VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY
Table of Contents

 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarter ended June 30, 2007
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
New Jersey
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  1-4033
(Commission file number)
  63-0366371
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1200 Urban Center Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35242

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
(205) 298-3000
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. Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
     
Class   Shares outstanding
at June 30, 2007
     
Common Stock, $1 Par Value   95,550,384
 
 
 

 


Table of Contents

VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2007
Contents
                 
            Page No.
PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
 
               
 
  Item 1.   Financial Statements        
 
      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets     3  
 
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings     4  
 
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows     5  
 
      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
 
               
 
  Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     22  
 
               
 
  Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     34  
 
               
 
  Item 4.   Controls and Procedures     35  
 
               
PART II   OTHER INFORMATION        
 
               
 
  Item 1.   Legal Proceedings     36  
 
               
 
  Item 1A.   Risk Factors     38  
 
               
 
  Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     39  
 
               
 
  Item 6.   Exhibits     40  
 
               
            41  
 EX-31(A) SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO
 EX-31(B) SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO
 EX-32(A) SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO
 EX-32(B) SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO

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Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.   Financial Statements
Vulcan Materials Company
and Subsidiary Companies
                         
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Consolidated Balance Sheets   June 30     December 31     June 30  
(Condensed and unaudited)   2007     2006     2006  
                    (As Adjusted —  
                    See Note 2)  
Assets
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 34,593     $ 55,230     $ 71,191  
Accounts and notes receivable:
                       
Accounts and notes receivable, gross
    464,165       394,815       612,484  
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (3,246 )     (3,355 )     (4,238 )
 
                 
Accounts and notes receivable, net
    460,919       391,460       608,246  
Inventories:
                       
Finished products
    251,486       214,508       204,114  
Raw materials
    11,803       9,967       10,138  
Products in process
    2,494       1,619       1,959  
Operating supplies and other
    20,329       17,443       18,452  
 
                 
Inventories
    286,112       243,537       234,663  
Deferred income taxes
    18,531       25,579       19,281  
Prepaid expenses
    14,711       15,388       13,830  
 
                 
Total current assets
    814,866       731,194       947,211  
Investments and long-term receivables
    5,004       6,664       6,729  
Property, plant and equipment:
                       
Property, plant and equipment, cost
    4,119,748       3,897,618       3,668,316  
Less: Reserve for depr., depl. & amort.
    (2,114,125 )     (2,028,504 )     (1,953,064 )
 
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    2,005,623       1,869,114       1,715,252  
Goodwill
    650,205       620,189       630,802  
Other assets
    213,951       200,673       189,500  
 
                 
Total assets
  $ 3,689,649     $ 3,427,834     $ 3,489,494  
 
                 
 
                       
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
                       
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 727     $ 630     $ 32,547  
Short-term borrowings
    224,000       198,900       217,000  
Trade payables and accruals
    161,032       154,215       186,978  
Other current liabilities
    126,350       133,763       181,022  
 
                 
Total current liabilities
    512,109       487,508       617,547  
Long-term debt
    321,365       322,064       322,645  
Deferred income taxes
    293,199       287,905       278,778  
Other noncurrent liabilities
    340,386       319,458       289,608  
 
                 
Total liabilities
    1,467,059       1,416,935       1,508,578  
Other commitments and contingencies (Notes 13 & 19)
                       
Shareholders’ equity:
                       
Common stock, $1 par value
    139,705       139,705       139,705  
Capital in excess of par value
    248,153       191,695       172,079  
Retained earnings
    3,124,385       2,982,526       2,803,275  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    2,924       (4,953 )     (2,213 )
Treasury stock at cost
    (1,292,577 )     (1,298,074 )     (1,131,930 )
 
                 
Shareholders’ equity
    2,222,590       2,010,899       1,980,916  
 
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 3,689,649     $ 3,427,834     $ 3,489,494  
 
                 
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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Vulcan Materials Company
and Subsidiary Companies
(Amounts and shares in thousands, except per share data)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
Consolidated Statements of Earnings   June 30     June 30  
(Condensed and unaudited)   2007     2006     2007     2006  
            (As Adjusted
See Note 2)
            (As Adjusted
See Note 2)
 
 
                               
Net sales
  $ 807,818     $ 807,781     $ 1,438,005     $ 1,450,053  
Delivery revenues
    71,026       80,381       128,026       146,797  
 
                       
Total revenues
    878,844       888,162       1,566,031       1,596,850  
 
                               
Cost of goods sold
    522,585       549,898       985,577       1,028,277  
Delivery costs
    71,026       80,381       128,026       146,797  
 
                       
Cost of revenues
    593,611       630,279       1,113,603       1,175,074  
 
                       
 
                               
Gross profit
    285,233       257,883       452,428       421,776  
Selling, administrative and general expenses
    71,308       65,151       145,710       130,163  
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment, net
    4,852       1,304       51,239       2,061  
Other operating expense (income), net
    1,544       (24,088 )     3,578       (23,463 )
 
                       
Operating earnings
    217,233       218,124       354,379       317,137  
 
                               
Other (expense) income, net
    (113 )     10,756       1,089       22,849  
Interest income
    1,117       1,472       2,440       4,119  
Interest expense
    8,091       5,690       14,726       11,975  
 
                       
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    210,146       224,662       343,182       332,130  
Provision for income taxes
    66,465       72,314       110,162       107,878  
 
                       
Earnings from continuing operations
    143,681       152,348       233,020       224,252  
Discontinued operations (Note 3):
                               
Loss from results of discontinued operations
    (2,787 )     (2,868 )     (3,564 )     (5,900 )
Income tax benefit
    1,117       1,153       1,429       2,366  
 
                       
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
    (1,670 )     (1,715 )     (2,135 )     (3,534 )
 
                       
Net earnings
  $ 142,011     $ 150,633     $ 230,885     $ 220,718  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Earnings from continuing operations
  $ 1.50     $ 1.53     $ 2.44     $ 2.24  
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.03 )
 
                       
Net earnings per share
  $ 1.49     $ 1.51     $ 2.42     $ 2.21  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Earnings from continuing operations
  $ 1.46     $ 1.50     $ 2.38     $ 2.20  
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.04 )
 
                       
Net earnings per share
  $ 1.45     $ 1.48     $ 2.36     $ 2.16  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    95,578       99,430       95,376       99,988  
Assuming dilution
    98,157       101,636       98,023       102,153  
 
                               
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock
  $ 0.46     $ 0.37     $ 0.92     $ 0.74  
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization from continuing operations
  $ 63,903     $ 55,170     $ 124,705     $ 108,843  
Effective tax rate from continuing operations
    31.6 %     32.2 %     32.1 %     32.5 %
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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Vulcan Materials Company
and Subsidiary Companies
                 
    (Amounts in thousands)  
 
    Six Months Ended  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows   June 30  
(Condensed and unaudited)   2007       2006  
            (As Adjusted -  
            See Note 2)  
 
               
Operating Activities
               
Net earnings
  $ 230,885     $ 220,718  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization
    124,705       108,861  
Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (51,239 )     (2,061 )
Net gain on sale of contractual rights
          (24,849 )
Contributions to pension plans
    (584 )     (778 )
Share-based compensation
    8,282       8,354  
Increase in assets before initial effects of business acquisitions and dispositions
    (113,828 )     (143,068 )
Increase in liabilities before initial effects of business acquisitions and dispositions
    19,570       33,588  
Other, net
    148       (6,664 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    217,939       194,101  
 
           
Investing Activities
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (234,800 )     (187,273 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    55,492       4,742  
Proceeds from sale of contractual rights, net of cash transaction fees
          24,888  
Proceeds from sale of Chemicals business
    8,418       3,930  
Payment for businesses acquired, net of acquired cash
    (58,861 )     (20,355 )
Proceeds from sales and maturities of medium-term investments
          175,140  
Decrease in investments and long-term receivables
    1,660       240  
Other, net
    718       543  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
    (227,373 )     1,855  
 
           
Financing Activities
               
Net short-term borrowings
    25,100       217,000  
Payment of short-term debt and current maturities
    (320 )     (240,305 )
Payment of long-term debt
    (47 )      
Purchases of common stock
    (4,800 )     (335,224 )
Dividends paid
    (87,610 )     (73,855 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    32,963       19,537  
Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options
    23,511       9,626  
Other, net
          3,318  
 
           
Net cash used for financing activities
    (11,203 )     (399,903 )
 
           
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (20,637 )     (203,947 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    55,230       275,138  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 34,593     $ 71,191  
 
           
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.   Basis of Presentation
Our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with Form 10-Q instructions and thus do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of our management, the statements reflect all adjustments, including those of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the results of the reported interim periods. The statements should be read in conjunction with the summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (Form 10-K) and Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 12, 2007 updating the historical financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the retrospective application of a change in accounting principle, as described in Note 2 (FSP AUG AIR-1 caption).
Due to the 2005 sale of our Chemicals business, as presented in Note 3, the operating results of the Chemicals business have been presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
2.   Accounting Changes
FIN 48 — On January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Under FIN 48, the financial statement effects of a tax position should initially be recognized when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority.
As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we increased the liability for unrecognized tax benefits by $2,420,000, increased deferred tax assets by $1,480,000 and reduced retained earnings as of January 1, 2007 by $940,000. The total liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007, amounted to $11,760,000.
We recognized adjustments to our liability for prior year unrecognized tax benefits of $1,310,000 during the second quarter of 2007 and $1,860,000 during the first half of 2007. As of June 30, 2007, our total liability for unrecognized tax benefits amounts to $13,620,000, of which $11,860,000 would affect the effective tax rate if recognized.
We classify interest and penalties recognized on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties included in our total liability for unrecognized tax benefits were $2,670,000 as of June 30, 2007 and $2,060,000 as of January 1, 2007.
The U.S. Federal statute of limitations expires during the third quarter of 2007 for our 2002 and 2003 tax years. However, on our U.S. consolidated corporation income tax returns for those years, we anticipate having no single tax position generating a significant increase or decrease in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of this reporting date.

