Vulcan Materials Company (VMC)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2010

Commission file number: 001-33841

 

VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

1200 Urban Center Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35242

(Address, including zip code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

(205) 298-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  X  No  

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes  No  X  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  X  No  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  X  No  

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer, ‘” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

 

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  No  X  

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s annual proxy statement for the annual meeting of its shareholders to be held on May 13, 2011, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this report to “Vulcan,” the “company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to Vulcan Materials Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

PART I

 

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

 

Certain of the matters and statements made herein or incorporated by reference into this report constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All such statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our intent, belief or current expectation. Often, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “may,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect,” “intend” and words of similar import. In addition to the statements included in this report, we may from time to time make other oral or written forward-looking statements in other filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or in other public disclosures. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in or contemplated by the statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

 

 

All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of filing or publication. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in our filings, and are advised to consult any of our future disclosures in filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our press releases with regard to our business and consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

 

ITEM 1

 

BUSINESS

 

SUMMARY

 

Vulcan Materials Company is a New Jersey corporation and the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates: primarily crushed stone, sand, and gravel. We have 319 aggregates facilities. We also are a major producer of asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete as well as a leading producer of cement in Florida.

 

STRATEGY FOR EXISTING AND NEW MARKETS

 

 

U.S. DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH 2010 – 2020 BY STATE

 

Note: Vulcan-served states shown in bolded, blue text.

Source: Moody’s Analytics

 

 

 

MAJOR ACQUISITIONS

 

 

 

COMPETITORS

 

We operate in an industry that is very fragmented with a large number of small, privately-held companies. We estimate that the ten largest aggregates producers account for approximately 30% to 35% of the total U.S. aggregates production. Despite being the industry leader, Vulcan’s total U.S. market share is less than 10%. Other publicly traded companies among the ten largest U.S. aggregates producers include the following:

 

 

Because the U.S. aggregates industry is highly fragmented, with approximately 5,000 companies managing more than 9,000 operations, many opportunities for consolidation exist. Therefore, companies in the industry tend to grow by entering new markets or enhancing their market positions by acquiring existing facilities.

 

 

BUSINESS STRATEGY

 

Vulcan provides the basic materials for the infrastructure needed to expand the U.S. economy. Our strategy is based on our strength in aggregates. Aggregates are used in all types of construction and in the production of asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete. Our materials are used to build the roads, tunnels, bridges, railroads and airports that connect us, and to build the hospitals, churches, shopping centers, and factories that are essential to our lives and the economy. The following graphs illustrate the relationship of our four operating segments to sales.

 

AGGREGATES-LED VALUE CREATION — 2010 NET SALES

 

 

* Represents sales to external customers of our aggregates and our downstream products that use our aggregates.

 

Our business strategies include: 1) aggregates focus, 2) coast-to-coast footprint, 3) profitable growth, and 4) effective land management.

 

1. AGGREGATES FOCUS

 

Aggregates are used in virtually all types of public and private construction projects and practically no substitutes for quality aggregates exist. Our focus on aggregates allows us to

 

 

2. COAST-TO-COAST FOOTPRINT

 

Demand for construction aggregates positively correlates with changes in population growth, household formation and employment. We have pursued a strategy to increase our presence in metropolitan areas that are expected to grow the most rapidly.

 

 

Source: Moody’s Analytics

 

Our top ten revenue-producing states are predicted to have 66% of the total growth in the U.S. population between now and 2020. Vulcan-served states are predicted to have 78% of the total growth in the U.S. population between now and 2020. Therefore, we have located reserves in those markets expected to have the greatest growth in population. Additionally, many of these reserves are located in areas where zoning and permitting laws have made opening new quarries increasingly difficult. Our diversified geographic locations help insulate Vulcan from variations in regional weather and economies.

 

3. PROFITABLE GROWTH

 

Our growth is a result of acquisitions, cost management and investment activities.

 

 

In 2007, we acquired Florida Rock Industries, Inc., the largest acquisition in our history. This acquisition

 

 

In addition to these large acquisitions, we have completed many smaller acquisitions that have contributed significantly to our growth.

 

 

 

4. EFFECTIVE LAND MANAGEMENT

 

At Vulcan we believe that effective land management is both a business strategy and a social responsibility and that it contributes to our success. Good stewardship requires the careful use of existing resources as well as long-term planning because mining, ultimately, is an interim use of the land. Therefore, we strive to achieve a balance between the value we create through our mining activities and the value we create through effective post-mining land management. We continue to expand our thinking and focus our actions on wise decisions regarding the life cycle management of the land we currently hold and will hold in the future.

 

PRODUCT LINES

 

We have four reporting segments organized around our principal product lines

 

 

1. AGGREGATES

 

 

A number of factors affect the U.S. aggregates industry and our business including markets, reserves and demand cycles.

 

 

 

Highway construction is the most aggregates-intensive form of construction and residential construction is the least intensive (see table below). A dollar spent for highway construction is estimated to consume seven times the quantity of aggregates consumed by a dollar spent for residential construction. Other non-highway infrastructure markets like airports, sewer and waste disposal, or water supply plants and utilities also require large quantities of aggregates in their foundations and structures. These types of infrastructure-related construction can be four times more aggregates-intensive than residential construction. Generally, nonresidential buildings require two to three times as much aggregates per dollar of spending as a new home with most of the aggregates used in the foundations, building structure and parking lots.

 

U.S. AGGREGATES DEMAND BY END-MARKET

 

 

Source: internal estimates

 

In addition, the following factors influence the aggregates market:

 

 

 

 

OUR MARKETS

 

We focus on the U.S. markets with the greatest expected population growth and where construction is expected to expand. Because transportation is a significant part of the delivered cost of aggregates, our facilities are typically located in the markets they serve or with access to economical transportation to their markets. We serve both the public and the private sectors.

 

PUBLIC SECTOR

 

Public sector construction includes spending by federal, state, and local governments for highways, bridges and airports as well as other infrastructure construction for sewer and waste disposal systems, water supply systems, dams, reservoirs and other public construction projects. Construction for power plants and other utilities is funded from both public and private sources. In 2010, publicly funded construction accounted for 55% of our total aggregates shipments.

 

PUBLIC SECTOR FUNDING: Generally, public sector construction spending is more stable than private sector construction because public sector spending is less sensitive to interest rates and has historically been supported by multi-year legislation and programs. For example, the federal transportation bill is a principal source of federal funding for public infrastructure and transportation projects. For over two decades, projects have been funded through a series of multi-year bills. The long-term aspect of these bills is critical because it provides state departments of transportation with the ability to plan and execute long-term and complex highway projects. Federal highway spending is governed by multi-year authorization bills and annual budget appropriations using funds largely from the Federal Highway Trust Fund. This trust receives funding from taxes on gasoline and other levies. The level of state spending on infrastructure varies across the United States and depends on individual state needs and economies. In 2010, approximately 30% of our aggregates sales by volume were used in highway construction projects.

 

CHANGES IN MULTI-YEAR FUNDING: The most recent federal transportation bill, known as SAFETEA-LU, expired on September 30, 2009. Congress has yet to pass a replacement bill. As a result, funds for highway construction are being provided by a series of authorized extensions with appropriations at fiscal year 2010 levels. This uncertainty in funding may lead some states to defer large multi-year projects until such time as there is greater certainty of funding.

