Mueller Industries (MLI) 10-Q 2014 Q1 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 29, 2014 Commission file number 1–6770

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	25-0790410
(State or other jurisdiction	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)

8285 Tournament Drive, Suite 150
Memphis, Tennessee	38125
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(901) 753-3200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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.    Yesx  Noo

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  Noo

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.

Large accelerated filer   x	Accelerated filer   o
Non-accelerated filer   o	Smaller reporting company   o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes  oNo   x

The number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of April 22, 2014, was 56,688,382.

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 29, 2014

__________________________

As used in this report, the terms “Company,” “Mueller,” and “Registrant” mean Mueller Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise.

__________________________

INDEX

		Page Number
Part I.  Financial Information
	Item 1.  – Financial Statements (Unaudited)
	a.)  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income	3
	b.)  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	4
	c.)  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	5
	d.)  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6
	e.)  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7
	Item 2.  – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	17
	Item 3.  – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	21
	Item 4.  – Controls and Procedures	22
Part II.  Other Information
	Item 1.  – Legal Proceedings	23
	Item 1A. – Risk Factors	23
	Item 2.  – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	23
	Item 6.  – Exhibits	24
Signatures		25

2

PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

	For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands, except per share data)	March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Net sales	$	574,374		$	559,690
Cost of goods sold		495,777			482,850
Depreciation and amortization		8,107			8,154
Selling, general, and administrative expense		32,183			31,343
Operating income		38,307			37,343
Interest expense		(1,026	)		(596	)
Other income, net		88			3,163
Income before income taxes		37,369			39,910
Income tax expense		(12,415	)		(13,476	)
Consolidated net income		24,954			26,434
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(248	)		(232	)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$	24,706		$	26,202
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share1		55,918			55,645
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards1		853			747
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share1		56,771			56,392
Basic earnings per share1	$	0.44		$	0.47
Diluted earnings per share1	$	0.44		$	0.46
Dividends per share1	$	0.0750		$	0.0625
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

1 Adjusted retroactively to reflect the two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 14, 2014.

3

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

		For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)		March 29, 2014		March 30, 2013
Consolidated net income	$	24,954		$	26,434
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation		1,167			(5,324	)
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax of $590 in 2014 and $980 in 2013		(1,116	)		(1,724	)
Net actuarial loss on pension and postretirement obligations, net of tax of $28 in 2014 and $(652) in 2013		3			1,539
Other, net		(15	)		41
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		39			(5,468	)
Comprehensive income		24,993			20,966
Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(253	)		(199	)
Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$	24,740		$	20,767
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)	March 29, 2014			December 28, 2013
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	233,475		$	311,800
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,114 in 2014 and $2,391 in 2013		319,902			271,847
Inventories		279,465			251,716
Current deferred income taxes		8,017			8,106
Other current assets		44,354			31,248
Total current assets		885,213			874,717
Property, plant, and equipment, net		243,905			244,457
Goodwill		119,857			94,357
Other assets		33,854			34,236
Total assets	$	1,282,829		$	1,247,767
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	$	32,085		$	29,083
Accounts payable		109,452			80,897
Accrued wages and other employee costs		27,611			37,109
Other current liabilities		66,283			72,167
Total current liabilities		235,431			219,256
Long-term debt, less current portion		206,000			206,250
Pension liabilities		9,840			10,645
Postretirement benefits other than pensions		16,714			16,781
Environmental reserves		22,005			22,144
Deferred income taxes		34,039			35,975
Other noncurrent liabilities		618			849
Total liabilities		524,647			511,900
Equity
Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock - $1.00 par value; shares authorized 5,000,000; none outstanding		—			—
Common stock - $.01 par value; shares authorized 100,000,000; issued 80,183,004; outstanding 56,684,382 in 2014 and 56,604,674 in 2013 2		802			401
Additional paid-in capital		267,293			267,142
Retained earnings		928,729			908,274
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(10,785	)		(10,819	)
Treasury common stock, at cost		(460,570	)		(461,593	)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders’ equity		725,469			703,405
Noncontrolling interest		32,713			32,462
Total equity		758,182			735,867
Commitments and contingencies		—			—
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,282,829		$	1,247,767
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2 Adjusted retroactively to reflect the two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 14, 2014

5

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)	March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$	24,954		$	26,434
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		8,165			8,250
Stock-based compensation expense		1,194			946
Gain on disposal of properties		(1,413	)		(3,003	)
Deferred income taxes		(1,484	)		(1,313	)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		(156	)		(30	)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business acquired:
Receivables		(49,482	)		(42,680	)
Inventories		(10,055	)		212
Other assets		(14,467	)		2,585
Current liabilities		(1,337	)		(5,365	)
Other liabilities		(989	)		(753	)
Other, net		398			(198	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(44,672	)		(14,915	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of business		(30,137	)		—
Capital expenditures		(9,199	)		(9,835	)
Net withdrawals from (deposits into) restricted cash		1,771			(14,800	)
Proceeds from the sales of properties		4,833			3,002
Net cash used in investing activities		(32,732	)		(21,633	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments of long-term debt		(250	)		(250	)
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.		(4,196	)		(3,479	)
Debt issuance cost		—			(50	)
(Repayment) issuance of debt by joint venture, net		(1,407	)		26,060
Issuance of debt		4,373			—
Net cash received to settle stock-based awards		224			65
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		156			30
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(1,100	)		22,376
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		179			(896	)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(78,325	)		(15,068	)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period		311,800			198,934
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	233,475		$	183,866
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

General

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted.  Results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the year as a whole.  This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the annual financial statements incorporated therein.

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.  