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We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions and one foreign jurisdiction. Generally, we are not subject to changes in income taxes by any taxing jurisdiction for the years prior to 2002.
FSP AUG AIR-1 — On January 1, 2007, we adopted FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. AUG AIR-1, “Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities” (FSP AUG AIR-1). This FSP amended certain provisions in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Industry Audit Guide, “Audits of Airlines” (Airline Guide). The Airline Guide is the principal source of guidance on the accounting for planned major maintenance activities and permits four alternative methods of accounting for such activities. This guidance principally affects our accounting for periodic overhauls on our oceangoing vessels. Prior to January 1, 2007, we applied the accrue-in-advance method as permitted by the Airline Guide, which allowed for the accrual of estimated costs for the next scheduled overhaul over the period leading up to the overhaul. At the time of the overhaul, the actual cost of the overhaul was charged to the accrual, with any deficiency or excess charged or credited to expense. FSP AUG AIR-1 prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method, and was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Accordingly, we adopted this FSP effective January 1, 2007, and have elected to use the deferral method of accounting for planned major maintenance as permitted by the Airline Guide and allowed by FSP AUG AIR-1. Under the deferral method, the actual cost of each overhaul is capitalized and amortized over the period until the next overhaul. Additionally, the FSP must be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. As a result of the retrospective application of this change in accounting standard, we have adjusted our financial statements for all prior periods presented to reflect using the deferral method of accounting for planned major maintenance.
The following table reflects the effect of the retrospective application of FSP AUG AIR-1 on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    June 30, 2006
    As Previously   Adjustment    
    Reported   Amount   As Adjusted
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
                       
Deferred income taxes
  $ 19,441     $ (160 )   $ 19,281  
Total current assets
    947,371       (160 )     947,211  
Other assets
    185,292       4,208       189,500  
Total assets
    3,485,446       4,048       3,489,494  
Other current liabilities
    187,193       (6,171 )     181,022  
Total current liabilities
    623,718       (6,171 )     617,547  
Total liabilities
    1,514,749       (6,171 )     1,508,578  
Retained earnings
    2,793,056       10,219       2,803,275  
Shareholders’ equity
    1,970,697       10,219       1,980,916  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
    3,485,446       4,048       3,489,494  

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The following tables reflect the effect of the retrospective application of FSP AUG AIR-1 on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in thousands of dollars, except per share data):
                         
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2006
    As Previously   Adjustment    
    Reported   Amount   As Adjusted
Selected Statement of Earnings Data:
                       
Net sales
  $ 807,781     $     $ 807,781  
Cost of goods sold
    550,045       (147 )     549,898  
Cost of revenues
    630,426       (147 )     630,279  
Gross profit
    257,736       147       257,883  
Selling, administrative and general expenses
    65,180       (29 )     65,151  
Operating earnings
    217,948       176       218,124  
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    224,486       176       224,662  
Provision for income taxes
    75,080       (2,766 )     72,314  
Earnings from continuing operations
    149,406       2,942       152,348  
Net earnings
    147,691       2,942       150,633  
 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 1.49     $ 0.02     $ 1.51  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 1.45     $ 0.03     $ 1.48  
                         
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
    As Previously   Adjustment    
    Reported   Amount   As Adjusted
Selected Statement of Earnings Data:
                       
Net sales
  $ 1,450,053     $     $ 1,450,053  
Cost of goods sold
    1,028,654       (377 )     1,028,277  
Cost of revenues
    1,175,451       (377 )     1,175,074  
Gross profit
    421,399       377       421,776  
Selling, administrative and general expenses
    130,222       (59 )     130,163  
Operating earnings
    316,701       436       317,137  
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    331,694       436       332,130  
Provision for income taxes
    110,551       (2,673 )     107,878  
Earnings from continuing operations
    221,143       3,109       224,252  
Net earnings
    217,609       3,109       220,718  
 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 2.18     $ 0.03     $ 2.21  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 2.13     $ 0.03     $ 2.16  
The following table reflects the effect of the retrospective application of FSP AUG AIR-1 on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
    As Previously   Adjustment    
    Reported   Amount   As Adjusted
Selected Statement of Cash Flows Data:
                       
Net earnings
  $ 217,609     $ 3,109     $ 220,718  
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization
    108,018       843       108,861  
Increase in assets before initial effects of business acquisitions and dispositions
    (139,718 )     (3,350 )     (143,068 )
Increase in liabilities before initial effects of business acquisitions and dispositions
    34,190       (602 )     33,588  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    194,101             194,101  

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During the second quarter of 2006, we determined that the cumulative undistributed earnings at a certain wholly owned foreign subsidiary would be indefinitely reinvested offshore, and accordingly reversed the associated deferred tax liability pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 23, “Accounting for Income Taxes — Special Areas.” One result of the retrospective application of FSP AUG AIR-1 was an increase in the cumulative undistributed earnings at this foreign subsidiary, and an increase in the associated cumulative deferred tax liability. Consistent with our prior determination that the cumulative undistributed earnings would be indefinitely reinvested offshore, the deferred tax liability arising from the retrospective adjustments was reversed, resulting in the favorable adjustments to the provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 of $2,766,000 and $2,673,000, respectively.
3. Discontinued Operations
In June 2005, we sold substantially all the assets of our Chemicals business, known as Vulcan Chemicals, to Basic Chemicals, a subsidiary of Occidental Chemical Corporation. These assets consisted primarily of chloralkali facilities in Wichita, Kansas; Geismar, Louisiana and Port Edwards, Wisconsin; and the facilities of our Chloralkali joint venture located in Geismar. The purchaser also assumed certain liabilities relating to the Chemicals business, including the obligation to monitor and remediate all releases of hazardous materials at or from the Wichita, Geismar and Port Edwards plant facilities. The decision to sell the Chemicals business was based on our desire to focus our resources on the Construction Materials business.
In consideration for the sale of the Chemicals business, Basic Chemicals made an initial cash payment of $214,000,000. Concurrent with the sale transaction, we acquired the minority partner’s 49% interest in the joint venture for an initial cash payment of $62,701,000, and conveyed such interest to Basic Chemicals. The net initial cash proceeds of $151,299,000 were subject to adjustments for actual working capital balances at the closing date, transaction costs and income taxes. In September 2006, we received additional cash proceeds of $10,202,000 related to adjustments for the actual working capital balance at the closing date.
Basic Chemicals is required to make payments under two separate earn-out agreements subject to certain conditions. The first earn-out agreement is based on ECU (electrochemical unit) and natural gas prices during the five-year period beginning July 1, 2005, and is capped at $150,000,000 (ECU earn-out or ECU derivative). The ECU earn-out is accounted for as a derivative instrument; accordingly, it is reported at fair value. Changes to the fair value of the ECU derivative, if any, are recorded within continuing operations pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5:Z:5, “Classification and Disclosure of Contingencies Relating to Discontinued Operations” (SAB Topic 5:Z:5). Proceeds under the second earn-out agreement are determined based on the performance of the hydrochlorocarbon product HCC-240fa (commonly referred to as 5CP) from the closing of the transaction through December 31, 2012 (5CP earn-out). Under this earn-out agreement, cash plant margin for 5CP, as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement, in excess of an annual threshold amount is shared equally between Vulcan and Basic Chemicals. The primary determinant of the value for this earn-out is growth in 5CP sales volume.
The fair value of the consideration received in connection with the sale of the Chemicals business, including past and anticipated future cash flows from the two earn-out agreements, is expected to exceed the net carrying value of the assets and liabilities sold. However, SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” precludes the recognition of a contingent gain until realization is assured beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, no gain was recognized on the Chemicals sale and the value recorded at the June 7, 2005 closing date referable to these two earn-outs was limited to $128,167,000.

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The carrying amounts of the ECU and 5CP earn-outs are reflected in accounts and notes receivable — other and other noncurrent assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying amount of the ECU earn-out was as follows: June 30, 2007 — $22,141,000 (classified entirely as current), December 31, 2006 — $20,213,000 (classified entirely as current) and June 30, 2006 — $142,336,000 (of which $126,867,000 was current). The carrying amount of the ECU earn-out as of June 30, 2007 was limited by the aforementioned $150,000,000 cap on proceeds as the prior receipts plus the current carrying amount total the cap amount. Consequently, we will not record any additional gains related to the ECU earn-out and expect to receive the final payment in the third quarter of 2007. During the first six months of 2007, we recognized gains related to changes in the fair value of the ECU earn-out of $1,929,000 (reflected as a component of other income, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings). During 2006, we received payments of $127,859,000 under the ECU earn-out and recognized gains related to changes in its fair value of $28,722,000 (of which $22,986,000 was reflected as a component of other income, net in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2006). The carrying amount of the 5CP earn-out was as follows: June 30, 2007 — $20,828,000 (of which $8,895,000 was current), December 31, 2006 — $29,246,000 (of which $9,030,000 was current) and June 30, 2006 — $25,119,000 (of which $11,151,000 was current).
In March of 2007, we received a payment of $8,418,000 under the 5CP earn-out related to the year ended December 31, 2006. During 2006, we received net payments of $3,856,000 under the 5CP earn-out related to the period from the closing of the transaction in June 2005 through December 31, 2005. Additionally, the final resolution during 2006 of adjustments for working capital balances at the closing date resulted in an increase to the carrying amount of the 5CP earn-out of $4,053,000. Since changes in the carrying amount of the ECU earn-out are reported in continuing operations, any gain or loss on disposal of the Chemicals business will ultimately be recognized to the extent future cash receipts under the 5CP earn-out related to the remaining six-year performance period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2012 exceed or fall short of its $20,828,000 carrying amount.
We are potentially liable for a cash transaction bonus payable in the future to certain key former Chemicals employees. This transaction bonus will be payable only if cash receipts realized from the two earn-out agreements described above exceed an established minimum threshold. Based on our evaluation of possible cash receipts from the earn-outs, the likely range for the contingent payments to certain key former Chemicals employees is between $0 and approximately $5 million. As of June 30, 2007, the calculated transaction bonus would be $0 and, as such, no liability for these contingent payments has been recorded.
Under the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets” (FAS 144), the financial results of the Chemicals business are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for all periods presented.
There were no net sales or revenues from discontinued operations during the six month periods ended June 30, 2007 or June 30, 2006. Pretax losses from discontinued operations are as follows (in thousands of dollars):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Pretax loss
  $ (2,787 )   $ (2,868 )   $ (3,564 )   $ (5,900 )