 

NEED FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE: A significant need exists for additional and ongoing investments in the nation’s infrastructure. In 2009, a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave our nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of “D” and estimated that an investment of $2.2 trillion over a five-year period is needed for improvements. While the needs are clear, the source of funding for infrastructure improvements is not. In its report, the ASCE suggests that all levels of government, owners and users need to renew their commitment to infrastructure investments in all categories and that all available financing options should be explored and debated.

 

FEDERAL STIMULUS IMPACT: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Stimulus or ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009 to create jobs and restore economic growth through, among other things, the modernization of America’s infrastructure and improving its energy resources. Included in the $787 billion of economic stimulus funding is $50 to $60 billion of heavy construction, including $27.5 billion for highways and bridges. This federal funding for highways and bridges, unlike typical federal funding programs for infrastructure, does not require states to provide matching funds. The nature of the projects that are being funded by ARRA generally will require considerable quantities of aggregates.

 

Publicly-funded construction activity increased in 2010 due mostly to the Stimulus. According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately $7.1 billion or 43% of the total Stimulus funds apportioned for highways and bridges in Vulcan-served states remains to be spent. The pace of obligating, bidding, awarding and starting stimulus-related highway construction projects has varied widely across states. These state-by-state differences in awarding projects and spending patterns are due, in part, to the types of planned projects and to the proportion sub-allocated to metropolitan planning organizations where project planning and execution can be more complicated and time consuming.

 

Despite the failure of Congress to pass a fully-funded extension of SAFETEA-LU (the previous highway authorization that expired on September 30, 2009), total contract awards for federal, state and local highways in 2010 increased 2% from 2009. Moreover, contract awards for public highway projects in Vulcan-served states increased 5% from the prior year versus a 2% decline in other states. We are encouraged by the increased award activity and are optimistic that stimulus-related highway projects in Vulcan-served states will increase demand for our products in 2011.

 

PRIVATE SECTOR

 

The private sector market includes both nonresidential buildings and residential construction and is more cyclical than public construction. In 2010, privately-funded construction accounted for 45% of our total aggregates shipments.

 

NONRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION: Private nonresidential construction includes a wide array of types of projects. Such projects generally are more aggregates intensive than residential construction, but less aggregates intensive than public construction. Overall demand in private nonresidential construction is generally driven by job growth, vacancy rates, private infrastructure needs and demographic trends. The growth of the private workforce creates demand for offices, hotels and restaurants. Likewise, population growth generates demand for stores, shopping centers, warehouses and parking decks as well as hospitals, churches and entertainment facilities. Large industrial projects, such as a new manufacturing facility, can increase the need for other manufacturing plants to supply parts and assemblies. Construction activity in this end market is influenced by a firm’s ability to finance a project and the cost of such financing.

 

Consistent with past cycles of private sector construction, private nonresidential construction remained strong after residential construction peaked in 2006. However, in late 2007, contract awards for nonresidential buildings peaked. In 2008, contract awards in the U.S. declined 24% from the prior year and in 2009 fell sharply, declining 56% from 2008 levels. Contract awards for stores and office buildings were the weakest categories of nonresidential construction in 2009, declining more than 60% from the prior year. Employment growth, more attractive lending standards and general recovery in the economy will help drive growth in construction activity in this end market.

 

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION: The majority of residential construction is for single-family houses with the remainder consisting of multi-family construction (i.e., two family houses, apartment buildings and condominiums). Public housing comprises only a small portion of the housing demand. Household formations in Vulcan’s markets have grown faster than the U.S. as a whole in the last 10 years. During that time, household growth was 12% in our markets compared to 6% in the remainder of the U.S. Construction activity in this end market is influenced by the cost and availability of mortgage financing. Demand for our products generally occurs early in the infrastructure phase of residential construction and later as part of driveways or parking lots.

 

 

U.S. housing starts, as measured by McGraw-Hill data, peaked in early 2006 at over 2 million units annually. By the end of 2009, total housing starts had declined to less than 600,000 units, well below prior historical lows of approximately 1 million units annually. However, in the summer of 2009, single-family housing starts began to stabilize as evidenced by the graph below. By the end of 2010, single-family starts exhibited some modest growth, breaking almost four consecutive years of decline.

 

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY COMPARISON

(Trailing Twelve Months Ending Dec. 2004 =100)

 

 

Source: McGraw-Hill

 

In 2010, total U.S. housing starts increased 4% from the prior year. While these results don’t necessarily indicate a sustained recovery in residential construction, the modest improvement in construction activity is encouraging. Lower home prices, attractive mortgage interest rates and fewer existing homes for sale provide some optimism for housing construction in 2011 and beyond.

 

ADDITIONAL AGGREGATES PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

 

We sell ballast to railroads for construction and maintenance of railroad track. We also sell riprap and jetty stone for erosion control along waterways. In addition, stone can be used as a feedstock for cement and lime plants and for making a variety of adhesives, fillers and extenders. Coal-burning power plants use limestone in scrubbers to reduce harmful emissions. Limestone that is crushed to a fine powder can be sold as agricultural lime.

 

OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

 

We are the largest producer of construction aggregates in the United States. The aggregates market is highly fragmented with many small, independent producers. Therefore, depending on the market, we may compete with large national or regional firms as well as relatively small local producers. Since construction aggregates are expensive to transport relative to their value, markets generally are local in nature. Thus, the cost to deliver product to the location where it is used is an important competitive factor.

 

We serve metropolitan areas that demographers expect will experience the largest absolute growth in population in the future. A market often consists of a single metropolitan area or one or more counties where transportation from the producing location to the customer is by truck only. Approximately 80% of our total aggregates shipments are delivered exclusively by truck, and another 13% are delivered by truck after reaching a sales yard. Sales yards and other distribution facilities located on waterways and rail lines allow us to reach markets that do not have locally available sources of aggregates.

 

Zoning and permitting regulations in some markets have made it increasingly difficult to expand existing quarries or to develop new quarries. However, such regulations, while potentially curtailing expansion in certain areas, could also increase the value of our reserves at existing locations.

 

We sell a relatively small amount of construction aggregates outside of the United States, principally in the areas surrounding our large quarry on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Nondomestic sales and long-lived assets outside the United States are reported in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

2. CONCRETE

 

We produce and sell ready-mixed concrete in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas and Virginia. Additionally, we produce and sell, in a limited number of these markets, other concrete products such as block and pre-cast beams. We also resell purchased building materials for use with ready-mixed concrete and concrete block.

 

This segment relies on our reserves of aggregates, functioning essentially as a customer to our aggregates operations. Aggregates are a major component in ready-mixed concrete, comprising approximately 78% by weight of this product. We meet the aggregates requirements of our Concrete segment almost wholly through our Aggregates segment. These product transfers are made at local market prices for the particular grade and quality of material required.

 

We serve our Concrete segment customers from our local production facilities or by truck. Because ready-mixed concrete hardens rapidly, delivery typically is within close proximity to the producing facility.

 

Ready-mixed concrete production also requires cement. In the Florida market, cement requirements for ready-mixed concrete production are supplied substantially by our Cement segment. In other markets, we purchase cement from third-party suppliers. We do not anticipate any material difficulties in obtaining the raw materials necessary for this segment to operate.

 

3. ASPHALT MIX

 

We produce and sell asphalt mix in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. This segment relies on our reserves of aggregates, functioning essentially as a customer to our aggregates operations. Aggregates are a major component in asphalt mix, comprising approximately 95% by weight of this product. We meet the aggregates requirements for our Asphalt mix segment almost wholly through our Aggregates segment. These product transfers are made at local market prices for the particular grade and quality of material required.

