EX-99.1 2 d69830exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 exv99w1
Exhibit 99.1
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY REPORTS PROFITS OF $0.06 DILUTED EPS
FOR FOURTH QUARTER; ALSO PROFITABLE FOR THE YEAR
     Irving, TX — October 30, 2009 — Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) today reported net earnings of $7.2 million or $0.06 per diluted share on net sales of $1.5 billion for the quarter ended August 31, 2009. This compares with net earnings of $63.5 million or $0.55 per diluted share on net sales of $3.1 billion for the fourth quarter last year. This year’s fourth quarter included after-tax LIFO income of $24.4 million or $0.21 per share compared with expense of $90.9 million or $0.78 per diluted share in last year’s fourth quarter. At quarter end, our LIFO reserve totaled $241.7 million. LIFO is an inventory costing method that assumes the most recent inventory purchases or goods manufactured are sold first which in periods of declining prices results in income that eliminates the effect of deflation from operating results. Changes in LIFO are not writedowns, writeoffs or market adjustments. They are changes in cost components based on an assumption of physical inventory flows.
     Net earnings for the year ended August 31, 2009 were $20.8 million or $0.18 per diluted share on net sales of $6.8 billion. For the same period last year, net earnings were $232.0 million or $1.97 per diluted share on net sales of $10.4 billion. The annual results included after-tax LIFO income of $208 million or $1.83 per diluted share. This compares with after-tax LIFO expense of $209 million or $1.78 per diluted share last year.
     The fourth quarter’s disproportionate tax benefit includes the effect of the reversal of the deferred tax liability recorded in prior periods for U.S. taxes on unremitted foreign earnings. Lower pre-tax income for 2009 and its distribution in relatively high tax rate jurisdictions increases the effects of variances from the U.S. statutory rate. The effective tax rate for the year is 40%. Significant items included in the rate are higher taxes due to losses in low tax rate foreign jurisdictions and income subject to state taxes offset by the previously mentioned reversal of the deferred tax liability for prior period U.S. taxes on unremitted foreign earnings to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations.
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 2)
     In response to price declines, demand destruction, and a global liquidity and credit crisis, the Company recorded the following consolidated expenses:
                 
    Three Months Ended   Year Ended
(in millions)   8/31/09   8/31/09
 
 
               
