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SYNALLOY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                            Delaware                                                                                         57-0426694
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Croft Industrial Park, P.O. Box 5627, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29304
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (864) 585-3605

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act :              Name of each exchange on which registered :
                                    None                                                                                                   None
                             Title of Class

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

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
(Title of Class)

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 periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes X                     No_____

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. [X]

Based on the closing price of February 28, 2002, the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $24.6 million.

The number of common shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of February 28, 2002 was 5,964,304.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Portions of the proxy statement for the annual shareholders' meeting are incorporated by reference into Part III.

Synalloy Corporation, a Delaware Corporation ("the Company"), was incorporated in 1958 as the successor to a chemical manufacturing business founded in 1945. Its charter is perpetual. The name was changed on July 31, 1967 from Blackman Uhler Industries, Inc. On June 3, 1988, the state of incorporation was changed from South Carolina to Delaware. The Company's executive offices are located at Croft Industrial Park, Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Metals Segment-- This segment is comprised of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Synalloy Metals, Inc. which owns 100 percent of Bristol Metals, L.P.,("Bristol") located in Bristol, Tennessee.

Bristol manufactures welded pipe, primarily from stainless steel, but also from other corrosion-resistant metals. Pipe is produced in sizes from one-half inch to 60 inches in diameter and wall thickness up to three-quarters inch. Sixteen-inch and smaller pipe is made on equipment that forms and welds the pipe in a continuous process. Pipe larger than sixteen inches is formed on presses or rolls and welded on batch welding equipment. Pipe is normally produced in standard 20-foot lengths. However, Bristol has unusual capabilities in the production of long length pipe without circumferential welds. This can reduce installation cost for the customer. Lengths up to 60 feet can be produced in sizes up to sixteen inches in diameter. In larger sizes Bristol has a unique ability among domestic producers to make 48-foot lengths in sizes up to 30 inches.

A significant amount of the pipe produced is further processed into piping systems that conform to engineered drawings furnished by the customers. This allows the customer to take advantage of the high quality and efficiency of Bristol's fabrication shop instead of performing all of the welding on the construction site. The pipe fabricating shop can make one and one-half diameter cold bends on one-half inch through eight-inch stainless pipe with thicknesses up through schedule 40. Most of the piping systems are produced from pipe manufactured by Bristol.

Bristol also has the capability of producing carbon piping systems from pipe purchased from outside suppliers since Bristol does not manufacture carbon pipe. Carbon pipe fabrication enhances the stainless fabrication business by allowing Bristol to quote inquiries that require both types of piping systems. Bristol can also produce pressure vessels and reactors, tanks and other processing equipment.

We have just recently installed a new large batch-type furnace and certified our welders on chrome piping systems. This allows us to effectively enter the growing power plant market segment.

In order to establish stronger business relationships, only a few raw material suppliers are used. Three suppliers furnish more than two-thirds of total dollar purchases of raw materials. However, raw materials are readily available from a number of different sources and the Company anticipates no difficulties in obtaining its requirements.

This segment's products are used principally by customers requiring materials that are corrosion-resistant or suitable for high-purity processes. The largest users are the chemical, petrochemical and pulp and paper industries with some other important industry users being mining, power generation, waste water treatment, brewery, food processing, petroleum and pharmaceutical.

Chemicals Segment-- This segment is comprised of two product groups: The Colors Group and the Specialty Chemicals Group. The segment includes three operating companies: Blackman Uhler Chemical Company (BU), a division of the Company, Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company, which owns 100 percent of Manufacturers Chemicals, L.P. (MC) and Organic Pigments Corporation (OP), all wholly-owned by the Company. BU has a plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina which is fully licensed for chemical manufacture and maintains a permitted waste treatment system. MC is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia and is fully licensed for chemical manufacture. OP is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Colors Group's principal business is the manufacture and sale of dyes and pigments ("colors") to the textile and carpet industries. BU produces dyes and pigment press cakes at the Spartanburg plant and pigments are produced at OP in Greensboro. Dyes are produced in both liquid and powder form, and pigments primarily as a specially formulated paste. Dyes fix themselves to textile fibers by a particular reaction or penetration into the yarn fiber, whereas pigments are normally applied as a surface coating during a printing operation. Dyeing of textile fabrics in solid colors is primarily accomplished by the use of dyes. Pigment colors are uniquely suitable for printing of multi-colored patterns. Raw materials used to manufacture colors consist chiefly of organic intermediates and inorganic chemicals which are purchased from manufacturers in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, raw materials are readily available and management does not anticipate any difficulty in obta ining adequate supplies.

In the mid 1980s, management decided to better utilize its excellent reputation for sales and technical service by expanding its efforts to sell reactive dyes. These dyes are used for coloring cotton and rayon. The Company purchases finished and crude products that are either sold as is, or converted to liquid form for the convenience of customers. These dyes represented about 28 percent of the Colors Group's sales in 2001. The Company has a distributorship agreement with a company that supplies about 89 percent of these products to the Company. The supplier has been the principal source of these products since 1985. Although the Company believes that this supplier will continue to be a source of these products in the future, there is no assurance of this. Loss of this supplier would have a materially adverse short-term effect on the Company's sales and net income. However, management believes that if the agreement with this supplier is not continued in the future, other suppliers could be found to replace most of the products.

In 1994, BU acquired a sulphur dye business and began the manufacture of sulphur dyes. These dyes are used to dye denim, fleece garments, knits, work clothes, men's casual wear, and a variety of cotton and cotton-polyester blends.

In 1998, the Company purchased OP which manufactures aqueous pigment dispersions sold to the textile industry and used in printing inks for use on paper and in paints for the industrial coatings industry. The combination of OP's and BU's pigment operations makes the Company one of the largest suppliers of pigments to the domestic textile market. The addition of OP also provides the ability to produce higher solid and finer particle size dispersions allowing the Colors Group to diversify into non-textile applications.

