudited)                           Page Number

         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 1998
         and December 31, 1997                                            3

         Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three
         months and nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997         4

         Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine
         months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997                         5

         Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements             6-8


Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition     9-13
           and Results of Operations


                           Part II - Other Information


Item 1.   Legal Proceedings                                               14

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                14

Signatures                                                                15

<PAGE>

                          COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.
                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                        (in thousands except share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                     September 30,             December 31,
                                                                         1998                     1997
                                                                     --------------           -------------
<S>                                                                    <C>                       <C>    
Assets
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                                          $    5,370               $       -
     Accounts receivable, net                                                  263                     355
     Inventories                                                           185,936                 171,633
     Prepayments and other current assets                                   33,475                  45,107
                                                                     --------------           -------------
          Total current assets                                             225,044                 217,095
Property, plant and equipment, net                                         266,302                 266,292
Goodwill, net                                                              170,205                 173,562
Other noncurrent assets                                                      9,777                  10,472
                                                                     --------------           -------------
          Total assets                                                   $ 671,328               $ 667,421
                                                                     ==============           =============

Liabilities
Current liabilities:
     Outstanding checks in excess of deposits                            $       -               $   9,122
     Accounts payable                                                       72,519                  67,881
     Accrued liabilities                                                    32,094                  27,168
                                                                     --------------           -------------
          Total current liabilities                                        104,613                 104,171
Long-term debt                                                             130,000                 125,650
Other long-term liabilities                                                  8,651                   9,675
Accrued pension benefits                                                    14,337                  13,368
Accrued postretirement benefits                                             87,218                  84,084
                                                                     --------------           -------------
          Total liabilities                                                344,819                 336,948
                                                                     --------------           -------------

Commitments and contingencies                                                    -                       -
Stockholders' Equity
     Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized,
          15,944,000 and 15,941,500 shares outstanding at
          September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997, respectively               159                     159
     Additional paid-in capital                                            398,794                 398,757
     Accumulated deficit                                                   (70,955)                (66,575)
     Unearned compensation                                                    (793)                 (1,172)
     Minimum pension adjustment                                               (696)                   (696)
                                                                     --------------           -------------
          Total stockholders' equity                                       326,509                 330,473
                                                                     --------------           -------------
          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                     $ 671,328               $ 667,421
                                                                     ==============           =============

            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
                      (in thousands except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              Three months ended           Nine months ended
                                                                 September 30,                September 30,
                                                         -------------------------       --------------------------
                                                           1998           1997             1998            1997
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>      
Net sales                                                $ 231,348      $ 271,142        $ 738,621       $ 830,573
Cost of goods sold                                         215,390        249,987          690,436         761,125
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
     Gross profit                                           15,958         21,155           48,185          69,448
Selling, general and administrative expenses                11,265          9,872           31,622          31,559
Amortization of goodwill                                     1,119          1,119            3,357           3,359
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
     Operating income                                        3,574         10,164           13,206          34,530
Other income (expense), net                                    107             82              511             579
Interest expense, net                                       (5,671)        (8,661)         (16,887)        (25,082)
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
     Income (loss) before income taxes and
      extraordinary loss                                    (1,990)         1,585           (3,170)         10,027                 
Income tax expense (benefit)                                   149             (5)          (1,182)          2,106
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
     Income (loss) before extraordinary loss                (2,139)         1,590           (1,988)          7,921
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt,
     net of income tax benefit                                   -         (1,181)               -          (1,181)
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
     Net income (loss)                                    $ (2,139)         $ 409         $ (1,988)        $ 6,740
                                                         ==========     ==========       ==========     ===========

Basic and diluted per share data:
          Income (loss) before extraordinary loss          $ (0.13)        $ 0.15          $ (0.12)         $ 0.77
          Extraordinary loss                                     -          (0.11)               -           (0.11)
                                                         ----------     ----------       ----------     -----------
          Net income (loss)                                $ (0.13)        $ 0.04          $ (0.12)         $ 0.66
                                                         ==========     ==========       ==========     ===========

