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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q/A
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: June 30, 2005
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                                          to                                         
Commission file number: 0-19450
STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
DELAWARE   25-1655321
 
(State of Incorporation)
 
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
20810 FERNBUSH LANE
HOUSTON, TX 77073
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(281) 821-9091
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
2751 CENTERVILLE ROAD SUITE 3131 WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
19803
(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed from last report)
     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 and Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such report(s), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as described in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
     Aggregate market value at June 30, 2005 of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant: $31,424,473.
     As of August 1, 2005, 7,721,583 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share were issued and outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
 
 

 


         
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       
 
       
Item 1. Financial Statements
       
 
       
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    20  
 
       
          (a) Exhibits
       
 
       
       
 Certification of Patrick T Manning, CFO
 Certification of Maarten D. Hemsley, CFO
 Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to Section 906

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STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
                 
    June 30,     December  
    2005     31,  
    (Unaudited)     2004  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,451     $ 3,518  
Contracts receivable
    38,184       26,250  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    4,350       5,884  
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $1,058 and $1,015, respectively
    3,072       2,361  
Inventories
    5,479       4,525  
Deferred tax asset
    4,824       3,986  
Prepaid taxes
    80        
Other
    650       1,554  
 
           
Total current assets
    63,090       48,078  
Property and equipment, net
    27,151       21,227  
Goodwill
    12,863       12,863  
Deferred tax asset
    4,835       6,493  
Other assets
    770       883  
 
           
 
    18,468       20,239  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 108,709     $ 89,544  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
    24,467       18,189  
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings
    11,187       4,477  
Short-term debt
    4,790       3,625  
Short-term debt, related parties
    2,112       3,593  
Current maturities of long term obligations
    153       149  
Other accrued expenses
    4,183       2,291  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    46,892       32,324  
Long-term obligations:
               
Long-term debt
    13,474       13,329  
Long-term debt, related parties
    7,393       7,755  
Other long-term obligations
    911       928  
 
           
 
    21,778       22,012  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 14,000,000 shares, 7,721,583 and 7,378,681 shares issued
    77       74  
Additional paid-in capital
    82,181       80,688  
Deferred compensation expense
    (55 )     (161 )
Accumulated deficit
    (42,164 )     (45,392 )
Treasury stock, at cost, — and 207 common shares
          (1 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    40,039       35,208  
 
           
 
  $ 108,709     $ 89,544  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial
statements

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STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2005     June 30, 2004     June 30, 2005     June 30, 2004  
Contract revenues
  $ 57,228     $ 29,354     $ 96,641     $ 54,940  
Distribution revenues
    6,089       5,389       12,625       12,112  
 
                       
 
    63,317       34,743       109,266       67,052  
 
                       
 
                               
Cost of contract revenues earned
    51,223       24,739       87,278       47,647  
Cost of goods sold, including occupancy, buying and warehouse expenses
    5,017       4,527       10,581       10,303  
Selling and administrative expenses, net
    2,984       2,389       5,509       4,865  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    11             41        
Interest expense, net of interest income
    435       219       982       738  
 
                       
 
    59,670       31,874       104,391       63,553  
 
                               
Income before minority interest and income taxes
    3,647       2,869       4,875       3,499  
 
                               
Minority interest
          442             609  
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    3,647       2,427       4,875       2,890  
Income taxes:
                               
State income tax expense (benefit)
    6       9       (11 )     16  
Deferred income tax expense
    1,240       794       1,658       983  
 
                       
Total income tax expense
    1,246       803       1,647       999  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 2,401     $ 1,624     $ 3,228     $ 1,891  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic net income per share
  $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 0.43     $ 0.36  
 
                       
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computing basic per share amounts
    7,720,053       5,316,440       7,556,658       5,241,973  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted net income per share
  $ 0.26     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.27  
 
                       
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computing diluted per share amounts
    9,413,612       7,081,760       9,348,549       7,174,166  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial
statements

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(
STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
                                                 