In 1999, the Colors Group began development of an additional product line for the dyeing of cotton - vat dyes. During 2000, the vat dyes were successfully introduced and the product line has been expanded. Vat dyes are used for industrial uniform fabrics (work wear) as well as other apparel fabrics and industrial fabrics that require excellent wash fastness. The addition of vat dyes gives BU product lines for the dyeing of cotton as broad as any other dyestuff supplier. BU now supplies azoic dyes (napthols, salts, bases, and rapidogen dyes for printing), reactive dyes, sulfur dyes and vat dyes for cotton and other cellulosic fibers.

The Specialty Chemicals Group includes MC in Cleveland, Tennessee and Dalton, Georgia and specialty chemicals produced in the BU Spartanburg plant. The Group is a producer of specialty chemicals for the textile, carpet, chemical, paper, metals, photographic, pharmaceutical, agricultural and fiber industries. The Company has been focusing on specialty chemicals as a primary growth area over the past several years. Facilities and equipment at the BU plant provide toll and custom manufacturing of organic chemicals using reactions that include nitrations, hydrogenation, distillation, diazotizations, methylation and custom drying. These chemicals are used in a wide array of products including sun screens, UV absorbers for plastics, Cetane improver for diesel fuel, absorbers for gaseous pollutants, herbicides and intermediates for colors.

In1996, the Company purchased MC which produces defoamers, surfactants, dye assists, softening agents, polymers and specialty lubricants for the textile, paper, chemical and metals industries. MC also manufactures chelating agents and water treatment chemicals. Manufacturing capabilities include a wide range of chemical reactions and mixing and blending applications. MC's products are sold to direct users in a variety of manufacturing areas, directly to other chemical companies in the form of intermediates or as finished products for resale, and as contract manufacturing where the customer provides formula specifications and, in some cases, raw materials.

In June 2000, MC acquired the assets of a manufacturer of sulfated fats and oils. The manufacturing equipment for these products was moved to the Cleveland, Tennessee plant where both capacity and chilling capabilities were increased. These products are used as lubricants, wetting agents, detergents and emulsifiers in a variety of chemical formulations. The addition of these capabilities and processes broadens the range of sulfated products already manufactured at MC.

In July 2001, the Company completed an asset purchase of Global Chemical Resources (Dalton) located in Dalton, Georgia. Dalton manufactures and resells chemical specialties and heavy chemicals and blends and resells dyestuffs to the carpet and rug industries, selected textile mills and the wire drawing industry. The manufacture of liquid products was immediately transferred to the Cleveland plant, and the remaining warehousing and dye blending operation along with the shade matching lab and sales offices were moved to a leased facility in Dalton. The purchase included a licensing agreement with Ecology Works to market Dustmitex exclusively to the carpet, rug and upholstery manufacturing industries. In addition, Dalton will market the chemical specialties produced at other Specialty Chemicals Group locations.

The Chemicals Segment maintains eight laboratories for applied research and quality control which are staffed by approximately 33 employees.

In 2000, management made the decision to close the Augusta, Georgia plant. In the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company completed the installation of hydrogenation and distillation equipment at its Spartanburg plant which completed the transfer of products produced in Augusta to Spartanburg.

Metals Segment-- The Metals Segment utilizes separate sales organizations for its different product groups. Stainless steel pipe is sold nationwide under the Brismet trade name through authorized stocking distributors with over 200 warehouse locations throughout the country. In addition, large quantity orders are shipped directly from Bristol's plant to end-user customers. Producing sales and providing service to the distributors and end-user customers are the Vice President of Sales, four outside sales employees, three independent manufacturers' representatives and six inside sales employees.

Piping systems are sold nationwide under the Bristol Piping Systems trade name by three outside sales employees. They are under the direction of the Vice President in charge of piping systems who spends over half of his time in sales and service to customers. Piping systems are marketed to engineering firms and construction companies or directly to project owners. Orders are normally received as a result of competitive bids submitted in response to inquiries and bid proposals.

Chemicals Segment-- Seven full-time outside sales employees and five manufacturers' representatives market colors to the textile industry nationwide. In addition, the President of BU and the market development manager of BU devote a substantial part of their time to sales. Specialty chemicals are sold directly to various industries nationwide by nine full-time outside sales employees and four manufacturers' representatives. In addition, the President, market development manager and another employee of MC and BU's Vice President of Research and Development devote a substantial part of their time to sales.

Metals Segment-- Welded stainless steel pipe is the largest sales volume product of the Metals Segment. Although information is not publicly available regarding the sales of most other producers of this product, management believes that the Company is one of the largest domestic producers of such pipe. This commodity product is highly competitive with ten known domestic producers and imports from many different countries. The largest sales volume among the specialized products comes from fabricating light-wall stainless piping systems. Management believes the Company is one of the largest producers of such systems.

Chemicals Segment-- About six percent of the colors sales represent niche products for which the Company is the only producer. Another approximately 30 percent of these sales represent products of which the Company is an important producer with an estimated 20 to 30 percent market share. The Company has five percent or less of the market for the remainder of its dye products. The Company is the sole producer of certain specialty chemicals manufactured for other companies under processing agreements. However, the Company's sales of specialty products are insignificant compared to the overall market for specialty chemicals. The market for most of the products is highly competitive and many competitors have substantially greater resources than does the Company.

Environmental expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to future revenue generation are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or cleanups are probable and the costs of these assessments and/or cleanups can be reasonably estimated. See Note I to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

The Company spent approximately $701,000 in 2001, $840,000 in 2000 and $798,000 in 1999 on research and development programs in its Chemicals Segment. Fourteen individuals, 12 of whom are graduate chemists, are engaged primarily in research and development of new products and processes, the improvement of existing products and processes, and the development of new applications for existing products.

The annual requirements of certain specialty chemicals are produced over a period of a few months as requested by the customers. Accordingly, the sales of these products may vary significantly from one quarter to another.

The Chemicals Segment operates primarily on the basis of delivering products soon after orders are received. Accordingly, backlogs are not a factor in this business. The same applies to commodity pipe sales in the Metals Segment. However, backlogs are important in the piping systems products because they are produced only after orders are received, generally as the result of competitive bidding. Order backlogs for these products were $3,700,000, $9,200,000 and $15,900,000 at the 2001, 2000 and 1999 respective year ends.