Weighted average shares outstanding
     Basic                                                  15,944         10,333           15,944          10,249
     Diluted                                                15,944         10,384           15,944          10,290

Dividends paid per share                                    $ 0.05         $ 0.05           $ 0.15          $ 0.15


            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.
                 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                                 (in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Nine months ended September 30,
                                                                 ----------------------------------
                                                                         1998             1997
                                                                       --------        ---------
<S>                                                                 <C>               <C>   
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net  income  (loss)                                               $ (1,988)         $ 6,740 
   Adjustments  to  reconcile  net income
    (loss) to net cash provided by operations:
        Depreciation and amortization                                  25,941           27,350
        Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt                  -            1,495
        Issuance of common stock in connection with stock awards           72               84
        Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment                 301                -
        Proceeds from the initial sale of accounts receivable               -          150,000
        Changes in assets and liabilities:
             Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net               92          (46,932)
             (Increase) in inventories                                (14,303)          (3,462)
             Decrease in prepayments and other current assets          11,632            2,635
             (Increase) decrease in other noncurrent assets              (165)             449
             Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                    4,638           (8,303)
             Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities                 4,926           (6,004)
             Increase in other liabilities                              3,079              301
                                                                     --------        ---------
                 Net cash provided by operating activities             34,225          124,353
                                                                     --------        ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Net cash and cash equivalents (outflow) from acquisition                 -           (2,894)
   Additions to property, plant and equipment                         (21,723)         (14,101)
   Disposals of property, plant and equipment                              32               10
                                                                      --------        ---------
        Net cash (used in) investing activities                       (21,691)         (16,985)
                                                                      --------        ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   (Decrease) increase in outstanding checks in excess of deposits     (9,122)             492
   Proceeds from long-term debt                                        42,025          283,450
   Repayments of long-term debt                                       (37,675)        (489,600)
   Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                   -           97,876
   Cash dividends paid                                                 (2,392)          (1,530)
                                                                     --------        ---------
        Net cash (used in) financing activities                        (7,164)        (109,312)
                                                                     --------        ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                    5,370           (1,944)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                            -            1,944
                                                                     --------        ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                            $ 5,370         $      -
                                                                     ========        =========
Supplemental disclosures:
   Interest paid                                                      $13,799         $ 20,137
   Income taxes paid                                                      292            1,166

                See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.
              Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying  condensed  consolidated  financial statements are presented in
accordance with the  requirements  of Form 10-Q and  consequently do not include
all  the  disclosures   normally  required  by  generally  accepted   accounting
principles.  The condensed  consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with Commonwealth  Industries,  Inc.'s (the "Company's") customary
accounting  practices and have not been audited.  In the opinion of  management,
all  adjustments  necessary to fairly  present the results of operations for the
reporting interim periods have been made and were of a normal recurring nature.

2. Inventories
The Company  uses the  first-in,  first-out  (FIFO) and the  last-in,  first-out
(LIFO) methods for valuing its inventories.


(in thousands)                        September 30, 1998      December 31, 1997
- --------------                        ------------------      -----------------
Raw materials                            $   32,426               $   30,395
Work in process                              91,889                   76,286
Finished goods                               46,567                   53,395
Expendable parts and supplies                14,988                   14,884
                                          ---------                ---------
                                            185,870                  174,960
LIFO reserve                                  1,594                   (3,327)
                                          ---------                ---------
                                            187,464                  171,633
Lower of cost or market reserve              (1,528)                       -
                                          ---------                ---------
                                          $ 185,936                $ 171,633
                                          =========                =========

Inventories of  approximately  $38.9 million and $35.4 million,  included in the
above totals (before the LIFO and lower of cost or market  reserve) at September
30, 1998 and December 31, 1997,  respectively,  are accounted for under the LIFO
method of accounting.

On September 30, 1998, the Company had deferred  realized losses of $3.3 million
on closed  futures  contracts  which are recorded as an increase to the carrying
value of inventory.  The Company had deferred realized losses of $1.5 million at
December 31, 1997.

