EX-99.1 2 d44766exv99w1.htm PRESS RELEASE exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1
Commercial Metals Company Reports Solid Second Quarter Results;
Anticipates Record Third Quarter
     Irving, TX — March 20, 2007 — Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) today reported net earnings of $65.9 million or $0.54 per diluted share on net sales of $2.0 billion for the quarter ended February 28, 2007. This compares with net earnings of $80.1 million or $0.65 per diluted share on net sales of $1.6 billion for the second quarter last year.
     This year’s second quarter included after-tax LIFO expense of $12.3 million or $0.10 per diluted share compared with income of $2.6 million or $0.02 per share in last year’s second quarter. LIFO is an inventory costing method that assumes the most recent inventory purchases or goods manufactured are sold first which in periods of rising prices results in an expense that eliminates inflationary profits from net income.
     Net earnings for the six months ended February 28, 2007, were $151 million or $1.25 per diluted share on net sales of $4.0 billion. For the same period last year, net earnings were $150 million or $1.22 per diluted share on net sales of $3.3 billion. For the six months ended February 28, 2007, after-tax LIFO expense was $18.9 million or $0.16 per share compared with an expense of $11.5 million or $0.09 per share last year.
     Selling, general and administrative expenses in the second quarter included $9.9 million of costs associated with the investment in the global deployment of SAP software. For the six months ended February 28, 2007, the amount was $10.7 million. Other costs of $12.3 million, substantially all of which represents software acquisition, have been capitalized.
     Our outlook remains strong. As discussed in more detail later in this release, we anticipate a record third quarter LIFO diluted net earnings per share between $0.70 to $0.80 (estimated pre-tax LIFO expense of $25 million) compared to last year’s third quarter of $0.62 per share which is the current record third quarter.
General Conditions
     CMC President and Chief Executive Officer Murray R. McClean said, “We achieved solid results for a second quarter with a significant improvement at CMCZ, our Polish operation. The winter quarter (December to February) is typically our weakest quarter. In the U.S., we took the opportunity to undertake major maintenance and capital expenditure programs at our domestic steel mills during the quarter. As a result, our steel shipping volumes were down by 40 thousand tons. Rising steel prices late in the quarter caused larger than expected
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 2)
LIFO charges in our Domestic Mills and Domestic Fabrication segments. With its faster inventory turns, our Recycling segment benefited more rapidly from higher scrap prices. Marketing and Distribution continued to take advantage of overall favorable global metal markets.”
Domestic Mills
     McClean added, “Our domestic mills achieved the second-best second quarter in their history, bettered only by last year’s record. Adjusted operating profit of $61.7 million was 13% behind last year. Within the segment, quarterly adjusted operating profit for our domestic steel minimills was $59.4 million, down 8% from the prior year. Metal margins increased by $33 to $326 per ton, as average selling prices (total sales) rose $41 per ton in conjunction with an increase in the average cost of scrap used of $8 per ton. Shipments of 563 thousand tons fell 40 thousand tons compared to last year’s second quarter. The largest decline occurred at CMC Steel Texas due to scheduled maintenance for the melt shop (down 19 days for furnace shell replacement) and the rolling mill (down 13 days for annual maintenance, including relining of the reheat furnace). Repair and maintenance expense rose $4.2 million from last year. LIFO expense pre-tax for the steel mills was $14 million; the prior year number was an expense of only $686 thousand. The increase was driven by 12% cost increases coupled with modest inventory quantity increases. Tonnage melted fell 46 thousand tons to 531 thousand tons, and tons rolled fell 17 thousand tons to 515 thousand tons due to the scheduled maintenance. Utility costs decreased by $5.7 million, split evenly between electricity and natural gas with declines in both pricing and usage.
     “Pounds shipped at our copper tube mill declined 27% to 11.5 million pounds compared to last year’s second quarter, attributable to the weaker housing market in the U.S. and destocking at distributors. Operating profit fell 64%. Copper tube production decreased 38% to 10.4 million pounds. There was pre-tax LIFO income of $5.4 million compared to a pre-tax LIFO expense of $1.7 million in the prior year as copper prices fell throughout the quarter with only a partial recovery near quarter end.”
CMCZ (Poland)
     McClean continued, “Our Polish steel operation continued to achieve record profitability as its adjusted operating profit of $25.8 million was level with the first quarter, a stellar accomplishment in its traditionally weakest period. It was an all-time record second quarter and stood in stark contrast to last year’s breakeven results. Strong Polish GDP growth, growing infrastructure work, and an improving German economy all contributed to the excellent performance. Our mega shredder continues to sustain higher melt shop yields and lower melt shop costs. Both fab shops, including our newest acquisition in eastern Germany, were profitable. Average selling prices rose 20% to 1,486 PLN ($507) per short ton while the cost of scrap utilized increased 19% to 826 PLN ($282) per short ton resulting in a 21% increase in metal margin to 660 PLN ($225). The increase in metal spreads was combined with a 29% increase in short tons shipped, and the percentage of tons shipped domestically rose to 57%. For the quarter, melted tons
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 3)
equaled 378 thousand, rolled tons equaled 292 thousand, and shipments totaled 369 thousand, all significantly above the prior year numbers of 285 thousand melted, 261 thousand rolled, and 285 thousand shipped.
     “After the quarter end, we completed the purchase of the State Treasury’s shares for $59.5 million raising our ownership to 99%.”
Domestic Fabrication