As of December 29, 2001, the Company had 472 employees. The Company considers relations with employees to be satisfactory. The number of employees of the Company represented by unions at the Bristol, Tennessee facility is 186. They are represented by two locals affiliated with the AFL-CIO and one local affiliated with the Teamsters. Collective bargaining contracts will expire in February 2004, December 2004 and March 2005.

The Company operates the major plants and facilities described herein, all of which are well maintained and in good condition. All facilities throughout the Company are adequately insured. The buildings are of various types of construction including brick, steel, concrete, concrete block and sheet metal. All have adequate transportation facilities for both raw materials and finished products. The Company owns all of these plants and facilities, except as noted.

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(1) Leased facility.
(2) Plant closed in 2001

For a discussion of legal proceedings, see Note O to Consolidated Financial Statements.

No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of security holders through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.

PART II

The Company had 1,120 common shareholders of record at December 29, 2001. The Company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market System of The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol SYNC. On October 26, 2001, the Company's Board of Directors voted to suspend the cash dividend until such time as the Company's earnings return to an acceptable level. Future dividend payments, if any, will depend on earnings, capital requirements and financial conditions. The prices shown below are the last reported sales prices on The Nasdaq National Market System.

Liquidity and Capital Resources and Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires management 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 and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or co nditions. Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. A significant portion of the Company's accounts receivable in the Colors Group are from domestic customers in the textile industry, which has been in a steady decline over the last several years. If the financial condition of these or any other customers of the Company were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and current market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

As with the accounts receivable, a significant portion of the Company's inventories in the Colors Group are used by domestic customers in the textile industry. In addition, most of the key raw materials are imported from Asian countries causing the Company to maintain significant amounts of inventory for certain products in order to adequately service the Colors Group's customers. If the financial condition of these customers were to deteriorate, resulting in the elimination or reduction of their demand for our products, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

As noted in Note I to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has accrued $2,785,000 in environmental remediation costs which, in management's best estimate, will satisfy anticipated costs of known remediation requirements as outlined in Note I. As a result of the evolving nature of the environmental regulations, the difficulty in estimating the extent and remedy of environmental contamination, and the availability and application of technology, the estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation are subject to uncertainties and it is not possible to predict the amount or timing of future costs of environmental matters which may subsequently be determined. Subject to the difficulty in estimating future environmental costs, the Company believes that the likelihood of material losses in excess of the amounts recorded is remote. However, any changes, including regulatory changes, may require the Company to record additional remediation reserves.

The current liquidity ratio at 2001 year end was 2.2:1 down from the year end ratios of 2.4:1 and 2.5:1 in 2000 and 1999, respectively. Working capital decreased $4,342,000 to $21,141,000 from the previous year end. Cash flows from operations totaling $10,095,000, were derived primarily from declines in inventories and accounts receivable of $5,007,000 and $2,904,000, respectively, and from earnings totaling $3,060,000 before depreciation and amortization expense of $3,378,000. The decrease in accounts receivable resulted from the decline in sales experienced in the fourth quarter of 2001 compared to the same quarter last year, while the decline in inventories came primarily from planned reductions in the Metals Segment. Cash flows were used to fund capital expenditures of $6,437,000, to acquire assets of Global Chemical Resources, for $2,818,000 (see Note Q to Consolidated Financial Statements), and to pay dividends of $895,000. The Company uses a secured $9 million bank line of credit to finance much of its current operations. This line of credit expires on May 1, 2002. The Company also has a $10 million bank revolving line of credit with the same lender, which expires May 31, 2003. Both loans are secured by the first lien on accounts receivable and inventory. The Company is in the process of negotiating replacement financing for both loans and, based on discussions with potential replacement lenders, expects to have replacement financing available by May 1, 2002. The Company does not, however, have a written commitment for such financing. The Company anticipates that such financing will be at higher rates of interest than those charged on the existing loans. Other terms of the expected replacement credit facilities will be negotiated with the lender or lenders, and some of such terms may be less favorable to the Company than those in the existing loans. The Company expects that cash flows from 2002 operations and available borrowings will be sufficient to make debt payments, fund estimated capital expenditures of $3,991,000, and meet normal operating requirements.

Results of Operations

Metals Segment-- The following table summarizes operating results and backlogs for the three years indicated. Reference should be made to Note R to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comparison of 2001 to 2000

Dollar sales for the year were down 29 percent as the result of 18 percent lower unit volumes coupled with a 13 percent average decline in sales prices. A change in product mix, with a lower percentage of sales coming from higher-priced fabricated piping systems, led to about half of the fall in average selling prices. The other half of the reduction in sales resulted from lower prices for raw materials and the generally competitive market conditions. The unit volume decline was more than accounted for during the first half of the year when 2001 was characterized by weak markets and some inventory liquidation while the first six months of 2000 set record highs in unit volumes as the result of significant inventory building by our customers ahead of price increases. Operating income for 2001 was down 71 percent from the prior year level. During most of 2000, our selling prices were in an uptrend and end use demand was enhanced by inventory building during the first half of the yea r. These generally favorable conditions, together with substantial inventory profits from the rising prices, produced good profit margins. Unfortunately, 2001 was the mirror image of 2000. Our selling prices trended downward during all of 2001, leading to substantial inventory losses. We estimate that raw material costs charged to cost of goods sold were approximately $2,500,000 more than our replacement costs during the year. In addition, reduced demand led to more intense competition, which put further pressure on profit margins.

Selling and administrative expense decreased $701,000, or 16 percent. However, it increased as a percent of sales to eight percent from seven percent compared to last year. The significant decline in sales in 2001 compared to 2000 was greater than the corresponding decline in sales commissions and other selling and administrative costs over the same periods.