3. Provision for Income Taxes
The income tax expense for the three  months and income tax benefit for the nine
months ended  September  30, 1998 is based on the  Company's  projected  taxable
income and federal and state  income tax rates for the year ending  December 31,
1998.  Also  included  in the  income  tax  benefit  for the nine  months  ended
September 30, 1998 is a $1.5 million favorable  adjustment recorded in the first
quarter  of 1998 as the  result of the  filing of  amended  federal  income  tax
returns for prior years.


<PAGE>


4. Net Income Per Share Computations
The following is a reconciliation  of the numerator and denominator of the basic
and diluted per share computations:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Three months ended
                                                                                     ------------------
                                                                                        September 30,
                                                                                        -------------      
                                                                                      1998        1997
                                                                                     -----       ------ 
<S>                                                                                 <C>           <C>    
Income (numerator) amounts used for basic and diluted per share computations:
     Income (loss) before extraordinary loss                                        $  (2,139)     $1,590
                                                                                    
     Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of income tax
          benefit                                                                          -       (1,181)
                                                                                    ---------    --------
     Net income (loss)                                                              $  (2,139)      $ 409
                                                                                    =========    ========

Shares (denominator) used for basic per share computations:
     Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding                               15,944      10,333
                                                                                       ======      ======

Shares (denominator) used for diluted per share computations:
     Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding                               15,944      10,333
     Plus: dilutive effect of stock options                                                 -          51
                                                                                       ------      ------
           Adjusted weighted average shares                                            15,944      10,384
                                                                                       ======      ======

Basic and diluted per share data:
         Income (loss) before extraordinary loss                                      $(0.13)       $0.15
         Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of income tax
              benefit                                                                      -        (0.11)
                                                                                      -------      ------
         Net income (loss)                                                            $(0.13)       $0.04
                                                                                      =======      ======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                      Nine months ended
                                                                                      -----------------
                                                                                        September 30,
                                                                                        -------------      
                                                                                      1998        1997
                                                                                      ----        ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>           <C> 
Income (numerator) amounts used for basic and diluted per share computations:
     Income (loss) before extraordinary loss                                        $(1,988)       $7,921
     Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of income tax
          benefit                                                                                  (1,181)
                                                                                    --------       ------
     Net income (loss)                                                              $(1,988)       $6,740
                                                                                    ========       ======

Shares (denominator) used for basic per share computations:
     Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding                               15,944      10,249
                                                                                       ======      ======

Shares (denominator) used for diluted per share computations:
     Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding                               15,944      10,249
     Plus: dilutive effect of stock options                                                 -          41
                                                                                      -------     -------
           Adjusted weighted average shares                                            15,944      10,290
                                                                                       ======      ======

Basic and diluted per share data:
         Income (loss) before extraordinary loss                                      $(0.12)       $0.77
         Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of income tax
              benefit                                                                      -        (0.11)
                                                                                      -------      ------
         Net income (loss)                                                            $(0.12)       $0.66
                                                                                      =======      ======


Options to purchase  5,000 and 186,000  common  shares,  which  equate to 35 and
4,447 incremental common equivalent  shares,  were excluded from the calculation
above  for  the  three  months  and  nine  months  ended   September  30,  1998,
respectively, as their effect would have been antidilutive. In addition, options
to purchase 545,000 and 6,500 common shares for the three months ended September
30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively,  and 545,000 and 8,000  common  shares for the
nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively,  were excluded from
the  calculations  above because the exercise prices on the options were greater
than the average market price for the periods.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

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

The following  discussion contains  statements which are forward-looking  rather
than historical fact. These forward-looking  statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and involve risks and uncertainties that could render them materially different,
including,  but not limited to, the effect of global  economic  conditions,  the
impact  of   competitive   products  and  pricing,   product   development   and
commercialization,  availability and cost of critical raw materials, the rate of
technological  change,  product demand and market acceptance risks, capacity and
supply  constraints or  difficulties,  and other risks detailed in the Company's
various Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Overview

