Worthington Steel Earns Recognition as a John Deere “Partner-level Supplier”

Columbus, Ohio, - - Worthington Steel, a Worthington Industries company (NYSE:WOR) announced today that the company has earned recognition as a Partner-level supplier for 2012 in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. The Partner-level status is Deere & Company’s highest supplier rating. This marks the fifth time the Columbus, Ohio-based company has been selected for this honor in recognition of its dedication to providing outstanding quality and its commitment to continuous improvement.

“We are proud to receive John Deere’s highest supplier rating,” said Geoff Gilmore, president, Worthington Steel. “This achievement is a tribute to our employees’ dedication and commitment to delivering the highest quality and service to our customers.” Worthington Steel employees accepted the recognition on March 5 during formal ceremonies held in Davenport, Iowa.

Worthington Steel is a supplier of hot-rolled and cold-rolled cut-to-length steel sheets to John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Ill., and John Deere Ottumwa Works in Ottumwa, Iowa, for the fabrication and assembly of combine harvesters and hay and forage equipment. Suppliers who participate in the Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories, including quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and wavelength, which is a measure of responsiveness. John Deere Supply Management created the program in 1991 to provide a supplier evaluation and feedback process that promotes continuous improvement.

About Worthington Steel
Worthington Steel, a Worthington Industries company, is one of America’s largest independent processors of flat-rolled steel. Operating 19 facilities across the United States and Mexico, the company offers the widest range of services in the industry, including cold-rolling both carbon and stainless steel, configured blanking, cutting-to-length, cleaning and inspecting, acrylic coating, dry lubricating, edging, hot-dipped galvanizing and galvannealing, hydrogen annealing, pickling, slitting, temper rolling and tension leveling. Worthington Steel also has a technical team in its metallurgical laboratory equipped to assist customers on site and in product testing.

About Worthington Industries
Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metals manufacturing company with 2012 fiscal year sales of $2.5 billion. The Columbus, Ohio based company is North America’s premier value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured pressure cylinders, such as propane, oxygen and helium tanks, hand torches, refrigerant and industrial cylinders, camping cylinders, exploration, recovery and production products for global energy markets; scuba tanks, and compressed natural gas storage cylinders; custom-engineered open and enclosed cabs and operator stations for heavy mobile equipment; framing systems for mid-rise buildings; steel pallets and racks; and through joint ventures, suspension grid systems for concealed and lay-in panel ceilings, current and past model automotive service stampings, laser welded blanks, and light gauge steel framing for commercial and residential construction. Worthington employs approximately 10,000 people and operates 82 facilities in 11 countries.

Safe Harbor Statement
The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“the Act”). Statements by the company which are not historical information constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those projected. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks described from time to time in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.