            Deferred     Additional                    
    Common     Compensation     Paid-in     Accumulated     Treasury        
    Stock     Expense     Capital     Deficit     Stock     Total  
Balance at December 31, 2004
  $ 74   ( $ 161 )   $ 80,688   ( $ 45,392 ) ( $ 1 )   $ 35,208  
Net income
                            3,228               3,228  
Stock issued upon option and warrant exercise
    3               515                       518  
Stock options granted
        (   140 )     140                       0  
Deferred compensation expense
            246                               246  
Privitization of SCPI
                                    1       1  
Reduction of valuation allowance-deferred tax asset
                    838                       838  
 
                                            0  
 
                                   
Balance at June 30, 2005
  $ 77   ( $ 55 )   $ 82,181   ( $ 42,164 )   $     $ 40,039  
 
                                   
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial
statements

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STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
                 
    Six months ended  
    June 30, 2005     June 30, 2004  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Income from operations
  $ 3,228     $ 1,891  
Adjustments to reconcile income from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    2,532       2,362  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    41       0  
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment
    (208 )     5  
Deferred tax expense
    1,658       983  
Deferred compensation expense
    246       258  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiary
          609  
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Increase in accounts receivable
    (752 )     (822 )
(Increase) decrease in contracts receivable
    (11,934 )     1,203  
(Increase) decrease in inventories
    (954 )     7  
Decrease (increase) in costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts
    1,534       (1,726 )
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expense and other assets
    908       (568 )
Increase in trade payables
    6,278       2,071  
Increase (decrease)in billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts
    6,710       (5,088 )
Increase (decrease) in accrued compensation and other liabilities
    1,892       (870 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    11,179       315  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Additions to property and equipment
    (8,416 )     (1,255 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
    260       92  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (8,156 )     (1,163 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Cumulative daily drawdowns of revolvers
    76,820       52,429  
Cumulative daily reductions of revolvers
    (75,510 )     (49,582 )
Repayments under long-term obligations
    (1,918 )     (1,422 )
Privitization of SCPI
          (49 )
Issuance of common stock, pursuant to options and warrants
    518       379  
 
           
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities:
    (90 )     1,755  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    2,933       907  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    3,518       2,765  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 6,451     $ 3,672  
 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the period for interest
  $ 1,130     $ 952  
Cash paid during period for taxes
  $ 155     $ 205  
 
           
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
               
Capital lease obligations for new equipment
  $ 62        
Reduction of deferred tax valuation allowance
  $ 838        
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial
statements
.

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STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 (UNAUDITED)
     This 10-Q/A is being filed in order to expand the Company’s discussion and definition of the use of the non-GAAP measure, “EBITDA”, as defined herein.
1. Basis of Presentation
     The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Sterling Construction Company, Inc. (“Sterling” or “the Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position at June 30, 2005 and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
     The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of subsidiaries in which the Company has a greater than 50% ownership interest, and all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
     Interim results may be subject to significant seasonal variations and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
     The Company’s primary business is conducted through its “Construction” segment, which consists of the operations of Sterling Houston Holdings (“SHH”), a heavy civil construction company based in Houston, Texas. The Company also operates a smaller “Distribution” segment, which consists of the operations of Steel City Products, Inc. (“SCPI”), a wholesale distributor of automotive accessories, non-food pet supplies and lawn and garden products, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncement
     In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs – an amendment of ARB No. 43 (“SFAS No. 151”), which is the result of its efforts to conform United States accounting standards for inventories with International Accounting Standards. SFAS No. 151 will be effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company does not believe adoption of SFAS No. 151 will have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.
     In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. SFAS No. 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (“APB 25”) and amends FASB Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows”. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 123(R) beginning January 1, 2006. Pro forma disclosure, as was allowed under APB 25 and SFAS No. 123, will no longer be an alternative. Additionally, SFAS No. 123(R) requires that compensation expense be recorded for all unvested stock options and restricted stock at the beginning of the first quarter of adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) and for all subsequent stock options granted thereafter. Because the Company utilizes a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation costs for all employee stock compensation awards granted, modified or settled since January 1, 2003 and will not have significant unvested awards from periods prior to January 1, 2003 outstanding at January 1, 2006, adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) is not expected to have a material impact on its financial statements.

