Mueller Industries, Inc. Announces Agreement to Repurchase 27.2% of Its Outstanding Shares

News provided by

Mueller Industries, Inc.

24 Sep, 2012, 11:39 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MLI) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to repurchase 10,422,859 shares of Mueller common stock owned by Leucadia National Corporation (and its subsidiaries) (NYSE: LUK) at a negotiated price per share of $41.00, for an aggregate purchase price of $427,337,219.  The shares to be purchased in the repurchase transaction equate to approximately 27.2% of Mueller's common shares currently outstanding and constitute Leucadia's entire ownership stake in Mueller.  Ian M. Cumming and Joseph S. Steinberg, Leucadia's designees to the Company's Board of Directors, will resign from the Board upon the closing of the repurchase, which is expected to occur on or before September 26, 2012, subject to customary closing conditions.  The repurchase was approved by the Board following the recommendation of the directors not affiliated with Leucadia and will be funded using a combination of the Company's available cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's existing line of credit.

Gregory L. Christopher, Mueller's CEO said, "We are pleased to announce this repurchase transaction.  We believe that a repurchase transaction of this magnitude represents a highly attractive opportunity to achieve immediate and significant accretion to our earnings, while still maintaining prudent levels of leverage and liquidity."

For the second quarter of 2012, the Company previously reported income of 47 cents per diluted share which compares with pro forma basis income of 59 cents per diluted share.  The appended unaudited condensed balance sheet and income statement illustrate the impact of the transaction on a pro forma basis.

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. 


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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 "pro forma," "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.

PRO FORMA CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF JUNE 30, 2012

(in thousands)








The following table illustrates the effects of the stock repurchase transaction (10,422,859 shares at $41.00 per share) on the reported balance sheet as if it had occurred on June 30, 2012.  Cash and cash equivalents, long-term debt, and stockholders' equity including the effects of the stock repurchase transaction are measurements not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Including the effects of the stock repurchase transaction is useful as it measures the effects of increased borrowings and decreased available cash on hand on the financial position of the Company.  The reconciliation of the balance sheet information including the effects of the stock repurchase transaction to the balance sheet as reported for June 30, 2012 is as follows:











As of June 30, 2012





Effect of




As

Stock




Reported

Repurchase

Pro forma





(Unaudited)


ASSETS






Cash and cash equivalents

$    373,680

$   (227,337)

 (a) 

$    146,343

Other current assets

570,370

-

570,370









    Total current assets

944,050

(227,337)

716,713









Other assets

328,390

-

328,390











$  1,272,440

$   (227,337)

$  1,045,103









LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Total current liabilities

240,386

-

240,386









Long-term debt

7,800

200,000

 (b) 

207,800

Other noncurrent liabilities

89,807

-

89,807









    Total liabilities

337,993

200,000

537,993









Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity

904,343

(427,337)

 (c) 

477,006

Noncontrolling interest

30,104

-

30,104









    Total equity

934,447

(427,337)

507,110











$  1,272,440

$   (227,337)

$  1,045,103








 (a) 

Represents the amount of the purchase price for the stock repurchase transaction that will be funded with available cash on hand.








 (b) 

Represents the amount of the purchase price for the stock repurchase transaction that will initially be funded with borrowings under the Company's existing line of credit.








 (c) 

Represents the total purchase price for the stock repurchase transaction.

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

PRO FORMA CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2012

(In thousands, except per share data)









The following table illustrates the effects of the stock repurchase transaction (10,422,859 shares at $41.00 per share) on reported earnings as if it had occurred on the first day of the second quarter of 2012.  Earnings including the effects of the stock repurchase transaction is a measurement not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Including the effects of the stock repurchase transaction is useful as it measures the effects of increased borrowings and decreased available cash on hand to the operating results, and measures the impact of the decreased share count in the weighted average shares computation.  These adjustments are helpful in illustrating the impact of these transactions on the reported earnings and diluted earnings per share.  The reconciliation of earnings including the effects of the stock repurchase transaction to net income as reported is as follows:












For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2012














Effect of





As

Stock





Reported

Repurchase
(Unaudited)

Pro forma

















Operating income

$     29,842

$         -

$     29,842










Interest expense

(2,721)

(1,875)

 (d) 

(4,596)

Other income, net

490

(121)

 (e) 

369










Income before income taxes

27,611

(1,996)

25,615

Income tax expense

(9,071)

699

(8,372)










Consolidated net income

18,540

(1,297)

17,243










Net income attributable to
 noncontrolling interest

(623)

-

(623)










Net income attributable to Mueller 
 Industries, Inc.

$     17,917

$     (1,297)

$     16,620










Weighted average shares







for basic earnings per share

38,029

(10,423)

27,606

Effect of dilutive stock-based awards

436

-

436










Adjusted weighted average shares







for diluted earnings per share

38,465

(10,423)

28,042










Diluted earnings per share

$       0.47

$       0.12

$       0.59



























 (d) 

Represents the estimated increase in interest expense for the quarter, assuming an all-in borrowing rate of 3.75% applied to the amount borrowed to fund the stock repurchase transaction.









 (e) 

Represents the estimated decrease in interest income for the quarter, assuming a weighted average return of 0.21% on the amount of the cash portion of the repurchase transaction.