Vulcan Announces Strong Earnings Improvement in the First Quarter of 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced significantly improved results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company also provided an update on its initiatives designed to generate higher levels of earnings and cash flow.

First Quarter 2012 Results Summary

• Net sales increased $44 million, or 10 percent, from the prior year and gross profit increased $29 million, reflecting sales growth in every segment and the favorable earnings effect of improved productivity and cost reduction. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales improved 600 basis points.
  • Unit shipments increased in every major product line from the prior year, including a 10 percent increase in aggregates shipments.
  • Aggregates segment revenues increased $24 million reflecting higher shipments. Aggregates gross profit improved $23 million, reflecting the higher shipments, as well as lower unit cost of sales due to improved productivity. All key labor and energy efficiency metrics for aggregates improved for the quarter, and more than offset an 11 percent increase in the unit cost of diesel fuel.
  • Gross profit from non-aggregates segments improved by $6 million, reflecting cost reduction initiatives.
• Selling, Administrative and General (SAG) expenses in the first quarter were $13 million lower than the prior year due mainly to cost reduction initiatives undertaken in 2011.
• Included in the first quarter 2012 results were charges related to the unsolicited offer by Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. and a gain on the sale of real estate in California. Included in the prior year's first quarter was an insurance arbitration award related to a lawsuit. Excluding these items, EBITDA increased to $46 million in 2012 from $5 million in the prior year's first quarter.
• Adjusting for the aforementioned items, earnings from continuing operations were a loss of $0.42 per diluted share as compared to a loss of $0.62 per diluted share in the same period last year.

Don James, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our aggregates business delivered another quarter of strong improvement and the non-aggregates businesses continued to make progress. These results reflect the continued recovery of our markets and the benefits of the Company's powerful earnings leverage. In particular, higher aggregates shipments and lower unit cost of sales drove a 640 basis point improvement in Aggregates segment gross profit, as a percentage of segment revenues, and an 11 percent increase in cash earnings per ton. Demand for our products was solid during the quarter due primarily to public infrastructure projects and some recovery in private sector construction work. Results in the quarter were aided by favorable weather conditions. Our focus on improving earnings through price and cost leadership, and the continued execution of our Profit Enhancement Plan and Planned Asset Sales, position us to further benefit from a recovery in demand in 2012."

Commentary on 1Q 2012 Segment Results

First quarter Aggregates segment gross profit increased $23 million from the prior year reflecting growth in shipments across almost all geographic markets. Aggregates shipments increased 10 percent from the prior year and, coupled with lower unit cost of sales, led to a sharp increase in Aggregates gross profit margin. Vulcan's Aggregates businesses in California and Virginia continued to achieve strong volume gains from the prior year. The Company's Aggregates businesses in eight other states also achieved double-digit volume gains over the prior year's first quarter, most notably key states of Florida, Texas, and Alabama. These increases were due mainly to large infrastructure project work - primarily highways - some improvement in private construction activity and favorable weather conditions. The average sales price for aggregates decreased 1 percent from the prior year's first quarter due mostly to a less favorable product mix. All key labor productivity and energy efficiency metrics improved from the prior year, more than offsetting an 11 percent increase in the unit cost for diesel fuel.

Asphalt Mix segment gross profit was a loss of less than $1 million, approximating the prior year's break-even earnings. The average sales price for asphalt mix increased approximately 6 percent, offsetting most of the earnings effect of a 16 percent increase in liquid asphalt cost. Asphalt mix volumes increased 3 percent from the prior year's first quarter.

For the first quarter of 2012, Concrete segment gross profit was a loss of $12 million versus a loss of $14 million in the prior year. Ready-mixed concrete volumes increased 12 percent from the prior year. The average sales price increased 1 percent from the prior year, contributing to improved unit materials margin. Cement segment gross profit was $1 million, an improvement of $4 million from the prior year due to increased volumes and lower operating costs.

The following table summarizes the year-over-year (YoY) earnings improvement relative to revenue growth.