For information related to environmental matters, see Note to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comparison of 2000 to 1999

While sales for the Metals Segment increased only one percent for the year, operating income before special and environmental charges was up a more robust 63 percent. Unit volumes were down 12 percent so the dollar sales increase came from a 15 percent increase in average sales prices. The big improvement in gross profits resulted from the higher prices and strong markets for stainless pipe in the first half of the year when our distributors were building inventories ahead of anticipated price increases. The last half of 2000 suffered from a reversal to a mode of inventory liquidation among our distributors as prices began to trend downward. Selling and administrative expenses declined $111,000, or two percent, and improved slightly as a percent of sales compared with 1999 primarily from the elimination of administration costs incurred at the Camden facility, which was closed in the first half of 2000. See Note B to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The special charge was recorded in the first quarter for the costs of closing the process equipment plant in Camden, South Carolina. In addition, $57,000 was added to the reserve for environmental remediation in the fourth quarter. For information related to environmental matters, see Note I to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Chemicals Segment-- The following tables summarize operating results for the three years indicated. Reference should be made to Note R to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Chemicals Segment

Colors Group

Specialty Chemicals Group

Comparison of 2001 to 2000

The eleven percent decline in Colors Group sales in 2001 resulted from the relentless and well-chronicled downsizing of the domestic textile industry that has been evident since 1995. Cost cutting efforts moderated the operating loss so that it was only two percent worse than a year earlier before the special charges in 2000 outlined in the table above and in the Comparison of 2000 to 1999 below. The textile industry downsizing has been faster and of greater magnitude than almost anyone forecast. This has made it impossible for us to cut costs and downsize our own Colors Group operations fast enough to maintain profitability. The majority of the decline in sales and operating loss came in the fourth quarter, as sales for the fourth quarter of 2001 declined $937,000 from the fourth quarter last year. Of the $812,000 loss experienced for 2001, $695,000 occurred in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter results are discussed below in Current Conditions and Outlook.

Sales in the Specialty Chemicals Group were down three percent because of generally weak economic conditions and some business lost because of the closure of the Augusta, Georgia plant. On the other hand, sales from the acquisition of Global Chemical Resources in July of 2001 helped minimize the decline. The operating loss for 2001 was an improvement of 57 percent from the prior year loss before special charges outlined in the table above and in the Comparison of 2000 to 1999 below. The reduced loss resulted from closing the Augusta plant. The weak economy, which appeared to decline steadily over the last half of 2001, caused sales to reduce to levels causing the Group to incur significant negative manufacturing variances at both of its plants. This was offset somewhat at the MC Cleveland plant in the second half of 2001, when the manufacture of liquid products by the Dalton plant was transferred to Cleveland in July providing more through-put and improving efficiency. Most of th e loss, $553,000 of the $743,000 loss for 2001, occurred in the fourth quarter and is discussed further in Current Conditions and Outlook.

Selling and administrative expense increased $42,000, or one percent, and increased as a percent of sales primarily from an increase in salary expense.

For information related to environmental matters, see Note I to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Comparison of 2000 to 1999

The Chemicals Segment experienced a sales decline of seven percent for the year and an operating loss of $2,541,000 before deducting special charges totaling $3,554,000 and $1,708,000 in environmental remediation costs.

Sales were down nine percent in the Colors Group. The decline in sales resulted from a continuation of the trends that have been evident since 1995 of reduced unit volume demand and lower sales prices. Lower unit volume is the result of the downsizing in the domestic textile industry in response to cheap imports that have continued to capture a larger share of the market. Lower dye prices are primarily the result of increasing amounts of cheap imports from China and India and the intensely competitive market conditions. The lower gross profit margins were due to the same factors that affected sales plus expected losses on our new line of vat dyes during the initial year of introduction. The losses suffered from the development of our new line of vat dyes was an expected result of our strategy to provide all of the major dyes for coloring cotton which is the number one fiber used by the domestic textile industry.

Although selling and administrative expense declined $392,000, consistent with the decline in sales, the poor gross profit performance resulted in the Colors Group having a $795,000 operating loss before the special and environmental charges. The special charge was an inventory charge recorded to cover price decreases and off-standard raw materials. The environmental charges resulted from a revised estimate of the ultimate cost of sites remediation primarily at the Augusta plant that closed in 2001. For information related to environmental matters, see Note I to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Specialty Chemicals Group sales were down five percent for the year. The operating loss before special charges of $1,746,000 for the year was caused by losses at the Augusta plant of $2,105,000. Excluding Augusta, operating income before the special charges was $359,000 for 2000, which represents a decrease from 1999 of $1,690,000. The significant decrease was primarily the result of higher raw material and utility costs, resulting from higher oil prices, which could not be passed on to our customers because of competitive conditions. Also contributing to the decreased profitability were modestly higher labor and overhead costs and a less favorable product mix.

The special charges include a $2,324,000 write-off of fixed assets largely related to the discontinuance of a contract processing agreement covering a herbicide intermediate. The write-off amount was recorded net of a note receivable totaling $1,029,000 which will reimburse the Company for part of the capital cost, and is being received in equal payments through June 2003. Most of the equipment was at the Augusta plant and management had originally planned to move it to the Spartanburg plant. However, in December 2000, an agreement was reached to cancel the project. During the second quarter of 2001 we discontinued production at the Augusta plant after completing our product supply obligations. A $610,000 provision was recorded to cover the costs related to the shut- down. During the first quarter of 2000, the Company recorded a charge of $65,000 for cleaning up a chemical spill. Closing the Augusta plant positions the Company to better utilize its remaining facilities, which is expected to enhance future profitability. See Note B to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Selling and administrative expense in 2000 increased $95,000, or four percent, and one percent of sales compared to 1999 primarily from increases in salary expense and corporate cost allocations

Unallocated Income and Expense

Reference should be made to Note R to Consolidated Financial Statements for the schedule of these items.