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     In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47 “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (FIN 47). FIN 47 clarifies that an entity must record a liability for “conditional” asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the obligation can be reasonably estimated. The provision must be adopted no later than the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. The Company does not expect adoption of FIN 47 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
     In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SFAS No. 154 is a replacement of APB 20 and FASB Statement No. 3. SFAS No. 154 provides guidance on the accounting for and reporting of accounting changes and error corrections. It establishes retrospective application as the required method for reporting a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 provides guidance for determining whether retrospective application of a change in accounting principle is impracticable and for reporting a change when retrospective application is impracticable. The reporting of a correction of an error by restating previously issued financial statements is also addressed by SFAS No. 154. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company will adopt this pronouncement beginning in fiscal year 2006.
3. Critical Accounting Policies
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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. Management’s estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience; however actual amounts could differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
4 Property and Equipment
                 
    June 30, 2005        
(dollars in thousands)   (Unaudited)     December 31, 2004  
Construction equipment
  $ 33,427     $ 26,550  
Transportation equipment
    5,324       4,406  
Buildings
    1,488       1,488  
Leasehold improvements
    402       402  
Office furniture, warehouse equipment and vehicles
    1,568       1,462  
Land
    182       182  
 
           
 
    42,391       34,490  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (15,240 )     (13,263 )
 
           
 
  $ 27,151     $ 21,227  
 
           
5. Goodwill
     The amounts recorded by the Company for goodwill are as follows (dollars in thousands):
                         
    Construction     Distribution        
    Segment     Segment     Total  
Balance, January 1, 2005
  $ 12,735     $ 128     $ 12,863  
Goodwill additions
                 
Impairment losses
                 
 
                 
Balance, June 30, 2005
  $ 12,735     $ 128     $ 12,863  
 
                 

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     The Company performed impairment testing under the terms of SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for its two reporting segments in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. The analyses did not indicate impairment of the Company’s recorded goodwill for either segment.
6. Earnings Per Share
     Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed giving effect to all potential dilutive common stock and warrants using the treasury stock method. The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per common share computations for net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004 (in thousands, except share and per share data):
                                 
    Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Numerator:
                               
Net income
  $ 2,401     $ 1,624     $ 3,228     $ 1,891  
Add back interest on convertible debt, net of tax
          11             22  
 
                       
Net income before interest on convertible debt
  $ 2,401     $ 1,635     $ 3,228     $ 1,913  
 
                       
 
                               
Denominator:
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic
    7,720       5,316       7,557       5,242  
Shares for convertible debt
          224             224  
Shares for dilutive stock options and warrants
    1,694       1,542       1,792       1,708  
 
                       
Weighted average common shares outstanding and assumed conversions – diluted
    9,414       7,082       9,349       7,174  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic income per common share:
  $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 0.43     $ 0.36  
Diluted income per common share:
  $ 0.26     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.27  
7. Stock-Based Compensation
     The Company accounts for its stock based compensation under the provisions of SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”, which amended SFAS No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method. The Company adopted SFAS No. 148 effective January 1, 2003 utilizing the prospective method for options granted after that date and uses a Black-Scholes option pricing model for calculations of the fair value of options granted after January 1, 2003.
     The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, to stock-based employee compensation prior to January 1, 2003 (dollars in thousands, except per share data).

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    Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Net income, as reported
  $ 2,401     $ 1,624     $ 3,228     $ 1,891  
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects
    193       44       245       258  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (184 )     (21 )     (228 )     (42 )
 
                       
Pro forma net income
  $ 2,410     $ 1,647     $ 3,245     $ 2,107  
Basic and diluted net income per share:
                               
Basic, as reported
  $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 0.43     $ 0.36  
Diluted, as reported
  $ 0.26     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.27  
Pro forma, basic
  $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 0.43     $ 0.40  
Pro forma, diluted
  $ 0.26     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.29  
8. Segment Information
     Each of the Construction Segment and the Distribution Segment is managed by its own decision makers and comprises different customers, suppliers and employees. The operating profitability of the Construction Segment is reviewed by its Treasurer, Joseph P. Harper, Sr., who is also the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. To determine the financial needs of the Distribution Segment, Terry Allan, Chief Executive Officer of the Distribution Segment and Maarten Hemsley, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, review the segment’s operating profitability and working capital needs to allocate financial resources. Allocation of resources among the Company’s operating segments is determined by Messrs. Harper and Hemsley. (dollars in thousands)
                                 