Note 1 – Earnings per Common Share

Basic per share amounts have been computed based on the average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted per share amounts reflect the increase in average common shares outstanding that would result from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, computed using the treasury stock method.

On February 21, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors announced a two-for-one stock split of its common stock effected in the form of a stock dividend of one share for each outstanding share.  The record date for the stock split was March 14, 2014, and the additional shares were distributed on March 28, 2014.  Accordingly, all references to share and per share amounts presented in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split.

Note 2 – Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business, which management believes will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  The Company may also realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

  United States Department of Commerce Antidumping Review

On December 24, 2008, the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) initiated an antidumping administrative review of the antidumping duty order covering circular welded non-alloy steel pipe and tube from Mexico to determine the final antidumping duties owed on U.S. imports during the period November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008, by certain subsidiaries of the Company.  On April 19, 2010, the DOC published the final results of this review and assigned Mueller Comercial de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mueller Comercial) an antidumping duty rate of 48.3 percent.  The Company appealed the final determination to the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT).  The Company and the United States have reached an agreement to settle the appeal.  As a result, the DOC published on March 22, 2013 the amended final results of the review and assigned Mueller Comercial an antidumping duty rate of 40.5 percent.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection has assessed antidumping duties on subject imports during the period of review.  As of March 29, 2014, Mueller Comercial has complied with all requests for payment of duties related to this review period.

On December 23, 2009, the DOC initiated an antidumping administrative review of the antidumping duty order covering circular welded non-alloy steel pipe and tube from Mexico for the November 1, 2008  through October 31, 2009 period of review.  The DOC selected Mueller Comercial as a respondent in the review.  On June 21, 2011, the DOC published the final results of the review and assigned Mueller Comercial an antidumping duty rate of 19.8 percent.  On August 22, 2011, the Company appealed the final results to the CIT.  On December 21, 2012, the CIT issued a decision upholding the Department’s final results in part.  The CIT issued its final judgment on May 2, 2013.  On May 6, 2013, the Company appealed the CIT decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit). On January 10, 2014, the Federal Circuit held oral arguments in the appeal.  The Company anticipates that certain of its subsidiaries will incur antidumping duties on subject imports made during the period of review and, as such, established a reserve of approximately $1.1 million for this matter.

Subsequent to October 31, 2009, Mueller Comercial did not ship subject merchandise to the United States.  Therefore, there is zero antidumping duty liability for periods of review after October 31, 2009.

7

Other

Guarantees, in the form of letters of credit, are issued by the Company generally to assure the payment of insurance deductibles and certain retiree health benefits.  The terms of the Company’s guarantees are generally one year but are renewable annually as required.  These letters are primarily backed by the Company’s revolving credit facility.  The maximum payments that the Company could be required to make under its guarantees at March 29, 2014 were $7.5 million.

Note 3 – Inventories

(In thousands)	March 29, 2014			December 28, 2013
Raw materials and supplies	$	48,711		$	54,613
Work-in-process		50,137			43,796
Finished goods		186,483			159,422
Valuation reserves		(5,866	)		(6,115	)
Inventories	$	279,465		$	251,716

Note 4 – Industry Segments

The Company’s reportable segments are Plumbing & Refrigeration and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).  For disclosure purposes, as permitted under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 280, Segment Reporting, certain operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments.  The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of Standard Products (SPD), European Operations, and Mexican Operations.  The OEM segment is composed of Industrial Products (IPD), Engineered Products (EPD), and Jiangsu Mueller–Xingrong Copper Industries Limited (Mueller-Xingrong).  These segments are classified primarily by the markets for their products.  Performance of segments is generally evaluated by their operating income.  Intersegment transactions are generally conducted on an arms-length basis.

SPD manufactures copper tube and fittings, plastic fittings, plastic pipe, and line sets.  These products are manufactured in the U.S.  Outside the U.S., the Company’s European Operations manufacture copper tube, which is sold primarily in Europe.  SPD also imports and resells brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets, and plumbing specialty products.  Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties.  The European Operations also includes the import distribution of fittings, valves, and plumbing specialties primarily in the U.K. and Ireland.  The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment’s products are sold primarily to plumbing, refrigeration, and air-conditioning wholesalers, hardware wholesalers and co-ops, and building product retailers.  For the quarter ended March 29, 2014, cost of goods sold included a decrease in accruals related to import duties of $3.1 million.

IPD manufactures brass rod, impact extrusions, and forgings which are used in a wide variety of end products including plumbing brass, automotive components, valves, and fittings.  EPD manufactures and fabricates valves and assemblies primarily for the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and gas appliance markets and specialty copper, copper-alloy, and aluminum tubing.  Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications.  These products are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers.

8

Summarized segment information is as follows:

	For the Quarter Ended March 29, 2014
(In thousands)	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment		OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total
Net sales	$	338,027	$	240,030	$	(3,683	)	$	574,374
Cost of goods sold		289,025		210,403		(3,651	)		495,777
Depreciation and amortization		4,420		3,083		604			8,107
Selling, general, and administrative expense		20,697		5,258		6,228			32,183
Operating income		23,885		21,286		(6,864	)		38,307
Interest expense									(1,026	)
Other income, net									88
Income before income taxes								$	37,369

	For the Quarter Ended March 30, 2013
(In thousands)	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment		OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total
Net sales	$	311,814	$	253,787	$	(5,911	)	$	559,690
Cost of goods sold		264,814		223,880		(5,844	)		482,850
Depreciation and amortization		4,247		3,362		545			8,154
Selling, general, and administrative expense		20,128		6,222		4,993			31,343
Operating income		22,625		20,323		(5,605	)		37,343
Interest expense									(596	)
Other income, net									3,163
								��
Income before income taxes								$	39,910

Note 5 – Debt

On March 21, 2014, Mueller Europe, Limited (MEL) entered into a credit agreement (the Invoice Facility) establishing a total borrowing capacity of £40.0 million, or approximately $65.9 million.   The Invoice Facility has an initial term of two years.  Borrowings outstanding under the Invoice Facility are secured by MEL’s trade account receivables denominated in British pounds.  Borrowings were approximately $4.4 million at March 29, 2014, and bear interest at the latest base-lending rate published by HSBC plus 155 basis points, which was approximately 2.05 percent at the end of the first quarter of 2014.