Comparison of 2001 to 2000

Corporate expense declined $283,000, or 24 percent to $877,000. The decline resulted primarily from two factors. Included in the special adjustments for 2000 is an unexpected $158,000 payment made under a contract related to a pre 1973 employment matter recorded in the first quarter of 2000. In addition, $103,000 in outside consulting costs was expensed during 2000 related to the installation of a new data processing system. Other expense, net declined $625,000 as interest expense decreased $266,000 from decreases in borrowings and interest rates under the lines of credit with a bank. The Company also recognized gains from the sale of its Whiting plant in Camden, South Carolina of $143,000, and $68,000 from the partial sale of one of its investments. Interest income increased $143,000 primarily from interest received under a Metals Segment's contract with a customer.

Comparison of 2000 to 1999

The $255,000 increase, or 28 percent increase in corporate expenses in 2000 resulted primarily from two factors. Included in the special charges is an unexpected $158,000 payment made under a contract related to a pre 1973 employment matter recorded in the first quarter of 2000. In addition, $103,000 in outside consulting costs was amortized during 2000 related to the installation of a new data processing system currently being installed. Other expense, net increased $468,000 as interest expense increased $411,000 from increases in borrowings and interest rates under the lines of credit with a bank. Interest income also declined $67,000 due to the Company having lower amounts of funds invested in 2000 compared to 1999.

The Metals Segment's unit volumes were up seven percent for the fourth quarter of 2001 from a year earlier, but dollar sales of $10,902,000 were down 24 percent from last year's comparable period total of $14,402,000, as the result of 29 percent lower average selling prices. Most of the sales price decline came from the change in product mix to a much smaller proportion of piping systems with commodity pipe prices down a more modest seven percent. Operating income of $471,000 in 2001's fourth quarter declined 79 percent from $2,303,000 achieved a year earlier. In addition to the factors affecting the year as mentioned in the year to year comparison, the fourth quarter was negatively impacted by very low sales and profits from our piping systems products. The stainless steel pipe and fabricated piping systems businesses are inherently cyclical. Since 1987, we have produced an outstanding average return on capital employed with very high returns during the cyclically strong per iods and adequate returns during the weak part of the cycle. Management believes we are well positioned to continue this trend. However, our objective is to develop new product offerings and diversify our business so that earnings will be less volatile while continuing to produce an above average return on capital.

Colors Group sales in the fourth quarter of 2001 fared even worse than the first three quarters with a 17 percent decline to $4,689,000 from $5,626,000 for the same period last year. The operating loss of $695,000 for the fourth quarter was 21 percent worse than last quarter's loss of $572,000 in 2000 before that year's special charges of $2,263,000. The last two months of the year were especially weak with sales far below the year's monthly average. This led to volume related losses that resulted in the final quarter producing the bulk of 2001's operating loss. As previously stated, the textile industry downsizing has been faster and of greater magnitude than almost anyone forecast. We are continuing to cut costs and downsize our own Colors Group operations in an effort to achieve profitability and generate cash flows from reduced working capital. We believe we ended the year with a smaller, more efficient operation that should be able to compete effectively if the domestic indu stry stabilizes. We have developed a modest amount of non-textile business for our pigment colors and are attempting to grow this business aggressively.

Aided by the Dalton, Georgia acquisition, fourth quarter sales in the Specialty Chemicals Group totaling $4,808,000, and the operating loss of $553,000 were about the same as last year's fourth quarter amounts of $4,797,000 and $565,000, respectively, before that year's special charges of $2,934,000. However, excluding Augusta, the Group had operating income of $171,000 in the fourth quarter of 2000 before the special charges. Without Dalton, the MC Cleveland plant experienced weaker sales in November and December coupled with increased operating costs. Due to the timing of certain toll contracts, the mix of products produced at the BU Spartanburg plant in the fourth quarter generated lower revenues and profit margins. The combination of both of these factors caused the $736,000 decline in profitability compared to the fourth quarter of last year. Since 1987 we have been focused on developing specialty chemical business to reduce our dependence on textile colors. We have been suc cessful in building this part of the Chemicals Segment as evidenced by the approximate equal size of the two Groups at year-end. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we completed the construction of our hydrogenation and distillation project at Spartanburg and began product production at the end of the year. We are attempting to increase and complement our contract manufacturing at BU with these and other products to increase sales, leveling out production at this plant and increasing efficiency. The acquisition of Dalton expands this Group's capabilities and markets and should allow us to add products at the BU plant as well as increase through-put in the Cleveland plant. We believe specialty chemicals have good growth potential as economic conditions improve.

Management is continuing its emphasis on reducing the capital utilized by non-performing business units. We are focusing on generating cash flows from these efforts that will allow us to seek other opportunities to generate returns acceptable to investors. We recognize that any business that cannot produce profits at least equal to the cost of capital should be rationalized in some manner. We will continue examining current operations as well as acquisition opportunities considering any transaction that is deemed advantageous to the long-term interest of our shareholders.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes and incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts are "forward looking statements." The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those identified below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated: adverse economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product demand and acceptance risks, raw material and other increased costs, customer delays or difficulties in the pro duction of products, unavailability of debt financing on acceptable terms and exposure to increased market interest rate risk, inability to comply with covenants and ratios required by our debt financing arrangements and other risks detailed from time to time in Synalloy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Synalloy Corporation assumes no obligation to update the information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company is exposed to market risks from adverse changes in interest rates. In this regard, changes in U. S. interest rates affect the interest earned on the Company's cash and cash equivalents as well as interest paid on its indebtedness. As a policy, the Company does not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor does it hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of its borrowing activities used to maintain liquidity and fund business operations. There have been no significant changes in the Company's risk exposures from the prior year.

Fair value of the Company's debt obligations, which approximated the recorded value, consisted of:

At December 29, 2001

• $7,186,000 notes payable under a $9,000,000 line of credit expiring on May 1, 2002 with an average variable interest rate of 5.47 percent.
• $10,000,000 variable rate debt due May 31, 2003 with an average variable interest rate of 6.16 percent.

At December 30, 2000,

• $8,230,000 notes payable under a $9,000,000 line of credit expiring on July 1, 2001 with an average variable interest rate of 7.52 percent.
• $10,000,000 variable rate debt due May 1, 2002 with an average variable interest rate of 7.44 percent.

