form10q.htm

September 25, 2010

Fair value

(In thousands)

Commodity contracts

Other current assets:

Gain positions

Other current assets:

Loss positions

	For the Quarter Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009			September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009
(In thousands, except per share data)

Net sales	$	507,240		$	419,890		$	1,532,896		$	1,114,248

Cost of goods sold		437,597			354,039			1,317,290			954,775
Depreciation and amortization		9,934			10,441			30,372			31,276
Selling, general, and administrative expense		28,810			27,593			99,601			89,067
Insurance settlement		12			—			(21,284	)		—

Operating income		30,887			27,817			106,917			39,130

Interest expense		(3,072	)		(2,435	)		(8,568	)		(7,553	)
Other income (expense), net		30			(324	)		(2,348	)		688

Income before income taxes		27,845			25,058			96,001			32,265

Income tax expense		(9,098	)		(6,246	)		(26,418	)		(9,796	)

Consolidated net income		18,747			18,812			69,583			22,469

Less net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest		162			(146	)		(1,158	)		(267	)

Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$	18,909		$	18,666		$	68,425		$	22,202

Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share		37,710			37,474			37,657			37,253
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards		92			72			77			89

Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share		37,802			37,546			37,734			37,342

Basic earnings per share	$	0.50		$	0.50		$	1.82		$	0.60

Diluted earnings per share	$	0.50		$	0.50		$	1.81		$	0.59

Dividends per share	$	0.10		$	0.10		$	0.30		$	0.30

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

	September 25, 2010			December 26, 2009
(In thousands, except share data)

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	400,116		$	346,001
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,710 in 2010 and $5,947 in 2009		278,891			228,739
Inventories		190,243			191,262
Other current assets		34,631			42,841

Total current assets		903,881			808,843

Property, plant, and equipment, net		235,079			250,395
Goodwill		102,250			102,250
Other assets		21,531			18,653

Total Assets	$	1,262,741		$	1,180,141

Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	$	23,437		$	24,325
Accounts payable		80,140			73,837
Accrued wages and other employee costs		32,571			24,829
Other current liabilities		68,824			60,379

Total current liabilities		204,972			183,370

Long-term debt, less current portion		158,226			158,226
Pension and postretirement liabilities		43,589			44,320
Environmental reserves		25,671			23,268
Deferred income taxes		25,283			31,128
Other noncurrent liabilities		891			887

Total liabilities		458,632			441,199

Equity
Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock - $1.00 par value; shares authorized 5,000,000; none outstanding		—			—
Common stock - $.01 par value; shares authorized 100,000,000; issued 40,091,502; outstanding 37,836,513 in 2010 and 37,649,584 in 2009		401			401
Additional paid-in capital		262,743			262,166
Retained earnings		597,318			540,218
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(33,999	)		(36,104	)
Treasury common stock, at cost		(49,438	)		(53,514	)

Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders’ equity		777,025			713,167
Noncontrolling interest		27,084			25,775

Total equity		804,109			738,942

Commitments and contingencies		—			—

Total Liabilities and Equity	$	1,262,741		$	1,180,141

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

	For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$	69,583		$	22,469
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		30,550			31,440
Stock-based compensation expense		2,185			1,892
Insurance settlement		(21,284	)		—
Insurance proceeds – noncapital related		5,561			—
Loss on disposal of properties		252			975
Deferred income taxes		(8,386	)		(2,012	)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		(89	)		(189	)
Gain on early retirement of debt		—			(128	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(50,810	)		(3,030	)
Inventories		2,800			35,339
Other assets		6,158			4,152
Current liabilities		21,562			(6,229	)
Other liabilities		2,839			(337	)
Other, net		(225	)		17

Net cash provided by operating activities		60,696			84,359

Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures		(14,210	)		(11,002	)
Business acquired		(2,021	)		—
Insurance proceeds for property and equipment		17,703			—
Net withdrawals from restricted cash balances		1,649			12,806
Proceeds from the sales of properties		26			611

Net cash provided by investing activities		3,147			2,415

Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.		(11,300	)		(11,186	)
Repayment of debt by joint venture, net		(1,097	)		(11,813	)
Repayments of long-term debt		—			(370	)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest		—			(1,449	)
Acquisition of treasury stock		(85	)		(416	)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans from treasury		2,463			8,678
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		89			189

Net cash used in financing activities		(9,930	)		(16,367	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		202			4,607

Increase in cash and cash equivalents		54,115			75,014
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period		346,001			278,860

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	400,116		$	353,874

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted. Results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the year as a whole. This Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10–K, including the annual financial statements incorporated therein.

Basic per share amounts have been computed based on the average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted per share amounts reflect the increase in average common shares outstanding that would result from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, computed using the treasury stock method. Approximately 1.4 million stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the quarter and nine-month period ended September 25, 2010, since the options’ exercise prices were higher than the average market price of the Company’s stock.

The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business, which management believes will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. The Company may also realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company has significant ongoing environmental remediation obligations. The vast majority of these obligations relate to properties transferred to the Company as part of a court-ordered bankruptcy reorganization in 1990. Ongoing costs and expenses with respect to these sites are classified as non-operating. Additionally, costs and expenses associated with the Southeast Kansas Sites and the Eureka Mills Site are also classified as non-operating. These expenses are recorded as a component of other income (expense), net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Costs and expenses associated with operating properties such as the Mueller Copper Tube Products site in Wynne, Arkansas are classified as a component of cost of goods sold.

In November 2008, the Company received a general notice of liability and second request for information under The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the Eureka Mills Superfund Site (the Eureka Mills Site) located in Juab County, Utah. The Eureka Mills Site is an area where mining and milling of various metals occurred over the course of several decades. The EPA has been investigating and remediating contamination associated with these activities. The Company’s connection to the Eureka Mills Site is through land within the site that was owned by Sharon Steel Corporation (Sharon), its predecessor, and a 1979 transaction with UV Industries (UV) in which Sharon allegedly assumed certain of UV’s liabilities. On October 5, 2010, the United States on behalf of EPA and the State of Utah filed a complaint with the United States District Court for Utah under Section 107(a) of CERCLA, for the recovery of costs for responding to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances at the Eureka Mills Site. Plaintiffs simultaneously lodged with the Court a proposed Consent Decree with the Company which if approved by the Court will resolve all allegations of the complaint in exchange for payments totaling $2.5 million. Following lodging with the Court, notice of the proposed Consent Decree will be published in the Federal Register for a thirty (30) day public comment period. After the comment period, the Plaintiffs will either notify the Court of their withdrawal of the proposed Consent Decree or move the Court to enter the proposed Consent Decree. The Company recognized a charge of $2.5 million for this matter in the second quarter of 2010.

