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

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Form 10-K

Commission file number 001-10716

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TRIMAS CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

39400 Woodward Avenue, Suite 130
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

(248) 631-5450
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

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

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

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

         Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o    No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "accelerated filer," "large accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

         The aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2010 was approximately $207.6 million, based upon the closing sales price of the Registrant's common stock, $0.01 par value, reported for such date on the New York Stock Exchange. For purposes of this calculation only, directors, executive officers and the principal controlling shareholder or entities controlled by such controlling shareholder are deemed to be affiliates of the Registrant.

         As of February 23, 2011, the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock, $.01 par value, was 34,065,856 shares.

         Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated herein by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the extent stated herein.

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TRIMAS CORPORATION INDEX

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Forward-Looking Statements

        This report contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined by the federal securities laws) about our financial condition, results of operations and business. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate" and similar words used in this report.

        These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Because the statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on the statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.

        The cautionary statements set forth above should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue. We do not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

        We disclose important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations under Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in this report. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributed to us or persons acting on our behalf. When we indicate that an event, condition or circumstance could or would have an adverse effect on us, we mean to include effects upon our business, financial and other condition, results of operations, prospects and ability to service our debt.

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PART I

Item 1.    Business

        We are a global manufacturer and distributor of products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Most of our businesses share important characteristics, including leading market shares, strong brand names, broad product offerings, established distribution networks, relatively high operating margins, relatively low capital investment requirements, product growth opportunities and strategic acquisition opportunities. We believe that a majority of our 2010 net sales were in markets in which our products enjoy the number one or number two market position within their respective product categories. In addition, we believe that in many of our businesses, we are one of only a few manufacturers in the geographic markets where we currently compete.

Our Reportable Segments

        Effective October 1, 2010, we realigned our reportable segments to be consistent with our current operating structure and strategic priorities. We previously reported under the following five segments: Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components and Cequent. As a result of this realignment, the Company has increased the number of reportable segments from five to six. The Company's Packaging and Aerospace & Defense reportable segments remain unchanged. However, the Company's Arrow Engine operating segment, previously within the Energy reportable segment, has been moved to the Engineered Components reportable segment. In addition, the previous Cequent reportable segment has been split into two reportable segments, with the Company's Cequent Performance Products and Cequent Consumer Products operating segments comprising the new Cequent North America reportable segment, and the Company's Cequent Asia Pacific operating segment becoming a separate reportable segment. Our reportable segments had net sales and operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2010 as follows: Packaging (net sales: $171.2 million; operating profit: $48.7 million), Energy (net sales: $129.1 million; operating profit: $14.7 million), Aerospace & Defense (net sales: $73.9 million; operating profit: $18.1 million), Engineered Components (net sales: $153.2 million; operating profit: $17.4 million), Cequent Asia Pacific (net sales: $76.0 million; operating profit: $12.1 million) and Cequent North America (net sales: $339.3 million; operating profit: $27.8 million).

        In addition to our reportable segments as presented, we have discontinued certain lines of businesses over the past three years as follows, the results of which are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the financial statements attached hereto:

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During the fourth quarter of 2009, we discontinued our medical device manufacturing line of business, which was previously included within our Engineering Components segment.



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During the fourth quarter of 2008, we entered into a binding agreement to sell certain assets within our specialty laminates, jacketings and insulation tapes line of business, which was previously included within our Packaging segment. We concluded the sale of these assets in February 2009.



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In the fourth quarter of 2007, we reached a decision to sell the N.I. Industries property management business within our Aerospace & Defense segment. The sale was completed in April 2010.

        Each reportable segment has distinctive products, distribution channels, strengths and strategies, which are described below.

Packaging

        We believe Packaging is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty, highly-engineered closure and dispensing systems for a range of end markets, including steel and plastic industrial

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and consumer packaging applications. We believe that Packaging is one of the largest manufacturers of steel and plastic industrial container closures and dispensing products in North America and also has a significant presence in Europe and other international markets. Packaging manufactures high-performance, value-added products that are designed to enhance its customers' ability to store, transport, process and dispense various products for the industrial, agricultural, consumer, food, personal care, pharmaceutical and medical markets. Packaging's products include steel and plastic closure caps, drum enclosures, rings and levers, and dispensing systems, such as pumps and specialty sprayers.

        Our Packaging brands, which include Rieke®, Englass®, Rieke® Italia and Stolz® are well established and recognized in their respective markets.

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Rieke®, located in Auburn, Indiana, designs and manufactures traditional industrial closures and dispensing products in North America and Asia. We believe Rieke® has significant market share for many of its key products, such as steel drum enclosures, plastic drum closures and plastic pail dispensers and plugs.



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Englass®, located in the United Kingdom, focuses on pharmaceutical and personal care dispensers sold primarily in Europe, but its product and engineering "know-how" is applicable to the consumer dispensing market in North America and other regions, which provides continuing significant opportunities for growth.



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Rieke® Italia, located in Italy, specializes in ring and lever closures that are used in the European industrial market. This specialty closure system is also sold into the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA") markets.



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Rieke® Germany designs, manufactures and distributes products under our Stolz® brand. We believe that it is a European leader in plastic enclosures for sub-20 liter sized containers used in automotive and chemical applications.

Competitive Strengths

        We believe Packaging benefits from the following competitive strengths:

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Strong Product Innovation.  We believe that Packaging's research and development capability and new product focus is a competitive advantage. For 90 years, Packaging's product development programs have provided innovative and proprietary product solutions, such as the Visegrip® steel flange and plug closure, the Poly-Visegrip™ plastic closure and the all-plastic, environmentally safe, self-venting FlexSpout® flexible pouring spout. Packaging's emphasis upon highly-engineered packaging solutions and research and development has yielded numerous issued and enforceable patents, with many other patent applications pending. We believe that Packaging's innovative product solutions have enabled them to evolve their products to meet existing customers' needs, as well as attract new customers in a variety of end markets such as consumer, food, personal care, pharmaceutical and medical.



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Customized Solutions that Enhance Customer Loyalty and Relationships.  A significant portion of Packaging's products are customized for end-users, as Packaging's products are often developed and engineered to address specific customer needs, providing real solutions for issues or problems. Packaging provides extensive in-house design and development technical staff to provide solutions to customer requirements for closures and dispensing applications. For example, the installation in customer drum and pail plants of customized, patent protected, Rieke®-designed insertion equipment and tools that are specially designed for use on Rieke® manufactured closures and dispensers creates substantial switching costs. As a result, and because the equipment is located inside customers' plants, we are able to support favorable pricing and generate a high degree of

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customer loyalty. Rieke® has also been successful in promoting the sale of complementary products in an effort to create preferred supplier status.

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Leading Market Positions and Global Presence.  We believe that Packaging is a leading designer and manufacturer of plastic closure caps, drum enclosures, rings and levers and dispensing systems, such as pumps and specialty sprayers. Packaging maintains a global presence, reflecting its global opportunities and customer base. The majority of Rieke®'s manufacturing facilities around the world have technologically advanced injection molding machines required to manufacture industrial container closures and specialty dispensing and packaging products, as well as automated, high-speed assembly equipment for multiple component products.

Strategies

        We believe Packaging has significant opportunities to grow, including:

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Product Innovation and New Applications.  Rieke® has focused its research and development capabilities on North American consumer applications requiring special packaging forms and stylized containers and dispenser systems requiring a high degree of functionality and engineering, as well as continuously evolving its industrial applications. In 2010, we launched the FLEXSPOUT II^TM closure system used on five gallon pails for the paint, oil and chemical industries. We believe that this product's increased functionality, including an easy-to-use retractable pour spout, has enabled Rieke® to increase its market share. In 2009, we introduced the DuraTouch® product line of small pump sprayers used in multiple product applications. These pumps emit volumes from 100-700 mcl per stroke and are used in personal care, cosmetics and pharmaceutical markets. During 2008, we introduced two major new dispensing products into various markets: an airless dispensing system for dosing hygienic solutions such as lotions, creams and gels, and an airless high viscosity dispensing system ("HVDS").



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Product Cross-Selling Opportunities.  Recently, Rieke® began to cross-market successful European products, such as rings and levers, to a similar end-user customer base in the North American market utilizing its direct sales force. We believe that, as compared with its competitors, Rieke® is able to offer a wider variety of products to its long-term North American customers at better pricing and with enhanced service and tooling support. Many of these customers have entered into supply agreements with Rieke® based on these broader product offerings.



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Increased International Presence.  Packaging has increased its international manufacturing and sales presence, with advanced manufacturing capabilities in Southeast Asia, most notably China, as well as an increased sales presence in that region. We have also increased our sales coverage in Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Latin America. By maintaining a presence in certain foreign locations, Rieke® hopes to continue to discover new markets and new applications in international markets and to capitalize on lower-cost production opportunities.

Marketing, Customers and Distribution

        Packaging employs an internal sales force in the NAFTA and European regions, and uses third-party agents and distributors in key geographic markets, including Europe, South America and Asia. Rieke®'s agents and distributors primarily sell directly to container manufacturers and to users or fillers of containers. While the point of sale may be to a container manufacturer, Rieke®, via a "pull through" strategy, calls on the container user or filler and suggests that it specify that a Rieke® product be used on its container.

        To support its "pull-through" strategy, Rieke® offers more attractive pricing on products purchased directly from Rieke® and products where the container users or fillers specify Rieke®. Users or fillers that

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use or specify Rieke®'s products include industrial chemical, agricultural chemical, petroleum, paint, personal care, pharmaceutical and sanitary supply chemical companies such as BASF, Bayer, Dupont, General Electric, ICI Paints, Lucas Oil, Sherwin-Williams and PPG, among others.

        Packaging's primary end customers include Berger, Boots, Design Worx, Dupont, Ecolab, Method, Pepsi, Pharmacia, Sherwin-Williams, Schering-Plough and Starbucks, as well as supplying major container manufacturers around the world such as Berenfield, BWAY, Greif and North Coast Container. Packaging maintains a customer service center that provides technical support as well as other technical assistance to customers to reduce overall production costs.

Competition

        Since Rieke® has a broad range of products in both closures and dispensing products, there are competitors in each of our product offerings. We do not believe that there is a single competitor that matches our entire product offering.

        In both the NAFTA and European markets, we compete with Greif Closure Systems and Technocraft in the industrial steel closure product line. In the industrial plastic 55-gallon drum closure line, our primary competitor is Greif Closure Systems in both regions. In the 5-gallon container closure market, our primary competitors are Greif Closure Systems and Bericap. Our primary competitors in the ring and lever product line are Berger, Self Industries and Technocraft. Rieke®'s dispensing products compete with those of Calmar and Airspray.

Energy

        We believe Energy is a leading manufacturer and distributor of metallic and non metallic gaskets, as well as various types of stud bolts, industrial fasteners and specialty products for the petroleum refining, petrochemical, oil field and industrial markets. With operations principally in North America and newer locations in Europe and the Far East, Lamons® supplies gaskets and complementary fasteners to both industrial original equipment manufacturers and maintenance repair operations. Our companies and brands which comprise this segment include Lamons® and South Texas Bolt & Fitting ("STBF").

Competitive Strengths

        We believe Energy benefits from the following competitive strengths:

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Established and Extensive Distribution Channels.  Our Lamons® business utilizes an established hub-and-spoke distribution system whereby our primary manufacturing facilities supplies product to our own branches and highly knowledgeable network of worldwide distributors and licensees, which are located in close proximity to our primary customers. This established network comprised of both Company-owned and third-party distributors allows us to add new customers in various locations or to increase distribution to existing customers with relatively small increases in incremental costs. Our experienced in-house sales support team works with our global network of distributors and licensees to create a strong market presence in all aspects of the oil, gas and petrochemical refining industries.



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Comprehensive Product Offering.  Lamons® currently offers a full suite of gasket and bolt products to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, oil field and industrial markets. While many of the competitors manufacture and distribute either gaskets or bolts, supplying both provides Lamons® an advantage with customers who prefer to deal with fewer suppliers. Lamons'® ability to provide quick turn-around and customized solutions for its customers is a competitive strength.



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Leading Market Positions and Strong Brand Names.  We believe Lamons® is one of the largest gasket and bolt suppliers to the global petroleum industry. We believe that Lamons® and South Texas

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Bolt & Fitting are known as quality brands and offer premium service to the industry. All Lamons® global facilities have the latest proprietary technology and equipment to be able to produce emergency gaskets and bolts locally to meet their customers' demands.

Strategies

        We believe Energy has opportunities to grow, while reducing its cost structure, including:

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Expansion into New Geographies.  Energy has significant opportunities to grow its business by replicating its U.S branch strategy. Lamons® is presently targeting additional locations outside of the U.S. in close proximity of its global customers, and plans further penetration into Europe, Asia and North and South America. Opening locations within close proximity of its customers, increases Lamons® ability to provide better service and meet their quick turn-around needs. Lamons® has also opened additional branches in North America to better penetrate underserved markets.



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Synergies Related to the South Texas Bolt & Fitting Acquisition.  Energy has significant opportunities to grow as a result of acquiring STBF during fourth quarter 2010. STBF is a diversified manufacturer and distributor of customized stud bolts, industrial fasteners and specialty products with advanced machining capabilities to produce custom bolts in various sizes and made-to-order configurations using specialty steels and other exotic materials. We believe that incorporating this business into Lamons® will allow us to leverage Lamons'® extensive sales and service center network to drive incremental revenue from the sale of specialty bolts to Lamons'® existing customers. We also believe we have opportunities to sell traditional Lamons'® products to STBF's current customer base.



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Entry into New End Markets and Development of New Customers.  Energy has opportunities to grow its business by offering its current products to new customers and new markets. Lamons® is presently targeting additional industries such as original equipment manufacturers, pulp and paper, power plants and mining.



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Pursuit of Lower-Cost Manufacturing and Sourcing Initiatives.  As Lamons® expands and develops, we believe that there will be further opportunities to reduce their cost structures through ongoing manufacturing, overhead and administrative productivity initiatives, global sourcing and selectively shifting manufacturing capabilities to countries with lower costs. In addition to Lamons'® core domestic manufacturing facility in Houston, Lamons® has its own advanced manufacturing facility and sourcing capability in China.

Marketing, Customers and Distribution

        Energy relies upon a combination of direct sales forces and established networks of independent distributors and licensees with familiarity of the end users. Gaskets and bolts are supplied directly to major customers through Lamons'® sales and service facilities in major regional markets, or through a large network of independent distributors/licensees. This sales and distribution network's close proximity to the customer makes it possible for Energy to respond to customer-specific engineered applications and provide a high degree of customer service. Lamons'® overseas sales are made either through our newer sales and service facilities in China, the Netherlands, or United Kingdom, Lamons'® licensees or through its many distributors. Significant Energy customers include Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, McJunkin Redman, Valero, Lyondellbasell, Wilson and National Oilwell Varco.

Competition

        Energy's primary competitors include Flexitallic/Siem, Garlock (EnPro), Klinger and Lone Star. Most of Energy's competitors supply either gaskets or bolts. We believe that providing both gaskets and bolts, as

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well as our hub-and-spoke distribution model, gives Lamons® a competitive advantage with many customers. We believe that Lamons'® broader product portfolio and strong brand name enables Lamons® to maintain their market leadership position as one of the largest gasket and bolt suppliers to the global petroleum industry.

Aerospace & Defense

        We believe Aerospace & Defense is a leading designer, manufacturer of a diverse range of products for use in focused markets within the aerospace and defense markets. This segment's products include aerospace fasteners and military munitions components to serve aircraft and weapons platforms. In general, these products are highly-engineered, customer-specific items that are sold into focused markets with few competitors.

        Aerospace & Defense's brands include Monogram™ Aerospace Fasteners and NI Industries™ which are well established and recognized in their markets.

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Monogram™ Aerospace Fasteners.  We believe Monogram™ Aerospace Fasteners ("Monogram™") is a leading manufacturer of permanent blind bolts, screws and temporary fasteners used in commercial, business and military aircraft construction and assembly. Certain of Monogram™'s products contain patent protection, with additional patents pending. We believe Monogram™ is a leader in the development of blind bolt fastener technology for the aerospace industry, specifically in high-strength, rotary-actuated blind bolts. Its Visu-Lok®, Visu-Lok®II and Radial-Lok® blind bolts allow sections of aircraft to be joined together when access is limited to only one side of the airframe, providing certain cost efficiencies over conventional two piece fastening devices. Monogram™'s Composi-Lok®, Composi-Lok®II , Composi-Lok®III, Inconnel and Ti-OSI® blind bolts are designed to solve unique fastening problems associated with the assembly of composite aircraft structures, and are therefore particularly well suited to take advantage of the increasing use of composite materials in aircraft construction.



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NI Industries™.  NI Industries™ has utilized proprietary know-how to manufacture a variety of munitions components, including large caliber cartridge cases, for the U.S. government, as well as domestic and foreign prime contractors. We believe NI Industries™ is a leading manufacturer in its product markets, due to its unique technical capabilities in the entire metal-forming process from the acquisition of raw material to the design and fabrication of the final product. The Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant ("Riverbank") California facility of NI Industries™ was included on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure ("BRAC"). NI Industries™ completed production at this facility in 2009 and is working with the U.S. government to relocate the manufacturing capability from Riverbank to the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois. NI Industries™ may have the opportunity to operate the Rock Island facility once the relocation is complete, subject to the U.S. government's request and approval. To broaden its product portfolio, NI Industries™ is currently evaluating opportunities to manufacture additional highly-engineered products and is also assisting select TriMas entities in marketing their technical and manufacturing capabilities to military customers.

Strategies

        We believe the businesses within the Aerospace & Defense segment have significant opportunities to grow, based on the following:

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Strong Product Innovation.  The Aerospace & Defense segment has a history of successfully creating and introducing new products and there are currently several significant product initiatives underway. Monogram™ has developed the next generation Composi-Lok® offering a flush break upon installation, and is testing an enlarged footprint version of the Composi-Lok® offering improved clamping force on composite structures. The company has developed the next generation

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of temporary fastener, which is targeted to have load clamping capabilities in the range of a permanent fastener. We believe the strategy of offering a variety of custom engineered variants has been very well received by Monogram™'s customer base and is increasing our share of custom-engineered purchases. In addition, NI Industries™ has played an important role in the development of the 155mm cartridge case to support the ammunition requirements of the U.S. Navy's DDG-1000 destroyer.

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Entry into New Markets and Development of New Customers.  The Aerospace & Defense segment has significant opportunities to grow its businesses by offering its products to new customers and new markets. In addition, Monogram™ is focused on expanding its geographic presence.



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Expansion of Product Line Offerings.  Monogram™ is expanding its aerospace fastener product lines to include new bolts, screws and collars and is rapidly increasing its applications and content on planes. NI Industries™ continues to explore highly-engineered material applications for a variety of vehicle platforms to support the U.S. military's near-term and long-term objectives.

Marketing, Customers and Distribution

        Aerospace & Defenses' customers operate primarily in the aerospace and defense industries. Given the focused nature of many of our products, the Aerospace & Defense segment relies upon a combination of direct sales forces and established networks of independent distributors with familiarity of the end-users. For example, Monogram™'s aerospace fasteners are sold through internal sales personnel and independent sales representatives. Although the overall market for fasteners and metallurgical services is highly competitive, these businesses provide products and services primarily for specialized markets, and compete principally as technology, quality and service-oriented suppliers in their respective markets. Monogram™'s products are sold to manufacturers and distributors within the commercial, business and military aerospace industry, both domestic and foreign. During 2010, there was consolidation within the distribution segment of the aerospace hardware industry. While Monogram™ sells to both manufacturers and distributors, Monogram™ works directly with aircraft manufacturers to develop and test new products and improve existing products. This close working relationship is a necessity given the critical safety nature and regulatory environment of its customers' products. The narrow end-user base of many of these products makes it possible for this segment to respond to customer-specific engineered applications and provide a high degree of customer service. Aerospace & Defenses' OEM and distribution customers include Airbus, Boeing, Peerless, Spirit, U.S. Army and Wesco.

Competition

        This segment's primary competitors include Cherry (PCC) and Fairchild Fasteners (Alcoa) in aerospace fasteners and Amtec Corporation, General Dynamics, Medico Industries and Poongsang in defense products. We believe that Monogram™ is a leader in the blind bolt market with significant market share in all blind fastener product categories in which they compete. We believe that NI Industries™ is a leader in metal munitions components with significant market share in the large caliber cartridge case product segment. Aerospace & Defenses' companies supply highly engineered, non-commodity, customer-specific products that principally have large shares of small markets supplied by a limited number of competitors.

Engineered Components

        We believe Engineered Components is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a variety of natural gas engines and parts, compressors, gas production equipment and chemical pumps engineered for well sites for the oil and gas industry; high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders for the transportation, storage and dispensing of compressed gases; specialty fittings for the automotive industry; precision cutting instruments for the medical industry; and specialty precision tools such as center drills, cutters, end mills

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and countersinks for the industrial metal-working market. In general, these products are highly-engineered, customer-specific items that are sold into focused markets with few competitors.

        Engineered Components' brands, including Arrow® Engine, Hi-Vol™ Products, Norris Cylinder™, KEO® Cutters, Richards Micro-Tool™ and Cutting Edge Technologies™ are well established and recognized in their respective markets.

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Arrow® Engine.  We believe that Arrow® Engine is a market leading provider of specialty engines and engine replacement parts for use in oil and natural gas production and other industrial and commercial markets. Arrow® Engine distributes its products through a worldwide distribution network with a particularly strong presence in the U.S. and Canada. Arrow® Engine owns the original equipment manufacturing rights to distribute engines and replacement parts for four main engine lines and offers a full range of replacement parts for an additional seven engine lines, which are widely used in the energy industry and other industrial applications. Arrow® Engine has recently developed a new line of products in the area of industrial engine spare parts for various industrial engines not manufactured by Arrow® Engine, including selected engines manufactured and sold under the Caterpillar®, Waukesha®, Ajax® and Gemini® brands. In the recent years, Arrow® Engine has expanded its product line to include compressors and compressor packaging, gas production equipment, meter runs and other electronic products.



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Hi-Vol™ Products.  We believe Hi-Vol™ Products ("Hi-Vol™") is a market leading supplier of tube nuts and engineered precision machined components to the automotive and industrial markets of North America. Hi-Vol™ recently launched a line of fuel system components for a next generation gasoline direct injection engine. Hi-Vol™'s market leading position is attributable to its long standing reputation for quality and innovation in the area of inverted flare or tube nuts and cold-forming hollow or semi-hollow components.



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Norris Cylinder™.  Norris Cylinder™ is a leading provider of a complete line of large and intermediate size, high-pressure and low-pressure steel cylinders for the transportation, storage and dispensing of compressed gases. Norris Cylinder™'s large high-pressure seamless compressed gas cylinders are used principally for shipping, storing and dispensing oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium and other gases for industrial and health-care markets. In addition, Norris Cylinder™ offers a complete line of low-pressure steel cylinders used to contain and dispense acetylene gas for the welding and cutting industries. Norris Cylinder™ markets cylinders primarily to major domestic and international industrial gas producers and distributors, welding equipment distributors and buying groups, as well as equipment manufacturers.