The Company  manufactures  non-heat treat coiled aluminum sheet for distributors
and the  transportation,  construction and consumer durables end use markets and
electrical  flexible conduit and prewired armored cable for the  non-residential
construction and renovation  markets.  The Company's principal raw materials are
aluminum scrap,  primary  aluminum,  copper and steel.  Trends in the demand for
aluminum  sheet  products  in the United  States  and in the prices of  aluminum
primary metal,  aluminum scrap and copper commodities affect the business of the
Company.  The Company's  operating results also are affected by factors specific
to the Company,  such as the margins between selling prices for its products and
its cost of raw material  ("material  margins")  and its unit cost of converting
raw material into its products  ("conversion  cost").  While changes in aluminum
and copper prices can cause the Company's net sales to change significantly from
period to period,  net income is more directly  impacted by the  fluctuation  in
material margins.

During the first nine months of 1998, net sales of the Company's  aluminum sheet
products  declined  by 12% from the first nine  months of 1997.  Lower sales and
shipment volume were caused by production problems and a production slow-down in
connection with the expiration of the Company's collective  bargaining agreement
on July 31 at the Company's  Lewisport,  Kentucky aluminum rolling mill, as well
as  weather-related  production  outages  at its  mill  in  Uhrichsville,  Ohio.
Although the Lewisport mill never actually  suffered a strike,  mill  operations
were  affected  nonetheless  as  both  labor  and  management  prepared  for the
possibility.  While overall demand for aluminum sheet products  remained strong,
material  margins have been under  pressure  for the past two years.  During the
nine months of 1998, the Company chose to sell only to those segments of markets
where  the  Company  could  compete  on  product  quality  and  service  and not
participate in further material margin erosion.  During the first nine months of
1998, the Company implemented two price increases,  the first beginning in April
1998 and the second in June 1998.  As a result of these  factors,  the Company's
material margins in the aluminum  business  increased by $0.009 per pound in the
first nine months of 1998  compared to the first nine months of 1997.  Beginning
in mid-February 1998 at the Lewisport  rolling mill, all discretionary  overtime
hours were  eliminated to reduce the operating cost  concurrent with the reduced
sales volume.

Demand for the  Company's  electrical  conduit and cable  products  continued to
exceed the  Company's  capacity to supply these  products  during the first nine
months of 1998.  While the Company has been adding  additional  electrical cable
armoring  capacity  since the second  quarter of 1997,  this capacity has yet to
reach full production due to the time involved in employee skills training.  The
strong market for electrical  conduit also allowed the Company to concentrate on
higher  margin  products  during the first nine months of 1998,  even though net
sales  volume was little  changed  from the same nine  months  period last year.
However,  shipments in the third quarter of 1998 were the strongest  performance
of the year. Value added products such as MC cable represented a higher ratio of
Alflex's 1998 nine month sales compared to the same period in 1997.

Results of Operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30,
1998 and 1997

Net Sales. Net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 1998,  decreased 15% to
$231 million  (including $33.1 million from Alflex) from $271 million (including
$32.7  million from Alflex) for the same period in 1997.  Net sales for the nine
month  period ended  September  30, 1998,  were $739  million  (including  $93.7
million  from  Alflex),  an 11% decrease  from the $831 million  recorded in the
first nine months of 1997 (including $96.4 million from Alflex). The decrease is
due to reduced sales volumes at the Lewisport mill which was partially offset by
volume  increases  at the  Company's  other  facilities.  Unit  sales  volume of
aluminum  decreased  12% to 211.3  million  pounds for the third quarter of 1998
from 240.2 million  pounds for the third  quarter of 1997.  Unit sales volume of
aluminum was 664.9 million  pounds for the first nine months of 1998, a decrease
of 13% from the 760.7 million pounds for the first nine months of 1997. Aluminum
sales volume for the nine months  decreased  due to the reasons  outlined in the
"overview"  section.  Additionally  nine-month  sales  volumes at the  Company's
continuous cast aluminum sheet  operations were slightly below last year's level
due to tighter inventory  management by customers and unusually wet weather that
reduced construction activity in various parts of the United States in the first
half of 1998.  Alflex  unit sales  volume was 141.1  million  feet for the third
quarter of 1998 and 393.8  million feet for the first nine months of 1998 versus
134.0  million feet and 395.7  million feet,  respectively,  for the  comparable
periods in 1997.