     McClean said, “Rising steel prices had dual negative effects on our Domestic Fabrication segment. Margins are temporarily squeezed until jobs currently bid at higher prices reach production, and rising prices inevitably bring LIFO expense. Adjusted operating profit for the quarter was $13.9 million, a 64% decline from the prior year’s quarter. Pre-tax LIFO expense for the quarter was $6.3 million compared to last year’s income of $9.7 million, a swing of $16 million. Average pricing was up across all product areas while shipments were about even with the prior year. Operating profits were lower in all areas.”
Recycling
     According to McClean, “In a quarter marked by particularly volatile metal pricing, our rapid inventory turnover strategy resulted in an all-time record second quarter for the segment. Operating profit of $20.9 million increased 12% over last year’s quarter and just surpassed the previous record second quarter of fiscal 2005. Profitability was balanced between ferrous and nonferrous product lines. Ferrous prices were on an upward tear at the end of the quarter and rose 8% on average for the quarter compared to last year. Average nonferrous pricing rose 28% over the previous year as copper prices, though falling during the quarter, were still significantly higher than last year. Ferrous shipments rose 6% to 517 thousand tons compared to the previous year; nonferrous shipments were up 11% to 82 thousand tons. Reduced tons in inventory led to pre-tax LIFO income of $2.7 million compared to LIFO expense of $3.2 million. The total volume of scrap processed, including all our domestic processing operations, equaled 881 thousand tons against 862 thousand tons in last year’s second quarter.”
Marketing and Distribution
     “Adjusted operating profit of $15.2 million represents an 18% increase over the same period last year and stands as the second-best second quarter in history for the segment,” according to McClean. “Underlining the strength of the global metal markets, the segment achieved these results in spite of absorbing a pre-tax LIFO expense of $6.7 million (higher prices) compared to an expense in the prior year of $1.8 million. International steel markets were notably strong with general increases in prices, quantities, and profits in Australia, Germany, the U.K. and our inter-Asian (mainly Chinese export) markets. Industrial materials and products continued their strong performance, though down slightly from the prior year. Our nonferrous semi import business gained over the prior year on the strength of rising profitability from stainless steel products. Operationally our domestic steel import business continued strongly, but was the operating unit that was most affected by the LIFO charges.”
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 4)
Financial Condition
     McClean added, “Our financial position remains strong. At quarter end, long-term debt as a percentage of total capitalization was 18%. Our working capital was $1.0 billion, and the current ratio was 2.1. Our coverage ratios were strong. Cash flows from operating activities were $88 million.”
Outlook
     McClean continued, “Our third fiscal quarter is aligned to be our strongest ever third quarter. Global infrastructure growth is creating unprecedented demand for rebar and other steel long products, in particular in the markets of North Africa, Middle East, North Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia. In the U.S., the non-residential construction market should remain strong and robust. The comparatively mild winter in many northern hemisphere countries, as well as the early settlement of 2007 iron ore contract prices, set the stage for significant price increases of most steel products starting in early calendar 2007. U.S. ferrous scrap prices, in particular obsolete grades, are currently at record levels due to both international and domestic demand. As ferrous scrap flow increases, there could be a correction. Rebar prices are likely to reach record levels in many international markets. The level of rebar imports into the U.S. should remain at lower levels compared with 2006. U.S. steel prices, in general, are likely to continue to lag international prices, and this will continue to curb the level of imports.”
     In conclusion, McClean said, “We believe our U.S. steel mills will benefit from higher prices and higher shipments. Our copper tube mill should improve over the second quarter’s performance. Our Domestic Fabrication segment should increase shipments although there will be some margin squeeze due to the rapidly rising steel prices. Recycling should benefit from record ferrous scrap prices and strong nonferrous scrap prices. CMCZ (Poland) should have an exceptional quarter based on a booming construction market in Central and Eastern Europe. Our Marketing and Distribution segment should benefit from strong growth in most global markets and will have a solid third quarter. In summary, we anticipate a record third quarter.”
Conference Call
     CMC invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its second quarter 2007 conference call on Tuesday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The call will be hosted by Stan Rabin, Chairman, Murray McClean, President and CEO, and Bill Larson, Sr. 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.”
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 5)
Forward-Looking Statements
     Paragraphs five, fifteen and sixteen (Outlook) of this news release contain forward-looking statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s financial results including net earnings, product pricing and demand, import levels, production rates, inventory levels, and general market conditions. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as the company or its management “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “ought,” “should,” “likely,” “appears,” “outlook,” “projects,” “forecasts,” 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 interest rate changes, construction activity, metals pricing over which the Company exerts little influence, increased capacity and product availability from competing steel minimills and other steel suppliers including import quantities and pricing, successful implementation of new technology, cost of construction, delays due to permitting and regulatory approvals court decisions, industry consolidation or changes in production capacity or utilization, global factors including political and military uncertainties, credit availability, currency fluctuations, energy prices, and decisions by governments impacting the level of steel imports and pace of overall economic activity.
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 6)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