Three months ended 6/30/2005                           Consolidated  
Segments   Construction     Distribution     Corporate     Total  
Revenues
  $ 57,228     $ 6,089           $ 63,317  
 
                               
Operating profit (loss)
    4,062       458       (438 )     4,082  
Interest income (expense), net
    217       (78 )     (574 )     (435 )
 
                       
Pre-tax income (loss)
  $ 4,279     $ 380     $ (1,012 )   $ 3,647  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment assets
  $ 76,994     $ 9,680     $ 22,035     $ 108,709  
                                 
Three months ended 6/30/2004                           Consolidated  
Segments   Construction     Distribution     Corporate     Total  
Revenues
  $ 29,354     $ 5,389           $ 34,743  
 
                               
Operating profit (loss)
    3,132       209       (253 )     3,088  
Interest income (expense), net
    167       (24 )     (362 )     (219 )
Minority interest
                    (442 )     (442 )
 
                           
Pre-tax income (loss)
  $ 3,299     $ 185     $ (1,057 )   $ 2,427  
 
                       

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Three months ended 6/30/2004                           Consolidated  
Segments   Construction     Distribution     Corporate     Total  
Segment assets
  $ 55,366     $ 8,365     $ 12,493     $ 76,224  
                                 
Six months ended 6/30/2005                           Consolidated  
Segments   Construction     Distribution     Corporate     Total  
Revenues
  $ 96,641     $ 12,625           $ 109,226  
 
                               
Operating profit (loss)
    5,684       855       (682 )     5,857  
Interest income (expense), net
    319       (150 )     (1,151 )     (982 )
 
                       
Pre-tax income (loss)
  $ 6,003     $ 705     $ (1,833 )   $ 4,875  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment assets
  $ 76,994     $ 9,680     $ 22,035     $ 108,709  
                                 
Six months ended 6/30/2004                           Consolidated  
Segments   Construction     Distribution     Corporate     Total  
Revenues
  $ 54,940     $ 12,112           $ 67,052  
 
                               
Operating profit (loss)
    4,381       549       (693 )     4,237  
Interest income (expense), net
    124       (47 )     (815 )     (738 )
Minority interest
                    (609 )     (609 )
 
                           
Pre-tax income (loss)
  $ 4,505     $ 502     $ (2,117 )   $ 2,890  
 
                       
 
                               
Segment assets
  $ 55,366     $ 8,365     $ 12,493     $ 76,224  
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
     The Company operates primarily as a heavy civil construction company through its subsidiary Sterling Houston Holdings in Houston, Texas under the trade name “Texas Sterling Construction” (“SHH” or the “Construction Segment”). The Company’s smaller distribution business is conducted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the name “Steel City Products” (“SCPI” or the “Distribution Segment”). In 2004, the minority interests in both companies were acquired by the Company.
Forward Looking Statements
     From time to time the information provided by the Company or statements made by its employees may fall within the definition of “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements contained in this Item 2 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are not historical facts (including, but not limited to, statements concerning anticipated sales, contracts, EBITDA and profit levels, customers, backlog and cash flows) are forward-looking statements. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including overall economic and market conditions, competitors’, customers’ and suppliers’ actions, weather conditions and other risks identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, such statements should be considered in light of these risks. The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from those stated in any forward-looking statements due to the factors discussed above, as well as the accuracy of the Company’s internal estimates of