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The 2007 and 2006 pretax losses from discontinued operations primarily reflect charges related to general and product liability costs and environmental remediation costs associated with our former Chemicals businesses.
4. Earnings Per Share (EPS)
We report two earnings per share numbers, basic and diluted. These are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic EPS) or weighted-average common shares outstanding assuming dilution (diluted EPS) as set forth below (in thousands of shares):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
    95,578       99,430       95,376       99,988  
Dilutive effect of:
                               
Stock options
    2,136       1,761       2,177       1,738  
Other
    443       445       470       427  
 
                               
Weighted-average common shares outstanding,
                               
assuming dilution
    98,157       101,636       98,023       102,153  
 
                               
All dilutive common stock equivalents are reflected in our earnings per share calculations. Antidilutive common stock equivalents are not included in our earnings per share calculations. The numbers of antidilutive common stock equivalents are as follows (in thousands of shares):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Antidilutive common stock equivalents
    407       6       407       6  
5. Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is based on expected income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we estimate the annual tax rate based on projected taxable income for the full year and record a quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the anticipated annual rate. As the year progresses, we refine the estimates of the year’s taxable income as new information becomes available, including year-to-date financial results. This continual estimation process often results in a change to our expected effective tax rate for the year. When this occurs, we adjust the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that the year-to-date provision reflects the expected annual tax rate. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions.
See Note 2 (FIN 48 caption) for a discussion of our adoption of FIN 48.
In accordance with FIN 48, we recognize a tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. For a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we initially and subsequently measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. Our liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation. Such adjustments are recognized entirely in the period in which they are identified. Our effective tax rate includes the net impact of changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and subsequent adjustments as considered appropriate by management.

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The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 31.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2007, down from the 32.2% rate during the same period of 2006. This decrease principally reflects a reduction in estimated income tax liabilities for prior years and the scheduled increase in the deduction for certain domestic production activities arising under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 from 3% in 2006 to 6% in 2007. Generally, this deduction, subject to certain limitations, is set to further increase to 9% in 2010 and thereafter.
The effective tax rate from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was 32.1%, down from the 32.5% rate during the same period of 2006. This decrease principally reflects a reduction in estimated income tax liabilities for prior years and the scheduled increase in the deduction for certain domestic production activities, as described above.
6. Medium-term Investments
We had no medium-term investments as of June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 or June 30, 2006. Historically, our medium-term investments consist of highly liquid securities with a contractual maturity in excess of three months at the time of purchase. We classify our medium-term investments as either available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Investments classified as available-for-sale consist of variable rate demand obligations and are reported at fair value, which is equal to cost. Investments classified as held-to-maturity consist of fixed rate debt securities and are reported at cost.
While the contractual maturities for variable rate demand obligations are generally long term (longer than one year), these securities have certain economic characteristics of current (less than one year) investments because of their rate-setting mechanisms. Therefore, historically all our medium-term investments are classified as current assets based on our investing practices and intent.
Proceeds, gross realized gains and gross realized losses from sales and maturities of medium-term investments are summarized below (in thousands of dollars):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Proceeds
  $     $ 68,965     $     $ 175,140  
Gross realized gains
  $     insignificant   $     insignificant
Gross realized losses
  $     insignificant   $     insignificant
There were no transfers from either the available-for-sale or held-to-maturity categories to the trading category during the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. There were no gross unrealized holding gains related to medium-term investments classified as held-to-maturity as of June 30, 2007 and 2006.
7. Derivative Instruments
We periodically use derivative instruments to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk, currency exchange risk or price fluctuations on commodity energy sources consistent with our risk management policies.
In connection with the sale of our Chemicals business, we entered into an earn-out agreement that requires the purchaser, Basic Chemicals, to make future payments capped at $150,000,000 based on ECU (electrochemical unit) and natural gas prices during the five-year period beginning July 1, 2005. We have not designated the ECU earn-out as a hedging instrument and, accordingly, gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value, if any, are recognized in current earnings. Furthermore, pursuant to SAB Topic 5:Z:5, changes in fair value are recognized in continuing operations. During the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2007, we recorded gains

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referable to the ECU earn-out of $1,229,000 and $1,929,000, respectively. During the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006, we recorded gains of $10,805,000 and $22,986,000, respectively. These gains are reflected in other income, net of other charges, in our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
During May and June of 2007, we entered into eleven forward starting interest rate swap agreements for a total notional amount of $1.1 billion. The objective of these swap agreements is to hedge against the variability of forecasted interest payments attributable to changes in interest rates on a portion of the anticipated fixed-rate debt issuance in 2007 to fund the cash portion of the acquisition of Florida Rock (see Note 20 for details). As of June 30, 2007, we had entered into five 5-year swap agreements with a blended swap rate of 5.25% on an aggregate notional amount of $500 million and six 10-year swap agreements with a blended swap rate of 5.57% on an aggregate notional amount of $600 million. Each swap agreement reflects a mandatory early termination date of August 30, 2007, at which time we expect that the swaps will be settled in cash for their then fair value. However, if the Florida Rock acquisition does not close prior to August 30, or if we choose to issue the aforementioned fixed-rate debt after that date, then we plan to roll the interest rate swap agreements forward to coincide with a new, targeted debt issuance date.
We have designated these swap agreements as cash flow hedges pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (FAS 133). Accordingly, the fair values of the swaps are recorded as an asset or liability in the accompanying June 30, 2007 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, with changes in fair value recorded directly in shareholders’ equity, net of tax, as other comprehensive income or loss. The amounts, if any, accumulated in other comprehensive income when the swaps settle will be amortized into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense over the applicable term of the anticipated debt issuance.
At June 30, 2007, we recognized assets totaling $14,211,000 (included in other noncurrent assets) and liabilities totaling $3,141,000 (included in other noncurrent liabilities) in the accompanying June 30, 2007 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet related to these interest rate swap agreements, and recognized a gain of $6,634,000 in other comprehensive income, net of a deferred tax liability of $4,437,000.
There was no impact to earnings due to hedge ineffectiveness during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.

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8.   Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes charges and credits to equity from nonowner sources and comprises two subsets: net earnings and other comprehensive income. Total comprehensive income comprises the following (in thousands of dollars):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30     June 30  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
            (As Adjusted —             (As Adjusted —  
            See Note 2)             See Note 2)  
Net earnings
  $ 142,011     $ 150,633     $ 230,885     $ 220,718  
Other comprehensive income:
                               
Fair value adjustments to cash flow hedges, net of tax
    6,669             6,703        
Amortization of pension and post-retirement plan actuarial loss and prior service cost, net of tax
    645             1,174        
 
                       
Total comprehensive income
  $ 149,325     $ 150,633     $ 238,762     $ 220,718  
 
                       
9.   Shareholders’ Equity
On February 10, 2006, the Board of Directors increased to 10,000,000 shares the existing authorization to purchase common stock. There were 3,411,416 shares remaining under the purchase authorization as of June 30, 2007.
The number and cost of shares purchased during the periods presented and shares held in treasury at period end are shown below:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30   June 30
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Shares purchased:
                               
Number
          4,235,200       44,123       4,507,322  
Total cost (thousands)
  $     $ 333,565     $ 4,800     $ 352,902  
Average cost
  $     $ 78.76     $ 108.78     $ 78.30  
                         
    June 30   Dec. 31   June 30
    2007   2006   2006
Shares in treasury at period end:
                       
Number
    44,154,588       45,098,644       43,208,973  
Average cost
  $ 29.27     $ 28.78     $ 26.20  
All shares purchased in the six months ended June 30, 2007 were purchased in the first quarter directly from employees to satisfy income tax withholding requirements on shares issued pursuant to incentive compensation plans. The number of shares purchased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 includes 0 and 50,722 shares, respectively, purchased directly from employees for the aforementioned withholding requirements. The remaining shares were purchased in the open market.