(in thousands except share data)
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    2/28/07     2/28/06     2/28/07     2/28/06  
         
Net Sales
  $ 2,015,776     $ 1,639,487     $ 4,002,320     $ 3,285,185  
 
                               
Costs and Expenses:
                               
Cost of goods sold
    1,757,026       1,388,883       3,460,416       2,813,613  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    141,543       118,623       276,722       225,357  
Interest expense
    8,852       6,952       17,080       13,876  
     
 
    1,907,421       1,514,458       3,754,218       3,052,846  
 
                               
Earnings Before Income Taxes and Minority Interests
    108,355       125,029       248,102       232,339  
 
                               
Income Taxes
    37,786       45,504       87,555       82,945  
 
                               
Earnings before Minority Interests
    70,569       79,525       160,547       149,394  
 
                               
Minority Interests
    4,648       (578 )     9,276       (333 )
     
Net Earnings
  $ 65,921     $ 80,103     $ 151,271     $ 149,727  
     
 
                               
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.56     $ 0.68     $ 1.29     $ 1.28  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.54     $ 0.65     $ 1.25     $ 1.22  
Cash dividends per share
  $ 0.09     $ 0.03     $ 0.15     $ 0.06  
Average basic shares outstanding
    117,266,573       117,551,782       117,348,716       116,743,700  
Average diluted shares outstanding
    121,807,414       123,830,628       121,422,373       122,858,160  
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(in thousands)
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    2/28/07     2/28/06     2/28/07     2/28/06  
         
Net Sales
                               
Domestic Mills
  $ 364,869     $ 366,170     $ 722,424     $ 735,949  
CMCZ
    196,179       112,584       359,126       219,916  
Domestic Fabrication
    404,305       408,156       853,091       808,679  
Recycling
    353,548       272,013       736,609       508,412  
Marketing and Distribution
    887,791       642,184       1,685,601       1,326,742  
Corporate and Eliminations
    (190,916 )     (161,620 )     (354,531 )     (314,513 )
     
Total Net Sales
  $ 2,015,776     $ 1,639,487     $ 4,002,320     $ 3,285,185  
     
 
                               
Adjusted Operating Profit (Loss):
                               
Domestic Mills
  $ 61,671     $ 70,767     $ 134,310     $ 135,686  
CMCZ
    25,826       (584 )     51,620       948  
Domestic Fabrication
    13,883       38,494       45,379       56,691  
Recycling
    20,903       18,592       38,511       32,426  
Marketing and Distribution
    15,223       12,934       23,131       35,989  
Corporate and Eliminations
    (18,915 )     (7,425 )     (25,426 )     (13,952 )
 
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 7)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands)
                 
    February 28,     August 31,  
    2007     2006  
     
Assets:
               
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 76,165     $ 180,719  
Accounts receivable, net
    1,006,493       1,134,823  
Inventories
    864,592       762,635  
Other
    80,408       66,615  
     
Total Current Assets
    2,027,658       2,144,792  
 
               
Net Property, Plant and Equipment
    627,371       588,686  
 
               
Goodwill
    35,815       35,749  
 
               
Other Assets
    171,878       129,641  
     
 
  $ 2,862,722     $ 2,898,868  
     
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable — trade
  $ 488,814     $ 526,408  
Accounts payable — documentary letters of credit
    129,522       141,713  
Accrued expenses and other payables
    294,851       379,764  
Income taxes payable and deferred income taxes
    10,286       14,258  
Notes payable — CMC International
          60,000  
Current maturities of long-term debt
    54,600       60,162  
     
Total Current Liabilities
    978,073       1,182,305  
 
               
Deferred Income Taxes
    33,295       34,550  
Other Long-Term Liabilities
    98,727       78,789  
Long-Term Debt
    309,170       322,086  
 
               
Minority Interests
    72,195       61,034  
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
    1,371,262       1,220,104  
     
