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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K

x	 	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)	 		
	 	OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	 		
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-08524
MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

OHIO	 	34-0778636	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	(IRS Employer Identification Number)	

1293 S. MAIN STREET, AKRON, OHIO	  	44301	  	(330) 253-5592	
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	  	(Zip Code)	  	(Telephone Number)	

Securities Registered Pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act:	 	Name of Each Exchange
On which registered:	
Common Stock, Without Par Value	 	New York Stock Exchange	
(Title of Class)	 		
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes   ¨     No   x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes   ¨     No   x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) 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
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   ¨	 	Accelerated filer   x	  	Non-accelerated filer   ¨	 	Smaller reporting company   ¨	
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing sale price on the New York Stock Exchange as of June 30, 2011: $330,081,620
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of registrant’s common stock as of February 23, 2012: 33,449,669 Shares of Common Stock, without par value.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

Table of Contents
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I	 		 		
	 	ITEM 1. Business	 	1	
	 	ITEM 1A. Risk Factors	 	11	
	 	ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments	 	17	
	 	ITEM 2. Properties	 	18	
	 	ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings	 	19	
			
PART II	 		 		
	 	ITEM  5. Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	 	21	
	 	ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data	 	23	
	 	ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition	 	24	
	 	ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	 	30	
	 	ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	 	33	
	 	Reports of Independent Registered Accounting Firms	 	34	
	 	Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)	 	36	
	 	Consolidated Statements of Financial Position	 	37	
	 	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	 	40	
	 	Consolidated Statements of Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)	 	39	
	 	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Amounts in thousands, except as otherwise noted	 	41	
	 	ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	 	61	
	 	ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures	 	61	
	 	ITEM 9B. Other Information	 	64	
			
Part III	 		 		
	 	ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant	 	64	
	 	ITEM 11. Executive Compensation	 	64	
	 	ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management	 	64	
	 	ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions	 	65	
	 	ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services	 	65	
			
PART IV 	 		 		
	 	ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	 	65	
		
SIGNATURES	 	68	
	 	Exhibit 3.1	 		
	 	Exhibit 21	 		
	 	Exhibit 23	 		
	 	Exhibit 31.1	 		
	 	Exhibit 31.2	 		
	 	Exhibit 32	 		

Table of Contents
 PART I
 
 ITEM 1.	Business	
 
 	(a)	General Development of Business	
Myers Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1933. The terms “Myers Industries,” “Company” “we,” “us,” or “our” wherever used herein refer to the Company, unless the context indicates to the contrary. Since then, the Company has grown from a small storefront distributing tire service supplies into an international manufacturing and distribution enterprise. In 1971, the Company went public, and the stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MYE.
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the Company manufactures a diverse range of polymer products for industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial and consumer markets. Myers Industries is a leader in the manufacturing of plastic reusable material handling containers and pallets and North America’s leading producer of plastic horticultural pots, trays and flower planters. Other principal product lines include plastic storage and organization containers, plastic OEM parts, rubber tire repair products and custom plastic and rubber products.
The Company is also the largest wholesale distributor of tools, equipment and supplies for the tire, wheel and undervehicle service industry in the United States. The distribution products range from tire balancers and alignment systems to valve caps, tire repair tools and other consumable service supplies.
As of March 1, 2012, the Company operates 16 manufacturing facilities, 24 sales offices, four distribution centers and six distribution branches located throughout North, Central and South America; has approximately 12,000 manufactured products and over 10,000 distributed products; and 3,261 employees.
Serving customers around the world, products and related services from Myers Industries’ brands provide a wide range of performance benefits to customers in diverse niche markets. Some of these benefits include increasing productivity, driving green initiatives, lowering material handling costs, improving product quality, reducing labor costs, shortening assembly times, eliminating solid waste and increasing profitability.
The Company’s business strategy is focused on sustainable, profitable growth guided by five key operating principles: 1) Customer Dedication, 2) Innovation, 3) Operations Excellence, 4) Organizational Development, and 5) Financial Strength. Applying these principles to our business, the Company emphasizes:
 
 	•	 	Industry-leading innovation of niche, high margin products;	
 
 	•	 	Being the low-cost provider of certain commodity products where our brands excel;	
 
 	•	 	Achieving leadership in key product areas through breadth of offering, consistent quality and superior customer service;	
 
 	•	 	Operations excellence initiatives to reduce costs and improve productivity within the Company’s manufacturing and distribution footprint;	
 
 	•	 	Leveraging brand equity and capabilities to grow business with existing customers and cultivate new ones, particularly in emerging growth markets where we can deliver the greatest value and achieve the best returns;	
 
 	•	 	Investing in new technologies and processes to reinforce customer dedication and market strength across our key business segments;	
 
 	•	 	Succession plans through our management teams at all levels in the Company, ensuring the right people are in the right positions to grow for organization development; and	
 
 	•	 	Selective acquisitions as opportunities arise to enhance our leadership in key markets.	
 
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The Company continually reviews its segments and brands for strategic fit and growth potential. The review process is dedicated to furthering innovation and brand leadership in our markets, building strong customer relationships and positioning the Company for strong financial performance.
 
 	(b)	Financial Information About Segments	
The response to this section of Item 1 is contained in the Industry Segments footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.
 
 	(c)	Description of Business	
The Company conducts its business activities in four distinct business segments, including three in manufacturing and one in distribution. The manufacturing segments consist of: Material Handling, Lawn and Garden, and Engineered Products. In 2009, the Company sold substantially all the assets of its Michigan Rubber Products, Inc. and Buckhorn Rubber Products Inc. businesses which were included in the Engineered Products Segment. As a result, these businesses were classified as discontinued operations in the third quarter of 2009.
In our manufacturing segments, we design, manufacture, and market a variety of plastic and rubber products. These range from plastic reusable material handling containers and small parts storage bins to plastic horticultural pots and hanging baskets, decorative resin planters, plastic OEM parts, tire repair materials and custom plastic and rubber products.
The Distribution Segment is engaged in the distribution of tools, equipment and supplies used for tire, wheel and undervehicle service on passenger, heavy truck and off-road vehicles.
 
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The following table summarizes the key attributes of our business segments in continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2011:

Continuing
Operations	 	Material Handling
Segment	 	Lawn and Garden
Segment	 	Distribution
Segment	 	Engineered Products
Segment	
Net Sales (in millions)	 	$262	 	$217	 	$184	 	$116	
% of Total Net Sales	 	35%	 	29%	 	24%	 	13%	
Key Product Areas	 	•      Plastic Reusable Containers & Pallets
•      Plastic Storage & Organization Products
•      Plastic Carts
•      Metal Carts
•      Wooden Dollies
•      Custom Products	 	•      Plastic Horticultural Pots, Trays, Flats & Hanging Baskets
•      Decorative Resin Planters
•      Custom Products	 	•      Tire Valves & Accessories
•      Tire Changing & Balancing Equipment
•      Lifts & Alignment Equipment
•      Service Equipment
•      Hand Tools
•      Tire Repair & Retread Equipment & Supplies
•      Brake, Transmission & Allied Service Equipment & Supplies	 	•      Rubber & Plastic Original Equipment Replacement Parts
•      Tire Repair & Retreading Products
•      Highway Markings
•      Industrial Rubber
•      Custom Rubber & Plastic Products	
Product Brands	 	•      Akro-Mils ®
•      Buckhorn ®
•      Myers do Brasil ®	 	•      Dillen ®
•      ITML ®
•      Listo ™
•      Pro Cal ®
•      Planters’ Pride ®
•      Akro-Mils Lawn & Garden ®	 	•      Myers Tire Supply ®
•      Myers Tire Supply International ®	 	•      Ameri-Kart ™
•      Patch Rubber ™
•      WEK ®	
Key Capabilities & Services	 	•      Product Design
•      Prototyping
•      Product Testing
•      Material Formulation
•      Injection Molding
•      Structural Foam Molding
•      Metal Forming
•      Wood Fabrication
•      Powder Coating
•      Material Regrind & Recycling	 	•      Product Design
•      Prototyping
•      Testing
•      Material Formulation
•      Injection Molding
•      Thermoforming
•      Co-Extrusion Thermoforming
•      Custom Printing & Labeling
•      Material Regrind & Recycling	 	•      Broad Sales Coverage
•      Local Sales
•      Four strategically placed distribution centers
•      International Distribution
•      Personalized Service
•      National Accounts
•      Product Training
•      Repair/Service Training
•      New Products/Services “Speed to Market”	 	•      Rubber Mixing
•      Rubber Compounding
•      Rubber Calendering
•      Rubber Extrusion
•      Plastic Blow Molding
•      Plastic Rotational Molding
•      Thermoforming	
Representative Markets	 	•      Agriculture
•      Automotive
•      Commercial
•      Food Processing
•      Food Distribution
•      Healthcare
•      Industrial
•      Manufacturing
•      Retail Distribution
•      Consumer	 	•   Horticulture:
- Growers
- Nurseries
- Greenhouses
- Retail Garden Centers
•      Consumer
- Retail Garden Centers
- Retail Home Centers	 	•      Retail Tire Dealers
•      Truck Tire Dealers
•      Auto Dealers
•      Commercial Auto & Truck Fleets
•      General Repair & Services Facilities
•      Tire Retreaders
•      Governmental Agencies	 	•      Automotive OEM
•      Industrial
•      Mining
•      Recreational Marine
•      Recreational Vehicle
•      Road Construction
•      Sporting Goods
•      Tire Repair
•      Telecommunications	
 
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Manufacturing Segments Overview
Material Handling Segment
The Material Handling Segment is comprised of plastic reusable material handling containers, pallets and bins, as well as metal shelving, cabinet and racking systems. The two major brands in this segment, Buckhorn ® and Akro-Mils ® , have strong leadership positions across markets such as automotive, appliance, general industrial/manufacturing, retail distribution, agriculture, and food processing. This leadership position is built through constant innovation, diverse manufacturing processes, consistent quality and superior customer service resulting in significant productivity and cost-saving benefits for our customers.
Buckhorn’s reusable containers and pallets are used in closed-loop supply chains to help customers reduce material handling costs by replacing single-use cardboard boxes, easily damaged wooden pallets and high-cost steel containers. Cost-reduction benefits include: improving product protection, increasing handling efficiencies, reducing freight costs and eliminating solid waste and disposal costs. Small parts bins, storage systems and transport products from Akro-Mils provide similar benefits by creating storage and organization efficiency throughout our end users’ operations.
Buckhorn offers a product selection rich in both breadth and depth, as well as a direct sales force with the packaging and material handling expertise that makes Buckhorn a key solutions partner for our customers. Buckhorn’s product line spans injection-molded hand-held containers and totes; injection and structural foam-molded bulk transport containers in both collapsible and fixed-wall styles; and injection and structural foam pallets. Buckhorn also produces custom material handling packaging. Customers rely on Buckhorn’s single-source efficiency and the productivity and profitability benefits delivered through value-added innovation, broad product selection, quality and packaging conversion services.
Buckhorn hand-held containers include attached lid, detached lid, bi-color and specialty styles that stack and/or nest for efficient space usage, thus lowering freight and storage costs. In manufacturing plants across North America, our container and pallet systems are reused hundreds of times to ship products such as small fasteners or large components from suppliers directly to assembly areas—protecting parts throughout the supply chain and reducing scrap rates. Our attached lid containers and pallets are used in retail distribution centers to organize inventory, sort orders and then transport products directly to stores. In the food processing and distribution industry, our specialty containers provide superior protection to food products while in transit and are more sanitary than cardboard boxes.
Buckhorn’s selection of collapsible and fixed-wall bulk transport containers leads the North American material handling industry. Bulk containers perform both light and heavy-duty tasks, whether distributing seed products, carrying large automotive components or shipping liquids across long distances. These containers range in size from footprints of 32” x 30” to 70” x 48”; heights up to 65”; and weight capacities up to 3,000 lbs. Bulk containers are compatible with forklifts for easy handling. Many of the containers collapse to a third of their size for space-saving stacking, storage and return transport, thus helping to reduce freight and storage costs.
Examples of bulk container applications include our Center Flow Container, which is used by leading seed distributors to efficiently transport and dispense up to 2,500 lbs. of their products. The unique Center Flow Container can be emptied in approximately 30 seconds, then broken down for return shipping and refilling, thus eliminating waste created by traditional seed bags. Manufacturers of tomato paste employ our Caliber ® and Citadel ® bulk containers to move processed tomato products across the country in railcars. The smooth-sided, impact-resistant containers replace wooden crates and steel containers that can cause product damage and contamination. Citadel ® containers can carry up to 3,000 lbs. /300 gallons of liquefied product, safely stack when fully loaded and are designed for long-term indoor or outdoor storage of loads. This product line is applicable to other food processing and ingredient niches such as concentrates, oils, syrups and similar products.
 
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Recently, Buckhorn introduced a new class of pallet-sized, collapsible containers featuring an integrated pallet and lid system. The Maximizer ™ is a unique alternative for corrugated bulk container users. Unlike short-lived corrugated containers that are awkward to assemble and knock down Maximizer is easily constructed by one person and can be reused hundreds of times. The walls easily assemble and collapse, while the integrated locking system provides strength and stability in transport. It is made from durable, moisture-resistant plastic and can be stored indoors or outdoors. The container is an ideal solution for shipping and storing light-duty dry goods and maximizes productivity, cost savings, safety, space usage and sustainability.
Buckhorn’s innovation in bulk containers also focuses on specific niche markets where the Company’s expertise can bring significant value in a closed loop supply chain. For example, in 2011 Buckhorn acquired tooling assets and intellectual property for a new reusable plastic container used in producing, shipping, storing and processing bulk natural cheese. The new “640 Cheese Box” is a natural extension to Buckhorn’s bulk container product line, offering many benefits over the industry’s traditional wood boxes by providing end users with less waste and faster cycle times. It is compatible with cheese industry manufacturing processes including dolly and forklift transport, automation, vacuum chambers, inverters, packaging and weighing. The 640 Cheesebox has a 24” x 30” x 37” footprint and a 710-lb. fill capacity. It reduces waste and improves sanitation and quality by replacing wood boxes, which can splinter and contaminate cheese during the material handling process. USDA approved, the container allows for faster cool down to 40 degrees within seven days, thereby minimizing cold storage requirements and producing more consistent cheese from the core to the outside surface.
Buckhorn’s plastic pallets interwork with the hand-held containers and totes to create a completely reusable system and provide efficient space utilization in plants, warehouses and truck trailers — helping customers to reduce storage and freight costs. Buckhorn also produces a wide range of specialty pallets for niche-type shipping applications, such as drum pallets for chemical and liquid transport.
Akro-Mils ™ provides customers with virtually “everything needed to store, organize and transport for greater productivity and profitability.” These material handling products serve industrial and commercial end-users through leading industrial supply catalogers and material handling distributors. Products range from AkroBins ® — the industry’s leading small parts bins — to Super-Size AkroBins, metal panel and bin hanging systems, metal storage cabinet and bin systems, wire shelving systems, plastic and metal transport carts and a wide variety of custom storage and transport products. Capabilities used throughout the Akro-Mils product line include: injection molding, metal forming, powder-coat painting/metal finishing and wood fabrication.
Akro-Mils products deliver storage and organization solutions in a wide variety of applications, from creating assembly line workstations to organizing medical supplies and retail displays. Emphasis is placed on product bundling and customizing systems to create specific storage and organization configurations for customers’ operations. For example, industrial manufacturers with specialized tool and parts storage areas — known as “tool cribs” — use a combination of Akro-Mils bins, racking, locking cabinets, work tables and transport carts to speed assembly times, maintain accurate inventories and reduce loss. Metal carts and dollies are paired with custom-made containers to create unique transport systems capable of handling parts and components both small and large. Our powder coating/painting capability allows for high-quality, scratch-resistant finishing of metal products in a multitude of colors and finish styles.
Cross-marketing and cross-selling are key synergies between the Material Handling Segment brands. Equally important are cross-manufacturing capabilities that allow each brand to offer customers a wider range of value-added design and molding benefits. In addition to standard material handling products, we utilize the extensive design and manufacturing capabilities between Buckhorn and Akro-Mils for turnkey production of custom material handling products.
With the resulting benefits of reducing packaging costs, improving safety and quality, simplifying workflows and eliminating waste, Akro-Mils products provide the perfect solution for workplace efficiency
 
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programs, such as 5S Lean. In support of such programs, Akro-Mils has introduced several new product lines in the last year, including the clear Insight ™ Bin for the healthcare industry and the unique, bi-colored Indicator ™ Bin, which provides a visual cue to refill bins for efficient assembly line, supply room or distribution center work. As a result of such new product development and listening to the “voice of the customer” to provide solutions, the Akro-Mils brand is recognized throughout the material handling industry for continuous innovation, high quality and reliable service.
All of our Material Handling Segment products are designed to reduce the waste produced by cardboard boxes and wooden pallets in supply chains. In our own manufacturing and product innovation, we continue to seek eco-friendly alternatives for our own plastic products. For example, our Akro-Mils EarthSaver ® AkroBins and Shelf Bins are produced from 100 percent recycled plastics. Available in earth tone colors of terra cotta, hunter green and sandstone, the EarthSaver Series offers users an eco-friendly choice in plastic storage and organization products, while boosting productivity in the workplace and helping companies make a positive impact on the environment. In addition, our Buckhorn business utilized more than 23 million lbs. of recycled or reprocessed plastics in its manufacturing processess last year. This accounted for approximately 23 percent of Buckhorn’s total material usage, applied to products ranging from hand-held totes to bulk containers.
Sustainable, profitable growth in this segment is fueled by: a strong focus on innovation with value-added new products; concentrating sales efforts on niche markets and applications; increasing awareness of plastic reusable material handling products to drive conversions from cardboard and wood products; and managing the balance of product pricing and raw material costs. The potential for strategic, bolt-on acquisitions also provides opportunities to expand the scope of our brand leadership and the range of value-added products and services that we bring to customers.
Lawn and Garden Segment
The Company’s Lawn and Garden Segment includes the Dillen ® , ITML ® , Pro Cal ® , Listo ™ , Planters’ Pride ® and Akro-Mils Lawn & Garden ® brands, which serve the horticultural container needs of the North American floriculture/horticulture market. Our product selection, manufacturing capabilities, quality and customer service rank at the top of our category in the market, which spans professional growers with 150-plus acre greenhouse facilities to regional nurseries to retail garden centers and retail home centers.
In 2009, the Company carried out a realignment of its Lawn and Garden Segment. This resulted in the decision to close three facilities and reallocate production to the segment’s other five remaining facilities. These initiatives have enabled the Company to consolidate manufacturing and capacity, optimize distribution and supply chain channels, and drive increased productivity and customer service excellence through improved forecasting, workflow, and inventory management programs.
For growers, our Dillen ® , ITML ® , and Pro Cal ® products are available both direct and through a network of leading horticultural distributors. Our product range is one of the most extensive in North America. Products include injection-molded and thermoformed pots, hanging baskets, flats and carry trays, plug trays, nursery containers, propagation sheets, and specialty pots. Product innovation is centered on the changing needs of the professional grower, including increased automation in growing operations, improving efficiency and reducing costs, while focusing on environmental friendliness. For example, a recent focus has been in lightweight co-extruded (“CoEx”) thermoformed pots. CoEx pots have a thinner wall construction compared to injection pots and combine a color exterior with a dark interior layer made from recycled material. This interior layer helps to protect plant roots against potential sunlight damage in both grower and retail operations, and the recycled material helps protect the environment.
In addition to working with growers on product innovation, we support their increasing needs for branding and retail merchandising programs with services such as in-mold labeling, multi-color offset printing and adhesive labeling. Once filled with plant material by the grower and shipped to retail, these customized pots serve as packaging for plants and create vibrant point-of-sale materials.
For retailers, our Listo ™ brand encompasses decorative resin planters that feature intricate molding details and unique finishes in ceramic, metallic, weathered stone and textured styles. The upscale look of these
 