 

Because asphalt mix hardens rapidly, delivery typically is within close proximity to the producing facility. The asphalt production process requires liquid asphalt, which we purchase entirely from third-party producers. We serve our Asphalt mix segment customers from our local production facilities or by truck.

 

4. CEMENT

 

Our Newberry, Florida cement plant produces Portland and masonry cement that we sell in both bulk and bags to the concrete products industry. Our Tampa, Florida facility can import and export cement and slag. Some of the imported cement is resold, and the balance of the cement is blended, bagged, or reprocessed into specialty cements that we then sell. The slag is ground and sold in blended or unblended form. Our Port Manatee, Florida facility can import cement clinker

 

OTHER BUSINESS RELATED ITEMS

 

SEASONALITY AND CYCLICAL NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS

 

Almost all our products are produced and consumed outdoors. Seasonal changes and other weather-related conditions can affect the production and sales volumes of our products. Therefore, the financial results for any quarter do not necessarily indicate the results expected for the year. Normally, the highest sales and earnings are in the third quarter and the lowest are in the first quarter. Furthermore, our sales and earnings are sensitive to national, regional and local economic conditions and particularly to cyclical swings in construction spending, primarily in the private sector. The levels of construction spending are affected by changing interest rates and demographic and population fluctuations.

 

CUSTOMERS

 

No material part of our business is dependent upon any customers whose loss would have an adverse effect on our business. In 2010, our top five customers accounted for 4.3% of our total revenues (excluding internal sales), and no single customer accounted for more than 1.3% of our total revenues. Our products typically are sold to private industry and not directly to governmental entities. Although approximately 45% to 55% of our aggregates shipments have historically been used in publicly funded construction, such as highways, airports and government buildings, relatively insignificant sales are made directly to federal, state, county or municipal governments/agencies. Therefore, although reductions in state and federal funding can curtail publicly funded construction, our business is not directly subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts with state or federal governments.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

 

We conduct research and development and technical service activities at our Technical Service Center in Birmingham, Alabama. In general, these efforts are directed toward new and more efficient uses of our products and support customers in pursuing the most efficient use of our products. We spent $1.6 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in both 2009 and 2008 on research and development activities.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS AND GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION

 

Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the environment and to health and safety, including regulation of noise, water discharge, air quality, dust control, zoning and permitting. We estimate that capital expenditures for environmental control facilities in 2011 and 2012 will be approximately $8.4 million and $10.5 million, respectively.

 

Frequently, we are required by state and local regulations or contractual obligations to reclaim our former mining sites. These reclamation liabilities are recorded in our financial statements as a liability at the time the obligation arises. The fair value of such obligations is capitalized and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the owned or leased site. The liability is accreted through charges to operating expenses. To determine the fair value, we estimate the cost for a third party to perform the legally required reclamation, which is adjusted for inflation and risk and includes a reasonable profit margin.

 

All reclamation obligations are reviewed at least annually. Reclaimed quarries often have potential for use in commercial or residential development or as reservoirs or landfills. However, no projected cash flows from these anticipated uses have been considered to offset or reduce the estimated reclamation liability.

 

For additional information regarding reclamation obligations (referred to in our financial statements as asset retirement obligations), see Notes 1 and 17 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

 

We do not own or have a license or other rights under any patents, trademarks or trade names that are material to any of our reporting segments.

 

OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING VULCAN

 

Vulcan is a New Jersey corporation incorporated on February 14, 2007, but its predecessor company was incorporated on September 27, 1956. Our principal sources of energy are electricity, diesel fuel, natural gas and coal. We do not anticipate any difficulty in obtaining sources of energy required for operation of any of our reporting segments (i.e., Aggregates, Concrete, Asphalt mix, and Cement).

 

As of January 1, 2011, we employed 7,749 people in the U.S. Of these employees, 795 are represented by labor unions. We also employ 245 union hourly employees in Mexico. We do not anticipate any significant issues with such unions in 2011.

 

We do not consider our backlog of orders to be material to, or a significant factor in, evaluating and understanding our business.

 

INVESTOR INFORMATION

 

We make available on our website, www.vulcanmaterials.com, free of charge, copies of our

 

 

We also provide amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as well as all Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed with the SEC by our executive officers and directors, as soon as the filings are made publicly available by the SEC on its EDGAR database (www.sec.gov).

 

The public may read and copy materials filed with the SEC at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D. C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. In addition to accessing copies of our reports online, you may request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including financial statements, by writing to Jerry F. Perkins Jr., Secretary, Vulcan Materials Company, 1200 Urban Center Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35242.

 

We have a

 

 

Copies of the Business Conduct Policy and the Code of Ethics are available on our website under the heading “Corporate Governance.” If we make any amendment to, or waiver of, any provision of the Code of Ethics, we will disclose such information on our website as well as through filings with the SEC.

 

Our Board of Directors has also adopted

 

 

These documents meet all applicable SEC and New York Stock Exchange regulatory requirements.

 

Each of these documents is available on our website under the heading, “Corporate Governance,” or you may request a copy of any of these documents by writing to Jerry F. Perkins Jr., Secretary, Vulcan Materials Company, 1200 Urban Center Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35242.

 

An investment in our common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the following risks, together with the information included in or incorporated by reference in this report, before deciding whether an investment in our common stock is suitable for you. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. In such an event, the trading prices of our common stock could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment. The following is a list of our risk factors.

 

FINANCIAL/ACCOUNTING RISKS

 

We incurred additional debt to finance the Florida Rock merger which significantly increased our interest expense, financial leverage and debt service requirements — We incurred considerable short-term and long-term debt to finance the Florida Rock merger. This debt, which significantly increased our leverage, has been a significant factor resulting in downgrades in our credit ratings.

 

Our cash flow is reduced by payments of principal and interest on this debt. Our debt instruments contain various financial and contractual restrictions. If we fail to comply with any of these covenants, the related indebtedness (and other unrelated indebtedness) could become due and payable prior to its stated maturity. An event of default under our debt instruments

 

also could significantly affect our ability to obtain additional or alternative financing. Our debt ratings are currently under review for possible downgrade. If one or both rating agencies downgrade our ratings, it could further affect our ability to access financing.

 

Our ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance our obligations with respect to indebtedness will depend on our operating and financial performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors some of which are beyond our control.

 

Difficult and volatile conditions in the credit markets could affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows — The current economic environment has negatively affected the U.S. economy and demand for our products. Commercial and residential construction may continue to decline if companies and consumers are unable to finance construction projects or if the economic slowdown continues to cause delays or cancellations of capital projects.

 

A slow economic recovery also may increase the likelihood we will not be able to collect on our accounts receivable from our customers. We have experienced payment delays from some of our customers during this economic downturn.

 

The credit environment could limit our ability to obtain additional financing or refinancing and, if available, it may not be at economically favorable terms. Interest rates on new issuances of long-term public debt in the market may increase due to higher credit spreads and risk premiums. There is no guarantee we will be able to access the capital markets at favorable interest rates, which could negatively affect our financial results.

 

We may need to obtain financing in order to fund certain strategic acquisitions, if they arise, or refinance our outstanding debt. We also are exposed to risks from tightening credit markets, especially in regard to access to debt and equity capital.

 

Our industry is capital intensive, resulting in significant fixed and semi-fixed costs. Therefore, our earnings are highly sensitive to changes in volume — Due to the high levels of fixed capital required for extracting and producing construction aggregates, both our dollar profits and our percentage of net sales (margin) can be negatively affected by decreases in volume.

 

We use estimates in accounting for a number of significant items. Changes in our estimates could affect our future financial results — As discussed more fully in “Critical Accounting Policies” under Item 6 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” we use significant judgment in accounting for

 

 

We believe we have sufficient experience and reasonable procedures to enable us to make appropriate assumptions and formulate reasonable estimates; however, these assumptions and estimates could change significantly in the future and could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

ECONOMIC/POLITICAL RISKS

 

Both commercial and residential construction are dependent upon the overall U.S. economy which has been recovering at a slow pace — Commercial and residential construction levels generally move with economic cycles. When the economy is strong, construction levels rise and when the economy is weak, construction levels fall. The overall U.S. economy has been adversely affected by this recession. Although most economists believe that the U.S. economy is now in recovery, the pace of recovery has been very slow. Since construction activity generally lags the recovery after down cycles, construction projects have not returned to their pre-recession levels.

 

Above average number of foreclosures, low housing starts and general weakness in the housing market continue to negatively affect demand for our products — In most of our markets, particularly Florida and California, sales volumes have been negatively impacted by foreclosures and a significant decline in residential construction. Our sales volumes and earnings

 

could continue to be depressed and negatively impacted by this segment of the market until the recovery in residential construction improves.

 

Lack of a multi-year federal highway bill and changes to the funding mechanism for highway funding could cause states to spend less on roads — The last multi-year federal transportation bill, known as SAFETEA-LU, expired on September 30, 2009. Since that time, funding for transportation projects, including highways, has been provided pursuant to a series of continuing resolutions and the HIRE Act. The current continuing resolution is set to expire on March 4, 2011. Additionally, in January 2011, the House passed a new rules package that repealed transportation law dating back to 1998, which protected annual funding levels from amendments that could reduce such funding. This rule change subjects funding for highways to yearly appropriation reviews. Both the lack of a multi-year bill and the change in the funding mechanism increases the uncertainty of many state departments of transportation regarding funds for highway projects. This uncertainty could result in states being reluctant to undertake large multi-year highway projects which could, in turn, negatively affect our sales.

 

Changes in legal requirements and governmental policies concerning zoning, land use, environmental and other areas of the law impact our business — Our operations are affected by numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations related to zoning, land use and environmental matters. Despite our compliance efforts, we have an inherent risk of liability in the operation of our business, especially from an environmental standpoint. These potential liabilities could have an adverse impact on our operations and profitability. In addition, our operations require numerous governmental approvals and permits, which often require us to make significant capital and maintenance expenditures to comply with zoning and environmental laws and regulations. Stricter laws and regulations, or more stringent interpretations of existing laws or regulations, may impose new liabilities on us, reduce operating hours, require additional investment by us in pollution control equipment, or impede our opening new or expanding existing plants or facilities.

 

Climate change and climate change legislation or regulations may adversely impact our business — A number of governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating legislative and regulatory change in response to the potential impacts of climate change. Such legislation or regulation, if enacted, potentially could include provisions for a “cap and trade” system of allowances and credits, among other provisions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a mandatory reporting rule covering greenhouse gas emissions from sources considered to be large emitters. The EPA has also promulgated a greenhouse gas emissions permitting rule, referred to as the “Tailoring Rule” which requires permitting of large emitters of greenhouse gases under the Federal Clean Air Act. We have determined that our Newbery cement plant is subject to both the reporting rule and the permitting rule, although the impacts of the permitting rule are uncertain at this time. The first required greenhouse gas emissions report for the Newberry cement plant will be submitted to the Federal EPA by March 31, 2011.

 

Other potential impacts of climate change include physical impacts such as disruption in production and product distribution due to impacts from major storm events, shifts in regional weather patterns and intensities, and potential impacts from sea level changes. There is also a potential for climate change legislation and regulation to adversely impact the cost of purchased energy and electricity.

 

The impacts of climate change on our operations and the company overall are highly uncertain and difficult to estimate. However, climate change and legislation and regulation concerning greenhouse gases could have a material adverse effect on our future financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

GROWTH AND COMPETITIVE RISKS

 

Within our local markets, we operate in a highly competitive industry — The construction aggregates industry is highly fragmented with a large number of independent local producers in a number of our markets. Additionally, in most markets, we also compete against large private and public companies, some of which are more vertically integrated than we are. Therefore, there is intense competition in a number of markets in which we operate. This significant competition could lead to lower prices, lower sales volumes and higher costs in some markets, negatively affecting our earnings and cash flows. In certain markets, vertically integrated competitors have acquired a portion of our asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete customers and this trend may continue to accelerate.

 

Our long-term success depends upon securing and permitting aggregates reserves in strategically located areas — Construction aggregates are bulky and heavy and, therefore, difficult to transport efficiently. Because of the nature of the products, the freight costs can quickly surpass the production costs. Therefore, except for geographic regions that do not possess commercially viable deposits of aggregates and are served by rail, barge or ship, the markets for our products tend to be very localized around our quarry sites and are served by truck. New quarry sites often take a number of years to develop,

 

therefore our strategic planning and new site development must stay ahead of actual growth. Additionally, in a number of urban and suburban areas in which we operate, it is increasingly difficult to permit new sites or expand existing sites due to community resistance. Therefore, our future success is dependent, in part, on our ability to accurately forecast future areas of high growth in order to locate optimal facility sites and on our ability to secure operating and environmental permits to operate at those sites.

 

Our future growth depends in part on acquiring other businesses in our industry and successfully integrating them with our existing operations — The expansion of our business is dependent in part on the acquisition of existing businesses that own or control aggregates reserves. Disruptions in the availability of credit and financing could make it more difficult to capitalize on potential acquisitions. Additionally, with regard to the acquisitions we are able to complete, our future results will be dependent in part on our ability to successfully integrate these businesses with our existing operations.

 

PERSONNEL RISKS

 

Our future success greatly depends upon attracting and retaining qualified personnel, particularly in sales and operations — A significant factor in our future profitability is our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel. Our success in attracting qualified personnel, particularly in the areas of sales and operations, is affected by changing demographics of the available pool of workers with the training and skills necessary to fill the available positions, the impact on the labor supply due to general economic conditions, and our ability to offer competitive compensation and benefit packages.

 

The costs of providing pension and healthcare benefits to our employees have risen in recent years. Continuing increases in such costs could negatively affect our earnings — The costs of providing pension and healthcare benefits to our employees have increased substantially over the past several years. We have instituted measures to help slow the rate of increase. However, if these costs continue to rise, we could suffer an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

OTHER RISKS

 

Weather can materially affect our operating results — Almost all of our products are used in the public or private construction industry, and our production and distribution facilities are located outdoors. Inclement weather affects both our ability to produce and distribute our products and affects our customers’ short-term demand because their work also can be hampered by weather. Therefore, our financial results can be negatively affected by inclement weather.

 

Our products are transported by truck, rail, barge or ship, primarily by third-party providers. Significant delays or increased costs affecting these transportation methods could materially affect our operations and earnings — Our products are distributed either by truck to local markets or by rail, barge or oceangoing vessel to remote markets. The costs of transporting our products could be negatively affected by factors outside of our control, including rail service interruptions or rate increases, tariffs, rising fuel costs and capacity constraints. Additionally, inclement weather, including hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather events, can negatively impact our distribution network.

 

We use large amounts of electricity, diesel fuel, liquid asphalt and other petroleum-based resources that are subject to potential supply constraints and significant price fluctuation — In our production and distribution processes, we consume significant amounts of electricity, diesel fuel, liquid asphalt and other petroleum-based resources. The availability and pricing of these resources are subject to market forces that are beyond our control. Our suppliers contract separately for the purchase of such resources and our sources of supply could be interrupted should our suppliers not be able to obtain these materials due to higher demand or other factors that interrupt their availability. Variability in the supply and prices of these resources could materially affect our operating results from period to period and rising costs could erode our profitability.

 

We are involved in a number of legal proceedings. We cannot predict the outcome of litigation and other contingencies with certainty — We are involved in several class action and complex litigation proceedings, some arising from our previous ownership and operation of our Chemicals business. Although we divested our Chemicals business in June 2005, we retained certain liabilities related to the business. As required by generally accepted accounting principles, we establish reserves when a loss is determined to be probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Our assessment of probability and loss estimates are based on the facts and circumstances known to us at a particular point in time. Subsequent developments in legal proceedings may affect our assessment and estimates of a loss contingency, and could result in an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. For a description of our current significant legal proceedings see Note 12 “Commitments and Contingencies” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

 

We are involved in certain environmental matters. We cannot predict the outcome of these contingencies with certainty — We are involved in environmental investigations and cleanups at sites where we operate or have operated in the past or sent materials for recycling or disposal, primarily in connection with our divested Chemicals and Metals businesses. As required by generally accepted accounting principles, we establish reserves when a loss is determined to be probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Our assessment of probability and loss estimates are based on the facts and circumstances known to us at a particular point in time. Subsequent developments related to these matters may affect our assessment and estimates of loss contingency, and could result in an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. For a description of our current significant environmental matters see Note 12 “Commitments and Contingencies” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

None.

 

 

 

AGGREGATES

 

As the largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates, we have operating facilities across the U.S. and in Mexico and the Bahamas. We principally serve markets in 21 states, the District of Columbia and the local markets surrounding our operations in Mexico and the Bahamas. Our primary focus is serving states and metropolitan markets in the U.S. that are expected to experience the most significant growth in population, households and employment. These three demographic factors are significant drivers of demand for aggregates.

 

 

Our current estimate of 14.7 billion tons of proven and probable aggregates reserves reflects an increase of 0.5 billion tons from the estimate at the end of 2009. Estimates of reserves are of recoverable stone, sand and gravel of suitable quality for economic extraction, based on drilling and studies by our geologists and engineers, recognizing reasonable economic and operating restraints as to maximum depth of overburden and stone excavation, and subject to permit or other restrictions.

 

Proven, or measured, reserves are those reserves for which the quantity is computed from dimensions revealed by drill data, together with other direct and measurable observations such as outcrops, trenches and quarry faces. The grade and quality of those reserves are computed from the results of detailed sampling, and the sampling and measurement data are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well established. Probable, or indicated, reserves are those reserves for which quantity and grade and quality are computed partly from specific measurements and partly from projections based on reasonable, though not drilled, geologic evidence. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

 

Reported proven and probable reserves include only quantities that are owned in fee or under lease, and for which all appropriate zoning and permitting have been obtained. Leases, zoning, permits, reclamation plans and other government or industry regulations often set limits on the areas, depths and lengths of time allowed for mining, stipulate setbacks and slopes that must be left in place, and designate which areas may be used for surface facilities, berms, and overburden or waste storage, among other requirements and restrictions. Our reserves estimates take into account these factors. Technical and economic factors also affect the estimates of reported reserves regardless of what might otherwise be considered proven or probable based on a geologic analysis. For example, excessive overburden or weathered rock, rock quality issues, excessive mining depths, groundwater issues, overlying wetlands, endangered species habitats, and rights of way or easements may effectively limit the quantity of reserves considered proven and probable. In addition, computations for reserves in-place are adjusted for estimates of unsaleable sizes and materials as well as pit and plant waste.

 

The 14.7 billion tons of estimated aggregates reserves reported at the end of 2010 include reserves at inactive and greenfield (undeveloped) sites. We reported proven and probable reserves of 14.2 billion tons at the end of 2009 using the same basis. The table below presents, by division, the tons of proven and probable aggregates reserves as of December 31, 2010 and the types of facilities operated.

 

 

 

Of the 14.7 billion tons of aggregates reserves, 8.3 billion tons or 56% are located on owned land and 6.4 billion tons or 44% are located on leased land. While some of our leases run until reserves at the leased sites are exhausted, generally our leases have definite expiration dates, which range from 2011 to 2159. Most of our leases have renewal options to extend them well beyond their current terms at our discretion.

 

The following table lists our ten largest active aggregates facilities based on the total proven and probable reserves at the sites. None of the listed aggregates facilities other than Playa del Carmen contributes more than 5% to our net sales.

 

 

ASPHALT MIX, CONCRETE AND CEMENT

 

We also operate a number of other facilities in several of our divisions:

 

 

 

The asphalt mix and concrete facilities are able to meet their needs for raw material inputs with a combination of internally sourced and purchased raw materials. Our Cement segment operates two limestone quarries in Florida which provide our cement production facility with feedstock materials.

 

 

HEADQUARTERS

 

Our headquarters are located in an office complex in Birmingham, Alabama. The office space is leased through December 31, 2023, with three five-year renewal periods, and consists of approximately 184,125 square feet. The annual rental cost for the current term of the lease is $3.4 million.

 

 

 

We are subject to occasional governmental proceedings and orders pertaining to occupational safety and health or to protection of the environment, such as proceedings or orders relating to noise abatement, air emissions or water discharges. As part of our continuing program of stewardship in safety, health and environmental matters, we have been able to resolve such proceedings and to comply with such orders without any material adverse effects on our business.

 

We are a defendant in various lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine with precision the outcome of, or the amount of liability, if any, under these lawsuits, especially where the cases involve possible jury trials with as yet undetermined jury panels.

 

See Note 12 “Commitments and Contingencies” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a discussion of our material legal proceedings.

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

The names, positions and ages, as of February 20, 2011, of our executive officers are as follows:

 

 

The principal occupations of the executive officers during the past five years are set forth below:

 

Donald M. James was named Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1997.

 

Daniel F. Sansone was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective as of February 1, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2005. Prior to May 2005, he served as President, Southern and Gulf Coast Division.

 

Danny R. Shepherd was elected Executive Vice President, Construction Materials effective as of February 1, 2011. From February 2007 through January 2011 he served as Senior Vice President, Construction Materials-East. Prior to that, he served as President, Southeast Division from May 2002 through January 2007.

 

Robert A. Wason IV was elected Senior Vice President and General Counsel in August 2008. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development from December 1998.

 

Ejaz A. Khan was elected Vice President and Controller in February 1999. He was appointed Chief Information Officer in February 2000.

 

PART II

 

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol VMC). As of February 7, 2011, the number of shareholders of record was 5,029. The prices in the following table represent the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange and the quarterly dividends declared by our Board of Directors in 2010 and 2009.

 

 

Our policy is to pay out a reasonable share of net cash provided by operating activities as dividends, while maintaining debt ratios within what we believe to be prudent and generally acceptable limits. The future payment of dividends is within the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on our profitability, capital requirements, financial condition, debt levels, growth projects, business opportunities and other factors which our Board of Directors deems relevant. We are not a party to any contracts or agreements that currently materially limit our ability to pay dividends.

 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

We did not have any repurchases of stock during the fourth quarter of 2010. We did not have any unregistered sales of equity securities during the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

 

The selected earnings data, per share data and balance sheet data for each of the five years ended December 31, 2010, set forth below have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The following data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:”

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE CREATION

 

 

 

FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR 2010

 

 

 

STABILIZING MARKETS IN 2010

 

In 2010, the year-over-year decline in trailing twelve-month aggregates shipments slowed significantly from the prior three years. During the period from 2007 through 2009, aggregates shipments — adjusted to include major acquisitions and exclude divestitures — declined 11% in 2007, 21% in 2008 and 26% in 2009. In 2010, aggregates shipments declined only 2% from the prior year reflecting varied market demand conditions across our markets. Aggregates shipments in 2010 benefited from increased highway construction activity and some improvement in housing. New home construction declined to historically low levels in 2009. Then, after 43 consecutive months of year-over-year declines, single-family housing starts

 

began to improve in late 2009. By the end of 2010, full year single-family housing starts, as measured by McGraw-Hill Construction, had increased 2% from 2009 and multi-family housing starts increased 8%. Tight credit has contributed to a sharp decrease in construction of nonresidential buildings, particularly stores and offices. However, the rate of decline in private nonresidential construction began to slow late in 2010. Construction activity funded by the public sector, typically less affected in economic cycles, increased in 2010 due mostly to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). During the twelve months ended December 2010, total contract awards for highway construction in Vulcan-served states, including awards for federal, state and local projects, increased 5% from the prior year compared to a decrease of 2% for other states. The positive effects of ARRA spending in 2010 were somewhat offset by the failure of Congress to reauthorize the most recent multi-year federal transportation bill known as SAFETEA-LU, which expired on September 30, 2009. The federal transportation program was funded through a series of short-term extensions in late 2009 and early 2010. Passage of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act in March 2010 included authorized funding for transportation programs through December 31, 2010.

 

ARRA includes economic stimulus funding of $50 to $60 billion for heavy construction projects, including $27.5 billion for highways and bridges. Vulcan-served states were apportioned 55% more funds than other states; with California, Texas and Florida receiving 23% of the total for highways and bridges. The challenge of meeting ARRA deadlines to ensure use of federal funds, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding the regular federal highway bill, led many states to slow the pace of obligating new projects funded by regular federal funding for highways during the first nine months of fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. During the last three months of the fiscal year 2010, obligation of funds for projects was at record levels.

 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately $7.1 billion or 43% of the total stimulus funds apportioned for highways and bridges in Vulcan-served states remains to be spent. The vast majority of this unspent amount, $5.4 billion, is located in Vulcan’s top 10 revenue producing states — California, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Alabama and South Carolina.

 

The pace of obligating, bidding, awarding and starting stimulus-related highway construction projects has varied widely across states. These state-by-state differences in awarding projects and spending patterns are due, in part, to the types of planned projects and to the proportion sub-allocated to metropolitan planning organizations where project planning and execution can be more complicated and time consuming.

 

We have worked diligently throughout this downturn to position our company for earnings growth when demand recovers. Improved stability in the economic factors that drive demand for our products will bring the strength of our fundamentals back into focus. Vulcan

 

 

As a result of these efforts, cash earnings for each ton of aggregates sold in 2010 was 26% higher than at the peak of demand in 2005.

 

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

 

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) does not define “free cash flow” and “Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA).” Thus, they should not be considered as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities or any other liquidity or earnings measure defined by GAAP. We present these metrics for the convenience of investment professionals who use such metrics in their analysis, and for shareholders who need to understand the metrics we use to assess performance and to monitor our cash and liquidity positions. The investment community often uses these metrics as indicators of a company’s ability to incur and service debt. We use free cash flow, EBITDA and other such measures to assess the operating performance of our various business units and the consolidated company. We do not use these metrics as a measure to allocate resources. Reconciliations of these metrics to their nearest GAAP measures are presented below:

 

FREE CASH FLOW

 

Free cash flow deducts purchases of property, plant & equipment from net cash provided by operating activities.

 

 

EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

 

EBITDA is an acronym for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. We adjusted EBITDA in 2008 to exclude the noncash charge for goodwill impairment.

 

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Intersegment sales are internal sales between any of our four operating segments:

 

1.  Aggregates

 

2.  Concrete

 

3.  Asphalt mix

 

4.  Cement

 

Intersegment sales consist of our Aggregates and Cement segments selling product to our Concrete segment and our Aggregates segment selling product to our Asphalt mix segment. We include intersegment sales in our comparative analysis of segment revenue at the product line level. These intersegment sales are made at local market prices for the particular grade and quality of material required. Net sales and cost of goods sold exclude intersegment sales and delivery revenues and cost. This presentation is consistent with the basis on which we review results of operations. We discuss separately our discontinued operations, which consist of our former Chemicals business.

 

The following table shows net earnings in relationship to net sales, cost of goods sold, operating earnings and EBITDA.

 

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS

 

 

The length and depth of the decline in construction activity and aggregates demand during this economic downturn have been unprecedented. Our aggregates shipments in 2010 were just over half the level shipped in 2005 when demand peaked. We continued to manage our business to maximize cash generation. In 2010, we again reduced inventory levels of aggregates. While this action negatively affected reported earnings, it increased cash generation and better positions us to increase production and earnings as demand recovers. We also continued to reduce our overhead expenses. Cost associated with implementing some of these reductions increased selling, administrative and general expense in 2010; however, the benefits of these overhead reductions should be realized in 2011 and beyond.

 

The 2010 results include $43.0 million of pretax charges related to the settlement of a lawsuit with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), a $39.5 million pretax gain associated with the sale of non-strategic assets in rural Virginia and increased pretax costs of $51.4 million related to higher unit costs for diesel fuel and liquid asphalt. While we believed that the IDOT settlement was covered by insurance, we did not recognize its recovery as of December 31, 2010 due to uncertainty as to the amount and timing of a recovery. However, in February 2011 we completed the first of two arbitrations in which two of our three insurers participated. The arbitration panel awarded us a total of $25.5 million in payment of their share of the settlement amount and attorneys’ fees. This award will be recorded as income in the first quarter of 2011.

 

The 2008 results include a $252.7 million pretax goodwill impairment charge for our Cement segment. The 2008 results also include a $73.8 million pretax gain from the sale of mining operations divested as a condition for approval of the Florida Rock acquisition by the Department of Justice.

 

Year-over-year changes in earnings from continuing operations before income taxes are summarized below:

 

 

 

OPERATING RESULTS BY SEGMENT

 

We present our results of operations by segment at the gross profit level. We have four reporting segments organized around our principal product lines: 1) aggregates, 2) concrete, 3) asphalt mix and 4) cement. Management reviews earnings for the product line segments principally at the gross profit level.

 

 

Our year-over-year aggregates shipments declined

 

 

To date, the economic recovery has not had a significant effect on some of our key end-markets or key regional markets. As a result, market conditions varied across our markets throughout the year. Aggregates shipments declined sharply in certain markets such as North Carolina, Florida and Georgia, while shipments increased modestly in other markets such as South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

 

Our year-over-year aggregates selling price

 

 

Since 2006, our aggregates selling price has cumulatively increased 22%. The 2010 decline in aggregates selling price was due primarily to weakness in demand in Florida and California. In Florida, demand remained relatively weak throughout the year while demand for aggregates in California exhibited some modest growth in the fourth quarter versus 2009.

 

AGGREGATES REVENUES AND GROSS PROFITS

 

 

 

We continued tight management of our controllable plant operating costs to match weak demand. The $73.1 million decline in gross profits resulted primarily from the 2% decreases in both freight-adjusted selling prices and shipments, as well as a

 

30% increase in the unit cost of diesel fuel. Excluding the earnings effect of higher diesel fuel costs, unit cost of sales for aggregates increased modestly from 2009.

 

 

Our year-over-year ready-mixed concrete shipments

 

 

The 2008 year-over-year increase in ready-mixed concrete shipments resulted from the November 2007 acquisition of Florida Rock and the resulting full year of shipments in 2008 versus only two months in 2007.

 

The average selling price for ready-mixed concrete declined 10% in 2010 and accounted for the year-over-year decline in this segment’s gross profit. Raw material costs were lower than 2009 and more than offset the effects of a 5% decline in shipments.

 

CONCRETE REVENUES AND GROSS PROFITS

 

 

 

Our year-over-year asphalt mix shipments declined

 

 

Asphalt mix segment earnings declined $39.7 million from 2009 due mostly to a 20% increase in the average unit cost for liquid asphalt. Higher liquid asphalt costs lowered segment earnings $27.1 million in 2010. The average selling price for asphalt mix declined 4% as selling prices for asphalt mix generally lag increasing liquid asphalt costs and were further held in check due to competitive pressures.

 

ASPHALT MIX REVENUES AND GROSS PROFITS

 

 

 

The average unit selling price for cement decreased 17%, more than offsetting the earnings effect of a 32% increase in unit sales volumes. The increase in unit sales volumes was primarily attributable to an increase in intersegment sales.

 

CEMENT REVENUES AND GROSS PROFITS

 

 

SELLING, ADMINISTRATIVE AND
GENERAL EXPENSES

 

Additional costs associated with implementing some overhead expense reductions actually increased Selling, Administrative and General (SAG) expenses for 2010. However, the benefits of these overhead reductions should be realized in 2011 and beyond. On a comparable basis, SAG costs in 2010 were $4.1 million lower than 2009. Benefits related to our project to replace legacy IT systems began to be realized in 2010, reducing project costs for the year. We expect additional benefits from this project in 2011. The 2009 decline in SAG cost was due primarily to reductions in employee-related expenses which more than offset a year-over-year increase in project costs for the replacement of legacy IT systems.

 

 

SAG includes expenses for property donations recorded at fair value, as follows: $9.2 million in 2010, $8.5 million in 2009 and $10.5 million in 2008. The gains from these donations, which are equal to the excess of the fair value over the carrying value, are included in gain on sale of property, plant & equipment in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income. Excluding the effect of these property donations, SAG expenses increased $5.2 million in 2010 and decreased $19.0 million in 2009.

 

Our year-over year total company employment levels declined

 

 

GOODWILL IMPAIRMENT

 

There were no charges for goodwill impairment in 2010 and 2009. During 2008, we recorded a $252.7 million pretax goodwill impairment charge related to our Cement segment, representing the entire balance of goodwill at this reporting unit. We acquired these operations as part of the Florida Rock transaction in November 2007. For additional details regarding this impairment, see the Goodwill and Goodwill Impairment Critical Accounting Policy.

 

GAIN ON SALE OF PROPERTY, PLANT &
EQUIPMENT AND BUSINESSES, NET

 

The 2010 gain includes a $39.5 million pretax gain associated with the sale of non-strategic assets in rural Virginia. The 2009 gain was primarily related to sales and donations of real estate, mostly in California. Included in the 2008 gains was a $73.8 million pretax gain for quarry sites divested as a condition for approval of the Florida Rock acquisition by the Department of Justice.

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

Excluding capitalized interest credits, gross interest expense for 2010 was $185.2 million compared to $186.0 million in 2009 and $187.1 million in 2008.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

Our income tax provision (benefit) for continuing operations for the years ended December 31 is shown below:

 

 

The $51.8 million increase in our 2010 benefit for income taxes is primarily related to the increased loss from continuing operations. The $109.6 million increase in our 2009 benefit for income taxes is primarily related to the 2009 loss from continuing operations, the nondeductible goodwill impairment charge taken in 2008 and the decrease in the state income tax provision offset in part by a decrease in the benefit for statutory depletion. A reconciliation of the federal statutory rate of 35% to our effective tax rates for 2010, 2009 and 2008 is presented in Note 9, “Income Taxes” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

Pretax earnings (loss) from discontinued operations were

 

 

The 2010 pretax earnings include pretax gains totaling $13.9 million related to the 5CP earn-out and a recovery from an insurer in the perchloroethylene lawsuits associated with our former Chemicals business. The 2009 pretax earnings from discontinued operations resulted primarily from settlements with two of our insurers in the aforementioned perchloroethylene lawsuits resulting in pretax gains of $23.5 million. The insurance proceeds and associated gains represent a partial recovery of legal and settlement costs recognized in prior years. The 2008 pretax losses from discontinued operations, and the remaining results from 2009 and 2010, reflect charges primarily related to general and product liability costs, including legal defense costs, and environmental remediation costs associated with our former Chemicals business. For additional information regarding discontinued operations, see Note 2 “Discontinued Operations” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

CASH AND LIQUIDITY

 

Our primary source of liquidity is cash from our operating activities. Our additional financial resources include unused bank lines of credit and access to the capital markets. We believe these financial resources are sufficient to fund our future business requirements, including

 

 

We operate a centralized cash management system using zero-balance disbursement accounts; therefore, our operating cash balance requirements are minimal. When cash on hand is not sufficient to fund daily working capital requirements we draw down on our bank lines of credit. The weighted-average interest rate on short-term debt, including commissions paid to commercial paper broker dealers, when applicable, was 0.52% during the year ended December 31, 2010 and 0.59% at December 31, 2010.

 

During 2010, we issued commercial paper consistently during the first quarter at rates significantly below the short-term borrowing rates available under our bank credit facility. On April 7, Standard & Poor’s downgraded our short-term credit rating to A-3 from A-2. As a result, commercial paper rates rose by about 30 basis points (0.30 percentage points). We continued issuing commercial paper through mid-July when the entire outstanding balance was paid with proceeds from our newly executed $450.0 million 5-year term loan. In mid-December, we utilized the revolving bank line of credit when we retired the $325.0 million floating rate notes issued in 2007.

 

During the second or third quarter of 2011, we intend to replace the $1.5 billion revolving credit facility (expires November 2012) with a new multi-year facility at a substantially reduced level. The new credit facility would reflect then current market conditions for syndicated bank loan facilities for pricing, terms and conditions, and financial covenants.

 

 

CURRENT MATURITIES AND
SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

 

As of December 31, 2010, current maturities of long-term debt are $5.2 million of which $5.0 million is due as follows:

 

 

There are various maturity dates for the remaining $0.2 million of current maturities. We expect to retire this debt using available cash generated from operations, by drawing on our bank lines of credit or by accessing the capital markets.

 

 

Short-term borrowings at December 31 consisted of the following:

 

 

Our outstanding bank credit facility, which provides $1.5 billion of liquidity, expires November 16, 2012. Borrowings under this credit facility, which are classified as short-term, bear an interest rate based on London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) plus a credit spread. This credit spread was 30 basis points (0.30 percentage points) based on our long-term debt ratings at December 31, 2010.

 

As of December 31, 2010

 

 

As a result, we had available lines of credit of $1,152.6 million. This amount provides a sizable level of borrowing capacity that strengthens our financial flexibility. Not only does it enable us to fund working capital needs, it provides liquidity to fund large expenditures, such as long-term debt maturities, on a temporary basis without being forced to issue long-term debt at times that are disadvantageous.

 

Interest rates referable to borrowings under these credit lines are determined at the time of borrowing based on current market conditions for LIBOR. Of the $285.5 million drawn as of December 31, 2010, $35.5 million was borrowed on an overnight basis at 0.56%, $100.0 million was borrowed for two months at 0.581% and $150.0 million was borrowed for three months at 0.602%. Our policy is to maintain committed credit facilities at least equal to our outstanding commercial paper. Our short-term debt ratings/outlook as of December 31, 2010 were

 

 

WORKING CAPITAL

 

Working capital, current assets less current liabilities, is a common measure of liquidity used to assess a company’s ability to meet short-term obligations. Our working capital is calculated as follows:

 

 

The increase in our working capital of $330.2 million was primarily the result of a decrease from 2009 to 2010 in current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings of $331.1 million. This decrease resulted from the closing of the $450.0 million 5-year term loan in July 2010. Proceeds from the term loan were used to pay outstanding commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt. We continued to focus on maximizing cash generation in 2010. We further reduced

 

total inventory (current and noncurrent) levels by $9.5 million compared to 2009 for a total reduction of $27.7 million from peak inventory levels in 2008. This strategy better positions us to increase production and earnings as demand increases. The increase in accounts and notes receivable of $49.8 million was mostly offset by an increase in other accrued liabilities of $46.9 million.

 

CASH FLOWS

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

Net cash provided by operating activities is derived primarily from net earnings before deducting noncash charges for depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization.

 

 

Lower net earnings caused the majority of the $250.3 million decrease in operating cash flows from 2009 to 2010. We continued to manage the business to generate cash as reflected in the year-over-year changes in our working capital accounts, which generated $37.2 million of cash in 2010 and $89.7 million of cash in 2009. Cash received associated with gains on sale of property, plant & equipment and businesses is presented as a component of investing activities and accounts for $39.5 million of the $250.3 million year-over-year decrease in operating cash flows.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $17.8 million in 2009 compared to 2008 despite a $217.8 million decrease in earnings before noncash deductions for depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization, and goodwill impairment. Changes in working capital generated $89.7 million of cash in 2009 as compared to using $86.7 million of cash in 2008.

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

Net cash used for investing activities totaled $88.4 million in 2010 compared to $80.0 million in 2009, an increase of $8.4 million. We continued to closely evaluate the nature and timing of all capital projects in order to conserve cash. Cash used for the purchase of property, plant & equipment totaled $86.3 million in 2010, down from $109.7 million in 2009 and $353.2 million in 2008. Proceeds from the sale of non-strategic businesses increased $34.9 million year-over-year to $51.0 million in 2010. These positive cash flows were more than offset by a $33.6 million increase in payments for businesses acquired and a $33.3 million decrease in the redemption of medium-term investments.

 

Cash used for investing activities decreased $109.0 million to $80.0 million from 2008 to 2009 in part due to the aforementioned decrease in cash used for the purchase of property, plant & equipment as well as a $47.1 million decrease in payments for businesses acquired. These decreases were partially offset by a $209.7 million decrease in proceeds from the sale of businesses from 2008 to 2009.

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

Net cash used for financing activities totaled $89.1 million in 2010, compared to $361.0 million during 2009. Debt reduction remains a priority use of available cash flows. During 2010, despite a significant year-over-year decline in cash provided by operating activities, we reduced total debt by $19.8 million. Proceeds from the issuance of the $450.0 million 5-year term loan in July 2010 were used to pay outstanding commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt.

 

In the third quarter of 2009, we reduced our dividend per share to $0.25 per quarter from $0.49 per quarter, resulting in comparative cash savings of $91.9 million during 2010.

 

Cash used for financing activities increased $90.1 million from 2008 to 2009 — $270.8 million to $361.0 million. During 2009, proceeds from issuing long-term debt of $397.7 million and common stock of $606.5 million were primarily used to reduce total debt by $809.8 million.

 

CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND RESOURCES

 

We pursue attractive investment opportunities and fund acquisitions using internally generated cash or by issuing debt or equity securities. We actively manage our capital structure and resources consistent with the policies, guidelines and objectives to maximize shareholder wealth, as well as to attract equity and fixed income investors who support us by investing in our stock and debt securities. Our primary goals include

 

 

Maintaining a leadership position in the U.S. aggregates industry has afforded us the opportunity to raise debt and equity capital even in some of the most challenging times in the modern history of U.S. capital markets. In July 2010, we executed a $450.0 million 5-year term loan. The proceeds were used in the third quarter to retire commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt. In December 2010, we paid the maturing $325.0 million floating rate note with cash on hand and by drawing against our $1.5 billion revolving credit facility.

 

We maintained the quarterly dividend at a quarterly rate of $0.25 per share throughout 2010, for a payout of $127.8 million. We issued 2,657,864 shares for $113.6 million of equity in 2010 for various purposes

 

 

 

LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Our total debt as a percentage of total capital as of December 31 increased 0.3 percentage points from 2009 to 2010.

 

 

Our debt agreements do not subject us to contractual restrictions for working capital or the amount we may expend for cash dividends and purchases of our stock. Our bank credit facilities (term loan and unsecured bank lines of credit) contain a

 

covenant that our percentage of consolidated debt to total capitalization (total debt as a percentage of total capital) may not exceed 65%. Our total debt as a percentage of total capital was 40.7% in 2010 compared with 40.4% in 2009.

 

In the future, our total debt as a percentage of total capital will depend on specific investment and financing decisions. We have made acquisitions from time to time and will continue to pursue attractive investment opportunities. Such acquisitions could be funded by using internally generated cash or issuing debt or equity securities.

 

Our long-term debt ratings/outlook as of December 31, 2010 were

 

 

EQUITY

 

Our common stock outstanding increased 2.7 million shares from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010:

 

 

In March 2010, we issued 1.2 million shares of common stock (par value of $1 per share) to our qualified pension plan as explained in Note 10, “Benefit Plans” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data .” This transaction increased shareholders’ equity by $53.9 million (common stock $1.2 million and capital in excess of par $52.7 million.)

 

In June 2009, we completed a public offering of common stock (par value of $1 per share) resulting in the issuance of 13.2 million shares for net proceeds of $520.0 million.

 

As explained in more detail in Note 13 “Shareholders’ Equity” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” common stock issued in connection with business acquisitions were

 

 

We periodically issue shares of common stock to the trustee of our 401(k) savings and retirement plan to satisfy the plan participants’ elections to invest in our common stock. This arrangement provides a means of improving cash flow, increasing shareholders’ equity and reducing leverage. Under this arrangement, the stock issuances and resulting cash proceeds for the years ended December 31 were

 

 

There were no shares held in treasury as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. There were 3,411,416 shares remaining under the current purchase authorization of the Board of Directors as of December 31, 2010.

 

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements, such as financing or unconsolidated variable interest entities, that either have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our