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revenue and expense levels. These factors and others are discussed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Any prediction by the Company of future financial results or other events is only a statement of management’s belief at the time the prediction is made. There can be no assurance that any prediction once made will continue thereafter to reflect management’s belief, and the Company does not undertake to update predictions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
     At the Construction Segment, the level of working capital varies principally as a result of changes in the levels of cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings, of billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings based in part on the numbers and amounts of contracts with mobilization and advance payments, of customer receivables and contract retentions and creditor liabilities, and of the use of the revolving line of credit to finance operations and capital expenditures
     At the Distribution Segment, the level of working capital needs varies primarily with the amounts of inventory carried, the size and timeliness of payment of receivables from customers and the amount of credit extended by suppliers, all of which can fluctuate seasonally. The Distribution Segment’s working capital needs not financed by supplier credit have been financed from cash flow and borrowings under its line of credit.
Financing
     The following is a summary of the Company’s long-term debt and lines of credit and should be read in conjunction with Footnote 5 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K:
                 
(in thousands)   June 30, 2005     December 31, 2004  
Line of credit with a commercial financial corporation under a revolving credit line, maturing May 2007, secured by the equipment at SHH, interest payable monthly at the lender’s prime rate, subject to achievement of certain financial targets (6.25% and 5.25%, at June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively)
  $ 13,474     $ 13,329  
 
Line of credit with a commercial financial corporation under a revolving credit line, maturing May 2006, secured by the receivables, inventory and other assets of SCPI, interest payable monthly at the lender’s prime rate (6.00% at June 30, 2005) and lender’s prime rate plus 1% (6.25% at December 31, 2004)
  $ 4,790     $ 3,625  
 
Management/director notes, maturing December 2009, interest at 12% payable quarterly, along with quarterly principal payments. Certain principal payments were deferred until June 2005, reflecting an agreement with NASCIT (see below)
  $ 9,505     $ 9,693  
 
NASCIT note, maturing December 2009, principal and interest at 12% payable quarterly beginning March 31, 2005. Pursuant to an agreement with management/director noteholders (above), and through NASCIT’s exercise of its warrants providing proceeds to the Company of approximately $484,000, NASCIT received payment of its entire note in June 2005
        $ 1,405  

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(in thousands)   June 30, 2005     December 31, 2004  
Short-term related party note, interest payable monthly at 12% paid in three installments in January and February 2005
        $ 250  
 
               
Mortgage on SHH headquarters, maturing June 2016, principal and interest (at 7.75%) payable monthly
  $ 814     $ 843  
 
               
Mortgage on SHH land and repair facilities, maturing May 2008, principal and interest (at 9.3%) payable monthly
  $ 150     $ 175  
 
               
Capital leases for equipment at SCPI, maturities from December 2005 to December 2009
  $ 100     $ 59  
 
           
 
               
Total
  $ 28,833     $ 29,379  
Less current maturities
    ($7,055 )     ($7,367 )
 
           
Long-term debt
  $ 21,778     $ 22,012  
 
           
Cash Flows
                 
(in thousands)   June 30, 2005     June 30, 2004  
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,451     $ 3,672  
Net cash provided by (used in):
               
Operating activities
    11,179       315  
Investing activities
    (8,156 )     (1,163 )
Financing activities
    (90 )     1,755  
Capital expenditures
  $ 8,416     $ 1,255  
Working capital
  $ 16,198     $ 13,813  
     For the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company’s consolidated operations provided cash of $11.2 million, due to the higher consolidated net income and to an increase in billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts, principally reflecting the receipt of mobilization payments at the start of two large contracts that began during the period. The positive impact on cash of these mobilization payments will reverse over the lives of those contracts which are one and three years, respectively. In addition, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts decreased due to timing differences and gross profit adjustments on certain projects. Trade payables increased in the period due to the larger volume in 2005. The positive impact on cash was offset in part by an increase of $12.8 million in contract receivables, reflecting the higher contract revenue growth compared with the prior year.
     In the prior year period, operations provided $315,000 in cash, principally reflecting reductions in contract receivables due to the collection of retainage items and reductions to billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts, due to timing differences of cash receipts on contracts in the prior year.