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decorative planters captures the retailer’s attention and the consumer’s imagination. Products include a diverse offering of planters, window boxes, urns and hanging baskets for indoor and outdoor container gardening. Consistent new product development is key to success in the retail garden center and mass merchandiser channels. Proprietary molding and finishing processes, along with creative designs, deliver the unique look in the decorative resin planter category that sets our planters apart from the competition in leading retail stores across North America.
In addition to Listo, two other brands in the retail channel of the Lawn and Garden Segment include Planters’ Pride ® and Akro-Mils Lawn & Garden ® products. Planters’ Pride has a diverse product offering dedicated to the at-home gardener. Featured products include a wide range of Fiber Grow ® seed starting kits with 100 percent peat-free renewable coir pellets and other garden accessories, backed by customizable retail displays. Akro-Mils Lawn & Garden provides a wide range of plastic patio pots, planters and hanging baskets as well as watering cans and other related items for the home gardener.
Myers Industries seeks to expand its market leadership in the Lawn and Garden Segment through unrivaled product innovation and selection, diverse manufacturing processes and superior customer satisfaction. One of these initiatives continues to be expanding the use of reprocessed and recycled materials in the manufacturing process, which helps to reduce the Company’s exposure to higher costs for virgin raw material and furthers our commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing. In addition to sourcing sustainable eco-friendly materials, such as Coconut Coir (coconut husk) for Fiber Grow ® products, the Lawn & Garden Group reprocesses plastic scrap into new containers. Our operations recycle and reprocess more than 100 million pounds of plastic annually, a capability unlike any other manufacturer in the business, to close the loop on waste.
Weather conditions, grower consolidation and grower supply chain adjustments to meet retail merchandising programs are some of the key external factors that influence this industry. As one of the industry leaders, however, the Company is well positioned to further align our capabilities to effectively meet the external challenges and changing needs of customers and the markets.
Engineered Products Segment
Myers Industries serves diverse niche markets and customers with rubber and plastic products from the Engineered Products Segment. Through our Ameri-Kart ™ , Patch Rubber ™ and WEK ® brands, we provide an array of engineered plastic original equipment and replacement parts, tire repair materials and custom rubber and plastic components and materials. We offer a unique combination of product design, molding and finishing expertise to support our customers’ needs for efficient, single sourcing of parts and turnkey custom product development. In addition to our plastics molding capabilities, we utilize a full range of rubber molding processes that include: injection molding; compounding, calendering and extrusion; and 3-D co-extrusion blow molding. Additional capabilities include custom rubber formulation, mixing and testing.
WEK ® supports passenger car and truck manufacturers to create plastic components and assemblies for a wide variety of vehicle platforms. Our proven track record and expertise affords us “guest engineering” status with one of the world’s leading automakers and suppliers. Our molding and assembly capabilities produce a diversified product mix, which includes: HVAC components, tubing assemblies and other custom items. The Company’s focus in the automotive arena is on highly engineered, niche products for select automotive platforms and strategic, long-term customers — both transplants and domestics — who reward their value-added manufacturing partners. In addition, WEK provides plastic blow molded components for industries outside of automotive. In the marine industry, WEK produces a full range of Dock Floats for creating boat docks in marinas, private clubs, boatyards and elsewhere. The floats feature one piece, no seam construction, with resistance to oil, diesel fuel and saltwater. For the waste management industry, WEK produces several varieties of Waste Carts, Recycle Bins and Waste Can Liners in styles and sizes to meet the industry’s diverse product needs. In the custom molding arena, WEK produces a wide variety of products, such as Double Wall Storage Cases, used as packaging and for storing and protecting tools, electronics, medical equipment, firearms and other valuables. Other custom items include Coolers, Residential and Commercial Downspout Systems, Trade Show
 
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Display Cases and more. WEK’s blow molding press sizes range from large and small to fit a customer’s precise product needs.
Manufacturers of recreational vehicles (“RV”) and watercraft rely on our design expertise and production capabilities to provide them an assortment of products. Through our Ameri-Kart ™ brand, we create rotationally-molded plastic tanks for water, fuel and waste handling that are assembled to fit the precise space constraints within RV and marine craft designs. We also utilize thermoforming and rotational molding to manufacture plastic trim and interior parts for RVs. In addition to molding fuel tanks, seat components, consoles and storage tanks for watercraft, Ameri-Kart recently introduced its patented Enviro-Fill ® overfill prevention system (“OPS”) technology for its marine fuel tanks. Ameri-Kart is the industry’s only turnkey provider with an integrated, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)-compliant marine fuel tank and patented Enviro-Fill ® diurnal system. This OPS/tank vent and sensor system provides venting and monitoring of the fuel level in the tank during filling and transfers a pressure signal to the deck fitting when fuel reaches a predetermined level. Integrated with its new low permeation fuel tanks, recently certified by the EPA to meet the standards of evaporative emissions, this makes Ameri-Kart unique in offering customers a “total system” for marine fuel tank solutions. This in turn affords boat manufacturers a single source to comply with new EPA and American Boat and Yacht Council (“ABYC”) refueling and emission regulations, effective for the 2012 model year.
Our manufacturing of rubber products began more than 60 years ago with our Patch Rubber ™ brand, initially making tire patches. Today, we manufacture one of the most comprehensive lines of tire repair and retreading products in the United States. Service professionals rely on our extensive product selection and quality for safe, cost-effective repairs to passenger, truck and off-road tires. Products range from the plug that fills a puncture, the cement that seats the plug, the tire innerliner patch and the final sealing compound. Patch brand repair products maintain a strong position in the tire service markets including sales through our Distribution Segment’s sales network.
Also within the capabilities of Patch Rubber, we apply our rubber calendering and compounding expertise to create a diverse portfolio of products outside of the tire repair market, such as reflective highway marking tapes. Our rubber-based tape and symbols provide the durability and brightness that construction professionals demand to replace paint for marking road repair, intersections and hazardous areas. Compared with traditional highway paint, the tape stock is easier to apply, more reflective and longer lasting. It is available in both temporary and permanent grades to meet the customers’ specific requirements.
Other custom products represent a wide range of markets and applications. These include: plastic elevated toilet seats and tub rails for the healthcare market, specialty tapes used for cable splicing in the telecommunications industry and custom rubber linings for material handling conveyors.
Distribution Segment Overview
Our Distribution Segment includes the Myers Tire Supply ® and Myers Tire Supply International ® brands. Myers Tire Supply is the largest U.S. distributor and single source for tire, wheel and undervehicle service tools, equipment and supplies. We buy and sell nearly 10,000 different items — everything that professionals need to service passenger, truck and off-road tires, wheels and related components. Independent tire dealers, mass merchandisers, commercial auto and truck fleets, tire retreaders and general repair facilities rely on our broad product selection, rapid availability and personal service to be more productive and profitably grow their business.
In 2011, we enhanced our business model to optimize our domestic distribution network. We now serve the domestic market through sales districts, sales offices, and four regional distribution centers compared to 33 branches that acted as individual profit centers historically. Our new network has improved overall customer service levels, reduced operating costs, and simplified the supply chain. Internationally, we have three branches in Canada and three in Central America. Sales personnel from our Akron, Ohio headquarters cover niche markets in the Far East, Middle East, South Pacific and South America.
 
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We purchase products from trusted, industry-leading manufacturers to ensure quality is delivered to our customers. Each of the brand-name products we sell is associated with superior performance in its respective area. Some of these well-known brands include: Chicago Pneumatic air tools; Hennessy tire changing, balancing and alignment equipment; Corghi tire changers and balancers; Ingersoll-Rand air service equipment; HofmannUSA tire balancing and changing equipment; Rotary lifts and related equipment; Alligator VentilFabrik GMBH tire pressure monitoring systems and tire valve hardware; Perfect Equipment wheel weights; and our own Patch Rubber brand tire patches, cements and repair supplies.
An essential element of our success in the Distribution Segment is the network of field sales representatives, who deliver personalized service on a local level. Customers rely on Myers Tire Supply sales representatives to introduce the latest tools and technologies and to provide training in new product features and applications. Representatives also teach the proper use of diagnostic equipment and present on-site workshops demonstrating industry-approved techniques for tire repair and undervehicle service.
With a commitment to innovation for our customers, our Myers Tire Supply team has introduced several new product and service offerings that continue to make our customers’ experience with Myers Tire Supply uniquely valuable. These included a full range of Tire Pressure Monitoring System products, a web-based “Torque Tracker” program for commercial fleet service providers, and a “green” nitrogen tire inflation program, which is designed to help our tire dealer customers with service to their customers through the benefits of greater fuel efficiency and tire life, as well as communications of regular tire maintenance updates.
While the needs and composition of our distribution markets constantly change, we adapt and deliver the new products and services that are crucial to our customers’ success. The new product pipeline is driven by innovations from auto and tire manufacturers, which in turn prompts Myers Tire Supply and its suppliers to develop new equipment, supplies and service techniques to keep cars and trucks moving down the road with confidence.
The Distribution Segment is well positioned to continue its steady growth. The Myers Tire Supply (U.S.) brand is positioned to expand its leadership through superior product selection, rapid delivery and the personal service that is the hallmark of the Company’s success in the tire, wheel, and undervehicle service marketplace. The Myers Tire Supply International brand is positioned to expand distribution of tire supplies in select regions of the world, presenting new growth opportunities for our diverse manufacturing businesses. All of this can be achieved through: 1) ongoing productivity improvements in our distribution network, 2) growing within key domestic market sectors and emerging international markets, 3) delivering a continuous flow of new products with “first-to-market” speed and 4) improving efficiency and customer satisfaction through implementation of innovative supply chain management technologies. Strategic, adjacent acquisitions or investments are also a potential growth avenue in this segment.
Raw Materials & Suppliers — Manufacturing and Distribution Segments
For the manufacturing segments, the Company purchases substantially all of its raw materials from a wide range of third-party suppliers. These materials are primarily polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene plastic resins, as well as synthetic and natural rubber. Most raw materials are commodity products and available from several domestic suppliers. We believe that the loss of any one supplier or group of suppliers would not have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our Distribution Segment purchases substantially all of its components from third-party suppliers and has multiple sources for its products.
Competition
Competition in the manufacturing segments is substantial and varied in form and size from manufacturers of similar products and of other products which can be substituted for those produced by the Company. In general, most direct competitors with the Company’s brands are private entities. Myers Industries maintains strong brand presence and market positions in the niche sectors of the markets it serves. The Company does not command substantial, overall market presence in the broad market sectors.
 
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Competition in our Distribution Segment is generally from private, smaller local and regional businesses. Within the overall tire, wheel and undervehicle service market, Myers is the largest North American distributor of tools, equipment and supplies offered based on national coverage.
Customer Dependence
In 2011, there was no customer that accounted for more than five percent of total net sales. In 2010 and 2009, the Company’s largest customer accounted for approximately 6.0% and 13%, respectively of total net sales. Myers Industries serves thousands of customers who demand value through product selection, innovation, quality, delivery and responsive personal service. Our brands foster satisfied, loyal customers who have recognized our performance through numerous supplier quality awards.
Employees
As of December 31, 2011, Myers Industries had a total of 3,261 full-time and part-time employees. Of these, 2,732 were employed in the Company’s manufacturing segments, including: 782 in Material Handling, 745 in Engineered Products, and 1,205 in Lawn and Garden. The Distribution Segment employed 471 personnel. The Company’s corporate offices had 58 employees.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no employees under collective bargaining arrangements.
 
 	(d)	Financial Information About Geographic Areas	
The response to this section of Item 1 is contained in the Industry Segments footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.
 
 	(e)	Available Information	
Filings with the SEC .     As a public company, we regularly file reports and proxy statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), such as:
* annual reports on Form 10-K;
* quarterly reports on Form 10-Q;
* current reports on Form 8-K; and
* proxy statements on Schedule 14A.
Anyone may read and copy any of the materials we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Information regarding operations of the Public Reference Room may also be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains our reports, proxy and information statements, and our other SEC filings; the address of that site is http://www.sec.gov .
Also, we make our SEC filings available free of charge on our own internet site as soon as reasonably practicable after we have filed with the SEC. Our internet address is http://www.myersindustries.com . The content on the Company’s website is available for informational purposes only and is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.
Corporate Governance .     We have a Code of Business Conduct for our employees and members of our Board of Directors. A copy of this Code is posted on our website in the section titled “Investor Relations”. We
 
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will satisfy any disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, any provision of this Code with respect to our executive officers or directors by disclosing the nature of that amendment or waiver.
Our website also contains additional information about our corporate governance policies, including the charters of our standing board committees. Any of these items are available in print to any shareholder who requests them. Requests should be sent to Corporate Secretary, Myers Industries, Inc., 1293 S. Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44301.
 
 ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	
This Form 10-K and the information we are incorporating by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including information regarding the Company’s 2012 financial outlook, future plans, objectives, business prospects and anticipated financial performance. You can identify these statements by the fact that they include words such as “will,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” or variations of these words, or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts and represent only our current expectations regarding such matters. These statements inherently involve a wide range of known and unknown uncertainties. The Company’s actual actions and results could differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. Specific factors that could cause such a difference include those set forth below and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these factors, as well as other variables that may affect our operating results, you should not rely on forward-looking statements, assume that past financial performance will be a reliable indicator of future performance, nor use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods. We expressly disclaim any obligation or intention to provide updates to the forward-looking statements and the estimates and assumptions associated with them.
Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements include:
Any significant increase in the cost of raw materials or disruption in the availability of raw materials could adversely affect our performance.
Our ability to manage our cost structure can be adversely affected by movements in commodity and other raw material prices. Our primary raw materials include plastic resins, colorants and natural and synthetic rubbers. Plastic resins in particular are subject to substantial short term price fluctuations, including those arising from supply shortages and changes in the price of natural gas, crude oil and other petrochemical intermediates from which resins are produced, as well as other factors. Over the past several years, we have at times experienced rapidly increasing resin prices. The Company’s revenue and profitability may be materially and adversely affected by these price fluctuations.
Market conditions may limit our ability to raise selling prices to offset increases in our raw material input costs. If we are unsuccessful in developing ways to mitigate raw material cost increases, we may not be able to improve productivity or realize our ongoing cost reduction programs sufficiently to help offset the impact of these increased raw material costs. As a result, higher raw material costs could result in declining margins and operating results.
Changes in raw material availability may also occur due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters such as floods, tornados and hurricanes. Our specific molding technologies and/or product specifications can limit our ability to locate alternative suppliers to produce certain products.
 
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We may incur inherent risks associated with our strategic growth initiatives.
Our growth initiatives include: internal growth driven by strong brands and new product innovation; development of new, high-growth markets and expansion in existing niche markets; strengthened customer relationships through value-added initiatives and key product partnerships; investments in new technology and processes to reinforce market strength and capabilities in key business groups; consolidation and rationalization activities to further reduce costs and improve productivity within our manufacturing and distribution footprint; an opportunistic and disciplined approach to strategic, bolt-on acquisitions to accelerate growth in our market positions; and potential divestitures of businesses with non-strategic products or markets.
While this is a continuous process, all of these activities and initiatives have inherent risks and there remain significant challenges and uncertainties, including economic and general business conditions that could limit our ability to achieve anticipated benefits associated with announced strategic initiatives and affect our financial results. We may not achieve any or all of these goals and are unable to predict whether these initiatives will produce significant revenues or profits.
We may not realize the improved operating results that we anticipate from past acquisitions or from acquisitions we may make in the future and we may experience difficulties in integrating the acquired businesses or may inherit significant liabilities related to such businesses.
We explore opportunities to acquire businesses that we believe are related to our core competencies from time to time, some of which may be material to us. We expect such acquisitions will produce operating results consistent with our other operations; however, we may be unable to achieve the benefits expected to be realized from our acquisitions. In addition, we may incur additional costs and our management’s attention may be diverted because of unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other risks inherent in acquiring businesses, including the following:
 
 	•	 	we may have difficulty integrating the acquired businesses as planned, which may include integration of systems of internal controls over financial reporting and other financial and administrative functions;	
 
 	•	 	we may have delays in realizing the benefits of our strategies for an acquired business;	
 
 	•	 	we may not be able to retain key employees necessary to continue the operations of an acquired business;	
 
 	•	 	acquisition costs may be met with cash or debt, increasing the risk that we will be unable to satisfy current financial obligations; and	
 
 	•	 	acquired companies may have unknown liabilities that could require us to spend significant amounts of additional capital.	
Our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected by a downturn in the general markets or the general economic environment.
We operate in a wide range of geographies, primarily North America, Central America and South America. Worldwide and regional economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the economic conditions of the broader markets and in our individual niche markets, could have an adverse affect on one or more of our operating segments.
 
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We operate in a very competitive business environment.
Each of our segments participates in markets that are highly competitive. Many of our competitors sell their products at prices lower than ours and we compete primarily on the basis of product quality, product performance, value, and supply chain competency. Our competitive success also depends on our ability to maintain strong brands, customer relationships and the belief that customers will need our products and services to meet their growth requirements. The development and maintenance of such brands requires continuous investment in brand building, marketing initiatives and advertising. The competition that we face in all of our markets — which varies depending on the particular business segment, product lines and customers — may prevent us from achieving sales, product pricing and income goals, which could affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The results of operations for our Lawn and Garden Segment are influenced by weather conditions.
Demand for our Lawn and Garden Segment products is influenced by weather, particularly weekend weather during the peak gardening season. Additionally, product demand in this segment is strongest in the first and fourth quarters and weakest in the third quarter, as our customers (in particular greenhouses and nurseries) order our products in advance of the growing season. As a result, our business, financial results, cash flow and our ability to service our debt could be adversely affected by certain weather patterns such as unseasonably cool or warm temperatures, hurricanes, water shortages or floods.
Our operations depend on our ability to maintain continuous, uninterrupted production at our manufacturing facilities, which are subject to physical and other risks that could disrupt production.
We are subject to inherent risks in our diverse manufacturing and distribution activities, including, but not limited to: product quality, safety, licensing requirements and other regulatory issues, environmental events, loss or impairment of key manufacturing or distribution sites, disruptions in logistics and transportation services, labor disputes and industrial accidents. While we maintain insurance covering our manufacturing and production facilities, including business interruption insurance, a catastrophic loss of the use of all or a portion of our facilities due to accident, fire, explosion, or natural disaster, whether short or long-term, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Unexpected failures of our equipment and machinery may also result in production delays, revenue loss and significant repair costs, as well as injuries to our employees. Any interruption in production capability may require us to make large capital expenditures to remedy the situation, which could have a negative impact on our profitability and cash flows. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to offset the lost revenues or increased costs that we may experience during a disruption of our operations. A temporary or long-term business disruption could result in a permanent loss of customers. If this were to occur, our future sales levels, and therefore our profitability, could be materially adversely affected.
We derive a portion of our revenues from direct and indirect sales outside the United States and are subject to the risks of doing business in foreign countries.
We currently operate manufacturing, sales and service facilities outside of the United States, particularly in Canada and Brazil. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, international net sales accounted for approximately 14% of our total net sales from continuing operations. Accordingly, we are subject to risks associated with operations in foreign countries, including:
 
 	•	 	fluctuations in currency exchange rates;	
 
 	•	 	limitations on the remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries;	
 
 	•	 	limitations on foreign investment;	
 
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 	•	 	additional costs of compliance with local regulations; and	
 
 	•	 	in certain countries, higher rates of inflation than in the United States.	
In addition, our operations outside the United States are subject to the risk of new and different legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions, potential difficulties in staffing and managing local operations and potentially adverse tax consequences. The costs related to our international operations could adversely affect our operations and financial results in the future.
Our future performance depends in part on our ability to develop and market new products if there are changes in technology, regulatory requirements or competitive processes.
Changes in technology, regulatory requirements and competitive processes may render certain products obsolete or less attractive. Our performance in the future will depend in part on our ability to develop and market new products that will gain customer acceptance and loyalty, as well as our ability to adapt our product offerings and control our costs to meet changing market conditions. Our operating performance would be adversely affected if we were to incur delays in developing new products or if such products did not gain market acceptance. There can be no assurance that existing or future products will be sufficiently successful to enable us to effectively compete in our markets or, should new product offerings meet with significant customer acceptance, that one or more current or future competitors will not introduce products that render our products noncompetitive.
We may not be successful in protecting our intellectual property rights, including our unpatented proprietary know-how and trade secrets, or in avoiding claims that we infringed on the intellectual property rights of others.
In addition to relying on patent and trademark rights, we rely on unpatented proprietary know-how and trade secrets and employ various methods, including confidentiality agreements with employees and consultants, to protect our know-how and trade secrets. However, these methods and our patents and trademarks may not afford complete protection and there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop the know-how and trade secrets or develop better production methods than us. Further, we may not be able to deter current and former employees, contractors and other parties from breaching confidentiality agreements and misappropriating proprietary information and it is possible that third parties may copy or otherwise obtain and use our information and proprietary technology without authorization or otherwise infringe on our intellectual property rights. Additionally, in the future we may license patents, trademarks, trade secrets and similar proprietary rights to third parties. While we attempt to ensure that our intellectual property and similar proprietary rights are protected when entering into business relationships, third parties may take actions that could materially and adversely affect our rights or the value of our intellectual property, similar proprietary rights or reputation. In the future, we may also rely on litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights and contractual rights and, if not successful, we may not be able to protect the value of our intellectual property. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that we will not be subject to claims asserting the infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties seeking damages, the payment of royalties or licensing fees and/or injunctions against the sale of our products. Any litigation could be protracted and costly and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations regardless of its outcome.
If we are unable to maintain access to credit financing, our business may be adversely affected.
The Company’s ability to make payments and to refinance our indebtedness, fund planned capital expenditures and acquisitions and pay dividends will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future and retain access to credit financing. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
 
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We cannot provide assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities or that future borrowings will be available to us under our credit facilities in amounts sufficient to enable us to service debt, make necessary capital expenditures or fund other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, on or before maturity. We cannot be sure that we would be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
The credit facilities contain restrictive covenants and cross default provisions that require us to maintain specified financial ratios. The Company’s ability to satisfy those financial ratios can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot be assured we will satisfy those ratios. A breach of any of these financial ratio covenants or other covenants could result in a default. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lenders could elect to declare the applicable outstanding indebtedness due immediately and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. We cannot be sure that our lenders would waive a default or that we could pay the indebtedness in full if it were accelerated.
Future claims, litigation and regulatory actions could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to conduct our business.
While we strive to ensure that our products comply with applicable government regulatory standards and internal requirements and that our products perform effectively and safely, customers from time to time could claim that our products do not meet contractual requirements, and users could be harmed by use or misuse of our products. This could give rise to breach of contract, warranty or recall claims, or claims for negligence, product liability, strict liability, personal injury or property damage. Product liability insurance coverage may not be available or adequate in all circumstances. In addition, claims may arise related to patent infringement, environmental liabilities, distributor terminations, commercial contracts, antitrust or competition law, employment law and employee benefits issues and other regulatory matters. While we have in place processes and policies to mitigate these risks and to investigate and address such claims as they arise, we cannot predict the underlying costs to defend or resolve such claims.
Current and future environmental and other governmental laws and requirements could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to conduct our business.
Our operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations that impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the air and water and establish standards for the handling, use, treatment, storage and disposal of, or exposure to, hazardous wastes and other materials and require clean up of contaminated sites. Some of these laws and regulations require us to obtain permits, which contain terms and conditions that impose limitations on our ability to emit and discharge hazardous materials into the environment and periodically may be subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. Fines, penalties and other civil or criminal sanctions may be imposed for non-compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and the failure to have or to comply with the terms and conditions of required permits. Certain environmental laws in the United States, such as the federal Superfund law and similar state laws, impose liability for the cost of investigation or remediation of contaminated sites upon the current or, in some cases, the former site owners or operators (or their predecessor entities) and upon parties who arranged for the disposal of wastes or transported or sent those wastes to an off-site facility for treatment or disposal, regardless of when the release of hazardous substances occurred or the lawfulness of the activities giving rise to the release. Such liability can be imposed without regard to fault and, under certain circumstances, can be joint and several, resulting in one party being held responsible for the entire obligation.
While we have not been required historically to make significant capital expenditures in order to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, we cannot predict with any certainty our future capital expenditure requirements because of continually changing compliance standards and environmental technology. Furthermore, violations or contaminated sites that we do not know about, including contamination caused by
 
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prior owners and operators of such sites, or at sites formerly owned or operated by us or our predecessors in connection with discontinued operations, could result in additional compliance or remediation costs or other liabilities, which could be material.
In that we may be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) of the New Idria Mercury Mine, the Company accrued costs related to performing a remedial investigation and feasibility study. As investigation and remediation proceed, it is likely that adjustments to the liability will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of corrective actions that may be required and the number and financial condition of other PRPs, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses.
We have limited insurance coverage for potential environmental liabilities associated with historic and current operations and we do not anticipate increasing such coverage in the future. We may also assume significant environmental liabilities in acquisitions. Such costs or liabilities could adversely affect our financial situation and our ability to conduct our business.
Environmental regulations specific to plastic products and containers could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
Federal, state, local and foreign governments could enact laws or regulations concerning environmental matters that increase the cost of producing, or otherwise adversely affect the demand for, plastic products. Legislation that would prohibit, tax or restrict the sale or use of certain types of plastic and other containers, and would require diversion of solid wastes such as packaging materials from disposal in landfills, has been or may be introduced in the U.S. Congress, in state legislatures and other legislative bodies. While container legislation has been adopted in a few jurisdictions, similar legislation has been defeated in public referenda in several states, local elections and many state and local legislative sessions. There can be no assurance that future legislation or regulation would not have a material adverse effect on us. Furthermore, a decline in consumer preference for plastic products due to environmental considerations could have a negative effect on our business.
Our insurance coverage may be inadequate to protect against potential hazardous incidents to our business.
We maintain property, business interruption, product liability and casualty insurance coverage, but such insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential claims, including losses resulting from war risks, terrorist acts or product liability claims relating to products we manufacture. Consistent with market conditions in the insurance industry, premiums and deductibles for some of our insurance policies have been increasing and may continue to increase in the future. In some instances, some types of insurance may become available only for reduced amounts of coverage, if at all. In addition, there can be no assurance that our insurers would not challenge coverage for certain claims. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured or that our insurers disputed, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Our business operations could be significantly disrupted if members of our senior management team were to leave.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our senior management team. Our senior management team has extensive manufacturing, finance and engineering experience, and we believe that the depth of our management team is instrumental to our continued success. The loss of any of our key executive officers in the future could significantly impede our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, financial plans, expansion of services, marketing and other objectives.
 
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Unforeseen future events may negatively impact our economic condition.
Future events may occur that would adversely affect the reported value of our assets. Such events may include, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to changes in economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on our customer base, or a material adverse change in our relationship with significant customers.
Equity Ownership Concentration
Stephen E. Myers, former Chief Executive Officer of the Company, a descendent of the Company’s co-founder Louis S. Myers beneficially owned approximately 8.3% of the Company’s outstanding common shares as of March 1, 2012. This shareholder may have sufficient voting power to influence actions requiring the approval of our shareholders.
Based solely on the Schedule 13D/A filed on February 15, 2012, by Gabelli Funds, LLC, GAMCO Asset Management Inc., MJG Associates, Inc., Gabelli Securities, Inc., Teton Advisors, Inc., GGCP, Inc., GAMCO Investors, Inc., and Mario J. Gabelli (collectively, the “Gamco Group”), for which the Company disclaims any responsibility, the Gamco Group beneficially owned 5,329,671 shares of our common shares as of February 15, 2012, representing 15.97% of our outstanding common shares. Combined, these parties may have sufficient voting power to influence actions requiring the approval of our shareholders.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Changes in laws and regulations and approvals and decisions of courts, regulators, and governmental bodies on any legal claims known or unknown, could have an adverse affect on the Company’s financial results.
 
 ITEM 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	
None.
 
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 ITEM 2.	Properties	
The following table sets forth by segment certain information with respect to properties owned by the Company:

 	  	Distribution	 	  	 	
				
Location	  	Approximate
Floor Space
(Square Feet)	 	  	Approximate
Land Area
(Acres)	 	  	Use	
Akron, Ohio	  	 	129,000	  	  	 	8	  	  	Executive offices and warehousing	
Akron, Ohio	  	 	60,000	  	  	 	5	  	  	Warehousing	
Akron, Ohio	  	 	31,000	  	  	 	2	  	  	Warehousing	
Pomona, California	  	 	17,700	  	  	 	1	  	  	Sales and distribution	
Phoenix, Arizona	  	 	8,200	  	  	 	1	  	  	Sales and distribution	
Indianapolis, Indiana	  	 	7,800	  	  	 	2	  	  	Sales and distribution	
Cincinnati, Ohio	  	 	7,500	  	  	 	1	  	  	Held for sale	
York, Pennsylvania	  	 	7,400	  	  	 	3	  	  	Sales and distribution	
Minneapolis, Minnesota	  	 	5,500	  	  	 	1	  	  	Held for sale	
Franklin Park, Illinois	  	 	4,400	  	  	 	1	  	  	Sales and distribution	
			
 	  	Manufacturing	 	  	 	
				
Sandusky, Ohio	  	 	305,000	  	  	 	8	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Springfield, Missouri	  	 	227,000	  	  	 	19	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Dawson Springs, Kentucky	  	 	125,000	  	  	 	26	  	  	Held for sale	
Wadsworth, Ohio	  	 	197,000	  	  	 	23	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Sparks, Nevada	  	 	185,000	  	  	 	11	  	  	Held for sale	
Bluffton, Indiana	  	 	175,000	  	  	 	17	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina	  	 	172,000	  	  	 	20	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Bristol, Indiana	  	 	166,000	  	  	 	12	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Jefferson, Ohio	  	 	115,000	  	  	 	11	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Lugoff, South Carolina	  	 	115,000	  	  	 	12	  	  	Held for sale	
Waco, Texas	  	 	60,000	  	  	 	5	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Reidsville, North Carolina	  	 	53,000	  	  	 	17	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Sebring, Florida	  	 	26,000	  	  	 	10	  	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
The following table sets forth by segment certain information with respect to facilities leased by the Company.

 	  	Manufacturing	  	 	
				
Location	  	Approximate
Floor Space
(Square Feet)	 	  	Expiration Date
of Lease	  	Use	
Middlefield, Ohio	  	 	632,000	  	  	September 30, 2025	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Brantford, Ontario, Canada	  	 	216,000	  	  	January 31, 2013	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Cassopolis, Michigan	  	 	210,000	  	  	October 31, 2015	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Reidsville, N. Carolina	  	 	171,000	  	  	July 17, 2013	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Jaguariuna, Brazil	  	 	54,000	  	  	March 30, 2012	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Springfield, Missouri	  	 	49,000	  	  	October 31, 2012	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Springfield, Missouri	  	 	51,000	  	  	November 1, 2013	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Burlington, Ontario, Canada	  	 	46,000	  	  	January 9, 2013	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Mississuaga, Ontario, Canada	  	 	20,000	  	  	January 31, 2014	  	Manufacturing and distribution	
Milford, Ohio	  	 	22,000	  	  	November 30, 2012	  	Administration and sales	
Southaven, Mississippi	  	 	56,000	  	  	September 30, 2016	  	Distribution center	
Salt Lake City, Utah	  	 	31,000	  	  	October 31, 2016	  	Distribution center	
 
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The Company also leases facilities in 21 locations throughout the United States and Canada which, in the aggregate, amount to approximately 150,000 square feet of warehouse and office space. All of these locations are used by the Distribution Segment. Consistent with our business model change to optimize our domestic distribution network, branch leases expiring in 2012 will be replaced by new sales office leases.
The Company believes that all of its properties, machinery and equipment generally are well maintained and adequate for the purposes for which they are used.
 
 ITEM 3.	Legal Proceedings	
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings, in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. We believe that the outcome of these lawsuits and other proceedings will not individually or in the aggregate have a future material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
New Idria Mercury Mine
Effective October 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) added the New Idria Mercury Mine site located near Hollister, California to the Superfund National Priorities List because of alleged contaminants discharged to California waterways. The New Idria Quicksilver Mining Company, founded in 1936, owned and operated the New Idria Mine through 1972. In 1981 New Idria was merged into Buckhorn Inc. and subsequently acquired by Myers Industries in 1987. The EPA contends that past mining operations have resulted in mercury contamination and acid mine drainage in the San Carlos Creek, Silver Creek and a portion of Panoche Creek and that other downstream locations may also be impacted.
Since Buckhorn Inc. may be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) of the New Idria Mercury Mine, the Company recognized an expense of $1.9 million in 2011 related to performing a remedial investigation and feasibility study to determine the extent of remediation and the screening of alternatives. As investigation and remediation proceed, it is likely that adjustments to the liability will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of corrective actions that may be required and the number and financial condition of other PRPs, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses. At this time, further remediation cost estimates are not known and have not been prepared.
In November 2011 the EPA completed an interim removal project at the New Idria Mercury Mine site. It is expected this removal action will be part of the final remediation plan for the site. The EPA’s interim removal project costs are unknown at this time. It is possible that at some future date the EPA will seek recovery of the costs of this work from PRPs.
California Regional Water Quality Control Board
A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn Inc. (“Buckhorn”), were identified in a planning document adopted in October 2008 by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (“RWQCB”). The planning document relates to the presence of mercury, including amounts contained in mining wastes, in and around the Guadalupe River Watershed (“Watershed”) region in Santa Clara County, California. Buckhorn has been alleged to be a successor in interest to an entity that performed mining operations in a portion of the Watershed area. The Company has not been contacted by the RWQCB with respect to Watershed clean-up efforts that may result from the adoption of this planning document. The extent of the mining wastes that may be the subject of future cleanup has yet to be determined, and the
 
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actions of the RWQCB have not yet advanced to the stage where a reasonable estimate of remediation cost, if any, is available. Although assertion of a claim by the RWQCB is reasonably possible, it is not possible at this time to estimate the amount of any obligation the Company may incur for these cleanup efforts within the Watershed region, or whether such cost would be material to the Company’s financial statements.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Set forth below is certain information concerning the executive officers of the Registrant as of December 31, 2011. Executive officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors.

Name	  	Age	 	  	Years as
Executive Officer	 	  	Title	
John C. Orr	  	 	61	  	  	 	9	  	  	President and Chief Executive Officer	
Donald A. Merril	  	 	47	  	  	 	6	  	  	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary	
David B. Knowles	  	 	51	  	  	 	3	  	  	Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer	
Mr. Orr, President and Chief Executive Officer, was appointed to his current position on May 1, 2005. Mr. Orr had been President and Chief Operating Officer since 2003. Prior to that Mr. Orr was General Manager of Buckhorn Inc., one of the Company’s material handling subsidiaries. Before coming to the Company, Mr. Orr had been employed by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for 28 years. His last position at Goodyear was Vice President — North America.
Mr. Merril, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, was appointed to his current position on April 26, 2006. Mr. Merril joined the Company on January 25, 2006. Prior to that he was with Newell Rubbermaid Inc. — Rubbermaid Home Products Division, where he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2003. Mr. Merril joined Newell Rubbermaid in 2001 where he served as Chief Financial Officer of Newell Rubbermaid — Little Tikes.
Mr. Knowles joined the Company and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer on June 19, 2009. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Aristech Acrylics LLC since 2003.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Registrant’s Directors, certain of its executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of its Common Stock (“Insiders”) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., and to furnish the Company with copies of all such forms they file. The Company understands from the information provided to it by the Insiders that they adhered to all filing requirements applicable to the Section 16 Filers.
 
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 PART II
 
 ITEM 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	
The Company’s Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MYE). The approximate number of shareholders of record at December 31, 2011 was 1,427. High and low stock prices and dividends for the last two years were:

2011	  	Sales Price	 	  	 	 	
Quarter Ended	  	High	 	  	Low	 	  	Dividends	 	
March 31	  	$	10.25	  	  	$	8.75	  	  	$	0.070	  	
June 30	  	 	11.01	  	  	 	9.63	  	  	 	0.070	  	
September 30	  	 	12.15	  	  	 	9.47	  	  	 	0.070	  	
December 31	  	 	13.66	  	  	 	9.49	  	  	 	0.070	  	
			
2010	  	Sales Price	 	  	 	 	
Quarter Ended	  	High	 	  	Low	 	  	Dividends	 	
March 31	  	$	10.85	  	  	$	8.12	  	  	$	0.065	  	
June 30	  	 	11.55	  	  	 	7.69	  	  	 	0.065	  	
September 30	  	 	8.64	  	  	 	6.20	  	  	 	0.065	  	
December 31	  	 	10.94	  	  	 	8.34	  	  	 	0.065	  	
Purchases of equity securities by the issuer
The following table presents information regarding the Company’s stock purchase plan during the three months ended December 31, 2011.

 	  	Total Number of
Shares Purchased	 	  	Average Price Paid
per Share	 	  	Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of the Publicly
Announced Program	 	 	Maximum number
of Shares that may
yet be Purchased
Under the Plan (1)	 	
10/1/11 to 10/31/11	  	 	204,880	  	  	$	10.37	  	  	 	2,000,000	* 	 	 	—	  	
11/1/11 to 11/30/11	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	2,000,000	  	 	 	—	  	
12/1/11 to 12/31/11	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	2,000,000	  	 	 	—	  	
 
*	As of October 31, 2011, the Company completed its repurchase of common shares in accordance with the guidelines specified in the Company’s Rule 10b5-1 plan.	
 
(1)	On June 1, 2011, the Company announced that it adopted a Rule 10b5-1 plan (the “Plan”) for the purpose of repurchasing up to two million shares of its common stock in accordance with the guidelines specified in Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Plan was established in connection with the Board authorized five million share repurchase that was announced on May 2, 2011.	
 
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See Item 12 of this Form 10-K for the Equity Compensation Plan Information Table which is incorporated herein by reference.

 
																									
   	  	   	  	2006    	  	2007	 	  	2008	 	  	2009	 	  	2010	 	  	2011	 	
Myers Industries Inc.	  	Return%  
Cum $	  	100    	  	 
 	-4.72
95.28	  
  	  	 
 	-43.24
54.08	  
  	  	 
 	17.18
63.37	  
  	  	 
 	10.13
69.79	  
  	  	 
 	30.01
90.73	  
  	
S&P 500 Index —
    Total Return	  	Return%  
Cum $	  	100    	  	 
 	5.50
105.50	  
  	  	 
 	-36.99
66.48	  
  	  	 
 	26.45
84.06	  
  	  	 
 	15.07
96.73	  
  	  	 
 	2.12
98.77	  
  	
S&P 600 Index —
    Total Return	  	Return%  
Cum $	  	100    	  	 
 	-0.30
99.70	  
  	  	 
 	-31.07
68.72	  
  	  	 
 	25.57
86.29	  
  	  	 
 	26.31
108.99	  
  	  	 
 	1.02
110.10	  

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 ITEM 6.	Selected Financial Data	
Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Data

   	 	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	2008	 	 	2007	 	
Operations for the Year	 				 				 				 				 				
Net sales	 	$	755,654	  	 	$	737,618	  	 	$	701,834	  	 	$	813,541	  	 	$	855,705	  	
Cost of sales	 	 	557,385	  	 	 	573,094	  	 	 	530,939	  	 	 	616,879	  	 	 	628,748	  	
Selling	 	 	81,475	  	 	 	74,185	  	 	 	70,999	  	 	 	88,819	  	 	 	95,007	  	
General and administrative	 	 	77,136	  	 	 	65,968	  	 	 	77,297	  	 	 	72,394	  	 	 	86,684	  	
Impairment charges(1)	 	 	1,249	  	 	 	72,014	  	 	 	5,462	  	 	 	70,148	  	 	 	—	  	
Other income(2)	 	 	—	  	 	 	(3,827)	  	 	 	—	  	 	 	—	  	 	 	(26,750)	  	
Interest — net	 	 	4,722	  	 	 	7,205	  	 	 	8,304	  	 	 	11,336	  	 	 	15,292	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	 	 	721,967	  	 	 	788,639	  	 	 	693,001	  	 	 	859,577	  	 	 	798,981	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	 	 	33,687	  	 	 	(51,021)	  	 	 	8,833	  	 	 	(46,035)	  	 	 	56,724	  	
Income taxes	 	 	9,182	  	 	 	(8,187)	  	 	 	1,838	  	 	 	(286)	  	 	 	19,985	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations	 	 	24,505	  	 	 	(42,834)	  	 	 	6,995	  	 	 	(45,749)	  	 	 	36,739	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations per basic and diluted share	 	$	0.71	  	 	$	(1.21)	  	 	$	0.20	  	 	$	(1.30)	  	 	$	1.05	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Financial Position — At Year End	 				 				 				 				 				
Total assets	 	$	428,757	  	 	$	432,395	  	 	$	509,966	  	 	$	568,900	  	 	$	697,552	  	
Current assets	 	 	218,452	  	 	 	213,847	  	 	 	206,548	  	 	 	232,648	  	 	 	277,809	  	
Current liabilities	 	 	110,656	  	 	 	106,331	  	 	 	169,025	  	 	 	96,970	  	 	 	158,475	  	
Working capital	 	 	107,796	  	 	 	107,516	  	 	 	37,523	  	 	 	135,678	  	 	 	119,335	  	
Other assets	 	 	69,371	  	 	 	66,733	  	 	 	145,000	  	 	 	137,347	  	 	 	205,773	  	
Property, plant and equipment — net	 	 	140,934	  	 	 	151,815	  	 	 	158,418	  	 	 	198,905	  	 	 	213,970	  	
Less:	 				 				 				 				 				
Long-term debt, less current portion	 	 	73,725	  	 	 	83,530	  	 	 	38,890	  	 	 	169,546	  	 	 	167,253	  	
Other long term liabilities	 	 	14,343	  	 	 	5,936	  	 	 	5,682	  	 	 	6,396	  	 	 	4,014	  	
Deferred income taxes	 	 	23,893	  	 	 	24,793	  	 	 	38,371	  	 	 	43,149	  	 	 	50,540	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shareholders’ Equity	 	 	206,140	  	 	 	211,805	  	 	 	257,998	  	 	 	252,839	  	 	 	317,270	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Common Shares Outstanding	 	 	33,420,488	  	 	 	35,315,732	  	 	 	35,286,129	  	 	 	35,235,636	  	 	 	35,180,192	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Book Value Per Common Share	 	$	6.17	  	 	$	6.00	  	 	$	7.31	  	 	$	7.18	  	 	$	9.02	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other Data	 				 				 				 				 				
Dividends paid(3)	 	$	9,523	  	 	$	9,209	  	 	$	8,436	  	 	$	8,451	  	 	$	17,495	  	
Dividends per Common Share(3)	 	 	0.28	  	 	 	0.26	  	 	 	0.24	  	 	 	0.24	  	 	 	0.50	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Average Basic Common Shares Outstanding during the year	 	 	34,584,558	  	 	 	35,304,817	  	 	 	35,266,939	  	 	 	35,211,811	  	 	 	35,140,581	  	

(1)	In 2011, the Company recorded $0.9 million of impairment charges for long-lived assets related to the Material Handling Segment and $0.3 million of impairment charges for long-lived assets in the Lawn and Garden Segment. In 2010, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $72.0 million in its Lawn and Garden Segment. In 2009, the Company had impairment charges of $5.5 million related to certain property, plant and equipment related to the restructuring plans in its manufacturing segments. In 2008, a goodwill impairment charge of $60.1 million related to the Company’s Engineered Products Segment and impairment charges of $10.0 million for long-lived assets in the Lawn and Garden Segment were recorded.	
 
(2)	In 2010, the Company recorded a non-operating gain of $3.8 million ($4.4 million, net of related expenses) related to a favorable claims settlement. A non-operating gain of $26.8 million ($35.0 million, net of related expenses) was recognized in 2007. This gain resulted from a termination fee paid in connection with the Company’s proposed merger.	
 
(3)	Dividends in 2007 include a special dividend of $9.9 million accrued but not paid until 2008.	
 
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 ITEM 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition	
Executive Overview
The Company conducts its business activities in four distinct business segments, including three in manufacturing and one in distribution. The manufacturing segments consist of: Material Handling, Lawn and Garden, and Engineered Products.
In our manufacturing segments, the Company designs, manufactures, and markets a variety of plastic and rubber products. These products range from plastic reusable material handling containers and small parts storage bins to plastic horticultural pots and hanging baskets, decorative resin planters, plastic and rubber OEM parts, tire repair materials, and custom plastic and rubber products. Our Distribution Segment is engaged in the distribution of tools, equipment and supplies used for tire, wheel and undervehicle service on passenger, heavy truck and off-road vehicles.
Results of Operations: 2011 versus 2010
Net Sales:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Segment	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	Change	 	 	% Change	 	
Material Handling	  	$	261.8	  	 	$	257.8	  	 	$	4.0	  	 	 	2	% 	
Lawn & Garden	  	$	217.1	  	 	$	223.8	  	 	$	(6.7	) 	 	 	(3	%) 	
Distribution	  	$	183.7	  	 	$	175.0	  	 	$	8.7	  	 	 	5	% 	
Engineered Products	  	$	116.2	  	 	$	104.8	  	 	$	11.4	  	 	 	11	% 	
Intra-segment elimination	  	$	(23.1	) 	 	$	(23.8	) 	 	$	0.7	  	 	 	3	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TOTAL	  	$	755.7	  	 	$	737.6	  	 	$	18.1	  	 	 	2	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales for 2011 were $755.7 million, an increase of $18.1 million or 2% compared to the prior year. A favorable product and service mix along with higher selling prices increased sales by $42.2 million. Sales were also impacted by $4.4 million from favorable foreign currency translation, primarily from the Canadian dollar. These increases were partially offset by lower sales volumes of $28.5 million, primarily from a reduction in lower margin custom pallet sales in our Material Handling Segment and lower volumes in the Lawn and Garden Segment.
Net sales in the Material Handling Segment increased $4.0 million or 2% in 2011 compared to 2010. The increase in current year net sales included $22.9 million from improved pricing actions in response to higher raw material costs and customer mix and $0.9 million from the effect of favorable foreign currency translation. Strong demand in the agricultural, industrial, manufacturing and automotive markets drove higher sales volumes of $17.8 million partially offsetting the reduction of $37.6 million in lower margin custom pallet sales in 2011 versus 2010.
Net sales in the Lawn and Garden Segment in 2011 were down $6.7 million or 3% compared to 2010. The decrease in net sales primarily reflected lower volume of $22.0 million resulting from a prolonged effect of the weak 2011 growing season due to poor weather conditions. The lower sales volumes were partially offset by $12.2 million from favorable pricing actions taken to offset rising raw material costs and $3.1 million from the effect of foreign currency translation.
Net sales in the Distribution Segment increased $8.7 million or 5% in 2011 compared to 2010. The higher sales reflect $5.4 million from improved pricing to offset increased product costs. In addition, sales volume increased $2.9 million as a result of new products and service offerings. Sales were also impacted favorably by $0.4 million from the effect of foreign currency translation.
 
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In the Engineered Products Segment, net sales in 2011 increased $11.4 million, or 11% compared to 2010. Net sales increased due to higher sales volumes of $9.8 million driven by strong demand in the recreational vehicle, marine and contract manufacturing markets. Higher selling prices of $1.6 million also contributed to the increase.
Cost of Sales & Gross Profit:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of Sales and Gross Profit	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Cost of sales	  	$	557.4	  	 	$	573.1	  	
Gross profit	  	$	198.3	  	 	$	164.5	  	
Gross profit as a percentage of sales	  	 	26.2	% 	 	 	22.3	% 	
Gross profit margin increased to 26.2% for 2011 compared to 22.3% in the prior year. Improved product pricing, customer mix and productivity improvements resulted in higher gross profit margin year over year. Product pricing strategies, primarily in the Material Handling and Lawn and Garden Segments, mitigated the impact of higher costs for raw material plastic resins. Prices for plastic resins were, on average, approximately 16% higher for polypropylene and 11% higher for high density polyethylene in 2011 compared to the prior year. Lower manufacturing costs resulting from our operations  excellence initiatives reduced unabsorbed and labor costs in 2011 compared to 2010.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
SG&A Expenses	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	Change	 	
SG&A expenses	  	$	158.6	  	 	$	140.1	  	 	$	18.5	  	
SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales	  	 	21.0	% 	 	 	19.0	% 	 				
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $18.5 million or 13.2% compared with 2010. The increase was primarily due to higher selling and distribution costs of $7.2 million, higher general and corporate administrative costs of $3.8 million, employee related costs of $3.0 million, and increased provision for bad debts of $0.9 million. SG&A expense for 2011 also included restructuring charges of $2.7 million and other unusual charges of $1.9 million related to the New Idria investigation and feasibility study. Restructuring charges in 2010 were $2.7 million. In 2011 and 2010, gains of $0.7 million in each year were realized from the sale of facilities.
Impairment Charges:
In 2011, there were impairment charges of $1.2 million related to two closed manufacturing facilities and fixed asset impairment charges. In 2010, the Company recorded goodwill impairment charges of $72.0 million related to its Lawn and Garden business as discussed in the Goodwill and Intangible Assets footnote to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.
Interest Expense:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Interest Expense	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	Change	 	 	% Change	 	
Net interest expense	  	$	4.7	  	 	$	7.2	  	 	$	(2.5	) 	 	 	(35	%) 	
Outstanding borrowings	  	$	74.0	  	 	$	83.8	  	 	$	(9.8	) 	 	 	(12	%) 	
Average borrowing rate	  	 	5.22	% 	 	 	6.32	% 	 				 				
Net interest expense in 2011 was $4.7 million, a decrease of 35% compared to the prior year. Lower borrowing levels and a reduction in average interest rates of 90 basis points resulted in a reduction in interest expense in 2011.
 
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Income (Loss) Before Taxes:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Segment	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	Change	 	 	% Change	 	
Material Handling	  	$	34.1	  	 	$	22.6	  	 	$	11.5	  	 	 	51	% 	
Lawn & Garden	  	$	4.2	  	 	$	(74.6	) 	 	$	78.8	  	 	 	106	% 	
Distribution	  	$	15.7	  	 	$	15.2	  	 	$	0.5	  	 	 	3	% 	
Engineered Products	  	$	10.8	  	 	$	8.9	  	 	$	1.9	  	 	 	21	% 	
Corporate and interest	  	$	(31.1	) 	 	$	(23.1	) 	 	$	(8.0	) 	 	 	(35	%) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TOTAL	  	$	33.7	  	 	$	(51.0	) 	 	$	84.7	  	 	 	166	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before taxes in 2011 was $33.7 million, an improvement of $84.7 million compared to a loss of $51.0 million in 2010. Prior year results were significantly impacted by the goodwill impairment charge in our Lawn and Garden Segment of $72.0 million, which was partially offset by a non-operating gain of $3.8 million related to a claims settlement. The claims settlement gain was included in Other Income, net on the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) in 2010. The remaining increase was primarily due to higher net sales and a more favorable sales mix resulting in increased gross  profit margins compared to the prior year.
Income Taxes:

(dollars in millions)	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Income (loss) before taxes	  	$	33.7	  	 	$	(51.0	) 	
Income tax (benefit) expense	  	$	9.2	  	 	$	(8.2	) 	
Effective tax rate	  	 	27.3	% 	 	 	16.0	% 	
The effective tax rate was 27.3% in 2011 compared to 16.0% in 2010. The 2011 effective tax rate reflects the Company’s reversal of approximately $4.9 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits, primarily related to the incurred loss on the sale of its European Material Handling business in 2007 and other tax adjustments, including provision to return adjustments resulting from changes in estimates. The 2010 effective tax rate of 16.0% on the loss before taxes of $51.0 million was primarily due to the $72.0 million goodwill impairment charge recognized in that year, $26.7 million of which was not deductible.
Results of Operations: 2010 versus 2009
Net Sales from Continuing Operations:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Segment	  	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	Change	 	 	% Change	 	
Material Handling	  	$	257.8	  	 	$	254.1	  	 	$	3.7	  	 	 	1	% 	
Lawn & Garden	  	$	223.8	  	 	$	220.3	  	 	$	3.5	  	 	 	2	% 	
Distribution	  	$	175.0	  	 	$	163.0	  	 	$	12.0	  	 	 	7	% 	
Engineered Products	  	$	104.8	  	 	$	86.0	  	 	$	18.8	  	 	 	22	% 	
Intra-segment elimination	  	$	(23.8	) 	 	$	(21.5	) 	 	$	(2.3	) 	 	 	(11	%) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TOTAL	  	$	737.6	  	 	$	701.8	  	 	$	35.7	  	 	 	5	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net sales for 2010 increased 5% primarily due to improved sales volumes in all of the Company’s business segments. In addition, higher selling prices increased sales approximately $9.1 million and sales increased $11.5 million from the effect of foreign currency translation, primarily the Canadian dollar.
 
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In the Material Handling Segment, sales increased $3.7 million or 1% in 2010 compared to 2009. The increase reflects the impact of $6.7 million from higher selling prices and $2.2 million from foreign currency translation, which was partially offset by reduced volumes. Sales volumes were significantly lower for custom pallets in 2010 but partially offset by increased sales of legacy product lines such as reusable bulk containers for agriculture.
Net sales in the Lawn and Garden Segment in 2010 increased by $3.5 million or 2% compared to 2009. Sales increased $8.4 million due to foreign currency translation related to the favorable impact of exchange rates mostly for the Canadian dollar. In 2010, sales declined $2.2 million from reduced volume and $2.3 million from lower selling prices in the year.
Net sales in the Distribution Segment increased $12.0 million or 7% in 2010 compared to 2009. Sales increased $7.2 million due to higher volumes and $3.1 million from increased selling prices. The Distribution Segment experienced steady improvement in demand in 2010 and sales benefited from stronger replacement tire sales.
In the Engineered Products Segment, net sales in 2010 increased $18.8 million, or 22% compared to 2009. The increase is due to significant volume increases in the automotive, recreational vehicle, marine and custom markets of approximately $15.0 million.
Cost of Sales & Gross Profit from Continuing Operations:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of Sales and Gross Profit	  	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Cost of sales	  	$	573.1	  	 	$	530.9	  	
Gross profit	  	$	164.5	  	 	$	170.9	  	
Gross profit as a percentage of sales	  	 	22.3	% 	 	 	24.3	% 	
Gross profit margin in 2010 of 22.3% was down slightly compared to 2009. Raw material costs, primarily for plastic resins, were, on average, approximately 47% higher for polypropylene and 29% higher for polyethylene in 2010 compared to the prior year. In addition, the liquidation of inventories valued at LIFO cost reduced cost of sales by approximately $4.0 million in 2009 compared to $0.7 million in 2010. The impact of higher raw material costs and the liquidation of LIFO inventories were largely offset by lower manufacturing costs and a reduction in unabsorbed overhead resulting  from restructuring cost savings and higher sales volumes.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
SG&A Expenses	  	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	Change	 	
SG&A expenses	  	$	140.1	  	 	$	148.3	  	 	$	(8.2	) 	
SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales	  	 	19.0	% 	 	 	21.1	% 	 				
SG&A expenses decreased $8.2 million or 5.5% compared with 2009. Expenses in 2010 include charges of approximately $2.7 million for the movement of machinery and equipment and other restructuring activities. SG&A expenses in 2009 included $16.6 million of charges related to consulting and severance costs in restructuring the Company’s manufacturing businesses. Excluding these charges, other SG&A expenses in 2010 increased $5.7 million compared to 2009, primarily from freight and selling expenses due to increased sales volumes.
Impairment Charges:
In 2010, the Company recorded goodwill impairment charges of $72.0 million related to its Lawn and Garden business as discussed in the Goodwill and Intangible Assets footnote to the Consolidated Financial
 
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Statements in Item 8. In 2009, the Company recorded fixed asset impairment charges of $2.0 million related to restructuring its Lawn and Garden business, $1.3 million for its Material Handling business, and $2.2 million in the Engineered Products business. The 2009 fixed asset impairment charges were the result of closing manufacturing facilities.
Interest Expense:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Interest Expense	  	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	Change	 	 	% Change	 	
Net interest expense	  	$	7.2	  	 	$	8.3	  	 	$	(1.1	) 	 	 	(13	%) 	
Outstanding borrowings	  	$	83.8	  	 	$	104.3	  	 	$	(20.5	) 	 	 	(20	%) 	
Average borrowing rate	  	 	6.32	% 	 	 	5.25	% 	 				 				
Net interest expense in 2010 decreased $1.1 million because of lower average borrowing levels.
Income (Loss) Before Taxes:

(dollars in millions)	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Segment	  	2010	 	 	2009	 	 	Change	 	 	% Change	 	
Material Handling	  	$	22.6	  	 	$	13.6	  	 	$	9.0	  	 	 	66	% 	
Lawn & Garden	  	$	(74.6	) 	 	$	16.7	  	 	$	(91.3	) 	 	 	547	% 	
Distribution	  	$	15.2	  	 	$	13.7	  	 	$	1.5	  	 	 	11	% 	
Engineered Products	  	$	8.9	  	 	$	0.8	  	 	$	8.1	  	 	 	1,013	% 	
Corporate and interest	  	$	(23.1	) 	 	$	(35.9	) 	 	$	12.8	  	 	 	36	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
TOTAL	  	$	(51.0	) 	 	$	8.8	  	 	$	(59.8	) 	 	 	680	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Loss before taxes in 2010 was $51.0 million compared to income of $8.8 million in 2009. Results were significantly impacted by the goodwill impairment charge of $72.0 million in 2010 and restructuring and impairment charges totaling $24.8 million in 2009. In addition, in 2010 the Company recorded a non-operating gain of $3.8 million related to a  claims settlement.
Income Taxes:

(dollars in millions)	  	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Income (loss) before taxes	  	$	(51.0	) 	 	$	8.8	  	
Income tax (benefit) expense	  	$	(8.2	) 	 	$	1.8	  	
Effective tax rate	  	 	16.0	% 	 	 	20.8	% 	
The effective tax rate decreased to 16.0% in 2010 compared to 20.8% in 2009. The effective rate for 2010 is lower than the 35% U.S. Federal statutory rate primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge, $26.7 million of which is not deductible. In addition, the effective rate was impacted by the mix of domestic and foreign composition of income and the related foreign tax rate differences. The effective tax rate for 2009 was impacted by the mix of domestic and foreign composition income and the related foreign tax rate differences. Also in 2009, the Company made an adjustment to record previously unrecognized deferred tax assets which increased the income tax benefit and deferred tax assets by $0.4 million and recognized tax benefits of $0.3 million from a reduction in valuation allowances and $0.2 million from a reduction of  uncertain tax liabilities.
Financial Condition & Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash provided by operating activities from operations was $64.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $45.6 million in 2010. The increase of $18.6 million was primarily attributable
 
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to improved earnings. Net income was $24.5 million in 2011 compared to a loss of $42.8 million in 2010. Non-cash charges including depreciation and impairment charges were $42.2 million compared to non-cash charges of $20.5 million and a $72.0 million goodwill impairment charge in 2010. Funds used for working capital improved by $1.6 million in 2011 versus 2010.
Cash used for working capital was $2.5 million in 2011 compared to cash used of $4.1 million in 2010. In 2011, a reduction of inventories generated approximately $0.5 million of cash compared to $5.0 million in 2010. The reduction of inventories in 2011 resulted from ongoing working capital initiatives; however, more significant reductions of inventory were achieved in 2010 due to restructuring programs. In 2011, increasing sales resulted in higher accounts receivable and the use of $8.7 million of working capital compared with $10.0 million of cash used in 2010. In addition, there was an increase of $2.6 million in cash generated by accounts payable and accrued expenses in 2011 compared to 2010. The increase in cash from accounts payable and accrued expenses in 2011 was the result of employee compensation and royalties incurred but not yet paid.
Capital expenditures were approximately $21.9 million in 2011 compared to $20.5 million in 2010. Capital spending in 2011 was higher than the preceding year as investments were made for new manufacturing, molding and automated handling technology. In 2011, the Company paid out cash of $1.1 million in connection with the acquisition of Material Improvements Cheesebox and in 2010, the Company paid $0.4 million for the acquisition of Enviro-Fill. In 2011 and 2010, the Company received approximately $1.1 million and $5.2 million, respectively, in cash proceeds from the sale of property, plant & equipment.
During 2011, the Company used cash of $20.9 million to purchase two million shares of its own stock under a share repurchase plan. The shares were repurchased in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In addition, the Company used cash to pay dividends of $9.5 million and $9.2 million for the years ended 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Total debt at December 31, 2011 was approximately $74.0 million compared with $83.8 million at December 31, 2010. The Company’s 2010 Credit Agreement provides available borrowing up to $180 million, reduced for letters of credit issued, and, as of December 31, 2011, there was $135.5 million available under this agreement. In December 2010, the Company paid the $65 million Senior Notes that matured. As of December 31, 2011 the Company was in compliance with all its debt covenants. The most restrictive financial covenants for all of the Company’s debt are an interest coverage ratio, defined as earnings before interest and taxes divided by interest expense, and a leverage ratio, defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted, compared to total debt. The ratios as of and for the period ended December 31, 2011 are shown in the following table:

   	  	Required Level	  	Actual Level	 	
Interest Coverage Ratio	  	2.25 to 1 (minimum)	  	 	8.76	  	
Leverage Ratio	  	3.25 to 1 (maximum)	  	 	1.07	  	
The Company believes that cash flows from operations and available borrowing under its Credit Agreement will be sufficient to meet expected business requirements including capital expenditures, dividends, working capital, and debt service into the foreseeable future.
In addition, at December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $1.2 million of industrial revenue bonds with a weighted average interest rate of 0.19 percent. In 2011, the Company repaid $0.3 million of industrial revenue bonds.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company also has $6.7 million of letters of credit issued related to insurance and other financing contracts in the ordinary course of business.
 
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The following summarizes the Company’s estimated future cash outflows from financial contracts and commitments:

 	  	Less than
1 Year	 	  	2-3
Years	 	  	4-5
Years	 	  	Thereafter	 	  	Total	 	
 	  	 	 	  	(Amounts in Thousands)	 	  	 	 	
Principal payments on debt	  	$	305	  	  	$	35,650	  	  	$	38,075	  	  	$	—	  	  	$	74,030	  	
Interest	  	 	3,731	  	  	 	7,457	  	  	 	1,343	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	12,531	  	
Lease payments	  	 	9,674	  	  	 	10,341	  	  	 	7,952	  	  	 	16,818	  	  	 	44,785	  	
Purchase commitments	  	 	5,616	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	5,616	  	
Retirement benefits	  	 	1,114	  	  	 	876	  	  	 	1,086	  	  	 	5,627	  	  	 	8,703	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	20,440	  	  	$	54,324	  	  	$	48,456	  	  	$	22,445	  	  	$	145,665	  	

 Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	
Market Risk and Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company has certain financing arrangements that require interest payments based on floating interest rates. The Company’s financial results are subject to changes in the market rate of interest. At present, the Company has not entered into any interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments to fix the interest rate on any portion of its financing arrangements with floating rates. Accordingly, based on current debt levels at December 31, 2011, if market interest rates increase one percent, the Company’s interest expense would increase approximately $0.4 million annually.
Some of the Company’s subsidiaries operate in foreign countries and their financial results are subject to exchange rate movements. The Company has operations in Canada with foreign currency exposure, primarily due to sales made from businesses in Canada to customers in the United States. These sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, the Company’s subsidiary in Brazil has loans denominated in U.S. dollars. In 2007, the Company began a systematic program to limit its exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates related to certain assets and liabilities of its operations in Canada and Brazil that are denominated in U.S. dollars. The net exposure generally ranges from $5 to $10 million. The foreign currency contracts and arrangements created under this program are not designated as hedged items under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging , and accordingly, the changes in the fair value of the foreign currency arrangements, which have been immaterial, are recorded in the income statement. The Company’s foreign currency arrangements are generally three months or less and, as of December 31, 2011, the Company had no foreign currency arrangements or contracts in place.
The Company uses certain commodities, primarily plastic resins, in its manufacturing processes. The cost of operations can be affected as the market for these commodities changes. The Company currently has no derivative contracts to hedge this risk; however, the Company also has no significant purchase obligations to purchase fixed quantities of such commodities in future periods. Significant future increases in the cost of plastic resin or other adverse changes in the general economic environment could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based on the accompanying consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. As indicated in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (included in Item 8 of this report), the amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported are affected by estimates and judgments that are
 
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necessary to comply with generally accepted accounting principles. We base our estimates on prior experience and other assumptions that we consider reasonable to our circumstances. We believe the following matters may involve a high degree of judgment and complexity.
Bad Debts — The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. Additionally, the Company also reviews historical trends for collectability in determining an estimate for its allowance for doubtful accounts. If economic circumstances change substantially, estimates of the recoverability of amounts due the Company could be reduced by a material amount.
Inventory — Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for approximately 20 percent of the Company’s inventories and the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method for all other inventories. Where appropriate, standard cost systems are utilized and appropriate variances are evaluated for purposes of determining cost; the standards are adjusted as necessary to ensure they approximate actual costs. Estimates of lower of cost or market value of inventory are determined based upon current economic conditions, historical sales quantities and patterns and, in some cases, the specific risk of loss on specifically identified inventories.
Goodwill — Goodwill is subjected to annual impairment testing, unless significant changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment may have occurred sooner. Goodwill impairment testing requires, in part, that we estimate the fair value of our reporting units which, in turn, requires that we make judgments concerning future cash flows and appropriate discount rates for those reporting units. Fair values are established using comparative market multiples in the current market conditions and discounted cash flows. The discount rates used are based on the weighted average cost of capital determined for each of the Company’s reporting units and ranged from 9.1% to 13.7% in 2011. In addition we make certain judgments about the selection of comparable companies used in determining market multiples in valuing our business units. We also compare our book value and the estimates of fair value of the reporting units to our market capitalization as of and at dates near the annual testing date. Management uses this comparison as additional evidence of the fair value of the Company, as our market capitalization may be suppressed by other factors such as the control premium associated with a controlling shareholder, our leverage or general expectations regarding future operating results and cash flows. In situations where the implied value of the Company under the Income or Market Approach are significantly different than our market capitalization we re-evaluate and adjust, if necessary, the assumptions underlying our Income and Market Approach models.
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company conducted its annual impairment assessment as of October 1, 2011 which included adoption of this guidance. The update gives companies the option to perform a qualitative assessment that may enable them to forgo the annual two-step test for impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 allows a qualitative assessment to first be performed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If the Company concludes that this is the case, we must perform the two-step test. Otherwise we do not have to perform the two-step test. The ASU also includes a revised list of events and circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.
Contingencies — In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various legal proceedings and contingencies. We have recorded liabilities for these matters in accordance with FASB ASC 450, Contingencies (“ASC 450”). ASC 450 requires a liability to be recorded based on our estimate of the probable cost of the resolution of a contingency. The actual resolution of these contingencies may differ from our estimates. If a contingency were settled for an amount greater than our estimate, a future charge to income would result. Likewise, if a contingency were settled for an amount that is less than our estimate, a future credit to income would result.
 
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Revenue Recognition — we recognize revenues from the sale of products, net of actual and estimated returns, at the point of passage of title and risk of loss, which is generally at time of shipment, and collectability of the fixed or determinable sales price is reasonably assured.
Income Taxes — Deferred income taxes are provided to recognize the effect of temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Deferred income taxes are not provided for undistributed earnings of foreign consolidated subsidiaries as it is our intention to reinvest such earnings for an indefinite period of time. The Company has significant operations outside the United States and in jurisdictions with statutory tax rates lower than in the United States. As a result, significant tax and treasury planning of future operations are necessary to determine the proper amounts of tax assets, liabilities and expense to be recognized. FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740) requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance, if based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company evaluates the recovery of its deferred tax assets by assessing the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all sources, including reversal of taxable temporary differences, forecasted operating earnings and available tax planning strategies. These sources of income inherently rely heavily on estimates.
Also, significant judgment is required in determining the Company’s tax expense and in evaluating its tax positions, including evaluating uncertainties under ASC 740. We review our tax positions quarterly and adjust the balances as new information becomes available.
Recent Pronouncements
In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Updated (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Presentation of Comprehensive Income . The new accounting standard will require companies to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. The update eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. The Company plans to adopt this guidance beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, as this guidance modifies presentation of other comprehensive income already disclosed in the financial statements.
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The update gives companies the option to perform a qualitative assessment that may enable them to forgo the annual two-step test for impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 allows a qualitative assessment to first be performed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If a company concludes that this is the case, it must perform the two-step test. Otherwise a company does not have to perform the two-step test. The ASU also includes a revised list of events and circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the new guidance as part of its annual impairment assessment as of October 1, 2011.
 
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 ITEM 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	
Summarized Quarterly Results of Operations
Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Data

Quarter Ended 2011	 	March-31	 	 	June-30	 	 	September-30	 	 	December-31	 	 	Total	 	
Net Sales	 	$	195,507	  	 	$	177,266	  	 	$	190,332	  	 	$	192,549	  	 	$	755,654	  	
Gross Profit	 	 	49,959	  	 	 	43,572	  	 	 	47,215	  	 	 	57,523	  	 	 	198,269	  	
Income from continuing operations	 	 	6,718	  	 	 	4,658	  	 	 	7,214	  	 	 	5,915	  	 	 	24,505	  	
Basic and Diluted Per Share	 	 	0.19	  	 	 	0.13	  	 	 	0.21	  	 	 	0.18	  	 	 	0.71	  	
						
Quarter Ended 2010	 	March-31	 	 	June-30	 	 	September-30	 	 	December-31	 	 	Total	 	
Net Sales	 	$	186,422	  	 	$	175,906	  	 	$	187,045	  	 	$	188,245	  	 	$	737,618	  	
Gross Profit	 	 	44,912	  	 	 	33,951	  	 	 	41,477	  	 	 	44,184	  	 	 	164,524	  	
Income (loss) from continuing operations	 	 	5,530	  	 	 	(1,099	) 	 	 	3,219	  	 	 	(50,484	) 	 	 	(42,834	) 	
Basic and Diluted Per Share	 	 	0.16	  	 	 	(0.03	) 	 	 	0.09	  	 	 	(1.43	) 	 	 	(1.21	) 	
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company reclassified amounts recorded in sales returns and allowances in the first three quarters to selling expenses. Quarterly amounts have been adjusted to reflect this reclassification. Income from continuing operations did not change.
In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recognized an impairment charge of approximately $72.0 million related to our Lawn and Garden business and recognized a net gain of $3.8 million related to a favorable claims settlement.
 
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 Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Myers Industries, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011, and its results of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Myers Industries, Inc.’s and Subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 2, 2012, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Akron, Ohio
March 2, 2012
 
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Report of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Myers Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries:
We have audited the accompanying statement of consolidated financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (Company) as of December 31, 2010, and the related statements of consolidated income (loss), shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
March 7, 2011
 
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 MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Net sales	  	$	755,654	  	 	$	737,618	  	 	$	701,834	  	
Cost of sales	  	 	557,385	  	 	 	573,094	  	 	 	530,939	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	  	 	198,269	  	 	 	164,524	  	 	 	170,895	  	
Selling expenses	  	 	81,475	  	 	 	74,185	  	 	 	70,999	  	
General and administrative expenses	  	 	77,136	  	 	 	65,968	  	 	 	77,297	  	
Impairment charges	  	 	1,249	  	 	 	72,014	  	 	 	5,462	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	159,860	  	 	 	212,167	  	 	 	153,758	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income (loss)	  	 	38,409	  	 	 	(47,643	) 	 	 	17,137	  	
Other income, net	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	3,827	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Interest	  				 				 				
Income	  	 	(65	) 	 	 	(561	) 	 	 	(835	) 	
Expense	  	 	4,787	  	 	 	7,766	  	 	 	9,139	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	4,722	  	 	 	7,205	  	 	 	8,304	  	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	  	 	33,687	  	 	 	(51,021	) 	 	 	8,833	  	
Income tax expense (benefit)	  	 	9,182	  	 	 	(8,187	) 	 	 	1,838	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations	  	 	24,505	  	 	 	(42,834	) 	 	 	6,995	  	
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax of $4,128	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(7,678	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss)	  	$	24,505	  	 	$	(42,834	) 	 	$	(683	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) per common share	  				 				 				
Basic and diluted	  				 				 				
Continuing operations	  	$	0.71	  	 	$	(1.21	) 	 	$	0.20	  	
Discontinued operations	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(0.22	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss)	  	$	0.71	  	 	$	(1.21	) 	 	$	(0.02	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dividends declared per share	  	$	0.28	  	 	$	0.26	  	 	$	0.24	  	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010
(Dollars in thousands)

   	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Assets	  				 				
Current Assets	  				 				
Cash	  	$	6,801	  	 	$	4,705	  	
Accounts receivable-less allowances of $3,863 and $2,950, respectively	  	 	105,830	  	 	 	98,799	  	
Inventories	  				 				
Finished and in-process products	  	 	67,721	  	 	 	67,580	  	
Raw materials and supplies	  	 	27,496	  	 	 	28,824	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	95,217	  	 	 	96,404	  	
Prepaid expenses	  	 	5,415	  	 	 	8,158	  	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	5,189	  	 	 	5,781	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total Current Assets	  	 	218,452	  	 	 	213,847	  	
Other Assets	  				 				
Goodwill	  	 	44,666	  	 	 	40,892	  	
Patents and other intangible assets	  	 	17,267	  	 	 	18,667	  	
Other	  	 	7,438	  	 	 	7,174	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	69,371	  	 	 	66,733	  	
Property, Plant and Equipment, at Cost	  				 				
Land	  	 	4,540	  	 	 	4,369	  	
Buildings and leasehold improvements	  	 	58,299	  	 	 	59,690	  	
Machinery and equipment	  	 	412,704	  	 	 	383,664	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	475,543	  	 	 	447,723	  	
Less allowances for depreciation and amortization	  	 	(334,609	) 	 	 	(295,908	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	140,934	  	 	 	151,815	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	$	428,757	  	 	$	432,395	  	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	  				 				
Current Liabilities	  				 				
Accounts payable	  	$	64,717	  	 	$	64,143	  	
Accrued expenses	  				 				
Employee compensation	  	 	20,566	  	 	 	18,294	  	
Income taxes	  	 	3,379	  	 	 	5,891	  	
Taxes, other than income taxes	  	 	2,729	  	 	 	1,970	  	
Accrued interest	  	 	161	  	 	 	195	  	
Other	  	 	18,799	  	 	 	15,533	  	
Current portion of long-term debt	  	 	305	  	 	 	305	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total Current Liabilities	  	 	110,656	  	 	 	106,331	  	
Long-term debt, less current portion	  	 	73,725	  	 	 	83,530	  	
Other liabilities	  	 	14,343	  	 	 	5,936	  	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	23,893	  	 	 	24,793	  	
Shareholders’ Equity	  				 				
Serial Preferred Shares (authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding)	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Common Shares, without par value (authorized 60,000,000 shares; outstanding 33,420,488 and 35,315,732; net of treasury shares of 4,492,169 and 2,592,175, respectively)	  	 	20,312	  	 	 	21,486	  	
Additional paid-in capital	  	 	265,000	  	 	 	281,376	  	
Accumulated other comprehensive income	  	 	7,294	  	 	 	10,164	  	
Retained deficit	  	 	(86,466	) 	 	 	(101,221	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total Shareholders’ Equity	  	 	206,140	  	 	 	211,805	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total Liabilities Shareholders’ Equity	  	$	428,757	  	 	$	432,395	  	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

 	 	Common Shares	 	 	Additional
Paid-In
Capital	 	 	Accumulative
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)	 	 	Retained
Income
(Deficit)	 	 	Comprehensive
Income
(Loss)	 	
 	 	Number	 	 	Amount	 	 			 			 			 			
Balance at January 1, 2009	 	 	35,235,636	  	 	$	21,451	  	 	$	275,987	  	 	$	(4,570	) 	 	$	(40,029	) 	 	$	(58,383	) 	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net loss	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(683	) 	 	 	(683	) 	
Restricted shares issued	 	 	11,750	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Employees stock purchase plan	 	 	23,828	  	 	 	14	  	 	 	135	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Dividend reinvestment plan	 	 	14,915	  	 	 	9	  	 	 	113	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Stock based compensation	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	2,660	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	10,643	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	10,643	  	
Declared dividends — $.24 per share	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(8,436	) 	 	 	–0–	  	
Pension liability, net of tax	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	704	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	704	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2009	 	 	35,286,129	  	 	$	21,474	  	 	$	278,894	  	 	$	6,777	  	 	$	(49,147	) 	 	$	10,664	  	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net loss	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(42,834	) 	 	 	(42,834	) 	
Restricted shares issued	 	 	10,750	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Sales under option plans	 	 	5,650	  	 	 	4	  	 	 	20	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Dividend reinvestment plan	 	 	13,203	  	 	 	8	  	 	 	136	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Stock based compensation	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	2,326	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	3,413	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	3,413	  	
Declared dividends — $.26 per share	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(9,240	) 	 	 	–0–	  	
Pension liability, net of tax	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(26	) 	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(26	) 	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2010	 	 	35,315,732	  	 	$	21,486	  	 	$	281,376	  	 	$	10,164	  	 	$	(101,221	) 	 	$	(39,447	) 	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	24,505	  	 	 	24,505	  	
Sales under option plans	 	 	59,031	  	 	 	36	  	 	 	597	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Dividend reinvestment plan	 	 	11,610	  	 	 	7	  	 	 	111	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Restricted stock and stock option grants, net	 	 	28,750	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	2,595	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Foreign currency translation adjustment	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(2,240	) 	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(2,240	) 	
Purchases for treasury	 	 	(2,000,000	) 	 	 	(1,220	) 	 	 	(19,726	) 	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Stock contribution	 	 	5,365	  	 	 	3	  	 	 	47	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Declared dividends — $.28 per share	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(9,750	) 	 	 	–0–	  	
Pension liability, net of tax of $339	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(630	) 	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(630	) 	
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2011	 	 	33,420,488	  	 	$	20,312	  	 	$	265,000	  	 	$	7,294	  	 	$	(86,466	) 	 	$	21,635	  	

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
(Dollars in thousands)

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Cash Flows From Operating Activities	  				 				 				
Net income (loss)	  	$	24,505	  	 	$	(42,834	) 	 	$	(683	) 	
Net loss from discontinued operations	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	7,678	  	
Items not affecting use of cash	  				 				 				
Depreciation	  	 	31,245	  	 	 	30,628	  	 	 	33,132	  	
Impairment charges and asset write-offs	  	 	1,249	  	 	 	72,014	  	 	 	5,462	  	
Amortization of other intangible assets	  	 	2,969	  	 	 	2,922	  	 	 	3,136	  	
Non-cash stock compensation	  	 	2,595	  	 	 	2,326	  	 	 	2,660	  	
Provision for loss on accounts receivable	  	 	915	  	 	 	(1,455	) 	 	 	(2,245	) 	
Deferred taxes	  	 	(184	) 	 	 	(13,285	) 	 	 	(1,405	) 	
Other long-term liabilities	  	 	4,251	  	 	 	151	  	 	 	(10	) 	
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	  	 	(875	) 	 	 	(733	) 	 	 	(3,621	) 	
Other	  	 	50	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Cash flow provided by (used for) working capital	  				 				 				
Accounts receivable	  	 	(8,665	) 	 	 	(9,994	) 	 	 	9,630	  	
Inventories	  	 	455	  	 	 	4,958	  	 	 	10,872	  	
Prepaid expenses	  	 	2,662	  	 	 	548	  	 	 	(3,962	) 	
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	  	 	3,000	  	 	 	392	  	 	 	12,511	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	  	 	64,172	  	 	 	45,638	  	 	 	73,155	  	
Net cash used for operating activities of discontinued operations	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(817	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	  	 	64,172	  	 	 	45,638	  	 	 	72,338	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash Flows From Investing Activities	  				 				 				
Additions to property, plant and equipment	  	 	(21,930	) 	 	 	(20,533	) 	 	 	(15,995	) 	
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	  	 	(1,100	) 	 	 	(411	) 	 	 	(1,177	) 	
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	  	 	1,089	  	 	 	5,213	  	 	 	8,401	  	
Other	  	 	(96	) 	 	 	358	  	 	 	737	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used for investing activities of continuing operations	  	 	(22,037	) 	 	 	(15,373	) 	 	 	(8,034	) 	
Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	10,036	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities	  	 	(22,037	) 	 	 	(15,373	) 	 	 	2,002	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash Flows From Financing Activities	  				 				 				
Repayment of long term debt	  	 	(305	) 	 	 	(65,380	) 	 	 	(6,950	) 	
Net (repayment) borrowing of credit facility	  	 	(9,383	) 	 	 	44,900	  	 	 	(62,160	) 	
Cash dividends paid	  	 	(9,523	) 	 	 	(9,209	) 	 	 	(8,436	) 	
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	  	 	751	  	 	 	138	  	 	 	271	  	
Repurchase of common stock	  	 	(20,946	) 	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	
Deferred financing costs	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	(1,169	) 	 	 	–0–	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used for financing activities of continuing operations	  	 	(39,406	) 	 	 	(30,720	) 	 	 	(77,275	) 	
Net cash used for financing activities of discontinued operations	  	 	–0–	  	 	 	–0–	  	 	 	(4,000	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used for financing activities	  	 	(39,406	) 	 	 	(30,720	) 	 	 	(81,275	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign Exchange Rate Effect on Cash	  	 	(633	) 	 	 	432	  	 	 	1,246	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net increase (decrease) in cash	  	 	2,096	  	 	 	(23	) 	 	 	(5,689	) 	
Cash at January 1	  	 	4,705	  	 	 	4,728	  	 	 	10,417	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash at December 31	  	$	6,801	  	 	$	4,705	  	 	$	4,728	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information	  				 				 				
Cash paid during the year for	  				 				 				
Interest	  	$	4,129	  	 	$	6,920	  	 	$	8,317	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income taxes	  	$	11,168	  	 	$	9,468	  	 	$	5,896	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
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 MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Myers Industries, Inc. and all wholly owned subsidiaries (“Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All subsidiaries that are not wholly owned and are not included in the consolidated operating results of the Company are immaterial investments which have been accounted for under the cost method. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassification
Certain prior year amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles to conform to the current year’s presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Updated (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Presentation of Comprehensive Income . The new accounting standard will require companies to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. The update eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. On December 23, 2011, the FASB issued a final standard to defer the new requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, as this guidance modifies presentation of other comprehensive income already disclosed in the financial statements. The Company plans to adopt this guidance beginning in the first quarter of 2012.
Translation of Foreign Currencies
All asset and liability accounts of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the accounting period and income statement items are translated monthly at an average currency exchange rate for the period. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.
Fair Value Measurement
The Company follows guidance included in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures , for its financial assets and liabilities, as required. The guidance established a common definition for fair value to be applied to U.S. GAAP requiring the use of fair value, established a framework for measuring fair value, and expanded disclosure requirements about such fair value measurements. The guidance did not require any new fair value measurements, but rather applied to all other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Under ASC 820, the hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value is divided into three levels:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Level 2: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data or which reflect the entity’s own assumptions.
The fair value of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are considered to have a fair value which approximates carrying value due to the nature and relative short maturity of these assets and liabilities.
The fair value of debt under the Company’s Credit Agreement approximates carrying value due to the floating interest rates and relative short maturity (less than 90 days) of the revolving borrowings under this agreement. The fair value of the Company’s $35 million fixed rate senior notes was estimated at $37.6 million at December 31, 2011 using market observable inputs for the Company’s comparable peers with public debt, including quoted prices in active markets and interest rate measurements which are considered level 2 inputs.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk primarily consist of trade accounts receivable. The concentration of accounts receivable credit risk is generally limited based on the Company’s diversified operations, with customers spread across many industries and countries. The Company’s largest single customer accounts for approximately four percent of total sales, with only one other customer greater than three percent. Outside of the United States, only Canada, which accounts for approximately nine percent of total sales, is significant to the Company’s operations. In addition, management has established certain requirements that customers must meet before credit is extended. The financial condition of customers is continually monitored and collateral is usually not required. The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. Additionally, the Company also reviews historical trends for collectability in determining an estimate for its allowance for doubtful accounts. If economic circumstances change substantially, estimates of the recoverability of amounts due the Company could be reduced by a material amount. Expense related to bad debts was approximately $2,343, $1,117 and $861 for the years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Approximately 20 percent of our inventories are valued using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of determining cost. All other inventories are valued at the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of determining cost.
If the FIFO method of inventory cost valuation had been used exclusively by the Company, inventories would have been $9.6 million, $9.9 million and $9.4 million higher than reported at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the liquidation of LIFO inventories decreased cost of sales and increased income before taxes by approximately $0.8 million, $0.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company provides for depreciation and amortization on the basis of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Buildings	  	 	20 to 30 years 	  	
Machinery and Equipment	  	 	3 to 12 years	  	
Vehicles	  	 	1 to 3 years	  	
Leasehold Improvements	  	 	7 to 10 years	  	
Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews its long-lived assets and identifiable intangible assets with finite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Determination of potential impairment related to assets to be held and used is based upon undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use and ultimate disposition of the asset. For assets held for disposal, the amount of potential impairment may be based upon appraisal of the asset, estimated market value of similar assets or estimated cash flow from the disposition of the asset.
At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had approximately $5.7 million and $5.0 million, respectively, of property, plant, and equipment held for sale, which represents the lower of net book value or estimated fair value based on level 2 inputs, and is included in other assets on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. In 2009, the Company recorded impairment charges of $5.5 million for impairment of certain property, plant and equipment as a result of restructuring its Material Handling, Lawn and Garden and Engineered Products businesses.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues from the sale of products, net of actual and estimated returns, at the point of passage of title and risk of loss, which is generally at time of shipment, and collectability of the fixed or determinable sales price is reasonably assured.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
As of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the balance in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of the following:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustments	  	$	9,994	  	 	$	12,234	  	 	$	8,821	  	
Pension adjustments	  	 	(2,700	) 	 	 	(2,070	) 	 	 	(2,044	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	7,294	  	 	$	10,164	  	 	$	6,777	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shipping and Handling
Shipping and handling expenses are primarily classified as selling expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). The Company incurred shipping and handling costs of approximately $26.6 million, $24.5 million and $20.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Stock Based Compensation
The Company has stock plans that provide for the granting of stock-based compensation to employees and, in certain instances, to non-employee directors. Shares are issued upon exercise from authorized, unissued shares. The Company records the costs of the plan under the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation . For transactions in which we obtain employee services in exchange for an award of equity instruments, we measure the cost of the services based on the grant date fair value of the award. The Company recognizes the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, referred to as the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). Cash flows resulting from tax benefits for deductions in excess of compensation cost recognized are included in financing cash flows.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be received or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company evaluates its tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized under ASC 740. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within operations as income tax expense.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. The Company maintains operating cash and reserves for replacement balances in financial institutions which, from time to time, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of these institutions and believes that the risk of loss is minimal.
Cash flows used in investing activities excluded $1.8 million of accrued capital expenditures in 2011.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company is required to test for impairment on at least an annual basis. The Company conducted its annual impairment assessment as of October 1. In addition, the Company tests for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount. Such events may include, but are not limited to, significant changes in economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on the Company’s customer base or its businesses, or a material negative change in its relationships with significant customers.
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The update gives companies the option to perform a
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
qualitative assessment that may enable them to forgo the annual two-step test for impairment. ASU No. 2011-08 allows a qualitative assessment to first be performed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If a company concludes that this is the case, it must perform the two-step test. Otherwise a company does not have to perform the two-step test. The ASU also includes a revised list of events and circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Company conducted its annual impairment assessment as of October 1, 2011 which included adoption of this guidance.
In evaluating goodwill for impairment using the two-step test, the Company uses a combination of valuation techniques primarily using discounted cash flows to determine the fair values of its business reporting units and market based multiples as supporting evidence. The variables and assumptions used, all of which are level 3 fair value inputs, including the projections of future revenues and expenses, working capital, terminal values, discount rates and long term growth rates. The market multiples observed in sale transactions are determined separately for each reporting unit are based on the weighted average cost of capital determined for each of the Company’s reporting units and ranged from 9.1% to 13.7% in 2011. In addition we make certain judgments about the selection of comparable companies used in determining market multiples in valuing our business units, as well as certain assumptions to allocate shared assets and liabilities to calculate values for each of our business units. The underlying assumptions used are based on historical actual experience and future expectations that are consistent with those used in the Company’s strategic plan. The Company compares the fair value of each of its reporting units to their respective carrying values, including related goodwill. We also compare our book value and the estimates of fair value of the reporting units to our market capitalization as of and at dates near the annual testing date. Management uses this comparison as additional evidence of the fair value of the Company, as our market capitalization may be suppressed by other factors such as the control premium associated with a controlling shareholder, our leverage or general expectations regarding future operating results and cash flows. In situations where the implied value of the Company under the Income or Market Approach are significantly different than our market capitalization we re-evaluate and adjust, if necessary, the assumptions underlying our Income and Market Approach models. Our estimate of the fair values of these business units, and the related goodwill, could change over time based on a variety of factors, including the aggregate market value of the Company’s common stock, actual operating performance of the underlying businesses or the impact of future events on the cost of capital and the related discount rates used.
In 2010, the Company determined that all reporting units had an estimated fair value substantially in excess of carrying value except for Lawn and Garden which initially passed but not by a substantial amount. In the fourth quarter, persistently high raw material costs and weak demand resulted in operating results and cash flows in the Lawn and Garden Segment that were significantly below forecasts which also impacted projections for future years. As a result of this triggering event, the Company determined that the Lawn and Garden reporting unit needed to complete a Step 1 test as of December 31, 2010. This reporting unit failed Step 1 of this impairment test, requiring a Step 2 test to be performed. Based on the results of Step 2 testing, which included a valuation of the reporting unit’s net assets in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805), a goodwill impairment charge of $72 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010 writing down its implied fair value to $9.3 million. The fair values for the valuation of the net assets were developed using both level 2 and 3 inputs.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

   	  	Distribution	 	  	Material
Handling	 	  	Engineered
Products	 	  	Lawn and
Garden	 	 	Total	 	
January 1, 2010	  	$	214	  	  	$	30,383	  	  	$	—	  	  	$	81,330	  	 	$	111,927	  	
Acquisitions	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	707	  	  	 	—	  	 	 	707	  	
Impairments	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	(72,014	) 	 	 	(72,014	) 	
Foreign currency translation	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	272	  	 	 	272	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
December 31, 2010	  	$	214	  	  	$	30,383	  	  	$	707	  	  	$	9,588	  	 	$	40,892	  	
Acquisitions	  	 	—	  	  	 	3,896	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	 	 	3,896	  	
Impairments	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	 	 	—	  	
Foreign currency translation	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	(122	) 	 	 	(122	) 	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
December 31, 2011	  	$	214	  	  	$	34,279	  	  	$	707	  	  	$	9,466	  	 	$	44,666	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets other than goodwill primarily consist of trade names, customer relationships, patents, and technology assets established in connection with acquisitions. These intangible assets, other than certain trade names, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company performs an annual impairment assessment for the indefinite lived trade name with a value of $3,600. In performing this assessment the Company uses an income approach, based primarily on level 3 inputs, to estimate the fair value of the trade name. The Company records an impairment charge if the carrying value of the trade name exceeds the estimated fair value at the date of assessment. Estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets with definite lives for the next five years is: $2,693 in 2012; $2,157 in 2013; $1,801 in 2014, $1,749 in 2015 and $1,748 in 2016.
Intangible assets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

   	  	Life	  	Gross	 	  	2011
Accumulated
Amortization	 	 	Net	 	  	Gross	 	  	2010
Accumulated
Amortization	 	 	Net	 	
Tradenames	  	Various	  	$	4,442	  	  	 	(14	) 	 	$	4,428	  	  	$	4,340	  	  	 	(2	) 	 	$	4,338	  	
Customer Relationships	  	6 - 13 years	  	 	13,747	  	  	 	(8,437	) 	 	 	5,310	  	  	 	13,897	  	  	 	(7,002	) 	 	 	6,895	  	
Technology	  	7.5 years	  	 	4,071	  	  	 	(2,181	) 	 	 	1,890	  	  	 	2,821	  	  	 	(2,118	) 	 	 	703	  	
Patents	  	10 years	  	 	10,900	  	  	 	(5,269	) 	 	 	5,631	  	  	 	10,900	  	  	 	(4,178	) 	 	 	6,722	  	
Non-Compete	  	3 years	  	 	426	  	  	 	(418	) 	 	 	8	  	  	 	428	  	  	 	(419	) 	 	 	9	  	
	  		  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  		  	$	33,586	  	  	$	(16,319	) 	 	$	17,267	  	  	$	32,386	  	  	$	(13,719	) 	 	$	18,667	  	
	  		  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income Per Common Share
Net income per common share, as shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), is determined on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods as follows:

   	  	2011	 	  	2010	 	  	2009	 	
Weighted average common shares outstanding	  				  				  				
Basic	  	 	34,584,558	  	  	 	35,304,817	  	  	 	35,266,939	  	
Dilutive effect of stock options	  	 	158,985	  	  	 	—	  	  	 	—	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Weighted average common shares outstandng diluted	  	 	34,743,543	  	  	 	35,304,817	  	  	 	35,266,939	  	

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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Options to purchase 1,105,229 shares of common stock that were outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 1,681,169 shares of common stock that were outstanding at December 31, 2009 were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the exercise prices of these options was greater than the average market price of common shares. There were 58,555 dilutive common shares at December 31, 2010 excluded from the computation of the loss per common share due to the Company’s net loss for the year then ended.
Discontinued Operations
On October 30, 2009, the Company sold substantially all the assets of its Michigan Rubber Products, Inc. and Buckhorn Rubber Products Inc. businesses to Zhongding Sealing Parts, (USA) Inc. Based on the terms of the sale, the Company recorded a loss of $8.4 million, including a charge of $7.8 million for impairment of long lived assets, which is included in the results of discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2009.
In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the operating results related to these businesses have been included in discontinued operations in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for all periods presented.
The operating results of the discontinued operations noted above are as follows for the year ended December 31:

   	  	2009	 	
Net Sales	  	$	26,604	  	
Loss before income taxes	  	 	(11,806	) 	
Income tax benefit	  	 	(4,128	) 	
	  	 	 	 	
Net loss	  	$	(7,678	) 	
	  	 	 	 	
On February 1, 2007, the Company sold its former Material Handling — Europe business segment. On November 10, 2010, the French Tax Authorities issued a notice of assessment to the buyer, and current owner, of these businesses. The assessment related to business taxes for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, and totaled 1.5 million euros. As part of the sale agreement, the Company provided indemnification to the current owner for any taxes, interest, penalties and reasonable costs related to these businesses for periods through the date of sale. On January 13, 2011, the Company filed a Notice of Claim to protest the assessment with the French Tax Authorities. On October 11, 2011, the French Tax Authorities accepted our previously filed claim and abated all of the assessed taxes. This issue has been resolved favorably in the Company’s benefit and, accordingly, no amounts have been recognized in the financial statements related to this matter.
Acquisitions
On July 20, 2011, the Company acquired tooling assets and intellectual property from Material Improvements L.P. for a new reusable plastic container used in producing, shipping and processing bulk natural cheese. The total purchase price was $5.7 million, comprised of a $1.1 million cash payment and $4.6 million contingent consideration. The allocation of purchase price included $0.3 million of property, plant and equipment, amortizable intangible assets, which included $1.3 million in technology and $0.2 million for trade name, and $3.9 million in goodwill. These assets and liabilities incurred were recorded at estimated fair value as of the date of the acquisition using primarily level 3 inputs. The operating results of the business acquired are included in our Material Handling Segment.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
On July 21, 2010, the Company acquired the assets of Enviro-Fill, Inc., a developer of a new fuel overfill prevention and fuel vapor capture system. The total purchase price was approximately $1.5 million, including contingent liabilities for additional future consideration. The allocation of purchase price includes $0.8 million of amortizable intangible assets and $0.7 million of goodwill. These assets were recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition using primarily level 2 and 3 inputs. The Enviro-Fill business is included in the Company’s Engineered Products Segment.
Restructuring
In 2011, the Company recorded net expenses of $2.7 million in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) and $0.7 million in cost of goods sold for costs associated with restructuring plans including impairment of property, plant and equipment, lease obligations, severance, consulting and other related charges. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $2.7 million and $24.9 million. Impairment charges for property, plant and equipment were based on appraisals or estimated market values of similar assets which are considered level 2 inputs. Estimated lease obligations associated with closed facilities were based on level 2 inputs.
In 2011, restructuring costs of $2.0 million for severance and non-cancelable lease costs were offset by a gain of $0.7 million on the sale of facilities in the Distribution Segment. In addition, $0.3 million of restructuring charges were recorded in the Engineered Products Segment related to non-cancelable lease costs and $0.4 million of costs related to mold remediation for a closed facility were recorded in the fourth quarter. In the Lawn and Garden Segment, a $0.3 million write-down for an idle manufacturing facility was recorded in the first quarter and severance costs of $0.4 million were recorded in the fourth quarter related to restructuring.
In 2010, the $2.7 million of restructuring costs were primarily related to rigging, freight and other costs to move machinery and equipment. In addition, the Company recorded some idle facility charges and consulting costs which were expensed and paid in the period.
In 2009, the Company carried out its restructuring in the Lawn and Garden Segment and also initiated a restructuring plan for its Material Handling businesses. The Company recorded impairment charges of $2.0 million in its Lawn and Garden Segment and $1.3 million in its Material Handling Segment related to certain property, plant and equipment. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company sold its Lawn and Garden manufacturing facility in Surrey, B.C. Canada for $5.1 million and recognized a gain on the sale of $3.3 million which is included in general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). In addition, during 2009 the Company recorded consulting, severance and other expenses of $11.2 million in connection with the Lawn and Garden restructuring and $6.6 million for the Material Handling restructuring. Also in 2009, the Company closed its Fostoria, Ohio and Reidsville, North Carolina facilities in the Engineered Products Segment. In conjunction with those closures, the Company recognized fixed asset impairment charges of $2.2 million and other restructuring costs of $1.6 million for severance and lease related obligations.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
The accrued liability balance for severance and other exit costs associated with restructuring is included in Other Accrued Expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

   	  	Severance
and
Personnel	 	 	Other
Exit Costs	 	 	Total	 	
Balance at January 1, 2009	  	$	—	  	 	$	—	  	 	$	—	  	
Provision	  	 	3,102	  	 	 	15,938	  	 	 	19,040	  	
Less: Payments	  	 	(2,679	) 	 	 	(14,287	) 	 	 	(16,966	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2009	  	$	423	  	 	$	1,651	  	 	$	2,074	  	
Provision	  	 	—	  	 	 	2,736	  	 	 	2,736	  	
Less: Payments	  	 	(423	) 	 	 	(3,624	) 	 	 	(4,047	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2010	  	$	—	  	 	$	763	  	 	$	763	  	
Provision	  	 	1,102	  	 	 	2,369	  	 	 	3,471	  	
Reversal	  	 	—	  	 	 	(285	) 	 	 	(285	) 	
Less: Payments	  	 	(1,102	) 	 	 	(2,242	) 	 	 	(3,344	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2011	  	$	—	  	 	$	605	  	 	$	605	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
As a result of restructuring activity including plant closures, approximately $5.7 million and $5.0 million of property, plant and equipment has been classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and is included in other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The Company is actively pursuing disposal including the sale of these facilities. During 2010, the Company sold its facility in Shelbyville, Kentucky, which was previously classified as held for sale with a carrying value of $4.4 million. The proceeds from this sale were $5.1 million and the Company recorded a gain of $0.7 million which is included in general and administrative expenses.
Stock Compensation
The Company’s 2008 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”) authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of various types of stock based awards including stock options, restricted stock and stock appreciation rights to key employees and directors. In general, options granted and outstanding vest over a three to five year period and expire ten years from the date of grant.
The following tables summarize stock option activity in the past three years:
Options granted in 2011, 2010 and 2009:

Year	  	Options	 	  	Exercise
Price	
2011	  	 	365,025	  	  	$10.10 to $10.28	
2010	  	 	345,600	  	  	$9.97 to $12.46	
2009	  	 	614,869	  	  	$8.19 to $10.92	
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Options exercised in 2011, 2010 and 2009:

Year	  	Options	 	  	Exercise
Price	
2011	  	 	59,031	  	  	$8.00 to $12.55	
2010	  	 	5,650	  	  	$8.00	
2009	  	 	—	  	  	—	
In addition, options totaling 153,426, 175,909 and 127,076 expired or were forfeited during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

Year	  	Outstanding	 	  	Range of Exercise
Prices	  	Exercisable	 	  	Weighted Average
Exercise Price	 	
2011	  	 	1,997,778	  	  	$8.00 to $18.62	  	 	1,429,040	  	  	$	11.75	  	
2010	  	 	1,845,210	  	  	$8.00 to $18.62	  	 	1,191,865	  	  	$	12.21	  	
2009	  	 	1,681,169	  	  	$8.00 to $18.62	  	 	1,095,383	  	  	$	12.21	  	
Stock compensation expense reduced income before taxes approximately $2,595, $2,326 and $2,660 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share based compensation arrangements at December 31, 2011 was approximately $2.7 million, which will be recognized over the next three to four years.
The fair value of options granted is estimated using an option pricing model based on assumptions set forth in the following table. The Company uses historical data to estimate employee exercise and departure behavior. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant and through the expected term. The dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical dividend yield. The expected volatility is derived from historical volatility of the Company’s shares and those of similar companies measured against the market as a whole. In 2011 the Company used the Trinomial Lattice method which we believe provides a more accurate fair value calculation. There is no material difference in the valuation of these options using prior models.

   	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Risk free interest rate	  	 	3.79	% 	 	 	3.09	% 	 	 	2.66	% 	
Expected dividend yield	  	 	2.90	% 	 	 	2.86	% 	 	 	1.67	% 	
Expected life of award (years)	  	 	6.00	  	 	 	5.18	  	 	 	4.83	  	
Expected volatility	  	 	50.72	% 	 	 	48.77	% 	 	 	58.2	% 	
Fair value per option share	  	$	3.69	  	 	$	3.01	  	 	$	3.87	  	
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
The following table provides a summary of stock option activity for the period ended December 31, 2011:

   	  	Shares	 	 	Average
Exercise
Price	 	  	Weighted
Average
Life	 	  	Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value	 	
Outstanding at December 31, 2010	  	 	1,845,210	  	 	$	11.33	  	  				  				
Options Granted	  	 	365,025	  	 	 	10.10	  	  				  				
Options Exercised	  	 	(59,031	) 	 	 	10.73	  	  				  				
Cancelled or Forfeited	  	 	(153,426	) 	 	 	12.56	  	  				  				

Outstanding at December 31, 2011	  	 	1,997,778	  	 	$	11.33	  	  	 	6.74 years	  	  	$	2,018	  	

Exercisable at December 31, 2011	  	 	1,429,040	  	 	$	11.75	  	  				  	$	843	  	
The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised in 2011 and 2010 was $117 and $14, respectively. There were no options exercised in 2009.
The following table provides a summary of restricted stock activity for the period ended December 31, 2011:

   	  	Shares	 	 	Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value	 	
Unvested shares at December 31, 2010	  	 	177,250	  	 				
Granted	  	 	121,800	  	 	 	10.10	  	
Vested	  	 	(4,750	) 	 	 	16.22	  	
Forfeited	  	 	(5,800	) 	 	 	10.04	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Unvested shares at December 31, 2011	  	 	288,500	  	 	$	10.39	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The restricted stock awards are rights to receive shares of common stock, subject to forfeiture and other restrictions, which generally vest over a three to four year period. Restricted shares are considered to be non-vested shares under the accounting guidance for share-based payment and are not reflected as issued and outstanding shares until the restrictions lapse. At that time, the shares are released to the grantee and the Company records the issuance of the shares. Restricted shares are valued on the grant date based on the price issued. At December 31, 2011, shares of restricted stock had vesting periods up through March 2014.
Contingencies
The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings, in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. We believe that the outcome of these lawsuits and other proceedings will not individually or in the aggregate have a future material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Environmental
New Idria Mercury Mine
Effective October 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) added the New Idria Mercury Mine site located near Hollister, California to the Superfund National Priorities List because of alleged
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
contaminants discharged to California waterways. The New Idria Quicksilver Mining Company, founded in 1936, owned and operated the New Idria Mine through 1972. In 1981, New Idria was merged into Buckhorn Inc., which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries in 1987. The EPA contends that past mining operations have resulted in mercury contamination and acid mine drainage in the San Carlos Creek, Silver Creek and a portion of Panoche Creek and that other downstream locations may also be impacted.
Since Buckhorn Inc. may be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) of the New Idria Mercury Mine, the Company recognized $1.9 million, undiscounted, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, in general and administrative expenses related to performing a remedial investigation and feasibility study to determine the extent of remediation, if any, and the screening of alternatives. The Company’s environmental liabilities are included in other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. As investigation and remediation proceed, it is possible that adjustments to the liability will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of corrective actions that may be required and the number and financial condition of other PRPs, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses. At this time, further remediation cost estimates are not known and have not been prepared.
In November 2011 the EPA completed an interim removal project at the New Idria Mercury Mine site. It is expected this removal action will be part of the final remediation plan for this site. The EPA’s interim removal project costs are unknown at this time. It is possible that at some future date the EPA will seek recovery of the costs of this work from PRPs.
California Regional Water Quality Control Board
In October 2008, the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn Inc., along with a number of other parties were identified in a planning document adopted by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (“RWQCB”). The planning document relates to the presence of mercury, including amounts contained in mining wastes, in and around the Guadalupe River Watershed (“Watershed”) region in Santa Clara County, California. Buckhorn has been alleged to be a successor in interest to an entity that performed mining operations in a portion of the Watershed area. The Company has not been contacted by the RWQCB with respect to Watershed clean-up efforts that may result from the adoption of this planning document. The extent of the mining wastes that may be the subject of future cleanup has yet to be determined, and the actions of the RWQCB have not yet advanced to the stage where a reasonable estimate of remediation cost, if any, can be determined. Although assertion of a claim by the RWQCB is reasonably possible, it is not possible at this time to estimate the amount of any obligation the Company may incur for these cleanup efforts within the Watershed region, or whether such cost would be material to the Company’s financial statements.
Other
In October 2009, an employee was fatally wounded while performing maintenance at the Company’s manufacturing facility in Springfield, Missouri. On February 22, 2011, the family of the deceased filed a civil complaint against the manufacturer of the press involved in the incident and the Buckhorn Inc. employee involved in the incident. Buckhorn Inc. has not been named as a party to this lawsuit. At this time the Company is not able to determine whether this proceeding or the incident will result in legal exposure to the Company, or if any such liability that results would be material to the Company’s financial statements. The Company believes that it has adequate insurance to resolve any claims resulting from this incident.
When management believes that a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the estimated loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable of occurrence than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters will be assessed and the estimates will be revised, if necessary.
Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods.
Long-Term Debt and Credit Agreements
Long-term debt at December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

   	  	2011	 	  	2010	 	
Credit agreement	  	$	37,800	  	  	$	47,300	  	
Senior notes	  	 	35,000	  	  	 	35,000	  	
Industrial revenue bonds	  	 	1,230	  	  	 	1,535	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
	  	 	74,030	  	  	 	83,835	  	
Less current portion	  	 	305	  	  	 	305	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
	  	$	73,725	  	  	$	83,530	  	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
In 2010, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement of its revolving credit agreement (“the Credit Agreement”) with a group of banks. Under terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow up to $180 million, reduced for letters of credit issued. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had $135.5 million available under the Credit Agreement. Interest is based on the bank’s Prime rate or Euro dollar rate plus an applicable margin that varies depending on the Company’s ratio of total debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The average interest rate on borrowing under the Credit Agreement was 3.25 percent at December 31, 2011 and 3.55 percent at December 31, 2010. In addition, the Company pays a quarterly facility fee on the used and unused portion. The Credit Agreement expires November 19, 2015.
In December 2003, the Company issued $100 million in Senior Unsecured Notes (the Notes) consisting of $65 million of notes with an interest rate of 6.08 percent and a 7 year maturity and $35 million of notes with an interest rate of 6.81 percent and a 10 year maturity. Proceeds from the issuance of the Notes were used to pay down the term loan and revolving credit facility borrowing outstanding at that time. In December 2010, the Company paid the $65 million Senior Notes at maturity with borrowings from the Credit Agreement.
In addition, at December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $1.2 million of industrial revenue bonds with a weighted average interest rate of 0.19 percent. In 2011, the Company repaid $0.3 million of industrial revenue bonds.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company also has $6.7 million of letters of credit issued related to insurance and other financing contracts in the ordinary course of business.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all its debt covenants associated with its Credit Agreement and Senior Notes. The significant financial covenants include an interest coverage ratio,
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
defined as earnings before interest and taxes divided by interest expense, and a leverage ratio, defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, as adjusted, compared to total debt. The ratios as of December 31, 2011 are shown in the following table:

 	  	Required Level                	  	Actual Level	 	
Interest Coverage Ratio	  	2.25 to 1 (minimum)	  	 	8.76	  	
Leverage Ratio	  	3.25 to 1 (maximum)	  	 	1.07	  	
Maturities of long-term debt under the loan agreements in place at December 31, 2011 are as follows: $305 in 2012; $35,375 in 2013; $275 in 2014; and $38,075 in 2015.
Retirement Plans
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have pension and profit sharing plans covering substantially all of their employees. The Company’s frozen defined benefit pension plan (“The Pension Agreement between Akro-Mils and United Steelworkers of America Local No. 1761-02”) provides benefits primarily based upon a fixed amount for each year of service as defined.
Net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was as follows:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
 	  	Underfunded	 	 	Underfunded	 	 	Underfunded	 	
Service cost	  	$	74	  	 	$	39	  	 	$	60	  	
Interest cost	  	 	303	  	 	 	320	  	 	 	324	  	
Expected return on assets	  	 	(309	) 	 	 	(300	) 	 	 	(259	) 	
Amortization of net loss	  	 	64	  	 	 	59	  	 	 	94	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net periodic pension cost	  	$	132	  	 	$	118	  	 	$	219	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The reconciliation of changes in projected benefit obligations are as follows:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Accumulated benefit obligation at beginning of year	  	$	5,973	  	 	$	5,757	  	
Service cost	  	 	74	  	 	 	39	  	
Interest cost	  	 	303	  	 	 	320	  	
Actuarial loss	  	 	724	  	 	 	327	  	
Expenses paid	  	 	(70	) 	 	 	(73	) 	
Benefits paid	  	 	(413	) 	 	 	(397	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	  	$	6,591	  	 	$	5,973	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost and benefit obligations are as follows:

   	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Discount rate for net periodic pension cost	  	 	5.25	% 	 	 	5.75	% 	 	 	5.75	% 	
Discount rate for benefit obligations	  	 	4.50	% 	 	 	5.25	% 	 	 	5.75	% 	
Expected long-term return of plan assets	  	 	8.00	% 	 	 	8.00	% 	 	 	8.00	% 	
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
The expected long-term rate of return assumption is based on the actual historical rate of return on assets adjusted to reflect recent market conditions and future expectation consistent with the Company’s current asset allocation and investment policy. This policy provides for aggressive capital growth balanced with moderate income production. The inherent risks of equity exposure exists, however, returns generally are less volatile than maximum growth programs. The assumed discount rates represent long-term high quality corporate bond rates commensurate with the liability duration of its plan.
The following table reflects the change in the fair value of the plan’s assets:

   	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	  	$	3,946	  	 	$	3,951	  	
Actual return on plan assets	  	 	-0-	  	 	 	465	  	
Company contributions	  	 	268	  	 	 	-0-	  	
Expenses paid	  	 	(70	) 	 	 	(73	) 	
Benefits paid	  	 	(413	) 	 	 	(397	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	  	$	3,731	  	 	$	3,946	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The fair value of plan assets are all categorized as level 1 and were determined based on period end closing prices in active markets. The weighted average asset allocations at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

   	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
U.S. Equities securities	  	 	80	% 	 	 	81	% 	
U.S. Debt securities	  	 	19	  	 	 	18	  	
Cash	  	 	1	  	 	 	1	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	  	 	100	% 	 	 	100	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The following table provides a reconciliation of the funded status of the plan at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Projected benefit obligation	  	$	6,591	  	 	$	5,973	  	
Plan assets at fair value	  	 	3,731	  	 	 	3,946	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Funded status	  	$	(2,860	) 	 	$	(2,027	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The funded status shown above is included in other long term liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company expects to make a contribution of $661 to the plan in 2012.
Benefit payments projected for the plan are as follows:

2012	  	$	401	  	
2013	  	 	404	  	
2014	  	 	396	  	
2015	  	 	395	  	
2016	  	 	392	  	
2017-2021	  	 	1,901	  	
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
The Myers Industries Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan is maintained for the Company’s U.S. based employees, not covered under defined benefit plans, who have met eligibility service requirements. The amount to be contributed by the Company under the profit sharing plan is determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors. For 2011, the Company has recognized profit sharing plan expense of $1,678 and expects to make a contribution of that amount. The Company recognized profit sharing plan expense of $1,355 and $420 in 2010 and 2009, respectively and contributed that amount. Effective January 1, 2012 the Company made changes to its profit sharing and 401(k) plan which includes an increase in the Company’s matching contributions and the frequency of the Company’s match.
In addition, the Company has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) to provide certain participating senior executives with retirement benefits in addition to amounts payable under the profit sharing plan. Expense related to the SERP was approximately $784, $459, and $161 for the years ended December 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The SERP liability is based on the discounted present value of expected future benefit payments using a discount rate of 4.50%. The SERP liability was approximately $4.5 million and $4.0 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and is included in accrued employee compensation and other long term liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The SERP is unfunded.
Leases
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are committed under non-cancelable operating leases involving certain facilities and equipment. Aggregate rental expense for all leased assets was $10,372, $10,880 and $12,111 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Future minimum rental commitments are as follows:

Year Ended December 31,	  	Commitment	 	
2012	  	$	9,674	  	
2013	  	 	5,767	  	
2014	  	 	4,574	  	
2015	  	 	4,096	  	
2016	  	 	3,856	  	
Thereafter	  	 	16,818	  	
	  	 	 	 	
Total	  	$	44,785	  	

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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for continuing operations was 27.3% in 2011, 16.0% in 2010 and 20.8% in 2009. A reconciliation of the Federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

 	  	Percent of Income before
Income Taxes	 	
 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Statutory Federal income tax rate	  	 	35.0	% 	 	 	35.0	% 	 	 	35.0	% 	
State income taxes — net of Federal tax benefit	  	 	0.7	  	 	 	(1.4	) 	 	 	4.1	  	
Foreign tax rate differential	  	 	0.4	  	 	 	(5.1	) 	 	 	(21.0	) 	
Domestic production deduction	  	 	(3.5	) 	 	 	0.8	  	 	 	(2.4	) 	
Non-deductible expenses	  	 	2.0	  	 	 	(0.9	) 	 	 	3.9	  	
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits	  	 	(14.4	) 	 	 	—	  	 	 	—	  	
Non-deductible goodwill	  	 	3.1	  	 	 	(16.2	) 	 	 	—	  	
Non-taxable claims settlement gain	  	 	—	  	 	 	2.6	  	 	 	—	  	
Valuation allowances	  	 	3.0	  	 	 	—	  	 	 	(3.6	) 	
Other	  	 	1.0	  	 	 	1.2	  	 	 	4.8	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Effective tax rate for the year	  	 	27.3	% 	 	 	16.0	% 	 	 	20.8	% 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes was attributable to the following sources:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
United States	  	$	39,740	  	 	$	(18,807	) 	 	$	3,431	  	
Foreign	  	 	(6,053	) 	 	 	(32,214	) 	 	 	5,402	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Totals	  	$	33,687	  	 	$	(51,021	) 	 	$	8,833	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations consisted of the following:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
 	  	Current	 	  	Deferred	 	 	Current	 	 	Deferred	 	 	Current	 	  	Deferred	 	
Federal	  	$	6,509	  	  	$	2,057	  	 	$	5,712	  	 	$	(12,933	) 	 	$	1,080	  	  	$	171	  	
Foreign	  	 	612	  	  	 	(371	) 	 	 	(1,519	) 	 	 	(544	) 	 	 	1,265	  	  	 	(1,227	) 	
State and local	  	 	1,906	  	  	 	(1,531	) 	 	 	983	  	 	 	115	  	 	 	898	  	  	 	(349	) 	
	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
	  	$	9,027	  	  	$	155	  	 	$	5,176	  	 	$	(13,362	) 	 	$	3,243	  	  	$	(1,405	) 	