EBITDA and earnings for the first quarter of 2012 included $10 million of costs related to the unsolicited offer by Martin Marietta as well as a $6 million gain on the sale of real estate in California. In the first quarter of 2011, the Company received approximately $25.5 million in an insurance arbitration award for the recovery of settlement and legal costs related to a lawsuit settled in 2010. Excluding these items, EBITDA improved $41 million and earnings from continuing operations improved $0.20 per diluted share.

Update on Profit Enhancement Plan and Planned Asset Sales

During the quarter, Vulcan made steady progress on the Profit Enhancement Plan announced in February, which is being led by Danny Shepherd, Executive Vice President-Construction Materials, and John McPherson, Senior Vice President-Strategy and Business Development.

• In the General and Administrative (G&A) area, 15 teams are evaluating and implementing specific cost savings opportunities that build on the Company's ERP platform to further consolidate activities into shared service centers, automate and standardize functional support and eliminate redundancies.
• In sourcing, focus categories have been identified based on the level of potential run-rate savings. Six teams have been established to pursue priority areas.
• Finally, in the area of transportation and logistics, teams have identified both long-term strategic opportunities as well as immediate savings.

Reflecting strong leadership and broad organizational engagement, the Company is on track to improve Vulcan's profitability (as measured by EBITDA) by $100 million annually at current volumes. As previously reported, $25 million is expected to be achieved in 2012, $75 million in 2013 and the full $100 million in 2014. These enhancements would be in addition to the $55 million in run-rate overhead reductions achieved through actions in 2011.

In addition, Vulcan continues to implement the Planned Asset Sales announced in February and the Company is pleased with the level of interest and activity surrounding the process. Sales will be made from a broad portfolio of assets that are not central to the Company's strategy. The Company continues to expect net proceeds of approximately $500 million from the sale of assets by mid-2013.

2012 Outlook

For 2012, the Company continues to expect earnings in each segment to improve versus the prior year due to continued growth in volumes, higher pricing and reduced costs. Total aggregates shipments are now expected to increase approximately 2 to 4 percent. Aggregates freight-adjusted pricing is now expected to increase by 1 to 3 percent. In addition, costs in the Aggregates segment should be lower than in 2011 due to improved productivity, restructuring of overhead support functions and implementation of the Profit Enhancement Plan. As a result, Aggregates segment earnings are expected to improve substantially from 2011. Asphalt Mix segment earnings are expected to increase due to higher pricing and modest growth in volumes. Ready-mixed concrete pricing should continue to improve and shipments should increase modestly from the prior year, contributing to an improvement in earnings. Cement earnings should approach break-even levels in 2012. Energy-related costs, specifically unit costs for diesel fuel and liquid asphalt, are now expected to increase 5 to 10 percent from 2011 levels. The Company continues to expect full year 2012 SAG costs to be approximately $270 million and capital spending to be $100 million.

Overall, Vulcan anticipates 2012 EBITDA of approximately $500 million. Consistent with prior guidance, the $500 million of EBITDA includes $25 million related to the Profit Enhancement Plan and approximately $29 million in gains for two real estate transactions that were initiated in 2011 prior to the announcement of the Planned Asset Sales and are not part of that program. The Company's full year EBITDA guidance excludes impacts from Planned Asset Sales as well as costs associated with the unsolicited offer.

Mr. James stated, "We remain focused on executing our initiatives, which will generate higher levels of earnings and cash flow, further improve our operating leverage, reduce overhead costs and strengthen our credit profile -- all of which will enable Vulcan to restore a meaningful dividend as rapidly as possible. In summary, we are very encouraged by the continued signs of recovery we are seeing in the construction sector of the U.S. economy and in our businesses. We believe that Vulcan has tremendous upside potential as the economy improves and we continue reaping the benefits of strategic investments we have made in our ERP system and through our Profit Enhancement Plan."

Conference Call

Vulcan will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. CDT on April 26, 2012. Investors and other interested parties in the U.S. may access the teleconference live by calling 866-730-5767 approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start. International participants can dial 857-350-1591. The access code is 33530340. A live webcast and accompanying slides will be available via the Internet through Vulcan's home page at www.vulcanmaterials.com. The conference call will be recorded and available for replay approximately two hours after the call through May 3, 2012.

Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index, is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, a major producer of asphalt mix and concrete and a leading producer of cement in Florida.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This document does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote, consent or approval. In response to the unsolicited exchange offer commenced by Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., a North Carolina corporation ("Martin Marietta"), Vulcan Materials Company ("Vulcan") has filed a Solicitation/Recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF VULCAN ARE URGED TO READ THE SOLICITATION / RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by Vulcan through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, any amendments and supplements to the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other Vulcan materials related to Martin Marietta's unsolicited offer will also be available for free under the "Investor Relations" tab of Vulcan's corporate website www.vulcanmaterials.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS

In addition, Vulcan has filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC with respect to the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and intends to file a definitive proxy statement as well. The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to shareholders of Vulcan. Vulcan, its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Vulcan shareholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the annual meeting. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF VULCAN ARE URGED TO READ ANY SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Vulcan through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Detailed information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with Vulcan's 2012 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the direct and indirect beneficial ownership of Vulcan's directors and executive officers in Vulcan's securities is included in their SEC filings on Forms 3, 4 and 5, and additional information can also be found in Vulcan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2012. Relevant information concerning such participants and their potential interests is also contained in the Solicitation/Recommendation on Schedule 14D-9. Shareholders will be able to obtain any proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents filed by Vulcan with the SEC for no charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge under the "Investor Relations" tab of our corporate website at www.vulcanmaterials.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER

This document contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical fact, including statements about Vulcan's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Generally, these statements relate to future financial performance, results of operations, business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings (including EBITDA and other measures), dividend policy, shipment volumes, pricing, levels of capital expenditures, intended cost reductions and cost savings, anticipated profit improvements and/or planned divestitures and asset sales. These forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "believe," "should," "would," "expect," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "can," "may" or similar expressions elsewhere in this document. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including but not limited to general business conditions, competitive factors, pricing, energy costs, and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports Vulcan periodically files with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments, and business decisions may vary significantly from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. The following risks related to Vulcan's business, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: risks that Vulcan's intentions, plans and results with respect to cost reductions, profit enhancements and asset sales, as well as streamlining and other strategic actions adopted by Vulcan, will not be able to be realized to the desired degree or within the desired time period and that the results thereof will differ from those anticipated or desired; uncertainties as to the timing and valuations that may be realized or attainable with respect to intended asset sales; future events relating to Martin Marietta's unsolicited offer to acquire Vulcan; those associated with general economic and business conditions; the timing and amount of federal, state and local funding for infrastructure; the lack of a multi-year federal highway funding bill with an automatic funding mechanism; the reluctance of state departments of transportation to undertake federal highway projects without a reliable method of federal funding; the impact of a prolonged economic recession on Vulcan's industry, business and financial condition and access to capital markets; changes in the level of spending for private residential and nonresidential construction; the highly competitive nature of the construction materials industry; the impact of future regulatory or legislative actions; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; pricing of Vulcan's products; incurred and potential costs associated with Martin Marietta's unsolicited exchange offer and proxy contest; weather and other natural phenomena; energy costs; costs of hydrocarbon-based raw materials; healthcare costs; the amount of long-term debt and interest expense incurred by Vulcan; changes in interest rates; the impact of Vulcan's below investment grade debt rating on Vulcan's cost of capital; volatility in pension plan asset values which may require cash contributions to the pension plans; the impact of environmental clean-up costs and other liabilities relating to previously divested businesses; Vulcan's ability to secure and permit aggregates reserves in strategically located areas; Vulcan's ability to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions; the potential of goodwill impairment; the potential impact of future legislation or regulations relating to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions or the definition of minerals; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the reports filed by Vulcan with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this communication are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Vulcan disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this document except as required by law. Vulcan notes that forward-looking statements made in connection with a tender offer are not subject to the safe harbors created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Vulcan is not waiving any other defenses that may be available under applicable law.

Investor Contact: Mark Warren (205) 298-3220
Media Contact: David Donaldson (205) 298-3220

SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company