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     In the six months ended June 30, 2005, cash used in investing activities increased by $7.0 million compared with the prior year period, due to higher capital expenditures for construction equipment, to support the Segment’s higher revenues and enlarged contract backlog.
     Cash used in financing activities was approximately $90,000, as compared with cash provided by financing activities in the prior year of $1.8 million. In the current year, the Company repaid its obligation of $1.4 million to NASCIT, but received cash from NASCIT for the exercise of its warrants, as well as from the exercise of employee and director options. The Company drew less on its revolving credit agreements in the first six months than in the prior year period, reflecting the higher income levels.
     The increase of $2.4 million in the level of working capital at the end of the second quarter, compared with such level at the end of the prior year period is due to the improved cash position, to a reduction in the deferred tax valuation allowance, reflecting the expectation that the Company will utilize more of its net operating loss carryforwards in the current year than previously anticipated and to the higher contracts receivable at the Construction Segment due to the increased work in progress, offset by higher trade payables due to the growth in Construction Segment revenues, and higher billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings, reflecting mobilization payments received at the start of two large projects.
Inflation
     Management does not believe that inflation has had a material negative impact on the Company’s operations or financial results during recent years. However, increases in oil prices may have an adverse effect on the Construction Segment. Inflation may also affect prices of products purchased by the Distribution Segment and the prices which it can charge to its customers. In times of increasing inflation, SCPI may increase inventory levels of affected items to help protect its gross margins. This occurred to some degree in the first and second quarters of 2005.
Risk Factors
     SHH measures its performance within the construction industry through the bidding process and the number, size and expected profitability of contracts obtained throughout the year. The Company is subject to various risks and uncertainties. Many factors affect the bidding climate, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in the Texas economy, the amount of local, state and federal government funds available for infrastructure upgrade and new construction, as well as the number of bidders in the market and the prices at which they are prepared to bid, which are in turn affected by such bidders’ profitability and contract backlogs. Factors outside the bidding climate include, but are not limited to: (a) weather conditions, such as precipitation and temperature, which can result in significant variability in quarterly revenues and earnings, particularly in the first and fourth quarters; (b) the availability of bonding, the absence of which would adversely affect the Company’s ability to obtain new contracts (although the level of SHH’s bonding capacity has not constrained its business in many years) and the extent to which the Company’s self-insurance plans experience abnormal losses; (c) the price of oil products; (d) the price and availability of steel, cement and other construction materials (including, for example, recent market shortages of aggregates and cement), which can significantly fluctuate and impact operating expense; (e) the availability of heavy construction equipment, and (f) the availability of qualified field and supervisory personnel.
     The distribution industry has been adversely affected by suppliers that offer products directly to retailers, sidestepping the need for a distributor. SCPI has been able to maintain its position in the distribution industry by offering new product lines and by competing through product selection, distribution services, order fill rates, short turnaround times and breadth of merchandise offered, but it may not be able to continue to do so.

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Material Changes in Financial Condition
     At June 30, 2005, there had been no material changes in the Company’s financial condition since December 31, 2004, as discussed in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Results of Operations
Three months ended June 30, 2005 compared with three months ended June 30, 2004
     The Company reported consolidated revenues of $63.3 million, a significant increase compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2004.
     The Company measures its performance principally through its operating profit. In addition to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management sometimes uses non-GAAP measures, including Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) that it believes are appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of the Company’s financial performance and future prospects. Non-GAAP measures, which are adjusted to exclude certain costs from the comparable GAAP measures of net income, are considered among the indicators management uses as a basis of evaluating financial performance as well as for forecasting future periods. In addition, the Put price was determined as a multiple of EBITDA, and certain management bonuses are calculated according to EBITDA. .For these reasons, management believes the non-GAAP measure of EBITDA can be useful to investors, potential investors and others.
Although EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP, management believes that the presentation of EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the construction industry. In addition, management believes that EBITDA is useful in evaluating operating performance compared to that of other companies in the industry because the calculation of EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financings, income taxes and the accounting effects of acquisitions, items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.
EBITDA, as adjusted, has certain material limitations associated with its use as compared to net income. These limitations are primarily due to the exclusion of certain amounts that are material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations, as follows:
EBITDA, does not include interest expense. Because the Company has borrowed money in order to finance its operations, interest expense is a necessary element of costs and the Company’s ability to generate revenue. Therefore any measure that excludes interest expense or operating lease expense has this material limitation.
EBITDA, does not include income tax expense. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary element of the Company’s operations, any measure that excludes income tax expense has this material limitation.
EBITDA, does not include depreciation and amortization expense. Because the Company uses capital assets, depreciation is a necessary element of costs and the Company’s ability to generate revenue. Therefore any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense has this material limitation.

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          EBITDA, may differ from the EBITDA calculations of other companies in its industry, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure, and therefore has this material limitation.
Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered a measure of discretionary cash available to the Company to invest in the growth of its business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA only supplementally. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
                 
Consolidated results (in thousands):   June 30, 2005     June 30, 2004  
Revenues
  $ 63,317     $ 34,743  
Operating profit
    4,082       3,088  
Net income
    2,401       1,624  
Add back:
               
Taxes
    1,246       803  
Interest
    435       219  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,276       1,181  
EBITDA
  $ 5,358     $ 3,827  
Revenues
     Contract revenues at the Construction Segment in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 almost doubled compared with the same period in fiscal 2004 to $57.2 million. With the benefit of its much enlarged contract backlog, the Segment has added a number of work crews and significantly expanded its equipment fleet this year, and the expanded scope of work in the mix of contracts in progress this year also added to revenues. In addition, there was exceptionally dry weather in June of the current year, which allowed for continuous work on construction projects, as compared with one of the wettest quarters on record last year, which reduced the number of available workdays.
     Net sales at the Distribution Segment increased by approximately $0.7 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2005 compared with the prior year, due principally to increased sales of automotive accessories.
Gross profit and margin
     Construction Segment gross profit for the quarter was $6.0 million, or 10.5% of contract revenues, compared with gross profit in the second quarter last year of $4.6 million, or 15.7% of contract revenues. Certain contracts in progress during the current year period were bid at lower margins in 2003 and 2004 when there was a more aggressive bidding climate. In addition, the second quarter of the prior year included better than expected financial performance at the completion of certain contracts.
     At the Distribution Segment, gross profit increased by approximately $0.2 million, compared with the prior year, due primarily to a higher margin product mix.
Operating profit
     On a consolidated basis, operating profits increased by $1.0 million, due principally to the higher revenues and related gross profits at the Construction Segment and Distribution Segment. Expenses at the corporate level increased due primarily to an expense of $140,000 related to the fair value of options granted in May 2005.

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Interest expense, net of interest income
     Interest expense, net of interest income increased by $216,000 due to debt incurred in December 2004 related to the purchase of the minority interest in SHH.
Income taxes
     Federal income tax expense is computed at the 34% statutory rate. For the three months ended June 30, 2005, income tax expense increased by $0.4 million, due to the higher earnings for the current year period. The Company’s federal income taxes are largely sheltered by net operating loss carryforwards.
Six months ended June 30, 2005 compared with six months ended June 30, 2004
     The Company reported consolidated revenues of $109.2 million in the first six months, compared with revenues of $67 million in the first half of fiscal 2004. EBITDA for the first half of fiscal 2005 was approximately $8.4 million.
                 
Consolidated results (in thousands):   June 30, 2005     June 30, 2004  
Revenues
  $ 109,266     $ 67,052  
Operating profit
    5,857       4,237  
Net income
    3,228       1,891  
Add back:
               
Taxes
    1,647       999  
Interest
    982       738  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,532       2,362  
EBITDA
  $ 8,389     $ 5,990  
Revenues
     Contract revenues in the first half of fiscal 2005 increased compared with the same period in fiscal 2004 by approximately $41.7 million. With the benefit of its much enlarged contract backlog, the Segment has added a number of work crews and significantly expanded its equipment fleet this year, and the expanded scope of work in the mix of contracts in progress this year also added to revenues. In addition, in the current year, the weather improved significantly in March and throughout the second quarter so that weather had less of an adverse impact than in the prior year, when the second quarter was one of the wettest on record.
     The sales increase of $0.5 million at the Distribution Segment was due primarily to increased sales of automotive accessories in the second quarter of the current year, that more than offset decreased sales in the first quarter due to a mild winter.
Gross profit and margin
     Construction Segment gross profit for the six months was $9.4 million, or 9.7% of contract revenues, compared with gross profit in the first half of last year of $7.2 million, or 13.3% of contract revenues. Certain contracts in progress during the current year period were bid at lower margins in 2003 and 2004 when there was a more aggressive bidding climate, and there were losses in the first quarter this year on some smaller contracts in the Dallas/Fort Worth