9

Note 6 – Employee Benefits

The Company sponsors several qualified and nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees.  The components of net periodic benefit (income) cost are as follows:

	For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)	March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Pension benefits:
Service cost	$	222		$	375
Interest cost		2,068			2,030
Expected return on plan assets		(3,201	)		(2,798	)
Amortization of net loss		188			992
Net periodic benefit (income) cost	$	(723	)	$	599
Other benefits:
Service cost	$	89		$	68
Interest cost		177			280
Amortization of prior service cost		—			2
Amortization of net gain		(64	)		(26	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	202		$	324

Note 7 – Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was 33 percent compared with 34 percent for the same period last year.  Factors that explain the difference between the effective tax rate and what would be computed using the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 were reductions related to the U.S. production activities deduction of $1.2 million and decreases in valuation allowances of $0.9 million. These items were partially offset by the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $1.3 million.

For the first quarter of 2013, the difference between the effective tax rate and what would be computed using the U.S. federal statutory tax rate was attributable to reductions for: (i) the U.S. production activities deduction of $1.2 million; (ii) decreases in valuation allowances of $0.5 million; and (iii) the effect of foreign tax rates lower than statutory tax rates and other foreign adjustments of $0.3 million. These items were partially offset by the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $1.1 million.

Total unrecognized tax benefits, including derecognized deferred tax assets, at the end of the first quarter of 2014 were $2.8 million.  It is reasonably possible that this amount may decrease by the full amount over the next twelve months, none of which will impact the effective tax rate.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and numerous consolidated and separate-company income tax returns in many state, local, and foreign jurisdictions.  The statute of limitations is open for the Company’s federal tax return and most state income tax returns for 2010 and all subsequent years and is open for certain state and foreign returns for earlier tax years due to ongoing audits and differing statute periods.  The Internal Revenue Service has audited the 2010 federal income tax return, the results of which were immaterial to the consolidated financial statements, and is currently auditing the 2012 federal income tax return.  While the Company believes that it is adequately reserved for possible future audit adjustments, the final resolution of these examinations cannot be determined with certainty and could result in final settlements that differ from current estimates.

10

Note 8 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Cash Flow Hedges

Copper and brass represent the largest component of the Company’s variable costs of production.  The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond the Company’s control.  The Company occasionally enters into forward fixed-price arrangements with certain customers; the risk of these arrangements is generally managed with commodity futures contracts.   These futures contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.  The fair value of open futures contracts is recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) until the position which corresponds to the period when the related hedged transaction is recognized in earnings.  Should these contracts no longer meet hedge criteria in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815), either through lack of effectiveness or because the hedged transaction is no longer probable of occurring, all deferred gains and losses related to the hedge would be immediately reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings.  In the next twelve months, the Company will reclassify into earnings realized gains or losses of cash flow hedges; at March 29, 2014, this amount was approximately a $664 thousand loss.

At March 29, 2014, the Company held open futures contracts to purchase approximately $34.9 million of copper over the next 16 months related to fixed price sales orders.  The fair value of those futures contracts was a $664 thousand loss position, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (Level 1 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820)).

Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges under ASC 815 are reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as follows:

	March 29, 2014
(In thousands)	Location		Fair value
Commodity contracts	Other current assets:	Gain positions	$	46
		Loss positions		(6	)
	Other current liabilities:	Gain positions		277
		Loss positions		(981	)

	December 28, 2013
(In thousands)	Location		Fair value
Commodity contracts	Other current assets:	Gain positions	$	448
		Loss positions		(10	)

The following tables summarize activities related to the Company’s commodity contract derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedges:

	Loss Recognized in Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
		For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)		March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Commodity contracts		$	(1,010	)	$	(654	)

11

	Loss (Gain) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
		For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)		March 29, 2014		March 30, 2013
Commodity contracts:
Cost of goods sold		$	291	$	(74	)

Inventory Fair Value Hedges

The Company may enter into futures contracts to protect the value of inventory against market fluctuations.   These futures contracts have been designated as fair value hedges.  For fair value hedges, the changes in value of the hedging derivative, as well as the changes in value of the related hedged item due to the risk being hedged, are reflected in current earnings.  Hedge ineffectiveness is reflected in current earnings in the period in which it occurs.

At March 29, 2014, the Company held open futures contracts to sell approximately $5.2 million of copper over the next six months related to copper inventory. The fair value of those futures contracts was a $294 thousand gain position, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (Level 1 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820).  During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company dedesignated previous hedges on its inventory because the hedging relationship was no longer deemed to be highly effective.  These contracts no longer qualified as hedging instruments as of December 28, 2013.

Derivative commodity instruments are reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as follows:

	March 29, 2014
(In thousands)	Location		Fair Value
Commodity contracts - Qualifying	Other current assets:	Gain positions	$	294

	December 28, 2013
(In thousands)	Location		Fair Value
Commodity contracts - Nonqualifying	Other current liabilities:	Gain positions	$	318
		Loss positions		(2,057	)
Commodity contracts - Qualifying	Other current liabilities:	Gain positions		22
		Loss positions		(50	)

Gains and losses related to the change in the value of the commodity contracts, the change in the value of the inventory being hedged, and hedge ineffectiveness are recorded in cost of goods sold. During the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, gains of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, were recorded. Also, as a result of the Company’s dedesignation of previous hedges on its inventory during the fourth quarter of 2013, a net gain of $1.5 million was recorded in current earnings to record these contracts at fair value during the first quarter of 2014.

