Martin Marietta buying Texas Industries for $2.06B

NEW YORK (AP) -- Martin Marietta Materials is buying its Texas Industries in an all-stock deal worth $2.06 billion, creating a leading supplier of aggregates and heavy building materials with a strong presence in large, fast-growing markets like California and Texas.

Martin Marietta said Tuesday shareholders of Texas Industries will get 0.7 shares of Martin Marietta for each share held. Based on Monday's closing price, that amounts to $71.95 per share.

Shares of Texas Industries picked up $3.53, or 4.9 percent, to $75.07 in morning trading. The Dallas company's stock has climbed in recent weeks on speculation about a possible sale. Since Dec. 22 the stock is up 22.2 percent.

Shares of Martin Marietta rose $6.42, or 6.3 percent, to $109.20.

Martin Marietta will also assume $700 million in Texas Industries' debt. It expects the deal to add to its net income in 2014 excluding one-time costs and assuming it is able to refinance the debt.

Martin Marietta sells granite, limestone, sand and gravel, and it had $2.16 billion in revenue in 2013. Texas Industries makes cement and building materials, and it had $697 million in revenue in its latest fiscal year.

The companies said that together, they have more than 400 quarries, mines, distribution yards, and plants in 36 states, Canada, the Bahamas and the Caribbean Islands. The combined company will keep the Martin Marietta Materials name and its headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. Martin Marietta executives including President and CEO Ward Nye will remain in charge, and one person jointly selected by Martin Marietta and Texas Industries will be appointed to the board.

The companies say their boards approved the deal. They expect it to close during the second quarter.

Martin Marietta also reported better-than-expected results for the fourth quarter Tuesday. The company said sales of aggregates and specialty products were strong because construction in the private sector has improved. It said net income grew 67 percent to $36 million, or 77 cents per share, from $21.5 million, or 46 cents per share. Revenue rose 9 percent to $545 million.

Analysts expected income of 70 cents per share and $485.7 million in revenue, according to FactSet.

Martin Marietta's annual revenue rose 6 percent. The company said it expects increased construction activity in 2014 as the housing market continues to recover, and it also expects more private-sector construction because of work related to shale energy projects and some growth in public-sector work.