Gross Profit.  Gross profit for the quarter ended September 30, 1998,  decreased
to $16.0  million from $21.2  million for the same period in 1997.  Gross profit
for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1998 was $48.2  million  versus $69.4
million for the comparable  period in 1997. These decreases were attributable to
decreased sales volumes due to the reasons outlined in the "overview"  section .
The Company's unit manufacturing  costs increased compared to the same period in
1997 as a result of the lower  volumes  which more than offset any  efficiencies
due to mill  optimization  practices.  Material margins which were higher in the
first nine months of 1998 than in the first nine months of 1997 partially offset
the impact of lower volumes.

Operating Income.  The Company produced operating income of $3.6 million for the
third quarter of 1998 compared with $10.2 million for the third quarter of 1997.
For the nine month period ended September 30, 1998,  operating income was $13.2,
down from  $34.5  million  for the nine  months of 1997.  Selling,  general  and
administrative  expenses  during the third  quarter of 1998 were $11.3  million,
compared  with $9.9  million for the same period in 1997 and were $31.6  million
for the nine months ended  September  30, 1998,  which is the same amount as was
recorded  for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1997.  The third  quarter
increase was due to increases at Alflex associated with higher sales volume, the
infrastructure  required  to support  the growth of this  business  and  certain
expenses incurred at the Lewiport mill in anticipation of a possible strike. The
realization of various operating synergies envisioned at the time of the CasTech
acquisition  continued to contribute to holding the third quarter  increase down
and  resulting  in no increase  for the nine month  period  compared to the same
periods in 1997.

Net Income.  Net loss was $2.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 1998,
compared  with net income of $0.4 million for the same period in 1997.  Net loss
for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was $2.0 million  compared with net
income of $6.7 million for the first nine months of 1997.  Interest  expense was
$5.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 1998,  compared to $8.7 million
for the same  period  in 1997  and  $16.9  million  for the  nine  months  ended
September  30, 1998,  compared  with $25.1  million for the first nine months of
1997. These decreases in the Company's interest expense are due to the reduction
in borrowing  resulting from the Company's  equity offering coupled with reduced
interest  rates due to the accounts  receivable  securitization  facility.  Both
transactions  are described in the  "Liquidity  and Capital  Resources"  section
which follows.  Income tax expense was $0.1 million in the third quarter of 1998
compared to an income tax  benefit of $0.05  million for the same period in 1997
and an income tax benefit of $1.2  million for the nine months  ended  September
30, 1998,  compared to an income tax expense of $2.1 million for the same period
in 1997.  The change  between the nine month periods is a result of the expected
decrease in the Company's taxable income and a $1.5 million favorable adjustment
recorded  in the first  quarter  of 1998 to the prior  year's tax  expense.  The
adjustment  resulted from the filing of amended  federal  income tax returns for
prior  years.  The  Company  also  recorded an  extraordinary  loss on the early
extinguishment  of debt in the  third  quarter  of  1997 of $1.5  million  ($1.2
million net of income tax benefit)

<PAGE>

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's sources of liquidity are cash flows from operations, the Company's
accounts receivable securitization facility described below and borrowings under
its $100 million  revolving credit facility.  The Company believes these sources
will  be  sufficient  to  fund  its  working   capital   requirements,   capital
expenditures, debt service and dividend payments at least through 1998.

On September  29, 1997,  the Company  completed a common stock  offering of 5.75
million  shares at a public  offering  price of $18 per share.  The net proceeds
from the offering of  approximately  $97.7 million were used to repay the entire
amount  outstanding  under the Company's  term loan  agreement,  totaling  $95.0
million,  as well as $2.7  million  outstanding  under the  Company's  revolving
credit facility.

