For the first three quarters this year, sales were $713 million, alittle lower than $718 million recorded last year. Net earnings for thefirst nine months of this year were $18.3 million, compared to $15.2million posted in the first three quarters of last year.Last year, third quarter net earnings were impacted by a one-time gainreceived from the sale of a former United Kingdom metal buildingsubsidiary.

"Sales in the international metal buildings businesses wereapproximately 15% lower than the comparable nine month period of1999, principally due to continued weak demand in the Latin Americanregion," says John Holland, president and chief executive officer.

"Combined operating results for the international businesses weresolidly in the black, but below 1999 results, reflecting the reducedactivity in Latin America. The expansion of Butler's Shanghai, Chinamanufacturing facility was substantially completed during the thirdquarter and start-up production begun. This $5 million investmentcreates a fully integrated metal buildings facility with additionalcapacity for signifcant growth," he says.