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10.   Benefit Plans
The following tables set forth the components of net periodic benefit cost (in thousands of dollars):
PENSION BENEFITS
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30     June 30  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
                               
Service cost
  $ 5,172     $ 4,581     $ 10,344     $ 9,162  
Interest cost
    8,646       8,031       17,292       16,062  
Expected return on plan assets
    (11,607 )     (10,993 )     (23,214 )     (21,986 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    189       267       378       534  
Recognized actuarial loss
    455       434       911       868  
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 2,855     $ 2,320     $ 5,711     $ 4,640  
 
                       
OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30     June 30  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
                               
Service cost
  $ 1,133     $ 904     $ 2,267     $ 1,808  
Interest cost
    1,398       1,190       2,796       2,380  
Amortization of prior service cost
    (42 )     (42 )     (84 )     (84 )
Recognized actuarial loss
    253       119       506       238  
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 2,742     $ 2,171     $ 5,485     $ 4,342  
 
                       
The net periodic benefit costs for pension plans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 include pretax reclassifications from other comprehensive income totaling $644,000 and $1,289,000, respectively. The net periodic benefit costs for postretirement plans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 include pretax reclassifications from other comprehensive income totaling $211,000 and $422,000, respectively. These reclassifications from other comprehensive income are related to amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses. During the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, contributions of $584,000 and $778,000, respectively, were made to our pension plans.
11.   Credit Facilities, Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt
Short-term borrowings are summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    June 30     Dec. 31     June 30  
    2007     2006     2006  
Bank borrowings
  $ 14,000     $ 2,500     $  
Commercial paper
    210,000       196,400       217,000  
 
                 
Total short-term borrowings
  $ 224,000     $ 198,900     $ 217,000  
 
                 
Short-term borrowings outstanding as of June 30, 2007 consisted of $14,000,000 of bank borrowings at 5.545% maturing during July 2007 and $210,000,000 of commercial paper at 5.49% maturing July 2, 2007. We plan to reissue most, if not all, of these borrowings when they mature. These short-term borrowings are used for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements.
Our policy is to maintain committed credit facilities at least equal to our outstanding commercial paper. Unsecured bank lines of credit totaling $770,000,000 were maintained at June 30, 2007, of which $200,000,000 expires September 14, 2007, $20,000,000 expires January 30, 2008 and $550,000,000 expires June 27, 2011. As of June 30, 2007, $14,000,000 of the lines of credit was drawn. Interest rates are determined at the time of borrowing based on current market conditions.

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All our debt obligations, both short-term borrowings and long-term debt, are unsecured as of June 30, 2007.
     Long-term debt is summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    June 30     Dec. 31     June 30  
    2007     2006     2006  
6.00% 10-year notes issued 1999
  $ 250,000     $ 250,000     $ 250,000  
Private placement notes
    49,090       49,335       81,772  
Medium-term notes
    21,000       21,000       21,000  
Other notes
    2,002       2,359       2,420  
 
                 
Total debt excluding short-term borrowings
  $ 322,092     $ 322,694     $ 355,192  
Less current maturities of long-term debt
    727       630       32,547  
 
                 
Total long-term debt
  $ 321,365     $ 322,064     $ 322,645  
 
                 
 
Estimated fair value of total long-term debt
  $ 329,346     $ 332,611     $ 329,305  
 
                 
Our debt agreements do not subject us to contractual restrictions with regard to working capital or the amount we may expend for cash dividends and purchases of our stock. The percentage of consolidated debt to total capitalization, as defined in our bank credit facility agreements, must be less than 60%. Our total debt as a percentage of total capital was 19.7% as of June 30, 2007; 20.6% as of December 31, 2006; and 22.4% as of June 30, 2006 (as adjusted — see Note 2).
The estimated fair value amounts of long-term debt presented in the table above have been determined by discounting expected future cash flows based on interest rates on U.S. Treasury bills, notes or bonds, as appropriate. The fair value estimates are based on information available to us as of the respective balance sheet dates. Although we are not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued since those dates.
12.   Asset Retirement Obligations
SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (FAS 143) applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets resulting from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the underlying assets.
FAS 143 requires recognition of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred at its estimated fair value. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the underlying asset and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. The liability is accreted through charges to operating expenses. If the asset retirement obligation is settled for other than the carrying amount of the liability, we recognize a gain or loss on settlement.
We record all asset retirement obligations for which we have legal obligations for land reclamation at estimated fair value. Essentially all these asset retirement obligations relate to our underlying land parcels, including both owned properties and mineral leases. FAS 143 results in ongoing recognition of costs related to the depreciation of the assets and accretion of the liability. For the three and six month periods ended June 30, we recognized operating costs related to FAS 143 as follows: 2007 — $4,674,000 and $9,219,000, respectively; and 2006 — $3,804,000 and $7,273,000, respectively. FAS 143 operating costs for our continuing operations are reported in cost of goods sold. FAS 143 asset retirement obligations are reported within other noncurrent liabilities in our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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A reconciliation of the carrying amount of our asset retirement obligations is as follows (in thousands of dollars):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30     June 30  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 114,869     $ 109,834     $ 114,829     $ 105,774  
Liabilities incurred
    10       675       184       1,022  
Liabilities (settled)
    (3,262 )     (4,563 )     (6,347 )     (7,488 )
Accretion expense
    1,439       1,368       2,878       2,640  
Revisions up (down)
    (582 )     2,902       930       8,268  
 
                       
Balance at end of period
  $ 112,474     $ 110,216     $ 112,474     $ 110,216  
 
                       
13.   Standby Letters of Credit
We provide certain third parties with irrevocable standby letters of credit in the normal course of business. We use our commercial banks to issue standby letters of credit to secure our obligations to pay or perform when required to do so pursuant to the requirements of an underlying agreement or the provision of goods and services. The standby letters of credit listed below are cancelable only at the option of the beneficiary who is authorized to draw drafts on the issuing bank up to the face amount of the standby letter of credit in accordance with its terms. Since banks consider letters of credit as contingent extensions of credit, we are required to pay a fee until they expire or are cancelled. Substantially all of our standby letters of credit are renewable annually.
Our standby letters of credit as of June 30, 2007 are summarized in the table below (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    Amount     Term     Maturity  
Risk management requirement for insurance claims
  $ 16,194                  
Payment surety required by utility
    100     One year   Renewable annually
Contractual reclamation/restoration requirements
    36,032     One year   Renewable annually
 
                     
Total standby letters of credit
  $ 52,326     One year   Renewable annually
 
                     
14.   Acquisitions
During the six months ended June 30, 2007, we acquired the assets of the following facilities for cash payments of approximately $58,861,000 including acquisition costs and net of acquired cash:
    an aggregates production facility in Illinois
 
    an aggregates production facility in North Carolina
We have recorded the acquisitions above based on preliminary purchase price allocations which are subject to change.

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15.   Goodwill
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the periods presented below are summarized as follows (in thousands of dollars):
         
Goodwill as of June 30, 2006
  $ 630,802  
 
     
Goodwill of acquired businesses
     
Purchase price allocation adjustments
    (10,613 )
 
     
Goodwill as of December 31, 2006
  $ 620,189  
 
     
Goodwill of acquired businesses*
    30,016  
Purchase price allocation adjustments
     
 
     
Goodwill as of June 30, 2007
  $ 650,205  
 
     
 
*   The goodwill of acquired businesses for 2007 relates to the acquisitions listed in Note 14 above. We are currently evaluating the final purchase price allocations; therefore, the goodwill amount is subject to change. When finalized, the goodwill from these 2007 acquisitions is expected to be fully deductible for income tax purposes.
16.   New Accounting Standards
See Note 2 for a discussion of the accounting standards adopted in 2007.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (FAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 applies whenever other accounting standards require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value; accordingly, it does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. Fair value under FAS 157 is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The standard clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. In support of this principle, the standard establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data; for example, a reporting entity’s own data. Under the standard, fair value measurements would be separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. FAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007; we expect to adopt FAS 157 as of January 1, 2008.
In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS 158. In addition to the recognition provisions (which we adopted December 31, 2006), FAS 158 requires an employer to measure the plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of its year-end balance sheet. This requirement is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. We intend to adopt the measurement date provision effective January 1, 2008 by remeasuring plan assets and benefit obligations as of that date, pursuant to the transition requirements of FAS 158. Net periodic benefit cost for the one-month period between November 30, 2007 and December 31, 2007 will be recognized, net of tax, as a separate adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2008. Additionally, changes in plan assets and benefit obligations between November 30, 2007 and December 31, 2007 not related to net periodic benefit cost will be recognized, net of tax, as an adjustment to other comprehensive income as of January 1, 2008. We are currently evaluating the estimated impact such adoption will have on our financial statements.
17.   Enterprise Data — Continuing Operations
Our Construction Materials business is organized in seven regional divisions that produce and sell aggregates and related products and services. All these divisions exhibit similar economic characteristics, product processes, products and services, types and classes of customers, methods of distribution and regulatory environments. Accordingly, they have been aggregated into one

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reporting segment for financial statement purposes. Customers use aggregates primarily in the construction and maintenance of highways, streets and other public works and in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial and other private nonresidential facilities.
The majority of our activities are domestic. We sell a relatively small amount of construction aggregates outside the United States. Due to the sale of our Chemicals business as described in Note 3, we have one reportable segment, Construction Materials, which constitutes continuing operations.
     Net sales by product are summarized below (in millions of dollars):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30     June 30  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
NET SALES BY PRODUCT
                               
Aggregates
  $ 589.1     $ 569.7     $ 1,044.9     $ 1,029.6  
Asphalt mix
    126.0       126.1       222.9       211.3  
Concrete
    55.6       72.5       103.6       137.1  
Other
    37.1       39.5       66.6       72.1  
 
                       
Total
  $ 807.8     $ 807.8     $ 1,438.0     $ 1,450.1  
 
                       
18.   Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental information referable to our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30 is summarized below (in thousands of dollars):
                 
    2007   2006
Cash payments:
               
