Mueller Industries, Inc. Reports Forty-Four Percent Increase in Second Quarter 2011 Earnings

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvey L. Karp, Chairman of Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MLI), announced today that Mueller's net income in the second quarter of 2011 was $22.3 million, or 59 cents per diluted share. This compares with net income of $15.6 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, for the same period of 2010. Net sales for the second quarter of 2011 were $652.9 million compared with $540.4 million in the second quarter of 2010.

For the first half of 2011, net income was $62.9 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.34 billion. This compares with net income of $49.5 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.03 billion for the first half of 2010. The year-to-date results of both 2011 and 2010 include unusual items in net income. For the 2011 period, income of 18 cents per diluted share was included, resulting from the favorable settlement of a legal action. And, in 2010, income of 58 cents per diluted share was included in net income, resulting from an insurance claim. Excluding these unusual items, Mueller's net income for the first half of 2011 was $56.1 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, compared with $27.6 million, or 73 cents per diluted share, for the first half of 2010.

Financial and Operating Highlights

Regarding the second quarter of 2011, Mr. Karp said:


Business Outlook

Regarding the outlook, Mr. Karp said, "The construction industry continues to struggle in the face of high unemployment, foreclosures, and a weak economic recovery. Nonetheless, we believe we are at or near the cyclical lows. We are well prepared to ramp-up production when the recovery gains momentum. Mueller's performance in the first half was gratifying."

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 that includes office buildings, factories, hotels, hospitals, etc.

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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 Ended


For the Six Months Ended


July 2,


June 26,


July 2,


June 26,


2011


2010


2011


2010


(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)









Net sales

$   652,923


$   540,388


$   1,340,604


$   1,025,656









Cost of goods sold

573,877


466,645


1,163,751


879,693

Depreciation and amortization

9,166


10,090


18,865


20,438

Selling, general, and administrative expense

33,330


33,468


68,699


70,791

Litigation settlement

-


-


(10,500)


-

Insurance settlement

-


1,210


-


(21,296)









Operating income

36,550


28,975


99,789


76,030









Interest expense

(2,834)


(2,964)


(6,182)


(5,496)

Other income (expense), net

264


(2,518)


1,323


(2,378)









Income before income taxes

33,980


23,493


94,930


68,156









Income tax expense

(11,249)


(7,456)


(31,657)


(17,320)









Consolidated net income

22,731


16,037


63,273


50,836









Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(400)


(479)


(355)


(1,320)









Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.

$   22,331


$   15,558


$      62,918


$      49,516









Weighted average shares








for basic earnings per share

37,737


37,674


37,730


37,631

Effect of dilutive stock-based awards

356


43


309


69









Adjusted weighted average shares








for diluted earnings per share

38,093


37,717


38,039


37,700









Basic earnings per share

$       0.59


$       0.41


$          1.67


$          1.32









Diluted earnings per share

$       0.59


$       0.41


$          1.65


$          1.31









Dividends per share

$       0.10


$       0.10


$          0.20


$          0.20









Summary Segment Data:








Net sales:








Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment

$    347,069


$    285,717


$    727,658


$    542,379

OEM Segment

314,086


257,780


633,422


489,984

Elimination of intersegment sales

(8,232)


(3,109)


(20,476)


(6,707)









Net sales

$     652,923


$     540,388


$   1,340,604


$   1,025,656









Operating income:








Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment

$    24,790


$    19,740


$    54,473


$    60,199

OEM Segment

18,816


16,932


48,462


33,063

Unallocated expenses

(7,056)


(7,697)


(3,146)


(17,232)









Operating income

$    36,550


$    28,975


$    99,789


$    76,030



MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)














July 2,


December 25,


2011


2010


(Unaudited)

ASSETS




Cash and cash equivalents

$    345,039


$    394,139

Accounts receivable, net

327,381


269,258

Inventories

296,999


209,892

Other current assets

47,144


39,025





   Total current assets

1,016,563


912,314





Property, plant, and equipment, net

223,234


229,498

Other assets

118,747


117,184






$   1,358,544


$   1,258,996













LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY




Current portion of debt

$    50,582


$      32,020

Accounts payable

86,574


67,849

Other current liabilities

94,496


95,258





   Total current liabilities

231,652


195,127





Long-term debt

156,976


158,226

Pension and postretirement liabilities

40,558


40,939

Environmental reserves

23,232


23,902

Deferred income taxes

21,813


24,081

Other noncurrent liabilities

1,877


824





   Total liabilities

476,108


443,099





Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity

854,305


788,736

Noncontrolling interest

28,131


27,161





   Total equity

882,436


815,897






$    1,358,544


$    1,258,996



MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)