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market. In the prior year second quarter, better than expected financial performance at the completion of certain projects increased margins despite the lower revenues.
     Gross profit for Distribution was $2.0 million, or 16.2% of sales, compared with gross profit in the prior year of $1.8 million, or 14.9% of sales. The increase was due to a higher margin product mix, and to the higher sales levels.
Operating profit
     On a consolidated basis, operating profit increased by $1.6 million due to higher revenues and profits and the Construction and Distribution Segments. Corporate expenses were essentially unchanged from prior year.
Interest expense, net of interest income
     Interest expense, net of interest income was $1.0 million, an increase of $0.5 million from the prior year, due to the issuance of debt in December 2004 in connection with the purchase of the minority interest in SHH.
Income taxes
     Federal income tax expense is computed at the 34% statutory rate. For the six months ended June 30, 2005, income tax expense increased by $0.6 million, due to the higher earnings for the current year period. The Company’s federal income taxes are largely sheltered by net operating loss carryforwards.
Company Website
     The Company maintains a website at www.sterlingconstructionco.com. The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website, access to its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any amendments to those filings, recent press releases, its Code of Ethics and Audit Committee Charter, together with other filings related to stockholdings.
Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosure about Market Risk
     The Company is exposed to certain market risks from transactions that are entered into during the normal course of business. Sterling’s primary market risk exposure is related to changes in interest rates. The Company manages its interest rate risk by balancing in part its exposure to fixed and variable interest rates while attempting to minimize its interest costs.
     Financial derivatives are used as part of the overall risk management strategy. These instruments are used to manage risk related to changes in interest rates. The Company’s portfolio of derivative financial instruments consists of interest rate swap agreements, which are used to convert variable interest rate obligations to fixed interest rate obligations, thereby reducing the exposure to increases in interest rates. Amounts paid or received under interest rate swap agreements are accrued as interest rates fluctuate with the offset recorded in interest expense.
     An increase of 1% in the market rate of interest would have increased the Company’s interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 by approximately $18,000 and $33,000, respectively.
     The Company applies SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities pursuant to which the Company’s interest rate swaps have not been designated as hedging instruments; therefore changes in fair value are recognized in current earnings.

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     Because the Company derives no revenues from foreign countries and has no obligations in foreign currency, it experiences no direct foreign currency exchange rate risk. However, prices of certain raw materials and consumables, such as oil, steel and cement, may be affected by currency fluctuations.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
     The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures”, as that phrase is defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer, its President and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurances of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
     The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” as of June 30, 2005. Based on their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s controls and procedures are effective.
     During the period April 1 through June 30, 2005, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings
There are no material legal proceedings outstanding against the Company.
Item 2.   Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
Item 3.   Defaults upon Senior Securities
None

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
     The Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on May 19, 2005, at which time stockholders reelected two directors to the Board for a term of three years and elected one additional director for a term of three years.
                 
 
  For   Withheld
Patrick T. Manning
    4,922,224       69,609  
Joseph P. Harper, Sr.
    4,922,293       69,540  
David R.A. Steadman
    4,986,248       5,585  
Item 5.   Other Information
None
Item 6. Exhibits
(a)   Exhibits
     *31.1 Certification of Patrick T. Manning, Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)
     *31.2 Certification of Maarten D. Hemsley, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)
     *32.0 Certification of Patrick T. Manning, Chief Executive Officer and Maarten D. Hemsley, Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
 
*filed herewith    

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
         
     
Date: November 16, 2005  By:   /s/ Patrick T. Manning.    
    Patrick T. Manning.   
    Chief Executive Officer   
 
     
Date: November 16, 2005  By:   /s/ Maarten D. Hemsley    
    Maarten D. Hemsley   
    Chief Financial Officer   
 

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