12

The following tables summarize the gains (losses) on the Company’s inventory fair value hedges:

	Gains (Losses) on Fair Value Hedges for the Quarter Ended March 29, 2014
(In thousands)	Location	Amount
Gain on the derivatives designated and qualifying fair value hedges:
Commodity contracts	Cost of goods sold	$	6,291
Loss on the hedged item designated and qualifying fair value hedges:
Inventory	Cost of goods sold		(5,800	)

	Gains (Losses) on Fair Value Hedges for the Quarter Ended March 30, 2013
(In thousands)	Location	Amount
Gain on the derivatives designated and qualifying fair value hedges:
Commodity contracts	Cost of goods sold	$	3,333
Loss on the hedged item designated and qualifying fair value hedges:
Inventory	Cost of goods sold		(2,885	)

Foreign Currency Hedges

During 2012 and 2013, the Company entered into contracts to purchase heavy machinery and equipment.  These contracts are denominated in euros. In anticipation of entering into these contracts, the Company has entered into forward contracts to purchase euros to protect itself against adverse exchange rate fluctuations.  The fair value of open contracts are recognized as a component of OCI until the position is closed which corresponds to the period when the related hedged transaction is recognized in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  Should these contracts no longer meet hedge criteria in accordance with ASC 815, either through lack of effectiveness or because the hedged transaction is no longer probable of occurring, all deferred gains and losses related to the hedge would be immediately reclassified from accumulated OCI into earnings.  

At March 29, 2014, the Company held open forward contracts to purchase approximately 6.8 million euros over the next 12 months.  The fair value of these contracts, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (Level 1 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820), was a $571 thousand gain position recorded in other current assets at March 29, 2014, and an $836 thousand gain position recorded in other current assets at December 28, 2013.

The following tables summarize activities related to the Company’s derivative instruments classified as foreign currency hedges in accordance with ASC 815:

	Gain Recognized in Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
		For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)		March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Foreign currency contracts		$	22		$	—
	(Gain) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
		For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)	Location	March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Foreign currency contracts	Property, plant, and equipment, net	$	(174	)	$	—

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Interest Rate Swap

On February 20, 2013, the Company entered into a two-year forward-starting interest rate swap agreement with an effective date of January 12, 2015, and an underlying notional amount of $200.0 million, pursuant to which the Company receives variable interest payments based on one-month LIBOR and pays fixed interest at a rate of 1.4 percent.  Based on the Company’s current variable premium pricing on its Term Loan Facility, the all-in fixed rate on the effective date is 2.7 percent.  The interest rate swap will mature on December 11, 2017, and is structured to offset the interest rate risk associated with the Company’s floating-rate, LIBOR-based Term Loan Facility Agreement.  The swap was designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge from inception.

The fair value of the interest rate swap is estimated based on the present value of the difference between expected cash flows calculated at the contracted interest rate and the expected cash flows at the current market interest rate using observable benchmarks for LIBOR forward rates at the end of the period (Level 2 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820).  The effective portion of the mark-to-market gain or loss is reported as a component of accumulated OCI and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged transactions occur and affect earnings.  Interest payable and receivable under the swap agreement will be accrued and recorded as an adjustment to interest expense.  The fair value of the interest rate swap was a $0.9 million gain position and was recorded in other assets at March 29, 2014.

The following table summarizes activities related to the interest rate swap agreement derivative instruments classified as a cash flow hedge:

	Loss Recognized in Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
		For the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)		March 29, 2014			March 30, 2013
Interest rate swap		$	(245	)	$	(999	)

The Company enters into futures contracts that closely match the terms of the underlying transactions.  As a result, the ineffective portion of the open cash flow and fair value hedge contracts through March 29, 2014 was not material to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company does not offset fair value of amounts for derivative instruments and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral.  At March 29, 2014, the Company had recorded restricted cash of $0.8 million related to open futures contracts.

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Note 9 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Changes in accumulated OCI by component, net of taxes and noncontrolling interest, were as follows:

	For the Quarter Ended March 29, 2014
(In thousands)		Cumulative Translation Adjustment			Unrealized (Losses)/Gains on Derivatives			Minimum Pension/OPEB Liability Adjustment			Unrealized Gains on equity investments			Total
Beginning balance		$	(462	)	$	1,546		$	(12,158	)	$	255		$	(10,819	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			1,162			(1,233	)		(107	)		(15	)		(193	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI			—			117			110			—			227
Net current-period other comprehensive income			1,162			(1,116	)		3			(15	)		34
Ending balance		$	700		$	430		$	(12,155	)	$	240		$	(10,785	)

	For the Quarter Ended March 30, 2013
(In thousands)		Cumulative translation adjustment			Unrealized (losses)/gains on derivatives			Minimum pension/OPEB liability adjustment			Unrealized gains on equity investments		Total
Beginning balance		$	(3,033	)	$	(166	)	$	(39,527	)	$	103	$	(42,623	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			(5,290	)		(1,650	)		890			41		(6,009	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI			—			(74	)		649			—		575
Net current-period other comprehensive income			(5,290	)		(1,724	)		1,539			41		(5,434	)
Ending balance		$	(8,323	)	$	(1,890	)	$	(37,988	)	$	144	$	(48,057	)

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Reclassification adjustments out of accumulated OCI were as follows:

	For the Quarter Ended March 29, 2014
(In thousands)	Amount reclassified from Accumulated OCI			Affected line item
Unrealized losses/(gains) on derivatives:
Commodity contracts	$	357		Cost of goods sold
Foreign currency contracts		(276	)	Property, plant, and equipment, net
		81
		36		Income tax benefit
		117		Net of tax
		—		Noncontrolling interest
	$	117		Net of tax and noncontrolling interest
Amortization of employee benefit items:
Amortization of net loss	$	124		Selling, general, and administrative expense
		(14	)	Income tax expense
		110		Net of tax
		—		Noncontrolling interest
	$	110		Net of tax and noncontrolling interest

	For the Quarter Ended March 30, 2013
(In thousands)	Amount reclassified from Accumulated OCI			Affected line item
Unrealized gains on derivatives:
Commodity contracts	$	(90	)	Cost of goods sold
		16		Income tax expense
		(74	)	Net of tax
		—		Noncontrolling interest
	$	(74	)	Net of tax and noncontrolling interest
Amortization of employee benefit items:
Amortization of net loss	$	968		Selling, general, and administrative expense
		(319	)	Income tax expense
		649		Net of tax
		—		Noncontrolling interest
	$	649		Net of tax and noncontrolling interest

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Note 10 – Acquisitions

On October 18, 2013, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with KME Yorkshire Limited (Yorkshire) to acquire certain assets and assume certain liabilities of Yorkshire for purposes of acquiring its copper tube business.  Yorkshire produces European standard copper distribution tubes.  This transaction received regulatory approval in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2014 and closed on February 28, 2014.  The purchase price was approximately $30.1 million, paid in cash.  The acquisition of Yorkshire complements the Company’s existing copper tube businesses in the Plumbing and Refrigeration segment.  In 2012, Yorkshire had annual revenue of approximately $196.1 million.  The estimated fair value of the assets acquired totaled $21.1 million, consisting primarily of inventories of $17.6 million, property, plant, and equipment of $2.5 million, and other current assets of $1.0 million.  The estimated fair value of the liabilities assumed totaled $15.6 million, consisting primarily of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $15.2 million and other current liabilities of $0.4 million.  Of the remaining purchase price, $24.6 million was allocated to tax-deductible goodwill.  The allocation of the purchase price to long-lived assets is provisional as of March 29, 2014 and subject to change upon completion of the final valuation of these assets.  The results of operations for Yorkshire have been included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements from the acquisition date.

On October 17, 2013, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Commercial Metals Company and Howell Metal Company (Howell) providing for the purchase of all of the outstanding capital stock of Howell for approximately $55.3 million in cash, net of working capital adjustments.  Howell manufactures copper tube and line sets for U.S. distribution.  The acquisition of Howell complements the Company’s copper tube and line sets businesses, both components of the Plumbing and Refrigeration segment.   For the twelve months ended August 31, 2013, Howell’s net sales for copper tube and line sets totaled $156.3 million.  During the first quarter of 2014, the purchase price allocation, including all fair value measurements, was finalized.  The fair value of the assets acquired totaled $63.0 million, consisting primarily of receivables of $14.6 million, inventories of $27.6 million, property, plant, and equipment of $20.3 million, and other current assets of $0.5 million.  The fair value of the liabilities assumed totaled $11.4 million, consisting primarily of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $9.9 million and other current liabilities of $1.5 million.  Of the remaining purchase price, $2.3 million was allocated to other intangible assets and $1.4 million to tax-deductible goodwill.  The results of operations for Howell have been included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements from the acquisition date of October 17, 2013.

Note 11 – Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210) (ASU 2011-11). The amendments in this ASU require improved disclosure information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.  Subsequently in January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASU 2013-01), which clarifies the types of instruments and transactions that are subject to the offsetting disclosure requirements established by ASU 2011-11. These ASUs should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and interim periods within those annual periods. The requirements of these ASUs were adopted during the first quarter of 2014 and did not have a significant impact on our disclosures.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General Overview

The Company is a leading manufacturer of copper, brass, plastic, and aluminum products.  The range of these products is broad:  copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic pipe, fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and steel nipples.  The Company also resells imported brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets and plumbing specialty products.  Mueller’s operations are located throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China.

The Company’s businesses are aggregated into two reportable segments: the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) segment.  For disclosure purposes, as permitted under ASC 280, Segment Reporting, certain operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments.  The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of Standard Products (SPD), European Operations, and Mexican Operations.  The OEM segment is composed of Industrial Products (IPD), Engineered Products (EPD), and Mueller-Xingrong.  Certain administrative expenses and expenses related primarily to retiree benefits at inactive operations are combined into the Corporate and Eliminations classification.  These reportable segments are described in more detail below.

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SPD manufactures and sells copper tube, copper and plastic fittings, line sets, plastic pipe, and valves in North America and sources products for import distribution in North America.  European Operations manufacture copper tube in Europe, which is sold primarily in Europe; activities also include import distribution in the U.K. and Ireland.  Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties.  The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment sells products to wholesalers in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and refrigeration markets, to distributors to the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industries, and to building material retailers.

The OEM segment manufactures and sells brass and copper alloy rod, bar, and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; refrigeration valves and fittings; fabricated tubular products; and gas valves and assemblies.  Mueller–Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications; these products are sold primarily to OEM’s located in China.  The OEM segment sells its products primarily to original equipment manufacturers, many of which are in the HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration markets.

New housing starts and commercial construction are important determinants of the Company’s sales to the HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing markets because the principal end use of a significant portion of the Company’s products is in the construction of single and multi-family housing and commercial buildings.  Repairs and remodeling projects are also important drivers of underlying demand for these products.