Interest (exclusive of amount capitalized)
  $ 14,904     $ 18,059  
Income taxes
    61,994       57,958  
Noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Accrued liabilities for purchases of property, plant and equipment
    26,518       15,194  
Debt issued for purchases of property, plant and equipment
    10        
Proceeds receivable from exercise of stock options
    216        
Accrued liabilities for purchases of treasury stock
          17,678  
19.   Other Commitments and Contingencies
We are a defendant in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which were specifically described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Legal proceedings for which events have occurred subsequent to the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we believe are material to the development of such proceedings, are described below.
In November 1998, we were named one of several defendants in a claim filed by the city of Modesto in state court in San Francisco, California. The plaintiff sought to recover costs to investigate and clean up low levels of soil and groundwater contamination in Modesto, including a small number of municipal water wells, from a dry cleaning compound, perchloroethylene. This product was produced by several manufacturers, including our former Chemicals business, which was sold in June 2005. The defendants named included other chemical and equipment manufacturers, distributors and dry cleaners. The trial of this case began during the first quarter of 2006. On June 9, 2006, the jury returned a joint and several verdict against six defendants, including Vulcan, for compensatory damages of $3.1 million, constituting the costs to filter two wells and pay for certain past investigation costs. On June 13, 2006, the jury returned separate punitive damages awards against three defendants, including $100 million against Vulcan. On August 1, 2006, the trial judge entered an order reducing the punitive damage verdict against Vulcan to $7.25 million and upholding the jury’s findings on compensatory damages. Although the compensatory damages verdict was upheld by the court, we believe our share

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of the compensatory damages after setoffs from other settlements will not be material to our consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, we have not accrued any amounts related to the compensatory damages verdict. We believe that the punitive damage verdict is contrary to the evidence presented at trial, and we are continuing to review potential legal remedies. While it is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of this litigation, pursuant to SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” we recorded a contingent liability related to the punitive damages claim of $7.25 million as of December 31, 2006.
As part of the first trial, the court on February 14, 2007, entered a Final Statement of Decision ruling in favor of the city of Modesto and against Vulcan and other defendants on certain claims not submitted to the jury relating to the California Polanco Act. The judge awarded additional joint and several damages of $438,000 against Vulcan and the other five defendants. In addition, the city of Modesto will be allowed to seek attorney fees against these six defendants, and Vulcan could also be required to pay a portion of future remediation costs at one of the four sites at issue in the trial. As of December 31, 2006, we recorded a contingent liability related to this ruling in the amount of $100,000, representing a best estimate of our potential share of the $438,000 awarded. At this time, we cannot determine the likelihood or reasonably estimate the range of potential attorney fees or future remediation costs that Vulcan may have to pay.
In this same lawsuit, the Plaintiff seeks a second trial for soil and groundwater contamination at other locations in Modesto that were not part of the first trial. The second trial has been set for November 13, 2007. No municipal water wells are part of the second trial. At this time, we cannot determine the likelihood or reasonably estimate a range of loss resulting from the remaining phases of the trial.
We have recently reached an agreement with the city of Modesto to settle all claims that the City might have against us which result from a settlement made by the City with a co-defendant, McHenry Village, in which that defendant assigned its rights against Vulcan and others to the City. This settlement of $395,000 has been added to the contingent liability relating to this matter discussed above, resulting in a total contingent liability of $7,745,000. This settlement does not preclude the City from pursuing the other claims set forth above.
We have been named as a defendant in multiple lawsuits filed in 2001 and 2002 in state court and federal district court in Louisiana. The lawsuits claim damages for various personal injuries allegedly resulting from releases of chemicals at our former Geismar, Louisiana plant in 2001. A trial for the issues of causation and damages for ten plaintiffs was held in July 2004. Five of these plaintiffs were dismissed during the trial. A jury awarded the remaining five plaintiffs an aggregate award of $201,000. In November 2006, the trial court approved a settlement class with most of the remaining plaintiffs in the matter. A court-appointed special master is overseeing the settlement process of the November 2006 approved settlement class. A second settlement class has been preliminarily approved by the Court for those plaintiffs who opted out of the November 2006 approved settlement class. We have previously recorded a charge for the self-insured portion of these losses, and Vulcan’s insurers are responding to amounts in excess of the self-insured retention.
We produced and marketed industrial sand from 1988 to 1994. Since July 1993, we have been sued in numerous suits in a number of states by plaintiffs alleging that they contracted silicosis or incurred personal injuries as a result of exposure to, or use of, industrial sand used for abrasive blasting. In February 2007, we were dismissed in two cases in Alabama (with an aggregate of 33 plaintiffs). As of May 25, 2007, the number of suits totaled 96, involving an aggregate of 562 plaintiffs. There are 51 pending suits with 494 plaintiffs filed in Texas. The balance of the suits have been brought by plaintiffs in state courts in California, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. We are seeking dismissal of all suits on the ground that plaintiffs were not exposed to our product. To date, we have been successful in getting dismissals from cases involving almost 17,000 plaintiffs, with no payments made in settlement.

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In September 2001, we were named a defendant in a suit brought by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division, Illinois, alleging damage to a 0.9-mile section of Joliet Road that bisects our McCook Quarry in McCook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. IDOT seeks damages to “repair, restore, and maintain” the road or, in the alternative, judgment for the cost to “improve and maintain other roadways to accommodate” vehicles that previously used the road. The complaint also requests that the court enjoin any McCook Quarry operations that will further damage the road. The court in this case recently granted summary judgment in favor of Vulcan on certain claims. The court also granted the plaintiff’s motion to amend their complaint to add a punitive damages claim, although the court made it clear that it was not ruling on the merits of this claim. Discovery is ongoing and no trial date has been set.
It is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of these and other legal proceedings in which we are involved. As of June 30, 2007, we had recorded liabilities, including accrued legal costs, of $9,678,000 related to claims and litigation for which a loss was determined to be probable and reasonably estimable. For claims and litigation for which a loss was determined to be only reasonably possible, no liability was recorded. Furthermore, the potential range of such losses would not be material to our condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, losses on certain claims and litigation may be subject to limitations on a per occurrence basis by excess insurance, as described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
20.   Major Pending Acquisition
As noted in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, on February 19, 2007 we signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the stock of Florida Rock Industries, Inc. (Florida Rock), a leading producer of construction aggregates, cement, concrete and concrete products in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, in exchange for cash and stock valued at approximately $4.6 billion based on the February 16, 2007 closing price of Vulcan common stock. Under the terms of the agreement, Vulcan shareholders will receive one share of common stock in a new holding company (whose subsidiaries will be Vulcan Materials and Florida Rock) for each Vulcan share. Florida Rock shareholders can elect to receive either 0.63 shares of the new holding company or $67.00 in cash for each Florida Rock share, subject to proration to ensure that in the aggregate 70% of Florida Rock shares will be converted into cash and 30% of Florida Rock             shares will be converted into stock. We intend to finance the transaction with approximately $3.2 billion in debt and approximately $1.4 billion in stock based on the February 16, 2007 closing price of Vulcan common stock. We have secured a commitment for a $4.0 billion bridge facility from Bank of America, N.A., Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, National Association. The transaction is intended to be non-taxable for Vulcan shareholders and nontaxable for Florida Rock shareholders to the extent they receive stock. The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of each company and is subject to approval by a majority of Florida Rock shareholders, regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2007.

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Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
GENERAL COMMENTS
Overview
Vulcan provides essential infrastructure materials required by the U.S. economy. We are the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates — primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel — and a major producer of asphalt and concrete. We operate primarily in the United States and our principal product — aggregates — is consumed in virtually all types of publicly and privately funded construction. While aggregates are our primary business, we believe vertical integration between aggregates and downstream products, such as asphalt mix and concrete, can be managed effectively in certain markets to generate acceptable financial returns. As such, we evaluate the structural characteristics of individual markets to determine the appropriateness of an aggregates only or vertical integration strategy. Demand for our products is dependent on construction activity. The primary end uses include public construction, such as highways, bridges, airports, schools and prisons, as well as private nonresidential (e.g., manufacturing, retail, offices, industrial and institutional) and private residential construction (e.g., single-family and multifamily). Customers for our products include heavy construction and paving contractors; commercial building contractors; concrete products manufacturers; residential building contractors; state, county and municipal governments; railroads; and electric utilities. Customers are served by truck, rail and water networks from our production facilities and sales yards.
Seasonality of our Business
Virtually all our products are produced and consumed outdoors. Our financial results for any individual quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year, due primarily to the effect that seasonal changes and other weather-related conditions can have on the production and sales volumes of our products. Normally, the highest sales and earnings are attained in the third quarter and the lowest are realized in the first quarter. Our sales and earnings are sensitive to national, regional and local economic conditions and particularly to cyclical swings in construction spending. These cyclical swings are further affected by fluctuations in interest rates, and demographic and population fluctuations.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this report, including expectations regarding future performance, contain forward-looking statements that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with general economic and business conditions; changes in interest rates; the timing and amount of federal, state and local funding for infrastructure; changes in the level of spending for residential and private nonresidential construction; the highly competitive nature of the construction materials industry; pricing; weather and other natural phenomena; energy costs; costs of hydrocarbon-based raw materials; increasing healthcare costs; the timing and amount of any future payments to be received under two earn-outs contained in the agreement for the divestiture of our Chemicals business; our ability to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions; risks and uncertainties related to our proposed transaction with Florida Rock Industries, Inc. (Florida Rock) including the ability to successfully integrate the operations of Florida Rock and to achieve the anticipated cost savings and operational synergies following the closing of the proposed transaction with Florida Rock; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our periodic reports. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report. We undertake no obligation