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Precision Tool Company™.  Precision Tool Company™ produces a variety of specialty precision tools such as combined drills and countersinks, NC spotting drills, key seat cutters, end mills and countersinks. Markets served by these products include the industrial, aerospace, automotive and medical equipment industries. We believe Precision Tool Company™'s KEO® brand is the market share leader in the industrial combined drill and countersink markets, while Richards Micro-Tool™ and Cutting Edge Technologies™ are leading suppliers of miniature end mills to the tool-making industry. Richards Micro-Tool™ has also been successful in supplying the growing medical device market with bone drills, cranial surgery tools and dental reamers.

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Strategies

        We believe the businesses within the Engineered Components segment have significant opportunities to grow, based on the following:

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Strong Product Innovation.  The Engineered Components segment has a history of successfully creating and introducing new products and there are currently several significant product initiatives underway. Arrow® Engine continues to introduce new products in the area of industrial engine spare parts for various industrial engines not manufactured by Arrow® Engine, including selected engines manufactured and sold under the Caterpillar®, Waukesha®, Ajax® and Gemini® brands. The company has also launched an offering of customizable compressors and gas production and meter run equipment, which are used by existing end customers in the natural gas extraction market, as well as development of a natural gas compressor ("CNG") used for CNG filling stations. Norris Cylinder™ developed a process for manufacturing ISO cylinders capable of holding higher pressure gases, and has been awarded a United Nations certification for its ISO cylinders, making Norris the first manufacturer approved to distribute ISO cylinders internationally. Norris Cylinder™ also is creating new designs for use in Hydrogen Fuel Cell applications related to Clean Energy programs. Precision Tool Company™ is developing new products for use in the medical instrumentation market. In recent periods, Hi-Vol™ has had success expanding its product offerings, and has been awarded a contract to produce a line of cold formed and machined fuel system components.



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Entry into New Markets and Development of New Customers.  Engineered Components has significant opportunities to grow its businesses by offering its products to new customers, markets and geographies. Norris Cylinder™'s 2010 acquisition of Taylor Wharton International's Huntsville, Alabama facility adds highly-engineered specialty cylinder products to its product portfolio. We believe this acquisition enables Norris Cylinder™ to expand its product portfolio to its existing customers, while bringing new customers to Norris Cylinder™. Norris Cylinder™ is also expanding international sales of its ISO cylinders to Europe, South Africa and South America, as well as pursuing new end markets such as cylinders for use at cell towers (hydrogen fuel cells), in mine safety (breathing air and rescue chambers) and in fire suppression. Arrow® Engine continues to expand its product portfolio to serve new customers utilizing compressed natural gas, as well as serving customers involved in shale drilling. Hi-Vol™ has continued to ramp up production on a contract with a tier two supplier for a line of fuel system components that represents a significant expansion from the traditional product line and customers served by this company. Hi-Vol™ is actively developing secondary opportunities in the fuel system component area. Precision Tool Company™ continues to expand its offerings and capabilities in the market for medical and dental equipment tools. Precision Tool Company™ is also pursuing the development of international sales channels for it's KEO® brand, with an emphasis on higher growth emerging markets.

Marketing, Customers and Distribution

        Engineered Components' customers operate in the oil and gas, industrial, commercial, automotive and medical equipment industries. Given the focused nature of many of our products, the Engineered Components segment relies upon a combination of direct sales forces and established networks of independent distributors with familiarity of the end-users. For example, Hi-Vol™'s automotive fasteners are sold through internal sales personnel and independent sales representatives. Although the overall market for fasteners and metallurgical services is highly competitive, these businesses provide products and services primarily for specialized markets, and compete principally as quality and service-oriented suppliers in their respective markets. Hi-Vol™ sells its products to manufacturers in automotive markets. In many of the markets this segment serves, its companies' brand names are virtually synonymous with product applications. The narrow end-user base of many of these products makes it possible for this segment to respond to customer-specific engineered applications and provide a high degree of customer service.

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Engineered Components' OEM and aftermarket customers include Above & Beyond Compression, Airgas, Air Liquide, Air Products, Cooper-Standard Automotive, Desoto Gathering, Harvey Tool Company, Industrial Ignition, Kidde-Fenwel, Martinrea Industries, Millennium Industries, Medtronic, MSC Industrial and Praxair.

Competition

        Arrow® Engine tends to compete against lower horsepower multi-cylinder engines such as Cummins, Chevy and Ford industrial engines and electric motors. Additional Engineered Components' competitors include H&L (Chicago Rivet) and Nagano in tube nuts and fittings; Worthington, Beijing Tianhai Industry Co., Faber and Vitkovice Cylinders in cylinders; and M.A. Ford, Niagara, Whitney Tool and Magafor in precision tools. Engineered Components' companies supply highly engineered, non-commodity, customer-specific products and most have large shares of small markets supplied by a limited number of competitors.

Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America

        We believe Cequent, which includes our Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America reportable segments, is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high quality, custom-engineered towing and trailer products including vehicle specific wiring and hitch applications, heavy duty towing products, lighting, jacks, couplers and cargo management. These products, which are similar for both Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America, were designed to support all original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket customers within the automotive, recreational vehicle, agricultural, utility, military, marine and industrial vehicle and trailer markets. We believe that Cequent's brand names and product lines are among the most recognized and extensive in the industry.

        While Cequent Asia Pacific focuses it sales and manufacturing efforts in the Asia Pacific region of the world, Cequent North America is focused on North American markets. Cequent North America consists of two businesses: Cequent Performance Products ("CPP"), a leading manufacturer of aftermarket and OE towing and trailer products and accessories, and Cequent Consumer Products ("CCP"), a leading provider of towing, trailer, vehicle protection and cargo management solutions serving the end-user through the retail customer market.

        Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America have positioned their product portfolios to create pricing options for entry-level through premium across all of our market channels. We believe that no other competitor features a comparable array of components and brand names.

        Our primary product categories are offered through a number of channels as described below:

•

The Fulton® and Bulldog® brands include trailer products and accessories, such as jacks, winches, couplers and fenders. These brands are sold through independent installers, trailer OEMs, military and distributor channels serving the marine, agricultural, industrial and horse/livestock market sectors.



•

The Tekonsha® brand is the most recognized name in brake controls and related brake components with market leading technology to assure safe towing. These products are sold through automotive, recreational vehicle and agricultural distributors and OEMs.



•

The Bargman® and Wesbar® brands are recognized names for recreational vehicle and marine lighting, respectively. Bargman® branded products include interior and exterior recreational vehicle lighting and accessories, while Wesbar® branded products include submersible and utility trailer lighting. These brands and products are sold through independent installers, trailer and recreational vehicle OEMs and wholesale distributors, and marine retail specialty stores.

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•

The Hayman-Reese™ brand of towing products has strong brand awareness in the Australian marketplace where it is well established at both the wholesale and retail levels of the aftermarket. Products include tow bars, electrical connectivity, brake controls, cargo management and accessories.



•

The Draw-Tite®, Reese® and Hidden Hitch® brands represent towing products and accessories, such as hitches, weight distribution systems, fifth wheel hitches, ball mounts, draw bars, gooseneck hitches, brake controls, wiring harnesses and T-connectors and are sold to independent installers and distributor channels for automotive, truck and recreational vehicles. Similar towing accessory products are sold through the retail and mass merchandising channel under the Reese® Towpower™ brand name.



•

The Highland, ROLA®, Reese® Carrypower and Reese® Outfitter brands anchor our presence in the cargo management category. Products include bike racks, roof cross bar systems, cargo carriers, luggage boxes, tie-downs and soft travel interior organizers which are sold through hitch installers, independent bike dealers, wholesale distributors, retail and mass merchandising channels.



•

The Pro Series™ and Tow Ready™ brands offer Cequent the ability to meet the need for entry-level towing products without reducing the value of our premium brands and their position within the market. The brands include products such as hitches, weight distribution systems, fifth wheel hitches, ball mounts, draw bars, cargo management, wiring harnesses and T-connectors. These products complement the premium brands in all the markets we serve.

Competitive Strengths

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Diverse Product Portfolio of Strong Brand Names.  Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America both benefit from a diverse range of product offerings and do not solely rely upon any single item. By offering a wide range of products, the Cequent businesses are able to provide a complete solution to satisfy their customers' towing and cargo management needs, as well as serve diverse channels through effective brand management. We believe that the various brands mentioned above are well-known in their respective product area and channel. In addition, we believe many of the products within Cequent Asia Pacific or Cequent North America have leading market positions.



•

Value Engineering.  Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America have extensive engineering and performance capability, enabling these segments to continue their product innovation, improve product reliability and reduce manufacturing costs. The businesses within these segments conduct extensive testing of their products in an effort to assure high quality and reliable product performance. Engineering, product design and fatigue testing are performed utilizing computer aided design and finite element analysis.



•

Established Distribution Channels. Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America utilize several distribution channels for sales, including OEM trailer manufacturers, OEM vehicle manufacturers, wholesale distribution, dealers, installers, specialty retailers, internet resellers and mass merchants. The businesses are positioned to meet all delivery requirements specified by our diverse group of customers.



•

Flexibility in Supply.  As a result of significant restructuring activity completed over the last few years, most notably in Cequent North America, Cequent has reduced its cost structure and improved its supply flexibility, allowing for quicker and more efficient responses to changes in the end market demand. In Cequent North America, we have the ability to produce low-volume, customized products in-house, quickly and efficiently at manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and Mexico. We outsource high-volume production to lower cost supply partners in Southeast Asia. Extensive sourcing arrangements with suppliers in low-cost environments enable the flexibility to

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choose to manufacture or source products as end-market demand fluctuates. In Cequent Asia Pacific, we have manufacturing facilities in both Melbourne and Thailand.

Strategies

        We believe that Cequent has opportunities to grow, including the following:

•

Enhanced Towing Solutions.  As a result of its broad product portfolio, Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America are well positioned to provide customers with solutions for trailering, towing and cargo management needs. Due to both segments' product breadth and depth, we believe the Cequent businesses can provide customers with compelling value propositions with superior features and convenience. In many instances, Cequent can offer more competitive pricing by providing complete sets of product rather than underlying components separately. We believe this merchandising strategy also enhances the segment's ability to better compete in markets where its competitors have narrower product lines and are unable to provide "one stop shopping" to customers.



•

Cross-Selling Products.  We believe that Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America both have significant opportunities to further introduce products into new channels of distribution that traditionally concentrated in other products or product lines. Cequent Asia Pacific and North America have developed strategies to introduce its products into new channels, including the Asian automotive manufacturer "port of entry" market, the retail sporting goods market, the independent bike dealer, the ATV and motorcycle market, the military and within select international markets. More specifically, Cequent Asia Pacific is focused on selling the whole product range through all channels, leveraging strong U.S. brands to broaden the local product offering and expanding its business with Thailand-based automotive OEM's.



•

International Expansion.  Cequent Asia Pacific has a strong business presence in Australia with its Hayman-Reese™ brand which was further enhanced with the acquisition of Parkside Towbars in 2008, providing a greater penetration into Western Australia. In addition, we have introduced products into the local market in Thailand after launching our local plant there. Cequent North America is also evaluating sales opportunities outside of North America.



•

Strong Product Innovation.  Cequent North America has a history of successfully developing and launching new products. Newer introductions include F-2 aluminum jack and RV landing gear, brake controls (P3), custom harnesses, LED lighting and electrical accessories, a plug and play brake controller, and a heavy duty towing weight distribution with sway control unit. In addition, it is continually refreshing its existing retail products with new designs and features and innovative packaging and merchandising. Cequent Asia Pacific also continues to evolve its products and recently expanded its stainless steel product line.

Marketing, Customers and Distribution

        Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America employ a dedicated sales force in each of the primary channels, including automotive aftermarket, automotive OEM, industrial, power sports, recreational vehicle installers, and retail including: mass merchants, auto specialty, marine specialty, hardware/home centers, and catalogs. The businesses rely upon strong historical relationships, significant brand heritage and its broad product offerings to bolster its towing, trailer and accessory product sales through the OEM channel and in various aftermarket segments. Cequent North America serves customers such as Ford, Keystone Automotive, Stag Parkway, Toyota and U-Haul, and is also well represented in mass merchant retailers like Wal-Mart, specialty retailers such as Tractor Supply, hardware home centers such as Home Depot and Lowe's, and specialty auto retailers including Advanced Auto Parts and AutoZone. Cequent Asia Pacific's customers include many automotive manufacturers and suppliers, including Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

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Competition

        The competitive environment for towing products is highly fragmented and is characterized by numerous smaller suppliers, even the largest of which tends to focus in narrow product categories. Significant trailer competitors include Pacific Rim, Dutton-Lainson, Shelby, Ultra-Fab, Sea-Sense and Atwood. Significant electrical competitors include Hayes Brake Control Company, Hopkins Manufacturing, Peterson Industries, Grote, Optronics and Pollack. Significance towing competitors include Curt Manufacturing, Valley Towing Products, B&W, Buyers and Camco. The retail channel presents a different set of competitors that are typically not seen in our installer and distributor channels, including Masterlock, Buyers, Allied, Keeper, Bell, Smart Straps and Axius. In addition, competition in the cargo management product category primarily comes from Thule and Yakima.

Acquisition Strategy

        We believe that our businesses have significant opportunities to grow through disciplined, strategic acquisitions. We typically seek "bolt-on" acquisitions, in which we would acquire another industry participant or product line within our industries and to enhance the strengths of our core businesses. When seeking acquisition targets, we are looking for opportunities to supplement our existing product lines, gain access to additional distribution channels, expand our geographic footprint and achieve scale and cost efficiencies.

Materials and Supply Arrangements

        Our largest raw materials purchases are for steel, copper, aluminum, polyethylene and other resins, and energy. Raw materials and other supplies used in our operations are normally available from a variety of competing suppliers. In addition to raw materials, we purchase a variety of components and finished products from low-cost sources in China, Taiwan and India.

        Steel is purchased primarily from steel mills and service centers with pricing contracts principally in the three to six month time frame. Changing global dynamics for steel production and supply will continue to present a challenge to our business. Polyethylene is generally a commodity resin with multiple suppliers capable of providing product. While both steel and polyethylene are readily available from a variety of competing suppliers, our business has experienced, and we believe will continue to experience, volatility in the costs of these raw materials.

Employees and Labor Relations

        As of December 31, 2010, we employed approximately 3,900 people, of which approximately 28% were unionized and approximately 39% were located outside the U.S. We currently have collective bargaining agreements covering seven facilities worldwide for our continuing operations, five of which are in the U.S. Employee relations have generally been satisfactory. Due to the relocation of the NI Industries™ business from Riverbank, California to Rock Island, Illinois, we negotiated a closing agreement in February 2009 with the International Association of Machinists and Aeropsace Workers, Local 1528 (the "IAM") to extend the collective bargaining agreement to March 31, 2010, with an ability to extend the contract, if necessary, due to business conditions. There are currently no unionized employees employed with NI Industries at the Riverbank location. Due to the relocation, we elected not to extend the collective bargaining agreement with the IAM, therefore, the contract has expired.

Seasonality and Backlog

        There is some seasonality in the businesses within our Cequent reportable segments, primarily within Cequent North America, where sales of towing and trailering products are generally stronger in the second and third quarters, as trailer original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"), distributors and retailers acquire product for the spring and summer selling seasons. No other reportable segment experiences

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significant seasonal fluctuation in its businesses. We do not consider sales order backlog to be a material factor in our business.

Environmental Matters

        Our operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations pertaining to pollution and protection of the environment, health and safety, governing among other things, emissions to air, discharge to waters and the generation, handling, storage, treatment and disposal of waste and other materials, and remediation of contaminated sites. We have been named as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA, the federal Superfund law, or similar state laws at several sites requiring clean-up related to the disposal of wastes we generate. These laws generally impose liability for costs to investigate and remediate contamination without regard to fault and under certain circumstances liability may be joint and several resulting in one responsible party being held responsible for the entire obligation. Liability may also include damages to natural resources. We have entered into consent decrees relating to two sites in California along with the many other co-defendants in these matters. We have incurred substantial expenses for these sites over a number of years, a portion of which has been covered by insurance. In addition to the foregoing, our businesses have incurred and likely will continue to incur expenses to investigate and clean up existing and former company-owned or leased property, including those properties made the subject of sale-leaseback transactions for which we have provided environmental indemnities to the lessors.

        In 1992, Rieke® Packaging Systems and numerous other companies entered into a consent decree with the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the State of Indiana under which Rieke® and the other companies agreed to remediate contaminated soil and groundwater at the Wayne Reclamation and Recycling Site near Columbia City, Indiana. Contractors for the group of companies completed construction of the remediation systems required by the consent decree in 1995, and have operated them since then under the oversight of the EPA and the State of Indiana. The remediation systems have successfully removed substantial amounts of contaminants from the soil and the groundwater; however, some contaminants remain at concentrations above the performance standards set by the consent decree, and are still being removed. Consultants to the group of companies expect that some or all of the remediation systems will be required to operate indefinitely. A 2004 report by the EPA concluded that operation of the existing systems is "protective of human health and the environment." The agreement among the companies provides that Rieke®'s share is approximately 9% of total remediation costs for the site.

        U.S. regulations pertaining to climate change continue to evolve in both the U.S. and internationally. We do not anticipate any impact that would be unique to our operations.

        We believe that our business, operations and facilities are being operated in compliance in all material respects with applicable environmental and health and safety laws and regulations, many of which provide for substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations. Based on information presently known to us and accrued environmental reserves, we do not expect environmental costs or contingencies to have a material adverse effect on us. The operation of manufacturing plants entails risks in these areas, however, and we may incur material costs or liabilities in the future that could adversely affect us. Potentially material expenditures could be required in the future. For example, we may be required to comply with evolving environmental and health and safety laws, regulations or requirements that may be adopted or imposed in the future or to address newly discovered information or conditions that require a response.

Intangibles and Other Assets

        Our identified intangible assets, consisting of customer relationships, trademarks and trade names and technology, are recorded at approximately $159.9 million at December 31, 2010, net of accumulated

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amortization. The valuation of each of the identified intangibles was performed using broadly accepted valuation methodologies and techniques.

        Customer Relationships.    We have developed and maintained stable, long-term selling relationships with customer groups for specific branded products and/or focused market product offerings within each of our businesses. Useful lives assigned to customer relationship intangibles range from 5 to 25 years and have been estimated using historic customer retention and turnover data. Other factors considered in evaluating estimated useful lives include the diverse nature of focused markets and products of which we have significant share, how customers in these markets make purchases and these customers' position in the supply chain. We also monitor and evaluate the impact of other evolving risks including the threat of lower cost competitors and evolving technology.

        Trademarks and Trade Names.    Each of our operating groups designs and manufactures products for focused markets under various trade names and trademarks including Draw-Tite®, Reese®, Hidden Hitch®, Bulldog®, Tekonsha®, Highland "The Pro's Brand"®, Fulton®, Wesbar®, Visu-Lok®, Monogram^TM, Rieke®, ViseGrip®, FlexSpout®, Lamons® and Arrow®, among others. Our trademark/trade name intangibles are well-established and considered long-lived assets that require maintenance through advertising and promotion expenditures. Because it is our practice and intent to maintain and to continue to support, develop and market these trademarks/trade names for the foreseeable future, we consider our rights in these trademarks/trade names to have an indefinite life, except as otherwise dictated by applicable law.

        Technology.    We hold a number of U.S. and foreign patents, patent applications, and unpatented or proprietary product and process oriented technologies within all six of our reportable segments. We have, and will continue to dedicate, technical resources toward the further development of our products and processes in order to maintain our competitive position in the transportation, industrial and commercial markets that we serve. Estimated useful lives for our technology intangibles range from one to thirty years and are determined in part by any legal, regulatory or contractual provisions that limit useful life. For example, patent rights have a maximum limit of twenty years in the U.S. Other factors considered include the expected use of the technology by the operating groups, the expected useful life of the product and/or product programs to which the technology relates, and the rate of technology adoption by the industry.

        Quarterly, or as conditions may warrant, we assess whether the value of our identified intangibles has been impaired. Factors considered in performing this assessment include current operating results, business prospects, customer retention, market trends, potential product obsolescence, competitor activities and other economic factors. We continue to invest in maintaining customer relationships, trademarks and trade names, and the design, development and testing of proprietary technologies that we believe will set our products apart from those of our competitors.

International Operations

        Approximately 17.6% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2010 were derived from sales by our subsidiaries located outside of the U.S., and we may significantly expand our international operations through organic growth actions and acquisitions. In addition, approximately 21.4% of our operating net assets as of December 31, 2010 were located outside of the U.S. We operate manufacturing facilities in Australia, Thailand, Canada, China, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Mexico. For information pertaining to the net sales and operating net assets attributed to our international operations, refer to Note 19, "Segment Information," to the audited financial statements included herein.

        Sales outside of the U.S., particularly sales to emerging markets, are subject to various risks that are not present in sales within U.S. markets, including governmental embargoes or foreign trade restrictions such as antidumping duties, changes in U.S. and foreign governmental regulations, tariffs and other trade barriers, the potential for nationalization of enterprises, foreign exchange risk and other political, economic and social instability. In addition, there are tax inefficiencies in repatriating portions of our cash flow from non-U.S. subsidiaries.

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Item 1A.    Risk Factors

        You should carefully consider each of the risks described below, together with information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents we file with the SEC. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that we have identified as material, but are not the only risks and uncertainties facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also impact our business operations, financial results and liquidity.

We have a history of net losses.

        While we generated net income of $45.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, we incurred net losses of $0.2 million and $136.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The loss in 2008 principally resulted from pre-tax, non-cash goodwill and indefinite-lived impairment charges of $166.6 million, included in continuing operations. The losses in 2009 and 2008 were also impacted by losses from discontinued operations of $13.0 million and $12.1 million, respectively. In addition, interest expense associated with our highly leveraged capital structure, non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization of intangible assets and other asset impairments also contributed to our net losses. We may experience net losses in the future.

Our businesses depend upon general economic conditions and we serve some customers in highly cyclical industries; as such we are subject to the loss of sales and margins due to an economic downturn or recession.

        Our financial performance depends, in large part, on conditions in the markets that we serve in both the U.S. and global economies. Some of the industries that we serve are highly cyclical, such as the automotive, construction, industrial equipment, energy, aerospace and electrical equipment industries. We may experience a reduction in sales and margins as a result of a downturn in economic conditions or other macroeconomic factors. Lower demand for our products may also negatively affect the capacity utilization of our production facilities, which may further reduce our operating margins.

Many of the markets we serve are highly competitive, which could limit the volume of products that we sell and reduce our operating margins.

        Many of our products are sold in competitive markets. We believe that the principal points of competition in our markets are product quality and price, design and engineering capabilities, product development, conformity to customer specifications, reliability and timeliness of delivery, customer service and effectiveness of distribution. Maintaining and improving our competitive position will require continued investment by us in manufacturing, engineering, quality standards, marketing, customer service and support of our distribution networks. We may have insufficient resources in the future to continue to make such investments and, even if we make such investments, we may not be able to maintain or improve our competitive position. We also face the risk of lower-cost foreign manufacturers located in China, Southeast Asia and other regions competing in the markets for our products and we may be driven as a consequence of this competition to increase our investment overseas. Making overseas investments can be highly complicated and we may not always realize the advantages we anticipate from any such investments. Competitive pressure may limit the volume of products that we sell and reduce our operating margins.

