MUELLER INDUSTRIES INC
DEF 14A, 1995-03-17
STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING MILLS (COKE OVENS)
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<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /

    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    /X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12

                                    MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/X/  $125 per  Exchange Act  Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2)  or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500  per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
/ /  Fee  computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules   14a-6(i)(4)
     and 0-11.
     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     5) Total fee paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement  number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     1) Amount Previously Paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Filing Party:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Date Filed:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>
                                     [LOGO]
                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                              2959 NORTH ROCK ROAD
                             WICHITA, KANSAS 67226
                           TELEPHONE: (316) 636-6300
                            ------------------------

                          NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
                            STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD
                                  MAY 9, 1995
                            ------------------------

To the Stockholders of
Mueller Industries, Inc.

    The  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of  Mueller  Industries,  Inc.  (the
"Company"), will be held  at the Wichita Marriott,  9100 Corporate Hills  Drive,
Wichita, Kansas 67207 on Tuesday, May 9, 1995, at 10:00 A.M. local time, for the
following purposes:

    1.   To elect five directors, each to serve until the next annual meeting of
       stockholders (tentatively  scheduled  for  May 10,  1996)  or  until  his
       successor is elected and qualified;

    2.   To consider and act upon a proposal to approve the appointment of Ernst
       & Young LLP, independent public  accountants, as auditors of the  Company
       for the year ending December 30, 1995; and

    3.   To consider and transact such other business as may properly be brought
       before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.

    Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 13, 1995, will
be entitled to notice of and vote at the Meeting or any adjournment(s)  thereof.
A  complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will
be prepared and maintained at the Company's corporate headquarters at 2959 North
Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas 67226. This list will be available for inspection  by
stockholders  of record during normal business hours for a period of at least 10
days prior to the Annual Meeting.

    IT IS  IMPORTANT THAT  YOUR  SHARES BE  REPRESENTED  AT THE  ANNUAL  MEETING
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS. WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT
AT  THE MEETING IN PERSON, WE URGE YOU TO MARK, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY
CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE  ENCLOSED SELF- ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES  NO
POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

                                          William H. Hensley
                                          CORPORATE SECRETARY

March 17, 1995
<PAGE>
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                              2959 NORTH ROCK ROAD
                             WICHITA, KANSAS 67226
                           TELEPHONE: (316) 636-6300

                            ------------------------

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  MAY 9, 1995

                            ------------------------

                            SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

    The  accompanying proxy  is solicited by  the Board of  Directors of Mueller
Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use at the  annual
meeting  of  stockholders  (the "Annual  Meeting")  to  be held  at  the Wichita
Marriott, 9100 Corporate Hills Drive, Wichita, Kansas 67207, on Tuesday, May  9,
1995, at 10:00 A.M. local time, or at any adjournment(s) thereof.

    This  Proxy Statement,  together with  the Company's  Annual Report  for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, is first being mailed on or about March 17,
1995.

    When a  proxy  card is  returned  properly signed,  the  shares  represented
thereby  will be voted in accordance with the stockholder's directions appearing
on the card. If the  proxy card is signed  and returned without directions,  the
shares  will be voted  in favor of the  proposals set forth  thereon and for the
nominees named herein.  The discretion  granted in the  accompanying proxy  card
includes  the authority to vote on all additional matters properly coming before
the Annual  Meeting  as the  persons  named in  the  proxy deem  appropriate.  A
stockholder  giving a proxy may revoke it at  any time before it is voted at the
Annual Meeting by giving written notice to  the secretary of the Meeting, or  by
casting  a ballot at the Annual Meeting. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the
Annual Meeting  will  be tabulated  by  election inspectors  appointed  for  the
Meeting.  The  election  inspectors  will also  determine  whether  a  quorum is
present. The  election inspectors  will  treat abstentions  as shares  that  are
present  and entitled  to vote  for purposes  of determining  the presence  of a
quorum, but as unvoted  for purposes of determining  the approval of any  matter
submitted.  If a broker indicates on a proxy that it does not have discretionary
authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter, those shares will
not be considered as present and entitled to vote with respect to that matter.

    The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition  to
solicitation  by  mail, directors,  officers and  employees  of the  Company may
solicit proxies by telephone or otherwise. The Company will reimburse brokers or
other persons holding stock in their names or in the names of their nominees for
their charges  and expenses  in forwarding  proxies and  proxy material  to  the
beneficial  owners of such stock. Additional solicitation of proxies of brokers,
banks, nominees and institutional  investors will be  made by Continental  Stock
Transfer  & Trust Company at a cost  to the Company of approximately $2,500 plus
out-of-pocket expenses.

                               VOTING SECURITIES

    The Company had 8,642,732 outstanding shares of common stock, $.01 par value
per share ("Common Stock"), at  the close of business  on March 13, 1995,  which
are  the  only securities  of the  Company entitled  to be  voted at  the Annual
Meeting. The record holder of each share of Common
<PAGE>
Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter that may properly be brought before
the Annual Meeting.  Only stockholders  of record at  the close  of business  on
March  13, 1995,  will be  entitled to  notice of,  and to  vote at,  the Annual
Meeting. The Company's Certificate  of Incorporation and  Bylaws do not  provide
for cumulative voting for the election of Directors.

                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

    As  of March 7, 1995, the following parties  were known by the Company to be
the "beneficial owner" of more than five percent of the Common Stock:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          SHARES
                NAME AND ADDRESS OF                    BENEFICIALLY       PERCENT OF
                 BENEFICIAL OWNER                          OWNED            CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------  -----------------  --------------
<S>                                                  <C>                <C>
Edward C. Johnson 3d                                      906,600(1)        10.49%
FMR Corp.
Fidelity Management & Research Company
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02109

