Gibraltar’s Board of Directors has authorized a 3-for-2 stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend. The company also said that it will retain its current per-share dividend rate, which is currently $.20 annually and is paid quarterly at $.05 per share.

The additional shares will be distributed on or about October 29, 2004, to stockholders of record on October 15, 2004. With approximately 19.7 million shares currently outstanding, the company will have approximately 29.6 million shares outstanding after the split.

"We expect that the greater number of shares outstanding after our split will give investors a wider opportunity to become Gibraltar stockholders, and over time help to increase the liquidity in our stock," said Brian J. Lipke, Gibraltar's Chairman and CEO.

Manufacturing and distributing more than 5000 residential and commercial building products, Gibraltar is one of North America's leading metal processors, and North America's second-largest commercial heat treater. The company serves approximately 10,000 customers in a variety of industries in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America, and is approaching $1 billion in annual sales. It has approximately 4000 employees and operates 75 facilities in 26 states, Canada, and Mexico.