DALLAS, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Centex Construction Products,
Inc. (NYSE: CXP) announced today that its Special Meeting of Stockholders
regarding the spin-off of all of the CXP shares owned by Centex Corporation
(NYSE: CTX) will be held at 9:00 a.m., local time on January 8, 2004 at 2728
North Harwood, 10th floor, Dallas, Texas. The record date for the meeting is
November 28, 2003.
Centex owns approximately 11.9 million shares of CXP (representing
approximately 65% of the outstanding shares of CXP). In connection with the
spin-off, CXP would reclassify its shares of Common Stock into two classes and
pay a special one-time cash dividend of $6.00 per share to all of its
stockholders (including Centex) immediately prior to the spin-off. The two
classes shall consist of a new Class B Common Stock having the right to elect
at least 85% of CXP's Board and CXP's existing class of Common Stock having
the right to elect the remaining members of the Board. In all other respects,
the rights of the holders of the two classes will be substantially the same,
including voting on fundamental transactions affecting CXP. Subject to
stockholders' approval at the January 8, 2004 meeting, it is anticipated that
the spin-off and the cash dividend will be completed by the end of January
2004. Stockholders will also be voting on certain other matters at the
Special Meeting.
Under the terms of the agreement reached with Centex in July 2003, CXP and
Centex agreed that the spin-off would be accomplished only on a tax-free
basis. Centex has informed CXP that it has received approval from the
Internal Revenue Service that the spin-off will receive tax-free treatment.
When the spin-off is completed, it is anticipated that Centex stockholders
will receive approximately .19 shares of CXP Common Stock for each share of
Centex common stock (consisting of approximately .15 shares of CXP's new Class
B Common Stock and .04 shares of CXP's existing class of Common Stock).
The agreement with Centex also provides that immediately prior to the
spin-off, CXP would pay a cash dividend to all of its stockholders (including
Centex) of $6.00 per share. This dividend would only be paid in conjunction
with the spin-off and will be funded substantially through borrowings made by
CXP. CXP's debt-to-capitalization ratio after payment of the cash dividend
and after the spin-off is expected to be approximately 22%.
CXP believes that the spin-off will be beneficial to its stockholders
because, among other considerations, it will increase CXP's shares available
to be traded on a daily basis, will eliminate competition for capital between
CXP and the other businesses of Centex, and will allow CXP management greater
flexibility in dealing with the opportunities and challenges specific to its
respective businesses. CXP has a strong balance sheet and its operations are
sound and well established. CXP is led by an experienced and talented
management and believes that its prospects are good.
CXP is a Dallas-based company that manufactures and distributes cement,
gypsum wallboard, recycled paperboard and concrete and aggregates.
Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933,
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified
by the context of the statement and generally arise when CXP is discussing its
beliefs, estimates or expectations. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual
results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast
in such forward-looking statements. The principal risks and uncertainties
that may affect the spin-off and related transactions include the fact that
these transactions will be subject to obtaining the stockholder and
satisfaction of other customary conditions. With respect to any discussion of
the expected performance and results of operations of Centex Construction
Products, Inc., risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the
cyclical and seasonal nature of the Company's business, public infrastructure
expenditures, adverse weather, availability of raw materials, unexpected
operational difficulties, governmental regulation and changes in governmental
and public policy, changes in economic conditions specific to any one or more
of the Company's market, competition, announced increase in capacity in the
gypsum wallboard and cement industries, general economic conditions, and
interest rates. Investors should take such risks and uncertainties into
account when making investment decisions. These and other factors are
described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Centex Construction Products,
Inc. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 as amended and restated by our
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on November 26, 2003, and the current
Report on Form 8-K dated July 21, 2003 as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on
November 12, 2003. These reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Additional Information and Where to Find It. In connection with the
reclassification of its common stock, CXP has filed a proxy statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is mailing the proxy statement to its
stockholders of record eligible to vote at the Special Meeting. INVESTORS AND
SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ SUCH PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and other security holders can obtain copies
of the proxy statement free of charge and may also obtain other documents
filed by CXP with the SEC by directing a request to Centex Construction
Products, Inc., Investor Relations, 2728 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201
Telephone: (214) 981-6510. You may also obtain free copies of the proxy and
other documents filed by CXP with the SEC by accessing the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov . CXP, its directors, certain executive officers, and
certain other employees may be deemed under the rules of the SEC to be
"participants in the solicitation" of proxies from the security holders of CXP
in favor of the reclassification. CXP's directors and executive officers
beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 2% of the outstanding shares of
CXP common stock. Security holders of CXP may obtain additional information
regarding the interests of the "participants in the solicitation" by reading
the proxy statement.
SOURCE Centex Construction Products, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.centex-cxp.com
CONTACT:
Steven R. Rowley, Chief Executive Officer, or
Arthur R. Zunker, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, both of Centex Construction Products, Inc.,
+1-214-981-5000
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