Increases in our raw material or energy costs or the loss of critical suppliers could adversely affect our profitability and other financial results.

        We are sensitive to price movements in our raw materials supply base. Our largest material purchases are for steel, copper, aluminum, polyethylene and other resins and energy. Prices for these products fluctuate with market conditions and we have experienced sporadic increases recently. We may be unable to completely offset the impact with price increases on a timely basis due to outstanding commitments to our customers, competitive considerations or our customers' resistance to accepting such price increases and our financial performance may be adversely impacted by further price increases. A failure by our

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suppliers to continue to supply us with certain raw materials or component parts on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, could have a material adverse effect on us. To the extent there are energy supply disruptions or material fluctuations in energy costs, our margins could be materially adversely impacted.

We may be unable to successfully implement our business strategies. Our ability to realize our business strategies may be limited.

        Our businesses operate in relatively mature industries and it may be difficult to successfully pursue our growth strategies and realize material benefits therefrom. Even if we are successful, other risks attendant to our businesses and the economy generally may substantially or entirely eliminate the benefits. While we have successfully utilized some of these strategies in the past, our growth has principally come through acquisitions.

Our products are typically highly engineered or customer-driven and we are subject to risks associated with changing technology and manufacturing techniques that could place us at a competitive disadvantage.

        We believe that our customers rigorously evaluate their suppliers on the basis of product quality, price competitiveness, technical expertise and development capability, new product innovation, reliability and timeliness of delivery, product design capability, manufacturing expertise, operational flexibility, customer service and overall management. Our success depends on our ability to continue to meet our customers' changing expectations with respect to these criteria. We anticipate that we will remain committed to product research and development, advanced manufacturing techniques and service to remain competitive, which entails significant costs. We may be unable to address technological advances, implement new and more cost-effective manufacturing techniques, or introduce new or improved products, whether in existing or new markets, so as to maintain our businesses' competitive positions or to grow our businesses as desired.

We depend on the services of key individuals and relationships, the loss of which could materially harm us.

        Our success will depend, in part, on the efforts of our senior management, including our chief executive officer. Our future success will also depend on, among other factors, our ability to attract and retain other qualified personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key employees or the failure to attract or retain employees could have a material adverse effect on us.

We have substantial debt and interest payment requirements that may restrict our future operations and impair our ability to meet our obligations.

        We continue to have indebtedness that is substantial in relation to our shareholders' equity. As of December 31, 2010, we have approximately $494.7 million of outstanding debt and approximately $112.3 million of shareholders' equity. After consideration of our interest rate swap agreements, approximately 10% of our debt bears interest at variable rates. We may experience material increases in our interest expense as a result of increases in interest rate levels generally. Our debt service payment obligations in 2010 were approximately $47.7 million and, based on amounts outstanding as of December 31, 2010, a 1% increase in the per annum interest rate for our variable rate debt would increase our interest expense by approximately $0.3 million annually. Our degree of leverage and level of interest expense may have important consequences, including:

•

our leverage may place us at a competitive disadvantage as compared with our less leveraged competitors and make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in general economic conditions or in any of our businesses;



•

our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate may be limited;

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•

our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, business development efforts, general corporate or other purposes may be impaired;



•

a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations will be dedicated to the payment of interest and principal on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available to us for other purposes, including our operations, capital expenditures, future business opportunities or obligations to pay rent in respect of our operating leases; and



•

our operations are restricted by our debt instruments, which contain material financial and operating covenants, and those restrictions may limit, among other things, our ability to borrow money in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, rent expense or other purposes.

        Our ability to service our debt and other obligations will depend on our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow, and future financings may not be available to provide sufficient net proceeds, to meet these obligations or to successfully execute our business strategies. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources."

Restrictions in our debt instruments and accounts receivable facility limit our ability to take certain actions and breaches thereof could impair our liquidity.

        Our credit facility and the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes contain covenants that restrict our ability to:

•

pay dividends or redeem or repurchase capital stock;



•

incur additional indebtedness and grant liens;



•

make acquisitions and joint venture investments;



•

sell assets; and



•

make capital expenditures.

        Our credit facility also requires us to comply with financial covenants relating to, among other things, interest coverage and leverage. Our accounts receivable facility contains covenants similar to those in our credit facility and includes additional requirements regarding our receivables. We may not be able to satisfy these covenants in the future or be able to pursue our strategies within the constraints of these covenants. Substantially all of our assets and the assets of our domestic subsidiaries (other than our special purpose receivables subsidiary) are pledged as collateral pursuant to the terms of our credit facility. A breach of a covenant contained in our debt instruments could result in an event of default under one or more of our debt instruments, our accounts receivable facility and our lease financing arrangements. Such breaches would permit the lenders under our credit facility to declare all amounts borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, and the commitments of such lenders to make further extensions of credit could be terminated. In addition, such breach may cause a termination of our accounts receivable facility. Each of these circumstances could materially and adversely impair our liquidity.

We have significant goodwill and intangible assets, and future impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets could have a material negative impact on our financial results.

        We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis as of October 1, and more frequently if we experience changes in our business conditions that indicate an interim test may be required, by comparing the estimated fair values with their respective carrying values. We estimate the fair value of our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets utilizing a combination of a discounted cash flow approach, which is based upon management's operating budget and internal five-year forecast, and market-based valuation measures that consider earnings multiples (for goodwill testing) and

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royalty rates (for indefinite-lived intangible asset testing). We test goodwill for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units, determined using a combination of the aforementioned techniques, to its respective carrying value on our balance sheet. If carrying value exceeds fair value, then a possible impairment of goodwill exists and further evaluation is performed. We test indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the estimated fair value of the assets, determined based on discounted future cash flows related to the net amount of royalty expenses avoided due to the existence of the trademark or trade name, to the carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, an impairment charge is recorded.

        The utilization of a discounted cash flow approach in the impairment test for both goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets requires us to make significant estimates regarding future revenues and expenses, projected capital expenditures, changes in working capital and the appropriate discount rate. The projections also take into account several factors including current and estimated economic trends and outlook, costs of raw materials, consideration of our market capitalization in comparison to the estimated fair value of our reporting units determined using discounted cash flow analyses and other factors that are beyond our control.

        At December 31, 2010, our goodwill and intangible assets were approximately $365.8 million and represented approximately 39.6% of our total assets. Our net loss of $136.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 included $166.6 million of pre-tax charges for impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in continuing operations, and $0.9 million of such charges in discontinued operations. If we experience declines in sales and operating profit or do not meet our current and forecasted operating budget, we may be subject to future goodwill impairments. In addition, while the fair value of our remaining goodwill exceeds its carrying value, significantly different assumptions regarding future performance of our businesses or significant declines in our stock price could result in additional impairment losses. Because of the significance of our goodwill and intangible assets, any future impairment of these assets could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

We may face liability associated with the use of products for which patent ownership or other intellectual property rights are claimed.

        We may be subject to claims or inquiries regarding alleged unauthorized use of a third party's intellectual property. An adverse outcome in any intellectual property litigation could subject us to significant liabilities to third parties, require us to license technology or other intellectual property rights from others, require us to comply with injunctions to cease marketing or using certain products or brands, or require us to redesign, reengineer, or rebrand certain products or packaging, any of which could affect our business, financial condition and operating results. If we are required to seek licenses under patents or other intellectual property rights of others, we may not be able to acquire these licenses on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, the cost of responding to an intellectual property infringement claim, in terms of legal fees and expenses and the diversion of management resources, whether or not the claim is valid, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property.

        While we believe that our patents, trademarks and other intellectual property have significant value, it is uncertain that this intellectual property or any intellectual property acquired or developed by us in the future, will provide a meaningful competitive advantage. Our patents or pending applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by competitors or rights granted thereunder may not provide meaningful proprietary protection. Moreover, competitors may infringe on our patents or successfully avoid them through design innovation. Policing unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and expensive, and we may not be able to, or have the resources to, prevent misappropriation of our proprietary rights, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect such rights as fully as in the

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U.S. The cost of protecting our intellectual property may be significant and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and future results of operations.

We may incur material losses and costs as a result of product liability, recall and warranty claims that may be brought against us.

        We are subject to a variety of litigation incidental to our businesses, including claims for damages arising out of use of our products, claims relating to intellectual property matters and claims involving employment matters and commercial disputes.

        We currently carry insurance and maintain reserves for potential product liability claims. However, our insurance coverage may be inadequate if such claims do arise and any liability not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business. Although we have been able to obtain insurance in amounts we believe to be appropriate to cover such liability to date, our insurance premiums may increase in the future as a consequence of conditions in the insurance business generally or our situation in particular. Any such increase could result in lower net income or cause the need to reduce our insurance coverage. In addition, a future claim may be brought against us that could have a material adverse effect on us. Any product liability claim may also include the imposition of punitive damages, the award of which, pursuant to certain state laws, may not be covered by insurance. Our product liability insurance policies have limits that, if exceeded, may result in material costs that could have an adverse effect on our future profitability. In addition, warranty claims are generally not covered by our product liability insurance. Further, any product liability or warranty issues may adversely affect our reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality, safe products, divert management's attention, and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

        In addition, the Lamons business within our Energy reportable segment is a party to lawsuits related to asbestos contained in gaskets formerly manufactured by it or its predecessors. Some of this litigation includes claims for punitive and consequential as well as compensatory damages. We are not able to predict the outcome of these matters given that, among other things, claims may be initially made in jurisdictions without specifying the amount sought or by simply stating the minimum or maximum permissible monetary relief, and may be amended to alter the amount sought. Of the 8,200 claims pending at December 31, 2010, 40 set forth specific amounts of damages (other than those stating the statutory minimum or maximum). 28 of the 40 claims sought between $1.0 million and $5.0 million in total damages (which includes compensatory and punitive damages), 9 sought between $5.0 million and $10.0 million in total damages (which includes compensatory and punitive damages) and 3 sought over $10.0 million (which includes compensatory and punitive damages). Solely with respect to compensatory damages, 30 of the 40 claims sought between $50,000 and $600,000, 7 sought between $1.0 million and $5.0 million and 3 sought over $5.0 million. Solely with respect to punitive damages, 28 of the 40 claims sought between $1.0 million and $2.5 million, 9 sought between $2.5 million and $5.0 million and 3 sought over $5.0 million. Total defense costs from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 were approximately $2.9 million and total settlement costs (exclusive of defense costs) for all asbestos cases since inception have been approximately $5.8 million through December 31, 2009. To date, approximately 50% of our costs related to defense and settlement of asbestos litigation have been covered by our primary insurance. Effective February 14, 2006, we entered into a coverage-in-place agreement with our first level excess carriers regarding the coverage to be provided to us for asbestos-related claims when our primary insurance is exhausted. The coverage-in-place agreement makes asbestos defense costs and indemnity insurance coverage available to us that might otherwise be disputed by the carriers and provides a methodology for the administration of such expenses. Nonetheless, we believe it is likely that there will to be a period within the next three years, prior to the commencement of coverage under this agreement and following exhaustion of our primary insurance coverage, during which we likely will be solely responsible for defense costs and indemnity payments, the duration of which would be subject to the scope of damage awards and settlements paid. We also may incur significant litigation costs in defending these matters in the future. We may be required to

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incur additional defense costs and pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to equitable remedies that could adversely affect our businesses.

Our business may be materially and adversely affected by compliance obligations and liabilities under environmental laws and regulations.

        We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations which impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the ground, air and water and establish standards for the generation, treatment, use, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and remediation of contaminated sites. We may be legally or contractually responsible or alleged to be responsible for the investigation and remediation of contamination at various sites, and for personal injury or property damages, if any, associated with such contamination. We have been named as potentially responsible parties under CERCLA (the federal Superfund law) or similar state laws in several sites requiring clean-up related to disposal of wastes we generated. These laws generally impose liability for costs to investigate and remediate contamination without regard to fault and under certain circumstances liability may be joint and several resulting in one responsible party being held responsible for the entire obligation. Liability may also include damages to natural resources. We have entered into consent decrees relating to two sites in California along with the many other co-defendants in these matters. We have incurred substantial expenses for each of these sites over a number of years, a portion of which has been covered by insurance. In addition to the foregoing, our businesses have incurred and likely will continue to incur expenses to investigate and clean up existing and former company-owned or leased property, including those properties made the subject of sale-leaseback transactions for which we have provided environmental indemnities to the lessors. Additional sites may be identified at which we are a potentially responsible party under the federal Superfund law or similar state laws. We must also comply with various health and safety regulations in the U.S. and abroad in connection with our operations.

        We believe that our business, operations and facilities are being operated in compliance in all material respects with applicable environmental and health and safety laws and regulations, many of which provide for substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations. Based on information presently known to us and accrued environmental reserves, we do not expect environmental costs or contingencies to have a material adverse effect on us. The operation of manufacturing plants entails risks in these areas, however, and we may incur material costs or liabilities in the future that could adversely affect us. There can be no assurance that we have been or will be at all times in substantial compliance with environmental health and safety laws. Failure to comply with any of these laws could result in civil, criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties and damage to our reputation. In addition, potentially material expenditures could be required in the future. For example, we may be required to comply with evolving environmental and health and safety laws, regulations or requirements that may be adopted or imposed in the future or to address newly discovered information or conditions that require a response.

Our growth strategy includes the impact of acquisitions. If we are unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates, successfully integrate acquired operations or realize the intended benefits of our acquisitions, we may be adversely affected.

        One of our principal growth strategies is to pursue strategic acquisition opportunities. Since our separation from Metaldyne in June 2002, we have completed fifteen acquisitions. Each of these acquisitions required integration expense and actions that negatively impacted our results of operations and that could not have been fully anticipated beforehand. In addition, attractive acquisition candidates may not be identified and acquired in the future, financing for acquisitions may be unavailable on satisfactory terms and we may be unable to accomplish our strategic objectives in effecting a particular acquisition. We may encounter various risks in acquiring other companies, including the possible inability to integrate an acquired business into our operations, diversion of management's attention and unanticipated problems or liabilities, some or all of which could materially and adversely affect our business strategy and financial condition and results of operations.

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We have significant operating lease obligations and our failure to meet those obligations could adversely affect our financial condition.

        We lease many of our manufacturing facilities and certain capital equipment. Our annualized rental expense in 2010 under these operating leases was approximately $15.4 million. A failure to pay our rental obligations would constitute a default allowing the applicable landlord to pursue any remedy available to it under applicable law, which would include taking possession of our property and, in the case of real property, evicting us. These leases are categorized as operating leases and are not considered indebtedness for purposes of our debt instruments.

We may be subject to further unionization and work stoppages at our facilities or our customers may be subject to work stoppages, which could seriously impact the profitability of our business.

        As of December 31, 2010, approximately 28% of our work force in our continuing operations was unionized under several different unions and bargaining agreements. If our unionized workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown in the future, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations. In addition, if a greater percentage of our work force becomes unionized, our labor costs and risks associated with strikes, work stoppages or other slowdowns may increase.

        On July 10, 2009, we reached a mutually agreeable settlement with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union ("Union") regarding the duration of a neutrality agreement we have with the Union. The agreement commits us to remain generally neutral in Union organizing drives through the duration of the agreement. On August 17, 2009, the Union began an organizing drive under the terms of the neutrality agreement at our facility located in Houston, Texas, which is included in our Energy segment. Since the Union obtained a simple majority of authorization cards during the organizing drive, on November 4, 2009 we recognized the Union at this facility. The recognition requires us and the Union to negotiate a first collective bargaining agreement within 180 days from the date of recognition. Under the neutrality agreement, there is no threat of strike or work slowdown during the first collective bargaining agreement. On December 10, 2009, we received a notice of filing petition for union decertification at the Houston, Texas facility. A decertification vote administered by the National Labor Relations Board occurred on August 26, 2010, however, those ballots were impounded in light of the Union's previously field request for review. The matter is still pending with the National Labor Relations Board.

        On December 4, 2009, we received a notice of filing petition for union representation election filed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers with regard to our Engineered Components facility located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. On January 15, 2010, a vote was held according to the rules of the National Labor Relations Board. The union was unsuccessful in receiving the simple majority of the required votes; therefore, the Plymouth, Massachusetts facility remains union free.

        Other than as described above, we are not aware of any present active union organizing drives at any of our other facilities. We cannot predict the impact of any further unionization of our workplace.

        Many of our direct or indirect customers have unionized work forces. Strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns experienced by these customers or their suppliers could result in slowdowns or closures of assembly plants where our products are included. In addition, organizations responsible for shipping our customers' products may be impacted by occasional strikes or other activity. Any interruption in the delivery of our customers' products could reduce demand for our products and could have a material adverse effect on us.

Our healthcare costs for active employees and future retirees may exceed our projections and may negatively affect our financial results.

        We maintain a range of healthcare benefits for our active employees and a limited number of retired employees pursuant to labor contracts and otherwise. Healthcare benefits for active employees and certain

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retirees are provided through comprehensive hospital, surgical and major medical benefit provisions or through health maintenance organizations, all of which are subject to various cost-sharing features. Some of these benefits are provided for in fixed amounts negotiated in labor contracts with the respective unions. If our costs under our benefit programs for active employees and retirees exceed our projections, our business and financial results could be materially adversely affected. Additionally, foreign competitors and many domestic competitors provide fewer benefits to their employees and retirees, and this difference in cost could adversely impact our competitive position.

A growing portion of our sales may be derived from international sources, which exposes us to certain risks which may adversely affect our financial results and impact our ability to service debt.

        Approximately 17.6% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2010 were derived from sales by our subsidiaries located outside of the U.S. We may significantly expand our international operations through internal growth and acquisitions. Sales outside of the U.S., particularly sales to emerging markets, and manufacturing in non-US countries are subject to various other risks which are not present within U.S. markets, including governmental embargoes or foreign trade restrictions such as anti-dumping duties, changes in U.S. and foreign governmental regulations, tariffs and other trade barriers, the potential for nationalization of enterprises, foreign exchange risk and other political, economic and social instability. In addition, there are tax inefficiencies in repatriating cash flow from non-U.S. subsidiaries that could affect our financial results and reduce our ability to service debt.

Our stock price may be subject to significant volatility due to our own results or market trends.

        If our revenue, earnings or cash flows in any quarter fail to meet the investment community's expectations, there could be an immediate negative impact on our stock price. Our stock price could also be impacted by broader market trends and world events unrelated to our performance.

Heartland owns approximately 33.9% of our voting common equity.

        Heartland Industrial Partners ("Heartland") beneficially owns approximately 33.9% of our outstanding voting common equity. As a result, Heartland has the power to substantially influence all matters submitted to our stockholders, exercise significant influence over our decisions to enter into any corporate transaction and any transaction that requires the approval of stockholders regardless of whether other stockholders believe that any such transactions are in their own best interests. For example, Heartland could cause us to make acquisitions that increase the amount of our indebtedness, sell revenue-generating assets or cause us to undergo a "going private" transaction with it or one of its affiliates based on its ownership without a legal requirement of unaffiliated shareholder approval. In addition, Heartland has the power to control the election of a majority of our directors. So long as Heartland continues to own a significant amount of the outstanding shares of our common stock, it will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions. Its interests may differ from other stockholders and it may vote in a way with which other stockholders disagree. In addition, this concentration of ownership may have the effect of preventing, discouraging or deterring a change of control. One of our directors is the Managing Member of Heartland's general partner. Heartland also has the right to require us to file a registration statement with the SEC for purposes of registering for sale to the public some or all of the common stock of ours that it owns. See "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" within this Form 10-K for further information.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

        Not applicable.

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Item 2.    Properties

Properties

        Our principal manufacturing facilities range in size from approximately 10,000 square feet to approximately 380,000 square feet. Except as set forth in the table below, all of our manufacturing facilities are owned. The leases for our manufacturing facilities have initial terms that expire from 2011 through 2022 and are all renewable, at our option, for various terms, provided that we are not in default under the lease agreements. Substantially all of our owned U.S. real properties are subject to liens under our amended and restated credit facility and will be subject to several liens in favor of the notes. Our executive offices are located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan under a lease through June 2015. Our buildings have been generally well maintained, are in good operating condition and are adequate for current production requirements.

        The following list sets forth the location of our principal owned and leased manufacturing and other facilities used in continuing operations and identifies the principal reportable segment utilizing such facilities as of December 31, 2010:

        During 2002 and 2003, we entered into sale-leaseback transactions with respect to twelve real properties in the U.S. and Canada. The term of these leases is between 15 and 20 years, with the right to extend. Rental payments are due monthly. All of the foregoing leases are accounted for as operating leases. In general, pursuant to the terms of each sale-leaseback transactions, we transferred title of the real property to a purchaser and, in turn, entered into separate leases with the purchaser having a basic lease term plus renewal options. With respect to the 2002 sale-leaseback transactions, which includes nine of the twelve properties, the renewal option must be exercised with respect to all, and not less than all, of the property locations.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        See Note 15, "Commitments and Contingencies" included in Part II, Item 8, "Notes to Audited Consolidated Financial Statements," within this Form 10-K.

Item 4.    Reserved

Supplementary Item. Executive Officers of the Company

        See Item 10, "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance" included in Part III, within this Form 10-K.

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PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

        Our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "TRS." Effective January 3, 2011, TriMas became eligible for inclusion in the NASDAQ Global Select Market. We were previously listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. As of February 23, 2011, there were 591 holders of record of our common stock.

        We did not pay dividends in 2010 or 2009. Our current policy is to retain earnings to repay debt and finance our operations and acquisitions. In addition, our credit facility and the indenture governing our outstanding senior subordinated notes restrict the payment of dividends on common stock. See the discussion under Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources" and Note 12 to the Company's financial statements captioned "Long-term Debt," included in Item 8 of this report.

        The high and low sales prices per share of our common stock by quarter, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, through August 23, 2009, and as reported on the NASDAQ from August 24, 2009 through December 31, 2010, are shown below:

        Please see Item 12, "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" for securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.

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Performance Graph

        The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return from the date of our IPO through December 31, 2010 for TriMas' common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and peer group⁽¹⁾ of companies we have selected for purposes of this comparison. We have assumed that dividends have been reinvested and returns have been weighted-averaged based on market capitalization. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in each of TriMas' common stock, the stocks comprising the Russell 2000 Index and the stocks comprising the peer group.

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⁽¹⁾

Includes Actuant Corporation, Carlisle Companies Inc., Crane Co., Dover Corporation, IDEX Corporation, Illinois Tool Works, Inc., Kaydon Corporation, SPX Corporation and Teleflex, Inc.