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to publicly update any forward-looking statements, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in any of our press releases.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
In the discussion that follows, discontinued operations are discussed separately. Continuing operations consist solely of Construction Materials. The comparative analysis is based on net sales and cost of goods sold, which exclude delivery revenues and costs, and is consistent with the basis on which management reviews results of operations.
Second Quarter 2007 as Compared with Second Quarter 2006
Second quarter 2007 net earnings were $142.0 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, as compared with the prior year’s second quarter net earnings of $150.6 million, or $1.48 per diluted share. Earnings from continuing operations were $1.46 per diluted share compared with $1.50 in the prior year. The prior year’s second quarter earnings per diluted share include after-tax gains of $0.15 per share resulting from the sale of contractual rights at our Bellwood quarry in Atlanta, $0.06 per share resulting from an increase in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out and $0.03 per share referable to a change in accounting principle retrospectively applied (see Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements under the FSP AUG AIR-1 caption for details). Discontinued operations (Chemicals) reported a loss of $0.01 per diluted share for the quarter compared with a loss of $0.02 per diluted share in the prior year’s second quarter.
Continuing Operations:
Net sales were $807.8 million, essentially the same as the prior year’s second quarter, as increased pricing in all major product lines offset the effect of lower volumes. Aggregates prices increased 14.6% from the prior year’s second quarter as we realized double-digit improvements in all major markets. Asphalt and concrete prices were up 16% and 7%, respectively, over comparable prior year levels. The significant slowdown in residential construction, driven by excess inventory of single-family houses in many markets, resulted in lower than expected shipments in all of our major product lines. Aggregates volumes were 10% lower than in the prior year while asphalt and concrete volumes were down 14% and 28%, respectively.
Gross profit increased 11% from the prior year and gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 35% from 32% in the second quarter of 2006. Aggregates earnings increased from the prior year due to the aforementioned higher pricing. The higher asphalt pricing more than offset the earnings effect from lower volumes and second quarter asphalt earnings also benefited from slightly lower unit costs for liquid asphalt. However, the lower concrete volumes offset the earnings effect of its higher pricing. Unit costs for diesel fuel approximated the prior year’s second quarter.
Selling, administrative and general expenses of $71.3 million increased $6.2 million, or 9%, from the prior year’s second quarter due mostly to higher employee-related costs and expenses associated with certain corporate initiatives including the pending acquisition of Florida Rock Industries, Inc. (Florida Rock), improving business processes and the replacement of legacy information systems.
Other operating expense in the second quarter was $1.5 million, as compared with $24.1 million of operating income in the prior year’s second quarter. This $25.6 million decline in other operating income resulted primarily from the inclusion in the prior year’s second quarter of the $24.8 million pretax gain from the sale of contractual rights to mine the Bellwood quarry in Atlanta, Georgia. There is no comparable gain in this year’s second quarter.
Operating earnings were $217.2 million for the current quarter, or $0.9 million below the prior year’s second quarter.

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Other income (expense), net was an expense of $0.1 million in the current year’s second quarter compared with income of $10.8 million in the prior year. Other income in the prior year’s second quarter included a $10.8 million gain attributable to the increase in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out compared with a $1.2 million gain in this year’s second quarter. We will not record any additional gains related to the ECU earn-out as the sum of the prior receipts and the carrying value as of June 30, 2007 equals the $150 million cap on proceeds (see Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for details).
Net interest expense (interest income less interest expense) of $7.0 million increased $2.8 million from the second quarter of 2006 resulting primarily from an increase in the average daily balance of short-term borrowings during this year’s second quarter as compared with the prior year’s second quarter.
Our effective tax rate from continuing operations was 31.6% for the second quarter of 2007, down from the 2006 rate of 32.2% for the comparable period. This decrease primarily results from a reduction in estimated income tax liabilities for prior years and the scheduled increase in the deduction for certain domestic production activities arising under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 from 3% in 2006 to 6% in 2007.
Earnings from continuing operations were $143.7 million for the current quarter, as compared with $152.3 million in the prior year’s second quarter.
Discontinued Operations:
We reported pretax losses from discontinued operations of $2.8 million during the second quarter of 2007 and $2.9 million during the second quarter of 2006. These losses primarily reflect charges related to general and product liability costs and environmental remediation costs associated with our former Chemicals businesses.
Year-to-Date Comparisons as of June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006
Net earnings were $230.9 million, or $2.36 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2007 compared with $220.7 million, or $2.16 per diluted share, in the prior year. Earnings from continuing operations were $2.38 per diluted share compared with $2.20 in the prior year. Current year earnings include $0.25 per diluted share related to an after-tax gain on sale of real estate in California and $0.01 per diluted share related to an increase in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out. Prior year earnings include $0.15 per diluted share attributable to the sale of contractual rights to mine the Bellwood quarry, $0.13 per diluted share attributable to an increase in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out and $0.03 per diluted share referable to a change in accounting principle retrospectively applied. Discontinued operations (Chemicals) reported a loss of $0.02 per diluted share for the first six months of 2007 compared with a loss of $0.04 per diluted share in 2006.
Continuing Operations:
Net sales in the first half of 2007 were $1.4 billion, less than 1% below the prior year’s level, as lower volumes more than offset the effect of higher prices. Aggregates pricing improved 15% versus the first six months of 2006 while asphalt and concrete pricing were up 20% and 8%, respectively. Aggregates volumes were down 12% from the first six months of 2006 resulting primarily from the sharp decline in residential construction. Asphalt and concrete volumes were also down 12% and 30%, respectively, compared with the first half of 2006.

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Gross profit increased 7% from the prior year and gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 31% from 29% in the first half of 2006. Aggregates earnings increased primarily as a result of the higher pricing while asphalt earnings increased due to both the higher pricing and lower costs for key raw materials. First half concrete earnings declined from the prior year’s level as lower volumes and higher costs for raw materials offset the earnings benefit from higher prices. Unit costs for diesel fuel in the first six months of 2007 approximated the prior year’s comparable period.
Selling, administrative and general expenses of $145.7 million increased $15.5 million, or 12%, from the prior year’s first half due mostly to higher employee-related costs and expenses associated with certain corporate initiatives including the pending acquisition of Florida Rock, improving business processes and the replacement of legacy information systems.
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment of $51.2 million was $49.2 million higher than the first half of 2006 due mostly to the aforementioned sale of real estate in California during January 2007. The resulting pretax gain, net of transaction costs, for this real estate was $43.8 million year-to-date.
Other operating expense was $3.6 million in this year’s first half compared with other operating income of $23.5 million in the prior year’s first half. This $27.1 million decline resulted primarily from the $24.8 million pretax gain in the prior year from the aforementioned sale of contractual rights with no comparable gain in the current year.
Operating earnings were $354.4 million for the first six months of 2007 compared with $317.1 million in the prior year, an increase of 12%.
Other income, net was $1.1 million in the current year’s first half, a decrease of $21.8 million from the prior year. The current year included gains totaling $1.9 million attributable to increases in the carrying value of the ECU earn-out, compared with a $23.0 million gain in the prior year. As previously mentioned, we expect no future gains from the ECU earn-out as the sum of the prior receipts and the carrying value as of June 30, 2007 equals the $150 million cap on proceeds.
Net interest expense (interest income less interest expense) of $12.3 million increased $4.4 million from the first half of 2006 resulting primarily from an increase in the average daily balance of short-term borrowings during the current period compared with the first half of 2006.
The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 32.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2007, down from the 32.5% rate during the same period of 2006. This decrease primarily results from a reduction in estimated income tax liabilities for prior years and the scheduled increase in the deduction for certain domestic production activities arising under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 from 3% in 2006 to 6% in 2007.
Earnings from continuing operations of $233.0 million for the current year’s first half increased $8.7 million from the prior year’s first half.
Discontinued Operations:
We reported pretax losses from discontinued operations of $3.6 million during the first six months of 2007 and $5.9 million during the first six months of 2006. These losses primarily reflect charges related to general and product liability costs and environmental remediation costs associated with our former Chemicals businesses.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We believe we have sufficient financial resources, including cash provided by operating activities, unused bank lines of credit and ready access to the capital markets, to fund business requirements in the future including debt service obligations, cash contractual obligations, capital expenditures, dividend payments, share purchases and potential future acquisitions.
Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $23.8 million to $217.9 million during the first half of 2007 as compared with $194.1 million during the first half of 2006. Net earnings adjusted for noncash expenses related to depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization increased $26.0 million when compared with the prior year. Comparative changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities contributed approximately $22.0 million to the increase in net cash provided by operating activities. Partially offsetting these favorable changes was a $24.3 million increase in net gains on sales of property, plant and equipment and contractual rights. While these gains increase net earnings, the associated cash received is appropriately adjusted out of operating activities and presented as a component of investing activities.
Investing activities used $227.4 million during the first half of 2007 compared with $1.9 million provided during 2006. The $229.3 million change in investing cash flows is principally due to a decrease in proceeds from sales and maturities of medium-term investments of $175.1 million, an increase in purchases of property, plant and equipment of $47.5 million and an increase in payments for business acquisitions of $38.5 million. These investing cash uses were partially offset by a $25.9 million increase in the combined proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and contractual rights, primarily attributable to the sale of real estate in California during 2007.
Net cash used in financing activities decreased $388.7 million to $11.2 million during the first half of 2007 as compared with $399.9 million during 2006. Cash used to purchase our common stock decreased $330.4 million and dividends paid increased $13.8 million. These financing cash uses were partially offset by a $27.3 million increase in the combination of proceeds and excess tax benefits from the exercise of stock options.
Working Capital
Working capital, the excess of current assets over current liabilities, totaled $302.8 million at June 30, 2007, an increase of $59.1 million from December 31, 2006 and a decrease of $26.9 million from June 30, 2006. The increase over the December 31, 2006 balance is primarily due to increases in customer accounts receivable and inventory, partially offset by an increase in short-term borrowings. The decrease from the June 30, 2006 balance is primarily due to a decrease in the current portion of the ECU earn-out obtained in connection with the sale of our Chemicals business (included in accounts receivable), offset in part by decreases in income taxes payable (included in other current liabilities) and trade payables and accruals.