On September 26, 1997, the Company sold all of its trade accounts  receivable to
a 100% owned subsidiary,  Commonwealth Financing Corp. ("CFC").  Simultaneously,
CFC entered into a three-year accounts receivable securitization facility with a
financial  institution  and its  affiliate,  whereby  CFC sells,  on a revolving
basis,  an undivided  interest in certain of its  receivables and receives up to
$150.0 million from an unrelated third party purchaser at a cost of funds linked
to commercial  paper rates plus a charge for  administrative  and credit support
services.  At September 30, 1998,  the Company had  outstanding  $124.0  million
under the  agreement  and had $26.7  million  of net  residual  interest  in the
securitized   receivables.   The  net  residual   interest  in  the  securitized
receivables  is included in other current  assets in the Company's  consolidated
financial statements.

Capital  expenditures  were $7.3 million during the quarter ended  September 30,
1998 and  $21.7  million  for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998.  At
September  30,  1998,  the  Company  had  commitments  of $14.1  million for the
purchase or construction of capital assets.  Total capital  expenditures for the
year 1998 are expected to be approximately $39 million,  principally  related to
upgrading and expanding the Company's  manufacturing  and other  facilities  and
meeting environmental requirements.

Risk Management

The Company offers its customers multiple pricing methods,  including fixed firm
prices.  Purchases of metal for forward delivery as well as hedging with futures
contracts and options are used to reduce the Company's aggregate exposure to the
risk of changes in metal prices.  This is  accomplished  by  establishing at the
time of a customer's  order a fixed margin between the cost of the metal and the
Company's product price to the customer. Gains and losses resulting from changes
in the market value of these futures  contracts and options increase or decrease
cost of sales at the time of revenue  recognition.  At September  30, 1998,  the
Company held  purchase and sales  commitments  through 1998 totaling $62 million
and  $277   million,   respectively.   The  Company  held   futures   contracts,
marked-to-market  at September  30,  1998,  with a net  unrealized  loss of $3.1
million.

Before  entering  into futures  contracts and options,  the Company  reviews the
credit rating of the  counterparty  and assesses any possible credit risk. While
the Company is exposed to certain losses in the event of  non-performance by the
counterparties   to  these   agreements,   the  Company   does  not   anticipate
non-performance by such counterparties.

The Company has  entered  into  interest  rate swap  agreements  with a notional
amount of $55  million.  With  respect to these  agreements,  the Company pays a
fixed rate of interest and receives a LIBOR-based floating rate.


<PAGE>

Year 2000 Issues

The  Company  has  initiated a  company-wide  program to prepare  the  Company's
computer  systems and applications for the year 2000. The year 2000 issue is the
result of computer  programs  being written using two digits rather than four to
define  the  applicable   year.   Any  of  the  Company's   programs  that  have
time-sensitive  software may recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather
than  the  year  2000.   This  could  result  in  a  major  system   failure  or
miscalculations.

The  Company  has also  begun to assess  the year  2000  compliance  efforts  of
external  parties.  The Company  relies on a number of customers and  suppliers,
including banks, telecommunication providers,  utilities, and other providers of
goods and  services.  The  inability  of these  third  parties to conduct  their
business for a significant  period of time due to the Year 2000 issue could have
a material adverse impact on the Company's operations.  The Company is currently
assessing the Year 2000  readiness of its most critical  customers and suppliers
and planning a due diligence study of those  customers and suppliers.  There can
be no  assurance  that the systems of other  companies  that  interact  with the
Company will be  sufficiently  Year 2000 ready. If the Company does not identify
or fix all year 2000 issues in critical  operations,  or if a major  supplier or
customer is unable to supply raw materials or receive the Company's product, the
Company`s  results of  operations  or financial  condition  could be  materially
impacted.