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments
  $ 16.7     $ 127.1  
Bad debt expense
    0.1       33.7  
Severance costs
    3.2       12.5  
Impairment charges
    3.4       8.5  
Other — contractual noncompliance, environmental, job loss reserves
    16.9       19.3  
     Selling, general and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter included $11.0 million of pre-tax costs associated with the investment in the global deployment of SAP software compared to $10.6 million in last year’s fourth quarter; project to date we have expensed $137.7 million. Other SAP costs of $111.3 million have been capitalized since the inception of the project, of which $5.5 million was capitalized in the current quarter. At August 31, 2009, we successfully ended the project phase of our deployment of SAP, returned significant personnel resources back to our operating units, and combined the SAP expertise with our continuing IT operations. We will continue the deployment of SAP on a more measured pace as well as enhance our supply chain management benefits by optimizing the use of the system. It will no longer be reported as a separate project.
General Conditions
     CMC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Murray R. McClean said, “Although we saw increases in steel production and sales volumes in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, this was more due to restocking than any pick up in real demand. We remain concerned about continued sustainability of demand. The stimulus effect was negligible in the U.S. Internationally, China continued to benefit from an effective stimulus package and nearby Asian countries also improved. Steel volume increases in Poland were met by lower metal margins impacting profitability. Our tubular mill in Croatia continued to struggle with the downturn in energy markets as well as increased Chinese competition in nearby markets. Overall declines in inventory quantities and prices led to net LIFO income, but rising ferrous scrap prices resulted in some segments incurring expense. We continue to address exposures including unplanned inventory and unwarranted customer contractual noncompliance related to U.S. steel imports. In late August, our micro minimill in Arizona successfully rolled its first rebar.”
Americas Recycling
     McClean said, “Ferrous and nonferrous pricing reversed the declining trends of the previous six months as pricing rose throughout the quarter. Volumes were greatly reduced compared to the fourth quarter of last year due to reduced domestic mill operating rates and overall lower manufacturing output. Margin decreases from last year’s fourth quarter are equally attributable to volume and pricing for ferrous scrap, but more to volume for nonferrous scrap. The adjusted operating loss of $18.7 million stands in stark contrast to the all-time quarterly earnings record of
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 3)
$52.9 million achieved in the fourth quarter of last year. Rising prices led to pre-tax LIFO expense of $8.3 million compared to pre-tax LIFO income of $5.1 million in last year’s fourth quarter. The average ferrous scrap sales price for the fourth quarter was $193 per short ton, a 57% decline from last year’s fourth quarter, but up 32% from the third quarter this year as domestic mill utilization rates increased. Nonferrous pricing followed a similar trend with average pricing of $1,973 per short ton, down 38% compared to the fourth quarter of last year, but up 27% from the third quarter this year. Shipments of ferrous scrap totaled 513 thousand tons, a decline of 34% from the fourth quarter of last year, but the highest quarterly volume in fiscal 2009. Nonferrous shipments totaled 56 thousand tons, down 29% from last year’s fourth quarter. We exported 13% of our ferrous tonnage and 42% of our nonferrous scrap tonnage during the quarter.”
Americas Mills
     McClean said, “Restocking, seasonal demand and continued public sector projects drove mill capacity utilization rates to 68% for the fourth quarter, up from 58% in the third quarter of this year. These higher volumes, however, were met by lower metal margins as the price increases in ferrous scrap were not matched by price increases in finished goods. General comparisons to the fourth quarter of last year are not favorable as it was the last solid quarter before the recession hit the steel industry full force. Rebar volume in the fourth quarter was strong and merchant volumes, though well off from the prior year, did gain over both the second and third quarters of this year. Import competition, with the exception of Mexico, remains muted.
     “Our steel mills earned adjusted operating profit of $28.0 million compared to $45.1 million in the comparable quarter last year; this year’s fourth quarter had pre-tax LIFO expense of $5.3 million compared to the $41.5 million pre-tax LIFO expense last year. Our metal margin at $302 per ton was down $88 per ton from the fourth quarter of last year and down $63 per ton from the third quarter of this year. The price of ferrous scrap consumed at the mills during the quarter fell $187 per ton compared to last year’s fourth quarter, but our average selling price for finished goods of $563 per ton fell $275 per ton. Sales volumes declined 23% to 486 thousand tons, all attributable to a drop off in merchant bar tons. Rebar accounted for 61% of tonnage shipped in the fourth quarter, the highest percentage of the year. The price premium of merchant bar over reinforcing bar averaged $193 per ton, up $39 per ton from the third quarter. On a fourth quarter-to-quarter basis, tonnage melted was down 24% to 469 thousand tons, while tonnage rolled declined 21% to 429 thousand tons. Lower production rates and price decreases in alloys, natural gas, and electricity resulted in an overall decrease of $35.0 million in these costs for the quarter compared to last year.”
     McClean added, “Our copper tube mill reported an adjusted operating profit of $1.5 million (including pre-tax LIFO expense of $3.4 million) compared to $4.1 million (including pre-tax LIFO income of $1.3 million) in the fourth quarter of last year. The mill remained profitable with constant pounds sold, but higher metal margins. Demand is mainly from public projects and healthcare.”
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 4)
Americas Fabrication & Distribution
     McClean said, “Our Americas Fabrication & Distribution segment reported an adjusted operating profit of $10.3 million compared to last year’s operating loss of $68 million. The current quarter recorded pre-tax LIFO income of $52.0 million, whereas last year’s fourth quarter suffered a pre-tax LIFO expense of $100.9 million. The contrast in market conditions in the intervening year could not be starker. Fiscal 2008 was a year of rising prices and margin compression for fabrication; fiscal 2009 was a year of falling prices and margin expansion as higher priced backlog was rolled off. With deteriorating economic conditions, the backlog was receding in both pricing and volume leading to lower sales and shipments in the fourth quarter. The segment took a $3.4 million impairment charge for discontinuance of original trade names from certain acquisitions. The composite average fab selling price (excluding stock and buyouts) was $911 per ton, 21% below last year’s fourth quarter and a 15% decline from the third quarter of this year. Our largest challenge in this segment remains in our domestic steel import and distribution business. We continue to take aggressive action on unwarranted contract cancellations, market claims, and price renegotiations. Wherever warranted, we have increased our bad debt allowance and taken lower of cost or market adjustments on inventory positions.”
International Mills
     According to McClean, “International steel markets, with the exception of the Asia Pacific region, remained weak. Metal margin compression continued at CMC Zawiercie though volumes were encouragingly up on billet exports. CMC Croatia suffered from the global downturn in energy markets. The segment had an adjusted operating loss in the fourth quarter of $18.7 million compared to the all-time quarterly record of $57.1 million profit last year. The two mills’ results, compared to the third quarter, headed in opposite directions. CMC Zawiercie’s adjusted operating loss for the fourth quarter was $3.4 million compared to $9.2 million loss in the third quarter; CMC Croatia’s fourth quarter result was a loss of $15.3 million compared to a loss of $8.5 million in the third quarter.