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Short-term Borrowings and Investments
Net short-term borrowings and investments consisted of the following (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    June 30     Dec. 31     June 30  
    2007     2006     2006  
Short-term investments:
                       
Cash equivalents
  $ 22,980     $ 50,374     $ 71,191  
 
                 
Total short-term investments
  $ 22,980     $ 50,374     $ 71,191  
 
                 
Short-term borrowings:
                       
Bank borrowings
  $ 14,000     $ 2,500     $  
Commercial paper
    210,000       196,400       217,000  
 
                 
Total short-term borrowings
  $ 224,000     $ 198,900     $ 217,000  
 
                 
Net short-term borrowings
  $ (201,020 )   $ (148,526 )   $ (145,809 )
 
                 
Short-term borrowings outstanding as of June 30, 2007 of $224.0 million consisted of $14.0 million of bank borrowings at 5.545% maturing during July 2007 and $210.0 million of commercial paper at 5.49% maturing July 2, 2007. We plan to reissue most, if not all, of these borrowings when they mature. Periodically, we issue commercial paper for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements. We plan to continue this practice from time to time as circumstances warrant.
Our policy is to maintain committed credit facilities at least equal to our outstanding commercial paper. Unsecured bank lines of credit totaling $770.0 million were maintained at June 30, 2007, of which $200.0 million expires September 14, 2007, $20.0 million expires January 30, 2008 and $550.0 million expires June 27, 2011. As of June 30, 2007, $14.0 million of the lines of credit were drawn.
Closely following the February 19, 2007 announcement of our intention to acquire Florida Rock and the resulting financing requirements, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) lowered its credit ratings on our long-term debt and commercial paper and placed the ratings on credit watch with negative implications. On the same day, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) placed its ratings of our long-term debt and commercial paper under review for possible downgrade. As of June 30, 2007, our commercial paper was rated A-2 and P-1 by S&P and Moody’s, respectively.
Current Maturities
     Current maturities of long-term debt are summarized below (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    June 30     Dec. 31     June 30  
    2007     2006     2006  
Private placement notes
  $     $     $ 32,000  
Other notes
    727       630       547  
 
                 
Total
  $ 727     $ 630     $ 32,547  
 
                 
Maturity dates for our current maturities as of June 30, 2007 are as follows: September 2007 — $0.2 million; March 2008 — $0.3 million; and various dates for the remaining $0.2 million. We expect to retire this debt using available cash or by issuing commercial paper.

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Debt and Capital
The calculations of our total debt as a percentage of total capital are summarized below (amounts in thousands, except percentages):
                         
    June 30     Dec. 31     June 30  
    2007     2006     2006  
Debt:
                       
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 727     $ 630     $ 32,547  
Short-term borrowings
    224,000       198,900       217,000  
Long-term debt
    321,365       322,064       322,645  
 
                 
Total debt
  $ 546,092     $ 521,594     $ 572,192  
 
                 
Capital:
                       
Total debt
  $ 546,092     $ 521,594     $ 572,192  
Shareholders’ equity *
    2,222,590       2,010,899       1,980,916  
 
                 
Total capital
  $ 2,768,682     $ 2,532,493     $ 2,553,108  
 
                 
 
                       
Ratio of total debt to total capital
    19.7 %     20.6 %     22.4 %
 
*   As adjusted for June 30, 2006. See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
In the future, our total debt as a percentage of total capital will depend upon specific investment and financing decisions. We believe our cash-generating capability, combined with our financial strength and geographic diversification, can comfortably support a target range of 35% to 40%. Following the close of the transaction to acquire Florida Rock, we anticipate our total debt as a percentage of total capital to increase to approximately 51%. We intend to maintain an investment grade rating and expect our operating cash flows will enable us to reduce our total debt as a percentage of total capital to a range of 35% to 40% within three years of close, in line with our historic capital structure targets. We have made acquisitions from time to time and will continue to pursue attractive investment opportunities. Such acquisitions could be funded by using internally generated cash flow or issuing debt or equity securities.
As previously noted, closely following the announcement of our intention to acquire Florida Rock and the resulting financing requirements, S&P lowered its credit ratings on our long-term debt and commercial paper and placed the ratings on credit watch with negative implications. On the same day, Moody’s placed its ratings of our long-term debt and commercial paper under review for possible downgrade. As of June 30, 2007, S&P and Moody’s rated our public long-term debt at the A- and A1 levels, respectively.
Cash Contractual Obligations
Our obligation to make future payments under contracts is outlined in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48) as described in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. As of January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007, our total liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits amounted to $11,760,000 and $13,620,000, respectively. We do not believe that our adoption of FIN 48 has a material effect on the schedule of cash contractual obligations included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K because we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments of our FIN 48 liabilities.

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Standby Letters of Credit
We provide certain third parties with irrevocable standby letters of credit in the normal course of business. We use our commercial banks to issue standby letters of credit to secure our obligations to pay or perform when required to do so pursuant to the requirements of an underlying agreement or the provision of goods and services. The standby letters of credit listed below are cancelable only at the option of the beneficiary who is authorized to draw drafts on the issuing bank up to the face amount of the standby letter of credit in accordance with its terms. Since banks consider letters of credit as contingent extensions of credit, we are required to pay a fee until they expire or are cancelled. Substantially all of our standby letters of credit are renewable annually.
Our standby letters of credit as of June 30, 2007 are summarized in the table below (in thousands of dollars):
                         
    Amount     Term     Maturity  
Risk management requirement for insurance claims
  $ 16,194     One year   Renewable annually
Payment surety required by utility
    100     One year   Renewable annually
Contractual reclamation/restoration requirements
    36,032     One year   Renewable annually
 
                     
Total standby letters of credit
  $ 52,326                  
 
                     
Risks and Uncertainties
Our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K discusses the risks and uncertainties of our business. We continue to evaluate our exposure to all operating risks on an ongoing basis.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
We follow certain significant accounting policies when preparing our consolidated financial statements. A summary of these policies is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (Form 10-K) and Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 12, 2007 updating the historical financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the retrospective application of a change in accounting principle related to planned major maintenance activities (as described in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements under the FSP AUG AIR-1 caption). The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis and base our estimates on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities as well as identifying and assessing the accounting treatment with respect to commitments and contingencies. Our actual results may differ from these estimates.
We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies described in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the aforementioned Current Report on Form 8-K have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements, so we consider these to be our critical accounting policies.
Additionally, due to the adoption of FIN 48 (as described in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements), we have revised our policy on income taxes with respect to accounting for uncertain tax positions. We consider our policy on income taxes to be a critical accounting policy due to the significant level of estimates, assumptions and judgments and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. We have included below a description of our accounting policy for income taxes, which reflects changes to our accounting policy for uncertain tax positions.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is based on expected income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we estimate the annual tax rate based on projected taxable income for the full year and record a quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the anticipated annual rate. As the year progresses, we refine the estimates of the year’s taxable income as new information becomes available, including year-to-date financial results. This continual estimation process often results in a change to our expected effective tax rate for the year. When this occurs, we adjust the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that the year-to-date provision reflects the expected annual tax rate. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions.
In accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets represent items to be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns for which we have already properly recorded the tax benefit in the income statement. At least quarterly, we assess the likelihood that the deferred tax asset balance will be recovered from future taxable income. We take into account such factors as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carryback and carryforward periods, and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of a realization of a deferred tax asset. To the extent recovery is unlikely, a valuation allowance is established against the deferred tax asset, increasing our income tax expense in the year such determination is made.
APB Opinion No. 23, “Accounting for Income Taxes, Special Areas,” does not require U.S. income taxes

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to be provided on foreign earnings when such earnings are indefinitely reinvested offshore. We periodically evaluate our investment strategies with respect to each foreign tax jurisdiction in which we operate to determine whether foreign earnings will be indefinitely reinvested offshore and, accordingly, whether U.S. income taxes should be provided when such earnings are recorded.
We adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48) effective January 1, 2007. In accordance with FIN 48, we recognize a tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. For a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we initially and subsequently measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. Our liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation. Such adjustments are recognized entirely in the period in which they are identified. Our effective tax rate includes the net impact of changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and subsequent adjustments as considered appropriate by management.
A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which we have recorded a liability related to an unrecognized tax benefit is audited and finally resolved. The number of years with open tax audits varies by jurisdiction. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, we believe our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is adequate. Favorable resolution of an unrecognized tax benefit could be recognized as a reduction in our effective tax rate in the period of resolution. Unfavorable settlement of an unrecognized tax benefit could increase the effective tax rate and may require the use of cash in the period of resolution. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is generally presented as noncurrent. However, if we anticipate paying cash within one year to settle an uncertain tax position, the liability is presented as current.
We classify interest and penalties recognized on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.
Our largest permanent item in computing both our effective tax rate and taxable income is the deduction allowed for percentage depletion. The deduction for percentage depletion does not necessarily change proportionately to changes in pretax earnings. Due to the magnitude of the impact of percentage depletion on our effective tax rate and taxable income, a significant portion of the financial reporting risk is related to this estimate.
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 created a new deduction for certain domestic production activities as described in Section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code. Generally, this deduction, subject to certain limitations, was set at 3% for 2005 and 2006, increased to 6% in 2007 through 2009 and reaches 9% in 2010 and thereafter.