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Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

        The following table sets forth our selected historical financial data from continuing operations for the five years ended December 31, 2010. The financial data for each of the five years presented has been derived from our financial statements and notes to those financial statements, which have been audited by KPMG LLP. The following data should be read in conjunction with Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

 

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Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        The statements in the discussion and analysis regarding industry outlook, our expectations regarding the performance of our business and the other non-historical statements in the discussion and analysis are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A "Risk Factors." Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements. You should read the following discussion together with Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

Introduction

        We are a global manufacturer and distributor of products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets. We are principally engaged in six reportable segments: Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components, Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America. In reviewing our financial results, consideration should be given to certain critical events, particularly as it relates to the global economic decline in late 2008 and into 2009, and recent economic upturn in 2010, along with acquisitions and consolidation, integration and restructuring efforts in several of our business operations. Effective October 1, 2010, we realigned our reportable segments to be consistent with our current operating structure and strategic priorities. As a result of this realignment, we have increased the number of reportable segments from five to six. Our Packaging and Aerospace & Defense reportable segments remain unchanged. However, the Arrow Engine operating segment, previously within the Energy reportable segment, is now included in the Engineered Components reportable segment. In addition, the former Cequent reportable segment has been split into two reportable segments, with our Cequent Performance Products and Cequent Consumer Products operating segments comprising the new Cequent North America reportable segment, and our Cequent Asia Pacific operating segment becoming a separate reportable segment. All information included in this "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" reflects this realignment.

        Key Factors and Risks Affecting Our Reported Results.    Our businesses and results of operations depend upon general economic conditions and we serve some customers in cyclical industries that are highly competitive and themselves adversely impacted by unfavorable economic conditions. During the fourth quarter of 2008, worldwide credit markets and global economic conditions deteriorated significantly, resulting in declines in demand for our products and services. These conditions persisted throughout 2009, resulting in reductions in sales and earnings from comparable prior periods across all of our reportable segments except Packaging. We experienced generally higher levels of economic activity during 2010, which is one of the significant factors helping to generate year-over-year increases in revenue and earnings in all of our reportable segments except Aerospace & Defense. We expect that, although we benefited from the economic recovery in 2010, revenue and earnings may continue to trend below historical levels until the continuing uncertainty in the world economies stabilizes.

        Critical factors affecting our ability to succeed include: our ability to successfully pursue organic growth through product development, cross selling and extending product-line offerings, and our ability to quickly and cost-effectively introduce new products; our ability to acquire and integrate companies or products that will supplement existing product lines, add new distribution channels, expand our geographic coverage or enable us to better absorb overhead costs; our ability to manage our cost structure more efficiently through improved supply base management, internal sourcing and/or purchasing of materials, selective outsourcing and/or purchasing of support functions, working capital management, and greater leverage of our administrative and overhead functions. If we are unable to do any of the foregoing successfully, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.

        There is some seasonality in the businesses within our Cequent reportable segments, primarily within Cequent North America, where sales of towing and trailering products are generally stronger in the second and third quarters, as trailer original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"), distributors and retailers

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acquire product for the spring and summer selling seasons. No other reportable segment experiences significant seasonal fluctuation in its businesses. We do not consider sales order backlog to be a material factor in our business. A growing portion of our sales may be derived from international sources, which exposes us to certain risks, including currency risks.

        The demand for some of our products, particularly in our two Cequent reportable segments, is heavily influenced by consumer sentiment. We experienced decreases in sales and earnings in 2008 and 2009 as a result of an uncertain credit market and interest rate environment and rising energy costs, among other things. While we experienced sales increases in both of our Cequent reportable segments in 2010 as compared to 2009 given the improved economic conditions, we expect the current end market conditions may remain unstable, primarily for Cequent North America, until the U.S. economy recovers from existing recessionary forces, employment levels increase and consumer credit availability improves, thereby resulting in an increase in consumer discretionary spending.

        We are sensitive to price movements in our raw materials supply base. Our largest material purchases are for steel, copper, aluminum, polyethylene and other resins and energy. Historically, we have experienced increasing costs of steel and resin and have worked with our suppliers to manage cost pressures and disruptions in supply. We also utilize pricing programs to pass increased steel, copper, aluminum and resin costs to customers. Although we may experience delays in our ability to implement price increases, we generally are able to recover such increased costs. We may experience disruptions in supply in the future and we may not be able to pass along higher costs associated with such disruptions to our customers in the form of price increases. We will continue to take actions as necessary to manage risks associated with increasing steel or other raw material costs. However, such increased costs may adversely impact our earnings.

        We report shipping and handling expenses associated with our Cequent North America reportable segment's distribution network as an element of selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. As such, gross margins for the Cequent North America reportable segment may not be comparable to other companies which include all costs related to their distribution network in cost of sales.

        We have substantial debt, interest and lease payment requirements that may restrict our future operations and impair our ability to meet our obligations and, in a rising interest rate environment, our performance may be adversely affected by our degree of leverage.

        Recent Consolidation, Integration and Restructuring Activities.    During the past several years, we have undertaken significant consolidation, integration and other cost-savings programs to enhance our efficiency and achieve cost reduction opportunities which exist in our businesses. In addition to major consolidation projects, there have also been a series of ongoing initiatives to eliminate duplicative and excess manufacturing and distribution facilities, sales forces, and back office and other support functions in order to continue to optimize our cost structure in response to competitor actions and market conditions.

        In the fourth quarter of 2008, in response to the deteriorating economic conditions, we accelerated our Profit Improvement Plan, which included further consolidation of distribution and manufacturing activities, continued integration of certain business activities, movement of production to lower-cost environments and expansion of strategic sourcing initiatives. We also implemented reductions in salaried headcount and in fixed and variable spending to better align the fixed cost structure of these operating segments with the reality of the then-current market environment and to maintain or improve operating margins. We implemented commercial actions to protect and gain market share through continued introduction of new and innovative products and by providing superior delivery and service to our customers. Further, we implemented pricing actions to recover inflationary cost increases and continue actions to leverage our businesses' strong brand names. The Company has realized savings during 2009 of approximately $32 million resulting from actions taken as a part of the Profit Improvement Plan. These implemented actions were a significant driver of maintaining our gross profit margin in 2009 despite a 20%

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reduction in sales as compared to 2008, and have helped to facilitate the 370 basis point gross profit margin expansion in 2010 as compared to 2009, given our lower cost structure is able to support our higher sales levels. There were no significant charges recorded in 2010 related to further implementation of our Profit Improvement Plan initiatives.

        The most significant element of our Profit Improvement Plan implemented during 2009 was the restructuring of our legacy towing, trailering and electrical businesses within our Cequent North America reportable segment into one business, rationalizing facilities and the management team. This restructuring plan included the closure of the Mosinee, WI manufacturing facility, with the production and distribution functions previously located in Mosinee being relocated to lower-cost manufacturing facilities or to third party sourcing partners.

        In 2008, our most significant action was the restructuring of our organizational structure within our corporate office.

        Key Indicators of Performance.    In evaluating our business, our management has historically considered Adjusted EBITDA as a key indicator of financial operating performance and as a measure of cash generating capability. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change, interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, debt extinguishment costs, non-cash asset and goodwill impairment charges and write-offs and non-cash losses on sale-leaseback of property and equipment. Management believed that consideration of Adjusted EBITDA, together with a careful review of our results reported under GAAP, was the best way to analyze our ability to service and/or incur indebtedness, as we have been a highly leveraged company. Thus, the use of Adjusted EBITDA as a key performance measure facilitated operating performance comparisons from period to period and company to company, as it excluded potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the impact of purchase accounting and depreciation and amortization expense. Because Adjusted EBITDA facilitated internal comparisons of our historical operating performance on a more consistent basis, we have also used Adjusted EBITDA for business planning purposes, in measuring our performance relative to that of our competitors and in evaluating acquisition opportunities. In addition, we believe Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts, ratings agencies and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance and debt-service capabilities.

        In light of the significant changes in our business over the past few years, including changes in our senior leadership (new CFO in 2008 and CEO in 2009) as well as the structural and operating changes in our businesses, we believe we are a more competitive company, with a lower fixed cost structure and more focused on productivity and other lean initiatives to drive future profitability and cash flows. We have generated significant cash from operations during the last two years, which has enabled us to reduce our debt levels. Given these changes, and the resulting improvement in earnings quality, management believes we are evolving from a highly leveraged company that, for comparative purposes, relied on Adjusted EBITDA as a key indicator of performance, to one that can rely and report on GAAP-based results. As the Company continues to grow its earnings base and decrease its debt levels, investors and analysts are placing TriMas in comparable company groupings that rely primarily on GAAP-based metrics for valuation and presentation purposes. Thus, while Adjusted EBITDA remains an important indicator of performance, beginning in 2011, we intend to rely primarily on the GAAP-based metrics of operating profit and cash flow from operations as they relate to our key metrics of earnings and liquidity, respectively.

        Our use of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

•

it does not reflect our cash expenditures for capital equipment or other contractual commitments;

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•

although depreciation, amortization and asset impairment charges and write-offs are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated, amortized or written off may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements;



•

it does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;



•

it does not reflect the significant interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness;



•

it does not reflect certain tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;



•

it includes amounts resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of underlying performance of our fundamental business operations; and



•

other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently and as the number of differences in the way two different companies calculate these measures increases, the degree of their usefulness as a comparative measure correspondingly decreases.

        Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in our growth. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. We carefully review our operating profit margins (operating profit as a percentage of net sales) at a reportable segment level, which are discussed in detail in our year-to-year comparison of operating results.

        The following is a reconciliation of our net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and cash flows provided by operating activities for the three years ended December 31:

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        The following details certain items relating to our consolidation, restructuring and integration efforts and other items that are included in the determination of net income (loss) under GAAP and are not added back to net income (loss) in determining Adjusted EBITDA, but that we separately consider in evaluating our Adjusted EBITDA:

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Segment Information and Supplemental Analysis

        The following table summarizes financial information for our six reportable segments:

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Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2009

        The principal factors impacting us during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared with the year ended December 31, 2009 were:

•

the upturn in economic conditions in 2010 compared to the global economic recession in 2009, contributing to increased net sales in all of our reportable segments except for Aerospace & Defense;



•

costs incurred and savings realized related to our Profit Improvement Plan initiatives implemented in 2008 and 2009, primarily in our Packaging and Cequent North America reportable segments, and other ongoing productivity initiatives;



•

increases in the value of foreign currencies in other countries in which we operate as compared to the U.S. dollar;



•

gains on extinguishment of debt in 2009 resulting from the repurchase of our 9⁷/8% senior subordinated notes at prices below their face value; and



•

costs incurred related to the refinancing of our credit facilities and senior notes in December 2009.

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        Overall, net sales increased approximately $139.0 million, or approximately 17.3%, to $942.7 million in 2010, as compared to $803.7 million in 2009. The main driver of the increased sales levels was the economic upturn experienced in 2010, compared to the economic recession in 2009, where sales levels dropped significantly from historical levels. In addition, we continue to introduce new products and expand into new markets, with the most significant increases in sales from these programs in our Packaging and Energy reportable segments. In addition, net sales were favorably impacted by approximately $9.9 million as a result of currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were favorably impacted by stronger foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

        Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of sales) approximated 29.7% and 26.0% in 2010 and 2009, respectively. This 370 basis point improvement year-over-year is primarily due to the operating leverage associated with the higher sales levels and reduced cost structure and realization of savings from our cost reduction and alternate sourcing initiatives that began in the fourth quarter of 2008 as part of our Performance Improvement Plan, with the largest impact experienced in our Packaging, Engineered Components and both Cequent reportable segments.

        Operating profit margin (operating profit as a percentage of sales) approximated 12.1% and 6.2% in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Operating profit increased $64.2 million in 2010 as compared to 2009, primarily as a result of higher sales volumes and higher gross profit resulting from savings realized in connection with our Profit Improvement Plan and ongoing productivity initiatives. In addition, during 2009, we recorded charges of $5.3 million related to estimated unrecoverable lease obligations for our former Mosinee, Wisconsin facility and $2.9 million related to fees incurred under an advisory services agreement on our debt refinancing activities that did not recur in 2010. These increases in operating profit were partially offset by increases in selling, general and administrative expenses primarily in support of our growth initiatives and other new product programs.

        Interest expense increased approximately $6.8 million, to $51.8 million in 2010 as compared to $45.1 million in 2009. The primary drivers of the increase in interest expense were an increase in our weighted average interest rate on variable rate U.S. borrowings to approximately 5.6% during 2010, from approximately 3.9% during 2009, an unfavorable change in the fair value of our interest rate swaps of $1.6 million in 2010 compared to 2009, a $1.2 million increase in commitment fees for unused borrowings under our revolving credit facility, a $1.1 million of aggregate costs incurred under our receivables facility in 2010, which was recorded in other expense, net in 2009, and $0.7 million increased amortization of debt issue costs in 2010 compared to 2009. Partially offsetting this increase in interest rates was a decrease in our weighted-average variable rate U.S. borrowings from approximately $307.8 million in 2009 to approximately $266.7 million in 2010, as we had less need for intra-quarter borrowings due to the level of cash generated from operations. In addition, we recorded approximately $3.1 million lower interest expense related to our senior secured notes in 2010 compared to the interest on our former senior subordinated notes 2009, due primarily to a decrease in our average outstanding balance of approximately $32.0 million during 2010.

        Gain on extinguishment of debt decreased by approximately $18.0 million, as we did not incur any gains or losses on extinguishment of debt during 2010. During 2009, we retired approximately $73.2 million face value of our former senior subordinated notes, resulting in a gross gain of $29.4 million, less $1.1 million in debt extinguishment costs. In addition, we incurred approximately $10.3 million in net debt extinguishment costs in December 2009 related to the refinance of our credit facility and senior notes.

        Other expense, net decreased approximately $0.2 million to $1.5 million in 2010, from $1.8 million in 2009. During 2010, we incurred approximately $1.1 million of losses on transactions denominated in foreign currencies. During 2009, we incurred approximately $2.1 million of expenses in connection with the use of our receivables securitization facility and sales of receivables to fund working capital needs and experienced approximately $0.7 million of gains on transactions denominated in foreign currencies. There

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were no other individually significant amounts incurred or changes in amounts incurred in either 2010 or 2009.

        The effective income tax rate for 2010 was 31.5% compared to 39.6% for 2009. In 2010, we reported domestic and foreign pre-tax income of approximately $34.7 million and $26.5 million, respectively. We recorded a $1.3 million tax benefit during 2010 related to decreases in valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets including state and foreign tax operating loss carryforwards. In 2009, we recorded $1.1 million tax expense associated with deferred tax adjustments for prior years and tax expense of $1.7 million related to increases in valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets, including a foreign capital loss carryforward and certain state and foreign tax operating loss carryforwards.

        Net income from continuing operations increased approximately $29.2 million to $41.9 million in 2010, from $12.7 million in 2009, primarily as a result of higher sales levels year-over-year and increased operating profit resulting from savings realized due to our Profit Improvement Plan actions taken in 2008 and 2009. In addition, during 2009, we recorded an $18.0 million gain on debt extinguishment, a $5.3 million charge for estimated unrecoverable lease obligations and a $2.9 million advisory fee charge associated with our debt refinancing activities. The $64.2 million increase in operating profit, less a $6.8 million increase in interest expense, primarily due to higher interest rates year-over-year, less the $18.0 million debt extinguishment gain in 2009 that did not recur in 2010, plus the impact of a lower tax rate in 2010 than 2009 due to our mix of foreign versus domestic pre-tax income and other facts, resulted in the increase in net income in 2010 compared to 2009.

        Adjusted EBITDA margin from continuing operations (Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of sales) approximated 16.0% and 14.8% in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately $31.7 million in 2010 as compared to 2009. After consideration of the $11.5 million and $6.8 million increases in income tax expense and interest expense, respectively, in 2010 compared to 2009, a reduction in depreciation and amortization expense of $6.2 million in 2010 compared to 2009, and the $11.4 million debt extinguishment costs in 2009 that did not recur in 2010, the change in Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was consistent with the change in net income from continuing operations.

        See below for a discussion of operating results by reportable segment.

        Packaging.    Net sales increased approximately $26.1 million, or 18.0%, to $171.2 million in 2010, as compared to $145.1 million in 2009. Sales of our specialty dispensing products and new product introductions increased by approximately $8.4 million in 2010 compared to 2009, due primarily to increased sales into the personal care markets, pharmaceuticals and the food industries. Sales of our industrial closures, rings and levers increased by approximately $19.0 million in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of the continued moderate general economic recovery. Despite this recovery, core product sales in 2010 were still approximately 5-15% below historical levels. In addition, sales decreased approximately $1.3 million due to currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies.

        Packaging's gross profit increased approximately $17.1 million to $70.1 million, or 40.9% of sales in 2010, as compared to $52.9 million, or 36.5% of sales in 2009. Of the increase in gross profit, approximately $9.6 million relates to the increase in sales levels between years, which was partially offset by approximately $0.3 million unfavorable currency exchange. Our gross profit margin increased approximately 440 basis points in 2010 compared to 2009. The most significant drivers of this profitability increase, accounting for more than half of the year-over-year margin percentage increase, were internal labor and overhead-related productivity projects, comprising both lean initiatives and capital spending projects, designed to improve processing, throughput and overall efficiency and increase automation in our manufacturing operations. The other significant reasons for the increase in profit margin year-over-year were a more favorable product sales mix in 2010 than 2009, as medical product sales related to the swine flu epidemic comprised a larger percentage of sales in 2009 and were sold at lower margin rates, and a

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reduced overall material cost due to alternate sourcing or more efficient usage of certain production materials.

        Packaging's selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $0.8 million to $20.5 million, or 11.9% of sales in 2010, as compared to $19.6 million, or 13.5% of sales in 2009. While the spending levels increased slightly in support of our growth initiatives, this segment was able to significantly reduce selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of sales due to its fixed cost reductions implemented throughout 2009 and into 2010.

        Packaging's operating profit increased approximately $15.7 million to $48.7 million, or 28.5% of sales in 2010, as compared to $33.1 million, or 22.8% of sales, in 2009. The increase in operating profit between years is due primarily to the higher sales levels in 2010 compared to 2009, productivity initiatives and capital spending programs, which have improved processing and throughput, and reduced material, labor and overhead content in our products, and a more favorable product sales mix in 2010 than 2009.

        Packaging's Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately $14.8 million to $60.5 million, or 35.4% of sales in 2010, as compared to $45.7 million, or 31.5% of sales in 2009, consistent with the change in operating profit between years after consideration of approximately $0.7 million lower depreciation and amortization in expense in 2010 than in 2009.

        Energy.    Net sales in 2010 increased approximately $17.6 million, or 15.8%, to $129.1 million, as compared to $111.5 million in 2009. Of this increase, approximately $2.8 million relates to sales generated by our new Salt Lake City (Utah), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Edmonton (Canada), and Grimsby (United Kingdom) branch facilities, $2.6 million relates to the acquisition of South Texas Bolt & Fitting, completed in the fourth quarter of 2010, and $0.6 million relates to currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were positively impacted as a result of stronger foreign currencies. The remaining increase is primarily as a result of increased levels of turn-around activity at petrochemical refineries and increased sales demand from the chemical industry, as customers continue to perform maintenance work and new programs deferred from 2009 that require our replacement and specialty gaskets and bolts. We also experienced an increase in our market share of bolts, as certain existing customers have awarded us additional bolt business as they consolidate their supply base.

        Gross profit within Energy increased approximately $6.2 million to $36.9 million, or 28.6% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $30.8 million, or 27.6% of sales, in 2009. Gross profit increased approximately $4.8 million as a result of the increase in sales levels between years. In addition, the improvement in gross profit margin was the result of successful implementation of productivity and cost reduction activities at the end of 2009 and during 2010, generating realized savings of approximately $2 million to $3 million in 2010, including sourcing and inbound freight initiatives, which were partially offset by incremental air freight costs of approximately $1 million incurred as a result of overseas inventory shortages.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses within Energy increased approximately $2.6 million to $22.2 million, or 17.2% of net sales, in 2010, as compared to $19.5 million or 17.5% of net sales, in 2009, as our spending increased in support of our increased sales levels and in support of our branch growth initiatives. However, this segment was able to lower its spending as a percentage of sales in 2010 compared to 2009 due to its fixed cost reductions implemented during 2009.

        Overall, operating profit within Energy increased approximately $3.6 million to $14.7 million, or 11.4% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $11.1 million, or 10.0% of sales, in 2009, due principally to higher sales levels and the successful implementation of productivity and cost reduction activities at the end of 2009 and during 2010, partially offset by incremental air freight costs and higher selling, general and administrative expenses in 2010 supporting our higher sales levels and branch growth initiatives.

        Energy's Adjusted EBITDA increased $3.5 million to $16.6 million, or 12.9% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $13.1 million, or 11.8% of sales, in 2009, consistent with the increase in operating profit between years.

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        Aerospace & Defense.    Net sales in 2010 decreased approximately $0.5 million, or 0.7%, to $73.9 million, as compared to $74.4 million in 2009. Sales in our aerospace business decreased approximately $5.0 million, primarily due to lower demand from distribution customers as they sold-off their existing inventory during the first half of 2010, which more than offset increases in their purchases during the back half of 2010. In addition, we had a launch order for new products, primarily titanium screws, of approximately $4.4 million during 2009 that did not recur in 2010. Sales in our defense business increased approximately $4.5 million. Revenue primarily associated with managing the relocation and closure of the defense facility of $11.5 million more than offset the fact that we did not sell any cartridge cases and provided less related maintenance in 2010 due to the relocation of the defense facility, as compared to approximately $4.9 million of cartridge case sales with related maintenance activity in 2009, and $2.1 million lower net product sales in 2010 than 2009.

        Gross profit within Aerospace & Defense decreased approximately $2.7 million to $27.6 million, or 37.3% of sales, in 2010, from $30.3 million, or 40.7% of sales, in 2009. Gross profit decreased approximately $0.2 million as a result of the decline in sales levels between years. The primary reasons for the decline in gross profit were a less favorable product sales mix in our defense business, as 2010 sales were more heavily weighted to lower margin facility relocation management while 2009 included higher margin cartridge case sales, and lower absorption of fixed costs in our aerospace business as a result of lower production and/or sales levels over which to spread the fixed costs.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $1.0 million to $9.5 million, or 12.9% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $8.5 million, or 11.4% of sales, in 2009, due primarily to increased legal fee costs within our defense business.

        Operating profit within Aerospace & Defense decreased approximately $3.7 million to $18.1 million, or 24.5% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $21.8 million, or 29.3% of sales, in 2009, primarily due to lower sales levels, an unfavorable product sales mix in our defense business, lower absorption of fixed costs in our aerospace business and increased selling, general and administrative expenses.

        Aerospace & Defense's Adjusted EBITDA decreased $3.6 million to $20.4 million, or 27.6% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $24.0 million, or 32.3% of sales, in 2009, consistent with the decrease in operating profit between years.

