Mueller Industries, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2009 Earnings

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harvey L. Karp, Chairman of Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MLI), announced today that Mueller's net income in the second quarter of 2009 was $6.0 million, or 16 cents per diluted share. This compares with $27.0 million, or 72 cents per diluted share, for the same period of 2008. Net sales for the second quarter of 2009 were $367.8 million compared with $753.5 million in 2008. For the first half of 2009, net income was $3.5 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $694.4 million. This compares with net income of $54.4 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.46 billion for the first half of 2008.

Net sales of the Company's core product lines including copper tube, fittings, brass rod and forgings were substantially affected by the lower market values of copper and brass, the Company's principal raw materials, which are largely passed through to customers. In the second quarter of 2009, the Comex average price of copper was 43 percent lower than in the second quarter of 2008. Approximately $206 million of the decrease in net sales was attributable to lower unit volume primarily in the OEM segment. Lower selling prices, primarily in the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment, accounted for approximately $146 million of the decrease in net sales.

Mr. Karp said, "Mueller was profitable in the second quarter of 2009, after reporting a small loss in the first quarter of the year. We believe the construction industry is at, or near, a 'bottom,' although the pace and the extent of recovery remain uncertain.

"Mueller made rapid and extensive adjustments to its businesses as unit volumes declined, as a result of the national economic downturn. We expect Mueller to emerge from the current economic malaise a stronger, more efficient and more competitive company."

Financial and Operating Highlights

Regarding the second quarter of 2009, Mr. Karp said:

    --  "Our financial condition remains strong, and, in fact, improved in
        the second quarter.  We ended the quarter with $334.0 million in cash
        and $581.2 million in working capital.
    --  "Total stockholders' equity attributable to Mueller was $719.3
        million which equates to a book value per share of $19.37 of which $8.99
        per share is in cash.
    --  "Our current ratio remains solid at 4.6 to 1, and our financial
        leverage is conservative with a debt to total capitalization ratio of
        18.9 percent.
    --  "Our Plumbing & Refrigeration segment posted operating earnings
        of $11.9 million on net sales of $229.8 million which compares with
        prior year earnings of $35.4 million on net sales of $404.4 million. 
        Operating results were adversely affected by lower spreads and unit
        shipments.
    --  "Our OEM segment posted operating earnings of $8.1 million during
        the second quarter of 2009 on net sales of $139.9 million, which
        compares with operating earnings of $19.0 million on net sales of $354.0
        million for the same period in 2008.
    --  "The Comex average price of copper was $2.15 per pound in the
        second quarter of 2009, which compares with $3.80 in the second quarter
        of 2008.

    --  "During the first half of 2009, capital expenditures totaled $8.7
        million. "

Mueller Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; and fabricated tubular products. Mueller's operations are located throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China. Mueller's business is importantly linked to: (1) the construction of new homes; (2) the improvement and reconditioning of existing homes and structures; and (3) the commercial construction market which includes office buildings, factories, hotels, hospitals, etc.

***************************

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be "forward-looking" statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These include economic and currency conditions, continued availability of raw materials and energy, market demand, pricing, competitive and technological factors, and the availability of financing, among others, as set forth in the Company's SEC filings. The words "outlook," "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. The Company has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this report.

                             MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                       (In thousands, except per share data)


                                  For the Quarter    For the Six Months
                                       Ended                Ended
                                ------------------  --------------------
                                June 27,  June 28,  June 27,    June 28,
                                  2009      2008      2009        2008
                                --------  --------  --------    --------
                                    (Unaudited)          (Unaudited)

    Net sales                   $367,800  $753,471  $694,358  $1,457,579

    Cost of goods sold           313,353   661,209   600,736   1,273,006
    Depreciation and
     amortization                 10,355    11,004    20,835      21,988
    Selling, general, and
     administrative expense       30,316    34,618    61,474      72,909
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Operating income              13,776    46,640    11,313      89,676

    Interest expense              (2,482)   (5,238)   (5,118)    (10,705)
    Other income, net                385     1,961     1,012       6,530
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Income before income taxes    11,679    43,363     7,207      85,501
    Income tax expense            (5,512)  (15,339)   (3,550)    (29,570)
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Consolidated net income        6,167    28,024     3,657      55,931

    Less: net income
     attributable to
     noncontrolling interest        (139)   (1,010)     (121)     (1,562)
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Net income attributable to
     Mueller Industries, Inc.     $6,028   $27,014    $3,536     $54,369
                                ========  ========  ========    ========



    Weighted average shares for
     basic earnings per share     37,143    37,119    37,143      37,108
    Effect of dilutive stock
     options                         120       340        97         269
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Adjusted weighted average
     shares for diluted
     earnings per share           37,263    37,459    37,240      37,377
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Basic earnings per share       $0.16     $0.73     $0.10       $1.47
                                ========  ========  ========    ========

    Diluted earnings per share     $0.16     $0.72     $0.09       $1.45
                                ========  ========  ========    ========