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INVESTOR ACCESS TO COMPANY FILINGS
We make available free of charge on our website, vulcanmaterials.com, copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as well as all Forms 4 and 5 filed by our executive officers and directors, as soon as the filings are made publicly available by the Securities and Exchange Commission on its EDGAR database, at sec.gov. In addition to accessing copies of our reports online, you may request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, at no charge, by writing to:
Jerry F. Perkins Jr.
Secretary
Vulcan Materials Company
1200 Urban Center Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35242

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Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to certain market risks arising from transactions that are entered into in the normal course of business. In order to manage or reduce this market risk, we may utilize derivative financial instruments.
We are exposed to interest rate risk due to our various long-term debt instruments. Substantially all of this debt is at fixed rates; therefore, a decline in interest rates would result in an increase in the fair market value of the liability. At times, we use interest rate swap agreements to manage this risk. We had no interest rate swap agreements outstanding on existing long-term debt as of June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006. During May and June of 2007, we entered into eleven forward starting interest rate swap agreements for a total notional amount of $1.1 billion. The objective of these swap agreements is to hedge against the variability of forecasted interest payments attributable to changes in interest rates on a portion of the anticipated fixed-rate debt issuance in 2007 to fund the cash portion of the Florida Rock acquisition. As of June 30, 2007, we had entered into five 5-year swap agreements with a blended swap rate of 5.25% on an aggregate notional amount of $500 million and six 10-year swap agreements with a blended swap rate of 5.57% on an aggregate notional amount of $600 million. Each swap agreement reflects a mandatory early termination date of August 30, 2007, at which time we expect that the swaps will be settled in cash for their then fair value. However, if the Florida Rock acquisition does not close prior to August 30, or if we choose to issue the aforementioned fixed-rate debt after that date, then we plan to roll the swap agreements forward to coincide with a new, targeted debt issuance date.
In accordance with FAS 133, at June 30, 2007, we recognized assets totaling $14.2 million (included in other noncurrent assets) and liabilities totaling $3.1 million (included in other noncurrent liabilities) in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to these swap agreements, and recognized a gain of $6.6 million in other comprehensive income, net of a deferred tax liability of $4.4 million. We are exposed to market risk for decreases in the LIBOR rate as a result of these swap agreements. A hypothetical decline in interest rates of 0.75% would result in a charge to other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, of approximately $52.4 million. A hypothetical increase in interest rates of 0.75% would result in a credit to other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, of approximately $49.3 million.
We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
At June 30, 2007, the estimated fair market value of our long-term debt instruments including current maturities was $330.1 million as compared with a book value of $322.1 million. The effect of a hypothetical decline in interest rates of 1% would increase the fair market value of our liability by approximately $6.8 million.
We are exposed to certain economic risks related to the costs of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans. These economic risks include changes in the discount rate for high-quality bonds, the expected return on plan assets, the rate of compensation increase for salaried employees and the rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits. The impact of a change in these assumptions on our annual pension and other postretirement benefits costs is discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Item 4.   Controls and Procedures
We maintain a system of controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms. These disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with the participation of other management officials, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2007. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective. No changes were made to our internal controls over financial reporting or other factors that could affect these controls during the second quarter of 2007, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Certain legal proceedings in which we are involved are discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements and Part I, Item 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and in Note 19 to the condensed consolidated financial statements of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. The following discussion is limited to certain recent developments concerning our legal proceedings and should be read in conjunction with these earlier disclosures. Unless otherwise indicated, all proceedings discussed in those earlier disclosures remain outstanding.
In November 1998, we were named one of several defendants in a claim filed by the city of Modesto in state court in San Francisco, California. The plaintiff sought to recover costs to investigate and clean up low levels of soil and groundwater contamination in Modesto, including a small number of municipal water wells, from a dry cleaning compound, perchloroethylene. This product was produced by several manufacturers, including our former Chemicals business, which was sold in June 2005. The defendants named included other chemical and equipment manufacturers, distributors and dry cleaners. The trial of this case began during the first quarter of 2006. On June 9, 2006, the jury returned a joint and several verdict against six defendants, including Vulcan, for compensatory damages of $3.1 million, constituting the costs to filter two wells and pay for certain past investigation costs. On June 13, 2006, the jury returned separate punitive damages awards against three defendants, including $100 million against Vulcan. On August 1, 2006, the trial judge entered an order reducing the punitive damage verdict against Vulcan to $7.25 million and upholding the jury’s findings on compensatory damages. Although the compensatory damages verdict was upheld by the court, we believe our share of the compensatory damages after setoffs from other settlements will not be material to our consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, we have not accrued any amounts related to the compensatory damages verdict. We believe that the punitive damage verdict is contrary to the evidence presented at trial, and we are continuing to review potential legal remedies. While it is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of this litigation, pursuant to SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” we recorded a contingent liability related to the punitive damages claim of $7.25 million as of December 31, 2006.
As part of the first trial, the court on February 14, 2007, entered a Final Statement of Decision ruling in favor of the city of Modesto and against Vulcan and other defendants on certain claims not submitted to the jury relating to the California Polanco Act. The judge awarded additional joint and several damages of $438,000 against Vulcan and the other five defendants. In addition, the city of Modesto will be allowed to seek attorney fees against these six defendants, and Vulcan could also be required to pay a portion of future remediation costs at one of the four sites at issue in the trial. As of December 31, 2006, we recorded a contingent liability related to this ruling in the amount of $100,000, representing a best estimate of our potential share of the $438,000 awarded. At this time, we cannot determine the likelihood or reasonably estimate the range of potential attorney fees or future remediation costs that Vulcan may have to pay.
In this same lawsuit, the Plaintiff seeks a second trial for soil and groundwater contamination at other locations in Modesto that were not part of the first trial. The second trial has been set for November 13, 2007. No municipal water wells are part of the second trial. At this time, we cannot determine the likelihood or reasonably estimate a range of loss

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resulting from the remaining phases of the trial. We have recently reached an agreement with the city of Modesto to settle all claims that the City might have against us which result from a settlement made by the City with a co-defendant, McHenry Village, in which that defendant assigned its rights against Vulcan and others to the City. This settlement of $395,000 has been added to the contingent liability relating to this matter discussed above, resulting in a total contingent liability of $7,745,000. This settlement does not preclude the City from pursuing the other claims set forth above.
We have been named as a defendant in multiple lawsuits filed in 2001 and 2002 in state court and federal district court in Louisiana. The lawsuits claim damages for various personal injuries allegedly resulting from releases of chemicals at our former Geismar, Louisiana plant in 2001. A trial for the issues of causation and damages for ten plaintiffs was held in July 2004. Five of these plaintiffs were dismissed during the trial. A jury awarded the remaining five plaintiffs an aggregate award of $201,000. In November 2006, the trial court approved a settlement class with most of the remaining plaintiffs in the matter. A court-appointed special master is overseeing the settlement process of the November 2006 approved settlement class. A second settlement class has been preliminarily approved by the Court for those plaintiffs who opted out of the November 2006 approved settlement class. We have previously recorded a charge for the self-insured portion of these losses, and Vulcan’s insurers are responding to amounts in excess of the self-insured retention.
We produced and marketed industrial sand from 1988 to 1994. Since July 1993, we have been sued in numerous suits in a number of states by plaintiffs alleging that they contracted silicosis or incurred personal injuries as a result of exposure to, or use of, industrial sand used for abrasive blasting. In February 2007, we were dismissed in two cases in Alabama (with an aggregate of 33 plaintiffs). As of May 25, 2007, the number of suits totaled 96, involving an aggregate of 562 plaintiffs. There are 51 pending suits with 494 plaintiffs filed in Texas. The balance of the suits have been brought by plaintiffs in state courts in California, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. We are seeking dismissal of all suits on the ground that plaintiffs were not exposed to our product. To date, we have been successful in getting dismissals from cases involving almost 17,000 plaintiffs, with no payments made in settlement.
In September 2001, we were named a defendant in a suit brought by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division, Illinois, alleging damage to a 0.9-mile section of Joliet Road that bisects our McCook Quarry in McCook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. IDOT seeks damages to “repair, restore, and maintain” the road or, in the alternative, judgment for the cost to “improve and maintain other roadways to accommodate” vehicles that previously used the road. The complaint also requests that the court enjoin any McCook Quarry operations that will further damage the road. The court in this case recently granted summary judgment in favor of Vulcan on certain claims. The court also granted the plaintiff’s motion to amend their complaint to add a punitive damages claim, although the court made it clear that it was not ruling on the merits of this claim. Discovery is ongoing and no trial date has been set.
Although the ultimate outcome of these matters is uncertain, it is our opinion that the disposition of these described lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of Part 1 in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (Form 10-K).

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Our Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 11, 2007. The results of the voting at the Annual Meeting are set forth below:
  1.   The shareholders elected the following directors to hold office until the annual meeting in the year indicated:
                         
    Term   Number of Shares
Director   Expiring   For   Withhold
Douglas J. McGregor
    2010       79,053,444       1,564,555  
Donald B. Rice
    2010       78,997,685       1,620,314  
Vincent J. Trosino
    2010       79,487,660       1,130,339  
  2.   The shareholders ratified the appointment of the firm Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accountants to audit our books for the year 2007:
         
    Number of Shares
For
    79,437,743  
Against
    596,283  
Abstain
    583,973  

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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit 31(a) — Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 31(b) — Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32(a) — Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32(b) — Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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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.
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY
         
     
Date July 31, 2007   /s/ Ejaz A. Khan    
  Ejaz A. Khan   
  Vice President, Controller and Chief Information Officer   
 
     
  /s/ Daniel F. Sansone    
  Daniel F. Sansone   
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer   
 

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