The majority of the Company’s manufacturing facilities operated below capacity during 2013 and the first quarter of 2014 due to reduced demand for the Company’s products arising from the general economic conditions in the U.S. and foreign markets that the Company serves.  These conditions have significantly affected the demand for virtually all of the Company’s core products in recent years.

Residential construction activity in 2013 and into the first quarter of 2014 is at levels below historical averages.  Improvement in the near-term is expected, but may be tempered by continuing high rates of unemployment, tighter lending standards, and rising mortgage rates.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the March 2014 seasonally adjusted annual rate of new housing starts was 0.9 million compared with the March 2013 rate of 1.0 million.  While mortgage rates have risen in 2013 and 2014, they remain at historically low levels, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 4.36 percent for the first three months of 2014 and 3.98 percent for the twelve months ended December 2013. 

The private non-residential construction sector, which includes offices, industrial, health care and retail projects, began showing modest improvement in 2012 after declining each year from 2009 to 2011.  However, the pace of the improvement appears to have moderated in 2013.  According to the U.S. census Bureau, the actual (not seasonally adjusted) value of private non-residential construction put in place was $297.7 billion in 2012 compared to $296.6 billion in 2013.  The seasonally adjusted annual value of private non-residential construction put in place was $319.6 billion in February 2014 compared to the February 2013 rate of $284.2 billion and the December 2013 rate of $319.1 billion.  The Company expects that most of these conditions will gradually improve, but at an irregular pace.

Profitability of certain of the Company’s product lines depends upon the “spreads” between the cost of raw material and the selling prices of its products.  The open market prices for copper cathode and scrap, for example, influence the selling price of copper tube, a principal product manufactured by the Company.  The Company attempts to minimize the effects on profitability from fluctuations in material costs by passing through these costs to its customers.  The Company’s earnings and cash flow are dependent upon these spreads that fluctuate based upon market conditions.

Earnings and profitability are also impacted by unit volumes that are subject to market trends, such as substitute products, imports, technologies, and market share.  In core product lines, the Company intensively manages its pricing structure while attempting to maximize its profitability.  From time-to-time, this practice results in lost sales opportunities and lower volume.  For plumbing systems, plastics are the primary substitute product; these products represent an increasing share of consumption.  U.S. consumption of copper tube is still predominantly supplied by U.S. manufacturers.  For certain air-conditioning and refrigeration applications, aluminum based systems are the primary substitution threat.  The Company cannot predict the acceptance or the rate of switching that may occur.  In recent years, brass rod consumption in the U.S. has declined due to the outsourcing of many manufactured products from offshore regions.

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Results of Operations

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company’s net sales were $574.4 million, which compares with net sales of $559.7 million over the same period of 2013.  The $14.7 million increase was primarily attributable to net increases in unit sales volume in the Company’s core product lines of $46.3 million, of which approximately $34.4 million was attributable to sales recorded by Howell Metal Company (Howell), acquired in October 2013, and Yorkshire Copper Tube (Yorkshire), acquired in February 2014.  This increase was offset by lower net selling prices of $37.3 million in the Company’s core product lines.  Net selling prices generally fluctuate with changes in raw material costs.  Changes in raw material costs are generally passed through to customers by adjustments to selling prices.  The Comex average copper price in the first quarter of 2014 was approximately $3.24 per pound, or 10 percent less than the first quarter of 2013 average of $3.60 per pound.

Cost of goods sold was $495.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared with $482.9 million in the same period of 2013.  Consistent with the factors noted above regarding net sales, the year-over-year increase was due primarily to increased sales volume, offset by a decrease in the price of copper, the Company’s principal raw material,  and a decrease in accruals related to import duties of $3.1 million.  

Depreciation and amortization of $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2014 was consistent with $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2013.  Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased slightly from $31.3 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $32.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.  This increase was primarily related to increased professional fees of $0.7 million.

Interest expense increased to $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $0.6 million for the same period in 2013.  This increase was primarily due to the capitalization of interest in the first quarter of 2013 related to certain capital projects.

Other income, net was $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared with income of $3.2 million for the same period in 2013.  This decrease was primarily related to a $3.0 million gain on the sale of non-operating property recorded during 2013.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was 33 percent compared with 34 percent for the same period last year.  Factors that explain the difference between the effective tax rate and what would be computed using the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 were reductions related to the U.S. production activities deduction of $1.2 million and decreases in valuation allowances of $0.9 million. These items were partially offset by the provision for state income taxes, net of the federal benefit, of $1.3 million.

Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment

First quarter net sales by the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment increased 8.4 percent to $338.0 million in 2014 from $311.8 million in 2013.  The $26.2 million increase was primarily attributable to higher unit sales volume, offset by the decrease in base metal prices, primarily copper.  Of the $49.5 million increase in sales volume, approximately $34.4 million was attributable to sales recorded by Howell, acquired in October 2013, and Yorkshire, acquired in February 2014.  This was offset by lower net selling prices of $28.2 million in the Company’s core product lines consisting primarily of copper tube, line sets, and fittings.  Cost of goods sold increased from $264.8 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $289.0 million in the same period of 2014, which was also due to higher volumes, offset by decreasing raw material prices, primarily copper.  Depreciation and amortization of $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2014 was consistent with $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2013.  Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased slightly from $20.1 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $20.7 million in the first quarter of 2014.  Operating income for the segment increased to $23.9 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $22.6 million in the first quarter of 2013.  