On January 25, 2010, the Company received Citations and a Notification of Penalties from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposing civil penalties totaling approximately $0.7 million for various health and safety violations following inspections in 2009 of certain plants operated by subsidiaries in Fulton, Mississippi. The Company has executed a final agreement with OSHA and the penalties have been reduced to approximately $0.4 million. The resolution of these matters did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company has been named as a defendant in certain pending or recently dismissed litigations (the Copper Tube Actions) brought by direct and indirect purchasers of copper tube. The Copper Tube Actions allege anticompetitive activities with respect to the sale of copper plumbing tubes and/or copper tubes used in, among other things, the manufacturing of air-conditioning and refrigeration units. The Copper Tube Actions seek or sought monetary and other relief. The Company believes that the claims for relief are without merit. Due to the procedural stage of the Copper Tube Actions, the Company is unable to determine the likelihood of a materially adverse outcome in the Copper Tube Actions or the amount or range of a potential loss in the Copper Tube Actions.

On June 1, 2007, the Company filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Dupage County, Illinois against Peter D. Berkman and Jeffrey A. Berkman, former executives of the Company and B&K Industries, Inc. (B&K), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, relating to their alleged breach of fiduciary duties and contractual obligations to the Company through, among other things, their involvement with a supplier of B&K during their employment with B&K. The lawsuit alleges appropriation of corporate opportunities for personal benefit, failure to disclose competitive interests or other conflicts of interest, and unfair competition, as well as breach of employment agreements in connection with the foregoing. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, and other appropriate relief. In August 2007, the defendants filed an answer to the complaint admitting Peter Berkman had not sought authorization to have an ownership interest in a supplier, and a counterclaim against the Company, B&K and certain of the Company’s officers and directors alleging defamation, tortious interference with prospective economic relations, and conspiracy, and seeking damages in unspecified amounts. In September 2007, Homewerks Worldwide LLC, an entity formed by Peter Berkman, filed a complaint as an intervenor based on substantially the same allegations included in the Berkmans’ counterclaim. In October 2007, the Company also filed a motion seeking to have the Berkmans’ counterclaim dismissed as a matter of law. On January 3, 2008, the Court overruled that motion and the case proceeded to discovery of the relevant facts.

On September 5, 2008, Peter Berkman withdrew prior responses to discovery requests and asserted the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to all requests directed to him. By that assertion, he took the position that his testimony about his actions would have the potential of exposing him to a criminal charge or criminal charges. On October 24, 2008, the defendants filed a motion seeking leave to interpose an Amended Answer and Amended Counterclaims wherein Peter Berkman asserted the Fifth Amendment in response to the allegations in the complaint. On December 19, 2008, the Company filed an answer to the Amended Counterclaims that included a new affirmative defense based on the assertion of the Fifth Amendment by Peter Berkman.

On October 3, 2008, in response to a motion to compel filed by the Company, the Court held, among other things, that Peter Berkman could not withhold documents on Fifth Amendment and attorney-client privilege grounds. Peter Berkman moved for reconsideration of that order and his request was denied on November 19, 2008. On December 10, 2008, Peter Berkman moved to file an interlocutory appeal regarding the Court’s ruling on the Company’s motion to compel. On January 7, 2009, the motion for interlocutory appeal was granted and the Court found Peter Berkman in contempt for resisting discovery. On February 6, 2009, Peter Berkman filed a notice of appeal with the Illinois Appellate Court, Second Judicial District. All appellate briefs were submitted, oral argument took place on September 29, 2009, and a publicly available decision was rendered on March 23, 2010. In that decision, the Illinois Appellate Court concluded that (i) Peter Berkman was not entitled to withhold documents on attorney-client privilege grounds that were created during the period that Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP represented both the Company and Peter Berkman, (ii) certain documents withheld on attorney-client privilege grounds needed to be submitted to the trial court for an in camera review to assess the applicability of the crime-fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege, and (iii) documents Peter Berkman withheld on Fifth Amendment grounds needed to be submitted to the trial court for an in camera review. Since obtaining this ruling, Peter Berkman unsuccessfully moved for a rehearing before the Illinois Appellate Court as to certain aspects of its decision and filed a petition for leave to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court which was denied. On October 21, 2010, Peter Berkman will be providing documents withheld on Fifth Amendment grounds to the trial court for its in camera review pursuant to the Illinois Appellate Court’s decision.

On December 15, 2009, the parties exchanged reports prepared by their respective damages experts wherein the Company asserted a claim totaling $17.2 million, not including punitive damages, and defendants asserted a claim totaling $38.0 million. The parties also exchanged rebuttal damages expert reports on March 5, 2010. The Company believes that the counterclaims are without merit and that defendants are not entitled to the damages being sought. Consequently, the Company intends to defend the counterclaims vigorously. The trial court scheduled trial to begin on January 31, 2011. The Company does not anticipate any material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as a result of this employment litigation matter.

On December 24, 2008, the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) initiated an antidumping administrative review of the antidumping duty order covering circular welded non-alloy steel pipe and tube from Mexico to determine the final antidumping duties owed on U.S. imports during the period November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008 by certain subsidiaries of the Company. On April 19, 2010, DOC published the final results of this review and assigned Mueller Comercial de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mueller Comercial) an antidumping duty rate of 48.33 percent. The Company has appealed the final determination to the U.S. Court of International Trade. The Company anticipates that certain of its subsidiaries will incur antidumping duties on subject imports made during the period of review. The Company established a reserve in 2009 of approximately $4.2 million for this matter.

Guarantees, in the form of letters of credit, are issued by the Company generally to assure the payment of insurance deductibles and certain retiree health benefits. The terms of the Company’s guarantees are generally one year but are renewable annually as required. These letters are primarily backed by the Company’s line of credit facility. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could have been required to make under its guarantees at September 25, 2010 was $9.8 million.

In November 2008, the Company’s copper tube facility in Bilston, Great Britain, was damaged by fire. Production was curtailed for approximately four weeks to make certain necessary, temporary repairs. Additionally, certain production equipment and portions of building structures were extensively damaged. These losses were covered by property and business interruption insurance. During 2010, the Company settled the claim with its insurer for total proceeds of $35.3 million, net of the deductible of $0.5 million. As a result of the settlement with its insurer, all proceeds received and all costs previously deferred (which were recorded as a receivable in prior periods) were recognized, resulting in an initial net pre-tax gain of $22.5 million. This amount was recognized in the first quarter of 2010. During the second and third quarters of 2010, the Company incurred additional costs related to the rehabilitation of the facility. As a result, the Company recognized expenses of $1.2 million in the second and third quarters of 2010, which were offset against the insurance gain.

The Company received cash advances of $4.7 million in 2008 and $7.3 million in 2009 from its insurer, and received $23.3 million of proceeds in the first quarter of 2010 with the final settlement. Of the $23.3 million proceeds received in 2010, $17.7 million was classified as investing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows representing the estimated amount of proceeds received for damaged building structures and equipment. All other receipts were classified as operating activities as they reflect the estimated amounts received for business interruption insurance and reimbursement of incremental cleaning and other noncapital costs. Rehabilitation of the facility is substantially complete and the Company does not expect to incur additional expenses related to the U.K. fire.

In July 2009, there was an explosion at the Company’s copper tube facility in Fulton, Mississippi. Production was curtailed for approximately one week for cleanup and repairs to building structures. Certain production equipment was also extensively damaged. The total value of the loss, including business interruption, cannot be estimated at this time, but is expected to be covered by property and business interruption insurance. During 2009, the Company received an advance of $1.0 million from its insurer to cover incremental expenses (net of the insurance deductible of $0.5 million). The Company recorded this cash advance in other current liabilities net of cleanup and repair costs of approximately $1.1 million. The Company has not recognized potential gains arising from property damage or business interruption insurance in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income related to this matter, and will not do so until final settlement of the insurance claim.

The Company has partially liquidated inventories valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method during the first nine months of 2010. The Company expects to replenish these inventories by the end of 2010 and, as such, has not recognized the effects of liquidating LIFO layers. In the event these inventories are not replenished, due to lack of availability or operational reasons, the Company would recognize a reduction to cost of goods sold of approximately $24.4 million from the liquidation of LIFO layers based on quarter-end quantities.

The Company’s reportable segments are Plumbing & Refrigeration and OEM. For disclosure purposes, as permitted under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 280, Segment Reporting, certain operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments. The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of Standard Products Division (SPD), European Operations, and Mexican Operations. The OEM segment is composed of Industrial Products Division (IPD), Engineered Products Division (EPD), and Mueller-Xingrong. These segments are classified primarily by the markets for their products. Performance of segments is generally evaluated by their operating income. Intersegment transactions are generally conducted on an arms-length basis.

SPD manufactures copper tube and fittings, plastic fittings, plastic pipe, and line sets. These products are manufactured in the U.S. SPD also imports and resells brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets, and plumbing specialty products. Outside the U.S., the Company’s European Operations manufacture copper tube, which is sold in Europe and the Middle East. European Operations also include the import distribution of fittings, valves, and plumbing specialty products primarily in the U.K. and Ireland. Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties. The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment’s products are sold primarily to plumbing, refrigeration, and air-conditioning wholesalers, hardware wholesalers and co-ops, and building product retailers.

IPD manufactures brass rod, impact extrusions, and forgings as well as a variety of end products including plumbing brass, automotive components, valves, and fittings. EPD manufactures and fabricates valves and assemblies for the refrigeration, air-conditioning, gas appliance, and barbecue grill markets and specialty copper, copper-alloy, and aluminum tubing. Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications. These products are sold primarily to OEM customers.

(In thousands)	For the Quarter Ended September 25, 2010
	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment		OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total

Net sales	$	282,735	$	228,981	$	(4,476	)	$	507,240

Cost of goods sold		245,013		196,894		(4,310	)		437,597
Depreciation and amortization		6,082		3,594		258			9,934
Selling, general, and administrative expense		20,117		5,499		3,194			28,810
Insurance settlement		12		—		—			12

Operating income		11,511		22,994		(3,618	)		30,887

Interest expense									(3,072	)
Other income, net									30

Income before income taxes								$	27,845

(In thousands)	For the Quarter Ended September 26, 2009
	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment		OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total

Net sales	$	240,878	$	181,621	$	(2,609	)	$	419,890

Cost of goods sold		199,979		156,366		(2,306	)		354,039
Depreciation and amortization		6,623		3,553		265			10,441
Selling, general, and administrative expense		18,290		5,172		4,131			27,593

Operating income		15,986		16,530		(4,699	)		27,817

Interest expense									(2,435	)
Other expense, net									(324	)

Income before income taxes								$	25,058

(In thousands)	For the Nine Months Ended September 25, 2010
	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment			OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total

Net sales	$	825,114		$	718,965	$	(11,183	)	$	1,532,896

Cost of goods sold		695,987			631,988		(10,685	)		1,317,290
Depreciation and amortization		18,895			10,700		777			30,372
Selling, general, and administrative expense		59,806			20,220		19,575			99,601
Insurance settlement		(21,284	)		—		—			(21,284	)

Operating income		71,710			56,057		(20,850	)		106,917

Interest expense										(8,568	)
Other expense, net										(2,348	)

Income before income taxes									$	96,001

(In thousands)	For the Nine Months Ended September 26, 2009
	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment		OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total

Net sales	$	661,035	$	459,898	$	(6,685	)	$	1,114,248

Cost of goods sold		545,332		415,227		(5,784	)		954,775
Depreciation and amortization		19,829		10,641		806			31,276
Selling, general, and administrative expense		57,675		15,715		15,677			89,067

Operating income		38,199		18,315		(17,384	)		39,130

Interest expense									(7,553	)
Other income, net									688

Income before income taxes								$	32,265

	For the Quarter Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009			September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Consolidated net income	$	18,747		$	18,812		$	69,583		$	22,469

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation		5,801			(6,079	)		567			12,011
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities		333			331			143			6,152
Other, net		(217	)		552			1,545			(79	)

Total other comprehensive income (loss)		5,917			(5,196	)		2,255			18,084

Comprehensive income		24,664			13,616			71,838			40,553
Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(34	)		(161	)		(1,309	)		(2,234	)

Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$	24,630		$	13,455		$	70,529		$	38,319

The change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment primarily relates to the Company’s investment in foreign subsidiaries and fluctuations in exchange rates between their local currencies and the U.S. dollar. During 2010, the change in the foreign currency translation amounts primarily resulted from changes in value in the British pound sterling. The value of the British pound sterling increased approximately 5 percent relative to the U.S. dollar during the third quarter of 2010. During the third quarter of 2009, the foreign currency translation adjustment was affected by the decrease in the value of the British pound sterling of approximately 3 percent and the decrease in value of the Mexican peso of approximately 1 percent relative to the U.S. dollar. These decreases were partially offset by the increase in the value of the Canadian dollar of approximately 6 percent relative to the U.S. dollar during the third quarter of 2009. During the nine months ended September 26, 2009, the value of the British pound sterling increased approximately 9 percent, the value of the Mexican peso increased approximately 2 percent, and the Canadian dollar increased approximately 12 percent relative to the U.S. dollar.

	For the Quarter Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009			September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Pension benefits:
Service cost	$	149		$	274		$	447		$	835
Interest cost		2,206			2,221			6,617			6,881
Expected return on plan assets		(2,706	)		(2,878	)		(8,119	)		(8,622	)
Amortization of prior service cost		74			76			221			229
Amortization of net loss		452			122			1,357			658

Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	175		$	(185	)	$	523		$	(19	)

Other benefits:
Service cost	$	68		$	59		$	202		$	176
Interest cost		318			302			953			905
Amortization of prior service cost		1			1			2			2
Amortization of net loss		39			41			117			125

Net periodic benefit cost	$	426		$	403		$	1,274		$	1,208

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2010 was 28 percent compared with 30 percent for the same period last year. Factors that explain the difference between the effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35 percent include: (i) the release of a valuation allowance of $5.5 million, or 15 cents per diluted share, due to the expectation that certain deferred tax assets in a foreign jurisdiction will be utilized; (ii) the tax benefit of the U.S. production activities deduction of $2.5 million; (iii) the $2.3 million effect of operating in foreign jurisdictions where the tax rate is generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate; and (iv) decreases in unrecognized tax benefits of $1.0 million. These items were partially offset by audit settlements of $2.0 million and the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $2.2 million.

Due to ongoing federal and state income tax audits and potential lapses of the statutes of limitations in various taxing jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits may decrease in the next twelve months by up to $2.3 million. Total unrecognized tax benefits including derecognized deferred tax assets at the end of third quarter were $10.2 million, without consideration of any applicable federal benefit, including $0.9 million of accrued interest and penalties. Of the $10.2 million, up to $7.4 million could impact the effective tax rate, if recognized.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and numerous consolidated and separate-company income tax returns in many state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. The statute of limitations is open for the Company’s federal tax return and most state income tax returns for 2007 and all subsequent years. The statutes of limitations for certain state and foreign returns are open for earlier tax years due to ongoing audits and differing statute periods. The Internal Revenue Service concluded an audit of the Company’s 2007 federal income tax return during 2010, the results of which were immaterial. While the Company believes that it is adequately reserved for possible future audit adjustments, the final resolution of these examinations cannot be determined with certainty and could result in final settlements that differ from current estimates.

	For the Quarter Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009			September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Interest income	$	290		$	242		$	573		$	1,023
Gain on early retirement of debt		—			—			—			128
Loss on disposal of properties, net		(88	)		(715	)		(252	)		(975	)
Environmental expense, non-operating properties		(261	)		(32	)		(3,099	)		(360	)
Other		89			181			430			872

Other income (expense), net	$	30		$	(324	)	$	(2,348	)	$	688

Copper and brass represent the largest component of the Company’s variable costs of production. The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company occasionally enters into forward fixed-price arrangements with certain customers; the risk of these arrangements is generally managed with commodity futures contracts. The Company accounts for these futures contracts in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). These futures contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges. The fair value of open futures contracts are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income until the position is closed which corresponds to the period when the related hedged transaction is recognized in earnings. Should these contracts no longer meet hedge criteria in accordance with ASC 815, either through lack of effectiveness or because the hedged transaction is no longer probable of occurring, all deferred gains and losses related to the hedge would be immediately reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings. In the next twelve months, the Company will reclassify into earnings realized gains or losses of cash flow hedges; at September 25, 2010, the net fair value of these contracts was $509 thousand.

	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
	For the Quarter Ended				For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010		September 26, 2009		September 25, 2010		September 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Commodity contracts (1)	$	402	$	1,357	$	870	$	3,732

(1) Includes noncontrolling interest of $88 thousand and $345 thousand for the nine months ended September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, respectively.

The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. At September 25, 2010 and December 26, 2009, the fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $180.9 million and $181.8 million, respectively, primarily using market yields and taking into consideration the underlying terms of the debt. Such fair value was less than the carrying value of debt at September 25, 2010 and December 26, 2009 by $0.7 million.

The Company is a leading manufacturer of copper, brass, plastic, and aluminum products. The range of these products is broad: copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic pipe, fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and steel nipples. The Company also resells imported brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets and plumbing specialty products. Mueller’s operations are located throughout the United States, and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China.

The Company’s businesses are aggregated into two reportable segments: the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) segment. For disclosure purposes, as permitted under ASC 280, Segment Reporting, certain operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments. The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of the Standard Products Division (SPD), European Operations, and Mexican Operations. The OEM segment is composed of the Industrial Products Division (IPD), Engineered Products Division (EPD), and Mueller-Xingrong, the Company’s Chinese joint venture. Certain administrative expenses and expenses related primarily to retiree benefits at inactive operations are combined into the Corporate and Eliminations classification. These reportable segments are described in more detail below.

SPD manufactures and sells copper tube, copper and plastic fittings, plastic pipe, and valves in North America and sources products for import distribution in North America. European Operations manufacture copper tube in Europe, which is sold in Europe and the Middle East; activities also include import distribution in the U.K. and Ireland. Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties. The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment sells products to wholesalers in the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning), plumbing, and refrigeration markets, to distributors to the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries, and to building material retailers.

The OEM segment manufactures and sells brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and gas valves and assemblies. Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications; these products are sold primarily to OEM’s located in China. The OEM segment sells its products primarily to original equipment manufacturers, many of which are in the HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration markets.

The majority of the Company’s manufacturing facilities operated at significantly below capacity during 2009 due to the reduced demand for the Company’s products arising from the general economic conditions in the U.S. and foreign markets that the Company serves. There has been improvement in demand in certain product lines during 2010, but the Company’s overall production levels are still significantly less than capacity. The U.S. residential and commercial construction market continues to be adversely affected by the economic downturn. Actual housing starts for the first nine months of 2010 reflect modest improvement over 2009. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, actual new housing starts in the U.S. were 467 thousand in the first nine months of 2010, which was an 8 percent increase compared with 431 thousand in the first nine months of 2009. The September 2010 seasonally adjusted annual rate of new housing starts was 610 thousand compared with 586 thousand for September 2009, which is a 4 percent increase. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the August 2010 seasonally adjusted annual rate of Nonresidential Value of Construction Put in Place was $259.7 billion, which was a 24 percent decrease from the revised August 2009 rate of $342.6 billion.

Profitability of certain of the Company’s product lines depends upon the “spreads” between the cost of raw material and the selling prices of its completed products. The open market prices for copper cathode and scrap, for example, influence the selling price of copper tubing, a principal product manufactured by the Company. The Company attempts to minimize the effects on profitability from fluctuations in material costs by passing through these costs to its customers. The Company’s earnings and cash flow are dependent upon these spreads that fluctuate based upon market conditions.

Earnings and profitability are also impacted by unit volumes that are subject to market trends, such as substitute products and imports, and market share. In its core product lines, the Company intensively manages its pricing structure while attempting to maximize its profitability. From time-to-time, this practice results in lost sales opportunities and lower volume. Plastic plumbing systems are the primary substitute product; these products represent an increasing share of consumption. U.S. consumption of copper tubing is still predominantly supplied by U.S. manufacturers, although imports from Mexico can be a significant factor. In recent years, brass rod consumption in the U.S. has declined due to the outsourcing of many manufactured products from offshore regions.

During the third quarter of 2010, the Company’s net sales were $507.2 million, which compares with net sales of $419.9 million over the same period of 2009. The increase during the period was due primarily to increased selling prices resulting from the increased average cost of raw material, which is generally passed on to customers. The Comex average price of copper, the Company’s principal raw material, was $3.30 per pound in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $2.67 per pound for the same period of 2009. The Company also experienced slight increases in unit sales volume.

Cost of goods sold increased from $354.0 million in the third quarter of 2009 to $437.6 million in the same period of 2010. The increase was primarily due to the increased average cost of raw material, volume increases, and increased aggregate conversion costs as a result of increased production. Depreciation and amortization remained relatively consistent. Selling, general, and administrative expense was $28.8 million for the third quarter of 2010 compared with $27.6 million for the same period of 2009. The increase was primarily due to increased incentive compensation resulting from improved overall operating performance partially offset by reduced professional fees.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2010 increased to $3.1 million from $2.4 million for the same period of 2009. This increase was due to increased borrowings by Mueller–Xingrong to fund operations. Other income (expense), net was $30 thousand income in the third quarter of 2010 compared with expense of $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2009. The difference is primarily due to losses on disposal of properties in 2009.

Net sales by the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment were $282.7 million in the third quarter of 2010, which was approximately an 17 percent increase from $240.9 million for the same period in 2009. The increase was due to increased selling prices resulting from higher average raw material costs. Domestic unit volumes increased slightly which were partially offset by volume decreases in the European and Mexican operations. Volumes continue to reflect adverse conditions in the residential and commercial construction markets. Of the $41.8 million increase in net sales, approximately $31.4 million was attributable to higher selling prices in the segment’s core product lines consisting primarily of copper tube, line sets, and fittings and approximately $8.1 million related to unit volume increases in these same core product lines. Cost of goods sold increased from $200.0 million in the third quarter of 2009 to $245.0 million in the third quarter of 2010. This increase primarily resulted from increased raw material costs and increased volume. Depreciation and amortization decreased approximately $0.5 million reflecting certain assets becoming fully depreciated. Selling, general, and administrative expense increased to $20.1 million in the third quarter of 2010 from $18.3 million in the third quarter of 2009 due primarily to increased professional fees and increased employment costs including incentive compensation. Operating income for the segment decreased from $16.0 million in the third quarter of 2009 to $11.5 million in the third quarter of 2010 due primarily to decreased unit spreads in many of the segment’s core product lines and increased unit conversion costs.

Net sales for the OEM segment increased approximately 26 percent to $229.0 million in the third quarter of 2010 from $181.6 million in the third quarter of 2009. The increase was due primarily to higher selling prices resulting from increased average costs of raw material and increased volume. Of the $47.4 million increase in net sales, approximately $25.8 million was due to increased selling prices in the segment’s core product lines consisting primarily of brass rod, forgings, and commercial tube and $11.7 million was attributable to increased unit volume. Cost of goods sold increased from $156.4 million in the third quarter 2009 to $196.9 million in the third quarter of 2010. The increase was due primarily to increased sales volume, higher raw material costs, and higher aggregate conversion costs resulting from increased production. Depreciation and amortization remained consistent. Selling, general, and administrative expense increased moderately to $5.5 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2009, due primarily to increased employment costs, including incentive compensation. Operating income for the segment improved from $16.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 to $23.0 million in the third quarter of 2010 due primarily to increased sales volumes and improved spreads across all of the segment’s core product lines, especially brass rod.

During the nine months ended September 25, 2010, the Company’s net sales were $1.53 billion, which compares with net sales of $1.11 billion over the same period of 2009. The increase was due primarily to increased selling prices resulting from the increased average cost of raw material during the period, which is generally passed on to customers. The Comex average price of copper, the Company’s principal raw material, was $3.26 per pound in the first nine months of 2010, compared with $2.13 in the same period of 2009. The Company also experienced increases in unit sales volume in the OEM segment.

Cost of goods sold increased from $954.8 million in the first nine months of 2009 to $1.32 billion in the same period of 2010. The increase was primarily due to the increased average cost of raw material, volume increases, and to a lesser extent, increased aggregate conversion costs as a result of increased production. Depreciation and amortization decreased $0.9 million. Selling, general, and administrative expense was $99.6 million for the first nine months of 2010 compared with $89.1 million for the same period of 2009. The increase was primarily due to increased incentive compensation, increased foreign currency transaction losses of $2.3 million related to the British pound sterling, and increased bad debt expense of $3.2 million.

During the nine months ended September 25, 2010, the Company settled an insurance claim related to the November 2008 fire at its U.K. copper tube facility, resulting in a cumulative net gain of $21.3 million. Subsequent to settlement of the claim, the Company incurred additional expenses totaling $1.2 million in the second and third quarters of 2010 to continue the rehabilitation of the facility. Rehabilitation of the facility is substantially complete and the Company does not expect to incur additional expenses related to the U.K. fire.

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 25, 2010 totaled $8.6 million, compared with $7.6 million for the same period of 2009. The increase was due to increased borrowings by Mueller-Xingrong to fund operations. Other income (expense), net was $2.3 million expense for the first nine months of 2010 compared with $0.7 million income for the same period of 2009. The change primarily resulted from an environmental provision of $2.5 million regarding the Eureka Mills Site and reduced interest income resulting from lower interest rates.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2010 was 28 percent compared with 30 percent for the same period last year. Factors that explain the difference between the effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35 percent include: (i) the release of a valuation allowance of $5.5 million due to the expectation that certain deferred tax assets in a foreign jurisdiction will be utilized; (ii) the tax benefit of the U.S. production activities deduction of $2.5 million; (iii) the $2.3 million effect of operating in foreign jurisdictions where the tax rate is generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate; and (iv) decreases in unrecognized tax benefits of $1.0 million. These items were partially offset by audit settlements of $2.0 million and the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $2.2 million.

Net sales by the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment were $825.1 million in the nine months ended September 25, 2010, which was approximately a 25 percent increase from $661.0 million for the same period in 2009. The increase was due to increased selling prices resulting from higher average raw material costs. Unit volumes were consistent for both periods reflecting adverse conditions in the residential and commercial construction markets. The $164.1 million increase in net sales consisted of approximately $167.6 million attributable to higher selling prices in the segment’s core product lines consisting primarily of copper tube, line sets, and fittings; partially offset by approximately $14.6 million unfavorable volume mix among the segment’s product lines. Cost of goods sold increased from $545.3 million in the first nine months of 2009 to $696.0 million in the first nine months of 2010. This increase resulted from increased raw material costs. Depreciation and amortization decreased approximately $0.9 million reflecting certain assets becoming fully depreciated. Selling, general, and administrative expense increased $2.1 million in the first nine months of 2010 due primarily to increased incentive compensation. During the nine months ended September 25, 2010, the Company settled an insurance claim related to the November 2008 fire at its U.K. copper tube facility, resulting in a cumulative net gain of $21.3 million. Operating income for the segment increased from $38.2 million in the first nine months of 2009 to $71.7 million in the first nine months of 2010 due primarily to the insurance settlement gain at the U.K. copper tube facility and improved spreads in certain product lines including copper tube and the Company’s Mexican operations.

Net sales for the OEM segment increased approximately 56 percent to $719.0 million in the nine months ended September 25, 2010 from $459.9 million in the same period of 2009. The increase was due primarily to higher selling prices resulting from increased average costs of raw material and increased volume. Of the $259.1 million increase in net sales, approximately $131.9 million was attributable to increased selling prices in the segment’s core product lines consisting primarily of brass rod, forgings, and commercial tube and $103.3 million was due to increased unit volume in the same product lines. Cost of goods sold increased from $415.2 million in the first nine months of 2009 to $632.0 million in the first nine months of 2010. The increase was due primarily to increased sales volume, higher raw material costs, and higher aggregate conversion costs resulting from increased production. Depreciation and amortization remained consistent. Selling, general, and administrative expense increased $4.5 million to $20.2 million in the first nine months of 2010 due primarily to increased bad debt expense of $3.0 million and increased employment costs, including incentive compensation. Operating income for the segment improved from $18.3 million in the first nine months of 2009 to operating income of $56.1 million in the first nine months of 2010 due primarily to increased sales volume and improved spreads across all of the segment’s core product lines.

Cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 25, 2010 totaled $60.7 million, which was primarily attributable to net income plus depreciation and increased current liabilities, partially offset by increased receivables. The increases in receivables and current liabilities primarily resulted from the increased cost of raw materials and moderate unit sales increases in certain businesses during 2010. Fluctuations in the cost of copper and other raw materials affect the Company’s liquidity. Changes in material costs directly impact components of working capital, primarily inventories and accounts receivable. During the first nine months of 2010, the average Comex copper price was approximately $3.26 per pound, which represents a 53 percent increase over the average price during the first nine months of 2009. This increase in the price of cathode has also resulted in sharp increases in the open market price for copper scrap and, to a lesser extent, the price of brass scrap. The increase of material cost in September 2010 inventory was offset by decreased inventory quantities and a reserve to reduce certain inventories to their LIFO value. The Company also received the remaining insurance proceeds related to the fire at its U.K. copper tube facility, of which approximately $5.6 million represented coverage for business interruption and reimbursement of cleaning and other noncapital expenditures.

During the first nine months of 2010, cash provided by investing activities totaled $3.1 million. The net cash inflow resulted from insurance proceeds of approximately $17.7 million related to the property and equipment damage claim with respect to the Company’s U.K. copper tube facility, partially offset by $14.2 million of capital expenditures. On August 6, 2010 the Company purchased certain assets from Linesets, Inc., a manufacturer of assembled line sets. Cash paid for this acquisition of approximately $2.0 million was allocated primarily to inventory and machinery and equipment. Cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 25, 2010 totaled $9.9 million, which consisted primarily of dividends paid of $11.3 million and net repayment of debt at Mueller-Xingrong of $1.1 million, partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $2.5 million.

The Company has significant environmental remediation obligations. The performance of these obligations is expected to occur over a minimum of 20 years. Cash used for environmental remediation activities was approximately $1.6 million during the first nine months of 2010. The Company expects to spend approximately $0.6 million for the remainder of 2010 for ongoing environmental remediation activities. The timing of payment to settle the Southeast Kansas Sites and the Eureka Mills Site matters is not known. The total amount reserved for these matters is $12.0 million of which $2.5 million was reserved in the second quarter of 2010 for the Eureka Mills Site.

The Company’s Board of Directors has extended, until October 2011, its authorization to repurchase up to ten million shares of the Company’s common stock through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares and may cancel, suspend, or extend the time period for the repurchase of shares at any time. Any repurchases will be funded primarily through existing cash and cash from operations. The Company may hold any shares repurchased in treasury or use a portion of the repurchased shares for employee benefit plans, as well as for other corporate purposes. From its initial authorization in 1999 through September 25, 2010, the Company had repurchased approximately 2.4 million shares under this authorization. In addition, the Company may repurchase portions of its 6% Subordinated Debentures through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions.

During the nine months ended September 25, 2010, the Company recognized a settlement of $21.3 million (or 59 cents per diluted share after tax) on the receipt of proceeds from an insurance claim pertaining to the 2008 fire at its U.K. copper tube facility. The following table shows the Company’s computation of earnings without insurance settlement for the nine months ended September 25, 2010. Earnings without insurance settlement is a measurement not derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Excluding the insurance settlement is useful as it measures the operating results that are the outcome of daily operating decisions made in the normal course of business. The insurance settlement resulted from final reimbursement for losses claimed as a result of the fire, the results of which are not impacted by daily operations and are not expected to recur in future periods. Reconciliation of earnings without insurance settlement to net income attributable to the Company is as follows:

(In thousands, except per share data)	For the Nine Months Ended September 25, 2010
	As Reported			Impact of Insurance Settlement			Pro forma Without Insurance Settlement

Operating income	$	106,917		$	(21,284	)	$	85,633

Interest expense		(8,568	)		—			(8,568	)
Other expense, net		(2,348	)		—			(2,348	)

Income before income taxes		96,001			(21,284	)		74,717
Income tax expense (a)		(26,418	)		(1,090	)		(27,508	)

Consolidated net income		69,583			(22,374	)		47,209

Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(1,158	)		—			(1,158	)

Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$	68,425		$	(22,374	)	$	46,051

Diluted earnings per share	$	1.81		$	(0.59	)	$	1.22

(a) Realization of this insurance settlement resulted in a tax benefit primarily from the utilization of U.K. net operating losses that were previously unrecognized.

Copper and brass represent the largest component of the Company’s variable costs of production. The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond the Company’s control. Significant increases in the cost of metal, to the extent not reflected in prices for the Company’s finished products, or the lack of availability could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.

The Company occasionally enters into future fixed-price arrangements with certain customers. The Company may utilize futures contracts to hedge risks associated with these fixed-price arrangements. The Company may also utilize futures contracts to manage price risk associated with inventory. Depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the futures contracts will either be offset against the change in fair value of the inventory through earnings or recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflected in earnings upon the sale of inventory. Periodic value fluctuations of the contracts generally offset the value fluctuations of the underlying fixed-price transactions or inventory. At September 25, 2010, the Company held open futures contracts to purchase approximately $6.8 million of copper through March 2011 related to fixed-price sales orders.

Futures contracts may also be used to manage price risk associated with natural gas purchases. The effective portion of gains and losses with respect to these positions are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflected in earnings upon consumption of natural gas. Periodic value fluctuations of the contracts generally offset the value fluctuations of the underlying natural gas prices. At September 25, 2010, the Company held no open futures contracts to purchase natural gas.

At September 25, 2010, the Company had variable-rate debt outstanding of $33.5 million, the majority of which related to the debt issued by Mueller-Xingrong. At these borrowing levels, a hypothetical 10 percent increase in interest rates would have had an insignificant unfavorable impact on the Company’s pretax earnings and cash flows. The primary interest rate exposure on floating-rate debt is based on LIBOR and on the base-lending rate published by the People’s Bank of China.

Foreign currency exposures arising from transactions include firm commitments and anticipated transactions denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency. The Company and its subsidiaries generally enter into transactions denominated in their respective functional currencies. Foreign currency exposures arising from transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are generally not material; however, the Company may utilize certain futures or forward contracts to hedge such transactional exposures. Gains and losses with respect to these positions are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of comprehensive income and reflected in earnings upon collection of receivables. At September 25, 2010, the Company had open forward contracts with a financial institution to sell approximately 3.9 million Canadian dollars through December 2010.

The Company’s primary foreign currency exposure arises from foreign-denominated revenues and profits and their translation into U.S. dollars. The primary currencies to which the Company is exposed include the Canadian dollar, the British pound sterling, the Euro, the Mexican peso, and the Chinese renminbi. The Company generally views as long-term its investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. As a result, the Company generally does not hedge these net investments.

Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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.

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 25, 2010 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

A Copper Tube Action (the Carrier ACR Tube Action) was filed in March 2006 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee by Carrier Corporation, Carrier S.A., and Carrier Italia S.p.A. (collectively, Carrier). The Carrier ACR Tube Action alleges anticompetitive activities with respect to the sale to Carrier of ACR copper tubes. The Company and Mueller Europe Limited (Mueller Europe) are named in the Carrier ACR Tube Action.

Two Copper Tube Actions were filed in June and August 2006 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and were consolidated to become the Indirect-Purchaser ACR Tube Action. The Indirect-Purchaser ACR Tube Action is a purported class action brought on behalf of indirect purchasers of ACR copper tubes in the United States and alleges anticompetitive activities with respect to the sale of ACR copper tubes. The Company and Mueller Europe are named in the Indirect-Purchaser ACR Tube Action. The Company and Mueller Europe have been served, but have not yet been required to respond, in the Indirect-Purchaser ACR Tube Action.

As a result of these findings, exports of subject goods to Canada by the Company made on or after October 20, 2006 have been subject to antidumping measures. Under Canada’s system of prospective antidumping enforcement, the CBSA has issued normal values to the Company. Antidumping duties will be imposed on the Company only to the extent that the Company’s future exports of copper pipe fittings are made at net export prices which are below these normal values. If net export prices for subject goods exceed normal values, no antidumping duties will be payable. These measures will remain in place for five years, at which time an expiry review will be conducted by Canadian authorities to determine whether these measures should be maintained for another five years or allowed to expire.

On April 1, 2010, the CBSA completed a review process pursuant to which revised normal values were issued to exporters of subject goods, including the Company. Given the level of the newly revised normal values relative to the normal values and selling prices of the Company's competitors in Canada, the Company's sales of subject goods in Canada may increase or decrease relative to prior levels. In any event, given the small percentage of its products that are sold for export to Canada, the Company does not anticipate any material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows as a result of the antidumping case in Canada.

The Company's normal values are subject to potential review and revision in the future. Depending on the level of these revised normal values, the Company's ability to compete in Canada could be affected, although, as discussed above, export sales of subject goods to Canada comprise only a small percentage of the Company’s total sales. The “sunset review” process, pursuant to which Canadian authorities will examine whether the dumping order should be revoked or maintained for another five years, will initiate in April 2011.