In addition, the Company's investments in equity securities, which are recorded at their fair value of $885,000 in 2001 and $1,078,000 in 2000, are subject to market risk related to equity pricing changes. Management believes that substantial fluctuations in equity prices and the resulting changes in the Company's investments would not have a material adverse impact on the Company.

The Company's consolidated financial statements, related notes, report of management and report of the independent auditors follow on subsequent pages of this report.

See accompanying notes to financial statements

 See accompanying notes to financial statements

 See accompanying notes to financial statements

Note A Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Reclassification. For comparative purposes, certain amounts in the 2000 and 1999 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2001 presentation.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Period. The Company's fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period ending the Saturday nearest to December 31. Fiscal year 2001 ended on December 29, 2001, 2000 ended on December 30, 2000 and 1999 ended on January 1, 2000. All three fiscal years included 52 weeks.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue from product sales is recognized at the time ownership of goods transfers to the customer and the earnings process is complete. Shipping costs of approximately $1,640,000, $2,099,000 and $2,184,000 in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, are recorded as a reduction of sales.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and current market conditions.

Long-Lived Assets. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets.

Intangibles arising from acquisitions represent the excess of cost over fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. The excess cost is amortized using the straight-line method over periods of 15 to 40 years. The costs of software licenses are amortized over their expected useful lives using the straight-line method. Debt expenses are amortized over the periods of the underlying debt agreements using the straight-line method.

In June 2001, the FASB issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" and No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." Under the new rules, goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are no longer amortized but are reviewed annually for impairment. Separate intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. The amortization provisions of SFAS 142 apply to goodwill and intangible assets acquired after June 30, 2001. With respect to goodwill and intangible assets acquired prior to July 1, 2001, the Company will apply the new accounting rules beginning December 30, 2001. We are currently assessing the impact SFAS 141 and 142 will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Application of the non amortization provisions of the statement is expected to result in an increase in net income of $110,000 per year.

The Company continually reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets. The Company also reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. When the future undiscounted cash flows of the operation to which the assets relate do not exceed the carrying value of the asset, the assets are written down to fair value.

Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of trade accounts receivable and cash surrender value of life insurance.

Substantially all of the Company's accounts receivable are due from companies located throughout the United States. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Receivables are generally due within 30 to 45 days.

The cash surrender value of life insurance is maintained with one insurance company. The Company performs a periodic evaluation of the relative credit standing of this company as it relates to the insurance industry.

Research and Development Expense. The Company incurred research and development expense of approximately $701,000, $840,000 and $798,000 in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, cash surrender value of life insurance, investments and borrowings under the Company's short-term line of credit and long-term debt approximate their fair values.

Stock Options. The Company accounts for stock options under Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." See Note L.

Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is comprised of net income plus other comprehensive income which, under existing accounting standards, consists of unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in equity securities. Comprehensive income is reported by the Company in the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity.

Note B Special Charges

In 2000, the Company recognized pretax charges of $5,829,000 for the costs of actions designed primarily to reposition the Company for improved productivity and future profitability. Pretax charges of $5,253,000 were recorded in the fourth quarter and $576,000 in the first quarter, reducing net income by $3,778,000, or $.62 per share for the year. The Company closed its Whiting Metals fabrication plant in Camden, South Carolina, in the first quarter of 2000, and closed its Augusta, Georgia chemicals processing plant in the third quarter of 2001. The rationalization of manufacturing capacity and elimination and consolidation of certain product lines should position the Company to improve utilization at its remaining facilities.

In the Specialty Chemicals Group, a pretax charge of $2,324,000 was recorded to write-off fixed assets largely related to the discontinuance of a contract processing agreement covering a herbicide intermediate. The write-off amount was recorded net of a note receivable totaling $1,029,000 which is reimbursing the Company for part of the capital cost, and is being received in equal payments through June 2003. Most of the equipment was at the Augusta plant and management had originally planned to move it to the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. However, in December 2000, an agreement was reached to cancel the project. During the second quarter of 2001 the Company discontinued production at the Augusta plant after completing its product supply obligations. Most of the remaining products produced at the Augusta plant were transferred to the Spartanburg facility. A $610,000 provision was recorded in 2000 to cover the costs related to the closure of the Augusta plant. No additional co sts were incurred during 2001.

The Colors Group recorded an inventory charge of $555,000 in the fourth quarter of 2000 to cover price decreases and off-standard raw materials. During the first quarter of 2000, the Specialty Chemicals Group recorded a charge of $65,000 for cleaning up a chemical spill. In the Metals Segment, a pretax charge of $352,000 was recorded in the first quarter of 2000 for the costs of closing the Whiting plant. Certain equipment was moved to the Bristol, Tennessee plant giving the Bristol plant similar capabilities in the manufacture of process equipment.

The Colors Group and Metals Segment recorded pretax charges of $1,708,000 and $57,000, respectively, for environmental remediation costs in the fourth quarter of 2000 including $1,148,000 at the Augusta plant, which has been closed. See Note I for further discussions of the environmental charges.

All of the pretax charges were recorded in cost of goods sold except for a one-time unexpected $158,000 payment made by the Company under a contract related to a pre 1973 employment matter which was recorded in corporate administrative costs in the first quarter of 2000.

The following table summarizes the impact of the items detailed above on the Company's statement of operations:

Note C Investments in Equity Securities

At December 29, 2001, investments in equity securities consist of the following:

The unrealized appreciation of the investments are recorded as other comprehensive income included in shareholders' equity, net of deferred income taxes.

All the Company's investments are classified as available for sale.

During 2001, the Company received $245,000 from the sale of a portion of its SpanAmerica investment realizing a pre-tax gain of $68,000.

