UNITED STATES VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan) 1200 Urban Center Drive Birmingham, Alabama 35242 (Address of issuer's principal executive offices and address of the plan) |
Vulcan Materials Company Construction Materials Divisions |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Administrative Committee of
Vulcan Materials Company Construction Materials Divisions Hourly Employees Savings Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Vulcan Materials Company Construction Materials Divisions Hourly Employees Savings Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2005, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Such schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the basic 2005 financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Birmingham, Alabama
June 23, 2006
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VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS DIVISIONS |
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ASSETS INTEREST IN MASTER TRUST: Investments Participant loans Total interest in master trust CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVABLE: Employer Employee Total contributions receivable TOTAL LIABILITIES EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE Total liabilities NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS See notes to financial statements. |
2005 $87,354,216 6,625,455 93,979,671 29,387 84,456 113,843 94,093,514 249,911 249,911 $93,843,603 |
2004 $67,532,561 4,552,754 72,085,315 153,553 84,048 237,601 72,322,916 201,301 201,301 $72,121,615 |
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VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS DIVISIONS |
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ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS: |
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VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS DIVISIONS HOURLY EMPLOYEES SAVINGS PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND 2004, AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
General - The Vulcan Materials Company Construction Materials Divisions Hourly Employees Savings Plan (the "Plan"), a defined contribution employee benefit plan established effective October 1, 1983, for the purpose of providing for accumulation of savings for qualifying nonunion hourly employees of Vulcan Materials Company's (the "Company") Southeast, Mideast, Midsouth, Southwest, Western, Southern Gulf Coast, and Midwest divisions.
The Company has designated a portion of the Plan consisting of the Company's common stock fund as an employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP"). The ESOP fund allows a participant to elect to have the dividends on the Company's common stock reinvested in the Company's common stock or paid to the participant in cash.
A participant may transfer between the Company's divisions. In these instances, the net assets of the participant's account will be transferred between the other defined contribution employee benefit plans that participate in the Vulcan Materials Company Retirement Savings Trust (the "Master Trust").
All assets of the Plan are held by the Northern Trust Company of Chicago, Illinois (the "Trustee"). The Company pays the administrative costs of the Plan, including the Trustee's fees and charges. Hewitt Associates LLC (the "Recordkeeper") is the recordkeeper for the Plan.
On December 16, 2005, the Company merged the assets of the Vulcan Materials Company Chemicals Division Hourly Employees Savings Plan into the Plan. Assets of $10,806,820 were transferred into the Plan.
Participation and Vesting -Generally, hourly employees qualify to participate on the first of the month following completion of two months of employment service. Participants are fully vested in all contributions at all times.
Contributions - The Plan is funded through contributions by participants and the Company. The Plan provides for two types of employee contributions to the Plan: pay conversion contributions (pretax) and after-tax contributions. An employee may designate multiples of 1%, ranging from 1% to 35%, of earnings as either pay conversion contributions, after-tax contributions, or any combination of the two. Pay conversion contributions, which are subject to annual increases pursuant to federal regulations, are limited to a maximum dollar amount of $14,000 for 2005. Certain additional limits may be imposed on the amount of contributions by or on behalf of certain higher-paid employees. For participants over the age of 50, additional contributions may be made in the amount of $4,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The Company expects to make matching contributions from current and accumulated earnings and profits to match a portion of an employee's contribution (whether pretax, after-tax, or both) ranging from 50% to 75% of that contribution based on the participant's years of service, not to exceed 4% of the employee's earnings.
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Investment Options - Participants' contributions are invested in 13 separate investment funds of the Plan in proportions elected by the participant. The Company's matching contributions are invested in the fund, which invests primarily in the Company's common stock, and are nonparticipant-directed. See Note 4 for further information on nonparticipant-directed contributions.
Participant Accounts - Separate accounts are maintained for each participant for matched, unmatched, and Company contributions and accumulated earnings thereon. Additionally, subaccounts are maintained for matched and unmatched accounts for the portion of each account that is attributable to pretax contributions and the portion attributable to after-tax contributions. Earnings (losses) are allocated to each participant's account in the ratio of the participant's account balance to total participants' account balances. Distributions and withdrawals are charged to participant accounts.
Distributions and Withdrawals - A participant's total account is distributed upon retirement, disability, death, or termination of employment, unless the account value is greater than $5,000, in which case the participant may defer distribution until age 70-1/2. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, benefits of $15,413,299 and $4,319,106, respectively, were due to individuals who were separated from the Plan.
Prior to termination of employment, a participant may withdraw any amount up to the value of his or her entire account provided, however, that (1) no portion of an actively employed participant's pay conversion contribution account may be distributed to him or her before age 59-1/2, unless the administrative committee approves a "hardship" withdrawal (as defined in the Plan) and (2) the preceding 24 months of matching contributions may not be withdrawn by an actively employed participant, who has not been a participant in the Plan for at least 60 months.