    Dividends per share            $0.10     $0.10     $0.20       $0.20
                                ========  ========  ========    ========

    Summary Segment Data:
    ---------------------
    Net sales:
      Plumbing & Refrigeration
       Segment                  $229,763  $404,414  $420,156    $788,298
      OEM Segment                139,885   353,988   278,277     680,195
      Elimination of
       intersegment sales         (1,848)   (4,931)   (4,075)    (10,914)
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Net sales                   $367,800  $753,471  $694,358  $1,457,579
                                ========  ========  ========  ==========

    Operating income:
      Plumbing & Refrigeration
       Segment                   $11,882   $35,370   $22,213     $60,454
      OEM Segment                  8,052    18,963     1,786      44,537
      Unallocated expenses        (6,158)   (7,693)  (12,686)    (15,315)
                                --------  --------  --------    --------

    Operating income             $13,776   $46,640   $11,313     $89,676
                                 =======   =======   =======     =======



                             MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (In thousands)

                                                  June 27,   December 27,
                                                   2009         2008
                                               ------------  ------------
                                                       (Unaudited)
        ASSETS
        Cash and cash equivalents                  $333,959     $278,860
        Accounts receivable, net                    207,238      219,035
        Inventories                                 169,118      210,609
        Other current assets                         32,033       46,322
                                               ------------  ------------
            Total current assets                    742,348      754,826

        Property, plant, and equipment, net         268,017      276,927
        Other assets                                151,537      151,160
                                               ------------  ------------
                                                 $1,161,902   $1,182,913
                                               ============  ===========



        LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
        Current portion of debt                      $9,629      $24,184
        Accounts payable                             59,871       63,732
        Other current liabilities                    91,678      113,668
                                               ------------  ------------
            Total current liabilities               161,178      201,584

        Long-term debt, less current portion        158,226      158,726
        Pension and postretirement liabilities       39,688       38,452
        Environmental reserves                       23,352       23,248
        Deferred income taxes                        33,496       33,940
        Other noncurrent liabilities                  1,417        1,698
                                               ------------  ------------
            Total liabilities                       417,357      457,648
                                               ------------  ------------
        Total Mueller Industries, Inc.
         stockholders' equity                       719,339      700,683
        Noncontrolling interest                      25,206       24,582
                                               ------------  ------------

            Total equity                            744,545      725,265
                                               ------------  ------------
                                                 $1,161,902   $1,182,913
                                               ============  ===========



                             MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                (In thousands)

                                                  For the Six Months Ended
                                                 --------------------------
                                                      June 27,  June 28,
                                                        2009      2008
                                                      --------  --------
                                                          (Unaudited)
    Operating activities:
    Net income attributable to Mueller
     Industries, Inc.                                   $3,536   $54,369
    Reconciliation of net income attributable to
     Mueller Industries, Inc. to net cash provided by
     operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                   20,946    22,323
        Gain on early retirement of debt                  (128)   (2,482)
        Net income attributable to
         noncontrolling interest                           121     1,562
        Stock-based compensation expense                 1,220     1,479
        Loss on disposal of properties                     260       341
        Deferred income taxes                             (136)      130
        Income tax benefit from exercise
         of stock options                                    -       (69)
        Changes in assets and liabilities:
            Receivables                                 16,831   (66,599)
            Inventories                                 45,209     7,489
            Other assets                                 1,059    (2,321)
            Current liabilities                        (21,741)  (12,757)
            Other liabilities                             (546)    1,342
            Other, net                                    (101)   (1,167)
                                                      --------  --------

    Net cash provided by operating activities           66,530     3,640
                                                      --------  --------

    Investing activities:
    Capital expenditures                                (8,725)  (14,833)
    Net withdrawals from (deposits into)
     restricted cash balances                           13,039      (632)
    Proceeds from sales of properties                      606         -
                                                      --------  --------

    Net cash provided by (used in)
     investing activities                                4,920   (15,465)
                                                      --------  --------

    Financing activities:
    Repayments of long-term debt                          (370)  (23,605)
    Dividends paid to stockholders of
     Mueller Industries, Inc.                           (7,428)   (7,421)
    Dividends paid to noncontrolling
     interests                                          (1,449)        -
    (Repayment) issuance of debt by
     joint venture, net                                (14,567)    5,411
    Issuance of shares under incentive
     stock option plans from treasury                        -     1,055
    Income tax benefit from exercise
     of stock options                                        -        69
    Acquisition of treasury stock                            -       (13)
                                                      --------  --------

    Net cash used in financing activities              (23,814)  (24,504)
                                                      --------  --------

    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash              7,463     1,331
                                                      --------  --------

    Increase (decrease) in cash and
     cash equivalents                                   55,099   (34,998)
    Cash and cash equivalents at the
     beginning of the period                           278,860   308,618
                                                      --------  --------

    Cash and cash equivalents at the
     end of the period                                $333,959  $273,620
                                                      ========  ========

SOURCE Mueller Industries, Inc.