Note D Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

Note E Deferred Charges

Deferred charges consist of the following:

Note F Notes Payable

On December 28, 2001, the Company entered into a new Credit Agreement with its bank. Under the terms of the Agreement, maximum borrowings under the line of credit facility are $9,000,000. Borrowings under the line of credit cannot exceed the lesser of the maximum commitment or the borrowing base as defined in the Agreement. The Company has $7,186,000 outstanding at year end. The line expires on May 1, 2002 and bears interest at the bank's overnight cost of funds plus an additional 1.00 percent to 3.20 percent calculated each quarter based on a fixed charge coverage ratio calculation. (4.64 percent at December 29, 2001). Available borrowings at December 29, 2001 was $9,000,000. The line has no compensating balance requirement. Average short-term borrowings outstanding during fiscal 2001, 2000 and 1999 were $4,966,000, $6,029,000 and 2,546,000 with weighted average interest rates of 5.47 percent, 7.24 percent and 6.23 percent, respectively.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are collateralized by accounts receivable and inventory of the Company. Borrowings are subject to the maintenance of certain financial ratios and certain other restrictive covenants. At December 29, 2001, the Company was in compliance with its covenants.

Note G Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

Note H Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:

The Company has a $10,000,000 revolving line of credit expiring May 31, 2003. Interest is payable quarterly on the outstanding balance at LIBOR plus an additional 1.00 percent to 3.20 percent calculated quarterly based on a fixed charge coverage ratio calculation. The rate at December 29, 2001 was 4.58 percent. Borrowings are subject to the same Credit Agreement outlined in Note F.

The Company made interest payments of $957,000 in 2001, $1,235,000 in 2000 and $678,000 in 1999. Interest expense of approximately $27,000 was capitalized in 1999.

Note I Environmental Compliance Costs

At December 29, 2001, the Company has accrued $2,785,000 in remediation costs which, in management's best estimate, will satisfy anticipated costs of known remediation requirements as outlined below. Expenditures related to costs currently accrued are not discounted to their present values and are expected to be made over the next five to eight years. As a result of the evolving nature of the environmental regulations, the difficulty in estimating the extent and remedy of environmental contamination, and the availability and application of technology, the estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation are subject to uncertainties and it is not possible to predict the amount or timing of future costs of environmental matters which may subsequently be determined. Subject to the difficulty in estimating future environmental costs, the Company believes that the likelihood of material losses in excess of the amounts recorded is remote.

Prior to 1987, the Company utilized certain products at its chemical facilities that are currently classified as hazardous waste. Testing of the groundwater in the areas of the treatment impoundments at these facilities disclosed the presence of certain contaminants. In addition, several solid waste management units ("SWMUs") at the plant sites have been identified. During 1994, the Company completed a reevaluation of its remediation plans including RCRA Facility Investigations which have been submitted for regulatory approval. In 1998 the Company completed an RCRA Facility Investigation at its Spartanburg plant site, and based on the results, completed a Corrective Measures Study in 2000. A Corrective Measures Plan specifying remediation procedures to be performed was submitted in 2000 for regulatory approval. The Company recorded a special charge of $560,000 in 2000 and has $1,304,000 accrued at December 29, 2001, to accrue for additional estimated future remedial, cleanup and monitoring costs.

At the Augusta plant site, the Company submitted in 2000 results of a Phase II Monitoring Plan for regulatory approval. After receiving approval, a Risk Assessment and Corrective Measures Plan was developed and submitted for regulatory approval. A Closure and Post-Closure Care Plan was submitted and approved in 2001 for the closure of the surface impoundment. Based on the anticipated results of the studies performed at the site, the Company recorded a special charge of $1,148,000 in the fourth quarter of 2000 and has $1,398,000 accrued at December 29, 2001 for additional estimated future remedial, cleanup and monitoring costs.

The Company has identified and evaluated two SWMUs at its plant in Bristol, Tennessee that revealed residual groundwater contamination. An Interim Corrective Measures Plan was submitted for regulatory approval in December 2000 to address the final area of contamination identified. The Company accrued $61,000 in the fourth quarter of 1998 and an additional $57,000 in the fourth quarter of 2000, of which $83,000 remains accrued at December 29, 2001, to provide for estimated future remedial and cleanup costs.

The Company has been designated, along with others, as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or comparable state statutes, at three waste disposal sites. It is impossible to determine the ultimate costs related to these sites due to several factors such as the unknown magnitude of possible contamination, the unknown timing and extent of the corrective actions which may be required, and the determination of the Company's liability in proportion to other responsible parties. However, in management's opinion, these environmental matters should not have a material adverse effect upon the consolidated results of operations or financial position of the Company.

The Company does not anticipate any insurance recoveries to offset the environmental remediation costs it has incurred. Due to the uncertainty regarding court and regulatory decisions, and possible future legislation or rulings regarding the environment, many insurers will not cover environmental impairment risks, particularly in the chemical industry. Hence, the Company has been unable to obtain this coverage at an affordable price.

Note J Deferred Compensation

The Company has a deferred compensation agreement with a former officer and current Board of Directors' member. Amounts deferred become payable upon certain events including retirement, death or termination of the officer, or a change in control of the Company. Interest accrues on amounts deferred, net of estimated income tax benefits deferred by the Company until payments are made, at rates consistent with other invested retirement funds held by the Company in accordance with the agreement. No compensation was deferred in 2001, 2000 and 1999. The Company made a $300,000 payment in 2001. At December 29, 2001, the amounts deferred totaled $530,000, including accrued interest earned in 2001 of $21,179.

The Company has deferred compensation agreements with certain former officers providing for payments for ten years in the event of pre-retirement death or the longer of ten years or life beginning at age 65. The present value of such vested future payments, $545,000 at December 29, 2001, has been accrued.

Note K Shareholders' Rights

On February 4, 1999, the Board of Directors adopted a new Shareholders' Rights Plan (the "Plan") to succeed the Shareholders' Rights Plan which expired on March 26, 1999. Under the terms of the Plan, which expires in March 2009, the Company declared a dividend distribution of one right for each outstanding share to holders of record at the close of business on March 26, 1999. Each Right entitles holders to purchase 2/10 of one share of Common Stock at a price of $25.00 per share. Initially, the Rights are not exercisable and will automatically trade with the Common Stock. Each right only becomes exercisable after a person or group acquires more than 15 percent of the Company's Common Stock, or announces a tender or exchange offer for more than 15 percent of the stock. At that time, each right holder, other than the acquiring person or group, may use the Right to purchase $25.00 worth of the Company's Common Stock at one-half of the then market price.