     “CMC Zawiercie’s quarterly result, although a loss, was the lowest of the year, attributable to the highest levels of melting, rolling, and shipping for the year. Shipments totaled 398 thousand tons (129 thousand tons of billets) compared to 424 thousand tons (177 thousand tons of billets) in the prior year fourth quarter. Tons melted were 412 thousand tons compared to 395 thousand tons last year, and tons rolled were 281 thousand tons compared to 266 thousand tons in the prior year fourth quarter. Average selling prices decreased 45% to PLN 1,157 per ton compared to PLN 2,091 per ton. The cost of scrap entering production decreased 48%. The average metal margin decreased to PLN 451 per ton, wholly insufficient to allow for profits.
     “CMC Croatia’s fourth quarter shipments of 12 thousand tons were the lowest of the year. The collapse of energy markets combined with increased Chinese competition in the North Africa / Middle East markets severely impacted revenues. Our caster renovations are complete and will allow us to sell billets when market opportunities arise. Our renovated furnace should be completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.”
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 5)
International Fabrication & Distribution
     McClean continued, “With its global span, this segment was able to gain from geographies that are already showing recovery. Our inter-Asian business was profitable. Australia was last-in, first-out of the recession and our trading and distribution operations benefited. European steel markets continue to be under pressure; our fabrication operations are bidding a diminishing number of jobs with an increasing number of aggressive competitors in a period of falling prices. Our raw materials import business had another quarter of profitability through creative solutions in warehousing, just-in-time delivery, financing, and other ventures to meet customers’ needs. The overall segment had an adjusted operating profit of $2.7 million (including pre-tax LIFO income of $2.5 million) compared to the prior year profit of $35.7 million (including pre-tax LIFO income of $3.9 million).”
Financial Condition
     McClean said, “CMC remains financially strong; our balance sheet remains conservative with high quality assets. At August 31, 2009, we had cash and short-term investments of $406 million. Substantial portions of our accounts receivable are backed by letters of credit or are credit insured; we have established an allowance for doubtful accounts of $42 million. Substantially all of our domestic inventories are on LIFO; the reserve at year end was $242 million. The current ratio was 2.4. We had no drawings on our domestic accounts receivable securitization program, and our $400 million revolver was available save for $27.9 million of letters of credit outstanding against it as of August 31, 2009. At year end, goodwill and intangibles totaled $138.9 million, representing only 3.8% of total assets. Our debt maturity profile has no substantial long-term debt payments due until 2013. We met our debt covenant tests.”
Outlook
     According to McClean, “Domestic market conditions appear to be stabilizing, but at very modest levels. U.S. stimulus programs are likely to be effective from calendar 2010, but at a slow pace. Private nonresidential construction is likely to remain weak. We anticipate prices to trend moderately lower for our first fiscal quarter with shipments at slightly lower levels to fourth quarter fiscal 2009 given seasonal trends. Rebar imports should remain low.
     “The Asian markets are the most encouraging right now although off the highs of July/August. The growth of China’s GDP is likely to be 8-9% in calendar 2009. China continues to fund steel intensive projects including infrastructure, public housing and energy plants. China may curb new steel production to control excess steel capacity. Steel inventory levels have built in China, in particular, flat products, and prices have declined from August. China may increase exports of higher value steel products, but we believe this will be mainly to nearby Asian markets. Most markets in Asia are likely to continue to improve including Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia. Australia’s economic recovery is ahead of the U.S., and in Europe recovery is likely to be mixed. Poland is likely to lead Central Eastern Europe with improving GDP growth.”
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 6)
     McClean added, “Our strength remains our people. Fiscal 2009 made extraordinary demands on them; they were asked to sacrifice and they did and maintained CMC’s core values throughout. We remain strong and confident because of them. Fiscal 2010 should be a year of sequentially building profitability; the first half will suffer the lingering effects of the economy and winter seasonal downturn. The second half should benefit from an improving economy and a more traditional pick up in the spring construction season. Looking towards our first quarter, we believe that our recycling operations should be profitable for the quarter. Our domestic mills may operate at marginally lower levels than they did in the fourth quarter, between 60% and 65%. Our domestic fabrication operations will be challenged by diminished backlogs and a margin squeeze. Our U.S. steel trading business will continue to liquidate inventories remaining from customer contractual noncompliance; industrial products will, however, remain a bright spot. Internationally, Poland should see modest improvement if metal margin pressure abates; Croatia will continue to incur losses until its capital expenditure program is completed and the energy market improves. Overall, we anticipate first quarter results to be a small loss.”
Conference Call
     CMC invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its fourth quarter 2009 conference call today, Friday, October 30, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The call will be hosted by Murray McClean, Chairman, President and CEO and Bill Larson, Senior Vice President and CFO, and can be accessed via our website at www.cmc.com or at www.streetevents.com. In the event you are unable to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived and available for replay within two hours of the webcast. Financial and statistical information presented in the broadcast can be found on CMC’s website under “Investor Relations.”
     Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a network including steel minimills, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses, a copper tube mill, metal recycling facilities and marketing and distribution offices in the United States and in strategic international markets.
     This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s financial results including net earnings, product pricing and demand, production rates, stimulus spending, inventory and backlog levels, GDP growth and general market conditions. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as the company or its management “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” as well as “ought,” “should,” “likely,” “appears,” “projected,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “will” or other words or phrases of similar impact. There is inherent risk and uncertainty in any forward-looking statements. Variances will occur and some could be materially different from management’s current opinion. Developments that could impact the Company’s expectations include a lingering recessionary environment, lower construction activity, difficulties or delays in the execution of construction contracts resulting in cost overruns or contract disputes, metals pricing over which the Company exerts little influence, interest rate changes, increased capacity and product availability from competing steel minimills and other steel suppliers including import quantities and pricing, court decisions, industry consolidation or changes in production capacity or utilization, global factors including political and military uncertainties, credit availability, currency fluctuations, energy and supply prices and decisions by governments impacting the level of steel imports, stimulus spending, and pace of overall economic activity, particularly China.
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 7)
                                 
    Three months ended     Fiscal year ended  
(Short Tons in Thousands)   8/31/09     8/31/08     8/31/09     8/31/08  
 
                               
Domestic Steel Mill Rebar Shipments
    294       285       1,007       1,135  
Domestic Steel Mill Structural and Other Shipments
    192       346       729       1,393  
CMCZ Shipments
    398       424       1,258       1,434  
 
                       
Total Mill Tons Shipped
    884       1,055       2,994       3,962  
 
                               
Average FOB Mill Domestic Selling Price (Total Sales)
  $ 563     $ 838     $ 642     $ 691  
Average Cost Domestic Mill Ferrous Scrap Utilized
  $ 261     $ 448     $ 254     $ 350  
Domestic Mill Metal Margin
  $ 302     $ 390     $ 388     $ 341  
Average Domestic Mill Ferrous Scrap Purchase Price
  $ 200     $ 409     $ 195     $ 329  
Average FOB Mill CMCZ Selling Price (Total Sales)
  $ 378     $ 982     $ 457     $ 744  
Average Cost CMCZ Ferrous Scrap Utilized
  $ 231     $ 630     $ 255     $ 441  
CMCZ Mill Metal Margin
  $ 147     $ 352     $ 202     $ 303  
Average CMCZ Ferrous Scrap Purchase Price
  $ 193     $ 533     $ 202     $ 396  
 
Fab Plant Rebar Shipments
    244       295       1,010       1,061  
Fab Plant Structural, Post , Joist and Deck Shipments
    80       175       414       665  
 
                       
Total Fabrication Tons Shipped
    324       470       1,424       1,726  
 
                               
Average Fab Selling Price (Excluding Stock & Buyout Sales)
  $ 911     $ 1,146     $ 1,131     $ 1,064  
 
                               
Domestic Scrap Metal Tons Processed and Shipped
    570       871       2,033       3,391  
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(in thousands)
                                 
    Three months ended   Fiscal year ended
    8/31/09   8/31/08   8/31/09   8/31/08
Net Sales:
                               
Americas Recycling
  $ 233,708     $ 657,707     $ 785,388     $ 2,189,719  
Americas Mills
    307,797       576,118       1,253,398       1,966,270  
Americas Fabrication & Distribution
    441,473       844,535       2,528,162       2,874,594  
International Mills
    173,136       400,133       681,655       1,155,671  
International Fabrication & Distribution
    522,553       1,180,594       2,515,718       3,780,916  
Corporate
    4,875       (6,396 )     (10,609 )     (1,855 )
Eliminations and Discontinued Operations
    (221,726 )     (506,215 )     (960,316 )     (1,537,937 )
     
Total Net Sales
  $ 1,461,816     $ 3,146,476     $ 6,793,396     $ 10,427,378  
     
 
                               
Adjusted Operating Profit (Loss):
                               
Americas Recycling
  $ (18,733 )   $ 52,869     $ (89,576 )   $ 145,751  
Americas Mills
    29,542       49,236       263,393       207,756  
Americas Fabrication & Distribution
    10,290       (67,978 )     111,604       (67,471 )
International Mills
    (18,675 )     57,108       (77,421 )     96,838  
International Fabrication & Distribution
    2,738       35,729       (4,341 )     124,338  
Corporate and Eliminations
    (23,275 )     (24,736 )     (87,275 )     (99,348 )
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 8)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Fourth Quarter and Year Operating Results (Unaudited)

(in thousands except share data)
                                 
    Three months ended   Fiscal year ended
    8/31/09   8/31/08   8/31/09   8/31/08
     
 
                               
Net Sales
  $ 1,461,816     $ 3,146,476     $ 6,793,396     $ 10,427,378  
 
                               
Costs and Expenses:
                               
Cost of goods sold
    1,304,120       2,836,715       6,013,335       9,325,724  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    174,834       209,494       671,202       707,786  
Interest expense
    14,688       15,978       76,998       58,263  
     
 
    1,493,642       3,062,187       6,761,535       10,091,773  
     
 
                               
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
                               
Before Income Taxes and Minority Interests
    (31,826 )     84,289       31,861       335,605  
 
                               
Income Taxes (Benefit)
    (40,381 )     19,626       12,734       103,886  
     
 
                               
Earnings from Continuing Operations
                               
Before Minority Interests
    8,555       64,663       19,127       231,719  
 
                               
Minority Interests (Benefit)
    (63 )     (2 )     (550 )     538  
     
Net Earnings from Continuing Operations
  $ 8,618     $ 64,665     $ 19,677     $ 231,181  
 
                               
Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Before Taxes
    (1,960 )     (2,016 )     2,064       1,706  
Income Tax (Benefit)
    (522 )     (894 )     939       921  
     
Net Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations
    (1,438 )     (1,122 )     1,125       785  
 
                               
Net Earnings
  $ 7,180     $ 63,543     $ 20,802     $ 231,966  
     
 
                               
Basic Earnings per Share:
                               
Earnings from Continuing Operations
  $ 0.07     $ 0.57     $ 0.18     $ 2.01  
Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations
    (0.01 )     (0.01 )     0.01       0.01  
     
Net Earnings
  $ 0.06     $ 0.56     $ 0.19     $ 2.02  
 
                               
Diluted Earnings per Share:
                               
Earnings from Continuing Operations
  $ 0.07     $ 0.56     $ 0.17     $ 1.96  
Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations
    (0.01 )     (0.01 )     0.01       0.01  
     
Net Earnings
  $ 0.06     $ 0.55     $ 0.18     $ 1.97  
 
                               
Cash Dividends per Share
  $ 0.12     $ 0.12     $ 0.48     $ 0.45  
 
                               
Average Basic Shares Outstanding
    112,370,720       113,878,939       112,391,180       115,048,512  
Average Diluted Shares Outstanding
    113,955,283       116,251,800       113,880,375       117,685,753  
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 9)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands)
                 
    Fiscal year ended
    2009   2008
     
 
               
Assets:
               
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 405,603     $ 219,026  
Accounts receivable, net
    731,282       1,369,453  
Inventories
    678,541       1,400,332  
Other
    182,126       228,632  
     
Total Current Assets
    1,997,552       3,217,443  
 
               
Net Property, Plant and Equipment
    1,351,389       1,154,322  
 
               
Goodwill
    74,236       84,837  
 
               
Other Assets
    264,379       289,769  
     
 
  $ 3,687,556     $ 4,746,371  
     
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable — trade
  $ 344,355     $ 838,777  
Accounts payable — documentary letters of credit
    109,210       192,492  
Accrued expenses and other payables
    327,212       563,424  
Income taxes payable and deferred income taxes
          156  
Notes payable
    1,759       31,305  
Current maturities of long-term debt
    32,802       106,327  
     
Total Current Liabilities
    815,338       1,732,481  
 
               
Deferred Income Taxes
    44,564       50,160  
Other Long-Term Liabilities
    113,850       124,171  
Long-Term Debt
    1,181,740       1,197,533  
 
               
Minority Interests
    2,371       3,643  
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
    1,529,693       1,638,383  
     
 
  $ 3,687,556     $ 4,746,371  
     
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(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 10)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(in thousands)
                 
    Fiscal year ended
    2009   2008
 
               
Cash Flows From (Used By) Operating Activities:
               
Net earnings
  $ 20,802     $ 231,966  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash from (used by) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    154,679       135,069  
Minority interests (benefit)
    (550 )     538  
Provision for losses on receivables
    33,733       4,478  
Share-based compensation
    17,475       18,996  
Net loss on sale of assets
    2,795       749  
Writedown of inventory
    127,056        
Asset impairment charges
    8,468       1,004  
 
               
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net of Effect of Acquisitions:
               
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable
    692,386       (287,052 )
Accounts receivable sold (repurchased), net
    (129,227 )     45,348  
(Increase) decrease in inventories
    533,896       (414,556 )
(Increase) decrease in other assets
    93,257       (177,510 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses, other payables and income taxes
    (691,912 )     395,987  
Decrease in deferred income taxes
    (49,066 )     (4,379 )
Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities
    (7,256 )     5,906  
     
Net Cash Flows From (Used By) Operating Activities
    806,536       (43,456 )
 
               
Cash Flows From (Used By) Investing Activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (369,694 )     (355,041 )
Purchase of interests in CMC Zawiercie and subsidiaries
    (6 )     (169 )
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment & other
    2,620       1,791  
Acquisitions of other businesses, net of cash acquired
    (900 )     (228,422 )
     
Net Cash Flows Used By Investing Activities
    (367,980 )     (581,841 )
 
               
Cash Flows From (Used By) Financing Activities:
               
Increase (decrease) in documentary letters of credit
    (83,282 )     39,061  
Short-term borrowings, net change
    (26,244 )     (1,427 )
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    64,014       596,669  
Repayments on long-term debt
    (132,496 )     (6,053 )
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans
    3,284       8,910  
Tax benefits from stock plans
    926       10,982  
Treasury stock acquired
    (18,514 )     (172,312 )
Cash dividends
    (54,139 )     (52,061 )
     
Net Cash Flows From (Used By) Financing Activities
    (246,451 )     423,769  
 
               
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
    (5,528 )     1,279  
     
 
               
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    186,577       (200,249 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
    219,026       419,275  
     
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year
  $ 405,603     $ 219,026  
     
(more)

 


 

(CMC Year End 2009 — Page 11)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

(in thousands)
This press release uses financial statement measures not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided below.
EBITDA:
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP liquidity measure. It excludes Commercial Metals Company’s largest recurring non-cash charge, depreciation and amortization. As a measure of cash flow before interest expense, it is one guideline used to assess the Company’s ability to pay its current debt obligations as they mature and a tool to calculate possible future levels of leverage capacity. EBITDA to interest is a covenant test in certain of the Company’s note agreements. The following reconciles EBITDA to the nearest GAAP measure, net earnings:
                 
    Three Months   Year
    Ended   Ended
    8/31/09   8/31/09
Net earnings
  $ 7,180     $ 20,802  
Interest expense
    14,688       77,562  
Income taxes (benefit)
    (40,903 )     13,673  
Depreciation and amortization
    47,102       163,147  
 
EBITDA
  $ 28,067     $ 275,184  
EBITDA to interest coverage
for the year ended August 31, 2009:
     $275,184 / 77,562 = 3.5
Total Capitalization:
Total capitalization is the sum of long-term debt, deferred income taxes, and stockholders’ equity. The ratio of debt to total capitalization is a measure of current debt leverage. The following reconciles total capitalization at August 31, 2009 to the nearest GAAP measure, stockholders’ equity:
         
Stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,529,693  
Long-term debt
    1,181,740  
Deferred income taxes
    44,564  
 
Total capitalization
  $ 2,755,977  
Other Financial Information
Long-term debt to cap ratio as of August 31, 2009:
Debt divided by capitalization
     $1,181,740 / 2,755,977 = 42.9%
Total debt to cap plus short-term debt ratio as of August 31, 2009:
     ($1,181,740 + 32,802 + 1,759) / ($2,755,977 + 32,802 + 1,759) = 43.6%
Current ratio as of August 31, 2009:
Current assets divided by current liabilities
     $1,997,552 / 815,338 = 2.4
-(END)-
     
Contact:
  Debbie Okle
 
  Director, Public Relations
 
  214.689.4354
 
  2010-02