Participant Loans - Participants may apply for a single loan equal to the lesser of 50% of the participant's total account or $50,000. If a loan is made, the participant shall execute a note payable to the Trustee in the amount of the loan and bearing interest at the Prime interest rate, plus 1%. The average rate of interest on loans approximated 5.7% and 5.6% as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. A loan is considered an investment of the Plan. The participant's investment accounts will be reduced by the amount of the loan. Any repayment made will be allocated to the participant's investment accounts in accordance with his or her current investment direction. Loans must be repaid on a per-pay-period basis through payroll deductions and must be repaid within 60 months.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting - The financial statements of the Plan have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition - The Plan's investment in the Master Trust represents its proportionate interest. The Plan's investment in the Master Trust is presented at estimated fair value, which has been determined based on the underlying fair values of the assets of the Master Trust.
Investments, other than guaranteed investment contracts, are reported at fair value. Investments in securities traded on national and over-the-counter exchanges are valued at the closing bid price of the security as of the last day of the year. Guaranteed investment contracts are valued at contract value, which represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less withdrawals and administrative expenses, because they are fully benefit-responsive contract value approximates fair value. There are no reserves against contract value for credit risks of the contract issuer or otherwise. The average yield and crediting interest rate was approximately 4.25% for 2005 and 2004. Loans to participants are valued at outstanding loan balances.
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The average cost of securities sold or distributed is used to determine net investment gains or losses realized. Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Distributions of common stock, if any, to participants are recorded at the market value of such stock at the time of distribution. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Investment manager fees are netted against Plan investment income. Expenses incurred in connection with the transfer of securities, such as brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, are added to the cost of such securities or deducted from the proceeds thereof.
Use of Estimates and Risks and Uncertainties - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Master Trust invests in various securities including U.S. government securities, guaranteed investment contracts, corporate debt instruments, and corporate stocks. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.
Payment of Benefits - Benefits are recorded when paid.
Excess Contributions Payable - The Plan is required to return contributions received during the Plan year in excess of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") limits.
3. INTEREST IN MASTER TRUST
The Plan's investment assets are held in a trust account by the Trustee. Use of the Master Trust permits the commingling of investment assets of a number of employee benefit plans of the Company. Each participating plan has an undivided interest in the Master Trust. Although assets of the plans are commingled in the Master Trust, the Recordkeeper maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the net gain or loss of the investment account to the participating plans. The net investment income or loss of the Master Trust is allocated by the Recordkeeper to each participating plan based on the relationship of the interest of each plan to the total of the interests of the participating plans.
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The fair value of investments of the Master Trust at December 31, 2005 and 2004, is summarized as follows:
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2005 $ 53,884,057 41,176,619 31,244,948 51,334,314 128,740,636 208,865,933 77,811,466 81,057,945 44,292,332 301,996,762 45,582,262 18,525,144 $1,084,512,418 |
2004 $ 55,385,784 56,657,040 39,704,812 34,558,144 104,919,990 184,799,590 65,461,039 99,681,190 40,429,114 292,597,161 59,410,521 21,694,618 $1,055,299,003 |
Percentage of Plan's investments in the |
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The total investment income of the Master Trust as of December 31, 2005, is summarized as follows:
Interest |
$10,235,078 |
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Net assets - beginning of year |
$292,597,161 72,360,469 8,752,518 7,702,292 (59,205,148) (20,210,530) 9,399,601 $301,996,762 |
5. PLAN TERMINATION
Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA").
6. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated January 10, 2003, that the Plan and related trust were designed in accordance with the applicable regulations of the IRC. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter; however, the Company and Plan administrator believe that the Plan is currently designed and operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and that the Plan and the related trust continue to be tax-exempt. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial statements.
7. EXEMPT PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS
At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Master Trust held 4,349,188 and 5,267,666 shares, respectively, of common stock of the Company with a cost basis of $133,325,293 and $143,032,290, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Master Trust recorded dividend income of $5,610,247 attributable to its investment in the Company's common stock.
8. DISCRIMINATION TESTING
The Plan failed the ADP/ACP discrimination test for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004. Therefore, the Plan recorded a payable in the amount of $249,911 and $76,363 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, to be refunded to these highly compensated employees. In 2005, the Plan Sponsor determined that the Plan also failed the ADP/ACP discrimination testing in several prior years. Accordingly, the Plan recorded a payable in the amount of $124,938 as of December 31, 2004, to be refunded to certain highly compensated employees. Further, the accompanying 2004 financial statements included a contribution receivable due from the Company totaling $124,938, which was collected by the Plan in 2005.
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SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA |
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VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS DIVISIONS |
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(b) Identity of Issue, |
(c) Description of Investment, Including |
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Various Plan participants |
Participant loans at interest rates of 5% to 10.5% maturing in 1 to 60 months |
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$6,625,455 |
* Party-in-interest. |
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SIGNATURES |
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The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustee (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. |
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VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY Charles D. Lockhart Chairman of the Administrative Committee |