        Engineered Components.    Net sales in 2010 increased approximately $53.5 million, or 53.7%, to $153.2 million, as compared to $99.7 million in 2009. Sales of slow speed and compressor engines and related products increased by approximately $22.8 million, as sales of engines and engine parts increased approximately $17.1 million due to increased drilling activity as compared to 2009. Sales of gas compression products and processing and meter run equipment increased by approximately $5.7 million as we continue to introduce new products to add to our well-site content. Sales in our industrial cylinder business increased $17.1 million. Of this increase, approximately $9.8 million relates to the asset acquisition in the second quarter of 2010 and approximately $2.6 million relates to new product introductions during 2010, primarily related to cellular phone tower and breathing air applications. The remainder of the increase relates to the general economic improvement, which began to impact the cylinder business in the second half of 2010. Sales within our specialty fittings business increased approximately $9.2 million, as our new product offerings for automotive fuel systems increased by approximately $5.0 million and sales of our core tube nut products increased by approximately $4.2 million as a result of the economic upturn in 2010. Sales in our precision tool cutting businesses increased approximately $4.5 million, due primarily to the economic recovery in 2010.

        Gross profit within Engineered Components increased approximately $16.9 million to $31.9 million, or 20.8% of sales, in 2010, from $15.0 million, or 15.0% of sales, in 2009, as all businesses within this segment improved their gross profit dollars and margin as compared to 2009. Gross profit increased approximately $8.0 million as a result of the increase in sales levels between years. Our gross profit margin increased approximately 580 basis points in 2010 compared to 2009. The most significant drivers of this

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profitability increase were the productivity and cost reduction efforts implemented in 2009 and early 2010 in response to the economic slowdown in late 2008 and 2009, which the Company is now benefiting from the lower fixed cost structure and efficiencies gained from the productivity initiatives. In addition, this segment experienced low absorption of fixed costs during 2009 due to the historically low sales levels over which to spread such costs. The combination of higher sales levels and lower fixed costs in 2010 based on the aforementioned actions implemented has helped significantly with the increased gross profit margins.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $3.7 million to $14.0 million, or 9.1% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $10.2 million, or 10.3% of sales, in 2009. This increase is primarily related to promotional spending in support of the higher sales levels and incremental legal and transaction costs as a result of acquisition of the Taylor-Wharton assets by our industrial cylinder business. Despite these increases, this segment was able to lower selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales in 2010 compared to 2009, due in part to both cost reduction efforts implemented in 2009 in response to the economic downturn and as a result of the significant increase in sales in 2010 that hasn't required significant additional infrastructure to support.

        Operating profit within Engineered Components increased approximately $12.8 million to $17.4 million, or 11.4% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $4.6 million, or 4.6% of sales, in 2009. The increase in operating profit between years is due primarily to higher sales levels year-over-year, productivity and cost reduction efforts implemented in 2009 that have lowered this segment's cost structure and significantly higher absorption of fixed costs in 2010 compared to 2009 due to the lower fixed cost base over which to spread the higher sales levels in 2010. These increases in operating profit were partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses in 2010 than 2009, primarily resulting from the asset acquisition in June 2010 in our industrial cylinders business and generally higher spending levels in support of our increased sales levels.

        Engineered Components' Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately $13.8 million to $22.5 million, or 14.7% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $8.7 million, or 8.8% of sales, in 2009, consistent with the change in operating profit between years after consideration of the $0.4 million bargain purchase gain recognized in 2010 on the industrial cylinder business' asset acquisition and $0.6 million of increased depreciation and amortization expense in 2010 compared to 2009.

        Cequent Asia Pacific.    Net sales increased $12.1 million, or 18.9%, to $76.0 million in 2010, as compared to $63.9 million in 2009 . Net sales were favorably impacted by approximately $10.6 million of currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were positively impacted as a result of the weaker U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies. Excluding the impact of currency exchange, net sales increased approximately $1.5 million, as market share gains within our original equipment and aftermarket customer bases more than offset the significant boost in sales in the back half of 2009 resulting from an Australian government stimulus that was not offered in 2010.

        Cequent Asia Pacific's gross profit increased $6.0 million to $20.5 million, or 26.9% of net sales in 2010, from approximately $14.5 million, or 22.6% of net sales, in 2009. Of this increase, approximately $3.1 million is as a result of favorable currency exchange and $0.3 million is as a result of higher sales levels year-over-year. Our gross profit margin increased approximately 430 basis points in 2010 compared to 2009. The most significant drivers of this profitability increase were increased utilization of our lower-cost manufacturing plant in Thailand and labor and overhead productivity initiatives to automate and streamline operations in our Australian facilities.

        Cequent Asia Pacific's selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $1.9 million to $8.4 million, or 11.1% of sales in 2010, as compared to $6.5 million, or 10.2% of sales in 2009. Of this increase, approximately $1.5 million is as a result of currency exchange. The remaining $0.4 million increase in spending is primarily in support of our growth initiatives.

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        Cequent Asia Pacific's operating profit increased approximately $4.1 million to $12.1 million, or 15.9% of sales, in 2010, from $8.0 million, or 12.5% of net sales in 2009 . Of this increase, approximately $1.6 million is as a result of favorable currency exchange. The remaining increase in operating profit is as a result of higher sales levels, additional utilization of our lower-cost manufacturing plant in Thailand and our productivity initiatives. These improvements in operating profit were partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses in 2010 in support of our sales growth initiatives.

        Cequent Asia Pacific's Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately $2.6 million to $14.8 million, or 19.5% of net sales in 2010, from $12.2 million, or 19.0% of net sales in 2009 . In 2010, Cequent Asia Pacific recognized approximately $0.3 million of losses on transactions denominated in foreign currencies as compared to $1.4 million of gains on such transactions in 2009. In addition, depreciation expense was approximately $0.1 million higher in 2010 compared to 2009. After consideration of these two items, the change in Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with the change in operating profit between years.

        Cequent North America.    Net sales increased approximately $30.3 million, or 9.8%, to $339.3 million in 2010, as compared to $309.0 million in 2009, primarily due to year-over-year increases within our original equipment, aftermarket, retail and industrial channels, all of which were aided by the economic recovery during 2010. Sales to original equipment manufacturers and suppliers increased approximately $10.9 million in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily due to new product launches at three significant customers. Sales within our aftermarket channel increased approximately $8.5 million in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily due to market share gains and new product introductions. Sales in our retail channel increased approximately $6.1 million in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily due to market share gains at certain of our existing customers to whom we now provide additional products. Sales in our industrial channel increased approximately $3.3 million in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily due to higher levels of trailer-builds, mainly within our horse and agriculture customers.

        Cequent North America's gross profit increased approximately $28.1 million to $93.4 million, or 27.5% of sales, in 2010, from approximately $65.4 million, or 21.2% of sales, in 2009. Of this increase, approximately $6.4 million is as a result of the higher sales levels in 2010 compared to 2009. Our gross profit margin increased approximately 630 basis points in 2010 compared to 2009. The most significant drivers of this increased profitability were our cost reduction efforts implemented throughout 2009 as a part of our Profit Improvement Plan to resize our business and the fixed cost structure to recent demand levels, to identify alternate lower-cost foreign-sourced suppliers and to implement productivity initiatives to increase manufacturing efficiencies. The largest item within the Profit Improvement plan was the closure of the Mosinee, WI manufacturing facility, which was completed in 2009, for which $6.4 million of costs within gross profit were incurred in 2009 to implement the actions. In addition, in 2009, due to the significant drop in sales levels, this segment had low absorption of fixed costs into its inventory, as the costs could not be cut as quickly as the sales demand fell. In 2010, Cequent North America benefited from limited spending for productivity actions, compared to significant spending in 2009, plus realized much higher profitability as it did not need to significantly increase its cost structure to fulfill the higher sales levels.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $2.3 million to $65.5 million, or 19.3% of sales, in 2010, as compared to $63.2 million, or 20.5% of sales, in 2009. Cequent North America incurred approximately $1.6 million of costs associated with implementing the Profit Improvement Plan in 2009, primarily related to severance charges recorded in connection with the closure of the Mosinee, WI facility. The remaining $3.9 million increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, after consideration of the 2009 Profit Improvement Plan charges, primarily result from new sales promotions and other costs previously deferred that support our sales growth initiatives and higher sales levels in 2010.

        Cequent North America's operating profit increased by approximately $31.0 million to $27.8 million, or 8.2% of sales, in 2010, from an operating loss of $3.2 million, or (1.0)% of net sales, in 2009. The increased profitability in 2010 is primarily due to higher sales volumes, the impact realized in 2010 of the

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Profit Improvement Plan, lower-cost sourcing and productivity project initiatives, for which the cost was incurred in 2009, and the incremental margin earned as this segment did not need to significantly increase its fixed cost structure in order to fulfill the higher sales levels in 2010. In addition, this segment recorded a $5.3 million charge in 2009 related to the estimated net unrecoverable future lease obligations for the Mosinee, Wisconsin manufacturing facility that was closed in 2009.

        Cequent North America's Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately $27.5 million to $40.6 million, or 12.0% of sales, in 2010, from $13.1 million, or 4.2% of sales, in 2009. After consideration of approximately $3.4 million of lower depreciation expense in 2010 compared to 2009, due primarily to the closure of the Mosinee, Wisconsin facility, the change in Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with the change in operating profit between years.

        Corporate (Income) Expenses.    Corporate expenses and management fees included in operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA consist of the following:

        Corporate expenses included in operating profit decreased by approximately $0.8 million to $24.7 million in 2010, from $25.5 million in 2009. In 2009, we incurred approximately $2.9 million of costs associated with the termination of our former chief executive officer and an additional approximately $2.9 million of advisory services fees to Heartland Industrial Partners incurred in connection with our debt refinancing activities. The expected decrease based on the aforementioned two items not recurring in 2010 was mostly offset by an increase in employee costs and related benefits attributed to short and long-term incentive equity and cash compensation expense, primarily resulting from the higher attainment of compensation measures associated with the significant improvement in year-over-year sales and operating performance in 2010 compared to 2009. Receivables sales and securitization expenses decreased by approximately $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared with year ended December 31, 2009, as new accounting guidance effective in the first quarter of 2010 required that we account for the facility similar to our credit facility debt. Amounts outstanding under the facility classified on the balance sheet as debt and costs incurred under the facility are shown on the statement of operations as interest expense. In addition, we did not retire any of our senior notes during 2010, compared to retiring $73.2 million face value of our former senior subordinated notes during 2009, resulting in a gross gain of $29.4 million.

        Discontinued Operations.    The results of discontinued operations consist of our medical device line of business, which was sold in May 2010, our property management line of business, which was sold in April 2010 and our specialty laminates, jacketings and insulation tapes line of business, which was sold in February 2009. Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense, was $3.4 million in 2010, while we incurred a loss from discontinued operations of $13.0 million in 2009. See Note 5, "Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale," to our consolidated financial statements attached herein.

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Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2008

        The principal factors impacting us during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with the year ended December 31, 2008 were:

•

the impact of the current global economic recession, resulting in lower sales volumes across all of our reportable segments and reduced earnings in all reportable segments except Packaging;



•

costs incurred and savings realized related to our Profit Improvement Plan, primarily in our Packaging and Cequent North America reportable segments;



•

compression of gross profit margins in certain of our segments due to lower absorption of fixed costs and, during the early 2009, sales of higher-cost inventory;



•

increases in the value of the U.S. dollar as compared to the currencies in other countries where we operate;



•

gains on extinguishment of debt in 2009 resulting from the repurchase of our 9⁷/8% senior subordinated notes at prices below their face value; and



•

costs incurred resulting from the refinancing of our credit facilities and senior notes in December 2009.

        Overall, net sales decreased $210.2 million, or approximately 20.7%, to $803.7 million in 2009, as compared to $1.014 billion in 2008. Although a few of our businesses benefited from new product introductions and new sales promotions during 2009, net sales declined in each of our six reportable segments, generally due to lower sales volumes resulting from the global economic recession. In addition, net sales were unfavorably impacted by approximately $9.6 million as a result of currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted by weaker foreign currencies.

        Gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of sales) approximated 26.0% in both 2009 and 2008, respectively. as we were able to essentially hold our gross profit margin despite the 21% reduction in sales volumes, reduced absorption of fixed costs and unfavorable currency exchange as a result of realization of savings from our cost reduction and alternate sourcing initiatives that began in the fourth quarter of 2008, with the largest impact experienced in our Packaging and Cequent segments.

        Operating profit (loss) margin (operating profit (loss) as a percentage of sales) approximated 6.2% and (6.8)% in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Operating profit increased approximately $119.3 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. In 2008, we experienced a negative operating profit margin as a result of approximately $167.1 million in impairment of asset and goodwill charges. We did not record any similar charges in 2009. We were able to essentially hold our gross profit margin, and although selling, general and administrative expenses were higher as a percentage of sales, we lowered such costs by approximately $15.1 million compared to 2008 based on cost reduction and discretionary spend actions in response to the lower sales volumes.

        Interest expense decreased approximately $10.7 million to $45.1 million in 2009, as compared to $55.7 million in 2008. The decrease in interest expense was primarily the result of a decrease in our effective weighted average interest rate on variable rate U.S. borrowings to approximately 3.9% during 2009, from approximately 5.3% during 2008. Partially offsetting this reduction in interest rates was an increase in our weighted-average U.S. borrowings from approximately $297.1 million in 2008 to approximately $307.8 million in 2009, as we utilized our revolving credit facility as our primary source to fund operations in 2009 (as it was our lowest cost source of borrowings), as compared to utilizing our securitization facility as the primary source of operational funding in 2008 when it was the more cost-effective alternative. In addition, we recorded approximately $5.8 million lower interest expense related to our senior subordinated notes in 2009 compared to 2008, due primarily to approximately $73.2 million of note repurchases during 2009.

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        Our net gain on extinguishment of debt increased approximately $14.3 million to a gain of $18.0 million in 2009, from a gain of $3.7 million in 2008. During the first three quarters of 2009, we retired approximately $73.2 million face value of our senior subordinated notes, resulting in a gross gain of $29.4 million, less $1.1 million in debt extinguishment costs. During the fourth quarter, we incurred approximately $10.3 million in net debt extinguishment costs related to the refinance of our credit facility and senior notes. In 2008, we recognized a $3.9 million gross gain on the repurchase of $8.0 million face value of senior subordinated notes, less $0.2 million in debt extinguishment costs.

        Other expense, net decreased approximately $0.5 million to $1.8 million in 2009, from $2.3 million in 2008. During 2009, we incurred approximately $2.1 million of expenses in connection with the use of our receivables securitization facility and sales of receivables to fund working capital needs and experienced approximately $0.7 million of gains on transactions denominated in foreign currencies. During 2008, we incurred approximately $2.6 million of expenses in connection with the use of our receivables securitization facility and sales of receivables to fund working capital needs and experienced approximately $0.8 million of gains on transactions denominated in foreign currencies. There were no other individually significant amounts incurred or changes in amounts incurred in either 2009 or 2008.

        The effective income tax rate for 2009 was 39.6% compared to (0.4)% for 2008. In 2009, we reported domestic and foreign pre-tax income of approximately $2.8 million and $18.3 million, respectively. In 2009, we recorded $1.1 million tax expense associated with deferred tax adjustments for prior years and tax expense of $1.7 million related to increases in valuation allowances related to our change in judgments about the effects of tax restrictions on utilizing certain deferred tax assets, including a foreign capital loss carryforward and certain state and foreign tax operating loss carryforwards. The pre-tax loss in 2008 is primarily the result of a goodwill impairment charge of $166.6 million, for which we received an income tax benefit of only $15.2 million, which significantly reduced our effective tax rate in 2008. In 2008, we also recorded a tax benefit of approximately $2.9 million primarily associated with the release of a capital loss valuation allowance.

        Net income from continuing operations increased approximately $136.8 million to income of $12.7 million, or 1.6% of sales in 2009, as compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $(124.1) million, or (12.2)% of sales in 2008. In 2008, we recorded a $167.1 million pre-tax charge primarily related to the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets. We did not incur a similar charge in 2009. After consideration of the 2008 impairment charge, 2009 net income from continuing operations decreased by approximately $30.3 million compared to 2008. The most significant factor contributing to this decrease was the decline in our net sales of 20.7% due primarily to the global economic recession, under which sales declined in each of our reportable segments. The decrease in net income resulting from the lower sales levels, reduced absorption of fixed costs due to the decline in sales levels and unfavorable currency exchange experienced during 2009 more that offset the aforementioned increase in gains on debt extinguishment of $14.3 million, reduced selling, general and administrative expenses of $15.1 million, reduced interest expense of $10.7 million and cost savings from our cost reduction and alternative sourcing initiatives in 2009 as compared to 2008.

        Adjusted EBITDA margin from continuing operations (Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of sales) approximated 14.8% and 13.7% in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA decreased approximately $20.4 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. After consideration of the $167.1 million impairment of goodwill and asset charges in 2008, $25.3 million higher gross gain on debt extinguishment resulting from the repurchase of our senior subordinated notes in 2009 compared to 2008, an increase in year-over-year depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $1.5 million and approximately $0.5 million lower year-over-year expense for receivables sales and securitization, the change in Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with the change in operating profit between years.

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        See below for a discussion of operating results by reportable segment.

        Packaging.    Net sales decreased $16.3 million, or approximately 10.1%, to $145.1 million in 2009, as compared to $161.3 million in 2008. Overall, sales decreased approximately $6.6 million due to currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies. Sales of our specialty dispensing products and new product introductions increased by approximately $16.1 million in 2010 compared to 2009, due primarily to increased sales into the personal care markets, pharmaceuticals and the food industries. Sales of our industrial closures, rings and levers decreased by approximately $25.7 million in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily as a result of the continued general economic slowdown.

        Packaging's gross profit decreased approximately $0.6 million to $52.9 million, or 36.5% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $53.5 million, or 33.2% of sales, in 2008. The decrease in gross profit between years was primarily attributed to lower sales volumes of our industrial products and unfavorable currency exchange. However, our gross profit margin improved 330 basis points in 2009 compared to 2008 due to the impact of the implementation of productivity projects, improved matching of resources with lower industrial sales volumes and lower costs for certain commodities due to alternate sourcing or improved internal processing.

        Packaging's selling, general and administrative costs decreased approximately $2.8 million to $19.6 million, or 13.5% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $22.4 million, or 13.9% of sales, in 2008. Discretionary spending was reduced from 2008 levels, and additional selling, general and administrative cost reduction plans were implemented to better align the fixed cost structure with current business requirements resulting from the general economic decline.

        Packaging's operating profit (loss) increased $64.3 million to $33.1 million, or 22.8% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $31.2 million, or (19.3)% of sales, in 2008. The increase in operating profit profit between years is due primarily to the recognition of a $62.5 million goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge recorded in 2008. After consideration of the 2008 impairment charge, operating profit improved as compared to 2008 due to the impact of our productivity projects, alternate sourcing of commodities and reduced selling, general and administrative costs.

        Packaging's Adjusted EBITDA increased $0.7 million to $45.7 million, or 31.5% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $45.0 million, or 27.9% of sales, in 2008, consistent with the change in operating profit between years after consideration of the $62.5 million goodwill impairment in 2008 and losses on transactions denominated in foreign currencies of approximately $0.5 million in 2009 as compared to gains on similar transactions of $0.5 million in 2008.

        Energy.    Net sales for 2009 decreased approximately $21.2 million, or 16.0%, to $111.5 million, as compared to $132.8 million in 2008. Due to the significant decrease in oil commodity pricing in 2009 compared to 2008, petrochemical companies deferred maintenance of their refineries and did not begin new programs that require our replacement and specialty gaskets and hardware. Thus, our sales levels have decreased not only to the petrochemical company customers, but also to our engineering, construction and original equipment customers who supply our products to the refineries.

        Gross profit within Energy decreased $7.4 million to $30.8 million, or 27.6% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $38.1 million, or 28.7% of sales in 2008. Gross profit decreased approximately $6.1 million as a result of the reduction in sales levels between years. The remaining decrease in gross profit is primarily attributable to lower absorption of fixed costs as a result of the lower sales volumes.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses within Energy decreased $0.9 million to $19.5 million, or 17.5% of net sales, in 2009, as compared to $20.5 million, or 15.4% of net sales, in 2008. This decrease was primarily due to reduced sales commissions and lower compensation and other administrative costs in an effort to match spending and headcount to current production volumes. These decreases were partially

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offset by costs associated with the opening of two new branches, one in Salt Lake City, Utah, and one in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 2009, which increased selling, general and administrative expenses in 2009 by approximately $0.9 million.

        Overall, operating profit within Energy decreased $6.5 million to $11.1 million, or 10% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $17.7 million, or 13.3% of sales, in 2008, due principally to lower sales volumes and lower absorption of fixed costs, which were partially offset by reductions in compensation and other administrative costs as a result of management actions in response to lower sales volumes and increased costs related to our two new branches opened in 2009.

        Energy's Adjusted EBITDA decreased $6.3 million to $13.1 million, or 11.8% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $19.4 million, or 14.6% of sales, in 2008, consistent with the decrease in operating profit between years.

        Aerospace & Defense.    Net sales in 2009 decreased $20.9 million, or approximately 21.9%, to $74.4 million, as compared $95.3 million in 2008. Sales in our aerospace business decreased approximately $17.1 million, primarily due to lower blind-bolt fastener sales resulting from the consolidation of the distributor segment of our customer base and inventory reductions by our distribution customers, who are adjusting inventory levels in response to slowing of production levels by aircraft manufacturers and as a result of the current economic uncertainty. This decrease was partially offset by sales of new products, primarily titanium screws, of approximately $4.5 million during 2009, which increased our content on certain aircraft. Sales in our defense business decreased approximately $3.8 million. Revenue associated with managing the relocation and closure of the defense facility increased approximately $2.6 million in 2009 compared to 2008. In addition, we had approximately $1.7 million of new product sales during 2009. These increases in revenue were more than offset by a decrease in cartridge sales of approximately $8.1 million in 2009 compared with 2008, as our customer had been building its inventory throughout 2008 in advance of the relocation of the facility, which began in second quarter 2009.

        Gross profit within Aerospace & Defense decreased $10.4 million to $30.3 million, or 40.7% of sales, in 2009, from $40.7 million, or 42.7% of sales, in 2008. Gross profit decreased approximately $8.9 million as a result of the decline in sales levels between years. This decrease in gross profit was also impacted by lower absorption of fixed costs as a result of lower production and/or sales levels, primarily within our aerospace business, and a less favorable product sales mix.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $0.3 million to $8.5 million, or 11.4% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $8.8 million, or 9.2% of sales, in 2008, due primarily to reduced sales commissions and expenses and discretionary spending in light of the decrease in sales levels between years.

        Overall, operating profit within Aerospace & Defense decreased $10.1 million to $21.8 million, or 29.3% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $31.9 million, or 33.4% of sales, in 2008, primarily due to lower sales volumes, lower absorption of fixed costs and a less favorable product sales mix, which were partially offset by reduced selling, general and administrative expenses.

        Aerospace & Defense's Adjusted EBITDA decreased $9.8 million to $24.0 million, or 32.3% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $33.8 million, or 35.5% of sales, in 2008, consistent with the decrease in operating profit between years.

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        Engineered Components.    Net sales in 2009 decreased $100.3 million, or approximately 50.2%, to $99.7 million, as compared to $200.0 million in 2008. Sales of slow speed and compressor engines and related products within our engine business decreased by approximately $43.6 million, due to a reduction of drilling activity in North America and customers deferring completion of previously drilled wells. In addition, 2008 sales levels in our engine business reached record levels due in part to high demand for engines in advance of emissions law changes that became effective on July 1, 2008. Sales of compression products increased slightly over 2008 levels, as the Company continues to develop new products to add to its well-site content. Sales in our industrial cylinder and precision tool cutting businesses decreased $50.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively, due primarily to the global economic recession, which significantly impacted industrial applications and products. Sales within our specialty fittings business declined $1.3 million due to lower sales of our core tube nut products which have been significantly impacted by the continued weak domestic automotive market demand. This decrease was partially offset by new product offerings for automotive fuel systems.

        Gross profit within Engineered Components decreased $27.7 million to $15.0 million, or 15.0% of sales, in 2009, from $42.7 million, or 21.4% of sales, in 2008. Gross profit decreased approximately $21.4 million as a result of the decline in sales levels between years. This decrease in gross profit was also impacted by sales of higher-cost inventory, primarily related to steel, in excess of the businesses' ability to secure price increases and lower absorption of fixed costs as a result of lower production and/or sales levels.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $3.1 million to $10.2 million, or 10.3% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $13.4 million, or 6.7% of sales, in 2008, due primarily to lower sales commissions as a result of the decrease in sales levels between years, and reduced compensation and discretionary spending as a result of action items taken in response to the lower sales levels.

        Operating profit within Engineered Components decreased $5.4 million to $4.6 million or 4.6%, in 2009, as compared to $10.0 million, or 5.0% of sales, in 2008. Operating profit increased in 2009 from 2008 due to the recognition of a $19.2 million goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge recorded in 2008, for which there was no similar charge in 2009. After consideration of the 2008 impairment charge, operating profit declined $24.6 million, primarily due to lower sales volumes, reduced absorption of fixed costs and sales of higher-cost inventory, which were partially offset by reduced sales commissions, compensation expense and discretionary spending within selling, general and administrative expenses.

        Engineered Components' Adjusted EBITDA decreased approximately $24.3 million to $8.7 million, or 8.8% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $33.0 million, or 16.5% of sales, in 2008, consistent with the change in operating profit between years after consideration of the 2008 goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge.

        Cequent Asia Pacific.    Net sales decreased $1.7 million, or 2.5%, to 63.9 million in 2009, as compared to $65.6 million in 2008. Net sales were unfavorably impacted by approximately $2.4 million of currency exchange, as our reported results in U.S. dollars were negatively impacted as a result of the stronger US dollar relative to foreign currencies. Excluding the impact of currency exchange, net sales increased approximately $0.7 million, due primarily to significant increases in sales in the second half of 2009 as compared to the first half of 2009 and 2008 levels, primarily resulting from a government incentive stimulus in Australia. The increases in sales resulting from the stimulus were mostly offset by decreases in certain original equipment manufacturer revenue and reduced sales in the first half of 2009 due to the overall global economic recession.

        Cequent Asia Pacific's gross profit increased $2.7 million to $14.5 million, or 22.6% of net sales in 2009, from approximately $11.8 million, or 17.9% of net sales, in 2008. The increase in gross profit between years was primarily due to material and labor productivity initiatives implemented in 2009 and by increased utilization of our lower-cost manufacturing plant in Thailand.

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        Cequent Asia Pacific's selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $0.2 million to $6.5 million, or 10.2% of sales in 2009, as compared to $6.7 million, or 10.3% of sales in 2008, as this segment held its spending levels at levels consistent with 2008 due to the relatively flat sales change year-over-year.

        Cequent Asia Pacific's operating profit increased approximately $18.0 million to $8.0 million, or 12.5% of sales, in 2009, from an operating loss of $10.0 million, or (15.2)% of net sales in 2008. The increase in operating profit between years is due primarily to the recognition of a $15.0 million goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge recorded in 2008. After consideration of this charge in 2008, the remaining increase of approximately $3.0 million in operating profit between years was primarily due to improved material and labor margins earned as a result of our productivity initiatives implemented in 2009 and increased utilization of our lower-cost Thailand manufacturing plant.

        Cequent Asia Pacific's Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately $4.8 million to $12.2 million, or 19.0% of net sales in 2009, from $7.4 million, or 11.2% of net sales in 2008. In 2009, Cequent Asia Pacific recognized approximately $1.4 million of gains on transactions denominated in foreign currencies as compared to $0.6 million of losses on such transactions in 2008. In addition, depreciation expense was approximately $0.1 million lower in 2009 compared to 2008. After consideration of these two items and consideration of the $15.0 million 2008 goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge, the change in Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with the change in operating profit between years.

        Cequent North America.    Net sales decreased approximately $49.8 million, or 13.9%, to $309.0 million in 2009, as compared to $358.8 million in 2008. Our retail sales increased approximately $1.4 million due to additional business at a few large customers and the addition of several new customers during 2009, which were partially offset by reduced sales volumes to existing retail customers due to the economic uncertainty. Our aftermarket and original equipment sales decreased by $51.2 million, due to the continued soft demand in the majority of the end markets we serve due to the current uncertain economic conditions.

        Cequent North America's gross profit decreased approximately $11.2 million to $65.4 million, or 21.2% of sales, in 2009, from approximately $76.6 million, or 21.4% of sales, in 2008. The decline in gross profit between years was primarily due to lower sales volumes resulting from the economic uncertainty, sales of higher-cost inventory in excess of the businesses' ability to secure sales price increases during the first two quarters of 2009, lower absorption of fixed costs as a result of lower production and/or sales levels and accelerated depreciation expense related to machinery and equipment in our Mosinee, Wisconsin manufacturing facility that is no longer utilized following the closure in late 2009.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $8.2 million to $63.2 million, or 20.5% of sales, in 2009, as compared to $71.4 million, or 19.9% of sales, in 2008, due primarily to reductions in salaries, sales promotions, sales commissions and other discretionary spending, all as a part of our Profit Improvement Plan to better align the spending and cost structure with the current demand and production levels. These decreases were partially offset by severance charges of approximately $1.6 million incurred in 2009 associated with the involuntary termination of employees located at our Mosinee, Wisconsin manufacturing facility, which was closed during the fourth quarter of 2009.

        Cequent North America's operating loss was reduced by approximately $62.3 million to a loss of $3.2 million, or (1.0)% of sales, in 2009, from an operating loss of $65.5 million, or (18.2)% of net sales, in 2008. The reduction in operating loss between years is due primarily to the recognition of a $70.5 million goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge recorded in 2008. After consideration of this charge in 2008, the decline in operating profit between years was primarily due to lower sales volumes, sales of higher-cost inventory, lower absorption of fixed costs and costs associated with the closure of the Mosinee, Wisconsin manufacturing facility, including the $5.3 million charge associated with our estimate of the net unrecoverable future lease obligations, which were partially offset by cost savings realized as a result of actions taken as part of the Profit Improvement Plan.

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        Cequent North America's Adjusted EBITDA decreased approximately $7.9 million to $13.1 million, or 4.2% of sales, in 2009, from $21.0 million, or 5.8% of sales, in 2008. In 2009, Cequent North America recognized approximately $0.1 million in losses on transactions denominated in foreign currencies as compared to gains of approximately $0.9 million on such transactions in 2008. In addition, depreciation expense was approximately $1.4 million higher in 2009 compared to 2008, primarily as a result of accelerated depreciation incurred in 2009 in connection with certain machinery and equipment that will no longer be utilized following the closure of the Mosinee facility. After consideration of these two items and consideration of the 2008 $70.5 million goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charge, the change in Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with the change in operating profit between years.

        Corporate Expenses.    Corporate expenses and management fees included in operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA consist of the following:

        Corporate expenses included in our operating profit increased by approximately $3.3 million to $25.5 million in 2009, from $22.2 million in 2008. During 2009, we recorded a charge of approximately $2.9 million associated with the termination of our former chief executive officer. During 2008, we recorded a charge of approximately $1.6 million related to severance related to our corporate office restructuring. In addition, we incurred approximately $2.9 million of advisory services fees from Heartland Industrial Partners in connection with the debt refinancing activities in the fourth quarter of 2009. The net increase of $1.3 million in severance costs and $2.9 million in management fees and expenses was partially offset by a $0.9 million reduction in discretionary and overall spending levels in 2009. See gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt and other expense, net at the beginning of the 2009 compared to 2008 discussion for explanations for changes in receivables sales and securitization expenses and gain on repurchase of bonds.

        Discontinued Operations.    The results of discontinued operations consist of our medical device line of business and our N.I. Industries property management line of business, both of which are classified as held for sale for all periods presented, as well as our specialty laminates, jacketings and insulation tapes business, which was sold in February 2009. Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit, was $13.0 million and $12.1 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively. See Note 5, "Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale," to our consolidated financial statements included herein.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows

        Cash provided by operating activities in 2010 was approximately $95.0 million, as compared to $83.5 million in 2009. Significant changes in cash flows provided by operating activities and the reasons for such changes are as follows:

•

In 2010, the Company generated $93.8 million in cash flows, based on the reported net income from operations and after considering the effects of non-cash items related to gains/losses on disposition of PP&E, bargain purchase gains, depreciation, amortization, compensation, changes in deferred taxes and other, net. In 2009, the Company generated $21.3 million based on the reported net loss from operations and after considering the effects of non-cash items.



•

In 2010, activity related to the use of our accounts receivable facility resulted in a net cash source of approximately $2.1 million, compared to a net cash use of approximately $15.6 million in 2009. The primary reason for the change between years was due to the lower borrowing requirements in 2009 compared to 2008, as we did not require any funding from our receivables facility at December 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009, compared to $20.0 million of borrowings at December 31, 2008.



•

Increases in receivables, generated from higher sales levels in 2010 compared to 2009, resulted in a use of cash of approximately $19.2 million in 2010, while decreases in receivables, based on the significantly lower sales in 2009 compared to 2008 due to the global economic recession, resulted in a source of cash of approximately $30.4 million in 2009. The change between years is due primarily to the increase in year-over-year sales, as our days sales outstanding of receivables were consistent in the mid-to-upper 40 day range as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.



•

For the year ended December 31, 2010, we used approximately $12.8 million of cash for investment in our inventories. For the year ended December 31, 2009, we reduced our investment in inventory, which resulted in a cash source of approximately $51.8 million. In 2009, due to the significantly lower demand levels resulting from the economic recession, management had a concerted focus to lower its investment in inventory, increase inventory turns and better align inventory levels with then-current end market demand. During 2010, management has continued its focus on inventory levels, primarily on improving inventory turns. While gross inventory levels are higher in 2010 than 2009, our days sales of inventory on hand has declined slightly, as we have not needed to make a significant investment in additional inventory in 2010 despite the 17.3% increase in sales year-over-year.



•

For the year ended December 31, 2010 , accounts payable and accrued liabilities resulted in a net source of cash of approximately $31.7 million, as compared to a net use of cash of $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities is primarily a result of increased production levels during 2010. The increase was partially offset by our improved inventory management, as we continue to optimize inventory levels with changes in end market demand.



•

Prepaid expenses and other assets resulted in a use of cash of approximately $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2009, prepaid expenses and other assets were a source of cash of approximately $7.0 million. Although sales levels increased by 17.3% in 2010 compared to 2009, prepaid expense and other assets increased only slightly from 2009 levels.

        Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 was approximately $37.9 million, as compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $9.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. During 2010, we paid approximately $30.8 million for business acquisitions, primarily for the asset acquisition from Taylor-Wharton within our Engineered Components reportable segment and the stock acquisition of South Texas Bolt & Fitting within our Energy reportable segment. We also incurred

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approximately $21.9 million in capital expenditures, which was a significant increase from 2009 levels of $14.1 million as a result of both the better economic conditions and funding a greater number of growth and productivity initiatives. The cash used for acquisitions and capital expenditures was partially offset by cash received from the sale of our property management line of business, our medical device line of business and other asset dispositions of approximately $14.8 million. During 2009, we generated approximately $23.2 million of cash from business and asset dispositions, primarily related to the sale of our specialty laminates, jacketings and insulation tapes line of business. We also incurred approximately $14.1 million in capital expenditures to support our growth initiatives.

        Net cash used by financing activities in 2010 was approximately $20.2 million, as compared to net cash used by financing activities of approximately $87.1 million for 2009. During 2010, we decreased amounts outstanding on our revolving credit facilities by approximately $6.1 million as a result of our strong operating cash flows, as we did not require any borrowings on our available revolving facilities as of December 31, 2010. In addition, during 2010, we used approximately $12.1 million to pay down senior credit facilities in Australia and the U.S. During 2009, we used approximately $43.8 million of available cash to retire $73.2 million face value of our 9⁷/8% senior subordinated notes due 2012 via open market purchases. During the fourth quarter of 2009, we refinanced our long-term debt, amending and extending our credit facility, retiring our senior subordinated notes and issuing new senior secured notes, paying approximately $16.7 million in fees and expenses. In conjunction with our debt refinance, we reduced the total amount of senior notes outstanding by approximately $11.6 million. In addition, we reduced our borrowings on our revolving credit facilities in 2009 by approximately $4.4 million and used approximately $10.6 million to pay down senior credit facilities in Australia, Italy and the U.S.

Our Debt and Other Commitments

        During the fourth quarter of 2009, we amended and restated our credit facilities, primarily to extend our maturity dates. Prior to the amendment and restatement, the credit facilities consisted of a $90.0 million revolving credit facility, a $60.0 million deposit-linked supplemental revolving credit facility and a $260.0 million term loan facility, of which $252.2 million was outstanding. Under the amended and restated credit facilities, the revolving credit facility was reduced to $83.0 million, while the supplemental revolving credit facility and term loan facility remained at $60.0 million and $252.2 million, respectively (collectively, the "Credit Facility"). During the second half of 2010, we elected to reduce our supplemental revolving credit facility from $60.0 million to $20.0 million. Key terms as of December 31, 2010 are as follows:

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        At December 31, 2010, approximately $249.0 million was outstanding on the term loan and no amounts were outstanding on the revolving credit facilities. Under the Credit Facility, up to $25.0 million in the aggregate is available in 2010 to be used for one or more permitted acquisitions subject to certain conditions and other outstanding borrowings and issued letters of credit.

        Under the Credit Agreement, we are required to make a prepayment of our term loan pursuant to an excess cash flow sweep provision, equal to 50% of the computed amount of excess cash flow generated during the year, as defined in the agreement. For 2010, we are required to prepay $15.0 million of term loan under this provision, with such amount included in current maturities of long-term debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. No amounts were required to be prepaid for 2009 under this provision.

        Amounts drawn under our revolving credit facilities fluctuate daily based upon our working capital and other ordinary course needs. Availability under our revolving credit facilities depends upon, among other things, compliance with our credit agreement's financial covenants. Our credit facilities contain negative and affirmative covenants and other requirements affecting us and our subsidiaries, including among others: restrictions on incurrence of debt (except for permitted acquisitions and subordinated indebtedness), liens, mergers, investments, loans, advances, guarantee obligations, acquisitions, asset dispositions, sale-leaseback transactions, hedging agreements, dividends and other restricted junior payments, stock repurchases, transactions with affiliates, restrictive agreements and amendments to charters, by-laws, and other material documents. The terms of our credit agreement require us and our subsidiaries to meet certain restrictive financial covenants and ratios computed quarterly, including a leverage ratio (total consolidated indebtedness plus outstanding amounts under the accounts receivable securitization facility over consolidated EBITDA, as defined), interest expense coverage ratio (consolidated EBITDA, as defined, over cash interest expense, as defined) and a capital expenditures covenant. The most restrictive of these financial covenants are the leverage ratio and interest expense coverage ratio. Our permitted leverage ratio under the Credit Facility is 5.00 to 1.00 as of December 31, 2010, 4.75 to 1.00 for January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011, 4.50 to 1.00 for July 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011, 4.25 to 1.00 for October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012, 4.00 to 1.00 for October 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 and 3.50 to 1.00 from July 1, 2013 and thereafter. Our actual leverage ratio was 3.06 to 1.00 at December 31, 2010. Our permitted interest expense coverage ratio under the Credit Facility is 2.00 to 1.00 as of December 31, 2010, 2.00 to 1.00 for July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, 2.25 to 1.00 for July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, 2.40 to 1.00 for July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, 2.50 to 1.00 for January 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013 and 2.75 to 1.00 for October 1, 2013 and thereafter. Our actual interest expense coverage ratio was 3.10 to 1.00 at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with our financial covenants.

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        The following is a reconciliation of net income, as reported, which is a GAAP measure of our operating results, to Consolidated Bank EBITDA, as defined in our credit agreement, for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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        In 2010, two of our international businesses were also parties to loan agreements with banks, denominated in their local currencies. In the United Kingdom, we were party to a revolving debt agreement with a bank in the amount of £1.0 million. During the fourth quarter of 2010, we paid-in-full and closed the facility. In Australia, we are party to a debt agreement with a bank in the amount of $5.0 million Australian dollars. At December 31, 2010, we had no amounts outstanding under this agreement.

        Another important source of liquidity is our $75.0 million accounts receivable facility, under which we have the ability to sell eligible accounts receivable to a third-party multi-seller receivables funding company. Through December 28, 2009, we were party to a 364-day accounts receivable facility through TSPC, Inc. ("TSPC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary, to sell trade accounts receivable of substantially all of our domestic business operations. On December 29, 2009, we entered into a new three year accounts receivable facility through TSPC. This facility replaced our existing 364-day facility, which was due in February 2010. As of December 31, 2010, we had no amounts funded under the facility with $41.4 million available but not utilized.

        At December 31, 2010, our available revolving credit capacity of $103.0 million under our Credit Facility was reduced by approximately $23.7 million of letters of credit outstanding as of that date. The letters of credit are used for a variety of purposes, including support of certain operating lease agreements, vendor payment terms and other subsidiary operating activities, and to meet various states' requirements to self-insure workers' compensation claims, including incurred but not reported claims. After consideration of outstanding letters of credit at December 31, 2010, we had $79.3 million of revolving credit capacity available, in addition to $41.4 million of available liquidity under our accounts receivable facility discussed above. After consideration of our leverage covenant, we had aggregate available funding under our revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities of $120.7 million at December 31, 2010.

        Our available revolving credit capacity under the Credit Facility, after consideration of approximately $23.7 million in letters of credit outstanding related thereto, is approximately $79.3 million, while our available liquidity under our accounts receivable facility ranges from $32 million to $59 million, depending on the level of our receivables outstanding at a given point in time during the year. We rely upon our cash flow from operations and available liquidity under our revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities to fund our debt service obligations and other contractual commitments, working capital and capital expenditure requirements. Generally, we use available liquidity under these facilities to fund capital expenditures and daily working capital requirements during the first half of the year, as we experience some seasonality in our two Cequent reportable segments, primarily within Cequent North America. Sales of towing and trailering products within this segment are generally stronger in the second and third quarters, as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors and retailers acquire product for the spring and summer selling seasons. None of our other reportable segments experiences any significant seasonal fluctuations in their respective businesses. During the second half of the year, the investment in working capital is reduced and amounts outstanding under our revolving credit and receivable facilities are paid down. To further illustrate this fluctuation within the year, our weighted-average daily amounts outstanding under our revolving credit and receivable facilities during the first half of 2010 approximated $43 million, while weighted-average daily amounts outstanding approximated $20 million over the second half of 2010. Weighted-average daily amounts outstanding under these facilities were significantly less in 2010 than in 2009 ($77 million in the front half of the year and $45 million in the back half of the year) due to significant levels of cash generated from operations during 2010 as a result of our improved sales and earnings levels. At the end of each quarter, we use cash on hand from our domestic and foreign subsidiaries to pay down amounts outstanding under our revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities.

        Cash management related to our revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities is centralized. We monitor our cash position and available liquidity on a daily basis and forecast our cash needs on a weekly basis within the current quarter and on a monthly basis outside the current quarter over the remainder of the year. Our business and related cash forecasts are updated monthly. Given aggregate available funding

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under our revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities of $120.7 million at December 31, 2010, after consideration of the aforementioned leverage restrictions, and based on forecasted cash sources and requirements inherent in our business plans, we believe that our liquidity and capital resources, including anticipated cash flows from operations, will be sufficient to meet our debt service, capital expenditure and other short-term and long-term obligation needs for the foreseeable future.

        During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company issued $250.0 million principal amount of 9³/4% senior secured notes due 2017 ("Senior Notes") at a discount of $5.0 million. The Senior Notes were issued in a private placement under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The net proceeds of the offering of approximately $239.7 million, together with $29.3 million of cash on hand, were used to repurchase $256.5 million principal amount of the Company's 9⁷/8% senior subordinated notes due 2012 ("Sub Notes"), to pay tender costs and expenses related to repurchase of the Sub Notes, and to pay fees and expenses related to issuance of the Senior Notes. The tender costs, fees and expenses for both the Sub Notes and Senior Notes amounted to approximately $12.5 million, of which $6.5 million were deferred as debt issuance costs in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and $6.0 million were included as a reduction in the net gain on extinguishment of debt line item in the accompanying statement of operations. Interest on the Senior Notes accrues at the rate of 9.75% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15.

        The Senior Notes are general senior secured obligations of the Company and are pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes.

        Prior to December 15, 2012, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 109.750% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date plus additional interest, if any, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the original principal amount of Senior Notes issued remains outstanding after such redemption, and provided further that each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such equity offering.

        During the first three quarters of 2009, the Company utilized approximately $43.8 million of cash on hand to retire $73.2 million of face value of Sub Notes, resulting in a net gain of approximately $28.3 million, after considering non-cash debt extinguishment costs of $1.1 million. We did not retire any notes during 2010.

        Principal payments required under the Credit Facility term loan are: $15.0 million within 95 days of December 31, 2010, or earlier, as defined in the credit agreement, under the aforementioned excess cash flow sweep provision, $0.7 million due each calendar quarter through September 30, 2015, with $23.3 million due on August 2, 2013 and $198.3 million due on December 15, 2015.

        Our Credit Facility is guaranteed on a senior secured basis by us and all of our domestic subsidiaries, other than our special purpose receivables subsidiary, on a joint and several basis. In addition, our obligations and the guarantees thereof are secured by substantially all the assets of us and the guarantors.

        Our exposure to interest rate risk results from variable rates under our credit facility. Borrowings under our credit facility bear interest at various rates some of which are subject to a 2% LIBOR-floor, as more fully described above and in Note 12, "Long-term Debt," to the accompanying 2010 consolidated financial statements.

        At December 31, 2010, LIBOR approximated 0.26%. Based on our variable rate-based borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2010, and after consideration of the 2% LIBOR-floor applicable to $17.7 million of our supplemental revolving credit facility and $223.4 million of our term loan, a 1% increase in the per annum interest rate for borrowings under our U.S. and foreign credit facilities would increase our interest expense by approximately $ 0.3 million annually. The impact of a further decrease in LIBOR on our annual interest expense would not be material.

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        We have other cash commitments related to leases. We account for these lease transactions as operating leases and annual rent expense for continuing operations related thereto approximated $15.4 million. We expect to continue to utilize leasing as a financing strategy in the future to meet capital expenditure needs and to reduce debt levels.

        In addition to rent expense from continuing operations, we also have approximately $2.2 million in annual future lease obligations related to businesses that have been discontinued, of which approximately 64% relates to the facility for the former specialty laminates, jacketings and insulation tapes line of business (which extends through 2024) and 36% relates to the Wood Dale facility in the former industrial fastening business (which extends through 2022).

Market Risk

        We conduct business in various locations throughout the world and are subject to market risk due to changes in the value of foreign currencies. We do not currently use derivative financial instruments to manage these risks. The functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries are the local currency in the country of domicile. We manage these operating activities at the local level and revenues and costs are generally denominated in local currencies; however, results of operations and assets and liabilities reported in U.S. dollars will fluctuate with changes in exchange rates between such local currencies and the U.S. dollar.

Common Stock

        We voluntarily transferred our stock exchange listing in the U.S. from The New York Stock Exchange to the NASDAQ Global Market^SM effective August 24, 2009. Effective January 3, 2011, TriMas became eligible for inclusion, and is now listed, in the NASDAQ Global Select Market^SM. Our stock continues to trade under the symbol "TRS."

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

        Through December 28, 2009, we were party to a 364-day accounts receivable facility to sell, on an ongoing basis, the trade accounts receivable of certain business operations to our wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose subsidiary, TSPC. Subject to certain conditions, TSPC could from time to time sell an undivided fractional ownership interest in the pool of domestic receivables, up to approximately $55.0 million, to a third party multi-seller receivables funding company, or conduit. On December 29, 2009, we entered into a new three year accounts receivable facility through TSPC. This facility replaced our existing 364-day facility, which was due in February 2010. Our new three year facility is an important source of liquidity and increased the level of committed funding from $55.0 million to $75.0 million.

        Prior to January 1, 2010, amounts outstanding under the 364-day accounts receivable facility qualified for off-balance sheet accounting treatment, and costs and fees associated with the facility were included in other, net in our consolidated statement of operations. Effective January 1, 2010, based on changes in the accounting literature governing receivables sales, amounts funded under the new three year facility would be on-balance sheet as a component of current or long-term debt, and expenses related thereto are included in interest expense in our consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not have any amounts outstanding under the facility as of December 31, 2010 or 2009, but had $41.4 million and $32.1 million, respectively, available but not utilized.

        In future periods, if we are unable to renew or replace this facility, it could materially and adversely affect our liquidity.

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Commitments and Contingencies

        Under various agreements, we are obligated to make future cash payments in fixed amounts. These include payments under our long-term debt agreements, rent payments required under operating lease agreements and certain capital equipment, certain benefit obligations and principal and interest obligations on our term loan and Senior Notes. Interest on the extended term loans is based on LIBOR plus 400 basis points per annum with a 2.00% LIBOR floor, and interest on the non-extended term loans is based on LIBOR plus 225 basis points, which equaled 6.0% and 2.6%, at December 31, 2010, respectively. These rates were used to estimate our future interest obligations with respect to the term loan included in the table below.

        The following table summarizes our expected fixed cash obligations over various future periods related to these items as of December 31, 2010.

        As of December 31, 2010, we had a $83.0 million revolving credit facility, a $20.0 million deposit-linked supplemental revolving credit facility and a $75.0 million accounts receivable facility. Throughout the year, outstanding balances under these facilities fluctuate and we incur additional interest obligations on such variable outstanding debt.

        Under the Credit Agreement, we are required to make a prepayment of our term loan pursuant to an excess cash flow sweep provision, equal to 50% of the computed amount of excess cash flow generated during the year, as defined in the agreement. For 2010, we are required to prepay $15.0 million of term loan under this provision, with such amount included in current maturities of long-term debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. No amounts were required to be prepaid for 2009 under this provision.

        As of December 31, 2010, we are contingently liable for standby letters of credit totaling $23.7 million issued on our behalf by financial institutions under our credit facilities. These letters of credit are used for a variety of purposes, including to support certain operating lease agreements, vendor payment terms and other subsidiary operating activities, and to meet various states' requirements to self-insure workers' compensation claims, including incurred but not reported claims.

Credit Rating

        We and certain of our outstanding debt obligations are rated by Standard & Poor's and Moody's. On August 23, 2010, Moody's upgraded our credit ratings and assigned a rating of B3 to our senior secured notes, assigned a rating of B2 to our corporate family rating, assigned a rating of Ba3 to our senior secured credit facility, and affirmed our outlook as stable. On August 11, 2010, Standard & Poor's upgraded our outlook to stable and affirmed our credit facilities, senior secured notes, and corporate credit ratings of BB, B- and B+, respectively. If our credit ratings were to decline, our ability to access certain financial

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markets may become limited, the perception of us in the view of our customers, suppliers and security holders may worsen and as a result, we may be adversely affected.

Outlook

        As we entered 2010, we were coming off a very challenging 2009, where all but one of our reportable segments experienced significant declines in net sales and profitability levels compared to 2008 and historical levels. In response to the global economic recession, we implemented several initiatives in attempts to reduce our fixed cost structure, as evidenced by the success of our Profit Improvement Plan to realize $32 million of cost savings in 2009, and to generate additional cash from operations, as evidenced by the $83.5 million of cash flow from operating activities, primarily from our working capital initiatives and management, despite being in an economic recession. We also were able to refinance our debt structure and extend our significant debt maturities, providing for enhanced flexibility and potential liquidity.

        Strategic and operational initiatives implemented in 2009 provided us a solid foundation in 2010. As the U.S. economy began to improve in late 2009 and into 2010, we were able to capitalize on the operating leverage associated with our cost reduction activities, and were able to meet the higher end market demand without adding significant fixed costs back to our business. This fact, combined with our ongoing productivity and alternate sourcing initiatives, allowed us to achieve a 370 basis point improvement in gross profit margin on a 17.3% increase in net sales in 2010 compared to 2009. Net sales and profitability improved in five of our six reportable segments in 2010 compared to 2009, with significant improvement in Packaging, Engineered Components and both Cequent North America and Cequent Asia Pacific.

        In addition to our core growth and ongoing productivity initiatives, we were able to successfully complete two bolt-on acquisitions and integrate them into our legacy businesses. We will continue to look to identify similar opportunities for complimentary business acquisitions within our focused markets and execute on strategies to grow our existing business platforms.

        We enter 2011 cautiously optimistic that, given a continued economic recovery, we can continue to build upon the improvements made in the past two years to reduce our cost structure, increase our flexibility and instill a culture of continuous productivity in all that we do. Our top priorities for 2011 are consistent with those from 2010 and our strategic aspirations: continuing to identify and execute on cost savings and productivity initiatives that fund core growth, reduce cycle times and secure our position as best cost producer, to grow revenue via new products and expand our core products in non-U.S. markets, to continue to reduce our debt leverage and to increase our available liquidity. While our current debt structure does not have significant current debt maturities and allows for operating flexibility as we pursue and execute on our strategic priorities, significant deterioration in general economic conditions would adversely impact our anticipated revenue growth and financial performance.

Impact of New Accounting Standards

        As of December 31, 2010, there are no recently issued accounting pronouncements we have not yet adopted that would have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

Critical Accounting Policies

        The following discussion of accounting policies is intended to supplement the accounting policies presented in our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10K. Certain of our accounting policies require the application of significant judgment by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These judgments are based on our historical experience, our evaluation of business and macroeconomic trends, and information from other outside sources, as appropriate.

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        Receivables.    Receivables are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts of approximately $4.6 million and $5.7 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We monitor our exposure for credit losses and maintain adequate allowances for doubtful accounts. We determine these allowances based on our historical write-off experience and/or specific customer circumstances and provide such allowances when amounts are reasonably estimable and it is probable a loss has been incurred. We do not have concentrations of accounts receivable with a single customer or group of customers and do not believe that significant credit risk exists due to our diverse customer base. Trade accounts receivable of substantially all domestic business operations may be sold, on an ongoing basis, to TSPC, but remain included in our consolidated balance sheet.

        Depreciation and Amortization.    Depreciation is computed principally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Annual depreciation rates are as follows: buildings and buildings/land improvements, 10 to 40 years, and machinery and equipment, 3 to 15 years. Capitalized debt issuance costs are amortized over the underlying terms of the related debt securities. Customer relationship intangibles are amortized over periods ranging from 5 to 25 years, while technology and other intangibles are amortized over periods ranging from 1 to 30 years.

        Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Definite-Lived Intangible Assets.    We review, on at least a quarterly basis, the financial performance of each business unit for indicators of impairment. In reviewing for impairment indicators, we also consider events or changes in circumstances such as business prospects, customer retention, market trends, potential product obsolescence, competitive activities and other economic factors. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying value of an asset group exceeds the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset group. The impairment loss recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value.

        Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles.    We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis by comparing the estimated fair value of each of its reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets to the respective carrying value on the balance sheet. More frequent evaluations may be required if the Company experiences changes in its business climate or as a result of other triggering events that take place. If carrying value exceeds fair value, a possible impairment exists and further evaluation is performed.

        The Company determines its reporting units at the individual operating segment level, or one level below, when there is discrete financial information available that is regularly reviewed by segment management for evaluating operating results. For purposes of the Company's 2010 goodwill impairment test, the Company had eleven reporting units within its six reportable segments.

        We estimate the fair value of its reporting units utilizing a combination of three valuation techniques: discounted cash flow (Income Approach), market comparable method (Market Approach) and market capitalization (Direct Market Data Method). The Income Approach is based on management's operating budget and internal five-year forecast. This approach utilizes forward-looking assumptions and projections, but considers factors unique to each of our businesses and related long-range plans that may not be comparable to other companies and that are not yet publicly available. The Market Approach considers potentially comparable companies and transactions within the industries where our reporting units participate, and applies their trading multiples to the our reporting units. This approach utilizes data from actual marketplace transactions, but reliance on its results is limited by difficulty in identifying companies that are specifically comparable to the our reporting units, considering the diversity of the our businesses, their relative sizes and levels of complexity. We also use the Direct Market Data Method by comparing its book value and the estimates of fair value of the reporting units to our market capitalization as of and at dates near the annual testing date. Management uses this comparison as additional evidence of the fair value of the Company, as its market capitalization may be suppressed by other factors such as the control premium associated with a controlling shareholder, the Company's high degree of leverage, and the limited float of the Company's common stock. Management evaluates and weights the results based on a

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combination of the Income and Market Approaches, and, in situations where the Income Approach results differ significantly from the Market and Direct Market Data Approaches, management re-evaluates and adjusts, if necessary, its assumptions.

        The Income Approach requires us to calculate the present value of estimated future cash flows. In making this calculation, management makes significant estimates regarding future revenues and expenses, projected capital expenditures, changes in working capital and the appropriate discount rate. The projections also include significant assumptions related to including current and estimated economic trends and outlook, costs of raw materials, consideration of our market capitalization as compared to the estimated fair values of our reporting units determined using the Income Approach and other factors which are beyond management's control.

        We utilize the estimates of fair value determined under the Income Approach as the basis for its indefinite-lived intangible asset testing. Management utilizes the royalty relief method to estimate the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets, basing the estimate on discounted future cash flows related to the net amount of royalty expenses avoided due to the existence of the trademark or tradename. Management then compares the estimated fair value to the carrying value. If carrying value exceeds fair value, an impairment charge is recorded.

        Future declines in sales and/or operating profit, declines in the Company's stock price, or other changes in our business or the markets for its products could result in further impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets.

        Pension and Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions.    Annual net periodic expense and accrued benefit obligations recorded with respect to our defined benefit plans are determined on an actuarial basis. We determine assumptions used in the actuarial calculations which impact reported plan obligations and expense, considering trends and changes in the current economic environment in determining the most appropriate assumptions to utilize as of our measurement date. Annually, we review the actual experience compared to the most significant assumptions used and make adjustments to the assumptions, if warranted. The healthcare trend rates are reviewed with the actuaries based upon the results of their review of claims experience. Discount rates are based upon an expected benefit payments duration analysis and the equivalent average yield rate for high-quality fixed-income investments. Pension benefits are funded through deposits with trustees and the expected long-term rate of return on fund assets is based upon actual historical returns modified for known changes in the market and any expected change in investment policy. Postretirement benefits are not funded and our policy is to pay these benefits as they become due. Certain accounting guidance, including the guidance applicable to pensions, does not require immediate recognition of the effects of a deviation between actual and assumed experience or the revision of an estimate. This approach allows the favorable and unfavorable effects that fall within an acceptable range to be netted.

        Income Taxes.    We compute income taxes using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred income taxes using current enacted tax rates are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. We determine valuation allowances based on an assessment of positive and negative evidence on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis and record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. We record interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

        Derivative Financial Instruments.    Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives which qualify for hedge accounting is recorded in other comprehensive income and is recognized in the

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statement of operations when the hedged item affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of a hedge is recognized in income immediately. We have historically entered into interest rate swaps to hedge cash flows associated with variable rate debt.

        Other Loss Reserves.    We have other loss exposures related to environmental claims, asbestos claims and litigation. Establishing loss reserves for these matters requires the use of estimates and judgment in regard to risk exposure and ultimate liability. We are generally self-insured for losses and liabilities related principally to workers' compensation, health and welfare claims and comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability. Generally, we are responsible for up to $0.5 million per occurrence under our retention program for workers' compensation, between $0.3 million and $2.0 million per occurrence under our retention programs for comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability, and have a $0.3 million per occurrence stop-loss limit with respect to our self-insured group medical plan. We accrue loss reserves up to our retention amounts based upon our estimates of the ultimate liability for claims incurred, including an estimate of related litigation defense costs, and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported using actuarial assumptions about future events. We accrue for such items in accordance with the Contingencies Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification when such amounts are reasonably estimable and probable. We utilize known facts and historical trends, as well as actuarial valuations in determining estimated required reserves. Changes in assumptions for factors such as medical costs and actual experience could cause these estimates to change significantly.

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        In the normal course of business, we are exposed to market risk associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, insurable risks due to property damage, employee and liability claims, and other uncertainties in the financial and credit markets, which may impact demand for our products. We are also subject to interest risk as it relates to long-term debt, for which we have historically and may prospectively employ derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of variable interest rates. See Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for details about our primary market risks, and the objectives and strategies used to manage these risks. Also see Note 12, "Long-term Debt," in the notes to the financial statements for additional information.

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Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
TriMas Corporation:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of TriMas Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the financial statement schedule in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. These consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule based on our audits.

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

        In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of TriMas Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

        We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), TriMas Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 28, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Detroit, Michigan
February 28, 2011

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TriMas Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheet

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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TriMas Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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TriMas Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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TriMas Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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TRIMAS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

        TriMas Corporation ("TriMas" or the "Company"), and its consolidated subsidiaries, is a global manufacturer and distributor of products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Effective October 1, 2010, the Company's reportable segments were realigned to be consistent with its operating structure and strategic priorities. The Company previously defined its five reportable segments as Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components and Cequent. Following the realignment, the Company reports the following six segments: Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components, Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America. Packaging offers a broad spectrum of closure and dispensing solutions in industrial and consumer packaging applications. Energy is a manufacturer and distributor of specialty gaskets, fasteners and bolts for the oil and gas, petrochemical and industrial markets. Aerospace & Defense designs and manufactures a diverse range of industrial products for use in focused markets within the aerospace and defense markets. Engineered Components designs and manufactures a diverse range of industrial products for use in focused markets within the oil and gas, industrial, automotive and medical equipment markets. Cequent North America and Cequent Asia Pacific manufacture and distribute custom-engineered towing, trailering and electrical products. See Note 19, "Segment Information," for further information on each of the Company's reportable segments.

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

        As of December 31, 2010, there are no recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted by the Company that would have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Principles of Consolidation.    The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts and transactions of TriMas and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

        Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property and equipment, goodwill and other intangibles, valuation allowances for receivables, inventories and deferred income tax assets, valuation of derivatives, estimated future unrecoverable lease costs, estimated unrecognized tax benefits, reserves for legal and product liability matters and assets and obligations related to employee benefits. Actual results may differ from such estimates and assumptions.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents.    The Company considers cash on hand and on deposit and investments in all highly liquid debt instruments with initial maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

        Receivables.    Receivables are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts of approximately $4.6 million and $5.7 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company monitors its exposure for credit losses and maintains allowances for doubtful accounts based upon the Company's best

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TRIMAS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balances. The Company does not believe that significant credit risk exists due to its diverse customer base.

        Sales of Receivables.    The Company may, from time to time, sell certain of its receivables to third parties. Sales of receivables are recognized at the point in which the receivables sold are transferred beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, the purchaser has the right to pledge or exchange the receivables and the Company has surrendered control over the transferred receivables.

        Inventories.    Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Direct materials, direct labor and allocations of variable and fixed manufacturing-related overhead are included in inventory cost.

        Property and Equipment.    Property and equipment additions, including significant improvements, are recorded at cost. Upon retirement or disposal of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is included in the accompanying statement of operations. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred.

        Depreciation and Amortization.    Depreciation is computed principally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Annual depreciation rates are as follows: buildings and buildings/land improvements, 10 to 40 years, and machinery and equipment, 3 to 15 years. Capitalized debt issuance costs are amortized over the underlying terms of the related debt securities. Customer relationship intangibles are amortized over periods ranging from 5 to 25 years, while technology and other intangibles are amortized over periods ranging from 1 to 30 years.

        Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Definite-Lived Intangible Assets.    The Company reviews, on at least a quarterly basis, the financial performance of each business unit for indicators of impairment. In reviewing for impairment indicators, the Company also considers events or changes in circumstances such as business prospects, customer retention, market trends, potential product obsolescence, competitive activities and other economic factors. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying value of an asset group exceeds the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset group. The impairment loss recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value.

        Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles.    The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis by comparing the estimated fair value of each of its reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets to the respective carrying value on the balance sheet. More frequent evaluations may be required if the Company experiences changes in its business climate or as a result of other triggering events that take place. If carrying value exceeds fair value, a possible impairment exists and further evaluation is performed.

        The Company determines its reporting units at the individual operating segment level, or one level below, when there is discrete financial information available that is regularly reviewed by segment management for evaluating operating results. For purposes of the Company's 2010 goodwill impairment test, the Company had eleven reporting units within its six reportable segments.

        The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units utilizing a combination of three valuation techniques: discounted cash flow (Income Approach), market comparable method (Market Approach) and market capitalization (Direct Market Data Method). The Income Approach is based on management's

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3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

operating budget and internal five-year forecast. This approach utilizes forward-looking assumptions and projections, but considers factors unique to each of the Company's businesses and related long-range plans that may not be comparable to other companies and that are not yet publicly available. The Market Approach considers potentially comparable companies and transactions within the industries where the Company's reporting units participate, and applies their trading multiples to the Company's reporting units. This approach utilizes data from actual marketplace transactions, but reliance on its results is limited by difficulty in identifying companies that are specifically comparable to the Company's reporting units, considering the diversity of the Company's businesses, their relative sizes and levels of complexity. The Company also uses the Direct Market Data Method by comparing its book value and the estimates of fair value of the reporting units to the Company's market capitalization as of and at dates near the annual testing date. Management uses this comparison as additional evidence of the fair value of the Company, as its market capitalization may be suppressed by other factors such as the control premium associated with a controlling shareholder, the Company's high degree of leverage, and the limited float of the Company's common stock. Management evaluates and weights the results based on a combination of the Income and Market Approaches, and, in situations where the Income Approach results differ significantly from the Market and Direct Market Data Approaches, management re-evaluates and adjusts, if necessary, its assumptions.

        The Income Approach requires the Company to calculate the present value of estimated future cash flows. In making this calculation, management makes significant estimates regarding future revenues and expenses, projected capital expenditures, changes in working capital and the appropriate discount rate. The projections also include significant assumptions related to including current and estimated economic trends and outlook, costs of raw materials, consideration of the Company's market capitalization as compared to the estimated fair values of the Company's reporting units determined using the Income Approach and other factors which are beyond management's control.

        The Company utilizes the estimates of fair value determined under the Income Approach as the basis for its indefinite-lived intangible asset testing. Management utilizes the royalty relief method to estimate the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets, basing the estimate on discounted future cash flows related to the net amount of royalty expenses avoided due to the existence of the trademark or tradename. Management then compares the estimated fair value to the carrying value. If carrying value exceeds fair value, an impairment charge is recorded.

        Future declines in sales and/or operating profit, declines in the Company's stock price, or other changes in the Company's business or the markets for its products could result in further impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets.

        Self-insurance.    The Company is generally self-insured for losses and liabilities related to workers' compensation, health and welfare claims and comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability. The Company is generally responsible for up to $0.5 million per occurrence under its retention program for workers' compensation, between $0.3 million and $2.0 million per occurrence under its retention programs for comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability, and has a $0.3 million per occurrence stop-loss limit with respect to its self-insured group medical plan. Total insurance limits under these retention programs vary by year for comprehensive general, product and vehicle liability and extend to the applicable statutory limits for workers' compensation. Reserves for claims losses, including an estimate of related litigation defense costs, are recorded based upon the Company's estimates of the aggregate liability for

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3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

claims incurred using actuarial assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions for factors such as medical costs and actual experience could cause these estimates to change.

        Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.    Annual net periodic pension expense and benefit liabilities under defined benefit pension plans are determined on an actuarial basis. Assumptions used in the actuarial calculations have a significant impact on plan obligations and expense. Annually, the Company reviews the actual experience compared to the more significant assumptions used and makes adjustments to the assumptions, if warranted. The healthcare trend rates are reviewed with the actuaries based upon the results of their review of claims experience. Discount rates are based upon an expected benefit payments duration analysis and the equivalent average yield rate for high-quality fixed-income investments. Pension benefits are funded through deposits with trustees and the expected long-term rate of return on fund assets is based upon actual historical returns modified for known changes in the market and any expected change in investment policy. Postretirement benefits are not funded and it is the Company's policy to pay these benefits as they become due.

        Revenue Recognition.    Revenues from product sales are recognized when products are shipped or services are provided to customers, the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss, the sales price is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Net sales is comprised of gross revenues less estimates of expected returns, trade discounts and customer allowances, which include incentives such as cooperative advertising agreements, volume discounts and other supply agreements in connection with various programs. Such deductions are recorded during the period the related revenue is recognized.

        Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales includes material, labor and overhead costs incurred in the manufacture of products sold in the period. Material costs include raw material, purchased components, outside processing and inbound freight costs. Overhead costs consist of variable and fixed manufacturing costs, wages and fringe benefits, and purchasing, receiving and inspection costs.

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses include the following: costs related to the advertising, sale, marketing and distribution of our products, shipping and handling costs, amortization of customer intangible assets, costs of finance, human resources, legal functions, executive management costs and other administrative expenses.

        Shipping and Handling Expenses.    Freight costs are included in cost of sales and shipping and handling expenses, including those of Cequent North America's distribution network, are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations. Shipping and handling costs were $4.1 million, $3.1 million and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

        Advertising and Sales Promotion Costs.    Advertising and sales promotion costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were approximately $6.1 million, $4.8 million and $6.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations.

        Research and Development Costs.    Research and development ("R&D") costs are expensed as incurred. R&D expenses were approximately $0.7 million, $0.9 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are included in cost of sales in the accompanying statement of operations.

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3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        Income Taxes.    The Company computes income taxes using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred income taxes using current enacted tax rates are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company determines valuation allowances based on an assessment of positive and negative evidence on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis and records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

        Foreign Currency Translation.    The financial statements of subsidiaries located outside of the United States are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which they operate as the functional currency. Net foreign currency transaction gains (losses) were approximately $(1.1) million, $0.7 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are included in other expense, net in the accompanying statement of operations. When translating into U.S. dollars, income and expense items are translated at average monthly exchange rates and assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments resulting from translating the functional currency into U.S. dollars are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of shareholders' equity.

        Derivative Financial Instruments.    The Company records all derivative financial instruments at fair value on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities, and changes in their fair values are immediately recognized in earnings if the derivatives do not qualify as effective hedges. If a derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, then changes in the fair value of the derivative are offset against the changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged item. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, then the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income until the underlying hedged item is recognized in earnings or the forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring. The Company formally documents hedging relationships for all derivative transactions and the underlying hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions. See Note 13, "Derivative Instruments," for further information on the Company's financial instruments.

        Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    The Company accounts for its financial instruments at fair value. In accounting for and disclosing the fair value of these instruments, the Company uses the following hierarchy:

•

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date;



•

Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly;



•

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

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3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        Valuation of the interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts are based on the income approach which uses observable inputs such as interest rate yield curves and forward currency exchange rates.

        The carrying value of financial instruments reported in the balance sheet for current assets and current liabilities approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. The Company's term loan traded at 100.25% and 95.5% of par value as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company's senior secured notes traded at approximately 108.5% and 98.5% of par value as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The valuation of the term loan and senior secured notes was determined based on Level 2 inputs.

        Earnings Per Share.    Net earnings are divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year to calculate basic earnings per share. Diluted earnings per share are calculated to give effect to stock options and other stock-based awards. The calculation of diluted earnings per share included 118,841 and 64,882 restricted shares for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2008, no restricted shares were included in the computation of net income (loss) per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive. Options to purchase 1,742,086, 1,839,344, and 1,596,213 shares of common stock were outstanding at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The calculation of diluted earnings per share included 554,974 and 337,629 options to purchase shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively; however, for the years ended December 31, 2008, no options to purchase shares of common stock were included the computation of net income (loss) per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

        Stock-based Compensation.    The Company recognizes compensation expense related to equity awards based on their fair values as of the grant date.

        Other Comprehensive Income.    The Company refers to other comprehensive income as revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States are included in comprehensive income but are excluded from net earnings as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders' equity. Other comprehensive income is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments, amortization of prior service costs and unrecognized gains and losses in actuarial assumptions and changes in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives.

        The components of accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31 are as follows:

        Reclassifications.    Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

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4. Acquisitions

        On November 1, 2010, the Company acquired the stock of South Texas Bolt & Fitting, Inc. ("STBF") for the purchase price of $18.0 million, net of cash acquired. STBF is a diversified manufacturer and distributor of various types of stud bolts, industrial fasteners and specialty products to the oil field and industrial markets, and had approximately $14.5 million in revenue during the twelve months ended June 30, 2010. STBF has been integrated into the Company's Lamons business within the Energy reportable segment.

        On June 8, 2010, the Company's Norris Cylinder subsidiary, included in the Company's Engineered Components reportable segment, completed the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities from Taylor-Wharton International, LLC ("TWI") and its subsidiary, TW Cylinders, related to TWI's high and low-pressure cylinder business for $11.1 million, including a net working capital adjustment of $0.1 million, which was finalized during the fourth quarter of 2010. The acquisition was completed following approval by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware pursuant to Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The assets purchased generated approximately $17 million in revenue during 2009. The fair value of the net assets acquired exceeded the purchase price, resulting in a bargain purchase gain of approximately $0.4 million, which is included in other expense, net in the accompanying consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010.

        The assets acquired, liabilities assumed and results of operations of the aforementioned acquisitions are not significant compared to the overall assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Company.

5. Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale

        During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company committed to a plan to exit its medical device line of business which was part of the Engineered Components operating segment. The Company recognized an impairment charge of approximately $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, primarily to write-down the value of its property and equipment and customer relationship intangible assets to their estimated fair values. The Company also recorded a charge of approximately $0.4 million related to severance benefits for approximately 40 employees to be involuntarily terminated as a result of this action. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recognized an impairment charge of approximately $5.6 million as a part of the Company's annual goodwill impairment test to fully-impair the recorded goodwill of the medical device business. The business was sold in May 2010 for cash proceeds of $2.0 million, which approximated the net book value of the assets and liabilities sold.

        During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company entered into a binding agreement to sell certain assets within its specialty laminates, jacketings and insulation tapes line of business, which was part of the Packaging reportable segment. The Company recognized an impairment charge of approximately $12.3 million in December 2008 to write-down the value of goodwill and intangible assets to fair value in this business and recorded a charge of approximately $1.8 million related to severance benefits for approximately 125 employees to be terminated upon completion of the sale. The sale was completed in February 2009 for cash proceeds of approximately $21.0 million. The Company's manufacturing facility is subject to a lease agreement expiring in 2024 that was not assumed by the purchaser of the business. During first quarter 2009, upon the cease use date of the facility, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of approximately $10.7 million for future lease obligations on the facility, net of estimated sublease recoveries. During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company re-evaluated its estimate of unrecoverable future obligations and recorded an additional charge of approximately $3.5 million based on the further deterioration of real estate values and market comparables for this facility.

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5. Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale (Continued)

        During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company committed to a plan to sell its property management line of business. The sale was completed in April 2010 for cash proceeds of $13.0 million, resulting in a pre-tax gain on sale of approximately $10.1 million during the second quarter of 2010.

        The assets and liabilities of the Wood Dale, IL operating location that was part of the Company's discontinued industrial fastening business were sold in December 2006, but purchaser did not assume the lease agreement for the facility that expires in 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company re-evaluated its estimate of unrecoverable future obligations and recorded charges of $3.7 million. The facility remains available for sublease as of December 31, 2010.

        The results of the aforementioned businesses are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

        Results of discontinued operations are summarized as follows:

        Assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations as of December 31, are summarized as follows:

6. Mosinee Plant Closure

        In March 2009, the Company announced plans to close its manufacturing facility in Mosinee, Wisconsin, moving production and distribution functions currently in Mosinee to lower-cost manufacturing facilities or to third-party sourcing partners. The Company completed the move and ceased operations in Mosinee in 2009. During the fourth quarter of 2009, upon the cease use date of the facility, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge within its Cequent North America reportable segment of approximately $5.3 million for future lease obligations on the facility, net of estimated lease recoveries. During 2009, the Company recorded charges of approximately $1.8 million, primarily related to cash costs for severance

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6. Mosinee Plant Closure (Continued)

benefits for approximately 160 employees to be involuntarily terminated as part of the closure. The Company fully paid all severance benefits during 2009 and 2010.

        In addition, the Company recorded approximately $2.6 million of accelerated depreciation expense in 2009 as a result of shortening the expected useful lives on certain machinery and equipment assets that the Company no longer utilized following the facility closure (see Note 10).

7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        The Company conducted its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment tests as of October 1, 2010. For purposes of the goodwill test, the Company gave equal weight to the Income and Market Approaches, while utilizing the Direct Market Data Approach for additional evidence of fair value. Significant management assumptions used under the Income Approach were weighted average costs of capital ranging from 12.0%—15.0% and estimated residual growth rates ranging from 0%—2.0%. In considering the weighted average cost of capital for each reporting unit, management considered the level of risk inherent in the cash flow projections based on historical attainment of its projections and current market conditions. Upon completion of its annual goodwill impairment test in 2010, the Company determined that each of its reporting units with recorded goodwill passed the Step I impairment test, with the estimated fair value of each of these reporting units exceeding the carrying value by more than 30%. In addition, a 1% reduction in residual growth rate combined with a 1% increase in the weighted average cost of capital would not have changed the conclusions reached under the Step I impairment test. For purposes of the indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test, the Company utilized the Income Approach used in the goodwill impairment test and applied the royalty relief method to estimate the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. Upon completion of its annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test, the Company determined that each of its indefinite-lived intangible assets had a fair value in excess of its carrying value.

        In completing its annual goodwill impairment test in 2009, the Company determined that each of its reporting units with recorded goodwill passed the Step I impairment test, with the estimated fair value of each of those reporting units exceeding the carry value by more than 20%. In addition, a 1% reduction in residual growth rate combined with 1% increase in the weighted average cost of capital would not have changed the conclusions reached under the Step I impairment test. In completing its annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test in 2009, the Company determined that each of its indefinite-lived intangible assets had a fair value in excess of its carrying value.

        Upon completion of its annual tests in 2008, the Company determined that certain reporting units failed Step I of the goodwill impairment test, requiring a Step II test to determine the amount, if any, of an impairment charge. In addition, for certain indefinite-lived intangible assets , the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded the fair value. Based on the results of Step II testing for goodwill and the results of the indefinite-lived intangible asset testing, the Company recorded pre-tax goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charges in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $61.2 million and $8.8 million, respectively, in its Cequent North America segment, and $58.7 million and $3.8 million, respectively, in the Company's Packaging segment. The Company recorded a pre-tax goodwill impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $19.2 million in its Engineered Components segment and $14.9 million in its Cequent Asia Pacific segment.

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7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Continued)

        Future declines in sales and operating profit or declines in the Company's stock price may result in additional goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairments.

        Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

        In 2009, the Company identified a balance sheet gross-up of goodwill and deferred tax liabilities in the amount of $9.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively, which were incorrectly established in purchase accounting for business combinations occurring prior to 2004. Management corrected the affected accounts in 2009, which resulted in a non-cash charge to income tax expense of $1.1 million.

        The gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization of the Company's other intangibles as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 are summarized below. The Company amortizes these assets over periods ranging from 1 to 30 years.

        Amortization expense related to technology and other intangibles was approximately $3.6 million, $4.2 million, and $3.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and is

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7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Continued)

included in cost of sales in the accompanying statement of operations. Amortization expense related to customer intangibles was approximately $10.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations.

        Estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2010 is as follows: 2011—$13.8 million, 2012—$13.6 million, 2013—$11.8 million, 2014—$11.6 million, and 2015—$11.6 million.

8. Receivables Facility

        On December 29, 2009, the Company entered into a new three year accounts receivable facility through TSPC, Inc. ("TSPC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary, to sell trade accounts receivable of substantially all of the Company's domestic business operations. Under this facility, TSPC, from time to time, may sell an undivided fractional ownership interest in the pool of receivables up to approximately $75.0 million to a third party multi-seller receivables funding company. The Company did not have any amounts outstanding under the facility as of December 31, 2010 or 2009, but had $41.4 million and $32.1 million, respectively, available but not utilized. The net amount financed under the facility is less than the face amount of accounts receivable by an amount that approximates the purchaser's financing costs. As of December 31, 2010, the cost of funds under this facility consisted of a 3-month London Interbank Offered Rates ("LIBOR")-based rate plus a usage fee of 3.00% and a fee on the unused portion of 0.75%. Aggregate costs incurred under this facility were $1.1 million in 2010, and are included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. The Company incurred approximately $1.3 million in fees and expenses in 2009 to complete the new facility which expires on December 29, 2012. The Company did not sell any receivables under the new facility during December 2009.

        The costs of funds incurred are determined by calculating the estimated present value of the receivables sold compared to their carrying amount. The estimated present value factor is based on historical collection experience and a discount rate based on a 3-month LIBOR-based rate plus the usage fee discussed above and is computed in accordance with the terms of the agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the costs of funds under the facility were based on an average liquidation period of the portfolio of approximately 1.5 months and an average discount rate of 1.7%.

        Through December 28, 2009, TriMas was party to a 364-day accounts receivable facility through TSPC. Under this facility, TSPC, from time to time, was able to sell an undivided fractional ownership interest in the pool of receivables up to approximately $55.0 million to a third party multi-seller receivables funding company. The net proceeds of the sale of receivables were less than the face amount of accounts receivable sold by an amount that approximated the purchaser's financing costs. The cost of funds under this facility consisted of a commercial paper-based rate plus a usage fee of 4.5% and 1.05% in 2009 and 2008, respectively, and a fee on the unused portion of the facility of 2.25% and 0.5% during 2009 and 2008, respectively. Previously, the Company completed its annual renewal of this facility in February 2009, incurring approximately $0.4 million. Aggregate costs incurred under this facility, including renewal costs, were $1.2 million and $2.3 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively, and such amounts are included in other expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

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8. Receivables Facility (Continued)

        In addition, the Company from time to time may sell an undivided interest in accounts receivable under factoring arrangements at three of its European subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company's funding under these arrangements was approximately $2.1 million and $4.5 million, respectively. Sales of the European subsidiaries' accounts receivable were sold at a discount from face value of approximately 0.6%, 1.9% and 2.2%, at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Costs associated with the Company's European factoring arrangements were approximately $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are included in other expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

9. Inventories

        Inventories consist of the following components:

10. Property and Equipment, Net

        Property and equipment consists of the following components:

        Depreciation expense was approximately $23.6 million, $26.7 million and $25.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, of which $20.9 million, $23.8 million and $21.8 million, respectively, is included in cost of sales in the accompanying statement of operations, and $2.7 million, $2.9 million and $3.7 million, respectively, is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations.

        In 2009, in connection with the closure of the Mosinee facility (see Note 6), the Company recorded accelerated depreciation expense of approximately $2.6 million, which is included in the $23.8 million of depreciation expense recorded in cost of sales. This charge related to shortening the expected useful lives on certain machinery and equipment.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

10. Property and Equipment, Net (Continued)

        In 2008, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.5 million to the write-down of the net book value of certain machinery and equipment within the Cequent North America segment to net realizable value.

11. Accrued Liabilities

12. Long-term Debt

        The Company's long-term debt consists of the following:

U.S. Bank Debt

        The Company is a party to a credit facility consisting of a $83.0 million revolving credit facility, a $20.0 million deposit-linked supplemental revolving credit facility and a $252.2 million term loan facility (collectively, the "Credit Facility"). The Company amended and restated its Credit Facility in 2009,

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12. Long-term Debt (Continued)

primarily to extend the maturity dates. Below is a summary of the key terms of the Company's available and outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2010:

        If, prior to December 16, 2011, the Company prepays the extended portion of its term loan ($223.4 million) and/or $20.0 million deposit-linked supplemental revolving credit facility using a new term loan facility or a synthetic letter of credit (or similar) facility with lower interest rate margins, then the Company is required to pay 1% premium of the aggregate principal amount so prepaid.

        Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is required to make a prepayment of its term loan pursuant to an excess cash flow sweep provision, equal to 50% of the computed amount of excess cash flow generated during the year, as defined in the agreement. For 2010, the Company is required to prepay $15.0 million of term loan under this provision, with such amount included in current maturities of long-term debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. No amounts were required to be prepaid for 2009 under this provision.

        During the second half of 2010, the Company elected to reduce its supplemental revolving credit facility from $60.0 million to $20.0 million. Under the Credit Facility, the Company is also able to issue letters of credit, not to exceed $65.0 million in aggregate, against its revolving credit facility commitments. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had letters of credit of approximately $23.7 million and $31.2 million, respectively, issued and outstanding.

        The Company had $0 million and $5.1 million outstanding under its revolving credit facility at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and had an additional $79.3 million and $101.7 million potentially available after giving effect to approximately $23.7 million and $31.2 million of letters of credit issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. However, including availability under its accounts receivable facility and after consideration of leverage restrictions contained in the Credit Facility, the Company had $120.7 million and $114.3 million of capacity available to it for general corporate purposes under its revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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12. Long-term Debt (Continued)

        The bank debt is an obligation of the Company and its subsidiaries. Although the terms of the Credit Facility do not restrict the Company's subsidiaries from making distributions to it in respect of its 9³/4% senior secured notes, it does contain certain other limitations on the distribution of funds from TriMas Company LLC, the principal subsidiary, to the Company. The restricted net assets of the guarantor subsidiaries, of approximately $336.9 million and $270.4 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are presented in the financial information in Note 22, "Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Information." The Credit Facility also contains various negative and affirmative covenants and other requirements affecting the Company and its subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement also contains various negative and affirmative covenants and other requirements affecting the Company and its subsidiaries, including: restrictions on incurrence of debt, except for permitted acquisitions and subordinated indebtedness, liens, mergers, investments, loans, advances, guarantee obligations, acquisitions, asset dispositions, sale-leaseback transactions, hedging agreements, dividends and other restricted junior payments, stock repurchases, transactions with affiliates, restrictive agreements and amendments to charters, by-laws, and other material documents. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company and its subsidiaries to meet certain restrictive financial covenants and ratios computed quarterly, including a leverage ratio (total consolidated indebtedness plus outstanding amounts under the accounts receivable facility over consolidated EBITDA, as defined), interest expense ratio (consolidated EBITDA, as defined, over cash interest expense, as defined) and a capital expenditures covenant. The Company was in compliance with its covenants at December 31, 2010.

        Principal payments required under the Credit Facility term loan are: $15.0 million within 95 days of December 31, 2010, or earlier, as defined in the credit agreement, under the aforementioned excess cash flow sweep provision, $0.7 million due each calendar quarter through September 30, 2015, with $23.3 million due on August 2, 2013 and $198.3 million due on December 15, 2015.

Non-U.S. Bank Debt

        During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company's subsidiary in the United Kingdom paid-in-full and closed its revolving credit facility. At December 31, 2009, the balance outstanding under this facility was approximately $0.8 million at an interest rate of 2.5%.

        In Australia, the Company's subsidiary is party to a debt agreement which matures March 31, 2011 and is secured by substantially all the assets of the subsidiary. At December 31, 2010, the Company's subsidiary had no amounts outstanding under this agreement. At December 31, 2009, the balance outstanding under this agreement was approximately $11.7 million at an average interest rate of approximately 6.6%.

Notes

        During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company issued $250.0 million principal amount of 9³/4% senior secured notes due 2017 ("Senior Notes") at a discount of $5.0 million. The net proceeds of the offering, approximately $239.7 million, together with $29.3 million of cash on hand, were used to repurchase $256.5 million principal amount of the Company's 9⁷/8% senior subordinated notes due 2012 ("Sub Notes"), for tender costs and expenses related thereto, and to pay fees and expenses related to the Notes. The tender costs, fees and expenses for both the Senior Notes and Sub Notes amounted to approximately $12.5 million, of which $6.5 million were deferred as debt issuance costs in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and $6.0 million were included as a reduction in the net gain on extinguishment of debt line item in the accompanying statement of operations. Interest on the Senior

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12. Long-term Debt (Continued)

Notes accrues at the rate of 9.75% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15.

        The Notes are general senior secured obligations of the Company, and are pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes.

        Prior to December 15, 2012, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 109.750% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date plus additional interest, if any, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the original principal amount of Senior Notes issued remains outstanding after such redemption, and provided further that each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such equity offering. Prior to December 15, 2013, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the applicable "make whole premium", accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the date of such redemption After December 15, 2013, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Senior Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:

        During the first three quarters of 2009, the Company utilized approximately $43.8 million of cash on hand to retire $73.2 million of face value of Sub Notes, resulting in a net gain of approximately $28.3 million, after considering non-cash debt extinguishment costs of $1.1 million. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company utilized approximately $4.1 million of cash on hand to retire $8.0 million of face value of Sub Notes, resulting in a net gain of approximately $3.7 million after considering non-cash debt extinguishment costs of $0.2 million.

        The Notes indenture contains negative and affirmative covenants and other requirements that are comparable to those contained in the Credit Facility. At December 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all such covenant requirements.

        The Company's unamortized debt issuance costs approximated $11.3 million and $13.5 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. These amounts consist primarily of legal, accounting and other transaction advisory fees as well as facility fees paid to the lenders. The Company's unamortized discount on the Senior Notes was $4.6 and $5.0 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Debt issuance costs for the Credit Facility and the discount on the Senior Notes are amortized using the interest method over the terms of the underlying debt instruments to which these amounts relate. Amortization expense for these items was approximately $2.5 million, $2.2 million and $2.5 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and is included in interest expense in the accompanying statement of operations. In addition, the Company incurred non-cash debt extinguishment costs of approximately $4.9 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

12. Long-term Debt (Continued)

        Future maturities of the face value of long-term debt at December 31, 2010 are as follows:

13. Derivative Instruments

        In February 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement effective April 2008 to fix the LIBOR-based variable portion of the interest rate on $125.0 million notional amount of its term loan facility at 2.73% through October 2009. In January 2009, the Company entered into two additional interest rate swap agreements. The first of these swaps was effective in January 2009 and fixed the LIBOR-based variable portion of the interest rate on $75.0 million notional amount of its term loan facility at 1.39% through January 2011. The second of these swaps was effective in October 2009 upon the maturity of the February 2008 interest rate swap, and fixed the LIBOR-based variable portion of the interest rate on $125.0 million notional amount of its term loan facility at 1.91% through July 2011. The Company formally designated these swap agreements as cash flow hedges upon entry into the contracts and expected them to be highly effective in offsetting fluctuations in the designated interest payments resulting from changes in the benchmark interest rate. However, upon the Company's amendment and restatement of its credit facilities in the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company determined that these interest rate swaps were no longer effective economic hedges due to the imposition of a LIBOR floor in the determination of the variable interest rate.

        Up to the date of the credit facility refinance, the Company had utilized hedge accounting, which allows for the effective portion of the interest rate swaps to be recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. At the date of the credit facility refinance, the Company had $1.7 million (net of tax of $1.1 million) of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the interest rate swaps, which, due to the swaps no longer being effective hedges, was frozen and all subsequent changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded directly in interest expense in the statement of operations. The previously-effective amount frozen in accumulated other comprehensive income is being amortized into earnings over the period in which the originally hedged transactions would have affected earnings.

        In the first quarter of 2010, the Company amended the interest rate swaps to include a LIBOR floor similar to the term loan facility, however, the amended interest rate swaps have not been designated as hedging instruments. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, approximately $2.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of unrealized loss from accumulated other comprehensive income was amortized into earnings as interest expense after the Company discontinued hedge accounting. Over the next 12 months, the Company expects approximately $0.4 million of unrealized loss in accumulated other

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13. Derivative Instruments (Continued)

comprehensive income incurred while the interest rate swaps were effective to be amortized into earnings as interest expense.

        As of December 31, 2009, the Company held a foreign exchange forward contract with a notional value of 55.5 million Mexican pesos and a foreign exchange forward contract with a notional value of £6.5 million. These contracts expired during first quarter of 2010 and were not designated as hedging instruments.

        As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the fair value carrying amounts of the Company's derivative instruments are recorded as follows:

        Valuations of the interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts are based on the income approach which uses observable inputs such as interest rate yield curves and forward currency exchange rates. Fair value measurements and the fair value hierarchy level for the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, are shown below:

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

13. Derivative Instruments (Continued)