On September 30, 2009, two subsidiaries of Mueller Industries, Inc., along with Cerro Flow Products, Inc. and KobeWieland Copper Products, LLC (collectively, Petitioners), jointly filed antidumping petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that imports of seamless refined copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico (subject imports) were being sold at less than fair value and were causing material injury (and threatening material injury) to the domestic industry. On October 21, 2009, the DOC announced its decision to initiate antidumping investigations, corroborating Petitioners' allegations that imports from China were being unfairly traded in the U.S. market. On November 13, 2009, the ITC announced its unanimous determination that there is a reasonable indication that the domestic industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of subject imports. As a result of this preliminary determination, the DOC commenced antidumping investigations of Chinese and Mexican producers.

On May 12, 2010, the DOC published its preliminary affirmative determinations, finding antidumping rates from 29.52 percent to 30.90 percent for Mexico, and from 10.26 percent to 60.50 percent for China. As a result, U.S. importers of subject imports were required to post bonds or cash deposits at these preliminary rates. On October 1, 2010, the DOC published its final affirmative determinations, finding antidumping rates from 24.89 percent to 31.43 percent for Mexico, and from 11.25 percent to 60.85 percent for China. As a result, U.S. importers of subject imports are now required to post bonds or cash deposits at these final rates (subject to adjustment to correct for any ministerial errors).

In November 2008, the Company received a general notice of liability and second request for information under CERCLA from the EPA concerning the Eureka Mills Superfund Site located in Juab County, Utah. The Eureka Mills Site is an area where mining and milling of various metals occurred over the course of several decades. The EPA has been investigating and remediating contamination associated with these activities. The Company’s connection to the Eureka Mills Site is through land within the site that was owned by Sharon Steel Corporation (Sharon), its predecessor, and a 1979 transaction with UV Industries (UV) in which Sharon allegedly assumed certain of UV’s liabilities. On October 5, 2010, the United States on behalf of EPA and the State of Utah filed a complaint with the United States District Court for Utah under Section 107(a) of CERCLA, for the recovery of costs for responding to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances at the Eureka Mills Site. Plaintiffs simultaneously lodged with the Court a proposed Consent Decree with the Company which if approved by the Court will resolve all allegations of the complaint in exchange for payments totaling $2.5 million. Following lodging with the Court, notice of the proposed Consent Decree will be published in the Federal Register for a thirty (30) day public comment period. After the comment period, the Plaintiffs will either notify the Court of their withdrawal of the proposed Consent Decree or move the Court to enter the proposed Consent Decree.

The Company is exposed to risk as it operates its businesses. To provide a framework to understand the operating environment of the Company, we have provided a brief explanation of the more significant risks associated with our businesses in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following represents an update to the risk factors previously identified. Although we have tried to identify and discuss key risk factors, others could emerge in the future. These risk factors should be considered carefully when evaluating the Company and its businesses.

In March 2010, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (the Acts). Among other things, the Acts contain provisions that will affect employer-sponsored health care plans, impose excise taxes on certain plans, and reduce the tax benefits available to employers that receive the Medicare Part D subsidy. The Company is currently reviewing provisions of the Acts and their impact on its company-sponsored plans. Costs associated with compliance of the Acts are currently unable to be estimated.

The Company’s Board of Directors has extended, until October 2011, its authorization to repurchase up to ten million shares of the Company’s common stock through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares and may cancel, suspend, or extend the time period for the repurchase of shares at any time. Any repurchases will be funded primarily through existing cash and cash from operations. The Company may hold any shares repurchased in treasury or use a portion of the repurchased shares for employee benefit plans, as well as for other corporate purposes. From its initial authorization in 1999 through September 25, 2010, the Company had repurchased approximately 2.4 million shares under this authorization. Below is a summary of the Company’s stock repurchases for the period ended September 25, 2010.

	(a)			(b)		(c)	(d)
	Total Number of Shares Purchased			Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

								7,647,030	(1)

June 27 – July 24, 2010		—		$	—	—

July 25 – August 21, 2010		—			—	—

August 22 – September 25, 2010		403	(2)		24.72	—

(1) Shares available to be purchased under the Company's ten million share repurchase authorization until October 2011. The extension of the authorization was announced on October 21, 2010.

(2) Shares tendered to the Company by employee stock option holders in payment of the option purchase price and/or withholding taxes upon exercise.

	19.1	Mueller Industries, Inc.’s Quarterly Report to Stockholders for the quarter ended September 25, 2010. Such report is being furnished for the information of the Securities and Exchange Commission only and is not to be deemed filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

	31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	101.INS	XBRL Instance Document

	101.SCH	XBRL Schema Document

	101.CAL	XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document

	101.LAB	XBRL Label Linkbase Document

	101.PRE	XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits	Description

19.1	Mueller Industries, Inc.’s Quarterly Report to Stockholders for the quarter ended September 25, 2010. Such report is being furnished for the information of the Securities and Exchange Commission only and is not to be deemed filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS	XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH	XBRL Schema Document

101.CAL	XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB	XBRL Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE	XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

Delaware	25-0790410
(State or other jurisdiction	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)

8285 Tournament Drive, Suite 150
Memphis, Tennessee	38125
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company o

		Page Number
Part I. Financial Information

	Item 1. – Financial Statements (Unaudited)

	a.) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income	3

	b.) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	4

	c.) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	5

	d.) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	6

	Item 2. – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18

	Item 3. – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	24

	Item 4. – Controls and Procedures	25

Part II. Other Information

	Item 1. – Legal Proceedings	26

	Item 1A – Risk Factors	30

	Item 2. – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	30

	Item 6. – Exhibits	31

Signatures		32

	September 25, 2010			December 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Raw materials and supplies	$	20,658		$	32,593
Work-in-process		44,625			37,923
Finished goods		129,780			126,184
Valuation reserves		(4,820	)		(5,438	)

Inventories	$	190,243		$	191,262

	(Gain) Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
	For the Quarter Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009			September 25, 2010			September 26, 2009
(In thousands)

Commodity contracts:
Cost of goods sold	$	(69	)	$	(1,026	)	$	(727	)	$	2,420

	MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.


	/S/ Kent A. McKee
	Kent A. McKee
October 21, 2010	Executive Vice President and
Date	Chief Financial Officer


	/S/ Richard W. Corman
October 21, 2010	Richard W. Corman
Date	Vice President – Controller