For the Six Months Ended




July 2,


June 26,




2011


2010




(Unaudited)

Operating activities:




Consolidated net income

$    63,273


$    50,836

Reconciliation of net income to net cash (used in)





provided by operating activities:






Depreciation and amortization

18,999


20,554



Stock-based compensation expense

1,712


1,435



(Gain) loss on disposal of properties

(275)


164



Insurance settlement

-


(21,296)



Insurance proceeds - noncapital related

-


5,561



Deferred income taxes

(2,549)


(4,370)



Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options

(90)


(88)



Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business acquired:






Receivables

(55,010)


(60,819)



Inventories

(78,966)


4,796



Other assets

(4,398)


6,979



Current liabilities

17,199


26,129



Other liabilities

768


2,870



Other, net

433


(363)







Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

(38,904)


32,388







Investing activities:




Capital expenditures

(8,743)


(9,286)

Acquisition of business

(6,882)


-

Insurance proceeds

-


17,703

Proceeds from sales of properties

151


23

Net (deposits into) withdrawals from restricted cash balances

(3,877)


11







Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

(19,351)


8,451







Financing activities:




Dividends paid

(7,546)


(7,529)

Debt issuance costs

(1,942)


-

Issuance of shares under stock-based incentive plans





from treasury

1,335


2,465

Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options

90


88

Acquisition of treasury stock

(743)


(75)

Repayments of long-term debt

(250)


-

Issuance of debt by joint venture, net

16,498


16,431







Net cash provided by financing activities

7,442


11,380







Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

1,713


(1,065)







(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(49,100)


51,154







Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

394,139


346,001







Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

$   345,039


$   397,155



MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AS REPORTED

TO NET INCOME BEFORE LITIGATION SETTLEMENT AND INSURANCE SETTLEMENT

(In thousands, except per share data)







Earnings without the litigation settlement in 2011 and without the insurance settlement in 2010 is a measurement not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Excluding the litigation settlement and 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 litigation settlement resulted from the collection of proceeds from the lawsuit against Peter Berkman, Jeffrey Berkman, and Homewerks Worldwide LLC.  The insurance settlement resulted from the final settlement for losses claimed as a result of a fire at our U.K. subsidiary in November 2008, the results of which are not impacted by daily operations and are not expected to recur in future periods. Reconciliations of earnings without the litigation settlement and insurance settlement to net income as reported are as follows:


For the Six Months Ended July 2, 2011






Pro forma




Impact of


Without


As


Litigation


Litigation


Reported


Settlement


Settlement


(Unaudited)







Operating income

$    99,789


$    (10,500)


$    89,289







Interest expense

(6,182)


-


(6,182)

Other income, net

1,323


-


1,323







Income before income taxes

94,930


(10,500)


84,430

Income tax expense

(31,657)


3,675


(27,982)







Consolidated net income

63,273


(6,825)


56,448







Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(355)


-


(355)







Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.

$    62,918


$    (6,825)


$    56,093













Diluted earnings per share

$       1.65


$      (0.18)


$       1.47














For the Six Months Ended June 26, 2010






Pro forma




Impact of


Without


As


Insurance


Insurance


Reported


Settlement


Settlement


(Unaudited)







Operating income

$    76,030


$    (21,296)


$    54,734







Interest expense

(5,496)


-


(5,496)

Other expense, net

(2,378)


-


(2,378)







Income before income taxes

68,156


(21,296)


46,860

Income tax expense (Note A)

(17,320)


(618)


(17,938)







Consolidated net income

50,836


(21,914)


28,922







Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(1,320)


-


(1,320)







Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.

$   49,516


$    (21,914)


$    27,602













Diluted earnings per share

$       1.31


$       (0.58)


$        0.73













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





CONTACT: Kent A. McKee, +1-901-753-3208