Note L Stock Options

A summary of activity in the Company's stock option plans is as follows :

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 29, 2001:

The Company grants to non-employee directors, officers and key employees options to purchase common stock of the Company under three Plans adopted in 1988, 1994 and 1998. Options were granted through January 28, 1998 under the 1988 Plan. Under the 1994 Plan options may be granted through April 29, 2004, and through April 30, 2008 under the 1998 Plan at a price not less than the fair value on the date of grant. Under the 1988 and 1998 Plans, options may be exercised beginning one year after date of grant at a rate of 20 percent annually on a cumulative basis. Under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Plan, options may be exercised at the date of grant. At the 2001, 2000 and 1999 respective year ends, 253,900, 237,850 and 186,800 shares of the options outstanding were fully exercisable.

The Company has elected to apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," (APB No. 25) in the computation of compensation expense. Under APB No. 25's intrinsic value method, compensation expense is determined by computing the excess of the market price of the shares over the exercise price on the measurement date. For the Company's options, the intrinsic value on the measurement date (or grant date) is zero, and no compensation expense is recognized. FASB Statement No. 123 requires the Company to disclose pro forma net income and income per share as if a fair value based accounting method had been used in the computation of compensation expense. The fair value of the options computed under Statement 123 would be recognized over the vesting period of the options. The fair value for the Company's options granted subsequent to December 31, 1994 was estimated at the time the options were granted using the Black-Scholes o ption pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively: risk-free interest rate of five percent; dividend yield of two percent; volatility factors of the expected market price of the Company's Common Shares of .690, .703 and .728; and an expected life of the option of seven years. The weighted average fair values on the date of grant were $3.54, $4.00 and $4.65 in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not ne cessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its options. The effects of applying Statement 123 may not be representative of the effects on reported net income in future years.

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period. The following is the pro forma information for 2001, 2000 and 1999:

Note M Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows at the respective year ends:

Significant components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U. S. federal statutory tax rates to income tax expense is:

Income tax payments of approximately $278,000, $1,728,000 and $1,011,000 were made in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Note N Benefit Plans

The Company has a 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan covering all non-union employees. Employees may contribute to the Plan up to 20 percent of their salary with a maximum of $10,500 for 2001. Contributions by the employees are invested in one or more funds at the direction of the employee; however, employee contributions cannot be invested in Company stock.

Contributions by the Company are made primarily in Synalloy stock. The Company contributes on behalf of each participant who is eligible a matching contribution equal to a percentage which is determined each year by the Board of Directors. For 2001 the maximum was four percent. The matching contribution is allocated monthly. Matching contributions of approximately $342,000, $360,000 and $357,000 were made for 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The Company may also make a discretionary contribution, which shall be distributed to all eligible participants regardless of whether they contribute to the Plan. No discretionary contributions were made to the Plan in 2001, 2000 and, 1999.

The Company also contributes to union-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans. Contributions relating to these plans were approximately $467,000, $433,000 and $512,000 for 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Note O Contingencies

The Company is from time to time subject to various claims, other possible legal actions for product liability and other damages, and other matters arising out of the normal conduct of the Company's business. Management believes that based on present information, it is unlikely that liability, if any, exists that would have a materially adverse effect on the consolidated operating results or financial position of the Company.

Note P Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

Note Q Acquisitions

On July 16, 2001, the Company purchased certain assets of Global Chemical Resources, located in Dalton Georgia. Dalton manufactures and resells chemical specialties and heavy chemicals and blends and resells dyestuffs to the carpet and rug industries, selected textile mills and the wire drawing industry. Total cost of the acquisition was $2,818,000. The Company funded the acquisition with available cash. The acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method of accounting with the purchase price allocated to the underlying assets based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. Since the purchase price was approximately equal to the fair value of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded. The Company's consolidated financial statements include the results of Dalton from the date of acquisition. The acquisition did not have a material impact on 2001 operations; therefore, no pro forma data has been presented.

Note R Industry Segments

Synalloy Corporation operates in two principal industry segments: metals and chemicals. The Company identifies such segments based on products and services. The Metals Segment consists of Bristol Metals, a wholly-owned subsidiary. The Chemicals Segment consists of Blackman Uhler Chemical Company, a division of the Company, Manufacturers Chemicals and Organic Pigments Corporation, wholly-owned subsidiaries.

The Colors Group manufactures dyes, pigments and auxiliaries primarily for the textile and carpet industries. The Specialty Chemicals Group manufacturers a wide variety of specialty chemicals for the textile, carpet, chemical, paper, metals, petroleum and pharmaceutical industries. The Metals Segment manufactures welded stainless steel pipe and highly specialized products, most of which are custom-produced to individual orders, required for corrosive and high-purity processes used principally by the chemical, petrochemical and pulp and paper industries. Products include piping systems, fittings, tanks, pressure vessels and a variety of other components.

Operating profit is total revenue less operating expenses, excluding interest expense and income taxes. Identifiable assets (all of which are in the United States) are those assets used in operations by each segment. Centralized data processing and accounting expenses are allocated to the Metals Segment and Chemicals Segment based upon estimates of their percentage of usage. Corporate assets consist principally of cash, certain investments, and property and equipment. No single customer or agency (domestic or foreign) accounted for more than ten percent of revenues in 2001, 2000 and1999.

The Company has a distributorship agreement with a company that supplies about 89, 92 and 91 percent of the products that produced about 28, 27 and 18 percent of the Colors Group's sales in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The supplier has been the principal source of these products since 1985. Although the Company believes that this supplier will continue to be a source of these products in the future, there is no assurance of this. Loss of this supplier would have a materially adverse short-term effect on the Company's sales and net income. However, management believes that if the agreement with this supplier is not continued in the future, other suppliers could be found to replace most of the products.

Segment information: