SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K
(Mark One)

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______________ to _____________

Commission File No. 1-8399

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

          OHIO                                        31-1189815
----------------------------------            ---------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                       Identification No.)

1205 Dearborn Drive, Columbus, Ohio                         43085
-----------------------------------            ---------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (614) 438-3210

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

    Title of Each Class          Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
    -------------------          -----------------------------------------

Common Shares, Without Par Value            New York Stock Exchange

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to

Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

Based upon the closing price of the Common Shares on August 11, 2000, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape (as reported by the Wall Street Journal), the aggregate market value of the Common Shares held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of such date was approximately $795,320,759.

The number of Common Shares issued and outstanding as of August 11, 2000, was 85,754,525.

Portions of the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 are incorporated by reference into Part I and Part II of this Form 10-K. Portions of the definitive proxy statement furnished to shareholders of the Registrant in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 28, 2000 are incorporated by reference into

Part III of this Form 10-K.


SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Statements contained in this FORM 10-K, including, without limitation, the statements incorporated by reference into "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", constitute "forward-looking statements" that are based on management's beliefs, estimates, assumptions and currently available information. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to future operating results, growth, stock appreciation, projected capacity levels, pricing trends, anticipated capital expenditures, plant start-ups and capabilities and other non-historical information. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, product demand, changes in product mix and market acceptance of products; changes in pricing or availability of raw materials, particularly steel; capacity restraints and efficiencies; conditions in major product markets; delays in construction or equipment supply; ability to integrate recent acquisitions; inherent risks of international development, including foreign currency risks; the ability to improve processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; general economic conditions, business environment and the impact of governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; and other risks described from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

PART I

ITEM 1. - BUSINESS

Worthington Industries, Inc. is referred to herein individually as the "Registrant" or "Worthington" or, together with its subsidiaries, as the "Company". Founded in 1955, the Company is a diversified steel processor that focuses on steel processing and metals-related businesses. It operates 40 facilities worldwide and its corporate headquarters are located at 1205 Dearborn Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43085. The Company also holds equity positions in seven joint ventures, which operate 15 facilities worldwide.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 ("fiscal 2000"), the Company's operations are reported principally in three business segments: Processed Steel Products, Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders. The Processed Steel Products segment includes The Worthington Steel Company business unit and The Gerstenslager Company business unit. The Metal Framing segment is made up of Dietrich Industries, Inc. and the Pressure Cylinders segment consists of Worthington Cylinder Corporation. In addition, the Company holds an equity position in seven joint ventures as described below. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999 ("fiscal 1999") in keeping with its strategy to focus on steel processing and metals-

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related businesses, the Company divested its Worthington Custom Plastics, Inc., Worthington Precision Metals, Inc. and Buckeye Steel Castings Company operations. The divested operations, which previously made up the Company's Custom Products and Cast Products segments, have been reported as discontinued operations for fiscal 1999 and prior thereto.

During fiscal 1999, Worthington reincorporated from the State of Delaware into the State of Ohio. On October 13, 1998, Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Worthington Delaware"), was merged (the "Merger") with and into Worthington, an Ohio corporation and, at the time, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worthington Delaware. Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Worthington Delaware was converted into one common share, without par value, of Worthington. By virtue of the Merger, Worthington succeeded to all the business, properties, assets and liabilities of Worthington Delaware and the directors, officers and employees of Worthington Delaware became directors, officers and employees of Worthington.

PROCESSED STEEL PRODUCTS

The Processed Steel Products segment consists of two business units, The Worthington Steel Company ("Worthington Steel") and The Gerstenslager Company ("Gerstenslager"). For fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999, and the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998 ("fiscal 1998"), the percentage of the Company's sales from continuing operations generated by the Processed Steel Products segment was 65.6%, 63.2% and 64.6%, respectively.

Both Worthington Steel and Gerstenslager are intermediate processors of flat-rolled steel. Worthington Steel occupies a niche in the steel industry by focusing on specialized products requiring exact specifications, which typically cannot be supplied as efficiently by steel mills, metal service centers or steel end users. The Company believes that Worthington Steel is the largest independent flat rolled steel processor in the United States. Gerstenslager is a leading independent supplier of Class A exterior body panels to the North American automotive original equipment and service part markets.

The Company's Processed Steel Products segment operates 12 processing facilities as well as Spartan Steel Coating, L.L.C., the Company's consolidated joint venture with Rouge Steel Company. These facilities are concentrated in the Michigan, Ohio and Indiana market, the largest flat rolled steel consuming market in the United States. The segment serves over 1,000 industrial customers, principally in the automotive, automotive supply, appliance, electrical, communications, construction, office furniture, office equipment, agricultural, machinery and leisure time industries.

The two newest processed steel products facilities are located in Decatur, Alabama ("Decatur") and Delta, Ohio ("Delta"). Decatur began commercial slitting

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and pickling operations in May 1998 and produced its first commercially saleable cold-rolled coils in August 1998, contributing to the Company's fiscal 1999 increase in sales. Delta completed its first full year of operation during fiscal 1998, contributing to the Company's fiscal 1998 increase in sales. In addition, the Monroe, Ohio facility resumed pickling operations during fiscal 1999, marking the completion of its recovery from an August 1997 fire that caused extensive damage to the plant.

The Company buys coils of wide, open-tolerance steel from major integrated steel mills and mini-mills and processes it to the precise type, thickness, length, width, shape, temper and surface quality required by customer specifications. The Company's computer-aided processing capabilities include among others: pickling, a chemical process using an acidic solution to remove surface oxide which develops on hot-rolled steel; slitting, which cuts steel to specific widths; cutting-to-length, which flattens the steel and cuts it to exact lengths; roller leveling, a method of applying pressure to achieve precise flatness tolerances for steel which is cut into exact lengths; cold reduction, which achieves close tolerances of thickness and temper by rolling; edge rolling, which conditions the edges of the steel by imparting round, smooth or knurled edges; configured blanking, through which steel is cut into specific shapes; painting; hot dipped galvanizing, which coats the steel with zinc and zinc alloys through a hot dipped process; nickel and zinc/nickel plating, which coats the steel with zinc or zinc and nickel using an electronic process; and annealing, a thermal process that changes the hardness and certain metallurgical characteristics of steel. The Company also stamps, assembles, primes and packages exterior automotive body panels. In addition, the Company "toll processes" steel for steel mills and large end users. Toll processing is similar to the Company's normal steel processing, except the mill or end user retains the title to the steel and has the responsibility for selling the end product. Toll processing enables the Company to participate in the market for wide sheet steel and large standard orders, which is a market generally served by steel mills rather than by intermediate steel processors.

The Processed Steel Products Industry is fragmented and highly competitive. The Company competes with many other independent intermediate processors and, with respect to automotive stamping, captive processors owned by the automotive companies, independent tier one suppliers of current model components and a number of smaller competitors. The Company believes it is unique in its ability to handle a very large number of low volume aftermarket automotive body parts, managing over 3,000 die sets for component parts on past and current automobile and truck production models. Despite the competitive nature of the processed steel products industry, the Company knows of no other intermediate processor offering the same type and extent of technical service support provided by the Company relating to material testing and application of material to the particular needs of customers. See "Item 1 - Business - Technical Services." The Company is unable to gauge, however, the extent to which its technical service capability has improved its competitive position.

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METAL FRAMING

The Metal Framing segment consists of one business unit, Dietrich Industries, Inc. ("Dietrich"), which is the largest supplier of metal framing products for the commercial and residential construction markets in the United States. For fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, the percentage of the Company's sales from continuing operations generated by Dietrich was 17.9%, 19.1%, and 20.7%, respectively. Dietrich's products include steel studs, floor and wall system components, roof trusses and other metal accessory products. Dietrich has over 2,000 customers, primarily consisting of building products distributors, commercial and residential contractors, and gypsum producers.

The Company believes that Dietrich is the only national supplier of metal framing products and supplies approximately 36% of the metal framing products sold in the United States. It has five large regional competitors and numerous small, more localized competitors. Dietrich operates 18 facilities in thirteen states.

PRESSURE CYLINDERS

The Pressure Cylinders segment consists of one business unit, Worthington Cylinder Corporation ("Worthington Cylinders"). For fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, the percentage of the Company's sales from continuing operations generated by Worthington Cylinders was 16.2%, 17.3%, and 13.8%, respectively.

During fiscal 1999, the Company expanded its Pressure Cylinders segment by acquiring the cylinder operations of Jos. Heiser vormals J. Winter's Sohn, GmbH ("Worthington Austria"), based in Kienberg, Austria, in June 1998; certain assets of Metalurgica Progresso de Vale de Cambra, Lda. ("Worthington Portugal"), based in Vale de Cambra, Portugal, in May 1999; and a majority interest in Gastec spol. s.r.o. ("Worthington Czech"), based in Hustopece, Czech Republic, in February 1999.

Worthington Cylinders is the nation's largest producer of portable low-pressure liquid propane and refrigerant gas cylinders, and is a global leader in the production of portable high-pressure cylinders. Worthington Cylinders' primary low-pressure cylinder products are steel cylinders with refrigerant gas capacities of 15 to 1,000 lbs. and steel and aluminum cylinders with liquid propane gas capacities of 4-1/4 to 420 lbs. The Company produces low-pressure cylinders in accordance with U. S. Department of Transportation safety requirements as well as various International requirements and standards. Low-pressure cylinders are produced by precision stamping, drawing and welding of component parts to customer specifications. They are then tested, painted and packaged as required.

The Company's refrigerant gas cylinders are used primarily by major refrigerant gas producers to contain refrigerant gases for use in charging residential, commercial, automotive and other air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Reusable steel and aluminum liquid propane gas cylinders are sold to manufacturers and distributors

5

of barbecue grills and propane, mass merchandisers and manufacturers and users of material handling, heating, cooking and camping equipment. The Company manufactures other low-pressure cylinder products, including recapture and recycling tanks for refrigerant gases, helium tanks, and cylinders to hold other gases.

Worthington Cylinders' high-pressure cylinders are manufactured by several processes, including deep drawing, billet piercing and spinning. They are sold primarily to gas suppliers and fillers as containers for acetylene, medical, industrial, halon, electronics, cutting and welding gases.

While a large percentage of cylinder sales are made to major accounts, Worthington Cylinders has over 3,000 customers. It operates nine wholly-owned manufacturing operations throughout the United States, Austria, Canada and Portugal; and two joint venture facilities, Worthington S.A. in Itu, Brazil and Worthington Czech.

The Company has two principal domestic competitors in its major low-pressure cylinder markets, as to which management believes the Company has the largest domestic market share. The Company also has two principal domestic competitors in its high-pressure cylinder markets, both of which have a larger domestic market share than the Company. The Company believes that Worthington Austria has the largest share of the European industrial gas cylinder market. However, the Company otherwise has no reliable information with respect to the size of any of its various product markets or its relative position therein.

SEGMENT DATA

For financial information about the Company's segments, see "Note H - Industry Segment Data" of the Company's Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Worthington's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

CUSTOMERS

During fiscal 2000, the Company's Processed Steel Products, Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders segments served over 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 customers, respectively. The Company's customers are located primarily in the United States, Canada and Europe and operate in a variety of industries, including without limitation, the automotive, automotive supply, appliance, electrical, building products distribution, communications, commercial and residential construction, office furniture and equipment, agricultural, machinery and leisure industries. See "Item 1 - Business - Processed Steel Products," "--Metal Framing," and "--Pressure Cylinders" for a discussion regarding customers within the Company's segments. The Company has no single customer that accounts for over 10% of the Company's consolidated net sales.

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SUPPLIERS

In fiscal 2000, the Company purchased in excess of three million tons of steel for use as raw material for its Processed Steel Products, Pressure Cylinders and Metal Framing segments. It purchases steel in large quantities at regular intervals from major primary producers, both domestically and globally. The Company primarily purchases and supplies steel based on the specific orders of customers and does not typically purchase steel for inventory. The Company purchases the majority of its raw materials in the open market at prevailing market prices, but, occasionally, will enter into long-term fixed-price contracts. During fiscal 2000, the Company's major suppliers of steel were Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Inland Steel Company, LTV Steel Corporation, NorthStar BHP Steel, Rouge Industries, Inc., TRICO Steel, USX Corporation and WCI Steel, Inc. In addition, the Company's primary aluminum suppliers in fiscal 2000 for its Pressure Cylinders segment were Alcoa, Inc. and Specialty Blanks Incorporated. Management believes that its supplier relationships are good.

MARKETING AND COMPETITION

The Company believes that it has established and maintains customer relationships primarily because of its tradition of leadership in value-added steel processing and metals-related industries. The Company's products and services are sold primarily by Company sales personnel, who receive orders on both an order-by-order basis and through long-term program commitments. Foreign operations and exports represent less than 10% of the Company's production, sales and assets.

The Company competes primarily on the basis of quality of product, ability to meet delivery requirements and price. Geographic proximity to customers has a significant effect upon relative ability to meet customer delivery schedules and impacts the freight charge portion of overall product price.

See "Item 1 - Business - Processed Steel Products," "--Metal Framing," and "--Pressure Cylinders" for a discussion regarding marketing and competition within the Company's segments.

TECHNICAL SERVICES

The Company employs a staff of engineers and other technical personnel and maintains fully-equipped, modern laboratories to support its operations. The facilities enable the Company to verify, analyze and document the physical, chemical, metallurgical and mechanical properties of its raw materials and products. Technical service personnel also work in conjunction with the sales force to determine the types of flat rolled steel required for the particular needs of the Company's customers. In order to provide such services, the Company maintains a continuing program of developmental engineering with respect to the characteristics and performance of its products under varying conditions. Laboratory facilities are also

7

used to perform the quality control and extensive testing of all low pressure cylinders required by the regulations of the U. S. Department of Transportation and associated agencies, as well as varying customer requirements.

EMPLOYEES

As of May 31, 2000, the Company employed approximately 8,000 employees in its operations, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures. Approximately 20% of the Company's labor force is covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company believes that it has good relationships with its employees.

JOINT VENTURES

As part of its strategy to selectively develop new products, markets and technological capabilities, and to expand its international presence while mitigating the risks and costs associated with such activities, the Company participates in three consolidated and four unconsolidated joint ventures.

Worthington Armstrong Venture ("WAVE"), a 50%-owned joint venture with Armstrong World Industries, Inc., is one of the three leading global manufacturers of suspended ceiling systems for concealed and lay-in panel ceilings. WAVE operates facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, England, France, Spain and China.

TWB Company, L.L.C., a 33%-owned joint venture with Thyssen Krupp, Rouge Steel, LTV Steel and Bethlehem Steel produces laser-welded tailored blanks which the North American automotive industry uses in the production of products such as door inner panels, frame rails, and body side frames. TWB's two facilities are located in Monroe, Michigan and Saltillo, Mexico.

Acerex S.A. de C.V., a 50%-owned joint venture with Hylsa S.A. de C.V., is a steel processing company located in Monterrey, Mexico.

Worthington Specialty Processing, a 50%-owned joint venture with USX Corporation in Jackson, Michigan, operates primarily as a toll processor for USX Corporation.

Worthington Gastec a.s., a 51%-owned consolidated joint venture with a local Czech Republic entrepreneur, operates a pressure cylinder manufacturing facility in Hustopece, Czech Republic.

Spartan Steel Coating, L.L.C., a 52%-owned consolidated joint venture with Rouge Steel Company, operates a cold rolled hot dipped galvanizing facility in Monroe, Michigan.

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Worthington S.A., a 52%-owned consolidated joint venture with three Brazilian propane producers, operates a cylinder manufacturing facility in Itu, Brazil.

See "Note J - Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates" of the Company's Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Worthington's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders for additional information on the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

The Company's manufacturing facilities, generally in common with those of similar industries making similar products, are subject to many federal, state and local requirements relating to the protection of the environment. The Company continually examines ways to reduce emissions and waste and to effect cost savings related to environmental compliance. Management does not anticipate that capital expenditures for environmental control facilities required in order to meet environmental requirements will be material when compared with the Company's overall capital expenditures and, accordingly, will not be material to its financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 2. - PROPERTIES

The Company's corporate offices are located in Columbus, Ohio. Its principal properties consist of 40 manufacturing facilities, excluding those of unconsolidated joint ventures. These facilities are well maintained and in good operating condition. The Company's manufacturing facilities contain in excess of 9,000,000 sq. ft. in the aggregate and are adequate to meet the Company's present needs.

The locations of these facilities, as well as the Company's joint ventures, are set forth on page 33 of the Company's 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

See "Item 1 - Business - Processed Steel Products," "- Metal Framing," and "- Pressure Cylinders" for further discussion on properties owned within particular segments.

ITEM 3. - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business are pending against the Company. None of the litigation pending against the Company, individually or collectively, is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

ITEM 4. - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table lists the names, positions held, and ages of all executive officers of the Registrant:

                                                                                                      PRESENT OFFICE HELD
       NAME                          AGE      POSITIONS WITH THE REGISTRANT                                  SINCE
       ----                          ---      -----------------------------                                  -----
John H. McConnell                    77       Chairman Emeritus & Founder                                     1996
John P. McConnell                    46       Chairman & Chief Executive Officer                              1996
John S. Christie                     50       President & Chief Operating Officer                             1999
Edward A. Ferkany                    63       Executive Vice President                                        1998
John T. Baldwin                      43       Vice President & Chief Financial Officer                        1998
Dale T. Brinkman                     47       Vice President-Administration, General Counsel &                1998
                                              Assistant Secretary
Ralph V. Roberts                     53       President, The Worthington Steel Company                        1998
Mark H. Stier                        53       Vice President-Human Resources                                  1997
Richard G. Welch                     42       Controller                                                      2000
Gregory P. Youngblood                41       Treasurer                                                       1999

John H. McConnell founded Worthington in 1955 and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors until May 1993. Mr. McConnell retired from the position of Chief Executive Officer in May 1993 and as Chairman of the Board in September 1996, when he assumed the role of Chairman Emeritus and Founder. John H. McConnell is John P. McConnell's father.

John P. McConnell has served as Worthington's Chief Executive Officer since June 1993 and Chairman of the Board of Directors since September 1996. Mr. McConnell has served as a Director continuously since 1990 and as Vice Chairman of Worthington from 1992 through 1996. John P. McConnell is John H. McConnell's son.

John S. Christie has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Worthington since June 1999. Prior to that time, Mr. Christie served as President of JMAC, Inc., a private investment company, from 1995 through 1999. From 1988 through 1995, Mr. Christie served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for Battelle Memorial Institute, a non-profit research and development institute.

Edward A. Ferkany has served as Executive Vice President of Worthington since June 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Ferkany served as Group Vice President- Processed Steel for Worthington from 1985 through 1998.

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John T. Baldwin has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Worthington since December 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Baldwin served as Worthington's Treasurer since September 1997. Before joining Worthington, Mr. Baldwin served as Assistant Treasurer of Tenneco, Inc. from 1994 through September 1997.

Dale T. Brinkman has served as Vice President-Administration, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Worthington since December 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Brinkman served as Worthington's General Counsel and Assistant Secretary from 1982 through 1998.

Ralph V. Roberts has served as President, The Worthington Steel Company since June 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Roberts served as Worthington's Vice President-Corporate Development from June 1997 through May 1998, and as President of Worthington's WAVE joint venture from its formation in June 1992 through June 1997.

Mark H. Stier has served as Vice President-Human Resources of Worthington since August 1997. Prior to that time, Mr. Stier served for more than ten years as General Manager of Worthington's steel processing facility in Porter, Indiana.

Richard G. Welch has served as Controller of Worthington since March 2000 and, prior thereto, as Assistant Controller since September 1999. Prior to that time, Mr. Welch served in various accounting and financial reporting capacities with Time Warner Cable, a distributor of cable programming, including as Assistant Controller from March 1999 through September 1999 and as an accounting director from September 1990 through March 1999.

Gregory P. Youngblood has served as Treasurer since he joined Worthington in January 1999. Prior thereto, Mr. Youngblood served in various treasury capacities, including as Assistant Treasurer, for Cardinal Health, Inc., a healthcare products company from October 1995 through January 1999. Prior to October 1995, Mr. Youngblood served in various capacities for Lyondell Petrochemical Co., a chemical company, including Treasury Management Consultant, from 1994 through 1995.

Executive officers serve at the pleasure of the directors. John H. McConnell is the father of John P. McConnell. There are no other family relationships among the executive officers or directors of the Registrant. No arrangements or understandings exist pursuant to which any person has been, or is to be, selected as an executive officer.

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PART II

ITEM 5. - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

The information called for by this Item 5 is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Stock Trading, Price and Dividend Information" on page 3 of the Worthington Industries, Inc. 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders (the "2000 Annual Report").

ITEM 6. - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The information called for by this Item 6 is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Six Year Selected Financial Data" on page 4 of the 2000 Annual Report.

ITEM 7. - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information called for by this Item 7 is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" on pages 5 through 11 of the 2000 Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with the information incorporated by reference into Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

ITEM 7A. - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information called for by this Item 7A is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" on page 11 of the 2000 Annual Report.

ITEM 8. - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The following Consolidated Financial Statements of Worthington Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Report of Independent Auditors, set forth on pages 12 through 17, 18 through 30 and 32, respectively, of the 2000 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference:

Consolidated Balance Sheets--May 31, 2000 and 1999 Consolidated Statements of Earnings--Years ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity--Years ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows--Years ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Auditors

ITEM 9. - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

In accordance with General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, the information required by this Item 10 with respect to the identification of directors is incorporated herein by reference to the material under the heading "PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS" contained on pages 3 through 7 of the Worthington Industries, Inc. definitive Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement") for the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 28, 2000. The information regarding executive officers required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K is included in Part I hereof under the heading "Executive Officers of the Company." No disclosure is required to be made under Item 405 of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 11. - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

In accordance with General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, the information required by this Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the information contained in the Proxy Statement under the headings "PROPOSAL 1:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS --Compensation of Directors" on page 6, "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION -- Summary of Cash and Other Compensation" on page 12, "--Option Grants" on page 14, "--Option Exercises and Holdings" on page 15, and "--Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards" on page 15.

ITEM 12. - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

In accordance with General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, the information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the material contained in the Proxy Statement under the headings "VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" on pages 2 and 3 and "PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS" contained on pages 3 through 7.

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ITEM 13. - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

In accordance with General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, the information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the biographical information for John H. McConnell and John P. McConnell under the heading "PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS" both contained on pages 4 and 5 of the Proxy Statement.

PART IV

ITEM 14. - EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

(a) (1) and (2) The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a separate section of this report--See "List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules" on page F-1 of this report.

(3) Listing of Exhibits--See "Index to Exhibits" beginning on page E-1 of this report. The index to exhibits specifically identifies each management contract or compensatory plan required to be filed as an Exhibit to this Form 10-K.

(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of fiscal 2000.

(c) Exhibits filed with this report are attached hereto.

(d) Financial Statement Schedules--The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a separate section of this report--See "List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules" on Page F-1.

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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.

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

Date:  August 29, 2000                 By:    /s/John P. McConnell
                                          --------------------------
                                              John P. McConnell
                                              Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

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 date indicated.

       SIGNATURE                    DATE                      TITLE
       ---------                    ----                      -----


/s/John P. McConnell           August 29, 2000       Director, Chairman &
---------------------------                          Chief Executive Officer
John P. McConnell

            *                           *            Director, Chairman Emeritus
---------------------------                          & Founder
John H. McConnell

            *                           *            Director, President &
---------------------------                          Chief Operating Officer
John S. Christie

s/John T. Baldwin              August 29, 2000       Vice President & Chief
---------------------------                          Financial Officer
John T. Baldwin

            *                           *            Director, Secretary
---------------------------
Charles D. Minor

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
John B. Blystone

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
Charles R. Carson

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
William S. Dietrich, II

                                       15

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
Michael J. Endres

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
John F. Havens

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
Peter Karmanos, Jr.

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
Robert B. McCurry

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
Gerald B. Mitchell

            *                           *            Director
---------------------------
Mary Fackler Schiavo


*By: /s/John P. McConnell                            Date:  August 29, 2000
    --------------------------------                      -----------------
     John P. McConnell
     Attorney-In-Fact

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ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
ITEM 14 (a) (1) AND (2) AND ITEM 14 (d)
WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The following Consolidated Financial Statements of Worthington Industries, Inc., and Subsidiaries, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Report of Independent Auditors, set forth on pages 12 through 17, 18 through 30 and page 32, respectively, of Worthington Industries, Inc.'s 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, are incorporated by reference in Item 8:

Consolidated Balance Sheets -- May 31, 2000 and 1999

Consolidated Statements of Earnings -- Years ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity -- Years ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- Years ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Auditors

The following consolidated financial statement schedules of Worthington Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries are included in Item 14 (d):

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted, or the required information is provided in the Consolidated Financial Statements of Worthington Industries, Inc. and its Subsidiaries or the Notes thereto.

F-1

SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 COL. A              COL.B                        COL.C                            COL.D                 COL.E
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Additions
                                                 -------------------------------------------
                                      Balance                                                                         Balance at
               DESCRIPTION        at Beginning    Charged to Costs      Charged to Other         Deductions             End of
                                   of Period       and Expenses       Accounts - Describe        -Describe              Period
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Year Ended May 31, 2000:

  Deducted from asset accounts:

    Allowance for possible
      losses on trade accounts
      receivable                    $4,209,000        $1,842,000            $ (409,000)(A)        $1,763,000 (B)        $3,879,000
                                 ==============  ================    ==================     =================    ==================



Year Ended May 31, 1999:

  Deducted from asset accounts:                                              $ 141,000 (C)
                                                                              (269,000)(D)
    Allowance for possible                                                     307,000 (A)
      losses on trade accounts                                       ------------------
      receivable                    $4,130,000          $291,000             $ 179,000              $391,000 (B)        $4,209,000
                                 ==============  ================    ==================     =================    ==================



Year Ended May 31, 1998:

  Deducted from asset accounts:

    Allowance for possible
      losses on trade accounts
      receivable                    $3,900,000        $1,099,000                    $0              $869,000 (B)        $4,130,000
                                 ==============  ================    ==================     =================    ==================

Note A - Miscellaneous amounts.
Note B - Uncollectible accounts charged to the allowance. Note C - Amount from Heiser acquisition. Note D - Amount from discontinued operations.

F-2

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

   Exhibit                    Description                                      Location
--------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
2               Agreement of Merger, dated as of August   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 of
                20, 1998, between Worthington             the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
                Industries, Inc., the Delaware            for the quarter ended August 31, 1998
                corporation, and Worthington
                Industries, Inc., the Ohio corporation.

3(a)            Amended Articles of Incorporation of      Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a)
                Worthington Industries, Inc.              of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
                                                          for the quarter ended August 31, 1998

3(b)            Code of Regulations of Worthington        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the
                Industries, Inc.                          Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                                                          the quarter ended August 31, 1998

4(a)            Form of Indenture dated as of May 15,     Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a)
                1996 between Worthington Industries,      of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                Inc. and PNC Bank, Ohio, National         for fiscal year ended May 31, 1997
                Association, as Trustee, relating to up
                to $450,000,000 of debt securities

4(b)            Form of 7-1/8% Notes due 2006             Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(b)
                                                          of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                          for fiscal year ended May 31, 1997

4(c)            First Supplemental Indenture, dated as    Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(c)
                of February 27, 1997 between              of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                Worthington Industries, Inc. and PNC      for fiscal year ended May 31, 1997
                Bank, Ohio, National Association, as
                Trustee

E-1

4(d)            Form of 7-1/4% Exchangeable Note Due      Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(d)
                March 1, 2000                             of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                          for fiscal year ended May 31, 1997

4(e)(i)         Second Amended and Restated Loan          Incorporated herein by referenced to Exhibit 4(e)
                Agreement, dated as of October 14,        of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                1998, between Worthington Industries,     for fiscal year ended May 31, 1999
                Inc., The Bank of Nova Scotia, PNC
                Bank, National Association,
                NationsBank, N.A., Wachovia Bank of
                Georgia, N.A., NBD Bank, Bank One, N.A.
                and National City Bank

4(e)(ii)        Amendment to Second Amended and           Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (4)
                Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of      of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
                August 13, 1999 between Worthington       for fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2000
                Industries, Inc., The Bank of Nova
                Scotia, PNC Bank, National Association
                Bank of America, N.A., Wachovia Bank,
                N.A., Bank One, Michigan, Bank One,
                N.A. and National City Bank

4(f)            Form of 6.7% Notes due 2009               Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(f)
                                                          of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                          for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998.

4(g)            Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as   Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(g)
                of December 12,1997, between              of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                Worthington Industries, Inc. and PNC      for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998
                Bank, Ohio, National Association, as
                Trustee

E-2

4(h)            Third Supplemental Indenture, dated       Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit  4(h)
                as of October 13, 1998, between           of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                Worthington Industries, Inc., a           for fiscal year ended May 31, 1999
                Delaware corporation, Worthington
                Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation,
                and PNC Bank, National Association

4(i)            Assignment and Assumption Agreement,      Incorporated herein by referenced to Exhibit 4(i)
                dated as of October 14, 1998, between     of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                Worthington Industries, Inc., a           for fiscal year ended May 31, 1999
                Delaware corporation, Worthington
                Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation,
                The Bank of Nova Scotia and PNC Bank,
                Ohio, National Association, as Agents.

4(j)            Agreement to furnish instruments          Filed herewith
                defining rights of holders of long-term
                debt

10(a)           Amended 1980 Stock Option Plan, as        Incorporated herein by reference to Annex B to
                amended*                                  the Prospectus filed as part of Post-Effective
                                                          Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration
                                                          Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 2-80094)

10(b)           1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended*       Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(b)
                                                          of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                          for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999

10(c)           Executive Deferred Compensation Plan,     Filed herewith
                as Amended and Restated

E-3

10(d)           Deferred Compensation Plan for            Filed herewith
                Directors, As Amended and Restated

10(e)           1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan*            Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)
                                                          of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                                          for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997

10(f)           Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation       Filed herewith
                Plan*

13              2000 Annual Report to Shareholders        Not deemed to be filed except for portions of
                                                          which are specifically incorporated by reference
                                                          in this Annual Report on Form 10-K

21              Subsidiaries of the Registrant            Filed herewith

23              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP              Filed herewith

24              Powers of Attorney                        Filed herewith

27              Financial Data Schedule                   Filed herewith

                *Management Compensation Plan

E-4

EXHIBIT 4(j)

Agreement to furnish instruments defining rights of holders of long-term debt

E-5

August 29, 2000

Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Re: Worthington Industries, Inc. - Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000

Gentlemen:

Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, is today executing and filing a Form 10-K, Annual Report for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 (the "Form 10-K").

Pursuant to the instructions relating to the Exhibits in Item 601 of Regulation S-K, Worthington Industries, Inc. hereby agrees to furnish to the Commission, upon request, copies of instruments and agreements defining the rights of holders of its long-term debt and of the long-term debt of its consolidated subsidiaries, which are not being filed as exhibits to the Form 10-K. Such long-term debt does not exceed 10% of the total assets of Worthington Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Very truly yours,

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

/s/ John T. Baldwin

John T. Baldwin
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Enclosures


EXHIBIT 10(c)

EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION
PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

E-6

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2000


Worthington Industries, Inc. established the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan"), effective March 1, 1983 to provide selected key employees of Worthington Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries with the option to defer the payment of a portion of their compensation. The Plan is amended and restated as follows, effective as of June 1, 2000.

ARTICLE I - INTRODUCTION

1.1 NAME AND ADOPTION OF PLAN.

Worthington Industries, Inc. (the "Company") has adopted this Worthington Industries Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). The Company also extends the Plan to any Company Subsidiary that adopts the Plan, subject to the terms described in Section 1.7.

1.2 PURPOSES OF PLAN.

The purposes of the Plan are to provide deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Employers.

1.3 "TOP HAT" PENSION BENEFIT PLAN.

The Plan is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(2). The Plan is maintained, however, for a select group of management or highly compensated employees and, therefore, is exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title 1 of ERISA. The Plan is not intended to qualify under Code Section 401(a).

1.4 PLAN UNFUNDED.

The Plan is unfunded. All benefits will be paid from Employers' general assets, which will continue to be subject to the claims of Employers' creditors as described in Section 11.6.

1.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.

The Plan initially became effective March 1, 1983. This amendment and restatement is effective as of June 1, 2000.

1.6 ADMINISTRATION.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

1

1.7. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS.

Any Company Subsidiary may become an Employer in the Plan upon mutual agreement between the Company and the Company Subsidiary. As a condition to becoming an Employer, each Company Subsidiary must
(a) designate the Committee as the entity responsible for Plan administration, (b) delegate to the Company, the Committee and the Executive Committee all power and authority to interpret, amend or terminate the Plan, as described in this document, and to discharge the duties and responsibilities described in Article VIII and (c) subject to Section 11.6, guarantee the payment of any Plan benefits accrued by its Employees under the Plan. An entity that ceases to be an Employer will nevertheless remain responsible for any liabilities arising from or attributable to periods during which it was an Employer.

ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

2.1 DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly requires a different meaning:

"ACCOUNT" means the bookkeeping account maintained by the Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant to Article VI.

"BASE SALARY" means the base rate of cash compensation paid by the Employers to or for the benefit of a Participant for services rendered or labor performed after the Effective Date including base pay a Participant could have received in cash in lieu of deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1 and contributions made on his behalf to any qualified retirement or cafeteria plan maintained by the Employers for that Participant.

"BASE SALARY DEFERRAL" means the amount of a Participant's Base Salary which the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis from his Base Salary and credited to his Account pursuant to Section 4.1. However, no Participant may defer any portion of this Base Salary that is earned before the later of the Effective Date or the date that he files a properly completed Election Form with the Committee.

"BENEFICIARY" means the person or persons designated by the Participant in accordance with Section 7.2.

"BONUS COMPENSATION" means (a) sales commissions and (b) the amount awarded to a Participant for a Fiscal Quarter under the

2

Employer's Executive Bonus Plan, Cash Profit Sharing Plan or a similar plan, including any amount the Participant could have received under such plan in cash in lieu of deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1 and contributions made on his behalf to any qualified retirement or cafeteria plan maintained by the Employer for the Participant.

"BONUS DEFERRAL" means the amount of a Participant's Bonus Compensation which the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis from his Bonus Compensation and credited to his account pursuant to Section
4.1. However, no Participant may defer any portion of his Bonus Compensation that is established before the later of the Effective Date or the date that he files an Election Form.

"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto, together with the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder.

"COMMITTEE" means the committee appointed to administer the Plan in accordance with Article VIII.

"COMPANY" means Worthington Industries, Inc. and any successor thereto.

"COMPANY SUBSIDIARY" means any entity which is (i) at least 100% owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, and (ii) any other entity which is at least 30% owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and which is designated as a Company Subsidiary for purposes of this Plan by the Committee. Indirect ownership will be determined by applying rules issued under Treas. Reg. Section 1.414(c)(4).

"DEFERRAL DATE" means (a) with respect to amounts attributable to Base Salary and Bonus Deferrals, the earlier of (i) the Deferral Date selected by the Participant in the Election Form, which date must be at least one year after the end of the Quarter with respect to which the payment would otherwise be made, or (ii) the date of the Participant's death, and (b) unless the Employer selects a different Deferral Date with respect to amounts attributable to Employer Contributions at the time such contributions are made, the later of (i) the date the Participant reaches age 62 or (ii) the date the Participant ceases to be an Employee. To the extent provided in Section 7.3, the Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, (A) to accelerate a Participant's Deferral Date to the earlier of the date the participant
(i) ceases to be an Employee of any Employer or (ii) turns age 70, and (B) to set other parameters on the Deferral Dates which it believes are appropriate.

3

"DEFERRALS" means Base Salary Deferrals, Bonus Deferrals and Employer Contributors.

"DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

"EFFECTIVE DATE" means March 1, 1983, with respect to the Plan and June 1, 2000 with respect to this amendment and restatement.

"ELECTION FORM" means the written agreement (in the form attached to this document) entered into between the Participant and his Employer pursuant to which the Participant designates his Beneficiary and elects the amount of his Base Salary and/or his Bonus Compensation to be deferred into the Plan, the Deferral Date, the deemed investment and/or the form of payment for such amounts. Although a copy of the Election Form is attached to this document, it is not part of the Plan and may be changed by the Committee at any time.

"EMPLOYEE" means any common-law employee of an Employer.

"EMPLOYER" means the Company or a Company Subsidiary which has become a participating Employer in the Plan. A Company Subsidiary shall cease to be an Employer at such time as agreed between the Company and the Company Subsidiary or, if earlier, the date an Employer ceases to be a Company Subsidiary.

"EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION" means the amount, as determined by each Employer, credited by the Committee to the Account of a Participant as an Employer Contribution. Such amounts may vary by individual Participant at the sole discretion of the Employer.

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

"EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE" means the Executive Committee of the Directors.

"FISCAL QUARTER" means any fiscal quarter of the Company (currently the three month periods ending on the last day of August, November, February, and May).

"401(k) PLAN" means the Worthington Industries Deferred Profit Sharing Plan, as amended and restated.

"PARTICIPANT" means each Employee who has been selected for participation the Plan and who has become a Participant pursuant to Article III.

4

"PLAN" means this Worthington Industries Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.

"PLAN YEAR" means the twelve consecutive month period commencing January 1 of each year-end ending on December 31. The first Plan Year shall begin on the Effective Date and end the following December 31.

"POST EMPLOYMENT RATE" means the rate of interest established by the Committee from time to time as the Post Employment Rate which shall be the interest paid on Accounts after the Participant ceases employment with the Employers.

2.2 NUMBER AND GENDER.

Wherever appropriate herein, words used in the singular shall be considered to include the plural and words used in the plural shall be considered to include the singular. The masculine gender, where appearing in the Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender.

2.3 HEADINGS.

The headings of Articles and Sections herein are included solely for convenience, and if there is any conflict between such headings and the rest of the Plan, the text shall control.

ARTICLE III - PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY

3.1 PARTICIPATION.

Participants in the Plan are those Employees who are both (a) members of a select group of highly compensated or management Employees of their Employer, as determined by the Committee, and (b) selected by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be Participants. The Committee shall notify each Participant of his selection as a Participant and the time his participation may start. A Participant shall remain eligible to continue participation in the Plan until his participation ceases as set forth below in Section 3.3.

3.2 COMMENCEMENT OF PARTICIPATION.

An Employee may commence participation in the Plan on the later of the date (i) the Committee approves his participation or (ii) with respect to Base Salary and Bonus Deferrals, he returns to the Committee a properly completed Election Form. However, neither the Company, the Employer, the Committee, the Plan nor any other person shall be liable to any

5

person if the Committee inadvertently fails to notify him of his eligibility to be a Participant.

3.3 CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, an individual who has become a Participant in the Plan shall cease to be a Participant hereunder effective as of the earlier of the date he (a) dies, (b) otherwise ceases to be an Employee of at least one of the Employers,
(c) ceases to be a member of his Employer's select group of highly compensated or management employees but remains an Employee of any Employer, (d) any date designated by the Committee or (e) his Employer ceases to be a Company Subsidiary or an Employer (but only if he is then an Employee of the affected Employer). The Committee will notify a Participant if he is no longer eligible to be a Participant. A person who has ceased to actively participate in the Plan as described in this
Section but who also remains an Employee, will continue to be entitled to all rights and benefits (and subject to all limitations) described in the Plan other than the right to make additional Base Salary or Bonus Deferrals or to receive additional Employer Contributions.

ARTICLE IV - DEFERRALS

4.1 DEFERRALS BY PARTICIPANT.

Any Participant who desires to defer any portion of his Bonus Compensation and/or his Base Salary must complete and deliver to the Committee an Election Form in the form attached as Exhibit A, or in such other form as the Committee may prescribe. The Election Form with respect to Bonus Compensation must be filed prior to the date the amount of the Bonus is established or at such other time established by the Committee but in no case later than the last day of the second month of each Fiscal Quarter. An Election Form with respect to Base Salary must be filed at least by the 15th day of the month prior to the beginning of the Plan Year, as to which the election relates (or such greater or lesser period prior to such date as the Committee establishes for purposes of administrative convenience) and will relate only to Base Salary earned after the date the Committee receives the Participant's properly completed Election Form. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Base Salary Deferrals may be discontinued at any time by filing a new Election Form, such discontinuance to become effective as of the first day of the next Plan Year. Under no circumstances may a Participant's Deferral Election be made, modified or revoked retroactively. Once made, an Election Form will continue in effect until it is revoked or modified, subject to the

6

limitations described above, even if a Participant transfers his employment between Employers.

The Committee, in its discretion, may set limits on the amount of Base Salary and/or Bonus Compensation that may be deferred under the Plan.

4.2 TIME OF CREDIT OF DEFERRALS.

Bonus Deferrals and Base Salary Deferrals shall be credited to the Account of each Participant at the same time as the Base Salary or Bonus Compensation would have otherwise been paid; provided that a Participant whose participation terminates (as described in Section 3.3) before such Deferred Compensation is credited to his Account will have the amounts deferred but not credited, paid to him in cash, without interest, as soon as reasonably possible after the date his participation ceases.

4.3 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.

The Employer may determine, in its sole discretion, to make Employer Contributions for any Participant or Participants as it elects. The amount of any Employer Contribution to be made for any Participant shall be determined in such manner as his Employer shall, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate and may be a different amount (or no amount) for each Plan Year and for each Participant. Employer Contributions shall be in the form of a credit to the Participant's Account.

4.4 TIMING OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.

Employer Contributions will be credited to the Participant's Account as of the date specified by the Employer or, if no date is specified, as soon as administratively practical after they are declared.

A Participant shall be notified within a reasonable time of any Employer Contribution to be made on his behalf under the Plan.

4.5 VESTING.

A Participant shall be fully vested in his Account at all times except to the extent that the Employer establishes a deferred vesting schedule to apply to Employer Contributions made on or after the time the deferred vesting schedule is established.

7

ARTICLE V - EARNINGS

5.1 EARNINGS AND INVESTMENT.

Amounts credited to a Participant's Account shall be credited with earnings and losses based on hypothetical investment directions made (or deemed to be made) by the Participant in accordance with investment options and procedures adopted and amended by the Committee from time to time. Any amounts credited to a Participant's Account to which a Participant does not provide investment direction (or as to which no direction is permitted) shall be credited with earnings as if the Participant shall have elected the investment option provided for in the Plan or determined from time to time by the Committee for cases where no investment option is made. A Participant's Account shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect investment gains and losses. The Committee retains the right to change, amend or eliminate investment options and procedures as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

5.2 EARNINGS AFTER CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION.

If the amount in a Participant's Account is to be paid in installments, the amount remaining unpaid after the first installment shall bear interest from the Deferral Date at the Post Employment Rate and no other investment options shall be available.

If a former Participant who is no longer an Employee (or is employed by an entity that ceases to be an Employer or a Company Subsidiary) still has an Account in the Plan, the amount in the Account shall be credited with interest at the Post Employment Rate.

ARTICLE VI - ACCOUNTS

6.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

The Committee will establish a separate bookkeeping account for each Participant. Such account shall be credited with the Base Salary Deferrals and Bonus Deferrals made by the Participant pursuant to
Section 4.1, and Employer Contributions made by the Employer pursuant to Section 4.3 and credited or charged, as the case may be with the hypothetical investment results determined pursuant to Article V and taxes described in Section 6.4.

6.2 SUBACCOUNTS.

Within each Participant's bookkeeping account, separate subaccounts shall be maintained to the extent necessary for the administration of the

8

Plan. For example, it may be necessary to maintain separate subaccounts where the Participant has specified different Deferral Dates, methods of payment or investment directions. Also, the Committee will separately account for amounts credited for each Participant while the Participant was an Employee of each Employer and will use this subaccount to account for Base Salary and Bonus Deferrals and Employer Contributions (and attributable earnings, losses and taxes described in
Section 6.4) attributable to the Participant's employment with each Employer.

6.3 HYPOTHETICAL NATURE OF ACCOUNTS.

The Accounts (or subaccounts) established under this Article VI shall be hypothetical in nature and shall be maintained for bookkeeping purposes only, so that earnings and losses on the Base Salary Deferrals, Bonus Deferrals and Employer Contributions made to the Plan can be credited (or charged, as the case may be). Neither the Plan nor any of the Accounts (or subaccounts) established hereunder shall hold any actual funds or assets. The right of any person to receive one or more payments under the Plan shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Employer for whom the Participant was an Employee when the Deferral (including attributable earnings and losses) was credited. Any liability of the Company, any Employer, the Committee or any other person to any Participant, former Participant, or Beneficiary with respect to a right to payment shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by the Plan. Neither the Employers, their directors, officers or employees, nor any other person shall be deemed to be a trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any amounts to be paid under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between any Employer and a Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary, or any other Person.

6.4 REDUCTION FOR TAXES

(a) If any taxing authority establishes that any Participant is in constructive receipt of any portion of his Account, the Committee may, in its discretion, distribute to the Participant all or any portion of the amount subject to that determination, reduced by the amount of any taxes imposed as a result of that determination.

(b) Any employment or other taxes (such as wage taxes) that are imposed on Base Salary or Bonus Deferrals or Employer Contributions when those amounts are credited to a Participant's Account will be assessed against the affected Participant's other compensation or

9

deducted from the Participant's Account to the extent his other compensation is not sufficient to pay those taxes.

ARTICLE VII - PAYMENT OF ACCOUNT

7.1 DISTRIBUTION AFTER DEFERRAL DATE

(a) TIME OF DISTRIBUTION. DISTRIBUTION OF THAT PORTION OF A PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT WHICH IS NOT PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PLAN SHALL BE MADE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE FOLLOWING THE DEFERRAL DATE FOR SUCH AMOUNTS, AND IN ANY EVENT NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31 OF THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE DEFERRAL DATE.

(b) FORM OF PAYMENT OR PAYMENTS. A PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT BALANCE SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORM OF PAYMENT ELECTED BY THE PARTICIPANT ON THE ELECTION FORM TO WHICH SUCH AMOUNTS RELATE. THE FORM OF PAYMENT WITH RESPECT TO AMOUNTS AND THE EARNINGS CREDITED THEREON MAY BE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

(i) A lump sum; or

(ii) Other methods that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may allow.

Installment payments, if permitted, shall be paid annually during January of each Plan Year. Each installment payment shall be determined by multiplying the Account balance by a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of remaining installment payments to be made to the Participant. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, total distribution of a Participant's account must be made by the date such Participant attains age 85.

10

(c) Changes to deferral date or form of payment. A participant may change (I) the form of payment of his account or (II) his deferral date by filing an amended election form; provided that such form must be received by the company no later than the earlier of (A) the end of the participant's tax year prior to the previously selected deferral date;
(B) 12 months prior to the previously Selected Deferred Date; or (C) such earlier date, if any, as set by the committee. notwithstanding the foregoing, a participant may not change his deferral date unless such change is approved by the committee, such approval to be within the total discretion of the committee. The committee may adopt such guidelines as it deems appropriate in order to assure that any change in the deferral date and the approvals by the committee are consistent with the code and the rules and interpretations thereunder.

7.2 DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DEATH

(a) Distribution on Death. Upon the Participant's death, the Participant's Account shall be distributed to the Participant's Beneficiary in one of the forms specified by the Participant from among those available under Section 7.1(b).

(b) Designation of Beneficiaries.

Each Participant shall have the right to designate the beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive payment of his benefit in the event of his death. A beneficiary designation shall be made by executing the beneficiary designation portion of the Election Form and filing the same with the Committee. Any such designation may be changed at any time by execution of a new beneficiary designation portion of the Election Form in accordance with this Section. If no such designation is on file with the Committee at the time of death of the Participant or such designation is not effective for any reason as determined by the Committee, then the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive such benefit shall be the Participant's surviving spouse, if any, or if none, the executor, personal representative, or administrator of the Participant's probate estate, or his heirs-at-law, if there is no administration of such Participant's probate estate.

7.3 ACCELERATION OF DEFERRAL DATE AND PAYMENT.

In the event a Participant ceases to be an Employee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to accelerate the Participant's Deferral Date to any date after he ceases to be an Employee, regardless of when the Participant's Deferral Date would otherwise occur. The Committee may also, in such case (and in the case of distributing death benefits under Section 7.2), accelerate the method of payment by shortening the number of installments selected by the Participant or by paying the Account in a

11

lump sum, such payment to be made or to commence within a reasonable period after the accelerated Deferral Date.

7.4 UNCLAIMED BENEFITS

In the case of a benefit payable on behalf of such Participant, if the Committee is unable to locate the Participant or beneficiary to whom such benefit is payable, such benefit may be forfeited to the Employer or Employers for whom the Participant was an Employee when the forfeited Deferral was credited to his Account, upon the Committee's determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent to any such forfeiture the Participant or Beneficiary to whom such benefit is payable makes a valid claim for such benefit, such forfeited benefit shall be paid by the Employer or Employers (or restored to the Plan by the Employer (without interest from the date it would have otherwise been paid) to whom the Account was initially forfeited. However, neither the Company any Employer, the Committee nor any other person is liable to restore any benefit forfeited under this Section to any other Employer.

7.5 HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS.

A Participant may apply in writing to the Committee for, and the Committee may permit, a hardship withdrawal of all or any part of a Participant's Account if the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that the Participant has incurred a severe financial hardship resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, as determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion. The amount that may be withdrawn shall be limited to the smaller of (i) the amount reasonably necessary to relieve the hardship or financial emergency upon which the request is based, plus the federal and state taxes due on the withdrawal, as determined by the Committee or (ii) the affected Participant's Account balance as of the most recent Valuation Date. The Committee may require a Participant who requests a hardship withdrawal to submit such evidence as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate to substantiate the circumstances upon which the request is based. If a condition qualifies as a hardship under this Section and under the
401(k) Plan, a Participant must first withdraw all funds from this Plan before he may file a hardship withdrawal application under the 401(k) Plan.

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ARTICLE VIII - ADMINISTRATION

8.1 COMMITTEE.

The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Executive Committee or the Directors. If no other Committee is so appointed, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Directors. The Committee shall be responsible for approving an Employer's designation of an Employee to be a Participant and for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions thereof. The Committee may delegate to others certain aspects of the management and operational responsibilities of the Plan including the employment of advisors and the delegation of ministerial duties to qualified individuals, provided that such delegation is in writing.

8.2 GENERAL POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION.

The Committee shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to enable it to carry out its administrative duties. Not in limitation, but in application of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the duty and power to interpret the Plan and determine all questions that may arise hereunder as to the status and rights of Employees, Participants, and Beneficiaries. The Committee may exercise the powers hereby granted in its sole and absolute discretion. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any actions taken by the Committee unless the member's action involves gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8.3 INDEMNIFICATION OF COMMITTEE.

The Company and all Employers shall indemnify the members of the Committee against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by them, and any liability, including any amounts paid in settlement with their approval, arising from their action or failure to act, except when the same is judicially determined to be attributable to their gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8.4 COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION.

The costs of administering the Plan shall be borne by each Employer (in proportion to number of their Employees who are Participants) unless and until a Participant receives written notice of the imposition of administrative costs, with such costs to begin with the next Plan Year. Such

13

costs may only be imposed prospectively and not retroactively for prior Plan Years. Such costs, if imposed, shall be charged against a Participant's Account and shall be uniform for all Plan Participants. Such costs shall not exceed standard fees for similarly designed non-qualified plans under administration by high quality third party administrators.

ARTICLE IX - DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS, CLAIMS
PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

9.1 CLAIMS

A person who believes that he is being denied a benefit to which he is entitled under the Plan (hereinafter referred to as a "Claimant") may file a written request for such benefit with the Committee, setting forth his claim. The request must be addressed to the Committee at the Company's then principal place of business.

9.2 CLAIM DECISION.

Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming within ninety (90) days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such period. The Committee may, however, extend the reply period for an additional ninety (90) days for reasonable cause.

If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall adopt a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth:

(1) The specific reason or reasons for such denial;

(2) The specific reference to pertinent provisions of the Plan on which such denial is based;

(3) A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary.

(4) Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review; and

(5) The time limits for requesting a review under Section 9.3 and for review under Section 9.4 hereof.

9.3 REQUEST FOR REVIEW.

Within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Claimant of the written opinion described above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Executive Committee review the determination of the Committee. Such request must be addressed to the Executive Committee, at the Company's then

14

principal place of business. The Claimant or his duly authorized representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Executive Committee. If the Claimant does not request a review of the Committee's determination by the Executive Committee within such sixty
(60) day period, he shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Committee's determination.

9.4 REVIEW OF DECISION

Within sixty (60) days after the receipt of a request for review, the Executive Committee will review the determination rendered by the Committee. After considering all materials presented by the Claimant, the Executive Committee will render a written opinion, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth the specific reasons for the decision and containing specific references to the pertinent provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based. If special circumstances require that the sixty (60) day time period be extended, the Executive Committee will so notify the Claimant and will render the decision as soon as possible, but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request for review.

                          ARTICLE X - CHANGE IN CONTROL

10.1     EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.


         (a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, but
         subject to the following sentence, in the event of a Change of Control
         that affects an Employer, the Deferral Date for each Participant who
         has an Account credited with any amounts attributable to Deferrals made
         while an Employee of that Employer shall be accelerated to the date of
         the Change of Control and the Accounts shall be paid out as of such
         date, but only to the extent of the portion of the Account attributable
         to Deferrals made while an Employee of that Employer. The provisions of
         this Section 10.1 shall not apply to any Change in Control when
         expressly provided otherwise by a three-fourths vote of the Whole Board
         of the affected Employer, but only if a majority of the members of the
         Board of Directors then in office and acting upon such matters shall be
         Continuing Directors.


         (b) The liability to pay any benefit that is not distributed in
         connection with a Change in Control (or to pay other costs and expenses
         reference in Section 1.7) will remain the liability of the Employer
         incurring the Change in Control.

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10.2 DEFINITIONS: For purposes of this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) A Change in Control shall have occurred (i) with respect to the Company when any "Person" (other than (A) the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or a Company Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan when acting in such capacity, or (C) any person who, on the Effective Date of the Plan, is an Affiliate of the Company and beneficially owning in excess of ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of the Company and the respective successors, executors, legal representatives, heirs and legal assigns of such person), alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes an Acquiring Person and (ii) with respect to any Employer other than the Company, when it no longer meets the definition of Company Subsidiary. The occurrence of a Change in Control will be determined separately with respect to the Company and each Employer.

(b) "Acquiring Person" means any "Person" (i.e., any individual, firm, corporation or other entity) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates, has acquired or obtained the right to acquire the beneficial ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company's Shares then outstanding.

(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision.

(d) "Continuing Director" means any person who was a member of the Employer's board of directors on the Effective Date of the Plan or thereafter elected by the shareholders or appointed by the Employer's board of directors prior to the date as of which the Acquiring Person became a Substantial Shareholder (as such term is defined in Article Seventh of the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation) or, a person designated (before his initial election or employment as a director) as a Continuing Director by three-fourths of the Employer's Whole Board, but only if a majority of the Whole Board shall then consist of Continuing Directors.

(e) "Whole Board" means the total number of directors which the Employer would have if there were no vacancies.

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ARTICLE XI - MISCELLANEOUS

11.1     PLAN NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.


         The adoption and maintenance of the Plan shall not be deemed to be a
         contract of employment between any Employer and any person or to be a
         commitment for the employment of any person. Nothing herein contained
         shall be deemed to give any person the right to be retained in the
         employ of any Employer or to restrict the right of any Employer to
         discharge any person at any time; nor shall the Plan be deemed to give
         any Employer the right to require any person to remain in the employ of
         any Employer or to restrict any person's right to terminate his
         employment at any time.


11.2     NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF BENEFITS.


         No Participant, Beneficiary or distributee of benefits under the Plan
         shall have any power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate,
         hypothecate or otherwise encumber any part or all of the amounts
         payable hereunder, which are expressly declared to be unassignable and
         non-transferable. Any such attempted assignment or transfer shall be
         void. No amount payable hereunder shall, prior to actual payment
         hereof, be subject to seizure by any creditor of any such Participant,
         Beneficiary or other distributee for the payment of any debt, judgment,
         or other obligation, by a proceeding at law or in equity, nor
         transferable by operation of law in the event of the bankruptcy,
         insolvency or death of such Participant, Beneficiary or other
         distributee hereunder.


11.3     WITHHOLDING.


         All deferrals and payments provided for hereunder shall be subject to
         applicable withholding and other deductions as shall be required of the
         Employers under any applicable local, state or federal law.


11.4     AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.


         The Directors may from time to time, in its discretion, amend, in whole
         or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan; provided,
         however, that no amendment may be made which would impair the rights of
         a Participant with respect to amounts already allocated to his Account
         (unless the affected Participant consents in writing to the application
         of that amendment), but this provision shall not be read to restrict
         the authority of the Directors or the Executive Committee or the
         Committee to change or limit investment options. The Directors or the
         Executive Committee may terminate the Plan at any time. Unless the
         Directors or the Executive Committee determines otherwise, in the event
         that the Plan is terminated,

                                       17

         the balance in a Participant's Account shall be paid to such
         Participant or his Beneficiary in a single lump sum, determined as of
         the most recent Valuation Date, in full satisfaction of all such
         Participant's or Beneficiary's benefits hereunder. Any such amendment
         to or termination of the Plan shall be in writing and signed by a
         member of the Executive Committee or an Officer of the Company and will
         bind each Employer without separate action.


11.5     NO TRUST CREATED.


         Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its
         provisions by either party hereto, shall create, nor be construed to
         create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
         Company or any Employer and the Participant, his Beneficiary, or any
         other person. The Company may establish a "grantor trust" (so-called
         "Rabbi Trust") under federal income tax law to aid in meeting the
         obligations created under this Plan, but the Company intends that the
         assets of any such trust will at all times remain subject to the claims
         of the Employers' general creditors (to the extent of the amounts
         credited for a Participant while he was an Employee of that Employer),
         and that the existence of any such trust will not alter the
         characterization of the Plan as "unfunded" for purposes of ERISA, and
         will not be construed to provide income to any Participant prior to
         actual payment under this Plan.


11.6     UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR STATUS OF EMPLOYEE.


         The payments to Participant, his Beneficiary or any other distributee
         hereunder shall be made from assets which shall continue, for all
         purposes, to be a part of the general, unrestricted assets of the
         Employer for whom the Participant was an Employee when the Deferral to
         which the claim relates was credited to the claiming Participant's
         Account; no person shall have or acquire any interest in any such
         assets by virtue of the provisions of this Plan. The obligation
         hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in
         the future. To the extent that the Participant, a Beneficiary, or other
         distributee acquires a right to receive payments from the Plan under
         the provisions hereof, such right shall be no greater than the right of
         any unsecured general creditor of the Employer for whom the Participant
         was an Employee when the Deferral to which the claim relates was
         credited to the claiming Participant's Account; no such person shall
         have nor require any legal or equitable right, interest or claim in or
         to any property or assets of any Employer.


         In the event that, in its discretion, the Employer purchases an
         insurance policy or policies insuring the life of the Participant(or
         any other property) to allow the Employer to recover the cost of
         providing the benefits, in whole, or in part, hereunder, neither the
         Participant, his Beneficiary or

18

         other distributee shall have nor acquire any rights whatsoever therein
         or in the proceeds therefrom. The Employer shall be the sole owner and
         beneficiary of any such policy or policies and, as such, shall possess
         and may exercise all incidents of ownership therein. Except to the
         extent the Company may establish a Rabbi Trust as described in Section
         11.5, no such policy, policies or other property shall be held in any
         trust for a Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee or held as
         collateral security for any obligation hereunder. The existence of any
         such Rabbi Trust does not give a Participant, Beneficiary or other
         distributee, any interest, direct or beneficial, in any policy,
         policies or other property held in such a trust. A Participant's
         participation in the underwriting or other steps necessary to acquire
         such policy or policies may be required by the Committee and, if
         required, shall not be a suggestion of any beneficial interest in such
         policy or policies to a Participant.

11.7     SEVERABILITY.


         If any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal for any reason,
         said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions
         hereof; instead, each provision shall be fully severable and the Plan
         shall be constructed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid
         provision had never been included herein.


11.8     BINDING EFFECT.


         This Plan shall be binding on each Participant and his heirs and legal
         representatives and on the Company and each Employer and its successors
         and assigns.


11.9     GOVERNING LAWS.


         All provisions of the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the
         laws of Ohio, except to the extent preempted by federal law.


11.10    ENTIRE AGREEMENT.


         This document and any amendments contain all the terms and provisions
         of the Plan and shall constitute the entire Plan, any other alleged
         terms or provisions being of no effect.


                ARTICLE XII - DEFERRALS ON OR AFTER JUNE 1, 2000

12.1     DEFERRALS ON OR AFTER JUNE 1, 2000.


         Unless the Committee otherwise determines, all Deferrals for periods
         beginning on or after June 1, 2000 by or for Employees who participate
         in both this Plan and the Worthington Industries, Inc. Non-Qualified
         Deferred

                                       19

         Compensation Plan shall be made under the Non-Qualified Deferred
         Compensation Plan.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan, as amended and

restated, to be executed as of June 1, 2000.

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:      /s/ John P. McConnell
Title:   Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

20

EXHIBIT 10(d)

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
FOR DIRECTORS, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

E-7

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2000

Section 1. PURPOSE

Worthington Industries, Inc. has established this deferred compensation plan to provide the Directors of Worthington Industries, Inc. with the option to defer the payment of their Directors' Fees. The Plan as originally adopted became effective as to Directors' Fees which were paid with respect to any Quarter beginning after February 28, 1983. This amendment and restatement is effective June 1, 2000.

Section 2. DEFINITIONS.

2.1 "Beneficiary" shall mean the person designated by a Participant in accordance with the Plan to receive payment of any remaining balance in his Deferred Compensation Account in the event of the Participant's death.

2.2 "Book Value" of the Common Shares shall mean the value of each Common Share as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Company, as reflected on its published financial statements (with such adjustments as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 5.3).

2.3 "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.4 "Committee" shall mean the committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to administer the Plan. If no committee is specifically named by the Board of Directors to administer the Plan, the "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.6 "Common Shares" shall mean the Common Shares of the Company.

2.7 "Company" shall mean Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, its corporate successors and the surviving corporation resulting from any merger or acquisition of Worthington Industries, Inc. with or by any corporation or corporations.

2.8 "Date of Deferral" shall mean the date to which payment of the Participant's Directors Fees is deferred in accordance with this Plan. Subject to the terms of the following sentence, the Date of Deferral shall be the earlier of (i) the date selected by the Participant in the Election Agreement, which date must be at least one year after the end of the Year with respect to which the payment would otherwise be made, or (ii) the date of the Participant's death. To the extent provided in Section 6.1(b), the Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to accelerate a

1

Participant's Date of Deferral to the date the Participant ceases to be a Director. In no event shall a Participant's Date of Deferral extend beyond the later of his 70th birthday or the date he ceases to be a Director.

2.9 "Deferred Compensation Account" shall mean the bookkeeping account on which the amount of Directors Fees that is deferred by a Participant shall be recorded and credited with dividends and interest in accordance with the Plan.

2.10 "Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who is not an Employee of the Company.

2.11 "Directors Fees" shall mean fees owed to the Directors by the Company for their services as Directors including quarterly fees, board meeting fees, committee meeting fees and other similar fees, if any.

2.12 "Election Agreement" means the written agreement entered into between the Company and the Participant pursuant to which the Participant elects the amount of his Directors Fees to be deferred into the Plan, the Date of Deferral, the deemed investment and/or the form of payment for such amounts.

2.13  "Fair Market Value" of the Common Shares is defined in Section 5.2.

2.14  "Fixed Interest Rate" is defined in Section 5.2.

2.15  "Participant" shall mean any Director who has elected to defer payment of

all or any portion of his Directors Fees in accordance with the Plan and who still has an Account under the Plan.

2.16 The "Plan" shall mean the "Worthington Industries, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors" as set forth herein, as the same may be amended from time to time.

2.17 "Post Directorship Rate" is defined in Section 5.2.

2.18 "Quarter" shall mean any fiscal quarter of the Company, currently the three month periods ending the last day of August, November, February, and May.

2.19 "Theoretical FMV Shares" shall mean those hypothetical Common Shares computed and credited to the Deferred Compensation Account in accordance with the Plan, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares.

2.20 "Theoretical Shares" shall mean those hypothetical Common Shares computed and credited to the Deferred Compensation Account in accordance with the Plan, based on the Book Value of the Common Shares, for periods prior to June 1, 2000.

2

Section 3. ADMINISTRATION

3.1 POWER OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full power to construe and interpret the Plan, to establish and amend rules and regulations for administration of the Plan, and to take any and all actions necessary or desirable to effectuate or carry out the Plan.

The Committee may exercise the powers hereby granted in its sole and absolute discretion. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any actions taken by the Committee unless the member's action involves willful misconduct. The Committee may delegate to others certain aspects of the management and operational responsibilities of the Plan including the employment of advisors and the delegation of ministerial duties to qualified individuals.

3.2 ACTIONS FINAL.

All actions taken by the Committee under or with respect to the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith.

3.3 BOOKS AND RECORDS

The books and records to be maintained for the purpose of the Plan shall be maintained by the officers and employees of the Company at the Company's expense and subject to the supervision and control of the Committee.

3.4 ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE.

The Committee shall act by a majority of its members at the time in office, and such action may be taken either by vote at a meeting or in writing. If a Participant is serving as a member of the Committee, he shall not be entitled to vote on matters specifically relating to his rights under the Plan; provided, however, that this provision shall not prevent such person from voting on matters which, although they may affect his rights, relate to Participants in general.

Section 4. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

4.1 ELIGIBILITY

Any Director shall be eligible to become a Participant in the Plan. Participants are those Directors who elect to defer Directors Fees under the Plan. A Director's eligibility shall cease when he dies or otherwise, ceases to be a Director of the Company.

3

4.2 ELECTION TO DEFER

Any Director who desires to defer the payment of any portion of his Fees for any Quarter must complete and deliver to the Committee an Election Agreement (in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto or such other form as approved by the Committee) prior to the first day of the Quarter the deferral is to occur. A Director who timely delivers the Election Agreement to the Committee shall be a Participant. Each Election Agreement is irrevocable on or after the beginning of the Quarter to which it relates, but may be revoked or changed prior to the beginning of such Quarter.

4.3 THE ELECTION AGREEMENT

A Participant must designate on the Election Agreement (i) the portion of his Directors Fees he desires to defer for the Quarter, (ii) the Date of Deferral, and (iii) the method of payment of his deferred Fees. Payment of the amount deferred shall be made in accordance with Section 6. The Participant shall also designate the Investment Option selected for his Account in an Election Agreement.

4.4 SUB-ACCOUNTS

In the event a Participant makes different elections as to the method of payment or as to the time for commencement of payments with respect to Directors Fees deferred for different Quarters, for purposes of determining the amounts to be paid under each election, the Participant shall be treated as if he had a separate Deferred Compensation Sub-Account for Directors Fees deferred pursuant to the differing elections.

Section 5. DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNT

5.1 CREDITING FEES.

The Directors Fees which a Participant elects to defer shall be treated as if they were set aside in a Deferred Compensation Account on the date the Directors Fees would otherwise have been paid to the Participant.

5.2 INVESTMENT OPTIONS - GENERAL.

(a) Until changed by amendment, effective June 1, 2000, the investment options available under the Plan shall be as follows:

(i) Theoretical FMV Shares ("Theoretical FMV Shares") of Common Stock of Worthington Industries, Inc. ("Common Shares"); or

(ii) The Fixed Interest Rate.

(b) Theoretical FMV Shares.

4

If a Participant elects to have his Deferred Compensation Account invested in Theoretical FMV Shares, the amount to be invested, as of the date of investment, shall be divided by the then Fair Market Value of the Common Shares and the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited with the resulting number of Theoretical FMV Shares. The Deferred Compensation Account invested in Theoretical FMV Shares shall be credited with cash dividends on the Theoretical FMV Shares at the time and equal in amount to the cash dividends which would have been paid on the Theoretical FMV Shares if the had been issued and outstanding Common Shares on and after the date credited to the Participant's Account; and at such time the amount of cash dividends credited to the Participant's Account shall be divided by the then Fair Market Value of the Common Shares and the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall be credited with the resulting number of Theoretical FMV Shares.

"Fair Market Value of the Common Shares" shall be the closing price of the Common Shares as reported in The Wall Street Journal for the last date for which a closing price is given immediately prior to the date of valuation. If the Common Shares cease to be publicly traded so that a closing price is no longer consistently reported in The Wall Street Journal, the Committee shall select, in its discretion, an appropriate method for determining the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares.

The number and value of Theoretical FMV Shares in a Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall be equitably adjusted from time to time to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, conversions, or other changes in the Common Shares resulting from a change in the Company's capital structure.

(c) Fixed Interest Rate.

If a Participant elects to have his Deferred Compensation Account invested at the Fixed Interest Rate, his Deferred Compensation Account shall be invested at the Fixed Interest Rate.

The "Fixed Interest Rate" shall be the rate, for a Plan Year, set by the Committee no later than the November 30 prior to beginning of the Plan Year, based upon, as of the determination date, the greater of (i) the return provided by the Merrill Lynch Ready Asset Trust Market Fund as published in The Wall Street Journal, plus 200 basis points, or (ii) the average yield of the one year U.S. Treasury Notes as published in The Wall Street Journal plus 200 basis points.

For the Plan Year ending December 31, 2000, the Fixed Interest Rate shall be 8%.

5

The above notwithstanding, the Committee may amend the Post Directorship Rate quarterly based on market conditions.

(d) Rate After Directorship Ceases.

As of the earlier of the Date of Deferral of a Participant or the date the Participant ceases to be a Director, the investment of his Deferred Compensation Account shall automatically be converted to the Post-Directorship Rate regardless of any other election in effect for the then Participant. In addition, the Post-Directorship Rate shall be applied to any Deferred Compensation Account which is being paid out in installments.

The "Post Directorship Rate" shall be the rate, for a Plan Year, set by the Committee no later than the November 30 prior to beginning of the Plan Year, based upon, as of the determination date, the greater of (i) the return provided by the Merrill Lynch Ready Asset Trust Market Fund as published in The Wall Street Journal; or (ii) the average yield of the one year U.S. Treasury Notes as published in The Wall Street Journal.

For the Plan Year ending December 31, 2000 the Post-Employment Rate shall be 6%.

The above notwithstanding, the Committee may amend the Post Directorship Rate quarterly based on market conditions.

5.3 SELECTION OF INVESTMENT OPTION.

The Participant shall select the Investment Option for his Deferred Compensation Account in an Election Agreement. The Participant may change the investment option for his Deferred Compensation Account as of the first day of any Quarter by filing a new election agreement prior to such Quarter; provided that a Participant may not change the investment option as to amounts existing in his Account more often than once every six months. If a Participant does not select an Investment Option, the Fixed Interest Rate shall apply.

Section 6 PAYMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION.

6.1 GENERAL.

(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, the amount of the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid to the Participant, within a reasonable time after the Participant's Date of Deferral, in a lump sum or in a number of approximately equal annual installments (not more than 12), as designated by the Participant in his Election Agreement. A participant may, subject to approval by the Committee, change the designation of the method of payment or his Date of Deferral by filing an

6

amended Election Agreement; provided that such Agreement must be received by the Company no later than the earlier of (i) the end of the Participant's tax year prior to the previously selected Deferral Date;
(ii) 12 months prior to the previously selected Deferral Date. The above notwithstanding, the Committee may place such other restrictions on changes to a Participant's method of payment and Date of Deferral as it deems appropriate. All Accounts shall bear interest at the Post-Directorship Rate after the Date of Deferral.

(b) In the event a Participant ceases to be a Director for reasons other than death or retirement in accordance with the normal policies of the Company, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to accelerate the Participant's Date of Deferral to the date he ceases to be a Director, regardless of when the Participant's Date of Deferral would otherwise occur. If the Committee accelerates a Participant's Date of Deferral, the Committee may also require that the amount in his Deferred Compensation Account be paid in a lump sum or in fewer installments than the Participant elected.

6.2 DEATH.

(a) In the event of the death of a Participant, the amount of the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid to his Beneficiary, within a reasonable time after the Participant's death.

(b) Each Participant may name one or more Beneficiaries and may also name one or more contingent Beneficiaries by making a written designation in form acceptable to the Committee. A Participant's Beneficiary designation may be changed at any time prior to his death by execution and delivery of a new Beneficiary designation form. The Beneficiary designation on file with the Company at the time of the Participant's death which bears the latest date shall govern.

(c) Payments to a Beneficiary shall be made in a lump sum or in a number of approximately equal annual installments (not more than 12) as designated by the Participant in his Election Agreement. In the case of the Beneficiary of a Participant who is receiving installment payments at the time of his death, the number of annual installments may not exceed the annual installments remaining to be paid to the Participant. The above notwithstanding, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to accelerate the payment of the Deferred Compensation Account to a Beneficiary either by making payment in a lump sum or by decreasing the number of installments to be paid.

(d) If no Beneficiary has been designated or if no Beneficiary survives the Participant, the amount in the Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid in a lump sum to the Participant's estate.

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(e) If the Beneficiary dies after the death of the Participant, any amount otherwise payable to the Beneficiary shall be paid in a lump sum to the Beneficiary's estate.

6.3 HARDSHIP.

Upon the application of a Participant in the event of financial hardship resulting from a need to make extraordinary or emergency expenditures, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause the distribution to such Participant of an amount not exceeding the requirements of such Participant for such extraordinary or emergency expenditures. The Committee shall require such proper proof of financial hardship and such evidence of the requirements of a Participant for extraordinary or emergency expenditures as it may deem appropriate and the Committee's determination of financial hardship and of the requirements of a Participant for extraordinary or emergency expenditures shall be conclusive.

6.4 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, but subject to the following sentence, in the event of a Change of Control, the Date of Deferral for each Participant shall be accelerated to the date of the Change of Control and the Participant's Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid out as of such date in a lump sum. The provisions of this Section 6.4 shall not apply to any Change in Control when expressly provided otherwise by a three-fourths vote of the Whole Board, but only if a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office and acting upon such matters shall be Continuing Directors.

(b) For purposes of this Section 6.4, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(A) A Change in Control shall have occurred with respect to the Company when any Person (other than (i) the Company or any wholly-owned Company subsidiary, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Company Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan when acting in such capacity, or (iii) any Person who, on the Effective Date of the Plan, is an Affiliate of the Company and beneficially owning in excess of ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of the Company and the respective successors, executors, legal representatives, heirs and legal assigns of such person), alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes an Acquiring Person.

(B) "Acquiring Person" means any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates, has acquired or obtained the right to

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acquire the beneficial ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company's Shares then outstanding.

(C) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision.

(D) "Continuing Director" means any person who was a member of the Board of Directors on the Effective Date of the Plan or thereafter elected by the shareholders or appointed by the Company's Board of Directors prior to the date as of which the Acquiring Person became a Substantial Shareholder (as such term is defined in Article Seventh of the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation) or, a person designated (before his initial election or employment as a director) as a Continuing Director by three-fourths of the Employer's Whole Board, but only if a majority of the Whole Board shall then consist of Continuing Directors.

(E) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, or other entity.

(F) "Whole Board" means the total number of directors which the Company would have if there were no vacancies.

Section 7. AMENDMENTS.

The Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time amend, suspend or terminate any or all of the provisions of this Plan; provided that no such amendment, suspension, or termination shall adversely affect in any material respect any right of any Participant to receive any amount payable pursuant to the Plan (unless the affected Participant consents in writing to the application of that amendment) but this provision shall not restrict the authority of the Board of Directors to change or limit investment options.

Section 8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

8.1 NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF BENEFITS.

No Participant, Beneficiary or distributee of benefits under the Plan shall have any power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any part or all of the amounts payable hereunder, which are expressly declared to be unassignable and non-transferable. Any such attempted assignment or transfer shall be void. No amount payable hereunder shall, prior to actual payment hereof, be subject to seizure by any creditor of any such Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee for the payment of any debt, judgment, or other obligation, by a

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proceeding at law or in equity, nor transferable by operation of law in the event of the bankruptcy, insolvency or death of such Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee hereunder.

8.2 WITHHOLDING.

All deferrals and payments provided for hereunder shall be subject to applicable withholding and other deductions as shall be required of the Company under any applicable local, state or federal law.

8.3 NO TRUST CREATED.

Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions by either party hereto, shall create, nor be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and the Participant, his Beneficiary, or any other person. The Company may establish a "grantor trust" (so-called "Rabbi Trust") under federal income tax law to aid in meeting the obligations created under this Plan, but the Company intends that the assets of any such trust will at all times remain subject to the claims of the Employers' general creditors (to the extent of the amounts credited for a Participant while he was an Employee of that Employer), and that the existence of any such trust will not alter the characterization of the Plan as "unfunded" for purposes of ERISA, and will not be construed to provide income to any Participant prior to actual payment under this Plan.

8.4 UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR STATUS OF EMPLOYEE.

The payments to Participant, his Beneficiary or any other distributee hereunder shall be made from assets which shall continue, for all purposes, to be a part of the general, unrestricted assets of the Company; no person shall have or acquire any interest in any such assets by virtue of the provisions of this Plan. The obligation hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future. To the extent that the Participant, a Beneficiary, or other distributee acquires a right to receive payments from the Plan under the provisions hereof, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company . No such person shall have nor require any legal or equitable right, interest or claim in or to any property or assets of any Company.

In the event that, in its discretion, the Company purchases an insurance policy or policies insuring the life of the Participant(or any other property) to allow the Company to recover the cost of providing the benefits, in whole, or in part, hereunder, neither the Participant, his Beneficiary or other distributee shall have nor acquire any rights whatsoever therein or in the proceeds therefrom. The Company shall be the sole owner and beneficiary of any such policy or policies and, as such, shall possess and may exercise all incidents of ownership therein. Except to the extent the Company may establish a Rabbi Trust as described in
Section 8.3, no such policy, policies or other property shall be held in any trust for a Participant,

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Beneficiary or other distributee or held as collateral security for any obligation hereunder. The existence of any such Rabbi Trust does not give a Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee, any interest, direct or beneficial, in any policy, policies or other property held in such a trust. A Participant's participation in the underwriting or other steps necessary to acquire such policy or policies may be required by the Committee and, if required, shall not be a suggestion of any beneficial interest in such policy or policies to a Participant.

8.5 BINDING EFFECT.

This Plan shall be binding one each Participant and his heirs and legal representatives and on the Company and its successors and assigns.

8.6 GOVERNING LAWS.

All provisions of the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Ohio, except to the extent pre-empted by federal law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be executed as of June 1, 2000.

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:   /s/ John P. McConnell


Its:  Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

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EXHIBIT 10(f)

NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

E-8

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

NON-QUALIFIED

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE I - INTRODUCTION

1.1 NAME AND ADOPTION OF PLAN.

Worthington Industries, Inc. (the "Company") hereby adopts this Worthington Industries Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). The Company also extends the Plan to any Company Subsidiary that adopts the Plan, subject to the terms described in Section 1.7.

1.2 PURPOSES OF PLAN.

The purposes of the Plan are to provide deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Employers.

1.3 "TOP HAT" PENSION BENEFIT PLAN.

The Plan is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of ERISA
Section 3(2). The Plan is maintained, however, for a select group of management or highly compensated employees and, therefore, is exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title 1 of ERISA. The Plan is not intended to qualify under Code Section 401(a).

1.4 PLAN UNFUNDED.

The Plan is unfunded. All benefits will be paid from Employers' general assets, which will continue to be subject to the claims of Employers' creditors as described in Section 11.6.

1.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.

The Plan shall become effective March 1, 2000. Bonus Deferrals may be made for Fiscal Quarters beginning on or after March 1, 2000. Base Salary Deferrals may be made for pay periods beginning on or after March 1, 2000.

1.6 ADMINISTRATION.

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

1.7. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS.

Any Company Subsidiary may become an Employer in the Plan upon mutual agreement between the Company and the Company Subsidiary. As a condition to becoming an Employer, each Company Subsidiary must (a) designate the Committee as the entity responsible for Plan

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administration, (b) delegate to the Company, the Committee and the Executive Committee all power and authority to interpret, amend or terminate the Plan, as described in this document, and to discharge the duties and responsibilities described in Article VIII and (c) subject to
Section 11.6, guarantee the payment of any Plan benefits accrued by its Employees under the Plan. An entity that ceases to be an Employer will nevertheless remain responsible for any liabilities arising from or attributable to periods during which it was an Employer.

ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

2.1 DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly requires a different meaning:

"ACCOUNT" means the bookkeeping account maintained by the Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant to Article VI.

"BASE SALARY" means the base rate of cash compensation paid by the Employers to or for the benefit of a Participant for services rendered or labor performed after the Effective Date including base pay a Participant could have received in cash in lieu of deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1 and contributions made on his behalf to any qualified retirement or cafeteria plan maintained by the Employers for that Participant.

"BASE SALARY DEFERRAL" means the amount of a Participant's Base Salary which the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis from his Base Salary and credited to his Account pursuant to Section 4.1. However, no Participant may defer any portion of this Base Salary that is earned before the later of the Effective Date or the date that he files a properly completed Election Form with the Committee.

"BENEFICIARY" means the person or persons designated by the Participant in accordance with Section 7.2.

"BONUS COMPENSATION" means (a) sales commissions and (b) the amount awarded to a Participant for a Fiscal Quarter under the Employer's Executive Bonus Plan, Cash Profit Sharing Plan or a similar plan, including any amount the Participant could have received under such plan in cash in lieu of deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1 and contributions made on his behalf to any qualified retirement or cafeteria plan maintained by the Employer for the Participant.

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"BONUS DEFERRAL" means the amount of a Participant's Bonus Compensation which the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis from his Bonus Compensation and credited to his account pursuant to Section 4.1. However, no Participant may defer any portion of his Bonus Compensation that is established before the later of the Effective Date or the date that he files an Election Form.

"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto, together with the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder.

"COMMITTEE" means the committee appointed to administer the Plan in accordance with Article VIII.

"COMPANY" means Worthington Industries, Inc. and any successor thereto.

"COMPANY SUBSIDIARY" means any entity which is (i) at least 100% owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, and (ii) any other entity which is at least 30% owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and which is designated as a Company Subsidiary for purposes of this Plan by the Committee. Indirect ownership will be determined by applying rules issued under Treas. Reg. section 1.414(c)(4).

"DEFERRAL DATE" means (a) with respect to amounts attributable to Base Salary and Bonus Deferrals, the earlier of (i) the Deferral Date selected by the Participant in the Election Form, which date must be at least one year after the end of the Quarter with respect to which the payment would otherwise be made, or (ii) the date of the Participant's death, and (b) unless the Employer selects a different Deferral Date with respect to amounts attributable to Employer Contributions at the time such contributions are made, the later of (i) the date the Participant reaches age 62 or (ii) the date the Participant ceases to be an Employee. To the extent provided in Section 7.3, the Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, (A) to accelerate a Participant's Deferral Date to the earlier of the date the participant (i) ceases to be an Employee of any Employer or (ii) turns age 70, and (B) to set other parameters on the Deferral Dates which it believes are appropriate.

"DEFERRALS" means Base Salary Deferrals, Bonus Deferrals and Employer Contributors.

"DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

"EFFECTIVE DATE" means March 1, 2000.

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"ELECTION FORM" means the written agreement (in the form attached to this document) entered into between the Participant and his Employer pursuant to which the Participant designates his Beneficiary and elects the amount of his Base Salary and/or his Bonus Compensation to be deferred into the Plan, the Deferral Date, the deemed investment and/or the form of payment for such amounts. Although a copy of the Election Form is attached to this document, it is not part of the Plan and may be changed by the Committee at any time.

"EMPLOYEE" means any common-law employee of an Employer.

"EMPLOYER" means the Company or a Company Subsidiary which has become a participating Employer in the Plan. A Company Subsidiary shall cease to be an Employer at such time as agreed between the Company and the Company Subsidiary or, if earlier, the date an Employer ceases to be a Company Subsidiary.

"EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION" means the amount, as determined by each Employer, credited by the Committee to the Account of a Participant as an Employer Contribution. Such amounts may vary by individual Participant at the sole discretion of the Employer.

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

"EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE" means the Executive Committee of the Directors.

"FISCAL QUARTER" means any fiscal quarter of the Company (currently the three month periods ending on the last day of August, November, February, and May).

"401(k) PLAN" means the Worthington Industries Deferred Profit Sharing Plan, as amended and restated.

"PARTICIPANT" means each Employee who has been selected for participation the Plan and who has become a Participant pursuant to Article III.

"PLAN" means this Worthington Industries Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.

"PLAN YEAR" means the twelve consecutive month period commencing January 1 of each year-end ending on December 31. The first Plan Year shall begin on the Effective Date and end the following December 31.

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"POST EMPLOYMENT RATE" means the rate of interest established by the Committee from time to time as the Post Employment Rate which shall be the interest paid on Accounts after the Participant ceases employment with the Employers.

2.2 NUMBER AND GENDER.

Wherever appropriate herein, words used in the singular shall be considered to include the plural and words used in the plural shall be considered to include the singular. The masculine gender, where appearing in the Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender.

2.3 HEADINGS.

The headings of Articles and Sections herein are included solely for convenience, and if there is any conflict between such headings and the rest of the Plan, the text shall control.

ARTICLE III - PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY

3.1 PARTICIPATION.

Participants in the Plan are those Employees who are both (a) members of a select group of highly compensated or management Employees of their Employer, as determined by the Committee, and (b) selected by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be Participants. The Committee shall notify each Participant of his selection as a Participant and the time his participation may start. A Participant shall remain eligible to continue participation in the Plan until his participation ceases as set forth below in Section 3.3.

3.2 COMMENCEMENT OF PARTICIPATION.

An Employee may commence participation in the Plan on the later of the date (i) the Committee approves his participation or (ii) with respect to Base Salary and Bonus Deferrals, he returns to the Committee a properly completed Election Form. However, neither the Company, the Employer, the Committee, the Plan nor any other person shall be liable to any person if the Committee inadvertently fails to notify him of his eligibility to be a Participant.

3.3 CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, an individual who has become a Participant in the Plan shall cease to be a Participant hereunder effective as of the earlier of the date he (a) dies, (b) otherwise

5

ceases to be an Employee of at least one of the Employers, (c) ceases to be a member of his Employer's select group of highly compensated or management employees but remains an Employee of any Employer, (d) any date designated by the Committee or (e) his Employer ceases to be a Company Subsidiary or an Employer (but only if he is then an Employee of the affected Employer). The Committee will notify a Participant if he is no longer eligible to be a Participant. A person who has ceased to actively participate in the Plan as described in this Section but who also remains an Employee, will continue to be entitled to all rights and benefits (and subject to all limitations) described in the Plan other than the right to make additional Base Salary or Bonus Deferrals or to receive additional Employer Contributions.

ARTICLE IV - DEFERRALS

4.1 DEFERRALS BY PARTICIPANT.

Any Participant who desires to defer any portion of his Bonus Compensation and/or his Base Salary must complete and deliver to the Committee an Election Form in the form attached as Exhibit A, or in such other form as the Committee may prescribe. The Election Form with respect to Bonus Compensation must be filed prior to the date the amount of the Bonus is established or at such other time established by the Committee but in no case later than the last day of the second month of each Fiscal Quarter (or for the first Fiscal Quarter ending May 31, 2000, no later than May 15, 2000). An Election Form with respect to Base Salary must be filed at least by the 15th day of the month prior to the beginning of the Plan Year (or for the first Plan Year, June 15, 2000 but only with respect to compensation earned after June 30, 2000), as to which the election relates (or such greater or lesser period prior to such date as the Committee establishes for purposes of administrative convenience) and will relate only to Base Salary earned after the date the Committee receives the Participant's properly completed Election Form. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Base Salary Deferrals may be discontinued at any time by filing a new Election Form, such discontinuance to become effective as of the first day of the next Plan Year. Under no circumstances may a Participant's Deferral Election be made, modified or revoked retroactively. Once made, an Election Form will continue in effect until it is revoked or modified, subject to the limitations described above, even if a Participant transfers his employment between Employers.

The Committee, in its discretion, may set limits on the amount of Base Salary and/or Bonus Compensation that may be deferred under the Plan.

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4.2 TIME OF CREDIT OF DEFERRALS.

Bonus Deferrals and Base Salary Deferrals shall be credited to the Account of each Participant at the same time as the Base Salary or Bonus Compensation would have otherwise been paid; provided that a Participant whose participation terminates (as described in Section 3.3) before such Deferred Compensation is credited to his Account will have the amounts deferred but not credited, paid to him in cash, without interest, as soon as reasonably possible after the date his participation ceases.

4.3 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.

The Employer may determine, in its sole discretion, to make Employer Contributions for any Participant or Participants as it elects. The amount of any Employer Contribution to be made for any Participant shall be determined in such manner as his Employer shall, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate and may be a different amount (or no amount) for each Plan Year and for each Participant. Employer Contributions shall be in the form of a credit to the Participant's Account.

4.4 TIMING OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.

Employer Contributions will be credited to the Participant's Account as of the date specified by the Employer or, if no date is specified, as soon as administratively practical after they are declared.

A Participant shall be notified within a reasonable time of any Employer Contribution to be made on his behalf under the Plan.

4.5 VESTING.

A Participant shall be fully vested in his Account at all times except to the extent that the Employer establishes a deferred vesting schedule to apply to Employer Contributions made on or after the time the deferred vesting schedule is established.

ARTICLE V - EARNINGS

5.1 EARNINGS AND INVESTMENT.

Amounts credited to a Participant's Account shall be credited with earnings and losses based on hypothetical investment directions made (or deemed to be made) by the Participant in accordance with investment options and procedures adopted and amended by the Committee from time to time. Any amounts credited to a Participant's Account to which a

7

Participant does not provide investment direction (or as to which no direction is permitted) shall be credited with earnings as if the Participant shall have elected the investment option provided for in the Plan or determined from time to time by the Committee for cases where no investment option is made. A Participant's Account shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect investment gains and losses. The Committee retains the right to change, amend or eliminate investment options and procedures as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

5.2 EARNINGS AFTER CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION.

If the amount in a Participant's Account is to be paid in installments, the amount remaining unpaid after the first installment shall bear interest from the Deferral Date at the Post Employment Rate and no other investment options shall be available.

If a former Participant who is no longer an Employee (or is employed by an entity that ceases to be an Employer or a Company Subsidiary) still has an Account in the Plan, the amount in the Account shall be credited with interest at the Post Employment Rate.

ARTICLE VI - ACCOUNTS

6.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

The Committee will establish a separate bookkeeping account for each Participant. Such account shall be credited with the Base Salary Deferrals and Bonus Deferrals made by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1, and Employer Contributions made by the Employer pursuant to Section 4.3 and credited or charged, as the case may be with the hypothetical investment results determined pursuant to Article V and taxes described in Section 6.4.

6.2 SUBACCOUNTS.

Within each Participant's bookkeeping account, separate subaccounts shall be maintained to the extent necessary for the administration of the Plan. For example, it may be necessary to maintain separate subaccounts where the Participant has specified different Deferral Dates, methods of payment or investment directions. Also, the Committee will separately account for amounts credited for each Participant while the Participant was an Employee of each Employer and will use this subaccount to account for Base Salary and Bonus Deferrals and Employer Contributions (and attributable earnings, losses and taxes

8

described in Section 6.4) attributable to the Participant's employment with each Employer.

6.3 HYPOTHETICAL NATURE OF ACCOUNTS.

The Accounts (or subaccounts) established under this Article VI shall be hypothetical in nature and shall be maintained for bookkeeping purposes only, so that earnings and losses on the Base Salary Deferrals, Bonus Deferrals and Employer Contributions made to the Plan can be credited (or charged, as the case may be). Neither the Plan nor any of the Accounts (or subaccounts) established hereunder shall hold any actual funds or assets. The right of any person to receive one or more payments under the Plan shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Employer for whom the Participant was an Employee when the Deferral (including attributable earnings and losses) was credited. Any liability of the Company, any Employer, the Committee or any other person to any Participant, former Participant, or Beneficiary with respect to a right to payment shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by the Plan. Neither the Employers, their directors, officers or employees, nor any other person shall be deemed to be a trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any amounts to be paid under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between any Employer and a Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary, or any other Person.

6.4 REDUCTION FOR TAXES

(a) If any taxing authority establishes that any Participant is in constructive receipt of any portion of his Account, the Committee may, in its discretion, distribute to the Participant all or any portion of the amount subject to that determination, reduced by the amount of any taxes imposed as a result of that determination.

(b) Any employment or other taxes (such as wage taxes) that are imposed on Base Salary or Bonus Deferrals or Employer Contributions when those amounts are credited to a Participant's Account will be assessed against the affected Participant's other compensation or deducted from the Participant's Account to the extent his other compensation is not sufficient to pay those taxes.

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ARTICLE VII - PAYMENT OF ACCOUNT

7.1 DISTRIBUTION AFTER DEFERRAL DATE

(a) TIME OF DISTRIBUTION.

Distribution of that portion of a Participant's Account which is not previously distributed under the terms of the Plan shall be made as soon as practicable following the Deferral Date for such amounts, and in any event no later than January 31 of the year following the Deferral Date.

(b) FORM OF PAYMENT OR PAYMENTS.

A Participant's Account balance shall be distributed in accordance with the form of payment elected by the Participant on the Election Form to which such amounts relate. The form of payment with respect to amounts and the earnings credited thereon may be in any of the following forms:

(i) A lump sum; or

(ii) Other methods that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may allow.

Installment payments, if permitted, shall be paid annually during January of each Plan Year. Each installment payment shall be determined by multiplying the Account balance by a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of remaining installment payments to be made to the Participant. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, total distribution of a Participant's account must be made by the date such Participant attains age 85.

(c) CHANGES TO DEFERRAL DATE OR FORM OF PAYMENT.

A Participant may change (i) the form of payment of his Account or (ii) his Deferral Date by filing an amended Election Form; provided that such form must be received by the Company no later than the earlier of (i) the end of the Participant's tax year prior to the previously selected Deferral Date; (ii) 12 months prior to the previously selected Deferral Date; or (iii) such earlier date, if any, as set by the Committee.

7.2 DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DEATH

(a) DISTRIBUTION ON DEATH. Upon the Participant's death, the Participant's Account shall be distributed to the Participant's Beneficiary in one of the forms specified by the Participant from among those available under
Section 7.1(b).

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(b) DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES.

Each Participant shall have the right to designate the beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive payment of his benefit in the event of his death. A beneficiary designation shall be made by executing the beneficiary designation portion of the Election Form and filing the same with the Committee. Any such designation may be changed at any time by execution of a new beneficiary designation portion of the Election Form in accordance with this Section. If no such designation is on file with the Committee at the time of death of the Participant or such designation is not effective for any reason as determined by the Committee, then the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive such benefit shall be the Participant's surviving spouse, if any, or if none, the executor, personal representative, or administrator of the Participant's probate estate, or his heirs-at-law, if there is no administration of such Participant's probate estate.

7.3 ACCELERATION OF DEFERRAL DATE AND PAYMENT.

In the event a Participant ceases to be an Employee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to accelerate the Participant's Deferral Date to any date after he ceases to be an Employee, regardless of when the Participant's Deferral Date would otherwise occur. The Committee may also, in such case (and in the case of distributing death benefits under Section 7.2), accelerate the method of payment by shortening the number of installments selected by the Participant or by paying the Account in a lump sum, such payment to be made or to commence within a reasonable period after the accelerated Deferral Date.

7.4 UNCLAIMED BENEFITS

In the case of a benefit payable on behalf of such Participant, if the Committee is unable to locate the Participant or beneficiary to whom such benefit is payable, such benefit may be forfeited to the Employer or Employers for whom the Participant was an Employee when the forfeited Deferral was credited to his Account, upon the Committee's determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent to any such forfeiture the Participant or Beneficiary to whom such benefit is payable makes a valid claim for such benefit, such forfeited benefit shall be paid by the Employer or Employers (or restored to the Plan by the Employer (without interest from the date it would have otherwise been paid) to whom the Account was initially forfeited. However, neither the Company any Employer, the Committee nor any other person is liable to restore any benefit forfeited under this Section to any other Employer.

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7.5 HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS.

A Participant may apply in writing to the Committee for, and the Committee may permit, a hardship withdrawal of all or any part of a Participant's Account if the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that the Participant has incurred a severe financial hardship resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, as determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion. The amount that may be withdrawn shall be limited to the smaller of (i) the amount reasonably necessary to relieve the hardship or financial emergency upon which the request is based, plus the federal and state taxes due on the withdrawal, as determined by the Committee or (ii) the affected Participant's Account balance as of the most recent Valuation Date. The Committee may require a Participant who requests a hardship withdrawal to submit such evidence as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate to substantiate the circumstances upon which the request is based. If a condition qualifies as a hardship under this Section and under the 401(k) Plan, a Participant must first withdraw all funds from this Plan before he may file a hardship withdrawal application under the 401(k) Plan.

ARTICLE VIII - ADMINISTRATION

8.1 COMMITTEE.

The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Executive Committee or the Directors. If no other Committee is so appointed, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Directors. The Committee shall be responsible for approving an Employer's designation of an Employee to be a Participant and for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions thereof. The Committee may delegate to others certain aspects of the management and operational responsibilities of the Plan including the employment of advisors and the delegation of ministerial duties to qualified individuals, provided that such delegation is in writing.

8.2 GENERAL POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION.

The Committee shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to enable it to carry out its administrative duties. Not in limitation, but in application of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the duty and power to interpret

12

the Plan and determine all questions that may arise hereunder as to the status and rights of Employees, Participants, and Beneficiaries. The Committee may exercise the powers hereby granted in its sole and absolute discretion. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any actions taken by the Committee unless the member's action involves gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8.3 INDEMNIFICATION OF COMMITTEE.

The Company and all Employers shall indemnify the members of the Committee against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by them, and any liability, including any amounts paid in settlement with their approval, arising from their action or failure to act, except when the same is judicially determined to be attributable to their gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8.4 COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION.

The costs of administering the Plan shall be borne by each Employer (in proportion to number of their Employees who are Participants) unless and until a Participant receives written notice of the imposition of administrative costs, with such costs to begin with the next Plan Year. Such costs may only be imposed prospectively and not retroactively for prior Plan Years. Such costs, if imposed, shall be charged against a Participant's Account and shall be uniform for all Plan Participants. Such costs shall not exceed standard fees for similarly designed non-qualified plans under administration by high quality third party administrators.

ARTICLE IX - DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS, CLAIMS
PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

9.1 CLAIMS

A person who believes that he is being denied a benefit to which he is entitled under the Plan (hereinafter referred to as a "Claimant") may file a written request for such benefit with the Committee, setting forth his claim. The request must be addressed to the Committee at the Company's then principal place of business.

9.2 CLAIM DECISION.

Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall advise the Claimant that a reply will be forthcoming within ninety (90) days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply within such period. The Committee may, however, extend the reply period for an additional ninety (90) days for reasonable cause.

13

If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall adopt a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth:

(1) The specific reason or reasons for such denial;

(2) The specific reference to pertinent provisions of the Plan on which such denial is based;

(3) A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary.

(4) Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review; and

(5) The time limits for requesting a review under Section 9.3 and for review under Section 9.4 hereof.

9.3 REQUEST FOR REVIEW.

Within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Claimant of the written opinion described above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Executive Committee review the determination of the Committee. Such request must be addressed to the Executive Committee, at the Company's then principal place of business. The Claimant or his duly authorized representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Executive Committee. If the Claimant does not request a review of the Committee's determination by the Executive Committee within such sixty (60) day period, he shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Committee's determination.

9.4 REVIEW OF DECISION

Within sixty (60) days after the receipt of a request for review, the Executive Committee will review the determination rendered by the Committee. After considering all materials presented by the Claimant, the Executive Committee will render a written opinion, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth the specific reasons for the decision and containing specific references to the pertinent provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based. If special circumstances require that the sixty (60) day time period be extended, the Executive Committee will so notify the Claimant and will render the decision as soon as possible, but no later than one hundred twenty (120)

14

days after receipt of the request for review.

                          ARTICLE X - CHANGE IN CONTROL

10.1  EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      (a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, but
      subject to the following sentence, in the event of a Change of Control
      that affects an Employer, the Deferral Date for each Participant who has
      an Account credited with any amounts attributable to Deferrals made while
      an Employee of that Employer shall be accelerated to the date of the
      Change of Control and the Accounts shall be paid out as of such date, but
      only to the extent of the portion of the Account attributable to Deferrals
      made while an Employee of that Employer. The provisions of this Section
      10.1 shall not apply to any Change in Control when expressly provided
      otherwise by a three-fourths vote of the Whole Board of the affected
      Employer, but only if a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
      then in office and acting upon such matters shall be Continuing Directors.

      (b) The liability to pay any benefit that is not distributed in connection
      with a Change in Control (or to pay other costs and expenses reference in
      Section 1.7) will remain the liability of the Employer incurring the
      Change in Control.

10.2  DEFINITIONS: For purposes of this Article, the following terms shall have

the meanings set forth below:

(a) A Change in Control shall have occurred (i) with respect to the Company when any "Person" (other than (A) the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or a Company Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan when acting in such capacity, or (C) any person who, on the Effective Date of the Plan, is an Affiliate of the Company and beneficially owning in excess of ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of the Company and the respective successors, executors, legal representatives, heirs and legal assigns of such person), alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes an Acquiring Person and (ii) with respect to any Employer other than the Company, when it no longer meets the definition of Company Subsidiary. The occurrence of a Change in Control will be determined separately with respect to the Company and each Employer.

(b) "Acquiring Person" means any "Person" (i.e., any individual, firm, corporation or other entity) who or which, together with all Affiliates and

15

Associates, has acquired or obtained the right to acquire the beneficial ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company's Shares then outstanding.

(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision.

(d) "Continuing Director" means any person who was a member of the Employer's board of directors on the Effective Date of the Plan or thereafter elected by the shareholders or appointed by the Employer's board of directors prior to the date as of which the Acquiring Person became a Substantial Shareholder (as such term is defined in Article Seventh of the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation) or, a person designated (before his initial election or employment as a director) as a Continuing Director by three-fourths of the Employer's Whole Board, but only if a majority of the Whole Board shall then consist of Continuing Directors.

(e) "Whole Board" means the total number of directors which the Employer would have if there were no vacancies.

                           ARTICLE XI - MISCELLANEOUS

11.1  PLAN NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.

      The adoption and maintenance of the Plan shall not be deemed to be a
      contract of employment between any Employer and any person or to be a
      commitment for the employment of any person. Nothing herein contained
      shall be deemed to give any person the right to be retained in the employ
      of any Employer or to restrict the right of any Employer to discharge any
      person at any time; nor shall the Plan be deemed to give any Employer the
      right to require any person to remain in the employ of any Employer or to
      restrict any person's right to terminate his employment at any time.

11.2  NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF BENEFITS.

      No Participant, Beneficiary or distributee of benefits under the Plan
      shall have any power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate
      or otherwise encumber any part or all of the amounts payable hereunder,
      which are expressly declared to be unassignable and non-transferable. Any
      such attempted assignment or transfer shall be void. No amount payable
      hereunder shall, prior to actual payment hereof, be subject to

                                       16

      seizure by any creditor of any such Participant, Beneficiary or other
      distributee for the payment of any debt, judgment, or other obligation, by
      a proceeding at law or in equity, nor transferable by operation of law in
      the event of the bankruptcy, insolvency or death of such Participant,
      Beneficiary or other distributee hereunder.

11.3  WITHHOLDING.

      All deferrals and payments provided for hereunder shall be subject to
      applicable withholding and other deductions as shall be required of the
      Employers under any applicable local, state or federal law.

11.4  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.

      The Directors may from time to time, in its discretion, amend, in whole or
      in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan; provided, however, that
      no amendment may be made which would impair the rights of a Participant
      with respect to amounts already allocated to his Account (unless the
      affected Participant consents in writing to the application of that
      amendment), but this provision shall not be read to restrict the authority
      of the Directors or the Executive Committee or the Committee to change or
      limit investment options. The Directors or the Executive Committee may
      terminate the Plan at any time. Unless the Directors or the Executive
      Committee determines otherwise, in the event that the Plan is terminated,
      the balance in a Participant's Account shall be paid to such Participant
      or his Beneficiary in a single lump sum, determined as of the most recent
      Valuation Date, in full satisfaction of all such Participant's or
      Beneficiary's benefits hereunder. Any such amendment to or termination of
      the Plan shall be in writing and signed by a member of the Executive
      Committee or an Officer of the Company and will bind each Employer without
      separate action.

11.5  NO TRUST CREATED.

      Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its
      provisions by either party hereto, shall create, nor be construed to
      create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
      Company or any Employer and the Participant, his Beneficiary, or any other
      person. The Company may establish a "grantor trust" (so-called "Rabbi
      Trust") under federal income tax law to aid in meeting the obligations
      created under this Plan, but the Company intends that the assets of any
      such trust will at all times remain subject to the claims of the
      Employers' general creditors (to the extent of the amounts credited for a
      Participant while he was an Employee of that Employer), and that the
      existence of any such trust will not alter the characterization of the
      Plan as "unfunded" for purposes of

                                       17

      ERISA, and will not be construed to provide income to any Participant
      prior to actual payment under this Plan.

11.6  UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR STATUS OF EMPLOYEE.

      The payments to Participant, his Beneficiary or any other distributee
      hereunder shall be made from assets which shall continue, for all
      purposes, to be a part of the general, unrestricted assets of the Employer
      for whom the Participant was an Employee when the Deferral to which the
      claim relates was credited to the claiming Participant's Account; no
      person shall have or acquire any interest in any such assets by virtue of
      the provisions of this Plan. The obligation hereunder shall be an unfunded
      and unsecured promise to pay money in the future. To the extent that the
      Participant, a Beneficiary, or other distributee acquires a right to
      receive payments from the Plan under the provisions hereof, such right
      shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of
      the Employer for whom the Participant was an Employee when the Deferral to
      which the claim relates was credited to the claiming Participant's
      Account; no such person shall have nor require any legal or equitable
      right, interest or claim in or to any property or assets of any Employer.

      In the event that, in its discretion, the Employer purchases an insurance
      policy or policies insuring the life of the Participant(or any other
      property) to allow the Employer to recover the cost of providing the
      benefits, in whole, or in part, hereunder, neither the Participant, his
      Beneficiary or other distributee shall have nor acquire any rights
      whatsoever therein or in the proceeds therefrom. The Employer shall be the
      sole owner and beneficiary of any such policy or policies and, as such,
      shall possess and may exercise all incidents of ownership therein. Except
      to the extent the Company may establish a Rabbi Trust as described in
      Section 11.5, no such policy, policies or other property shall be held in
      any trust for a Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee or held as
      collateral security for any obligation hereunder. The existence of any
      such Rabbi Trust does not give a Participant, Beneficiary or other
      distributee, any interest, direct or beneficial, in any policy, policies
      or other property held in such a trust. A Participant's participation in
      the underwriting or other steps necessary to acquire such policy or
      policies may be required by the Committee and, if required, shall not be a
      suggestion of any beneficial interest in such policy or policies to a
      Participant.

11.7  SEVERABILITY.

      If any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal for any reason, said
      illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof;
      instead, each provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be

                                       18

      constructed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had never
      been included herein.

11.8  BINDING EFFECT.

      This Plan shall be binding on each Participant and his heirs and legal
      representatives and on the Company and each Employer and its successors
      and assigns.

11.9  GOVERNING LAWS.

      All provisions of the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws
      of Ohio, except to the extent preempted by federal law.

11.10 ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This document and any amendments contain all the terms and provisions of the Plan and shall constitute the entire Plan, any other alleged terms or provisions being of no effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan to be executed as of March 1, 2000.

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

BY:   /s/John P. McConnell

ITS:  Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

19

EXHIBIT 13

ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS

E-9



[WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES LOGO]

2000 ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS




WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

2000 ANNUAL REPORT

CONTENTS

                                                                PAGE
                                                                ----
A Message to Our Shareholders...............................      1
The Company.................................................      1
Stock Trading, Price and Dividend Information...............      3
Six Year Selected Financial Data............................      4
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
  and Results of Operations.................................      5
Consolidated Financial Statements
  Consolidated Balance Sheets -- May 31, 2000 and 1999......     12
  Consolidated Statements of Earnings -- Years ended May 31,
     2000, 1999 and 1998....................................     13
  Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity -- Years
     ended May 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998......................     14
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- Years ended May
     31, 2000, 1999 and 1998................................     17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................     18
Report of Management........................................     31
Report of Independent Auditors..............................     32
Company Locations...........................................     33
Officers & Directors........................................     34

i

A MESSAGE TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

This 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders contains the Worthington Industries, Inc. audited consolidated financial statements and all of the information that the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") require be presented in an Annual Report to Shareholders. For legal purposes, this is the Worthington Industries, Inc. 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders. This Annual Report is not part of the Proxy Statement and is not deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the SEC except to the extent that it is expressly incorporated by reference in a document filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 ("fiscal 2000").

We invite our shareholders also to consider our 2000 Summary Annual Report, which presents information concerning the business and financial results of the Company in a format and level of detail that we believe most of our shareholders will find useful and informative. Shareholders who would like to receive more detailed information may request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

THE WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, AS FILED WITH THE SEC, WILL BE PROVIDED TO ANY SHAREHOLDER, WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, 1205 DEARBORN DRIVE, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43085.

THE COMPANY

Worthington Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is referred to herein as the "Company". The Company's corporate headquarters are located at 1205 Dearborn Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43085.

The Company's operations are reported principally in three business segments: Processed Steel Products, Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders. The Processed Steel Products segment includes The Worthington Steel Company and The Gerstenslager Company. The Metal Framing segment is made up of Dietrich Industries, Inc., and the Pressure Cylinders segment consists of Worthington Cylinder Corporation. In addition, the Company holds an equity position in seven joint ventures as described below. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999 ("fiscal 1999"), in keeping with its strategy to focus on steel processing and metals-related businesses, the Company divested its Worthington Custom Plastics, Inc., Worthington Precision Metals, Inc. and Buckeye Steel Castings Company operations. The divested operations, which previously made up the Company's Custom Products and Cast Products segments, have been reported as discontinued operations for fiscal 1999 and prior.

PROCESSED STEEL PRODUCTS

The Processed Steel Products segment consists of two business units, The Worthington Steel Company ("Worthington Steel") and The Gerstenslager Company ("Gerstenslager"). For fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998 ("fiscal 1998"), the percentage of sales from continuing operations generated by the Processed Steel Products segment was 65.6%, 63.2% and 64.6%, respectively.

Both Worthington Steel and Gerstenslager are intermediate processors of flat-rolled steel. This segment's processing capabilities include pickling, slitting, rolling, annealing, edging, tension leveling, cutting-to-length, configured blanking, stamping, painting, nickel and zinc/nickel coating and hot-dipped galvanizing. Worthington Steel has over 1,000 customers principally in the automotive, automotive supply, appliance, electrical, communications, construction, office furniture, office equipment, agricultural, machinery and leisure time industries. Gerstenslager supplies automotive aftermarket body panels within the United States primarily to domestic and transplant automotive and heavy duty truck manufacturers.

METAL FRAMING

The Metal Framing segment consists of one business unit, Dietrich Industries, Inc. ("Dietrich"), which produces metal framing products for the commercial and residential construction markets in the United States. For fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, the percentage of sales from continuing operations generated by Dietrich was 17.9%, 19.1% and 20.7%, respectively. Dietrich's products include steel studs, floor and wall system components, roof trusses and other metal accessory products. Dietrich has over 2,000 customers,

1

primarily consisting of building products distributors, commercial and residential contractors, and gypsum producers.

PRESSURE CYLINDERS

The Pressure Cylinders segment consists of one business unit, Worthington Cylinder Corporation ("Worthington Cylinders"). For fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, the percentage of sales from continuing operations generated by Worthington Cylinders was 16.2%, 17.3% and 13.8%, respectively.

During fiscal 1999, the Company expanded its Pressure Cylinders segment by acquiring the cylinder operations of Jos. Heiser vormals J. Winter's Sohn, GmbH, based in Kienberg, Austria, in June 1998; certain assets of Metalurgica Progresso de Vale de Cambra, Lda., based in Vale de Cambra, Portugal, in May 1999; and a majority interest in Gastec spol. s.r.o., based in Hustopece, Czech Republic, in February 1999.

Worthington Cylinders produces portable low-pressure liquid propane cylinders, refrigerant gas cylinders, and portable high-pressure cylinders. Reusable steel and aluminum liquid propane gas cylinders are sold to manufacturers and distributors of barbecue grills and propane, mass merchandisers, and manufacturers and users of material handling, heating, cooking and camping equipment. Refrigerant gas cylinders primarily are used by major refrigerant gas producers to contain refrigerant gases for use in charging residential, commercial, automotive and other air conditioning and refrigeration systems. High-pressure cylinders are sold primarily to gas fillers and suppliers as containers for acetylene, medical, industrial, halon, electronic and cutting and welding gases. Worthington Cylinders also produces recycle and recovery tanks for refrigerant gases and non-refillable cylinders for helium balloon kits. Worthington Cylinders has over 3,000 customers.

JOINT VENTURES

As part of its strategy to selectively develop new products, markets and technological capabilities, and to expand its international presence while mitigating the risks and costs associated with such activities, the Company participates in three consolidated and four unconsolidated joint ventures.

Consolidated

- Spartan Steel Coating, L.L.C. ("Spartan Steel"), a 52%-owned consolidated joint venture with Rouge Steel, operates a cold rolled hot dipped galvanizing facility near Monroe, Michigan.

- Worthington S.A., a 52%-owned consolidated joint venture with three Brazilian propane producers, operates a cylinder manufacturing facility in Itu, Brazil.

- Worthington Gastec a.s., a 51%-owned consolidated joint venture with a local Czech Republic entrepreneur, operates a pressure cylinder manufacturing facility in Hustopece, Czech Republic.

Unconsolidated

- Worthington Armstrong Venture ("WAVE"), a 50%-owned joint venture with Armstrong World Industries, is one of the three leading global manufacturers of suspended ceiling systems for concealed and lay-in panel ceilings. WAVE operates facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, England, France, Spain and China.

- TWB Company, L.L.C., a 33%-owned joint venture with Thyssen Krupp, Rouge Steel, LTV Steel and Bethlehem Steel, produces laser welded blanks for use in the auto industry for products such as inner door frames. TWB operates facilities in Monroe, Michigan and Saltillo, Mexico.

- Acerex S.A. de C.V., a 50%-owned joint venture with Hylsa S.A. de C.V., is a steel processing company located in Monterrey, Mexico.

- Worthington Specialty Processing ("WSP"), a 50%-owned joint venture with USX Corporation in Jackson, Michigan, operates primarily as a toll processor for USX Corporation.

2

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Custom Plastics. The Company completed the divestiture of the Worthington Custom Plastics businesses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999. While operated by the Company, Worthington Custom Plastics manufactured and supplied injection molded plastic parts to automobile manufacturers and their suppliers and to manufacturers of appliances, lawn and garden products, recreational products, business equipment, audio equipment, furniture and other items.

Precision Metals. The Company completed the divestiture of the Worthington Precision Metals operations in the second quarter of fiscal 1999. While operated by the Company, Worthington Precision Metals produced extremely close tolerance metal components for use by automobile manufacturers and their suppliers in power steering, transmission, anti-lock brake and other automotive mechanical systems.

Steel Castings. The Company completed the divestiture of the Buckeye Steel Castings operations in the third quarter of fiscal 1999. While operated by the Company, Buckeye Steel Castings designed, produced and machined a broad line of railcar and industrial steel castings. Buckeye was also a leading designer and producer of undercarriages for mass transit cars.

STOCK TRADING, PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION

The Company's Common Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "WOR" and are listed in most newspapers as "WorthgtnInd". Prior to April 19, 2000, the Company's Common Shares were traded on the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "WTHG". As of June 30, 2000, the Company had approximately 11,134 shareholders of record. The following table sets forth (i) the range of low, high and closing bid prices for the Company's Common Shares (as quoted on Nasdaq) for each quarter of fiscal 1999 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2000, (ii) the low, high and closing sale prices for the Company's Common Shares (as traded on NYSE) for the quarter ended May 31, 2000, and (iii) the cash dividends per share paid on the Company's Common Shares, for each quarter of fiscal 1999 and fiscal 2000.

                                                       MARKET PRICE
FISCAL 1999                                     ---------------------------      CASH
QUARTER ENDED                                    LOW       HIGH     CLOSING    DIVIDENDS
-------------                                   ------    ------    -------    ---------
August 31, 1998...............................  $12.44    $17.88    $13.00       $0.14
November 30, 1998.............................  $10.38    $14.25    $12.19       $0.14
February 28, 1999.............................  $11.31    $14.63    $12.69       $0.14
May 31, 1999..................................  $11.06    $15.13    $12.81       $0.15

FISCAL 2000
QUARTER ENDED
-------------
August 31, 1999...............................  $12.31    $16.44    $15.00       $0.15
November 30, 1999.............................  $14.38    $17.63    $16.00       $0.15
February 29, 2000.............................  $12.88    $17.00    $13.25       $0.15
May 31, 2000..................................  $11.38    $13.63    $12.13       $0.16

3

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SIX YEAR SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

                                                                     FISCAL YEAR ENDED MAY 31,
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               2000         1999         1998         1997         1996         1995
      IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE        ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Net Sales.................................  $1,962,606   $1,763,072   $1,624,449   $1,428,346   $1,126,492   $1,125,495
Cost of Goods Sold........................   1,629,455    1,468,886    1,371,841    1,221,078      948,505      942,672
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Gross Margin..............................     333,151      294,186      252,608      207,268      177,987      182,823
Selling, General & Administrative
  Expense.................................     163,662      147,990      117,101       96,252       78,852       67,657
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Operating Income..........................     169,489      146,196      135,507      111,016       99,135      115,166
Miscellaneous Income......................       2,653        5,210        1,396          906        1,013          648
Loss on Investment in Rouge...............      (8,553)          --           --           --           --           --
Interest Expense..........................     (39,779)     (43,126)     (25,577)     (18,427)      (8,687)      (6,673)
Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated
  Affiliates -- Joint Ventures............      26,832       24,471       19,316       13,959        6,981        5,284
Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated
  Affiliate -- Rouge......................          --           --           --           --       21,729       32,111
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Earnings From Continuing Operations Before
  Income Taxes............................     150,642      132,751      130,642      107,454      120,171      146,536
Income Taxes..............................      56,491       49,118       48,338       40,844       46,130       55,190
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Earnings From Continuing Operations.......      94,151       83,633       82,304       66,610       74,041       91,346
Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes.....          --      (20,885)      17,337       26,708       26,932       31,783
Extraordinary Item, Net of Taxes..........          --           --       18,771           --           --           --
Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change,
  Net of Taxes............................          --       (7,836)          --           --           --           --
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Net Earnings..............................      94,151       54,912      118,412       93,318      100,973      123,129
Earnings Per Share (Diluted) --
  Continuing Operations...................        1.06         0.90         0.85         0.69         0.76         0.94
  Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes...          --        (0.23)        0.18         0.27         0.28         0.33
  Extraordinary Item, Net of Taxes........          --           --         0.19           --           --           --
  Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change,
    Net of Taxes..........................          --        (0.08)          --           --           --           --
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  Net Earnings............................        1.06         0.59         1.22         0.96         1.04         1.27
  Continuing Operations (Excluding
    Rouge*)...............................        1.12         0.90         0.85         0.69         0.62         0.73
Depreciation and Amortization from
  Continuing Operations...................      70,997       64,087       41,602       34,150       26,931       23,741
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes,
  Depreciation and Amortization from
  Continuing Operations...................     261,418      239,964      197,821      160,031      155,789      176,950
Capital Expenditures from Continuing
  Operations..............................      71,541       98,404      297,516      160,846       97,346       45,416
Cash Dividends Declared...................      53,391       52,343       51,271       45,965       40,872       37,212
  Per Share...............................  $     0.61   $     0.57   $     0.53   $     0.49   $     0.45   $     0.41
Average Shares Outstanding (Diluted)......      88,598       93,106       96,949       96,841       96,822       96,789
FINANCIAL POSITION
Current Assets............................  $  624,229   $  624,255   $  642,995   $  594,128   $  505,104   $  474,853
Current Liabilities.......................     433,270      427,725      410,031      246,794      167,585      191,672
                                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Working Capital...........................     190,959      196,530      232,964      347,334      337,519      283,181
Net Fixed Assets..........................     862,512      871,347      933,158      691,027      544,052      358,579
Total Assets..............................   1,673,873    1,686,951    1,842,342    1,561,186    1,282,424      964,299
Total Debt**..............................     525,072      493,313      501,950      417,883      317,997      108,916
Shareholders' Equity......................     673,354      689,649      780,273      715,518      667,318      608,142
  Per Share...............................        7.85         7.67         8.07         7.40         6.91         6.30
Total Committed Capital**.................  $1,198,426   $1,182,962   $1,282,223   $1,133,401   $  985,315   $  717,058
Shares Outstanding........................      85,755       89,949       96,657       96,711       96,505       96,515


All financial data, except cash dividends declared, include the results of The Gerstenslager Company which was acquired in February 1997 through a pooling of interests.

* Excludes the impact of the "Loss on Investment in Rouge" for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2000 and the "Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated Affiliate
- Rouge" for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1996 and 1995.

** Excludes Debt Exchangeable for Common Stock of $52,497, $75,745 and $88,494 at May 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

4

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Statements contained in this 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders, including, without limitation, the Management's Discussion and Analysis that follows, constitute "forward-looking statements" that are based on management's beliefs, estimates, assumptions and currently available information. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to future operating results, growth, stock appreciation, projected capacity levels, pricing trends, anticipated capital expenditures, plant start-ups and capabilities and other non-historical information. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, product demand, changes in product mix and market acceptance of products; changes in pricing or availability of raw materials, particularly steel; capacity restraints and efficiencies; conditions in major product markets; delays in construction or equipment supply; ability to integrate recent acquisitions; inherent risks of international development, including foreign currency risks; the ability to improve processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; general economic conditions, business environment and the impact of governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; and other risks described from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

OVERVIEW

Worthington Industries, Inc. (the "Company") is a diversified steel processor that focuses on steel processing and metals related businesses. It operates 40 facilities worldwide, principally in three reportable business segments: Processed Steel Products, Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders. The Company also holds equity positions in seven joint ventures, which operate 15 facilities worldwide.

In March 2000, the Company recorded an $8.6 million pre-tax loss ($0.06 per share, net of tax) relating to the Company's investment in the common stock of Rouge Industries, Inc. ("Rouge"). This previously unrealized loss had been reported as a reduction in shareholders' equity. On March 1, 1997, the Company issued debt exchangeable for common stock ("DECS"), payable in Rouge stock. The loss on the Rouge investment was realized when the Company used the Rouge stock to satisfy the DECS at maturity on March 1, 2000.

During fiscal 1999, the Company divested its non-core businesses:
Worthington Custom Plastics, Inc., Worthington Precision Metals, Inc. and Buckeye Steel Castings Company, which had previously comprised the Custom Products and Cast Products segments. The divested operations are reflected in the Company's financial statements as discontinued operations. The divestitures provided aggregate proceeds of $224.0 million, which included $194.0 million in cash and approximately $30.0 million in preferred stock and notes receivable issued by the acquirers. The cash proceeds were used to finance capital projects, fund acquisitions, repurchase common shares and reduce debt. The divestitures resulted in an aggregate $24.6 million after-tax loss.

In fiscal 1999, the Company adopted the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Statement of Position 98-5, Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities, which requires that costs related to commencing operations at new plants and facilities be expensed as incurred. An after-tax charge of $7.8, million or $0.08 per share, was recorded for the accounting policy change, to expense the costs that had been capitalized prior to fiscal 1999. The impact of the change on earnings from continuing operations for fiscal 1999 as reported was immaterial.

During fiscal 1999, the Company completed three European acquisitions within the Pressure Cylinders segment. In June 1998, the Company acquired the stock of Jos. Heiser vormals J. Winter's Sohn, GmbH ("Worthington Heiser"). Based in Kienberg, Austria, Worthington Heiser produces high-pressure cylinders. The Company acquired a 51% majority interest in Gastec spol. s.r.o., based in Hustopece, Czech Republic, in February 1999 and purchased the cylinder manufacturing assets of Metalurgica Progresso de Vale de Cambra, Lda., based in Vale de Cambra, Portugal, in May 1999. Both of these operations manufacture various low-pressure cylinders. These acquisitions offer significant growth opportunities for the Company, given the full

5

product offering and geographic coverage throughout Europe. See Note K to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The extraordinary item in fiscal 1998 is the gain on the settlement of a property insurance claim resulting from a fire at the Processed Steel Products' Monroe, Ohio ("Monroe") facility in August 1997. The settlement of $38.7 million represents replacement value of the assets, which was significantly in excess of the book value of $8.9 million. After adjusting for taxes, the gain was $18.8 million, or $0.19 per share. See Note M to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

RESULTS FROM OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth, for the fiscal years indicated, consolidated sales and operating income by segment and other financial information:

                                                      2000                        1999                    1998
                                            -------------------------   -------------------------   ----------------
                                                       % OF      %                 % OF      %                 % OF
                                             ACTUAL    SALES   CHANGE    ACTUAL    SALES   CHANGE    ACTUAL    SALES
      IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE         --------   -----   ------   --------   -----   ------   --------   -----
Net Sales:
    Processed Steel Products..............  $1,287.9    65.6%    16%    $1,114.9    63.2%     6%    $1,049.5    64.6%
    Metal Framing.........................     350.6    17.9%     4%       337.2    19.1%     0%       337.0    20.7%
    Pressure Cylinders....................     318.8    16.2%     4%       305.8    17.3%    37%       223.5    13.8%
    Other.................................       5.3     0.3%                5.2     0.4%               14.4     0.9%
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
        Total Net Sales...................   1,962.6   100.0%    11%     1,763.1   100.0%     9%     1,624.4   100.0%
Cost of Goods Sold........................   1,629.4    83.0%    11%     1,468.9    83.3%     7%     1,371.8    84.4%
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
      Gross Margin........................     333.2    17.0%    13%       294.2    16.7%    16%       252.6    15.6%
Selling, General & Administrative.........     163.7     8.4%    11%       148.0     8.4%    26%       117.1     7.3%
Operating Income:
    Processed Steel Products..............      96.8     7.5%    17%        82.6     7.4%    -6%        87.7     8.4%
    Metal Framing.........................      43.2    12.3%    70%        25.4     7.5%    27%        20.0     5.9%
    Pressure Cylinders....................      34.2    10.7%    -7%        36.7    12.0%    28%        28.6    12.8%
    Other.................................      (4.7)                        1.5                        (0.8)
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
        Total Operating Income............     169.5     8.6%    16%       146.2     8.3%     8%       135.5     8.3%
Other Income (Expense):
    Misc. Income..........................       2.7                         5.1                         1.4
    Loss on Investment in Rouge...........      (8.6)                         --                          --
    Interest Expense......................     (39.8)   -2.0%    -8%       (43.1)   -2.4%    69%       (25.6)   -1.6%
    Equity in Net Income of Unconsolidated
      Affiliates..........................      26.8     1.4%     9%        24.5     1.4%    27%        19.3     1.2%
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
      Earnings Before Taxes...............     150.6     7.7%    13%       132.7     7.5%     2%       130.6     8.0%
Income Taxes..............................      56.4     2.9%    15%        49.1     2.8%     2%        48.3     2.9%
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
Earnings From Continuing Operations.......      94.2     4.8%    13%        83.6     4.7%     2%        82.3     5.1%
Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes.....        --                       (20.9)                       17.3
Extraordinary Item, Net of Taxes..........        --                          --                        18.8
Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change,
  Net of Taxes............................        --                        (7.8)                         --
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
Net Earnings..............................  $   94.2     4.8%    71%    $   54.9     3.1%   -54%    $  118.4     7.3%
                                            ========                    ========                    ========
Average Common Shares
  Outstanding -- Diluted..................      88.6                        93.1                        96.9
Earnings Per Share -- Diluted:
      Earnings From Continuing
        Operations........................  $   1.06                    $   0.90                    $   0.85
      Discontinued Operations, Net of
        Taxes.............................        --                       (0.23)                       0.18
      Extraordinary Item, Net of Taxes....        --                          --                        0.19
      Cumulative Effect of Accounting
        Change, Net of Taxes..............        --                       (0.08)                         --
                                            --------                    --------                    --------
      Net Earnings........................  $   1.06                    $   0.59                    $   1.22
                                            ========                    ========                    ========

6

FISCAL 2000 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1999

Net sales increased 11% to $2.0 billion from $1.8 billion in fiscal 1999. The increase was primarily due to the start-up of two Processed Steel Products facilities: the Decatur, Alabama facility ("Decatur") and the Spartan Steel Coating facility ("Spartan") in Monroe, Michigan. A strong construction market and increased demand for steel portable cylinders provided for the increased sales in the Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders segments, respectively. These volume increases were partially offset by lower selling prices in the Processed Steel Products and Pressure Cylinders segments. The following provides further information on sales by segment:

- Processed Steel Products. Net sales increased 16% to $1.3 billion from $1.1 billion in fiscal 1999. This increase was mainly volume driven as the start-up facilities in Decatur and at Spartan continued to ramp up their operations throughout fiscal 2000. However, the effect of the volume increases was partially offset by lower selling prices during fiscal 2000.

- Metal Framing. Net sales increased 4% to $350.6 million from $337.2 million in fiscal 1999. The building products market remained strong throughout fiscal 2000. That combined with the volume and price increases in the stainless products were the main reasons for the increase in sales. Lower current year selling prices for building products and the sale of the garage door product line in the second quarter of fiscal 1999 partially offset this increase.

- Pressure Cylinders. Net sales increased 4% to $318.8 million from $305.8 million in fiscal 1999. Increased demand for steel portables, system tanks and high-pressure steel cylinders, partially offset by lower selling prices, was the main reason for the increase in sales. Sales in the European operations were flat compared to fiscal 1999 due to competitive pricing pressures in that market.

Gross margin as a percent of net sales increased to 17.0% in fiscal 2000 from 16.7% in fiscal 1999. The improvement in the gross margin was primarily due to favorable raw material costs particularly in the Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders segments. This favorability occurred earlier in the year as prices for raw materials continued to increase across all segments throughout the year. Higher manufacturing expenses partially offset some of this favorable price impact. Selling, general and administrative costs ("SG&A") remained at 8.4% of sales for both fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999 and were higher than normal due to Year 2000 expenses in both years.

Operating income increased 16% to $169.5 million from $146.2 million in fiscal 1999. This increase was due mainly to the previously mentioned increases in sales volume and favorable raw material pricing partially offset by lower selling prices and increased manufacturing expenses in the European cylinder operations. Operating income as a percentage of net sales was 8.6% in fiscal 2000 compared to 8.3% in fiscal 1999. The following provides further information on operating income by segment:

- Processed Steel Products. Operating income increased 17% to $96.8 million in fiscal 2000 from $82.6 million in fiscal 1999. This was primarily due to higher sales volumes in the start-up operations. Favorability due to lower raw material costs occurred earlier in the year but was offset by raw material price increases in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2000. Direct labor, manufacturing expenses and SG&A as a percent of sales remained consistent with the prior year resulting in an operating margin for the year of 7.5%.

- Metal Framing. Operating income for Metal Framing increased 70% to $43.2 million in fiscal 2000 from $25.4 million in fiscal 1999. Higher sales volumes in the building products line driven by the favorable construction market more than offset the impact of lower selling prices. Favorable raw material prices and operating efficiencies also contributed, increasing the operating margin to 12.3%.

- Pressure Cylinders. Operating income decreased 7% to $34.2 million in fiscal 2000 from $36.7 million in fiscal 1999. Lower selling prices kept sales in the European market flat compared to last year. In addition, higher labor, manufacturing and SG&A expenses in those operations lowered operating income. Higher sales volumes in the steel portables product line were partially offset by fewer sales of the refrigerant cylinders. All of these factors combined produced an operating margin of 10.7%.

7

Interest expense decreased 8% to $39.8 million in fiscal 2000 from $43.1 million in fiscal 1999. Capitalized interest in fiscal 2000 was $0.8 million compared to $4.0 million in fiscal 1999 as the major construction projects (Decatur and rebuilding Monroe) were completed in the first part of fiscal 1999. The decrease in interest expense is due to lower weighted average debt levels and the extinguishment of the DECS notes in the current year. At May 31, 2000, approximately 70% of the Company's $525.1 million of total debt was at fixed rates of interest.

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates increased 9% to $26.8 million in fiscal 2000 from $24.5 million in fiscal 1999. The Company's Worthington Armstrong Venture ("WAVE"), TWB Company, LLC and Acerex S.A. de C.V. joint ventures posted increases in sales and earnings for fiscal 2000. Profits for Worthington Specialty Processing declined slightly in the current year due to lower sales.

The effective tax rate for the Company was 37.5% in fiscal 2000 up from 37% in fiscal 1999 due to increased business in higher-taxed foreign and domestic locations, the result of divestiture and acquisition activity concluded in fiscal 1999.

FISCAL 1999 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1998

Continuing Operations

Net sales increased 9% to $1.8 billion from $1.6 billion in fiscal 1998. The increase was due to the start-up of the Decatur and Spartan facilities, the acquisition of Worthington Heiser and a strong domestic economy, which increased demand in the automotive, manufacturing and building construction markets. The following provides further information on net sales by segment:

- Processed Steel Products. Net sales increased 6% to $1.1 billion from $1.0 billion in fiscal 1998. The new Decatur and Spartan start-up facilities were responsible for the increase in sales, offset by an unfavorable steel pricing environment and the first quarter General Motors strike. Decatur produced its first commercially saleable cold rolled coils in August 1998. Spartan, the Company's hot-dipped galvanizing joint venture with Rouge, commenced operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.

- Metal Framing. Net sales of $337.2 million in fiscal 1999 were essentially even with fiscal 1998. Building products sales volume increased due to increased demand in the building construction markets. The increase was offset by a decrease in the garage door product line sales due to its divestiture during the second quarter of fiscal 1999, and a decrease in sales from the stainless product line due to a labor dispute at the Company's Aurora, Ohio facility during the first three quarters of fiscal 1999.

- Pressure Cylinders. Net sales increased 37% to $305.8 million from $223.5 million in fiscal 1998. The increase resulted primarily from the Worthington Heiser acquisition and completing the introduction (which commenced in fiscal 1998) of a higher-priced valve with a new overfill protection device.

Gross margin as a percent of net sales increased to 16.7% in fiscal 1999 from 15.6% in fiscal 1998. The improvement in margins was primarily due to favorable material costs. The fire at the Monroe facility in August 1997 did not materially impact margins during fiscal 1999 or fiscal 1998, because recoveries from business interruption insurance offset lost operating income. In fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, business interruption insurance settlement proceeds of $5.5 million and $8.5 million, respectively, were recorded in net sales.

The gross margin improvement was offset by higher SG&A costs, which increased 26% to $148.0 million in fiscal 1999 from $117.1 million in fiscal 1998. SG&A as a percentage of sales was 8.4% in fiscal 1999 and 7.3% in fiscal 1998. The SG&A increase in fiscal 1999 was the result of the Year 2000 remediation expenses and the increased overhead at Decatur and Spartan.

Operating income increased 8% to $146.2 million from $135.5 million in fiscal 1998. This increase was due to the Worthington Heiser acquisition and favorable raw material costs. The increase was partially offset by the impact of the first quarter General Motors strike, higher overhead costs associated with the Decatur and Spartan start-ups and expenses related to Year 2000 remediation expenses. Operating income as a percentage of net sales

8

was 8.3% in fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998. The following provides further information on operating income by segment:

- Processed Steel Products. Operating income decreased 6% to $82.6 million in fiscal 1999 from $87.7 million in fiscal 1998. This was primarily due to higher manufacturing overhead from the start-ups without corresponding sales increases, the General Motors strike, and the Company's Year 2000 remediation expenses, partially offset by favorable raw material costs, resulting in an operating margin for the year of 7.4%.

- Metal Framing. Operating income for Metal Framing increased 27% to $25.4 million from $20.0 million in fiscal 1998 due to lower raw material costs and operational efficiencies, partially offset by the Company's Year 2000 remediation expenses.

- Pressure Cylinders. Operating income increased 28% to $36.7 million from $28.6 million in fiscal 1998. Worthington Heiser contributed to the fiscal 1999 increase in operating income, but the operating margin as a percentage of sales decreased in fiscal 1999 to 12.0% from 12.8% in fiscal 1998, primarily due to the Year 2000 remediation expenses.

Interest expense increased to $43.1 million in fiscal 1999 from $25.6 million in fiscal 1998. Capitalized interest associated with the construction of new facilities totaled $4.0 million in fiscal 1999, down from $11.3 million in fiscal 1998. The interest expense increase in fiscal 1999 was due to increased debt levels to finance the completion of Decatur, the re-build of Monroe, the acquisition of three European Pressure Cylinder operations and the repurchase of the Company's common shares. The increase in debt levels was partially offset by the proceeds received from the divestitures of non-core businesses over the course of fiscal 1999 and lower interest rates. Weighted average interest rates on short-term unsecured notes payable decreased to 5.14% in fiscal 1999 from 5.80% in fiscal 1998. At May 31, 1999, approximately 75% of the Company's $493.3 million of total debt (excluding debt exchangeable for common stock (the "DECS")) was at fixed rates of interest.

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates increased 27% to $24.5 million from $19.3 million in fiscal 1998. The Company's WAVE, TWB and Acerex joint ventures posted increases in sales and earnings for fiscal 1999. Worthington Specialty Processing experienced a profitable year, despite a slight decline in sales.

The effective tax rate for the Company was 37% in fiscal 1999 and in fiscal 1998.

Discontinued Operations

Fiscal 1999 net sales from discontinued operations decreased 25% to $371.6 million from $493.8 in fiscal 1998. The decline in net sales was primarily due to a 26% decline in Custom Products' net sales as a result of the impact of the first quarter strike at General Motors and the divestitures in October 1998 of Precision Metals, in April 1999 of the non-automotive Worthington Custom Plastics businesses, and in May 1999 of the automotive Worthington Custom Plastics businesses. Cast Products sales were 21% less than fiscal 1998 due to the divestiture of Buckeye Steel Castings Company in February 1999. Overall results from discontinued operations amounted to a $20.9 million loss compared to earnings of $17.3 million in fiscal 1998. Excluding the after-tax loss of $24.6 million recorded for the sales of discontinued businesses, net income from the discontinued operations decreased 79% to $3.7 million from $17.3 million in fiscal 1998.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

In fiscal 2000, the Company generated $138.9 million in cash from operating activities, up 34% from $103.7 million during fiscal 1999. The higher cash flow in fiscal 2000 is mainly due to better operating results combined with a non-recurring $25 million dividend from WAVE and lower net working capital requirements for continuing operations.

The Company's significant investing and financing activities during fiscal 2000 included investing $71.5 million in capital expenditures, spending $63.0 million for the repurchase of the Company's common shares and disbursing $53.2 million in dividends to shareholders. These transactions were funded by the cash flow from the Company's operations and short-term borrowings.

9

Capital investments during fiscal 2000 included amounts for expanding the Processed Steel Products segment's annealing capacity at the Decatur facility and adding the ability to apply a dry film lubricant at the Monroe facility. The expenditures also provided for continuing implementation of the Pressure Cylinders segment's new business information system, and for the further development of the Metal Framing segment's new structural design software as well as the acquisition of a new corporate facility for the Company.

Consolidated net working capital decreased $5.5 million to $191.0 million at May 31, 2000 from $196.5 million at May 31, 1999. Accounts receivable increased over the prior year end due mainly to increased sales in the Processed Steel Products segment. Inventories increased due to growth in the Processed Steel Products segment. These increases were mainly financed by short-term notes which increased $37.9 million over the prior year end. The increase in income taxes resulted from the tax liability related to the settlement of the DECS becoming a current payable.

The Company uses short-term uncommitted lines of credit extended by various commercial banks to finance its business operations. Maturities on these borrowings typically range from one to ninety days. In addition, the Company maintains a $300 million unsecured revolving credit facility. This facility is divided into two tranches: a $110 million 364-day commitment expiring in September 2000 and a $190 million commitment expiring in May 2003. The revolving credit facility was not used during fiscal 2000.

As previously mentioned, the Company's DECS obligation matured on March 1, 2000. The Company satisfied this obligation by exchanging its shares of Rouge common stock for the DECS notes. This eliminated the Rouge investment and the related DECS liability from the Company's consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the previously unrealized loss on the Rouge investment, which had been recorded in shareholders' equity, became realized and was recognized in the statement of earnings in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000.

At May 31, 2000, the Company's total debt was $525.1 million compared to $493.3 million at the end of fiscal 1999 (excluding the DECS). Total debt to committed capital (excluding the DECS) increased to 43.8% from 41.7% at the prior fiscal year end.

The Company repurchased 4.6 million common shares and 6.8 million common shares during fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999, respectively. As of May 31, 2000, approximately 2.9 million common shares remained available for repurchase under plans authorized by the Company's Board of Directors. The timing and amount of any future repurchases will be at the Company's discretion and will depend upon market conditions and the Company's operating performance and liquidity. Any repurchase will also be subject to the covenants contained in the Company's credit facilities as well as its other debt instruments.

The Company from time to time engages in discussions with respect to selected acquisitions and expects to continue to assess these and other acquisition opportunities as they arise. Accordingly, on August 15, 2000, the Company announced that it had signed a letter of intent to acquire the assets of MetalTech, NexTech and GalvTech for $300 million in cash. Under the terms of the letter of intent, the purchase price may increase by up to $40 million over a three-year period depending upon certain market conditions. The transaction is subject to various approvals and is contingent upon obtaining financing satisfactory to the Company. To finance this acquisition, the Company currently plans to issue long-term debt.

The Company may also require additional financing if it decides to make additional acquisitions. There can be no assurance, however, that any such opportunities will arise, any such acquisitions will be consummated or that any needed additional financing will be available when required on terms satisfactory to the Company. Absent any acquisitions, the Company anticipates that cash flows from operations, working capital and unused short-term borrowing capacity should be more than sufficient to fund expected normal operating costs, dividends, and capital expenditures for existing businesses.

10

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company has only limited involvement with derivative financial instruments and does not use them for trading purposes.

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to limit its exposure to changing interest rates related to its variable-rate debt arrangements. The aggregate amount of debt hedged by interest swap agreements was $7.3 million at May 31, 2000. The impact of a 100 basis point change in interest rates on the value of the swap agreements would be immaterial to the financial position of the Company.

The Company enters into forward contracts only to hedge specific foreign currency or commodity transactions. Gains or losses from these contracts offset gains or losses of the assets, liabilities or transactions being hedged. Therefore, the impact of fluctuations in currency or commodity prices is immaterial to the financial position of the Company.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which is required to be adopted by the Company for fiscal 2002. The Statement broadens the definition of derivatives, requires derivatives to be carried at fair value, and requires hedges to be accounted for based on the type of hedge. Because of the Company's minimal use of derivatives, management does not anticipate that the adoption of the new Statement will have a significant effect on earnings or the financial position of the Company.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 on Revenue Recognition, which the Company must adopt by the beginning of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001. The Bulletin specifies the criteria that must be met to recognize revenue and provides guidance on disclosures. Management does not anticipate that the adoption of the new Bulletin will have a significant effect on earnings or the financial position of the Company.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The Company believes environmental issues will not have a material effect on capital expenditures, consolidated financial position, future results or operations.

IMPACT OF YEAR 2000

In prior years, the Company disclosed the nature and progress of its plans to become Year 2000 ready. Prior to December 31, 1999, the Company completed its remediation and testing of systems. As a result of those planning and implementation efforts, the Company experienced no significant disruptions in mission critical information technology and non-information technology systems and believes those systems successfully responded to the Year 2000 date change. Total cumulative costs (including capitalized costs of $3.1 million) of $21.2 million were incurred by the Company during this process ($10.4 million, $10.2 million and $0.6 million in fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, respectively). The Company is not aware of any material problems resulting from Year 2000 issues, either with its internal systems, or the products or services of third parties. The Company will continue to monitor its mission critical computer applications and those of its suppliers and vendors throughout the Year 2000 to ensure that any latent Year 2000 matters that may arise are addressed properly.

INFLATION

The effects of inflation on the Company's operations were not significant during the periods presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

11

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                       MAY 31
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                 2000          1999
                    DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS                      ----------    ----------

                           ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $      538    $    7,641
  Accounts receivable, less allowances of $3,879 and $4,209
    at May 31, 2000 and 1999................................     301,175       281,706
  Inventories
    Raw materials...........................................     144,903       163,277
    Work in process.........................................      81,632        39,786
    Finished products.......................................      64,669        53,947
                                                              ----------    ----------
                                                                 291,204       257,010
  Investment in Rouge.......................................          --        52,497
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets.................      31,312        25,401
                                                              ----------    ----------
         Total Current Assets...............................     624,229       624,255
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates.....................      50,197        63,943
Intangible Assets...........................................      80,213        83,402
Other Assets................................................      56,722        44,004
Property, Plant and Equipment:
  Land......................................................      27,654        31,184
  Buildings.................................................     244,015       245,958
  Machinery and equipment...................................     861,772       823,343
  Construction in progress..................................      47,181        31,276
                                                              ----------    ----------
                                                               1,180,622     1,131,761
  Less accumulated depreciation.............................     318,110       260,414
                                                              ----------    ----------
                                                                 862,512       871,347
                                                              ----------    ----------
         Total Assets.......................................  $1,673,873    $1,686,951
                                                              ==========    ==========

                        LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable..........................................  $  157,998    $  161,264
  Notes payable.............................................     160,194       122,277
  Accrued compensation, contributions to employee benefit
    plans and related taxes.................................      36,888        37,187
  Dividends payable.........................................      13,721        13,492
  Other accrued items.......................................      30,082        35,482
  Income taxes..............................................      31,699           292
  Current maturities of long-term debt......................       2,688         5,234
  Debt exchangeable for common stock........................          --        52,497
                                                              ----------    ----------
         Total Current Liabilities..........................     433,270       427,725
Other Liabilities...........................................      25,531        31,512
Long-Term Debt..............................................     362,190       365,802
Deferred Income Taxes.......................................     125,942       124,444
Contingent Liabilities -- Note G............................          --            --
Minority Interest...........................................      53,586        47,819

                           EQUITY
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred shares, without par value,
    authorized -- 1,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding
    -- none.................................................          --            --
  Common shares, without par value,
    authorized -- 150,000,000 shares, issued and
    outstanding -- 2000 -- 85,754,525
    shares -- 1999 -- 89,949,277 shares.....................          --            --
  Additional paid-in capital................................     109,776       111,474
  Cumulative other comprehensive loss, net of taxes of
    $3,046 and $5,996 at May 31, 2000 and 1999..............      (5,806)       (8,484)
  Retained earnings.........................................     569,384       586,659
                                                              ----------    ----------
                                                                 673,354       689,649
                                                              ----------    ----------
         Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity.........  $1,673,873    $1,686,951
                                                              ==========    ==========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

12

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                                                  YEAR ENDED MAY 31
                                                        --------------------------------------
                                                           2000          1999          1998
            IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE              ----------    ----------    ----------
Net sales.............................................  $1,962,606    $1,763,072    $1,624,449
Cost of goods sold....................................   1,629,455     1,468,886     1,371,841
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Gross Margin...................................     333,151       294,186       252,608
Selling, general and administrative expense...........     163,662       147,990       117,101
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Operating Income...............................     169,489       146,196       135,507
Other income (expense):
  Miscellaneous income................................       2,653         5,210         1,396
  Loss on investment in Rouge.........................      (8,553)           --            --
  Interest expense....................................     (39,779)      (43,126)      (25,577)
  Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates --
     joint ventures...................................      26,832        24,471        19,316
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Earnings Before Income Taxes...................     150,642       132,751       130,642
Income taxes..........................................      56,491        49,118        48,338
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Earnings From Continuing Operations............      94,151        83,633        82,304
Discontinued operations, net of taxes.................          --       (20,885)       17,337
Extraordinary item, net of taxes......................          --            --        18,771
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of
  taxes...............................................          --        (7,836)           --
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Net Earnings...................................  $   94,151    $   54,912    $  118,412
                                                        ==========    ==========    ==========
Average common shares outstanding (Basic).............      88,411        93,016        96,751
Earnings Per Share (Basic):
       Continuing operations..........................  $     1.06    $     0.90    $     0.85
       Discontinued operations, net of taxes..........          --         (0.23)         0.18
       Extraordinary item, net of taxes...............          --            --          0.19
       Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of
          taxes.......................................          --         (0.08)           --
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Net Earnings...................................  $     1.06    $     0.59    $     1.22
                                                        ==========    ==========    ==========
Average Common Shares Outstanding (Diluted)...........      88,598        93,106        96,949
Earnings Per Share (Diluted):
       Continuing operations..........................  $     1.06    $     0.90    $     0.85
       Discontinued operations, net of taxes..........          --         (0.23)         0.18
       Extraordinary item, net of taxes...............          --            --          0.19
       Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of
          taxes.......................................          --         (0.08)           --
                                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Net Earnings...................................  $     1.06    $     0.59    $     1.22
                                                        ==========    ==========    ==========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

13

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2000

                                              COMPREHENSIVE   COMMON     ADDITIONAL      RETAINED
      DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS          TOTAL        INCOME       STOCK    PAID-IN CAPITAL   EARNINGS
      --------------------         --------   -------------   ------   ---------------   --------
Beginning balance at June 1,
  1999...........................  $689,649                   $  --       $111,474       $586,659
Comprehensive income:
  Net income.....................    94,151       94,151                                   94,151
  Other comprehensive income, net
    of tax:
    Unrealized gain (loss) on
      investment.................     5,616        5,616
    Foreign currency
      translation................    (2,938)      (2,938)
                                                 -------
    Other comprehensive income...                  2,678
                                                 -------
Comprehensive income.............                $96,829
                                                 =======
Common shares issued -- options
  (358,203 shares issued under
  plan)..........................     4,018                                  4,018
Purchase & retirement of common
  shares (4,552,952 shares
  repurchased)...................   (63,740)                                (5,720)       (58,020)
Other............................       (11)                                     4            (15)
Cash dividends declared ($.61 per
  share).........................   (53,391)                                              (53,391)
                                   --------                   ------      --------       --------
Ending balance at May 31, 2000...  $673,354                   $  --       $109,776       $569,384
                                   ========                   ======      ========       ========

                                     CUMULATIVE OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS,
                                                  NET OF TAX
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                                UNREALIZED        FOREIGN
                                              GAIN (LOSS) ON     CURRENCY
      DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS          TOTAL       INVESTMENT      TRANSLATION
      --------------------         -------    --------------    -----------
Beginning balance at June 1,
  1999...........................  $(8,484)      $(5,563)         $(2,921)
Comprehensive income:
  Net income.....................
  Other comprehensive income, net
    of tax:
    Unrealized gain (loss) on
      investment.................    5,616         5,616
    Foreign currency
      translation................   (2,938)           --           (2,938)
                                   -------       -------          -------
    Other comprehensive income...    2,678         5,616           (2,938)
                                   -------       -------          -------
Comprehensive income.............
Common shares issued -- options
  (358,203 shares issued under
  plan)..........................
Purchase & retirement of common
  shares (4,552,952 shares
  repurchased)...................
Other............................
Cash dividends declared ($.61 per
  share).........................
                                   -------       -------          -------
Ending balance at May 31, 2000...  $(5,806)      $    53          $(5,859)
                                   =======       =======          =======

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

14

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1999

                                              COMPREHENSIVE   COMMON     ADDITIONAL      RETAINED
      DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS          TOTAL        INCOME       STOCK    PAID-IN CAPITAL   EARNINGS
      --------------------         --------   -------------   ------   ---------------   --------
Beginning balance at June 1,
  1998...........................  $780,273                   $ 968       $116,696       $670,984
Comprehensive income:
  Net income.....................    54,912       54,912                                   54,912
  Other comprehensive income, net
    of tax:
    Foreign currency
      translation................      (109)        (109)
                                                 -------
    Other comprehensive income...                   (109)
                                                 -------
Comprehensive income.............                $54,803
                                                 =======
Common shares issued -- options
  (139,985 shares issued under
  plan)..........................     1,492                                  1,492
Common shares issued -- dividend
  reinvestment...................      (130)                                  (130)
Reorganization to Ohio...........        --                    (926)           926
Purchase & retirement of common
  shares (6,847,467 shares
  repurchased)...................   (94,432)                    (42)        (7,497)       (86,893)
Other............................       (15)                                    13             (2)
Cash dividends declared ($.57 per
  share).........................   (52,342)                                              (52,342)
                                   --------                   ------      --------       --------
Ending balance at May 31, 1999...  $689,649                   $  --       $111,474       $586,659
                                   ========                   ======      ========       ========

                                     CUMULATIVE OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS,
                                                  NET OF TAX
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                                UNREALIZED        FOREIGN
                                              GAIN (LOSS) ON     CURRENCY
      DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS          TOTAL       INVESTMENT      TRANSLATION
      --------------------         -------    --------------    -----------
Beginning balance at June 1,
  1998...........................  $(8,375)      $(5,563)         $(2,812)
Comprehensive income:
  Net income.....................
  Other comprehensive income, net
    of tax:
    Foreign currency
      translation................     (109)                          (109)
                                   -------       -------          -------
    Other comprehensive income...     (109)           --             (109)
                                   -------       -------          -------
Comprehensive income.............
Common shares issued -- options
  (139,985 shares issued under
  plan)..........................
Common shares issued -- dividend
  reinvestment...................
Reorganization to Ohio...........
Purchase & retirement of common
  shares (6,847,467 shares
  repurchased)...................
Other............................
Cash dividends declared ($.57 per
  share).........................
                                   -------       -------          -------
Ending balance at May 31, 1999...  $(8,484)      $(5,563)         $(2,921)
                                   =======       =======          =======

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

15

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1998

                                              COMPREHENSIVE   COMMON     ADDITIONAL      RETAINED
      DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS          TOTAL        INCOME       STOCK    PAID-IN CAPITAL   EARNINGS
      --------------------         --------   -------------   ------   ---------------   --------
Beginning balance at June 1,
  1997...........................  $715,518                   $ 968       $114,052       $607,922
Comprehensive income:
  Net income.....................   118,412      118,412                                  118,412
  Other comprehensive income, net
    of tax:
    Foreign currency
      translation................      (951)        (951)
                                                --------
    Other comprehensive income...                   (951)
                                                --------
Comprehensive income.............               $117,461
                                                ========
Common shares issued -- options
  (142,902 shares issued under
  plan)..........................     1,751                       1          1,750
Common shares issued -- dividend
  reinvestment (56,222 shares
  issued under plan).............     1,156                       1          1,155
Purchase & retirement of common
  shares (253,600 shares
  repurchased)...................    (4,342)                     (2)          (261)        (4,079)
Cash dividends declared ($.53 per
  share).........................   (51,271)                                              (51,271)
                                   --------                   ------      --------       --------
Ending balance at May 31, 1998...  $780,273                   $ 968       $116,696       $670,984
                                   ========                   ======      ========       ========

                                     CUMULATIVE OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS,
                                                  NET OF TAX
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                                UNREALIZED        FOREIGN
                                              GAIN (LOSS) ON     CURRENCY
      DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS          TOTAL       INVESTMENT      TRANSLATION
      --------------------         -------    --------------    -----------
Beginning balance at June 1,
  1997...........................  $(7,424)      $(5,563)         $(1,861)
Comprehensive income:
  Net income.....................
  Other comprehensive income, net
    of tax:
    Foreign currency
      translation................     (951)                          (951)
                                   -------       -------          -------
    Other comprehensive income...     (951)           --             (951)
                                   -------       -------          -------
Comprehensive income.............
Common shares issued -- options
  (142,902 shares issued under
  plan)..........................
Common shares issued -- dividend
  reinvestment (56,222 shares
  issued under plan).............
Purchase & retirement of common
  shares (253,600 shares
  repurchased)...................
Cash dividends declared ($.53 per
  share).........................
                                   -------       -------          -------
Ending balance at May 31, 1998...  $(8,375)      $(5,563)         $(2,812)
                                   =======       =======          =======

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

16

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                    YEAR ENDED MAY 31
                                                             --------------------------------
                                                              2000        1999         1998
                  DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS                       -------    ---------    --------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net earnings...........................................    $94,151    $  54,912    $118,412
  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization.......................     70,997       78,490      61,459
     Provision for deferred income taxes.................    (16,345)     (18,087)     22,104
     Loss on investment in Rouge.........................      8,553           --          --
     Equity in undistributed net income of unconsolidated
       affiliates........................................     13,262      (10,848)     (5,729)
     Minority interest in net income (loss) of
       consolidated subsidiary...........................      2,699       (2,664)       (553)
     Net loss on sale of assets..........................         --       29,237          --
     Cumulative effect of accounting change..............         --       12,292          --
     Extraordinary gain..................................         --           --     (29,795)
     Changes in assets and liabilities:
       Accounts receivable...............................    (17,413)     (27,078)    (43,319)
       Inventories.......................................    (29,106)      (4,980)      7,977
       Prepaid expenses and other current assets.........      1,264       (2,965)    (10,920)
       Other assets......................................    (15,957)        (366)     (1,319)
       Accounts payable and accrued expenses.............     30,631         (665)     76,637
       Other liabilities.................................     (3,826)      (3,554)      5,949
                                                             -------    ---------    --------
          Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities......    138,910      103,724     200,903
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Investment in property, plant and equipment, net.......    (71,541)    (107,759)   (309,412)
  Acquisitions, net of cash acquired.....................     (1,108)     (34,054)         --
  Proceeds from sale of assets...........................      2,672      198,995          --
  Proceeds from property insurance.......................         --           --      38,683
                                                             -------    ---------    --------
          Net Cash Provided (Used) By Investing
            Activities...................................    (69,977)      57,182    (270,729)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from (payments on) short-term borrowings......     37,917      (14,491)     86,600
  Proceeds from long-term debt...........................         --          390     152,868
  Principal payments on long-term debt...................     (5,597)      (4,983)   (155,401)
  Proceeds from issuance of common shares................      4,018        1,349       2,955
  Proceeds from minority interest........................      3,790        7,497      34,081
  Repurchase of common shares............................    (63,003)     (94,432)     (4,390)
  Dividends paid.........................................    (53,161)     (52,383)    (50,311)
                                                             -------    ---------    --------
          Net Cash Provided (Used) By Financing
            Activities...................................    (76,036)    (157,053)     66,402
                                                             -------    ---------    --------
  Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.......     (7,103)       3,853      (3,424)
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year.........      7,641        3,788       7,212
                                                             -------    ---------    --------
          Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year.......    $   538    $   7,641    $  3,788
                                                             =======    =========    ========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

17

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Worthington Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"). Spartan Steel Coating, L.L.C. (owned 52%), Worthington S.A. (owned 52%), and Worthington Gastec a.s. (owned 51%) are fully consolidated with the equity owned by the respective partners shown as minority interest on the balance sheet and their portion of net income or loss included in miscellaneous income or expense. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for using the equity method. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the 2000 presentation.

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

Investment in Rouge: On March 1, 2000, the Company retired the notes exchangeable into Class A Common Stock of Rouge (the "DECS"). The holders of the DECS received, in exchange for the principal amount of the notes, an aggregate of 5,999,600 shares of Class A Common Stock of Rouge Industries, Inc. ("Rouge shares") representing the total number of Rouge shares owned by the Company at that time. Prior to the exchange, the Company's investment in Rouge Industries, Inc. ("Rouge") was classified as an "available-for-sale" security with adjustments to market value being recorded, net of tax, to shareholders' equity. See Note C.

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

Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the specific identification method for steel coils and the first-in, first-out method for all other inventories.

Deferred Start-up Costs: In April 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 98-5 ("SOP 98-5"), Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities, which requires that costs related to start-up activities be expensed as incurred. Prior to 1999, the Company capitalized the cost of starting up new plants and facilities. The Company adopted the provisions of SOP 98-5 in its financial statements for the year ended May 31, 1999. The effect of the adoption of SOP 98-5 was to record a charge for the cumulative effect of an accounting change of $7,836,000, net of taxes of $4,456,000, to expense costs that had been capitalized prior to 1999. The impact of the change on earnings from continuing operations for fiscal 1999 was immaterial.

Intangible Assets: Intangible assets primarily include goodwill, which is being amortized on the straight-line method primarily over 40 years. Intangible assets were $80,213,000 at May 31, 2000 and $83,402,000 at May 31, 1999 (net of accumulated amortization of $7,841,000 and $6,111,000, respectively). Amortization expense was $4,150,000 in fiscal 2000, $2,996,000 in fiscal 1999 and $3,066,000 in fiscal 1998. The Company's policy is to periodically review its intangible assets based upon the evaluation of such factors as the occurrence of a significant adverse event or change in the environment in which the business operates or if the expected future net cash flows (undiscounted and without interest) would become less than the carrying amount of the assets. An impairment loss would be recorded in the period such determination is made based on the fair value of the related businesses.

Property and Depreciation: Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost and depreciated using the straight-line and units-of-production methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Accelerated depreciation methods are used for income tax purposes.

Capitalized Interest: Interest is capitalized in connection with construction of qualified assets. Under this policy, the Company capitalized interest of $750,000 in fiscal 2000, $3,972,000 in fiscal 1999 and $11,306,000 in fiscal 1998.

Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenue at the time of shipment.

18

Environmental Costs: Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs extend the life of the property, increase its capacity, and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations. Costs related to environmental contamination treatment and clean-up are charged to expense.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards: In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which is required to be adopted by the Company for fiscal 2002. The Statement broadens the definition of derivatives, requires derivatives to be carried at fair value, and requires hedges to be accounted for based on the type of hedge. Because of the Company's minimal use of derivatives, management does not anticipate that the adoption of the new Statement will have a significant effect on earnings or the financial position of the Company.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 on Revenue Recognition, which the Company must adopt by the beginning of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001. The Bulletin specifies the criteria that must be met to recognize revenue and provides guidance on disclosures. Management does not anticipate that the adoption of the new Bulletin will have a significant effect on earnings or the financial position of the Company.

Derivatives and Financial Instruments: The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, other assets and payables approximate fair values. The fair value of long-term debt based upon quoted market prices is $335,420,000 and $363,487,000 at May 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

The Company does not engage in currency or commodity speculation and generally enters into forward contracts only to hedge specific foreign currency or commodity transactions. The amount of these contracts outstanding and the adjustments marked-to-market at any time are immaterial. Gains or losses from these contracts offset gains or losses of the assets, liabilities or transactions being hedged.

Statements of Cash Flows: Supplemental cash flow information for the years ended May 31 is as follows:

                                                         2000       1999       1998
                     IN THOUSANDS                       -------    -------    -------
Interest paid.........................................  $41,634    $45,251    $32,414
Income taxes paid, net of refunds.....................  $22,821    $52,459    $48,470

Risks and Uncertainties: The Company, including unconsolidated affiliates, operates 55 production facilities in 20 states and 11 countries (see "Company Locations" and "The Company" sections elsewhere for market descriptions and location listing). The Company's largest markets are the automotive and automotive supply markets. Foreign operations and exports represent less than 10% of the Company's production and sales. Approximately 19% of the Company's labor force is covered by collective bargaining agreements. All significant labor contracts expire over one year from May 31, 2000. The concentration of credit risks from financial instruments related to the markets served by the Company is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, cash flow or future results of operations.

NOTE B -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

The Board of Directors is empowered to determine the issue prices, dividend rates, amounts payable upon liquidation, voting rights and other terms of the preferred shares when issued.

On October 13, 1998, Worthington Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Worthington Delaware) was merged with and into the Company, an Ohio corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worthington Delaware. Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Worthington Delaware was converted into one common share, without par value, of the Company.

19

NOTE C -- DEBT

Debt at May 31 is summarized as follows:

                                                                2000        1999
                        IN THOUSANDS                          --------    --------
Short-term unsecured notes payable..........................  $160,194    $122,277
Revolver  --  unsecured.....................................        --          --
7.125% unsecured senior notes due May 15, 2006..............   200,000     200,000
6.7% unsecured senior notes due December 1, 2009............   150,000     150,000
Other.......................................................    14,878      21,036
                                                              --------    --------
     Total conventional debt................................   525,072     493,313
Debt exchangeable for common stock..........................        --      52,497
                                                              --------    --------
     Total debt.............................................   525,072     545,810
Less current maturities and short-term notes payable........   162,882     180,008
                                                              --------    --------
     Total long-term debt...................................  $362,190    $365,802
                                                              ========    ========

The short-term unsecured notes payable represent borrowings under uncommitted bank lines of credit. The weighted average interest rate for fiscal 2000 was 5.82%. In fiscal 1999, short-term notes payable had a weighted average interest rate of 5.14%. In addition, the Company maintains a $300,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility, which was not utilized in fiscal 2000. The credit facility is divided into two tranches: a $110,000,000 364-day facility maturing September 28, 2000 and a $190,000,000 tranch maturing May 30, 2003. The Company pays a commitment fee on the unused credit amount. Interest rates are determined at the time of borrowing based upon alternatives specified in the credit agreement. To remain in compliance with the credit agreement, the Company must maintain a ratio of debt to total capitalization, as defined, of less than 60%. At May 31, 2000, this ratio was 44.3%.

The Company's "Other" debt primarily includes industrial development revenue bonds with variable swapped interest rates up to 5.91% and debt from foreign operations.

During March 1997, the Company issued approximately $93 million of three-year DECS notes. The DECS had an interest rate of 7.25% and matured on March 1, 2000. On March 1, 2000, the Company retired the DECS notes in exchange for the Rouge shares held by the Company. The number of Rouge shares exchanged was based upon the average closing price per share of Rouge shares for the 20-day trading period immediately prior to March 1, 2000. While it was outstanding, the DECS liability fluctuated in proportion to the market value of the Rouge shares. Because it was the Company's intention to settle the DECS using the Rouge shares, considered an "available for sale" security, a net of tax adjustment to shareholder's equity was made for the net change both in stock value and the carrying amount of the DECS liability. The previously unrealized loss on the investment in Rouge was realized when the Company used the Rouge shares to satisfy the DECS on March 1, 2000, resulting in an $8,553,000 pre-tax loss. See Note A, Investment in Rouge.

Principal payments due on long-term debt, including lease purchase obligations, in the next five fiscal years are as follows: 2001 -- $2,688,309; 2002 -- $2,433,377; 2003 -- $1,868,732; 2004 -- $1,631,730; 2005 -- $1,174,540; and thereafter -- $355,081,507.

The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest costs and exposure to changing interest rates. At May 31, 2000, agreements were in place that effectively converted $7,305,000 of floating rate notes due 2011 to a 5.91% fixed rate. During September 1998, agreements that were in place to effectively convert $100,000,000 of the 7.125% Notes due 2006 from fixed rate debt to floating were terminated. The termination resulted in a gain of $5,203,000, which is being amortized over the life of the note.

The Company guaranteed obligations totaling $10,535,000 at May 31, 2000, with varying maturities, which primarily relate to debt of unconsolidated joint ventures. The Company believes the guarantees will not significantly affect its consolidated financial position or future results of operations.

20

NOTE D -- INCOME TAXES

Income taxes for the years ended May 31 were as follows:

                                                         2000       1999       1998
                     IN THOUSANDS                       -------    -------    -------
Current:
  Federal.............................................  $66,070    $33,665    $35,340
  State and local.....................................    4,078      3,808      4,160
  Foreign.............................................    2,688      3,938         --
Deferred:
  Federal.............................................  (16,514)     7,891      8,259
  State...............................................      169       (184)       579
                                                        -------    -------    -------
                                                         56,491     49,118     48,338
Discontinued Operations...............................       --     (4,481)    10,182
                                                        -------    -------    -------
                                                        $56,491    $44,637    $58,520
                                                        =======    =======    =======

Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the liability method is used in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of May 31 are as follows:

                                                                2000        1999
                        IN THOUSANDS                          --------    --------
Deferred tax assets:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts...........................  $  2,094    $  1,384
  Inventory.................................................     1,913         803
  Accrued expenses..........................................     5,172       7,470
  Income taxes..............................................     4,122       4,385
  Other.....................................................       413         260
                                                              --------    --------
                                                                13,714      14,302
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Property, plant and equipment.............................   115,529      75,538
  Undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.......    11,830      48,906
  Other.....................................................    (1,417)         --
                                                              --------    --------
                                                               125,942     124,444
                                                              --------    --------
  Net deferred tax liability................................  $112,228    $110,142
                                                              ========    ========

The reasons for the difference between the effective income tax rate and the statutory federal income tax rate were as follows:

                                                              2000    1999    1998
                                                              ----    ----    ----
Federal statutory rate......................................  35.0%   35.0%   35.0%
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit....   1.8     1.9     2.2
Foreign and other...........................................    .7      .1     (.2)
                                                              ----    ----    ----
                                                              37.5%   37.0%   37.0%
                                                              ====    ====    ====

21

NOTE E -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Certain employees of the Company participate in a current cash profit sharing plan and a deferred profit sharing plan. Company contributions to and costs for these plans are determined as a percentage of the Company's pre-tax income before profit sharing.

Certain operations have non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering a majority of their employees qualified by age and service. Company contributions to these plans comply with ERISA's minimum funding requirements.

At May 31, 1999, all pension plans of discontinued operations were disposed.

A summary of the components of net periodic pension cost for the defined benefit plans in fiscal 2000, fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998, and the contributions charged to pension expense for the defined contribution plans follows:

                                                           2000       1999      1998
                      IN THOUSANDS                        -------    ------    -------
Defined benefit plans:
  Service cost (benefits earned during the period)......  $   827    $1,214    $   917
  Interest cost on projected benefit obligation.........    1,051     1,236        964
  Actual return on plan assets..........................   (1,109)   (2,050)    (2,997)
  Net amortization and deferral.........................      177     1,587      2,409
                                                          -------    ------    -------
  Net pension cost on defined benefit plans.............      946     1,987      1,293
Defined contribution plans..............................    6,418     6,247      5,720
                                                          -------    ------    -------
          Total pension expense - Continuing
            Operations..................................    7,364     8,234      7,013
Discontinued Operations.................................       --    (1,048)     1,339
                                                          -------    ------    -------
          Total pension expense.........................  $ 7,364    $7,186    $ 8,352
                                                          =======    ======    =======

Pension expense was calculated assuming a weighted average discount rate of between 7.00% and 8.00% with a weighted average expected long-term rate of return of between 7.75% and 9.00%. Plan assets consist principally of listed equity securities and fixed income instruments. The following table sets forth the funded status and amounts recognized in the Company's consolidated balance sheet for defined benefit pension plans at May 31:

                                                                 PENSION BENEFITS
                                                              CONTINUING OPERATIONS
                                                              ----------------------
                                                                2000         1999
                        IN THOUSANDS                          ---------    ---------
Change in Benefit Obligation
  Benefit Obligation - Beginning of year....................   $14,520      $12,141
  Service Cost..............................................       827          926
  Interest Cost.............................................     1,069        1,017
  Amendments................................................        --        1,488
  Actuarial Gain............................................      (706)         (53)
  Benefits Paid.............................................      (819)        (999)
                                                               -------      -------
  Benefit Obligation - End of year..........................   $14,891      $14,520
                                                               =======      =======
Change in Plan Assets
  Fair Value of Plan Assets - Beginning of year.............   $13,932      $11,709
  Actual Return on Plan Assets..............................       796        1,817
  Employer Contributions....................................       781        1,412
  Benefits Paid.............................................      (742)      (1,006)
                                                               -------      -------
  Fair Value of Plan Assets - End of year...................   $14,767      $13,932
                                                               -------      -------

22

                                                                 PENSION BENEFITS
                                                              CONTINUING OPERATIONS
                                                              ----------------------
                                                                2000         1999
                        IN THOUSANDS                          ---------    ---------
Funded Status...............................................   $  (124)     $  (588)
Unrecognized Net Actuarial Loss.............................    (3,928)      (3,290)
Unrecognized Prior Service Cost.............................     2,967        3,419
                                                               -------      -------
Prepaid (Accrued) Benefit Cost..............................   $(1,085)     $  (459)
                                                               =======      =======
Plans With Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of
  Plan Assets Projected Benefit Obligation..................   $14,073      $ 6,348
Fair Value of Plan Assets...................................    13,563        5,094
                                                               -------      -------
Funded Status...............................................   $  (510)     $(1,254)
                                                               =======      =======

NOTE F -- STOCK OPTIONS

Under its employee stock option plans, the Company may grant employees incentive stock options to purchase common shares at not less than 100% of market value at date of grant or non-qualified stock options at a price determined by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee. Generally, options vest and become exercisable at the rate of 20% per year beginning one year from date of grant and expire ten years thereafter.
The following table summarizes the option plans' activity for the years ended May 31:

                                                   2000                 1999                 1998
                                            ------------------   ------------------   ------------------
                                                      WEIGHTED             WEIGHTED             WEIGHTED
                                                      AVERAGE              AVERAGE              AVERAGE
                                            OPTIONS    PRICE     OPTIONS    PRICE     OPTIONS    PRICE
      IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE        -------   --------   -------   --------   -------   --------
Outstanding -- beginning of year..........   3,907     $15.04     2,440     $17.39     2,370     $16.85
Granted...................................   1,006      12.75     2,153      13.00       465      18.71
Exercised.................................    (358)      9.25      (140)      9.31      (143)      8.80
Forfeited.................................    (219)     17.29      (546)     18.90      (252)     19.47
                                             -----                -----                -----
Outstanding -- end of year................   4,336      14.90     3,907      15.04     2,440      17.39
                                             =====                =====                =====
Exercisable at end of year................   1,474      17.68     1,227      16.52     1,273      17.39
Weighted-average fair value of options
  granted during the year.................             $ 2.84               $ 2.19               $ 3.91
Assumptions used:
Dividend yield............................    4.25%                4.25%                3.00%
Expected volatility.......................   23.00%               23.00%               23.00%
Risk-free interest rate...................    5.96%                4.79%                5.06%
Expected lives (years)....................       5                    5                    5

Options outstanding at May 31, 2000 are summarized as follows:

                                                  OUTSTANDING                          EXERCISABLE
                                   ------------------------------------------    -----------------------
                                               WEIGHTED      WEIGHTED AVERAGE                WEIGHTED
                                               AVERAGE          REMAINING                    AVERAGE
                                   NUMBER   EXERCISE PRICE   CONTRACTUAL LIFE    NUMBER   EXERCISE PRICE
 IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE    ------   --------------   ----------------    ------   --------------
Exercise prices between
  $12.00 and $15.00..............  3,047        $12.92             8.9             429        $12.99
  $18.56 and $21.38..............  1,289         19.57             5.2           1,045         19.61

The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the stock option plans. Had compensation cost for the Company's stock option plans been determined based on

23

the fair value at the grant date for awards in 2000, 1999 and 1998 consistent with the provisions of Statement No. 123, the Company's net earnings and earnings per share would have been as presented in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                                                2000       1999        1998
                                               -------    -------    --------
Net earnings
  As reported................................  $94,151    $54,912    $118,412
  Pro forma..................................   92,708     53,830     117,759
Earnings per share (basic)
  As reported................................  $  1.06    $  0.59    $   1.22
  Pro forma..................................     1.05       0.58        1.22
Earnings per share (diluted)
  As reported................................  $  1.06    $  0.59    $   1.22
  Pro forma..................................     1.05       0.58        1.21

The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the above weighted-average assumptions used for grants. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in the Company's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

NOTE G -- CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS

The Company is a defendant in certain legal actions. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these actions, which is not clearly determinable at the present time, would not significantly affect the Company's consolidated financial position or future results of operations. The Company believes that environmental issues will not have a material effect on capital expenditures, consolidated financial position or future results of operations.

To secure access to facilities used to regenerate acid used in certain steel processing locations, the Company has entered into unconditional purchase obligations with a third party which require the Company to deliver certain quantities of acid for processing annually through the year 2019. In addition, the Company is required to pay for freight and utilities used in processing its acid. The aggregate amount of required payments at May 31, 2000 is as follows (in thousands):

2001.............................................    $ 4,395
2002.............................................      4,395
2003.............................................      4,395
2004.............................................      4,395
2005.............................................      4,395
Thereafter.......................................     61,535
                                                     -------
Total............................................    $83,510
                                                     =======

The Company may not terminate the unconditional purchase obligations without assuming or otherwise repaying certain debt of the supplier, based on the fair market value of the facility. At May 31, 2000, $35.9 million of such debt was outstanding.

NOTE H -- INDUSTRY SEGMENT DATA

The Company's continuing operations include three reportable segments (Processed Steel Products, Metal Framing and Pressure Cylinders). Factors used to identify these segments include the products and services provided by each segment as well as the management reporting structure used by the Company. A discussion of each segment is outlined below.

24

Processed Steel Products: This segment consists of two business units, The Worthington Steel Company and The Gerstenslager Company. Both are intermediate processors of flat-rolled steel. Processing capabilities in this segment include pickling, slitting, rolling, annealing, edging, tension leveling, cutting-to-length, configured blanking, stamping, painting, nickel and zinc/nickel coating and hot-dipped galvanizing. This segment sells to customers principally in the automotive, automotive supply, appliance, electrical, communications, construction, office furniture, office equipment, agricultural, machinery and leisure time industries.

Metal Framing: This segment consists of one business unit, Dietrich Industries, Inc., which produces metal framing products for the commercial and residential construction markets in the United States. Dietrich's customers include building products distributors, commercial and residential contractors, and gypsum producers.

Pressure Cylinders: This segment consists of one business unit, Worthington Cylinder Corporation, which produces portable low-pressure liquid propane cylinders and refrigerant gas cylinders, and portable high-pressure cylinders. Refrigerant gas cylinders are used primarily by major refrigerant gas producers to contain refrigerant gases for use in charging residential, commercial, automotive and other air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Reusable steel and aluminum liquid propane gas cylinders are sold to manufacturers and distributors of barbecue grills and propane, mass merchandisers, and manufacturers and users of material handling, heating, cooking and camping equipment. High-pressure cylinders are sold primarily to gas fillers and suppliers as containers for acetylene, medical, industrial, halon, electronic, cutting and welding gases. This segment also produces recycle and recovery tanks for refrigerant gases, helium tanks and cylinders to hold other gases.

The accounting policies of the operating segments are described in Note A -- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company evaluates segment performance based on operating income. Inter-segment sales are not material.

Summarized financial information concerning the Company's reportable segments is shown in the following table. The "Other" category includes corporate related items, results of immaterial operations, and income and expense not allocated to the reportable segments. See Note N for results of the discontinued operations' segments.

                                                         2000        1999        1998
                     IN MILLIONS                       --------    --------    --------
NET SALES
Processed Steel Products.............................  $1,287.9    $1,114.9    $1,049.5
Metal Framing........................................     350.6       337.2       337.0
Pressure Cylinders...................................     318.8       305.8       223.5
Other................................................       5.3         5.2        14.4
                                                       --------    --------    --------
Continuing Operations................................  $1,962.6    $1,763.1    $1,624.4
                                                       ========    ========    ========
OPERATING INCOME
Processed Steel Products.............................  $   96.8    $   82.6    $   87.7
Metal Framing........................................      43.2        25.4        20.0
Pressure Cylinders...................................      34.2        36.7        28.6
Other................................................      (4.7)        1.5        (0.8)
                                                       --------    --------    --------
Continuing Operations................................  $  169.5    $  146.2    $  135.5
                                                       ========    ========    ========
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Processed Steel Products.............................  $   48.0    $   43.2    $   25.8
Metal Framing........................................       9.4         8.6         8.1
Pressure Cylinders...................................      10.4         9.4         5.2
Other................................................       3.2         2.9         2.5
                                                       --------    --------    --------
Continuing Operations................................  $   71.0    $   64.1    $   41.6
                                                       ========    ========    ========

25

                                                         2000        1999        1998
                     IN MILLIONS                       --------    --------    --------
TOTAL ASSETS
Processed Steel Products.............................  $1,049.6    $1,000.0    $  947.2
Metal Framing........................................     256.5       250.7       258.0
Pressure Cylinders...................................     215.9       223.9       153.4
Other................................................     151.9       212.4       198.0
                                                       --------    --------    --------
Continuing Operations................................  $1,673.9    $1,687.0    $1,556.5
                                                       ========    ========    ========
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Processed Steel Products.............................  $   31.2    $   79.0    $  283.8
Metal Framing........................................      11.0         7.8         5.8
Pressure Cylinders...................................      12.4         8.0         4.1
Other................................................      16.9         3.6         3.9
                                                       --------    --------    --------
Continuing Operations................................  $   71.5    $   98.4    $  297.6
                                                       ========    ========    ========

Company locations contained within the Annual Report are an integral part of these financial statements.

NOTE I -- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company purchases from and sells to affiliated companies, certain raw materials and services at prevailing market prices. Sales to affiliated companies for fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998 totaled $31 million, $33 million and $33 million, respectively. Accounts receivable related to these transactions were $1 million and $5 million at May 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Accounts payable to related parties were $19 million and $11 million at May 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

NOTE J -- INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

The Company's investments in affiliated companies which are not "majority-owned" and controlled are accounted for using the equity method. Investments carried at equity and the percentage interest owned consist of Worthington Specialty Processing (50%), Worthington Armstrong Venture (50%), TWB Company, LLC (33%) and Acerex, S.A. de C.V. (50%).

The Company received dividends from unconsolidated affiliates totaling $40,094,000 and $13,623,000 in 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Financial information for affiliated companies accounted for by the equity method is as follows:

                                                       2000        1999        1998
                   IN THOUSANDS                      --------    --------    --------
Current assets.....................................  $120,619    $107,461    $ 90,535
Noncurrent assets..................................   129,699     130,822     135,688
Current liabilities................................    55,220      41,697      34,979
Noncurrent liabilities.............................    85,568      57,350      67,869
Net sales..........................................   377,630     324,306     282,616
Gross margin.......................................    99,095      87,365      73,510
Net income.........................................  $ 55,921    $ 51,448    $ 38,251

The Company's share of undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates included in consolidated retained earnings was $11,904,000 at May 31, 2000.

NOTE K -- ACQUISITIONS

The Company acquired a 51% majority interest in Gastec spol. s.r.o. ("Worthington Gastec") in February 1999 and purchased the cylinder manufacturing assets of Metalurgica Progresso de Vale de Cambra,

26

Lda. ("Worthington Portugal") in May 1999. Worthington Gastec, based in Hustopece, Czech Republic, and Worthington Portugal, based in Vale de Cambra, Portugal, produce small- and medium-sized low pressure gas cylinders used in heating and industrial applications. The Worthington Gastec and Worthington Portugal acquisitions were business combinations accounted for as purchases. The results of operations for these acquisitions are included in the financial statements of the Company since the respective dates of acquisition. Goodwill in the amount of $1,146,000 relating to Worthington Gastec and $3,158,000 relating to Worthington Portugal resulting from these purchases is being amortized using the straight-line method over 40 years.

During June 1998, the Company acquired the stock of Jos. Heiser vormals J. Winter's Sohn, GmbH ("Worthington Heiser") for approximately $27 million (net of cash acquired) plus $7.3 million of debt assumed in a business combination accounted for as a purchase. Based in Kienberg, Austria, Worthington Heiser produces high pressure industrial gas cylinders. The results of operations for Worthington Heiser are included in the financial statements of the Company since the date of acquisition. Goodwill in the amount of $12.9 million resulting from the purchase is being amortized using the straight-line method over 40 years.

Pro forma results including the acquired companies since the beginning of the earliest period presented would not be materially different than actual results.

NOTE L -- EARNINGS PER SHARE

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

                                                                   YEAR END MAY 31
                                                      -----------------------------------------
                                                         2000           1999           1998
       DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE         -----------    -----------    -----------
Numerator (Basic & Diluted):
  Earnings From Continuing Operations -- income
     available to common shareholders...............  $    94,151    $    83,633    $    82,304
                                                      ===========    ===========    ===========
Denominator:
  Denominator for basic earnings per
     share-weighted-average shares..................   88,410,804     93,015,707     96,751,260
  Effect of dilutive securities - employee stock
     options........................................      187,009         90,347        197,405
                                                      -----------    -----------    -----------
  Denominator for diluted earnings per share -
     adjusted weighted-average shares...............   88,597,813     93,106,054     96,948,665
                                                      ===========    ===========    ===========
  Basic earnings from continuing operations per
     share..........................................  $      1.06    $      0.90    $      0.85
                                                      ===========    ===========    ===========
  Diluted earnings from continuing operations per
     share..........................................  $      1.06    $      0.90    $      0.85
                                                      ===========    ===========    ===========
  Antidilutive securities (a).......................    1,559,315      2,876,429      1,617,237
                                                      ===========    ===========    ===========


(a) Securities that could potentially dilute basic EPS are not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the period(s) presented.

NOTE M -- EXTRAORDINARY ITEM - INVOLUNTARY CONVERSION OF ASSETS

On August 14, 1997, the Company experienced a fire at the Monroe, Ohio facility. The fire destroyed the pickling area of the facility and caused extensive damage to other parts of the plant, including blanking and slitting. The Company shifted a significant amount of the business to other locations, with the remainder sent to third party processors. Blanking operations resumed in September 1997, slitting in March 1998 and pickling in September 1998. The Company has increased both pickling and storage capacity at this facility beyond its pre-fire capabilities.

The Company carries both property damage and business interruption insurance and, as a result, the fire did not have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial results.

27

The Company settled the property portion of the insurance claim in fiscal 1998. The property settlement, $38,683,000, resulted in an extraordinary gain as these proceeds were for replacement value significantly in excess of the remaining book value. The breakdown of the extraordinary item shown on the consolidated statement of earnings is as follows:

                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
Proceeds......................................       $38,683
Less book value...............................         8,888
                                                     -------
Gain on involuntary conversion................        29,795
Income tax provision..........................        11,024
                                                     -------
                                                     $18,771
                                                     =======

Total insurance proceeds received in the settlement of all claims were as follows:

                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
Property and equipment........................       $38,683
Inventory.....................................         2,500
Business interruption.........................        25,587
Other expenses................................         7,917
                                                     -------
                                                     $74,687
                                                     =======

The proceeds related to damaged inventory approximated cost. The proceeds related to business interruption were $13,934,000 ($5,474,000 in fiscal 1999 and $8,460,000 in fiscal 1998) for lost operating income that is included in net sales, and $11,653,000 ($4,913,000 in fiscal 1999 and $6,740,000 in fiscal 1998) for costs incurred to mitigate the loss that is recorded as a reduction of the related expense. The proceeds for other expenses represented reimbursement for non-recurring expenses related to the fire and were recorded as an offset of manufacturing costs.

NOTE N -- DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

As a result of a fiscal 1998 strategic review, the Company adopted a plan and subsequently sold its Custom Products and Cast Products segments consisting of subsidiaries Worthington Custom Plastics, Worthington Precision Metals and Buckeye Steel Castings. Accordingly, the Company has reported the results of these entities as discontinued operations.

The Company completed the sale of the components of its Custom Products and Cast Products segments for aggregate proceeds of approximately $139 million and $85 million, respectively, in fiscal 1999. The aggregate proceeds included $30 million in preferred stock and notes receivable issued by the acquirers, the ultimate realization of which is dependent on the financial performance of the acquirers. The Company periodically monitors its credit risk exposure for evaluation of impairment indicators and potential write-down in value of its investment in the preferred stock and notes receivable.

28

At May 31, 1999, all components of discontinued operations were disposed. Summarized results of discontinued operations follow:

                                                      CUSTOM       CAST
                                                     PRODUCTS    PRODUCTS     TOTAL
                   IN THOUSANDS                      --------    --------    --------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1999
Net Sales..........................................  $275,996    $ 95,593    $371,589
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes................    (6,515)     12,192       5,677
Income Taxes (Benefit).............................    (2,241)      4,207       1,966
                                                     --------    --------    --------
Net Earnings (Loss) from Operations................    (4,274)      7,985       3,711
Gain (Loss) on Sales...............................   (59,960)     28,917     (31,043)
Income Taxes (Benefit).............................   (21,281)     14,834      (6,447)
                                                     --------    --------    --------
Net Gain (Loss) on Sales...........................   (38,679)     14,083     (24,596)
                                                     --------    --------    --------
Net Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations.....  $(42,953)   $ 22,068    $(20,885)
                                                     ========    ========    ========
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1998
Net Sales..........................................  $372,822    $121,026    $493,848
Earnings Before Income Taxes.......................    21,508       6,011      27,519
Income Taxes.......................................     7,958       2,224      10,182
                                                     --------    --------    --------
Net Earnings.......................................  $ 13,550    $  3,787    $ 17,337
                                                     ========    ========    ========

Other items of discontinued operations follow:

                                                          CUSTOM       CAST
                                                         PRODUCTS    PRODUCTS     TOTAL
                     IN THOUSANDS                        --------    --------    -------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1999
Depreciation and Amortization Expense..................  $10,915      $3,488     $14,403
Capital Expenditures...................................    3,572       5,783       9,355
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1998
Depreciation and Amortization Expense..................   15,229       4,641      19,870
Capital Expenditures...................................  $ 6,999      $4,801     $11,800

29

NOTE O -- QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended May 31, 2000 and 1999:

                                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                 --------------------------------------------
                                                  AUGUST     NOVEMBER    FEBRUARY      MAY
        IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE           --------    --------    --------    --------
2000
Net sales......................................  $462,911    $473,331    $486,535    $539,829
Gross margin...................................    83,175      85,042      79,641      85,293
Net Earnings...................................    24,258      24,726      23,212      21,955
Earnings per share (Diluted)...................  $   0.27    $   0.28    $   0.26    $   0.25
1999
Net sales......................................  $409,280    $436,428    $422,074    $495,290
Gross margin...................................    61,678      69,170      72,337      91,001
Earnings from continuing operations............    17,690      18,359      19,095      28,488
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of
  tax..........................................    (1,316)      3,948     (16,870)     (6,647)
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of
  tax..........................................    (7,836)         --          --          --
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------
Net earnings...................................  $  8,538    $ 22,307    $  2,225    $ 21,841
                                                 ========    ========    ========    ========
Earnings per share (Diluted):
  Continuing operations........................  $   0.18    $   0.20    $   0.21    $   0.31
  Discontinued operations, net of tax..........     (0.01)       0.04       (0.19)      (0.07)
  Cumulative effect of accounting change, net
     of tax....................................     (0.08)         --          --          --
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------
  Net earnings.................................  $   0.09    $   0.24    $   0.02    $   0.24
                                                 ========    ========    ========    ========

NOTE P -- SUBSEQUENT EVENT (UNAUDITED)

On August 15, 2000, the Company announced that it had signed a letter of intent to acquire the assets of MetalTech, NexTech and GalvTech for $300 million in cash. Under the terms of the letter of intent, the purchase price may increase by up to $40 million over a three-year period depending upon certain market conditions. The transaction is subject to various approvals and is contingent upon obtaining financing satisfactory to the Company.

30

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT

The management of Worthington Industries, Inc. is responsible for the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles appropriate in the circumstances. Management is also responsible for the determination of estimates and judgments used in the financial statements and the preparation of other financial information included in this Annual Report to Shareholders. The financial statements have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

The management of the Company has established and maintains an accounting system and related internal controls that it believes are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded against unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition, that transactions are executed and recorded in accordance with management's authorization and that the financial records are reliable for preparing financial statements. The concept of reasonable assurance is based on the recognition that the cost of a system of internal control must be related to the benefits derived and that the balancing of the factors requires estimates and judgments. Management considers the recommendations of the independent certified public accountants concerning the Company's system of internal control and takes appropriate actions which are cost effective in the circumstances.

The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee of directors who are not members of management. The Audit Committee meets periodically with the Company's management and independent certified public accountants to review matters relating to financial reporting, auditing and internal control. To ensure auditor independence, the independent certified public accountants have full and free access to the Audit Committee.

          /s/  JOHN P. McCONNELL
------------------------------------------
John P. McConnell, Chairman & Chief
Executive Officer

           /s/  JOHN T. BALDWIN
------------------------------------------
John T. Baldwin, Vice President & Chief
Financial Officer

31

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Shareholders and Board of Directors
Worthington Industries, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Worthington Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of May 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2000. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the 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 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Worthington Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries at May 31, 2000 and 1999, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

                                                   /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     Ernst & Young LLP

Columbus, Ohio
June 16, 2000

32

COMPANY LOCATIONS

PROCESSED STEEL PRODUCTS

WORTHINGTON STEEL
Columbus, Monroe, & Delta, Ohio
Louisville, Kentucky
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Baltimore, Maryland
Jackson & Taylor, Michigan
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Porter, Indiana
Decatur, Alabama

THE GERSTENSLAGER COMPANY
Wooster, Ohio

METAL FRAMING

DIETRICH INDUSTRIES, INC.
Hammond & LaPorte, Indiana
Hicksville, Warren & Aurora, Ohio
Atlanta, Georgia
Baltimore, Maryland
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Colton & Stockton, California
Phoenix, Arizona
Wildwood & Miami, Florida
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Hutchins, Texas
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Denver, Colorado
Lenexa, Kansas

PRESSURE CYLINDERS

WORTHINGTON CYLINDER CORPORATION
Columbus, Jefferson & Westerville, Ohio
Claremore, Oklahoma
Citronelle, Alabama
Kienberg, Austria
Tilbury, Ontario, Canada
Vale De Cambra, Portugal
Itu, Brazil

OTHER

WORTHINGTON MACHINE TECHNOLOGY
Columbus, Ohio

WORTHINGTON BEAMALLOY CORPORATION
Dublin, Ohio

WORTHINGTON STEELPAC SYSTEMS
York, Pennsylvania

JOINT VENTURES

WORTHINGTON ARMSTRONG VENTURE (WAVE)
Suspended Ceilings
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Sparrows Point, Maryland
Valenciennes, France
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Shanghai, China
Madrid, Spain
Team Valley, England
Benton Harbor, Michigan

TWB COMPANY, L.L.C.
Laser Welded Blanks
Monroe, Michigan
Saltillo, Mexico

ACEREX S.A. DE C.V.
Steel Processing
Monterrey, Mexico

SPARTAN STEEL COATING, L.L.C.
Steel Processing
Monroe, Michigan

WORTHINGTON SPECIALTY PROCESSING (WSP)
Steel Processing
Jackson, Michigan

WORTHINGTON S.A.
Pressure Cylinders
Itu, Brazil

WORTHINGTON GASTEC, A.S.
Pressure Cylinders
Hustopece, Czech Republic

33

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

CORPORATE OFFICERS
John H. McConnell*
Chairman Emeritus & Founder
Director, 1955

John P. McConnell*
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Director, 1975

John S. Christie*
President & Chief Operating Officer,
Director, 1999

John T. Baldwin
Vice President & Chief Financial
Officer, 1997

Edward A. Ferkany
Executive Vice President, 1974

Dale T. Brinkman
Vice President-Administration,
General Counsel &
Assistant Secretary, 1982

Jonathan B. Dove
Chief Information Officer, 1998

Cathy Mayne Lyttle
Vice President-Communications, 1999

Bruce Ruhl
Vice President-Purchasing, 1978

Mark H. Stier
Vice President-Human Resources, 1975

Richard G. Welch
Controller, 1999

Gregory P. Youngblood
Treasurer, 1999

SUBSIDIARY OFFICERS
Richard F. Berdik
President, 1996
Dietrich Industries, Inc.

Ralph V. Roberts
President, 1973
The Worthington Steel Company

Kenneth Vagnini
President, 1997
The Gerstenslager Company

Virgil L. Winland
President, 1971
Worthington Cylinder Corporation

* Member of Executive Committee

** Member of Nominating Committee

+ Member of Audit Committee

++ Member of Compensation and Stock Option Committee

NOTE: Year listed indicates initial year of affiliation with Worthington Industries.

OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
John B. Blystone ++**
Chairman, President & CEO
SPX Corporation
Director, 1997

Charles R. Carson +++
Retired Senior Vice President
General Electric Company
Director, 1986

William S. Dietrich
Chairman, Dietrich Industries, Inc.
Director, 1996

Michael J. Endres ++
Principal Owner
Stonehenge Holdings, Inc.
Director, 1999

John F. Havens*
Retired Chairman
Banc One Corporation
Director, 1988

Peter Karmanos, Jr. +
Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder
Compuware Corporation
Director, 1997

Robert B. McCurry ++**
Retired Senior Advisor to
President
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Director, 1972

Charles D. Minor +
Counsel
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP
Secretary and Director, 1962

Gerald B. Mitchell ++*
Retired Chairman & CEO
Dana Corporation
Director, 1986

Mary Fackler Schiavo +**
Professor, The Ohio State University,
College of Engineering, and Attorney
Director, 1998

34

EXHIBIT 21
WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
AN OHIO CORPORATION

The following is a list of subsidiaries owned, directly or indirectly, by Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, together with their respective jurisdictions of organization.

Worthington Foreign Sales Corporation                                                                 Barbados
Worthington Industries Incorporated                                                                     Ohio
Worthington Industries Medical Center, Inc.                                                             Ohio
Worthington Steel of Michigan, Inc. (d/b/a The Worthington Steel Company)                             Michigan

        Dietrich Industries, Inc.                                                                   Pennsylvania
              Dietrich Design Group, Inc.                                                           Pennsylvania

        The Gerstenslager Company                                                                     Michigan
              Gerstenslager Co.                                                                         Ohio

        Worthington-Buckeye, Inc.                                                                       Ohio
              Buckeye Energy Company, Inc.                                                              Ohio
              Buckeye International Development, Inc.                                                   Ohio
              WI Products, Inc.                                                                         Ohio
        Worthington Cylinder Corporation                                                                Ohio
                                                                                                       Brazil
              Industrias Worthington Do Brasil Ltda.                                                   Brazil
                      Worthington Tank, Ltda.                                                          Alabama
              Worthington Acetylene Cylinders, Inc. (d/b/a North American Cylinders, Inc.)
              Worthington Industries of Canada, Inc.                                                   Canada
                      Worthington Cylinders of Canada Corp. (d/b/a Steel                               Canada
                      Cylinder Manufacturing)
              Worthington Heiser Cylinders GmbH                                                        Austria
                      Worthington Cylinders-Embalagens Industriais de Gas, S.A.                       Portugal

        Worthington Industries of Mexico, S.A. de C.V.                                                 Mexico

        The Worthington Steel Company                                                                 Delaware
                                                                                                      Delaware
             Worthington Steelpac Systems, L.L.C.

        The Worthington Steel Company                                                              North Carolina

        The Worthington Steel Company                                                                   Ohio
             Worthington Steel Company of Kentucky, L.L.C.                                            Kentucky
             BeamAlloy Corporation                                                                    Delaware

        Newman Crosby Steel, Incorporated                                                               Ohio
             Worthington Steel Company of Decatur, L.L.C.                                              Alabama

E-10

             Worthington OEG Company                                                                   Michigan
                      Worthington Steel Company of Alabama, Inc. & Co. OEG                             Austria

        The Worthington Steel Company of Decatur, Inc.                                                Michigan


JOINT VENTURES

        Spartan Steel Coating, LLC (1)                                                              Michigan
        TWB Company, LLC (2)                                                                        Michigan
             TWB of Ohio, Inc.                                                                        Ohio
        Worthington Armstrong Venture (WAVE) (3)                                                    Delaware
        Worthington Specialty Processing, Inc. (WSP) (4)                                            Michigan
        Acerex, S.A. de C.V. (5)                                                                     Mexico
        Worthington S.A. (6)                                                                         Brazil
        Worthington Gastec a.s. (7)                                                              Czech Republic


MINOR/INACTIVE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY

       ACT International                                                                           Ohio
       BI Plastics, Inc.                                                                           Ohio
       Dietrich Rolling Mills, Inc.                                                                Canada
       Little Pal, Inc.                                                                            Ohio
       MowSafe Products, Inc.                                                                      Ohio
       NRM Trucking Company                                                                        Delaware
       Rapport Insurance, Ltd.                                                                     Bermuda


(1) Consolidated joint venture with 52% owned by Worthington Steel of Michigan, Inc. and 48% by QS Steel Inc.

(2) Unconsolidated joint venture with 33.33% owned by Worthington Steel of Michigan, Inc. and the remaining interests owned by Thyssen Inc., Bethlehem Blank Welding, Inc., LTV Steel and Rouge Steel.

(3) Unconsolidated joint venture with 50% owned by The Worthington Steel Company (Delaware) and 50% owned by Armstrong Ventures, Inc.

(4) Unconsolidated joint venture with 50% owned by Worthington Steel of Michigan, Inc. and 50% owned by USX Corporation.

(5) Unconsolidated joint venture with 50% owned by Worthington Industries Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and 50% owned by Hylsa S.A. de C.V.

E-11

(6) Consolidated joint venture with 52% owned by Industrias Worthington Do Brasil Ltda. and the remaining interests owned by three Brazilian propane producers.

(7) Consolidated joint venture with 51% owned by Worthington Heiser Cylinders GmbH with a local Czech Republic entrepreneur in Hustopece, Czech Republic.

E-12

EXHIBIT 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Worthington Industries, Inc. of our report dated June 16, 2000, included in the 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders of Worthington Industries, Inc.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Worthington Industries, Inc. listed in Item 14(a)(2) and 14(d). This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Form S-8 No. 33-57981) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. Deferred Profit Sharing Plan; (Form S-8 No. 2-80094) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. Amended 1980 Stock Option Plan; (Form S-3 No. 33-46470 and Form S-3 No. 33-48627) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan; (Form S-8 No. 33-38486) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan (Form S-8 No. 333-18099) pertaining to the Worthington Steel Company (Malvern) Union Retirement Savings Plan; and (Form S-8 No. 333-42849) pertaining to the Worthington Industries, Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan of our report dated June 16, 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial statements incorporated herein by reference, and our report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Worthington Industries, Inc.

                                       /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Columbus, Ohio
August 25, 2000

E-13

EXHIBIT 24

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

E-14

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ John B. Blystone
-------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Charles R. Carson
------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ John S. Christie
-------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ William S. Dietrich, II
------------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Michael J. Endres
---------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ John F. Havens
---------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Peter Karmanos, Jr.
---------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ John H. McConnell
-----------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Robert B. McCurry
-------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Charles D. Minor
-----------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Gerald B. Mitchell
---------------------------------


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and/or director of Worthington Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2000 constitutes and appoints John P. McConnell, John T. Baldwin and Dale T. Brinkman, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Annual Report on Form 10-K and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of May, 2000.

/s/ Mary Fackler Schiavo


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


WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

ARTICLE 5
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MAY 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
MULTIPLIER: 1,000
CURRENCY: US DOLLARS


PERIOD TYPE 12 MOS
FISCAL YEAR END MAY 31 2000
PERIOD START JUN 01 1999
PERIOD END MAY 31 2000
EXCHANGE RATE 1
CASH 538
SECURITIES 0
RECEIVABLES 305,054
ALLOWANCES 3,879
INVENTORY 291,204
CURRENT ASSETS 624,229
PP&E 1,180,622
DEPRECIATION 318,110
TOTAL ASSETS 1,673,873
CURRENT LIABILITIES 433,270
BONDS 362,190
PREFERRED MANDATORY 0
PREFERRED 0
COMMON 0
OTHER SE 673,354
TOTAL LIABILITY AND EQUITY 1,673,873
SALES 1,962,606
TOTAL REVENUES 1,962,606
CGS 1,629,455
TOTAL COSTS 1,629,455
OTHER EXPENSES 0
LOSS PROVISION 0
INTEREST EXPENSE 39,779
INCOME PRETAX 150,642
INCOME TAX 56,491
INCOME CONTINUING 94,151
DISCONTINUED 0
EXTRAORDINARY 0
CHANGES 0
NET INCOME 94,151
EPS BASIC 1.06
EPS DILUTED 1.06 E-15