Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
General
The discussion and analysis of Quanex Building Products Corporation and its subsidiaries' financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the July 31, 2012 Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the accompanying notes and in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. References made to the "Company" or "Quanex" include Quanex Building Products Corporation and its subsidiaries and Quanex Corporation (accounting predecessor to Quanex Building Products Corporation) unless the context indicates otherwise. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Certain of the statements contained in this document and in documents incorporated by reference herein, including those made under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" are "forward-looking" statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, the words "expect," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements which address future operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including statements relating to volume, sales, operating income and earnings per share, and statements expressing general outlook about future operating results, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's historical experience and the present projections or expectations. As and when made, management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements since such statements speak only as of the date when made and there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Factors exist that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the expected results described in or underlying the Company's forward-looking statements. Such factors include domestic and international economic activity, prevailing prices of aluminum scrap and other raw material costs, the rate of change in prices for aluminum scrap, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, energy costs, interest rates, construction delays, market conditions, particularly in the home building and remodeling markets, any material changes in purchases by the Company's principal customers, labor supply and relations, environmental regulations, changes in estimates of costs for known environmental remediation projects and situations, world-wide political stability and economic growth, warranty obligations, the Company's successful implementation of its internal operating plans, acquisition strategies and integration, performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors, and regulatory changes and legal proceedings. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained herein will occur or that objectives will be achieved. All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors. For more information, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended October 31, 2011. About Third-Party Information
In this report, the Company relies on and refers to information regarding industry data obtained from market research, publicly available information, industry publications, U.S. government sources and other third parties. Although the Company believes the information is reliable, it cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and has not independently verified it.

Description of Business
On December 12, 2007, Quanex Building Products Corporation was incorporated in the state of Delaware as a subsidiary of Quanex Corporation to facilitate the separation of Quanex Corporation's vehicular products and building products businesses. The separation occurred on April 23, 2008 through the spin-off of Quanex Corporation's building products business to its shareholders immediately followed by the merger of Quanex Corporation (consisting principally of the vehicular products business and all non-building products related corporate accounts) with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gerdau S.A. (Gerdau).
The spin-off and subsequent merger is hereafter referred to as the "Separation". For purposes of describing the events related to the Separation, as well as other events, transactions and financial results of Quanex Corporation and its subsidiaries related to periods prior to April 23, 2008, the term "the Company" refers to Quanex Building Products Corporation's accounting predecessor, Quanex Corporation. In March 2011, the Company acquired Edgetech I.G., Inc. and its German subsidiary. Headquartered in Cambridge, Ohio, Edgetech has three manufacturing facilities (U.S., U.K., and Germany) that produce and market a full line of insulating glass spacer systems for window and door customers in North America and abroad.

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In November 2011, management committed to a program to consolidate its Insulating Glass (IG) spacer manufacturing facility in Barbourville, Kentucky into its IG spacer manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Ohio. The facility consolidation was completed in August 2012. In 2010, management closed its start-up facility in China due to the contraction of demand and the Company's ability to serve the overseas thin film solar panel market from its North American operations. Accordingly, the China assets and liabilities, results of operations and cash flows are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, all discussions reflect only continuing operations.