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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Significant components of the Company’s deferred taxes as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Deferred income tax liabilities	  				 				
Property, plant and equipment	  	$	23,974	  	 	$	24,707	  	
Tax-deductible goodwill	  	 	4,940	  	 	 	1,803	  	
State deferred taxes	  	 	1,286	  	 	 	2,042	  	
Other	  	 	423	  	 	 	314	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	30,623	  	 	 	28,866	  	
Deferred income tax assets	  				 				
Compensation	  	 	5,175	  	 	 	4,063	  	
Inventory valuation	  	 	630	  	 	 	1,852	  	
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	  	 	1,343	  	 	 	1,008	  	
Non-deductible accruals	  	 	4,200	  	 	 	2,932	  	
Other	  	 	571	  	 	 	-0-	  	
Capital loss carryforwards	  	 	26,138	  	 	 	26,137	  	
Net operating loss carryforwards	  	 	2,037	  	 	 	1,251	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	40,094	  	 	 	37,244	  	
Valuation Allowance	  	 	(28,175	) 	 	 	(27,390	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	 	11,919	  	 	 	9,855	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net deferred income tax liability	  	$	18,704	  	 	$	19,012	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
ASC 740 Income Taxes requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance, if based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Available evidence includes the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years and tax planning strategies. The increase in the valuation allowance of $0.8 million resulted from additional foreign and state net operating losses from jurisdictions with uncertainty of future profitability. The Company has deferred tax assets of $2.0 million resulting from state and foreign net operating tax loss carryforwards of approximately $15.1 million, with carryforward periods that expire starting in 2019. The Company’s capital loss carryforwards of $26.1 million will expire in 2012.
No provision has been recorded for unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries as it is the Company’s intention to indefinitely reinvest these earnings of these subsidiaries. Accordingly, at December 31, 2011, the Company had not recorded a deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in its foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration. The amount of such temporary differences was estimated to be approximately $10.6 million and may become taxable in the U.S. upon a repatriation of assets or a sale or liquidation of the subsidiaries. It is not practical to estimate the related amount of unrecognized tax liability.
The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	
Balance at January 1	  	 	5,767	  	 	 	6,117	  	
Increases related to current year tax positions	  	 	—	  	 	 	198	  	
Increases related to previous year tax positions	  	 	395	  	 	 	79	  	
Reductions due to lapse of applicable statute of limitations	  	 	(4,945	) 	 	 	(627	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31	  	$	1,217	  	 	$	5,767	  	

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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits that would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate was $1.1 million and $5.5 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The amount of accrued interest expense included as a liability within the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company and its significant subsidiaries are subject to examination for the years after 2005 in Brazil, after 2006 in Canada, and after 2007 in the United States. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to examination in certain states within the United States starting after 2006 and in the remaining states after 2007.
The Company is currently under examination of Federal income tax returns for 2009 in the United States and for 2008 and 2007 in Canada, as well as certain states. The Company does not expect any significant changes to its unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.
Industry Segments
Using the criteria of ASC 280 Segment Reporting , the Company has four operating segments: Material Handling, Lawn and Garden, Distribution and Engineered Products. Each of these operating segments is also a reportable segment under the ASC 280 criteria. None of the reportable segments include operating segments that have been aggregated. Some of these segments contain individual business components that have been aggregated on the basis of common management, customers, products, production processes and other economic characteristics. The Company accounts for intersegment sales and transfers at cost plus a specified mark-up.
The Material Handling Segment includes a broad selection of plastic reusable containers, pallets, small parts bins, bulk shipping containers, and storage and organization products. This segment has primary operations conducted in the United States, but also operates in Canada and Brazil. Markets served encompass various niches of industrial manufacturing, food processing, retail/wholesale products distribution, agriculture, automotive, healthcare, appliance, bakery, electronics, textiles, consumer, and others. Products are sold both direct to end-users and through distributors.
Myers Industries’ Lawn and Garden Segment serves the North American horticultural market with plastic products such as seedling trays, nursery pots, hanging baskets, and custom printed containers, as well as decorative resin planters. Markets/customers include professional growers, greenhouses, nurseries, retail garden centers, mass merchandisers, and consumers.
The Company’s Distribution Segment is engaged in the distribution of equipment, tools, and supplies used for tire servicing and automotive undervehicle repair. The product line includes categories such as tire valves and accessories, tire changing and balancing equipment, lifts and alignment equipment, service equipment and tools, and tire repair/retread supplies. The Distribution Segment operates domestically through sales offices, and four regional distribution centers in the United States and in foreign countries through export sales. In addition, the Distribution Segment operates directly in certain foreign markets, principally Canada and Central America, through foreign branch operations. Markets served include retail and truck tire dealers, commercial auto and truck fleets, auto dealers, general service and repair centers, tire retreaders, and government agencies.
In the Engineered Products Segment, the Company engineers and manufactures plastic and rubber original equipment and replacement parts, rubber tire repair and retread products, and a diverse array of custom plastic and rubber products. Representative products include: plastic HVAC ducts, water/waste storage tanks, and interior/exterior vehicle trim components; rubber air intake hoses, vibration isolators, emissions tubing assemblies, and trailer bushings; and custom products such as plastic tool boxes and calendered rubber sheet stock. This segment serves a diverse group of niche markets including automotive, recreational vehicle, recreational marine, construction and agriculture equipment, healthcare, and transportation.
 
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MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)
 
Total sales from foreign business units and export to countries outside the U.S. were approximately $107.0 million, $109.7 million, and $100.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Sales made to customers in Canada accounted for approximately 9% of total net sales in 2011, 10% in 2010 and 10% in 2009. There are no other individual foreign countries for which sales are material. Long-lived assets in foreign countries, consisting primarily of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill, were approximately $18.8 million at December 31, 2011 and $27.0 million at December 31, 2010.

 	  	2011	 	 	2010	 	 	2009	 	
Net Sales	  				 				 				
Material Handling	  	$	261,812	  	 	$	257,806	  	 	$	254,045	  	
Lawn and Garden	  	 	217,140	  	 	 	223,809	  	 	 	220,312	  	
Distribution	  	 	183,726	  	 	 	174,917	  	 	 	162,991	  	
Engineered Products	  	 	116,243	  	 	 	104,763	  	 	 	86,030	  	
Intra-segment elimination	  	 	(23,267	) 	 	 	(23,677	) 	 	 	(21,544	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	$	755,654	  	 	$	737,618	  	 	$	701,834	  	

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	  				 				 				
Material Handling	  	$	34,123	  	 	$	22,577	  	 	$	13,625	  	
Lawn and Garden	  	 	4,226	  	 	 	(74,650	) 	 	 	16,686	  	
Distribution	  	 	15,736	  	 	 	15,154	  	 	 	13,660	  	
Engineered Products	  	 	10,810	  	 	 	8,865	  	 	 	787	  	
Corporate	  	 	(26,486	) 	 	 	(15,762	) 	 	 	(27,621	) 	
Interest expense-net	  	 	(4,722	) 	 	 	(7,205	) 	 	 	(8,304	) 	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	$	33,687	  	 	$	(51,021	) 	 	$	8,833	  	

Identifiable Assets	  				 				 				
Material Handling	  	$	164,738	  	 	$	169,599	  	 	$	183,435	  	
Lawn and Garden	  	 	138,894	  	 	 	136,539	  	 	 	227,274	  	
Distribution	  	 	48,100	  	 	 	47,234	  	 	 	43,870	  	
Engineered Products	  	 	40,840	  	 	 	41,044	  	 	 	42,770	  	
Corporate	  	 	36,185	  	 	 	37,979	  	 	 	12,617	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	$	428,757	  	 	$	432,395	  	 	$	509,966	  	

Capital Additions, Net	  				 				 				
Material Handling	  	$	12,165	  	 	$	8,912	  	 	$	5,617	  	
Lawn and Garden	  	 	6,411	  	 	 	8,017	  	 	 	9,577	  	
Distribution	  	 	1,101	  	 	 	332	  	 	 	90	  	
Engineered Products	  	 	1,831	  	 	 	1,861	  	 	 	711	  	
Corporate	  	 	422	  	 	 	1,411	  	 	 	—	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	$	21,930	  	 	$	20,533	  	 	$	15,995	  	

Depreciation	  				 				 				
Material Handling	  	$	14,308	  	 	$	14,200	  	 	$	14,668	  	
Lawn and Garden	  	 	13,306	  	 	 	12,587	  	 	 	12,916	  	
Distribution	  	 	342	  	 	 	271	  	 	 	309	  	
Engineered Products	  	 	2,855	  	 	 	3,200	  	 	 	4,831	  	
Corporate	  	 	434	  	 	 	370	  	 	 	408	  	
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
	  	$	31,245	  	 	$	30,628	  	 	$	33,132	  	

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 ITEM 9.	CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.	
None.
 
 ITEM 9A.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-5(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 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 assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
The Company carries out a variety of on-going procedures, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management’s report on internal controls over financial reporting, and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm on internal control, are titled “Management’s Annual Assessment of and Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and are included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Assessment of and Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Because of its inherent limitation, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal
 
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control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that the internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included herein.

John C. Orr	  	Donald A. Merril	
President and	  	Senior Vice President,	
Chief Executive Officer	  	Chief Financial Officer and
Corporate Secretary	
 
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Report of Ernst & Young LLP Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Myers Industries, Inc.
We have audited Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Assessment of and Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statements of financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for the year then ended, and our report dated March 2, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Akron, Ohio
March 2, 2012
 
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 ITEM 9B.	Other Information.	
None.
 PART III
 
 ITEM 10.	Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant	
For information about the directors of the Company, see the sections titled “Nominees”, “Director Independence”, “Committees of the Board”, Committee Charters and Policies”, Shareholder Nominations of Director Candidates” and “Corporate Governance Policies” of the Company’s Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 27, 2012 (“Proxy Statement”), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Each member of the Company’s Audit Committee is financially literate and independent as defined under the Company’s Independence Criteria Policy and the independence standards set by the New York Stock Exchange. The Board has identified Robert A. Stefanko as “Audit Committee Financial Expert”.
Information about the Executive Officers of Registrant appears in Part I of this Report.
Disclosures by the Company with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) appears under the section entitled “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.
For information about our Code of Ethics see the section titled “Corporate Governance Policies” of our Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 ITEM 11.	Executive Compensation	
See the sections titled “Executive Compensation and Related Information”, “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”, Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation”, “Risk Assessment of Compensation Practices” and “Board Role in Risk Oversight” of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.
 
 ITEM 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management	
See the sections titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” and “Election of Directors” of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 	  	(A)	 	  	(B)	 	  	(C)	 	
Plan Category	  	Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants or Rights	 	  	Weighted-average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants or Rights	 	  	Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities Reflected in
Column (A))	 	
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders (1) 	  	 	2,286,278	  	  	$ 	  9.90	  	  	 	1,603,006	  	
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders	  	 	–0–	  	  	 	–0–	  	  	 	–0–	  	
Total	  	 	2,286,278	  	  				  	 	1,603,006	  	

(1)	This information is as of December 31, 2011 and includes the 2008 Stock Plan and 1999 Incentive Stock Plan.	
 
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 ITEM 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions	
See the sections titled “Policies and Procedures with Respect to Related Party Transactions” and “Director Independence” of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.
 
 ITEM 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	
Required information regarding fees paid to and services provided by the Company’s independent auditor and the pre-approval policies and procedures of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors is set forth under the section titled “Matters Relating to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
 PART IV
 
 ITEM 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	
The following consolidated financial statements of the Registrant appear in Part II of this Report:
 
15.	(A)(1) Financial Statements	
Consolidated Financial Statements of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position As of December 31, 2011 and 2010
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) For The Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) For The Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For The Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements For The Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
 
15.	(A)(2) Financial Statement Schedules	
All other schedules are omitted because they are inapplicable, not required, or because the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto which appear in Part II of this Report.
 
15.	(B) Exhibits	

			
 	  	EXHIBIT INDEX	
		
3(a)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. Reference is made to Exhibit 3(a) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2005.	
		
3(b)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Code of Regulations. Reference is made to Exhibit (3)(b) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 26, 2003.	
		
10(a)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 30, 2001.	
 
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 	  	EXHIBIT INDEX	
		
10(b)	  	Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 30, 2009.*	
		
10(c)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(d) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 19, 2004.	
		
10(d)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Stock Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(f) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 9, 2006.*	
		
10(e)	  	2008 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-8 filed with the Commission on March 17, 2009.*	
		
10(f)	  	Amendment No. 1 to the 2008 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 3, 2010.*	
		
10(g)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(g) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 26, 2003.*	
		
10(h)	  	Severance Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc and John C. Orr effective June 1, 2011. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 7, 2011.*	
		
10(i)	  	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and John C. Orr effective June 1, 2008. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 24, 2008.*	
		
10(j)	  	First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and John C. Orr entered into as of April 21, 2009. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 22, 2009.*	
		
10(k)	  	Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and John C. Orr entered into as of March 8, 2010. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2010.*	
		
10(l)	  	Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and John C. Orr dated July 18, 2000. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(j) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 6, 2003.*	
		
10(m)	  	Amendment to the Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (John C. Orr) effective June 1, 2008. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 24, 2008.*	
		
10(n)	  	Employment Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and David B. Knowles dated June 19, 2009. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 22, 2009.*	
		
10(o)	  	Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and David B. Knowles dated June 19, 2009. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 22, 2009.*	
		
10(p)	  	Amendment to Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (David B. Knowles) effective June 19, 2009. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 22, 2009.*	
		
10(q)	  	Employment Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and Donald A. Merril dated January 24, 2006. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(k) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2006.*	
		
10(r)	  	Amendment to the Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (Donald A. Merril) dated January 24, 2006. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(l) to Form 10-K filed wit the Commission on March 16, 2006.*	
 
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 	  	EXHIBIT INDEX	
		
10(s)	  	Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and Donald A. Merril dated January 24, 2006.Reference is made to Exhibit 10(m) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2006.*	
		
10(t)	  	Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and JP Morgan Chas Bank, National Association, as Agent, dated as of November 19, 2010. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 23, 2010.	
		
10(u)	  	Note Purchase Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and the Note Purchasers, dated December 12, 2003, regarding the issuance of $35,000,000 of 6.81% Series 2003-A Senior Notes due December 12, 2013. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(o) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 15, 2004.	
		
10(v)	  	Amendment to the Myers Industries, Inc Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (John C. Orr) effective June 1, 2011. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 7, 2011.*	
		
14(a)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Reference is made to Exhibit 14(a) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2005.	
		
14(b)	  	Myers Industries, Inc. Code of Ethical Conduct for the Finance Officers and Finance Department Personnel. Reference is made to Exhibit 14(b) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2005.	
		
21	  	List of Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries, and Operating Divisions, of Myers Industries, Inc.	
		
23.1	  	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Ernst & Young LLP)	
		
23.2	  	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (KPMG LLP)	
		
31(a)	  	Certification of John C. Orr, President and Chief Executive Officer of Myers Industries, Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2003.	
		
31(b)	  	Certification of Donald A. Merril, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Myers Industries, Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2003.	
		
32	  	Certifications of John C. Orr, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Donald A. Merril, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, of Myers Industries, Inc. pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	
		
101	  	The following financial information from Myers Industries, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2012, formatted in XBRL includes: (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) For the fiscal periods ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal periods ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2011, and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.	

*	Indicates executive compensation plan or arrangement.	
**	Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted from this filing. The registrant agrees to furnish the Commission on a supplemental basis a copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule.	
 
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 SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

M YERS I NDUSTRIES , I NC .	
	
/s/ Donald A. Merril	
Donald A. Merril	
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Corporate Secretary	
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE	  	TITLE	 	DATE	
			
/s/ Donald A. Merril
DONALD A. MERRIL	  	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ William A. Foley
WILLIAM A. FOLEY	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ Vincent Byrd
VINCENT BYRD	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ Robert A. Stefanko
ROBERT A. STEFANKO	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ Richard P. Johnston
RICHARD P. JOHNSTON	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ Edward W. Kissel
EDWARD W. KISSEL	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ Sarah R. Coffin
SARAH R. COFFIN	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ John C. Orr
JOHN C. ORR	  	President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ John B. Crowe
JOHN B. CROWE	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
			
/s/ Robert B. Heisler, Jr.
ROBERT B. HEISLER, JR.	  	Director	 	March 2, 2012	
 
68

Exhibit 21
Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries, and Operating Divisions,
of Myers Industries, Inc.
As of December 31, 2011

North and Central American Operations	  		
		
Ameri-Kart Corp.	  	Kansas	
- WEK South Corp	  	North Carolina	
		
Ameri-Kart (MI) Corp.	  	Michigan	
		
Buckhorn Inc.	  	Ohio	
- BRP Hannibal Inc.	  	Missouri	
		
Grower Express Trucking, Inc.	  	Ohio	
		
Lone Star Plastics, Inc.	  	Nevada	
- Amerikan LLC	  	Florida	
- Kord USA, Inc.	  	South Carolina	
- Texan Polymer Group, Inc.	  	Texas	
- WhiteRidge Plastics, LLC	  	North Carolina	
		
MYE Automotive, Inc.	  	Delaware	
- MRP, Inc.	  	Michigan	
- WEK Industries, Inc.	  	Delaware	
		
MYE Canada Operations Inc.	  	Canada	
		
MYEcap Financial Corp.	  	Ohio	
		
MYELux, LLC	  	Ohio	
		
Myers do Brasil Embalagens Plasticas Ltda.	  	Brazil	
		
RCLL Holding Ltda. (99%)	  	Brazil	
		
Myers Tire Supply International, Inc.	  	Ohio	
- Myers de El Salvador S.A. De C.V. (75%)	  	El Salvador	
- Orientadores Comerciales S.A.	  	Guatemala	
- Myers de Panama S.A.	  	Panama	
- Myers TSCA, S.A.	  	Panama	
		
Myers de El Salvador S.A. De C.V. (25%)	  	El Salvador	
		
Myers Tire Supply Distribution, Inc.	  	Ohio	
		
Myers Tire Supply.com, Inc.	  	Ohio	
		
Patch Rubber Company	  	North Carolina	
- Kwik Patch Private Ltd. (39.98%)	  	India	
		
Productivity California, Inc.	  	California	

Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries, and Operating Divisions,
of Myers Industries, Inc.
As of December 31, 2011

 
			
Reported Operating Division of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries	  		
		
Akro-Mils (of Myers Industries, Inc.)	  	Akron, Ohio	
		
Dillen Products (of Myers Industries, Inc.)	  	Middlefield, Ohio	
		
Myers Tire Supply (of Myers Industries, Inc.)	  	Akron, Ohio	
		
Buckhorn Canada (of MYE Canada Operation Inc.)	  	Ontario, Canada	
		
Myers Tire Supply of Canada (of MYE Canada Operations Inc.)	  	Ontario, Canada	
		
Listo Products (of MYE Canada Operations, Inc.)	  	Yukon Territory	
		
ITML Horticultural Products (of MYE Canada Operations Inc.)	  	Ontario, Canada	

Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:
 
 	(1)	Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-158055) pertaining to the 2008 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.,	
 
 	(2)	Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-90367) pertaining to Myers Industries, Inc. 1999 Incentive Stock Plan, Myers Industries, Inc. 1997 Incentive Stock Plan, Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and	
 
 	(3)	Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 033-50286) of Myers Industries, Inc.	
of our reports dated March 2, 2012, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2011.
/s/ Ernst &Young LLP
Akron, Ohio
March 2, 2012

Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Myers Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements Nos. 333-158055 and 333-90367 on Form S-8, and No. 33-50286 on Form S-3, of Myers Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (Company), of our report dated March 7, 2011, with respect to the statement of consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2010, and the related statements of consolidated income (loss), shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, which report appear in the December 31, 2011 annual report on Form 10-K of the Company.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
March 2, 2012

Exhibit 31 (a)
Certification Per Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, John C. Orr, certify that:
1. I have reviewed the annual report on Form 10-K of Myers Industries, Inc. for the period ended December 31, 2011 which this certification accompanies;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the company’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 2, 2012	 	/s/ John C. Orr	
	 	John C. Orr, President and
Chief Executive Officer	

Exhibit 31 (b)
Certification Per Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Donald A. Merril, certify that:
1. I have reviewed the annual report on Form 10-K of Myers Industries, Inc. for the period ended December 31, 2011 which this certification accompanies;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the company’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 2, 2012	 	/s/ Donald A. Merril	
	 	Donald A. Merril, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary	

Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Myers Industries, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, John C. Orr, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and to my knowledge:
(1) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2011 which this certification accompanies fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ John C. Orr	
John C. Orr, President and
Chief Executive Officer	
Dated: March 2, 2012
Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Myers Industries, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Donald A. Merril, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and to my knowledge:
(1) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2011 which this certification accompanies fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Donald A. Merril	
Donald A. Merril, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary	
Dated: March 2, 2012
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.