OEM Segment

The OEM segment’s first quarter net sales were $240.0 million in 2014 compared with $253.8 million in 2013.   Of the $13.8 million decrease in net sales, approximately $9.0 million was attributable to lower net selling prices and approximately $8.0 million was due to lower sales volume at the Company’s Chinese joint venture, offset by higher sales volumes in the segment’s other core product lines.  Cost of goods sold decreased to $210.4 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $223.9 million in the same period of 2013, which was also due to the decrease in the average costs of raw materials and sales volume.  Depreciation and amortization decreased slightly from $3.4 million to $3.1 million.  First quarter selling, general, and administrative expenses were $5.3 million in 2014, compared to $6.2 million for the same period in 2013. The decrease is primarily due to decreased employment costs.  Operating income increased from $20.3 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $21.3 million in the same period of 2014.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 29, 2014 totaled $44.7 million, which was primarily attributable to increased receivables of $49.5 million, other assets of $14.5 million, and inventories of $10.1 million, partially offset by consolidated net income of $25.0 million plus depreciation and amortization of $8.2 million.  The fluctuations in receivables, other assets, and inventories are primarily due to increased sales volume in certain businesses in the first quarter of 2014.

During the first three months of 2014, cash used in investing activities totaled $32.7 million.  The major components of net cash used in investing activities included $30.1 million for the acquisition of Yorkshire and capital expenditures of $9.2 million, offset by $4.8 million in proceeds from the sale of properties and net withdrawals from restricted cash balances of $1.8 million.

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $1.1 million, which consists primarily of $4.2 million used for payment of regular quarterly dividends to stockholders of the Company and $1.4 million used for the repayment of debt by Mueller-Xingrong, partially offset by $4.4 million received for the issuance of debt by Mueller Europe, Limited (MEL).

The Company has significant environmental remediation obligations.  The performance of these obligations is expected to occur over a minimum of 20 years.   Cash used for environmental remediation activities was approximately $1.1 million during the first three months of 2014.  The Company expects to spend approximately $1.0 million for the remainder of 2014 for ongoing environmental remediation activities.  The timing of a potential payment for a $9.5 million settlement offer related to the Southeast Kansas Sites has not yet been determined.

The Company’s credit agreement provides for an unsecured $350.0 million revolving credit facility (the Revolving Credit Facility) and a $200.0 million Term Loan Facility, both maturing on December 11, 2017.  The Revolving Credit Facility backed approximately $7.5 million in letters of credit at the end of the quarter.  Additionally, MEL's credit agreement (the Invoice Facility) has a total borrowing capacity of £40.0 million, or approximately $65.9 million.  The Invoice Facility has an initial term of two years.  Borrowings outstanding under the Invoice Facility are secured by MEL’s trade account receivables denominated in British pounds.As of March 29, 2014, the Company’s total debt was $238.1 million or 23.9 percent of its total capitalization.

Covenants contained in the Company’s financing obligations require, among other things, the maintenance of minimum levels of tangible net worth and the satisfaction of certain minimum financial ratios.  As of March 29, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.

The Company declared and paid a quarterly cash dividend of 7.5 cents per common share in the first quarter of 2014.  Payment of dividends in the future is dependent upon the Company’s financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, earnings, and other factors.  

Management believes that the credit agreement, cash generated by operations, and currently available cash and cash equivalents of $233.5 million will be adequate to meet the Company’s normal future capital expenditures and operational needs.  The Company’s current ratio was 3.8 to 1 at March 29, 2014.

The Company’s Board of Directors has extended, until October 2014, its authorization to repurchase up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions.  The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares and may cancel, suspend, or extend the time period for the repurchase of shares at any time.  Any repurchases will be funded primarily through existing cash and cash from operations.  The Company may hold any shares repurchased in treasury or use a portion of the repurchased shares for employee benefit plans, as well as for other corporate purposes.  From its initial authorization in 1999 through March 29, 2014, the Company had repurchased approximately 4.7 million shares under this authorization.  

There have been no significant changes in the Company’s contractual cash obligations reported at December 28, 2013.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in raw material and energy costs, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates.  To reduce such risks, the Company may periodically use financial instruments.  All hedging transactions are authorized and executed pursuant to policies and procedures.  Further, the Company does not buy or sell financial instruments for trading purposes.

Cost and Availability of Raw Materials and Energy

Copper and brass represent the largest component of the Company’s variable costs of production.  The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond the Company’s control.  Significant increases in the cost of metal, to the extent not reflected in prices for the Company’s finished products, or the lack of availability could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.

The Company occasionally enters into forward fixed-price arrangements with certain customers.  The Company may utilize futures contracts to hedge risks associated with these fixed-price arrangements.  The Company may also utilize futures contracts to manage price risk associated with inventory.  Depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the futures contracts will either be offset against the change in fair value of the inventory through earnings or recognized as a component of other comprehensive income and reflected in earnings upon the sale of inventory.  Periodic value fluctuations of the contracts generally offset the value fluctuations of the underlying fixed-price transactions or inventory.  At March 29, 2014, the Company held open futures contracts to purchase approximately $34.9 million of copper over the next 16 months related to fixed-price sales orders and to sell approximately $5.2 million of copper over the next six months related to copper inventory.

The Company may enter into futures contracts or forward fixed-price arrangements with certain vendors to manage price risk associated with natural gas purchases.  The effective portion of gains and losses with respect to these positions are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflected in earnings upon consumption of natural gas.  Periodic value fluctuations of the contracts generally offset the value fluctuations of the underlying natural gas prices.  At March 29, 2014, the Company held no open futures contracts to purchase natural gas.

Interest Rates

At March 29, 2014, the Company had variable-rate debt outstanding of $233.5 million.  At these borrowing levels, a hypothetical 10 percent increase in interest rates would have had an insignificant unfavorable impact on the Company’s pretax earnings and cash flows.  The primary interest rate exposures on floating-rate debt are based on LIBOR, the base-lending rate published by the People’s Bank of China, and the base-lending rate published by HSBC.  There was no fixed rate debt outstanding as of March 29, 2014.