 
  $ 2,862,722     $ 2,898,868  
     
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months Ended  
(Short Tons in Thousands)   2/28/07     2/28/06     2/28/07     2/28/06  
 
                               
Domestic Steel Mill Rebar Shipments
    252       273       470       543  
Domestic Steel Mill Structural and Other Shipments
    311       330       619       684  
CMCZ Shipments
    369       285       681       542  
 
                       
Total Mill Tons Shipped
    932       888       1,770       1,769  
 
                               
Average FOB Mill Domestic Selling Price (Total Sales)
  $ 541     $ 500     $ 549     $ 495  
Average Domestic Mill Ferrous Scrap Purchase Price
  $ 200     $ 184     $ 192     $ 184  
Average FOB Mill CMCZ Selling Price (Total Sales)
  $ 507     $ 381     $ 502     $ 389  
Average CMCZ Ferrous Scrap Purchase Price
  $ 253     $ 179     $ 244     $ 176  
 
                               
Fab Plant Rebar Shipments
    247       232       531       469  
Fab Plant Structural, Joist, and Post Shipments
    119       131       239       257  
 
                       
Total Fabrication Tons Shipped
    366       363       770       726  
 
                               
Average Fab Selling Price (Excluding Stock & Buyout Sales)
  $ 935     $ 871     $ 915     $ 857  
 
                               
Domestic Scrap Metal Tons Processed and Shipped
    881       862       1,818       1,701  
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 8)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(in thousands)
                 
    Six months ended  
    2/28/07     2/28/06  
     
Cash Flows From (Used by) Operating Activities:
               
Net earnings
  $ 151,271     $ 149,727  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash from (used by) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    49,021       39,678  
Minority interests
    9,276       (333 )
Provision for losses on receivables
    41       1,841  
Share-based compensation
    5,358       4,424  
Net gain on sale of assets and other
    (28 )     (1,098 )
Asset impairment
    1,390        
 
               
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net of Effect of Acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    42,145       (75,138 )
Accounts receivable sold
    95,255        
Inventories
    (92,453 )     (57,967 )
Other assets
    (57,958 )     (23,577 )
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, other payables and income taxes
    (133,079 )     (24,909 )
Deferred income taxes
    (2,136 )     (635 )
Other long-term liabilities
    19,673       13,062  
     
Net Cash Flows From Operating Activities
    87,776       25,075  
 
               
Cash Flows From (Used by) Investing Activities:
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (75,100 )     (59,460 )
Purchase of interest in CMC Zawiercie and subsidiaries
    (61 )      
Sales of property, plant and equipment
    467       3,672  
Acquisitions of fabrication businesses
    (10,633 )     (5,140 )
     
Net Cash Used By Investing Activities
    (85,327 )     (60,928 )
 
               
Cash Flows From (Used by) Financing Activities:
               
Decrease in documentary letters of credit
    (12,191 )     (40,877 )
Payments on trade financing arrangements
          (1,667 )
Short-term borrowings, net change
    (60,000 )      
Payments on long-term debt
    (18,787 )      
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
          6,040  
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans
    14,024       21,172  
Treasury stock acquired
    (17,744 )      
Dividends paid
    (17,748 )     (7,005 )
Tax benefits from stock plans
    5,068       9,726  
     
Net Cash Used By Financing Activities
    (107,378 )     (12,611 )
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
    375       1,171  
 
Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    (104,554 )     (47,293 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
    180,719       119,404  
     
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
  $ 76,165     $ 72,111  
     
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(CMC Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 — Page 9)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

(dollars 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.
                 
    Three Months     Six Months  
    Ended     Ended  
    2/28/07     2/28/07  
     
Net earnings
  $ 65,921     $ 151,271  
Interest expense
    8,852       17,080  
Income taxes
    37,786       87,555  
Depreciation and amortization
    23,855       49,021  
 
EBITDA
  $ 136,414     $ 304,927  
 
         
EBITDA to interest coverage
       
for the quarter ended February 28, 2007:
  for the six months ended February 28, 2007:
$136,414 / 8,852 = 15.4
  $ 304,927 / 17,080 = 17.9  
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 February 28, 2007 to the nearest GAAP measure, stockholders’ equity:
         
Stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,371,262  
Long-term debt
    309,170  
Deferred income taxes
    33,295  
 
Total capitalization
  $ 1,713,727  
Other Financial Information
Long-term debt to cap ratio as of February 28, 2007:
Debt divided by capitalization
$309,170 / 1,713,727 = 18.0%
Total debt to cap plus short-term debt ratio as of February 28, 2007:
$363,770 / (1,713,727 + 54,600) = 20.6%
Current ratio as of February 28, 2007:
Current assets divided by current liabilities
$2,027,658 / 978,073 = 2.1
-(END)-
     
Contact:
  Debbie Okle
 
  Director, Public Relations
 
  214.689.4354 
2007-16