At September 30, 1998,  approximately  83 percent of the Company's core business
computer  systems were Year 2000  compliant,  with all computer  systems,  which
includes mid range servers and PC's,  embedded systems,  in addition to the core
business  computer  systems,  expected to be  compliant  by the end of the third
quarter of 1999 as  planned.  The total cost of the project is  estimated  to be
approximately $8 million,  of which the Company has incurred  approximately $5.8
million through  September 30, 1998, and is being funded through  operating cash
flows.  Maintenance or modification costs are being expensed as incurred,  while
the cost of new software is being  capitalized and amortized over the software's
useful life. The Company presently believes that, with modifications to existing
software  and  converting  to new  software,  the year 2000 issues will not pose
significant  operational  problems  for the  Company's  computer  systems  as so
modified and converted.  However,  if such modifications and conversions are not
completed  timely,  the year  2000  issues  may have a  material  impact  on the
operations of the Company.

The Company  recognizes  the  importance of readiness  for potential  worst case
scenarios  relating to the Year 2000 issues. As a result, the Company is working
to identify scenarios  requiring  contingency plans and this effort is currently
in progress.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 1997,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  131,  "Disclosures  about  Segments of an
Enterprise and Related  Information"  ("SFAS No. 131").  The Statement  requires
that segment reporting for public reporting purposes be conformed to the segment
reporting  used by management  for internal  purposes.  SFAS No. 131 also adds a
requirement  for the  presentation  of certain segment data on a quarterly basis
starting in 1999. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 131 in the Company's  year-end
1998 reporting as required.

In February 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  132,  "Employers'  Disclosures  about
Pensions and Other  Postretirement  Benefits"  ("SFAS No.  132").  The Statement
revises employers'  disclosures about pension and other  postretirement  benefit
plans.  The  Company  will  adopt SFAS No. 132 in the  Company's  year-end  1998
reporting as required.

In June 1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial Accounting  Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"). The Statement  establishes  accounting
and reporting  standards requiring that every derivative  instrument  (including
certain derivative  instruments  embedded in other contracts) be recorded on the
balance  sheet as either an asset or liability  measured at its fair value.  The
Statement  requires  that changes in the  derivative's  fair value be recognized
currently  in net income  unless  specific  hedge  accounting  criteria are met.
Special  accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains and losses
to offset  related  results on the  hedged  item in the  income  statement,  and
requires  that a company  must  formally  document,  designate  and  assess  the
effectiveness of transactions  that receive hedge  accounting.  The Company will
adopt SFAS No. 133 in the Company's first quarter 2000 reporting as required.

Management is currently  evaluating the impact of these three  Statements on the
Company's future financial reporting.

<PAGE>
                                     PART II
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

The Company is a party to non-environmental legal proceedings and administrative
actions  all of  which  are of an  ordinary  routine  nature  incidental  to the
operations  of the Company.  Although it is impossible to predict the outcome of
any legal proceeding,  in the opinion of management such proceedings and actions
should not, individually or in aggregate,  have a material adverse effect on the
Company's  financial  condition,  results of operations or cash flows,  although
resolution  in any year or quarter could be material to the results of operation
for that period.


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits
                           27            Financial Data Schedule.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter  ended  September 30,
1998.




<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

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.


                        COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIES, INC.


                        By:      /s/ Donald L. Marsh, Jr.
                                 ------------------------
                                 Donald L. Marsh, Jr.
                                 Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                                 Officer and Secretary


Date:    November 2, 1998

<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number                     Description

   27            Financial Data Schedule.


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                              5
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                        Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                          Sep-30-1998
<CASH>                                             5,370
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        263
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0
<INVENTORY>                                      185,936
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 225,044
<PP&E>                                           530,993
<DEPRECIATION>                                   264,691
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   671,328
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            104,613
<BONDS>                                          130,000
                                  0
                                            0
<COMMON>                                             159
<OTHER-SE>                                       326,350
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     671,328
<SALES>                                          738,621
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 738,621
<CGS>                                            690,436
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    690,436
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       1
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                16,887
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (3,170)
<INCOME-TAX>                                      (1,182)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (1,988)
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (1,988)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      (0.12)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      (0.12)
        

</TABLE>


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