The Company has reduced its exposure to increases in LIBOR by entering into interest rate swap contracts. These contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.  The fair value of these contracts have been recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the related gains and losses on the contracts are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income.  Deferred gains or losses on the contracts will be recognized in interest expense in the period in which the related interest payment being hedged is expensed.  The interest rate swap agreement has an effective date of January 12, 2015.

21

Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

Foreign currency exposures arising from transactions include firm commitments and anticipated transactions denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency.  The Company and its subsidiaries generally enter into transactions denominated in their respective functional currencies.  The Company may utilize certain futures or forward contracts with financial institutions to hedge foreign currency transactional exposures.  Gains and losses with respect to these positions are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated OCI and reflected in earnings upon collection of receivables or payment of commitments.  At March 29, 2014, the Company had open futures contracts with a financial institution to sell approximately 2.0 million Canadian dollars, 1.9 million euros, and 4.3 million Swedish kronor through June 2014.  It also held open futures contracts to buy approximately 6.9 million euros over the next 12 months.

The Company’s primary foreign currency exposure arises from foreign-denominated revenues and profits and their translation into U.S. dollars.  The primary currencies to which the Company is exposed include the Canadian dollar, the British pound sterling, the euro, the Mexican peso, and the Chinese renminbi.  The Company generally views as long-term its investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar.  As a result, the Company generally does not hedge these net investments.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties.  These include economic and currency conditions, continued availability of raw materials and energy, market demand, pricing, competitive and technological factors, and the availability of financing, among others, as set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The words “pro forma,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  The Company has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this report.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of March 29, 2014.  Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of March 29, 2014 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s fiscal quarter ending March 29, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

22

PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings

General

The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business.  Additionally, the Company may realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 United States Department of Commerce Antidumping Review

On December 24, 2008, the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) initiated an antidumping administrative review of the antidumping duty order covering circular welded non-alloy steel pipe and tube from Mexico to determine the final antidumping duties owed on U.S. imports during the period November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008, by certain subsidiaries of the Company.  On April 19, 2010, the DOC published the final results of this review and assigned Mueller Comercial de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mueller Comercial) an antidumping duty rate of 48.3 percent.  The Company appealed the final determination to the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT).  The Company and the United States have reached an agreement to settle the appeal.  As a result, the DOC published on March 22, 2013 the amended final results of the review and assigned Mueller Comercial an antidumping duty rate of 40.5 percent.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection has assessed antidumping duties on subject imports during the period of review.  As of March 29, 2014, Mueller Comercial has complied with all requests for payment of duties related to this review period.

On December 23, 2009, the DOC initiated an antidumping administrative review of the antidumping duty order covering circular welded non-alloy steel pipe and tube from Mexico for the November 1, 2008  through October 31, 2009 period of review.  The DOC selected Mueller Comercial as a respondent in the review.  On June 21, 2011, the DOC published the final results of the review and assigned Mueller Comercial an antidumping duty rate of 19.8 percent.  On August 22, 2011, the Company appealed the final results to the CIT.  On December 21, 2012, the CIT issued a decision upholding the Department’s final results in part.  The CIT issued its final judgment on May 2, 2013.  On May 6, 2013, the Company appealed the CIT decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit). On January 10, 2014, the Federal Circuit held oral argument in the appeal.  The Company anticipates that certain of its subsidiaries will incur antidumping duties on subject imports made during the period of review and, as such, established a reserve of approximately $1.1 million for this matter.

Subsequent to October 31, 2009, Mueller Comercial did not ship subject merchandise to the United States.  Therefore, there is zero antidumping duty liability for periods of review after October 31, 2009.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company is exposed to risk as it operates its businesses.  To provide a framework to understand the operating environment of the Company, we have provided a brief explanation of the more significant risks associated with our businesses in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  There have been no material changes in risk factors that were previously disclosed in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s Board of Directors has extended, until October 2014, its authorization to repurchase up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock through open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions.  The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares and may cancel, suspend, or extend the time period for the repurchase of shares at any time.  Any repurchases will be funded primarily through existing cash and cash from operations.  The Company may hold any shares repurchased in treasury or use a portion of the repurchased shares for employee benefit plans, as well as for other corporate purposes.  From its initial authorization in 1999 through March 29, 2014, the Company had repurchased approximately 4.7 million shares under this authorization.   Below is a summary of the Company’s stock repurchases for the period ended March 29, 2014.

23

	(a)		(b)		(c)	(d)
	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
							15,289,060	(1)
December 29, 2013 – January 25, 2014	20,940	(2)	$	31.57	—
January 26 – February 23, 2014	11,180	(2)	$	29.88	—
February 24 – March 29, 2014	14,844	(2)	$	31.20	—
(1) Shares available to be purchased under the Company’s 20 million share repurchase authorization until October 2014.  The extension of the authorization was announced on October 28, 2013.
(2) Shares tendered to the Company by holders of stock-based awards in payment of the purchase price and/or withholding taxes upon exercise and/or vesting.

Item 6.			Exhibits
	31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
	31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
	32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
	32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
	101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
	101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
	101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
	101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
	101.PRE	XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
	101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

Items 3, 4, and 5 are not applicable and have been omitted.

24

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
	/s/ Jeffrey A. Martin
	Jeffrey A. Martin
April 25, 2014	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Date	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
	/s/ Richard W. Corman
April 25, 2014	Richard W. Corman
Date	Vice President – Controller

25

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits	Description
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE	XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema