BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan
Materials Company (NYSE: VMC) today announced that its Board of
Directors, after consultation with its independent financial and
legal advisors, unanimously determined that the Martin Marietta
Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM) exchange offer to acquire Vulcan at a
fixed exchange ratio of 0.50 shares of Martin Marietta common stock
for each Vulcan common share is inadequate and not in the best
interests of Vulcan and its shareholders. Accordingly, the
Board strongly recommends that shareholders not tender any shares
to Martin Marietta.
"Our Board's position is clear – shareholders should reject
Martin Marietta's lowball and opportunistic exchange offer," said
Donald M. James, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Vulcan Materials. "The offer, made at a
low point in the economic and industry cycle, does not come close
to appropriately compensating shareholders for Vulcan's strategic
locations and leading positions in high growth markets,
unparalleled reserve base, and proven ability to deliver rapid
profitability and cash flow growth in economic recoveries.
Martin Marietta is obviously trying to take value that rightly
belongs wholly to Vulcan shareholders."
The Vulcan Board concluded that the Company is much better
positioned to capitalize on economic recovery than Martin
Marietta. Vulcan has a stronger presence in the most
attractive U.S. markets and a significantly more profitable
aggregates business. It also noted that Martin Marietta's
offer carries significant execution risk, further eroding the value
of the offer. While the Company had explored a possible
combination with Martin Marietta in the past, it ultimately
determined that a combination was not in the best interests of the
Company or its shareholders, as detailed in Vulcan's 14D-9 filing
today.
Among the specific reasons cited in Vulcan's Schedule 14D-9 for
recommending that shareholders reject the Martin Marietta offer are
the following:
- The offer is disadvantageous to Vulcan shareholders and
substantially undervalues Vulcan and its future prospects.
- Vulcan's reserve positions and operating facilities are located
in attractive markets that have higher long-term growth potential
than those of Martin Marietta.
- Vulcan historically emerges from recessionary periods with
significant upside earnings growth.
- Vulcan has managed its aggregates business to achieve greater
unit profitability than Martin Marietta.
- The premium implied by the offer is significantly lower than
those achieved in previous transactions in the construction
materials industry.
- The transaction proposed by Martin Marietta would not
enhance shareholder value in the future.
- Value-destructive divestitures required by the U.S. Department
of Justice would harm the financial results of a combined
company.
- Martin Marietta's projected synergy claims are aggressive and
subject to substantial execution risks.
- Vulcan is already achieving on a stand-alone basis much of the
value of the synergy benefits put forward by Martin Marietta.
- The proposed transaction would have significant opportunity
costs for Vulcan and its shareholders potentially precluding or
foreclosing other value creating alternatives or initiatives.
- The timing of the offer is opportunistic, seeking to exploit
cyclical lows.
- The offer seeks to exploit a historic downturn in U.S.
construction spending and its timing seeks to capitalize on a
ten-year trough in the trading prices of Vulcan common stock.
- Shares of Vulcan common stock have traded above the implied
value of the offer for 85% of the trading days over the ten years
preceding the offer.
- The exchange ratio of 0.50x is significantly lower than
historical relative trading values of the two companies.
- The offer is illegal.
- Prior to launching its unsolicited offer, Martin Marietta
obtained from Vulcan highly sensitive, material, non-public and
confidential information under two separate agreements.
Martin Marietta's misuse and improper disclosure of critical
confidential information in connection with its offer is a material
breach of these agreements and a violation of federal securities
laws. Martin Marietta not only illegally disclosed
confidential information in breach of these agreements, it also
failed to disclose that, in violation of federal securities laws,
it is in possession of material, non-public proprietary information
about Vulcan. Therefore, Vulcan has commenced litigation
against Martin Marietta in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Alabama, as well as a
counterclaim in Delaware, to
enjoin the offer and enforce its rights under the agreements and
the federal securities laws.
- The offer is subject to antitrust uncertainty and is highly
conditional.
- Martin Marietta is proposing the combination of the two largest
producers of construction aggregates in the U.S. Based on
Vulcan's analysis and experience with acquisitions, the Vulcan
Board anticipates that the Department of Justice will likely
require the divestiture of significant assets in key markets.
- The Vulcan Board believes that the significant conditionality
of the offer and the required antitrust approvals create
substantial uncertainty and risk as to when or whether the offer
can be completed.
- The Vulcan Board has received an inadequacy opinion from
Goldman Sachs.
- The Vulcan Board believes that the offer substantially
undervalues the Company. Goldman Sachs rendered an opinion to the
Vulcan Board that as of December 19,
2011, and based upon and subject to the factors and
assumptions set forth in the written opinion, the consideration
proposed to be paid to the holders of Vulcan shares pursuant to the
offer was inadequate from a financial point of view to such
holders. The full text of the written opinion of Goldman Sachs,
dated December 19, 2011, which sets
forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered
and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with such
opinion, is attached to the Company's 14D-9 filing as Annex
B. Goldman Sachs provided its opinion for the information and
assistance of the Vulcan Board in connection with its consideration
of the offer, and it is not a recommendation as to whether or not
any holder of Vulcan common stock should tender such shares in
connection with the offer or any other matter.
- Martin Marietta's proposed transaction would be harmful to
important Vulcan constituencies.
- In evaluating the offer, the Vulcan Board also considered the
effect that the proposed transactions would have on constituencies
in addition to Vulcan's shareholders, including its employees and
the communities in which Vulcan operates.
The full basis for the Board's recommendation is set forth in
Vulcan's Schedule 14D-9 filed today with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") and is available on the SEC's website
at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Schedule 14D-9 may also be
obtained on the Company's website at www.vulcanmaterials.com or by
contacting MacKenzie Partners, Inc. toll free at 1-800-322-2885 or
via email at vulcan@mackenziepartners.com.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as financial advisor and
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal advisor to
Vulcan.
About Vulcan Materials Company
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.
Contact
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Investor Contact:
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Media
Contacts:
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Mark
Warren (205) 298-3220
|
David
Donaldson / John English
|
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(205)
298-3220
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MacKenzie
Partners Inc.
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Sard
Verbinnen & Co
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Dan Burch/
Bob Marese
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Jamie
Tully/ Meghan Stafford
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(212)
929-5500
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(212)
687-8080
|
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
http://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 http://ww.vulcanmaterials.com.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS
In addition, Vulcan intends to file a proxy statement with the
SEC with respect to the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Any definitive proxy statement will be mailed to stockholders 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
http://www.sec.gov.
Detailed information regarding the identity of potential
participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security
holdings or otherwise, will be 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, 2010, filed with the SEC
on February 28, 2011, and its
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first three quarters of the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2011,
filed on May 6, 2011, August 4, 2011 and November 4, 2011, respectively. 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,
or levels of capital expenditures. 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. Vulcan cautions prospective
investors that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and that 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: the risk that the results of the
streamlining actions adopted by Vulcan will differ from those
anticipated; 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; 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.
SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company