Harvey L. Karp                                            906,000(2)         9.49%(2)
c/o Mueller Industries, Inc.
2959 North Rock Road
Wichita, KS 67226
<FN>
- ---------
(1)   Fidelity  Management  &  Research  Company  ("Fidelity"),  a  wholly-owned
      subsidiary of FMR Corp. and an investment adviser registered under Section
      203  of the Investment  Advisers Act of  1940, is the  beneficial owner of
      906,600 shares of Common Stock as a result of acting as investment adviser
      to  several  investment  companies  registered  under  Section  8  of  the
      Investment  Company Act of  1940 (the "Fidelity  Funds"). The ownership of
      one investment company, Fidelity Magellan Fund, amounted to 732,300 shares
      or 8.47% of the  Common Stock outstanding on  March 7, 1995. These  shares
      are  included  in  the  906,600 shares  of  Common  Stock  reported above.
      Fidelity Magellan  Fund's principal  business office  is the  same as  FMR
      Corp.  Neither FMR Corp. nor Edward C.  Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR Corp.,
      has the sole power to vote or  direct the voting of shares owned  directly
      by the Fidelity Funds, which power resides with the Fidelity Fund's Boards
      of  Directors. Fidelity  carries out  the voting  of shares  under written
      guidelines established by the Fidelity  Fund's Boards of Trustees.  Edward
      C.  Johnson 3d and  Abigail P. Johnson  each own 24.9%  of the outstanding
      voting common stock  of FMR  Corp. Mr. Johnson  is Chairman  of FMR  Corp.
      Various  Johnson  family members,  together  with various  trusts  for the
      benefit of  Johnson  family members,  through  their ownership  of  voting
      common stock and the execution of a family shareholders' voting agreement,
      form  a controlling  group with respect  to FMR Corp.  This information is
      based on a  Schedule 13G,  dated February 13,  1995, jointly  made by  FMR
      Corp., Edward C. Johnson 3d, Fidelity and Fidelity Magellan Fund.

(2)   Includes  900,000 shares of  Common Stock that  Mr. Karp has  the right to
      acquire pursuant to the exercise of options.
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

    The Board of Directors proposes to  elect the following five persons at  the
Annual  Meeting to serve (subject  to the Company's Bylaws)  as directors of the
Company until the next Annual Meeting (tentatively scheduled for May 10,  1996),
or  until the  election and qualification  of their successors:  Harvey L. Karp,
Allan Mactier, William D. O'Hagan, Robert J. Pasquarelli and Robert B. Hodes. If
any such person  should be unwilling  or unable to  serve as a  director of  the
Company,  which is not anticipated, the persons named in the proxy will vote the
proxy for substitute nominees  selected by them unless  the number of  directors
has been reduced to the number of nominees willing and able to serve.

                   OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK BY DIRECTORS AND
                OFFICERS AND INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTOR NOMINEES

    The  following table sets forth, as of  March 7, 1995, information about the
shares of  Common  Stock  (calculated based  on  8,642,732  shares  outstanding)
beneficially  owned by  each of  the Company's  current directors,  nominees for
director and named executive officers. Unless otherwise indicated, all directors
and nominees for  director and  named executive  officers have  sole voting  and
investment  power with respect to the shares of Common Stock reported. The table
and the  accompanying  footnotes set  forth  their current  positions  with  the
Company, principal occupations and employment over the preceding five years, age
and directorships held in certain other publicly-owned companies.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     COMMON STOCK
                                                     BENEFICIALLY
                                                      OWNED AS OF     PERCENT
      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, EMPLOYMENT, ETC.         MARCH 7, 1995   OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
Harvey L. Karp.....................................       906,000          9.49%
    Chairman of the Board of Directors since
    October 8, 1991; Director since August 1991;
    Director of New Jersey Steel Corporation; age
    67 (1)
Allan Mactier......................................       105,900          1.23%
    Director of the Company since December 1990;
    age 72 (2)
William D. O'Hagan.................................        50,675      *
    Chief Executive Officer of the Company since
    January 1, 1994; Chief Operating Officer of the
    Company since June 22, 1992; President of the
    Company since December 1, 1992; Director of the
    Company since January 1993; age 53 (3)
Robert J. Pasquarelli..............................           670      *
    Director of the Company since July 1991;
    Director of New Jersey Steel Corporation; age
    49 (4)
Robert B. Hodes....................................         5,500      *
    Director of the Company since February 10,
    1995; Director of W.R. Berkley Corporation,
    Crystal Oil Company, Global Telecommunications,
    Ltd., Loral Corporation and Space
    Systems/Loral, Inc.; age 69 (5)
Earl W. Bunkers....................................        10,870      *
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
    Officer of the Company since August 28, 1991;
    age 61 (6)
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     COMMON STOCK
                                                     BENEFICIALLY
                                                      OWNED AS OF     PERCENT
      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, EMPLOYMENT, ETC.         MARCH 7, 1995   OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
John B. Hansen.....................................         7,075      *
    Vice President and General Manager--Fittings
    Division of the Company since November 4, 1993;
    age 48 (7)
William H. Hensley.................................        27,524      *
    Vice President and General Counsel of the
    Company since December 16, 1991; Secretary of
    the Company since January 30, 1992; age 44 (8)
Harvey Clements....................................         9,375      *
    Vice President and General Manager--Tube
    Division of the Company since November 4, 1993;
    age 51 (9)
Richard G. Miller..................................           200      *
    Vice President and Chief Information Officer of
    the Company since November 10, 1994, age 42
    (10)
Lee Nyman..........................................         3,700      *
    Vice President--Manufacturing/Management
    Engineering of the Company since July 7, 1993;
    age 42 (11)
James H. Rourke....................................        11,563      *
    Vice President and General Manager--Industrial
    Division of the Company since November 4, 1993;
    age 46 (12)
Roy C. Harris......................................         5,460      *
    Corporate Controller of the Company since April
    1, 1992; age 52 (13)
Kent A. McKee......................................        12,030      *
    Treasurer of the Company since November 8, 1991
    and Assistant Secretary of the Company since
    August 28, 1991; age 34 (14)
Executive Officers and Directors as a Group........     1,156,542         12.02%**
<FN>
- ---------

*    Less than 1%

**   Includes  979,353 shares of Common Stock which are subject to stock options
     held  by  officers  of  the  Company  that  are  currently  exercisable  or
     exercisable within sixty days.

 (1) Mr.  Karp has  served (i)  as Chief Executive  Officer of  the Company from
     October 31,  1991 to  December 31,  1993, (ii)  as acting  Chief  Executive
     Officer  of the Company from October 8, 1991 to October 30, 1991, and (iii)
     as Co-Chairman of  the Board of  Directors of the  Company from August  28,
     1991 to October 7, 1991. For more than five years prior to October 8, 1991,
     Mr.  Karp was self-employed  in managing his  private investment portfolio.
     The number  of  shares of  Common  Stock  beneficially owned  by  Mr.  Karp
     includes  900,000 shares  of Common  Stock which  are subject  to currently
     exercisable stock options.

 (2) Mr. Mactier is currently self-employed  in managing his private  investment
     portfolio and has been engaged in that capacity for more than the last five
     years. The number of shares of Common Stock
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>
     owned  by Mr.  Mactier (i)  includes 500 shares  of Common  Stock which are
     subject to currently exercisable  stock options, and  (ii) 4,500 shares  of
     Common Stock owned by trusts of which Mr. Mactier is trustee.

 (3) Mr.  O'Hagan has  served as  Vice President  and General  Manager of NIBCO,
     Inc., a pipe  valve and  fittings manufacturer,  for more  than five  years
     prior to June 1992. The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned
     by  Mr. O'Hagan includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock which are subject to
     currently exercisable stock options.

 (4) Mr. Pasquarelli  has  served as  Director,  President and  Chief  Executive
     Officer  of New Jersey  Steel Corporation, a New  Jersey based steel maker,
     for more than the  last five years.  The number of  shares of Common  Stock
     owned  by Mr.  Pasquarelli includes  500 shares  of Common  Stock which are
     subject to currently exercisable stock options.

 (5) Mr. Hodes has been  a senior partner  and Co-Chairman in  the New York  law
     firm  of Willkie Farr  & Gallagher for  more than the  past five years. The
     number of shares of Common Stock  owned by Mr. Hodes includes 1,000  shares
     of Common Stock owned by a trust of which Mr. Hodes is trustee.

 (6) Mr. Bunkers has served (i) as Treasurer of the Company from August 28, 1991
     to   November  8,  1991,   (ii)  without  title   as  the  chief  financial
     representative of  Mueller  Brass Company  in  Port Huron,  Michigan,  from
     December  28, 1990 to August 28, 1991, (iii) as Vice President--Finance and
     Administration and Chief Financial Officer  for Mueller Brass Company  from
     January  1, 1990 to  December 28, 1990, (iv)  as Vice President--Finance of
     J.I. Case Company, an agricultural and construction equipment company owned
     by  Tenneco,  Inc.,  from  July  1988  to  June  1989,  and  (v)  as   Vice
     President-Finance  and Chief  Financial Officer  of J.I.  Case Company from
     August 1984 to June 1988. The number of shares of Common Stock owned by Mr.
     Bunkers includes 700 shares of Common Stock which are subject to  currently
     exercisable stock options.

 (7) Mr.  Hansen has  served (i) as  Vice President--Sales and  Marketing of the
     Company  from  May   11,  1993   to  November   4,  1993,   (ii)  as   Vice
     President--Sales  of the Company from September 1992 to May 11, 1993, (iii)
     as Vice President and  General Manager, Copper Fittings  of NIBCO, Inc.,  a
     pipe  valve and fittings manufacturer, from January 1992 to September 1992,
     and (iv) as Vice President--Marketing, Residential Products of NIBCO, Inc.,
     from September 1988 to December 1991. The number of shares of Common  Stock
     beneficially  owned by  Mr. Hansen  includes 6,700  shares of  Common Stock
     which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.

 (8) Mr. Hensley  has  served  as Vice  President--Legal,  General  Counsel  and
     Secretary  for Learjet,  Inc. (or  its predecessor  corporate entities), an
     aircraft manufacturing firm, from February, 1988 to December 13, 1991.  The
     number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Hensley includes
     2,200  shares of  Common Stock which  are subject  to currently exercisable
     stock options.

 (9) Mr. Clements has served  (i) as Plant Manager  at the Company's factory  in
     Fulton,  Mississippi from December 1990 to November 1993, and (ii) as Plant
     Manager at the  Company's factory  in Hartsville, Tennessee  for more  than
     five  years prior to  December 1990. The  number of shares  of Common Stock
     beneficially owned by Mr.  Clements includes 3,700  shares of Common  Stock
     which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.

(10) Mr. Miller has served as chief information officer from October 31, 1994 to
     November  10, 1994. Prior to  April 1994, he served  as (i) Corporate Staff
     Vice President, Sonoco Products Company, a
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>
     paper and packaging company,  from January 1992 to  April 1994, (ii)  Staff
     Vice  President-- Corporate Controller at  Sonoco Products Company from May
     1990 to January 1992,  and (iii) Group  General Manager--Finance at  Sonoco
     Products Company from May 1986 to May 1990.

(11) Mr.  Nyman  has served  as Senior  Associate  of Booz  Allen &  Hamilton, a
     management consulting organization, from August 1992 to July 5, 1993. Prior
     thereto, he  served for  more than  four years  as a  partner at  Ingersoll
     Engineers,  Inc., a  management consulting  firm. The  number of  shares of
     Common Stock  beneficially owned  by  Mr. Nyman  includes 3,700  shares  of
     Common Stock which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.

(12) Mr.  Rourke has  served (i) as  Vice President  General Manager, Industrial
     Products for Mueller Brass  Co. in Port Huron,  Michigan, from May 1989  to
     November  1993,  and (ii)  as  Operations Manager--Engineered  Products for
     Mueller Brass Co. from  August 1987 to  May 1989. The  number of shares  of
     Common  Stock beneficially  owned by  Mr. Rourke  includes 5,428  shares of
     Common Stock which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.

(13) Mr. Harris has served (i)  as Corporate Controller, Brenco Incorporated,  a
     roller  bearing manufacturer, from July 1991 to March 31, 1992, and (ii) as
     Corporate Controller,  Mueller  Brass Co.  in  Port Huron,  Michigan,  from
     February  1989  to  June  1991.  The  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock
     beneficially owned  by Mr.  Harris includes  1,800 shares  of Common  Stock
     which  are  subject  to stock  options  that are  currently  exercisable or
     exercisable within sixty days.

(14) Mr. McKee has served (i) as Treasurer of the Company from February 13, 1991
     to August 28, 1991, (ii) as Secretary of the Company from December 28, 1990
     to May 13, 1991, (iii) without title to Wexfield Management Corporation,  a
     management  company, from November 1990 to  March 17, 1991, (iv) as manager
     of   corporate   accounting   for   Consolidated   Freightways,   Inc.,   a
     transportation  service  company  where he  was  primarily  responsible for
     financial reporting,  from August  1989 through  October 1990,  and (v)  as
     Senior  Manager involved in  audit services at KPMG  Peat Marwick, a public
     accounting firm, from January  1982 to July 1989.  The number of shares  of
     Common  Stock  beneficially owned  by Mr.  McKee  includes 4,125  shares of
     Common Stock which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.
</TABLE>

    During 1994, the Board of Directors held four meetings and took action three
times by  unanimous  written  consent.  The Board  of  Directors  established  a
standing  Audit  Committee and  a Compensation  Committee at  its organizational
meeting on February 13, 1991.  On May 13, 1991,  the Board of Directors  created
two  committees (the "Plan Committees") to  be responsible for administering the
Company's 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 1991 Incentive Stock  Option
Plan.  On  November 16,  1993,  the Board  of  Directors established  a standing
Nominating Committee.  On May  12,  1994, the  Board  of Directors  created  two
committees (the "Option Plan Committees") to be responsible or administering the
Company's  1994 Stock Option  Plan and the  Company's 1994 Non-Employee Director
Stock Option Plan. During 1994,  each of the directors  attended 75% or more  of
the  meetings of  the Board  and the  meetings of  the committees  on which they
served.

    The Audit Committee is composed of  three directors who are not officers  or
employees  of the Company:  Robert Hodes, Allan  Mactier and Robert Pasquarelli.
During 1994, the Audit Committee held one meeting. The Audit Committee (i) makes
recommendations  to  the  Board  regarding  the  appointment  of  the  Company's
independent  accountants,  (ii) reviews  and approves  any  major change  in the
Company's accounting  policy,  (iii)  reviews  the  scope  and  results  of  the
independent audit,

                                       6
<PAGE>
(iv)  reviews and approves the scope of  the non-audit services performed by the
Company's independent  accountants  and considers  the  possible effect  on  the
independence  of the accountants, (v) reviews the effectiveness of the Company's
internal audit procedures and personnel, (vi) reviews the Company's policies and
procedures for compliance with  disclosure requirements concerning conflicts  of
interest  and the prevention of unethical, questionable or illegal payments, and
(vii) makes such reports and recommendations to the Board of Directors as it may
deem appropriate.

    The Compensation Committee is composed of two directors who are not officers
or employees of the  Company: Robert Pasquarelli and  Allan Mactier. These  same
directors  also  serve  as  members  of  the  Plan  Committees  and  Option Plan
Committees. The  Compensation  Committee  (i)  reviews  management  compensation
standards  and practices  and (ii)  makes such  recommendations to  the Board of
Directors as it deems appropriate. During 1994, the Compensation Committee  held
one meeting; the Plan Committees and the Option Committee did not meet.

    The  Nominating Committee is composed of  two directors who are not officers
or employees of  the Company:  Allan Mactier  and Robert  Hodes. The  Nominating
Committee  makes recommendations to the  Board regarding director candidates and
criteria for Board membership.  During 1994, the  Nominating Committee held  two
meetings.  The Nominating Committee  does not consider  individuals nominated by
stockholders for election to  the Board. However,  under the Company's  By-laws,
nominations  for  the  election  of  directors  may  be  made  by  a  qualifying
stockholder, but only  if written notice  of such stockholder's  intent to  make
such  nomination has been received by the Secretary of the Company at 2959 North
Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas 67226 not later than (i) with respect to an  election
to  be  held  at  an  annual  meeting of  stockholders,  90  days  prior  to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting (unless the  annual
meeting  date is advanced by more than thirty days or delayed by more than sixty
days, in which  case different  deadlines apply), and  (ii) with  respect to  an
election  to be held  at a special  meeting of stockholders  for the election of
directors, not earlier than 90 days prior  to the special meeting and not  later
than the later of (a) 60 days prior to such special meeting or (b) the tenth day
following  the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the
special meeting, provided that in the event  that the number of directors to  be
elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement naming all
of  the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board made
by the Company at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the  preceding
year's  annual meeting, a stockholder's notice  shall also be considered timely,
but only  with  respect  to nominees  for  any  new positions  created  by  such
increase,  if it is delivered to the Secretary of the Company not later than the
tenth day following the day on which  such public announcement is first made  by
the  Company.  To  be  a  qualifying  stockholder,  the  stockholder  must  be a
stockholder of record at the time the  notice was delivered to the Secretary  of
the  Company. Each such notice  shall set forth: (a) as  to each person whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election  or reelection as a director,  all
information  relating  to  such  person  that is  required  to  be  disclosed in
solicitation of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required,  in
each  case  pursuant  to  Regulation 14A  (or  successor  provisions)  under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including  such person's written consent to  be
named  in the proxy statement as a nominee and serving as a director if elected;
(b) as to any other business that  the stockholder desired to be brought  before
the  meeting, a brief description  of the business desired  to be brought before
the meeting, the reasons  for conducting such business  at the meeting, and  any
material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner,
if  any, on  whose behalf the  proposal is made;  and (c) as  to the stockholder
giving the  notice  and  the beneficial  owner,  if  any, on  whose  behalf  the
nomination  or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as
they appear on the Company's books,

                                       7
<PAGE>
and of such beneficial owner and (ii)  the class and number of shares of  Common
Stock  of  the  Company which  are  owned  beneficially and  of  record  by such
stockholder and such beneficial owner. The presiding officer of the meeting  may
refuse  to acknowledge the nomination of any  person not made in compliance with
the foregoing procedure.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

    During 1994, Directors of  the Company who are  not employed by the  Company
received  an  annual fee  for serving  on  the Company's  Board of  Directors of
$25,000, plus  a fee  of $1,000  per Board  and $750  per Audit,  Nominating  or
Compensation Committee meeting attended by such Director, plus reimbursement for
such Director's expenses incurred in connection with any such Board or Committee
meeting,  except  no  Committee meeting  fees  were  paid for  meetings  held in
conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting. In addition, the Chairman of  the
Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees receive an annual fee of $2,500.

    Under  the  Company's 1994  Non-Employee  Director Stock  Option  Plan, each
member of the Company's  Board of Directors  who is neither  an employee nor  an
officer  of the Company  is automatically granted  each year on  the date of the
Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders,  without further action by the  Board,
an  option to  purchase 500  shares of  the Company's  Common Stock  at the fair
market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date the option is granted. As
of March 7, 1995, options to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock
were outstanding.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' AFFILIATIONS

    Mr. Hodes is a  member of the  law firm of Willkie  Farr & Gallagher,  which
provided services to the Company during 1994.

                                       8
<PAGE>
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The  following table  summarizes the  annual and  long-term compensation for
services in all capacities for the Company  for the fiscal years 1994, 1993  and
1992,  of those persons who were, at  December 31, 1994, (i) the chief executive
officer and (ii) the  other four most highly  compensated executive officers  of
the Company (collectively, the "Named Officers").

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                     ALL OTHER
                                                                                                                   COMPENSATION
                                                                                                                   -------------
                                                                                                LONG-TERM
                                                                                               COMPENSATION
                                                 ANNUAL COMPENSATION                     ------------------------
                               --------------------------------------------------------                 PAYOUTS
                                                                            OTHER        SECURITIES    LONG-TERM
     NAME AND PRINCIPAL                                                     ANNUAL       UNDERLYING    INCENTIVE
          POSITION                 YEAR        SALARY        BONUS     COMPENSATION(1)   OPTIONS (#)    PAYOUTS
- -----------------------------  ------------  -----------  -----------  ----------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                            <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>               <C>          <C>          <C>
Harvey L. Karp                      1994     $   550,152  $   412,614
Chairman of the                     1993     $   480,000  $   344,506
Board                               1992     $   480,076  $   360,000                       400,000
William D. O'Hagan                  1994     $   375,152  $   262,606                         1,125
President and Chief                 1993     $   225,000  $   150,249    $    113,355        50,675
Executive Officer                   1992(2)  $   116,868  $   120,400                       100,000
Earl W. Bunkers                     1994     $   167,652  $   100,591                         8,001
Executive Vice                      1993     $  $150,000  $    93,691                           450
President and Chief                 1992     $   140,076  $    35,000                        15,420
Financial Officer
William H. Hensley                  1994     $   155,152  $    93,091                         7,690
Vice President,                     1993     $   140,000  $    87,691                           420
General Counsel and                 1992     $   130,076  $    32,500                        20,390
Secretary
John B. Hansen                      1994     $   147,499  $    88,496                         7,935
Vice President and                  1993     $   131,154  $    81,483                           375
General Manager--                   1992(2)  $    37,981  $    38,000    $     39,372        15,000
Fittings Division
<FN>
- ---------
(1)   Perquisites  and other personal benefits received by each Named Officer in
      1994 aggregated below the required disclosure threshold.

(2)   Messrs. O'Hagan and Hansen joined the Company in mid-1992.
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>
                                 OPTION GRANTS

    Shown below is further information on options granted during the fiscal year
ended December  31, 1994,  to the  Named Officers  which were  reflected in  the
Summary Compensation Table on page 9.

                      OPTIONS GRANTED IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
                             NUMBER OF      % OF TOTAL                                                 ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
                            SECURITIES       OPTIONS                                                  STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
                            UNDERLYING      GRANTED TO    EXERCISE OR  MARKET PRICE                        FOR OPTION TERM
                              OPTIONS      EMPLOYEES IN   BASE PRICE    ON DATE OF    EXPIRATION   -------------------------------
NAME                        GRANTED (#)    FISCAL YEAR      ($/SH)     GRANT ($/SH)      DATE       0% ($)     5% ($)     10% ($)
- -------------------------  -------------  --------------  -----------  -------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                        <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
Harvey L. Karp...........       --            --             --            --             --          --         --         --
William D. O'Hagan.......        1,125           0.98   % $ 24.969   (1) $    29.375    06/30/95       4,957      6,609      8,261
Earl W. Bunkers..........        3,500           3.04   % $ 35.75    (2) $    35.75     12/30/99      --         42,543     96,542
Earl W. Bunkers..........        4,000           3.47   % $ 29.0625  (3) $    29.0625   12/06/04      --         73,095    185,273
Earl W. Bunkers..........          501           0.43   % $ 24.969   (1) $    29.375    06/30/95       2,207      2,943      3,679
William H. Hensley.......        3,500           3.04   % $ 35.75    (2) $    35.75     12/30/99      --         42,543     96,542
William H. Hensley.......        4,000           3.47   % $ 29.0625  (3) $    29.0625   12/06/04      --         73,095    185,273
William H. Hensley.......          190           0.16   % $ 24.969   (1) $    29.375    06/30/95         837      1,116      1,395
John B. Hansen...........        3,500           3.04   % $ 35.75    (2) $    35.75     12/30/99      --         42,543     96,542
John B. Hansen...........        4,000           3.47   % $ 29.0625  (3) $    29.0625   12/06/04      --         73,095    185,273
John B. Hansen...........          435           0.38   % $ 24.969   (1) $    29.375    06/30/95       1,917      2,556      3,194
<FN>
- ------------
(1)   Under the Company's 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Company offered
      eligible  employees  (generally  all  full-time  employees)  an  option to
      purchase up  to three  shares of  Common  Stock for  each $1,000  of  base
      compensation. The option price is the lower of (i) 85% of the price of the
      Common  Stock on the offering  date, or (ii) 85% of  the fair value of the
      Common Stock on the last day of the one-year offering period. The exercise
      or base price per share  set forth in the table  is 85% of $29.375,  which
      was  the closing price of  the Common Stock on  July 1, 1994, the offering
      date. The assumed stock price appreciation  is based off the price of  the
      Common  Stock on July 1, 1994. If the closing price of the Common Stock on
      June 30, 1995, the last day of the offering period, is less than  $29.375,
      the option will be 85% of that lower market price.

(2)   These  options vest  ratably over  a five  year term,  with the  first 20%
      vesting on  December  30,  1994.  These options  were  granted  under  the
      Company's 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan.

(3)   These  options vest  ratably over  a five  year term,  with the  first 20%
      vesting on  December  6,  1995.  These  options  were  granted  under  the
      Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan.
</TABLE>

                                       10
<PAGE>
              AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                       OPTION VALUES AT DECEMBER 31, 1994

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              NUMBER OF
                                                                              SECURITIES
                                                                              UNDERLYING      VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                             UNEXERCISED      IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                                                               OPTIONS             AT DEC. 31,
                                                                           AT DEC. 31, 1994        1994($)(*)
                                                                          ------------------  ---------------------
                                           SHARES ACQUIRED      VALUE        EXERCISABLE/         EXERCISABLE/
NAME                                       ON EXERCISE(#)    REALIZED($)    UNEXERCISABLE         UNEXERCISABLE
- ----------------------------------------  -----------------  -----------  ------------------  ---------------------
<S>                                       <C>                <C>          <C>                 <C>
Harvey L. Karp..........................                                           900,000/0           19,462,500/0
William D. O'Hagan......................            675           2,949       40,000/111,125        635,000/958,019
Earl W. Bunkers.........................          3,450          85,216             0/17,001              0/201,458
William H. Hensley......................          5,420         134,375         5,000/12,690        113,125/117,307
John B. Hansen..........................            375           1,638         6,000/16,935         96,750/150,509
<FN>
- ---------
*     Represents  the  difference between  the  closing price  of  the Company's
      Common Stock on the last  trading day prior to  December 31, 1994 and  the
      exercise price of the options.
</TABLE>

The  Company did not  award any executive officer  any stock appreciation rights
during 1994, nor  was any  award made under  any long-term  incentive plan.  The
Company  does not have any defined benefit  or actuarial plan covering the Chief
Executive Officer or the Named Officers.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS

    Effective as of  October 1,  1991, the  Company entered  into an  employment
agreement  (the  "Karp  Employment Agreement")  with  Harvey L.  Karp.  The Karp
Employment Agreement is subject to  automatic extension for additional one  year
periods  as of December 31  for each succeeding year,  unless either party gives
written notice of its intention  not to extend the  term of the Karp  Employment
Agreement.  The Karp Employment Agreement provides  for him to serve as Chairman
of the Board of Directors  of the Company. Effective  January 1, 1994, the  Karp
Employment  Agreement was amended to (i)  increase Mr. Karp's annual base salary
to $550,000,  (ii) change  Mr.  Karp's discretionary  cash incentive  bonus  for
fiscal 1993 so as to make it based on a percentage of base salary at least equal
to  the percentage  bonus that  will be payable  to senior  management under the
Company's 1993  bonus program,  and  (iii) make  Mr. Karp's  discretionary  cash
incentive  bonus for  future years consistent  with the  executive bonus program
which the Company establishes for other  key employees. The Company also  agreed
in  the amendment to pay Mr. Karp six months severance pay if the Company elects
not to extend his employment under the Karp Employment Agreement.

    The Karp Employment Agreement also  provides for an option (the  "Inducement
Option")  to acquire  500,000 shares  of Common  Stock at  $8.25 per  share. The
Inducement Option is exercisable until one year after termination of Mr.  Karp's
employment  with the  Company under  the Karp  Employment Agreement,  unless Mr.
Karp's employment is  terminated for Cause  (as defined in  the Karp  Employment
Agreement),  in which case  the Inducement Option  shall only remain exercisable
for a period of 30 days following Mr. Karp's receipt of written notice from  the
Company  specifying the basis  for Cause. Effective January  1, 1994, Mr. Karp's
existing option agreements for  900,000 shares of Common  Stock were amended  to
provide  that Mr. Karp may exercise his options from time to time by paying cash
or, at Mr. Karp's option, executing a promissory note (the "Karp Note") in favor
of the  Company, containing  the following  terms: (i)  the Karp  Note would  be
secured by stock, which could

                                       11
<PAGE>
not  otherwise be sold, assigned,  pledged, encumbered, transferred or otherwise
hypothecated by Mr. Karp so long as the Karp Note was outstanding, provided that
Mr. Karp would be free to  sell any or all such shares  so long as he paid  down
the  Karp Note in an amount equal to the option price times the number of shares
sold; (ii) the Karp Note would be due  in three years from the date of  exercise
of the option; (iii) interest would be payable quarterly; (iv) the interest rate
would  be fixed at the higher of (x) the three year treasury rate in effect when
the options were exercised, and (y) the  rate at which the Company is then  able
to  borrow  funds having  a three  year term;  and  (v) the  Karp Note  would be
prepayable, at any time, in whole or  in part without penalty. The Company  also
agreed that, at its cost, it would file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or
its equivalent) relating to Mr. Karp's existing options.

    Effective  as of January 1, 1994, the  Company entered into a new employment
agreement (the  "O'Hagan Employment  Agreement") with  William D.  O'Hagan.  The
O'Hagan   Employment  Agreement  expires  on  December  31,  1996.  The  O'Hagan
Employment Agreement provides for him to serve as President and Chief  Executive
Officer  of the Company at an annual base salary for the first year of $375,000,
with increases in the base salary in future years to be determined in good faith
by the  Company.  The O'Hagan  Employment  Agreement  also provides  for  (i)  a
discretionary cash incentive bonus for fiscal 1993 based on a percentage of base
salary  at least equal  to the percentage  bonus that will  be payable to senior
management under  the  Company's 1993  bonus  program, (ii)  discretionary  cash
incentive  bonuses in future  years consistent with  the executive bonus program
which the Company establishes for other  key executives, and (iii) an option  to
acquire  50,000 shares of Common Stock  pursuant to the Company's 1991 Incentive
Stock Option Plan. Vesting of the options  would occur ratably over a five  year
term,  with the first 20% vesting on January 1, 1995, except that if the Company
does not  enter  into a  new  employment agreement  with  Mr. O'Hagan  prior  to
September  30,  1996, all  remaining unvested  options would  become immediately
exercisable on that date. Mr. O'Hagan's  options could be exercised by cash  or,
at Mr. O'Hagan's option, a note. The terms of the note are identical to the Karp
Note,  which are  detailed in the  preceding paragraph. The  Company also agreed
that, at its cost, it  would file a Registration Statement  on Form S-8 (or  its
equivalent) relating to Mr. O'Hagan's existing options to acquire 100,000 shares
of  Common Stock. During the employment term, Mr. O'Hagan can only be terminated
for Cause (as defined in the O'Hagan Employment Agreement).

    Effective as of November  26, 1991, the Company  entered into an  employment
agreement  (the  "Hensley Employment  Agreement") with  William H.  Hensley. The
Hensley Employment Agreement  provides for him  to serve as  Vice President  and
General  Counsel of  the Company for  a term ending  on December 31,  1993 at an
annual base salary of $130,000  together with a one  time bonus of $15,000  upon
execution  of the Hensley Employment Agreement and guaranteed bonuses of $20,000
for calendar  year  1992  and  $30,000  for  calendar  year  1993.  The  Hensley
Employment  Agreement also provided  for the grant of  options to acquire 20,000
shares of Common  Stock pursuant to  the Company's 1991  Incentive Stock  Option
Plan.  The Hensley Employment Agreement also provided for severance payments and
accelerated vesting  of options  if the  Company  did not  offer to  extend  Mr.
Hensley's  employment. Effective  as of  July 23,  1993, the  Hensley Employment
Agreement was amended to extend the term to December 31, 1995, and to delete the
provisions relating to guaranteed bonuses or severance payments.

                                       12
<PAGE>
    The Company  does  not  have  any other  employment  agreements  with  Named
Executive  Officers. Except as set forth  above, the Company has no compensatory
plan or arrangement  with respect  to any  Named Executive  Officer which  would
result in severance or change-in-control payments in excess of $100,000.

                      REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
                           OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors establishes the general
compensation  policies  of  the  Company, approves  the  compensation  plans and
specific compensation levels  for executive  officers, and sets  the salary  and
bonus for the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer. The 1991 Incentive Stock
Option  Plan and the 1994 Stock Option  Plan are managed by separate committees.
The Compensation Committee and  these committees are each  composed of the  same
two independent non-employee directors who have no interlocking relationships as
defined by the SEC.

    The  base compensation of  the Chairman and the  Chief Executive Officer are
governed by the terms  of employment agreements. In  November 1993, the  Company
entered  into revised employment  agreements with Messrs.  Karp and O'Hagan. See
"Employment Contracts  and  Termination  of  Employment  Agreements."  Effective
January  1, 1994, Mr. Karp's  base pay was increased  by $70,000 to $550,000 and
Mr. O'Hagan's base pay  was increased by $150,000  to $375,000. Mr. Karp's  base
pay  was adjusted  in order  to retain  his services  on a  full time  basis. In
addition, the fact that he  had not been granted an  increase in base pay  since
October  1991 was considered  by the Compensation  Committee. Mr. O'Hagan's base
pay was adjusted upward to reflect  his new position as Chief Executive  Officer
of  the  Company effective  January 1,  1994,  and the  Compensation Committee's
determination of his increased importance to the Company.

    Mr. Karp and Mr. O'Hagan were awarded  bonuses in 1994 in the amount of  75%
and  70%, respectively, of  their gross wages, excluding  bonuses for 1993 which
were  paid  in  1994,  and  certain  other  miscellaneous  items.  These   bonus
percentages  were  higher  than the  maximum  60%  bonuses paid  to  other Named
Officers under  the Company's  1994 bonus  program, which  bonus percentage  was
established  as the minimum under the  Karp Employment Agreement and the O'Hagan
Employment Agreement. The Compensation Committee recommended a higher percentage
be used for calculating Mr. Karp's bonus based on the Committee's assessment  of
his  ability to enhance the long-term value of the Company as demonstrated since
he became Chairman in October of 1991. The Compensation Committee recommended  a
higher  percentage be  used for calculating  Mr. O'Hagan's bonus  because of the
leadership demonstrated by Mr. O'Hagan during his first year as Chief  Executive
Officer  and because the Committee felt that Mr. O'Hagan's participation in, and
championing of, the ongoing major capital improvement projects being  undertaken
by  the Company  was and would  be integral to  their successful implementation.
Increases in  base compensation  to  other officers  during 1994  averaged  five
percent  and were  based on  recommendations from  Messrs. Karp  and O'Hagan. In
making   this   decision,   the   Compensation   Committee   considered    these
recommendations,  as well as  the Company's performance,  earnings for the first
nine months,  and  the  handling  of the  Company's  major  capital  expenditure
programs.  Bonuses to officers other than Messrs. Karp and O'Hagan for 1994 were
60% or less of gross wages, excluding bonuses for 1993 which were paid in  1994,
and   certain  other  miscellaneous  items.   These  bonuses  were  the  maximum
percentages for such officers as set

                                       13
<PAGE>
forth in the Company's 1994  bonus program, which were paid  as a result of  the
Company's  having exceeded targeted  income for fiscal  1994. The Named Officers
other than  Messrs. Karp  and O'Hagan  each  received bonuses  equal to  60%  of
adjusted gross wages.

    On December 30, 1993, the Company granted options to acquire an aggregate of
24,000  shares of Common  Stock to its executive  officers (including options to
acquire 3,500 shares to each of the  Named Officers other than Messrs. Karp  and
O'Hagan)  and on  December 6,  1994, the Company  granted options  to acquire an
aggregate of 33,000 shares of Common Stock to its executive officers  (including
options to acquire 4,000 shares to each of the Named Officers other than Messrs.
Karp  and O'Hagan), in  each case based  on recommendations by  Messrs. Karp and
O'Hagan which were approved by the Compensation Committee. In addition, in  1994
options  to acquire an aggregate  of 5,000 shares of  Common Stock were given in
connection with the hiring of a new corporate officer. When granting options  to
executive  officers, the  Compensation Committee  evaluated the  total number of
shares available, the  number of  options previously granted  to such  officers,
Company and individual performance, and the individual's level of responsibility
in  the organization.  No specific  corporate or  individual performance factors
were used, however. No incentive options were granted to either Messrs. Karp  or
O'Hagan.  No additional incentive  options were granted  to Mr. Karp  due to his
existing options. No additional  incentive options were  granted to Mr.  O'Hagan
due  to his having been granted an additional option to acquire 50,000 shares of
the Common Stock in late 1993. The Compensation Committee believes that issuance
of stock options  are an  integral part  of the  executive compensation  program
which  motivates  executives  to practice  long-term  strategic  management. The
granting of options encourages key employees to align their long-range interests
with those of stockholders by accomplishing longer-term corporate goals.

    Section 162(m)  of the  Internal Revenue  Code limits  the deductibility  of
compensation  of  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  four  other  highest paid
executive officers to $1,000,000 per year (subject to certain exceptions).  None
of  the Company's executive officers receive  annual cash compensation in excess
of the  maximum  deductible  amount. In  addition,  the  Company's  Compensation
Committee  is  comprised of  "outside" directors  and  the Company's  1994 Stock
Option Plan  has  been  structured  so  as  to  qualify  as  "performance-based"
compensation  which is  excluded from  the determination  of the  annual maximum
deductible amount. If, because of competitive factors, individual performance or
changes in tax provisions, the  Compensation Committee should determine that  it
is  appropriate to pay one or more  executive officers compensation in excess of
the annual maximum deductible amount, the Compensation Committee would expect to
recommend such compensation.

ALLAN MACTIER                                              ROBERT J. PASQUARELLI

                                       14
<PAGE>
                          CORPORATE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

    The following table  compares total  shareholder return  since February  27,
1991  to the Dow Jones  Equity Market Index ("Equity  Market Index") and the Dow
Jones Building Material Index ("Building  Material Index"). Total return  values
for  the Equity Market Index,  the Building Material Index  and the Company were
calculated based  on cumulative  total return  values assuming  reinvestment  of
dividends.  On  April  17, 1987,  Sharon  Steel Corporation  ("Sharon")  filed a
voluntary petition for relief  under Chapter 11 of  the United States Code  (the
"Bankruptcy Code"). On December 28, 1990, a Reorganization Plan was consummated.
Upon  Consummation of the Reorganization Plan,  the separate existence of Sharon
ceased and Mueller Industries, Inc. became a successor to Sharon for purposes of
the Bankruptcy  Code, and  assumed  the reporting  obligations of  Sharon  under
Section  12 of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934.  The Company's Common Stock
first traded on  the New York  Stock Exchange under  the symbol MLI  on a  "when
issued"  basis on February 27, 1991. Therefore, five year data on the Company is
unavailable.

                COMPARISON OF FOUR YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

              AMONG MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC., DOW JONES EQUITY MARKET
                  INDEX AND DOW JONES BUILDING MATERIAL INDEX
                  FISCAL YEAR ENDING LAST SATURDAY IN DECEMBER

                                     [GRAPH]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   02/27/91     12/28/91     12/26/92     12/25/93     12/31/94
                                                                  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Mueller Industries, Inc.........................................         100           76          203          310          275
Dow Jones Equity Market Index...................................         100          115          129          140          141
Dow Jones Building Material Index...............................         100          108          140          170          138
</TABLE>

                                       15
<PAGE>
                           CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND
                          TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT

    On June 3, 1994, the Company  purchased 924,875 shares of its Common  Stock,
for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $25.9 million, from the Quantum
Fund  N.V. Prior  to that  transaction, Quantum Fund  N.V. owned  more than five
percent (5%) of the Common Stock of the Company.

                            APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

    Ernst & Young LLP ("E  & Y") has, upon  the recommendation of the  Company's
Audit  Committee, been selected and appointed by the Board of Directors to audit
and certify the Company's financial statements for the year ending December  30,
1995,  subject to ratification by the Company's stockholders. If the appointment
of E & Y is not ratified by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting,
the Board of Directors will reconsider its action and will appoint auditors  for
the  1995 fiscal year  without further stockholder action.  Further, even if the
appointment is ratified by stockholder action, the Board of Directors may at any
time in  the  future  in  its  discretion  reconsider  the  appointment  without
submitting   the  matter  to  a  vote  of  stockholders.  It  is  expected  that
representatives of E & Y will be in attendance at the Annual Meeting and will be
available to answer questions and to make a statement if they desire to do so.

    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS  VOTE THEIR SHARES  FOR
THE  PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST  & YOUNG LLP AS AUDITORS OF THE
COMPANY.

                      SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
                          FOR THE 1996 ANNUAL MEETING

    It is presently anticipated that the 1996 Annual Meeting will be held on  or
about  May 10, 1996. In  order for a stockholder proposal  to be included in the
Company's proxy materials for  the 1996 Annual Meeting,  it must be received  by
the  Secretary of the Company no later than  November 13, 1995. It is urged that
any such proposal be  sent by certified mail,  return receipt requested. If  the
date  of the 1996 Annual Meeting is changed  to a date more than 30 days earlier
or later than May 10, 1996, the Company will inform the stockholders in a timely
fashion of such change and the date  by which proposals of stockholders must  be
received for inclusion in the proxy materials.

                          OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE
                                  THE MEETING

    If  any matter not  described herein should properly  come before the Annual
Meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by them
as they deem appropriate. At the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company  knew
of  no other  matters which  might be  presented for  stockholder action  at the
Annual Meeting.

                               OTHER INFORMATION

    Based solely upon its  review of Forms  3 and 4 received  by it and  written
representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for
those  persons, the  Company believes that  during 1994  all filing requirements
applicable to its officers, directors and ten percent shareholders were complied
with.

                                       16
<PAGE>
    Consolidated financial statements for the Company are included in the Annual
Report to Stockholders for the year 1994 that accompanies this Proxy  Statement.
These  financial statements  are also on  file with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission, 450 Fifth Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and with the New York
Stock Exchange.

    A COPY OF THE  COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT  ON FORM 10-K AS  FILED FOR THE  YEAR
1994  (EXCLUDING EXHIBITS)  WILL BE  FURNISHED, WITHOUT  CHARGE, BY  WRITING TO:
WILLIAM H. HENSLEY, SECRETARY, MUELLER  INDUSTRIES, INC., 2959 NORTH ROCK  ROAD,
WICHITA, KANSAS 67226.

                                            By order of the Board of Directors

                                                    William H. Hensley
                                                   Corporate Secretary

March 17, 1995

                                       17
<PAGE>
                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
             PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - MAY 9, 1995
          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                               / / I plan to attend the meeting.

<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>                                        <C>
1. Election of Directors.                  / / FOR all nominees                       / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                                             (except as indicated to the contrary)      to vote for all nominees.
                                           Nominees: Robert B. Hodes, Harvey L. Karp, Allan Mactier, William D. O'Hagan and
                                           Robert J. Pasquarelli.
                                           (Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that
                                           nominee's name in the space provided below.)

                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Approve the appointment of Ernst &
   Young LLP as auditors of the Company.   / / FOR                  / / AGAINST                  / / ABSTAIN
</TABLE>

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY
THE  SIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR
ALL NOMINEES" IN ITEM 1 AND "FOR" IN ITEM 2.

 PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
                                   ENVELOPE.

                                                     (CONTINUED ON REVERSE SIDE)
<PAGE>
                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
             PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - MAY 9, 1995

    The undersigned hereby appoints Earl W. Bunkers and William H. Hensley,  and
each of them, Proxies, with full power of substitution in each, to represent and
to  vote, as designated, all shares of Common Stock of Mueller Industries, Inc.,
that the undersigned is entitled to  vote at the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders
to  be held on May 9, 1995, and at all adjournments thereof, upon and in respect
of the matters set  forth on the  reverse side hereof,  and in their  discretion
upon any other matter that may properly come before said meeting.

                                              Dated: _____________________, 1995

                                              ----------------------------------
                                                          Signature

                                              ----------------------------------
                                                  Signature if held jointly

                                              Please sign exactly as your name
                                              appears to the left. When shares
                                              are held jointly, each shareholder
                                              named should sign. When signing as
                                              attorney, executor, administrator,
                                              trustee or guardian, you should so
                                              indicate when signing. If a
                                              corporation, please sign in full
                                              corporate name by duly authorized
                                              officer. If a partnership, please
                                              sign in partnership name by
                                              authorized person.


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