MUELLER INDUSTRIES INC
PRE 14A, 1996-02-29
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:
    /X/  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    / /  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 8, 1996
                            ------------------------

To the Stockholders of
Mueller Industries, Inc.

    The  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of  Mueller  Industries,  Inc.  (the
"Company"), will be held at the Crescent Club, 6075 Poplar Avenue, Ninth  Floor,
Memphis,  Tennessee 38119 on Wednesday,  May 8, 1996, 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  6,  1997)  or  until his
       successor is elected and qualified;

    2.  To  amend the  Company's Certificate  of Incorporation  to increase  the
       number   of  authorized  shares  of   Common  Stock  from  20,000,000  to
       50,000,000;

    3.  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 28, 1996; and

    4.  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, 1996, will
be  entitled to notice of  and vote at the  Annual 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 15, 1996
<PAGE>
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                              2959 NORTH ROCK ROAD
                             WICHITA, KANSAS 67226
                           TELEPHONE: (316) 636-6300

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

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  MAY 8, 1996

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

                            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 Crescent Club,
6075 Poplar Avenue, Ninth Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38119, on Wednesday, May  8,
1996, 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 30, 1995, is first being mailed on or about March 15,
1996.

    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 holders of a majority of the shares of common stock, $.01 par value
per share ("Common  Stock") outstanding  and entitled  to vote  who are  present
either  in person  or represented  by proxy constitute  a quorum  for the Annual
Meeting. 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.
<PAGE>
                               VOTING SECURITIES

    The Company had 17,372,298 outstanding shares  of Common Stock at the  close
of  business on  March 13, 1996,  which are  the only securities  of the Company
entitled to be voted at the Annual  Meeting. The record holder of each share  of
Common 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, 1996,  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, 1996, 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>
Harvey L. Karp                                           1,812,000(1)        9.45%(1)
c/o Mueller Industries, Inc.
2959 North Rock Road
Wichita, KS 67226

FMR Corp.                                                1,088,600(2)        6.27%
Edward C. Johnson 3d
Fidelity Management & Research Company
Fidelity Magellan Fund
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02109
</TABLE>

- ---------
(1)  Includes 1,800,000 shares  of Common Stock  that Mr. Karp  has the right to
    acquire pursuant to the exercise of options.

(2)  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
    1,088,600 shares of Common Stock as a result of acting as investment adviser
    to  Fidelity Magellan Fund, an investment company registered under Section 8
    of the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940  ("Fidelity  Magellan").  Fidelity
    Magellan  owned 1,088,600 shares or 6.27% of the Common Stock outstanding on
    March 7, 1996. 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  Fidelity  Magellan,  which  power  resides  with  the  Fidelity
    Magellan's  Board of  Directors. Fidelity carries  out the  voting of shares
    under  written  guidelines  established  by  Fidelity  Magellan's  Board  of
    Trustees.  Members of the Edward  C. Johnson 3d family  and trusts for their
    benefit are the predominant owners of Class B shares of common stock of  FMR
    Corp.,  representing  approximately 49%  of the  voting  power of  FMR Corp.
    Edward C. Johnson 3d  owns 12.0% and  Abigail P. Johnson  owns 24.5% of  the
    aggregate  outstanding  voting  common stock  of  FMR Corp.  Mr.  Johnson is
    Chairman of FMR Corp. and Abigail P. Johnson is a Director of FMR Corp.  The
    Johnson  family group and all  other Class B shareholders  of FMR Corp. have
    entered into a shareholder's voting agreement under which all Class B shares
    will be

                                       2
<PAGE>
    voted in accordance with the majority  vote of Class B shares.  Accordingly,
    through  their ownership  of voting  common stock  and the  execution of the
    shareholder's voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be  deemed
    to  form a controlling group  with respect to FMR  Corp. This information is
    based on a Schedule 13G, dated February 14, 1996, jointly made by FMR Corp.,
    Edward C. Johnson 3d, Abigail P. Johnson, Fidelity and Fidelity Magellan.

                             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 6,  1997),
or  until the election  and qualification of their  successors: Robert B. Hodes,
Harvey L. Karp, Allan Mactier, William D. O'Hagan and Robert J. Pasquarelli.  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.

    Directors are elected by  a plurality of the  votes cast. "Plurality"  means
that  the individuals  who receive  the largest number  of votes  cast "For" are
elected as directors up to the maximum  number of directors to be chosen at  the
Annual  Meeting. Consequently, any shares not  voted "For" a particular director
(whether as result of a direction to withhold or a broker non-vote) will not  be
counted in such director's favor.

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

    The  following table sets forth, as of  March 7, 1996, information about the
shares of  Common  Stock (calculated  based  on 17,372,298  shares  outstanding)
beneficially  owned by  each of  the Company's  current directors,  nominees for
director, executive officers  and Named  Officers (as  defined under  "Executive
Compensation").  Unless  otherwise  indicated, all  directors  and  nominees for
director, executive officers and Named 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, 1996   OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
Robert B. Hodes....................................        12,000      *
    Director of the Company since February 10,
    1995; Director of Aerointernational, Inc., W.R.
    Berkley Corporation, Crystal Oil Company,
    Global Telecommunications, Limited, Loral
    Corporation, Loral Space & Communications Ltd.,
    R.V.I. Guaranty, Limited L.T.D., LCH
    Investments N.V. and Restructured Capital
    Holdings, Ltd.; age 70 (1)
Harvey L. Karp.....................................     1,812,000          9.45%
    Chairman of the Board of Directors since
    October 8, 1991; Director since August 1991;
    age 68 (2)
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     COMMON STOCK
                                                     BENEFICIALLY
                                                      OWNED AS OF     PERCENT
      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, EMPLOYMENT, ETC.         MARCH 7, 1996   OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
Allan Mactier......................................       272,800          1.57%
    Director of the Company since December 1990;
    age 73 (3)
William D. O'Hagan.................................       173,052      *
    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 54 (4)
Robert J. Pasquarelli..............................         2,600      *
    Director of the Company since July 1991; age 50
    (5)
Earl W. Bunkers....................................        34,542      *
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
    Officer of the Company since August 28, 1991;
    age 62 (6)
William H. Hensley.................................        70,628      *
    Vice President and General Counsel of the
    Company since December 16, 1991; Secretary of
    the Company since January 30, 1992; age 44 (7)
Lowell Hill........................................             0      *
    Vice President--Human Resources of the Company
    since December 14, 1995; age 51 (8)
Kent A. McKee......................................        30,266      *
    Vice President--Business Development/Investor
    Relations since December 14, 1995; age 35 (9)
Richard G. Miller..................................         3,400      *
    Vice President and Chief Information Officer of
    the Company since November 10, 1994; age 43
    (10)
Lee R. Nyman.......................................        17,386      *
    Vice President--Manufacturing/Management
    Engineering of the Company since July 7, 1993;
    age 43 (11)
James H. Rourke....................................        33,216      *
    Group Vice President--Industrial Products
    Division of the Company since December 14,
    1995; age 47 (12)
John B. Hansen.....................................        24,020      *
    Vice President Marketing, Standard Products
    Division of the Company since December 14,
    1995; age 49 (13)
Executive Officers, Names Officers and Directors as
a Group............................................     2,485,910         12.80%**
</TABLE>

- ---------

*   Less than 1%

**  Includes 2,042,006 shares of Common Stock which are subject to stock options
    held by officers of the Company that are currently exercisable.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 (1) Mr. Hodes is Counsel to the New York law firm of Willkie Farr &  Gallagher.
    The  number  of  shares of  Common  Stock  beneficially owned  by  Mr. Hodes
    includes 1,000  shares  of  Common  Stock which  are  subject  to  currently
    exercisable stock options.

 (2)  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
    1,800,000  shares of Common Stock which are subject to currently exercisable
    stock options.

 (3) 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  beneficially owned  by  Mr.
    Mactier  includes  (i) 2,000  shares of  Common Stock  which are  subject to
    currently exercisable  stock options,  (ii) 10,200  shares of  Common  Stock
    owned  by trusts  of which  Mr. Mactier  is trustee,  (iii) 6,000  shares of
    Common Stock owned by one of Mr. Mactier's children, and (iv) 111,800 shares
    of Common  Stock  owned  by  Mr. Mactier's  spouse.  Mr.  Mactier  disclaims
    beneficial  ownership of  the 117,800  shares of  Common Stock  owned by his
    spouse and one of his children.

 (4) 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 (i)  160,000 shares of  Common Stock which  are subject to
    currently exercisable stock options, and (ii) 10,000 shares of Common  Stock
    owned by Mr. O'Hagan's spouse. Mr. O'Hagan disclaims beneficial ownership of
    the 10,000 shares of Common Stock owned by his spouse.

 (5)  Mr. Pasquarelli is currently self-employed as a steel industry consultant.
    For more than five years prior  to January 17, 1996, Mr. Pasquarelli  served
    as  Director,  President and  Chief Executive  Officer  of New  Jersey Steel
    Corporation, a New Jersey based steel maker. The number of shares of  Common
    Stock  beneficially owned by Mr. Pasquarelli includes 2,000 shares of Common
    Stock which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.

 (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 Co. 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  Co. from
    January 1, 1990  to December 28,  1990, (iv) as  Vice President--Finance  of
    Case  Corporation, 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 Case  Corporation from
    August 1984 to June 1988.

 (7) 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
    (i) 4,400 shares of Common Stock which are subject to currently  exercisable
    stock  options, and (ii) 2,200 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Hensley's
    children.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 (8) Mr.  Hill  has  served  as  a  non-corporate  level  Vice  President--Human
    Resources of the Company from September 20, 1995 to December 14, 1995. Prior
    to  December  1994,  he  served  as  (i)  Vice  President--Human  Resources,
    Integrated Component Systems,  Inc., a start-up  company formed to  purchase
    manufacturing  operations in the automotive industry, from September 1993 to
    December 1994, (ii) Vice President, Employee Relations, Harvard  Industries,
    Inc.,  a manufacturer  of component parts  for the  automotive and aerospace
    industries, from  October 1992  to September  1993, and  (iii) as  Corporate
    Director,  Employee Relations, Harvard  Industries, Inc., from  June 1987 to
    September 1992.

 (9) Mr. McKee has served (i) as Treasurer of the Company from November 8,  1991
    to  December 14, 1995 and from February 13, 1991 to August 28, 1991, (ii) as
    Assistant Secretary of  the Company  from August  28, 1991  to December  14,
    1995,  and (iii) as Secretary  of the Company from  December 28, 1990 to May
    13, 1991. The  number of shares  of Common Stock  beneficially owned by  Mr.
    McKee  includes 13,350 shares of Common Stock which are subject to currently
    exercisable stock options.

(10) Mr. Miller  has served  as chief information  officer of  the Company  from
    October 31, 1994 to November 10, 1994. Prior to April 1994, he served as (i)
    Corporate  Staff  Vice  President,  Sonoco  Products  Company,  a  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 16,600  shares of
    Common Stock which are subject to currently exercisable stock options.

(12) Mr. Rourke has served (i) as Vice President and General Manager--Industrial
    Division of the Company from November 4, 1993 to December 14, 1995, (ii)  as
    Vice President General Manager, Industrial Products for Mueller Brass Co. in
    Port  Huron,  Michigan,  from  May  1989  to  November  1993,  and  (iii) 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 20,256  shares of  Common Stock  which are  subject to
    currently exercisable stock options.

(13) Mr. Hansen has served (i)  as Vice President and General  Manager--Fittings
    Division  of the Company from November 4, 1993 to December 14, 1995, (ii) as
    Vice President--Sales and  Marketing of  the Company  from May  11, 1993  to
    November  4,  1993,  (iii)  as Vice  President--Sales  of  the  Company from
    September 1992 to May 11, 1993, (iv) as Vice President and General  Manager,
    Copper Fittings of NIBCO, Inc., a pipe valve and fittings manufacturer, from
    January  1992  to  September  1992, and  (v)  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 22,400  shares  of Common  Stock  which are  subject  to  currently
    exercisable stock options.

    During  1995, the Board of Directors held  five meetings and took action one
time 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

                                       6
<PAGE>
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 for  administering the  Company's  1994 Stock  Option Plan  and  the
Company's 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. During 1995, 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 1995, the Audit Committee held one meeting. The Audit Committee (i) makes
recommendations to  the Board  of  Directors 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, (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: Allan Mactier and  Robert Pasquarelli. 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 1995, the Compensation Committee,  the
Plan Committees and the Option Committee held one formal meeting.

    The  Nominating Committee is composed of  two directors who are not officers
or employees of  the Company:  Robert Hodes  and Allan  Mactier. The  Nominating
Committee  makes recommendations  to the  Board of  Directors regarding director
candidates and  criteria  for  Board membership.  During  1995,  the  Nominating
Committee   held  one  meeting.  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  the principal  place of business  (currently 2959 North  Rock Road, Wichita,
Kansas 67226; commencing in the middle of the second quarter of 1996, 6799 Great
Oaks, Suite 200, Memphis, Tennessee 38138) 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

                                       7
<PAGE>
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, and of such
beneficial owner and (ii) the class and  number of shares of Common Stock  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  1995, Directors of the Company who  were 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, Compensation or
Nominating 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 1,000 shares of Common  Stock at the fair market value on
the date the option is granted. As  of March 7, 1996, options to purchase  5,000
shares  of Common Stock  were outstanding under  the Company's 1994 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' AFFILIATIONS

    Mr. Hodes is  Counsel to the  law firm  of Willkie Farr  & Gallagher,  which
provided services to the Company during 1995.

                                       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 1995, 1994  and
1993,  of those persons who were, at  December 30, 1995, (i) the chief executive
officer, (ii) the other four most  highly compensated executive officers of  the
Company  and (iii) an additional individual who  was not serving as an executive
officer of the  Company at December  30, 1995, but  about whom disclosure  would
otherwise have been required (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                      1995     $   577,500  $   462,000
Chairman of the                     1994     $   550,152  $   412,614
Board                               1993     $   480,000  $   344,506
William D. O'Hagan                  1995     $   393,750  $   295,313                       111,016
President and Chief                 1994     $   375,152  $   262,606                         2,250
Executive Officer                   1993     $   225,000  $   150,249    $    113,355       101,350
Earl W. Bunkers                     1995     $   172,000  $   103,200                         4,000
Executive Vice                      1994     $   167,652  $   100,591                        16,002
President and Chief                 1993     $   150,000  $    93,691                           900
Financial Officer
William H. Hensley                  1995     $   162,000  $    97,200                         4,972
Vice President,                     1994     $   155,152  $    93,091                        15,380
General Counsel and                 1993     $   140,000  $    87,691                           840
Secretary
Lee R. Nyman                        1995     $   153,606  $    82,947                         5,900
Vice President--                    1994     $   140,135  $    84,172                         9,786
Manufacturing                       1993(2)  $    60,096  $    37,603                        37,000
/Management
Engineering
John B. Hansen (3)                  1995     $   155,784  $    84,123    $     97,436(3)      4,918
Vice President--                    1994     $   147,499  $    88,496                        15,870
Marketing, Standard                 1993     $   131,154  $    81,483                           750
Products Division
</TABLE>

- ---------
(1)  Perquisites and other  personal benefits received by  each Named Officer in
    1995, other  than  Mr.  Hansen, aggregated  below  the  required  disclosure
    threshold.

(2) Mr. Nyman joined the Company in mid-1993.

                                       9
<PAGE>
(3)  Mr. Hansen became the Vice  President Marketing, Standard Products Division
    of the Company on December 14, 1995. During 1995, Mr. Hansen was  reimbursed
    $66,514  for  moving and  other relocation  expenses.  The Company  paid Mr.
    Hansen an  additional $30,922  to reimburse  him for  additional taxes  that
    related to these reimbursed moving and relocation expenses.

                                 OPTION GRANTS

    Shown below is further information on options granted during the fiscal year
ended December 30, 1995, to the Named Officers.

                     OPTION GRANTS 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.......       1,016          0.45  % $  20.878  (1) $    24.5625 (1)   06/30/96     3,743     4,991     6,239
William D. O'Hagan.......      23,000         10.19  % $  25.063  (2) $    25.063  (2)   07/27/05    --      362,529    918,687
William D. O'Hagan.......      77,000         34.10  % $  24.875  (3) $    24.875  (3)   07/27/05    --    1,204,579  3,052,533
William D. O'Hagan.......      10,000          4.43  % $  27.375  (4) $    27.375  (3)   08/10/05    --      172,161    436,275
Earl W. Bunkers..........       4,000          1.77  % $  28.50   (5) $    28.50     12/28/05      --         71,695    181,682
William H. Hensley.......         972          0.43  % $  20.878  (1) $    24.5625 (1)   06/30/96     3,581     4,775     5,969
William H. Hensley.......       4,000          1.77  % $  28.50   (5) $    28.50     12/28/05      --         71,695    181,682
Lee R. Nyman.............         900          0.40  % $  20.878  (1) $    24.5625 (1)   06/30/96     3,316     4,421     5,527
Lee R. Nyman.............       5,000          2.21  % $  28.50   (6) $    28.50     12/28/05      --         89,618    227,102
John B. Hansen...........         918          0.41  % $  20.878  (1) $    24.5625 (1)   06/30/96     3,382     4,510     5,637
John B. Hansen...........       4,000          1.77  % $  28.50   (7) $    28.50     12/28/05      --         71,695    181,682
</TABLE>

- ---------
*    Effective as of September 6, 1995, the Company effected a two-for-one stock
    split in the  form of a  stock dividend.  For options granted  prior to  the
    September  6, 1995  record date  which had not  been exercised  prior to the
    record date, (a) the option price was reduced by half, and (b) the number of
    shares issuable upon exercise of  such outstanding options was doubled.  All
    options  reported in  the preceding  table, if  granted prior  to the record
    date, have been adjusted to reflect the stock split.

(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 six 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 $24.5625,  which was the  average of the
    closing price of the Common Stock on  June 30, 1995 and July 3, 1995,  which
    were  the last trading  day before and  the first trading  day following the
    July 1, 1995 offering  date. The assumed stock  price appreciation is  based
    upon the average

                                       10
<PAGE>
    price  of the Common Stock on June 30, 1995 and July 3, 1995. If the closing
    price of the Common  Stock on June  30, 1996, the last  day of the  offering
    period,  is less than $24.5625,  the option price will  be 85% of that lower
    market price.

(2) These options were granted under  the Company's 1991 Incentive Stock  Option
    Plan  at 100% of  the fair market value  of the Common Stock  at the time of
    grant, which in accordance with the terms of the 1991 Incentive Stock Option
    Plan, is the closing  price of the  Common Stock on the  date of grant.  For
    purposes of determining the potential realizable value of these options, the
    closing  price of the Common Stock on the date of grant was used as the date
    of grant market  price. These options  vest ratably over  a five year  term,
    with  the first  20% vesting  on July 27,  1996, subject  to earlier vesting
    related to a  "Change in  Control" as  defined in  Mr. O'Hagan's  employment
    agreement.  See  discussion of  Mr.  O'Hagan's employment  agreement  in the
    section  titled  "Employment   Contracts  and   Termination  of   Employment
    Arrangements" on pages 12-13.

(3)  These options were  granted under the  Company's 1994 Stock  Option Plan at
    100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at time of grant, which in
    accordance with the terms of the 1994 Stock Option Plan, is the mean between
    the highest and lowest sale price of the Common Stock on the last  preceding
    trading  date. For purposes of determining the potential realizable value of
    these options, the  mean between the  highest and lowest  sale price of  the
    Common Stock on the trading date immediately preceding the date of grant was
    used  as the date of  grant market price. These  options vest ratably over a
    five year term,  with the first  20% vesting  on July 27,  1996, subject  to
    earlier vesting related to a "Change in Control" as defined in Mr. O'Hagan's
    employment  agreement. See discussion of  Mr. O'Hagan's employment agreement
    in the section  titled "Employment Contracts  and Termination of  Employment
    Arrangements" on pages 12-13.

(4)  These options were  granted under the  Company's 1994 Stock  Option Plan at
    100% of the  fair market value  of the Common  Stock at the  time of  grant.
    These options vest ratably over a five year term, subject to earlier vesting
    relating  to a  "Change in Control"  as defined in  Mr. O'Hagan's employment
    agreement, with the first 20% vesting on August 10, 1996.

(5) These options  were granted under  the Company's 1994  Stock Option Plan  at
    100%  of the  fair market value  of the Common  Stock at the  time of grant.
    These options vest ratably over a five year term, with the first 20% vesting
    on December 28, 1996.

(6) These options  were granted under  the Company's 1994  Stock Option Plan  at
    100%  of the  fair market value  of the Common  Stock at the  time of grant.
    These options vest  over a five  year term,  with 20% vesting  on the  first
    anniversary  of the grant date,  20% on the second  anniversary of the grant
    date, 20% on January  3, 1999, 20%  on the fourth  anniversary of the  grant
    date, and 20% on the fifth anniversary of the grant date.

(7)  These options were  granted under the  Company's 1994 Stock  Option Plan at
    100% of the  fair market value  of the Common  Stock at the  time of  grant.
    These  options vest  over a five  year term,  with 10% vesting  on the first
    anniversary of the grant  date, 10% on  January 3, 1997,  20% on January  3,
    1998,  20% on January  3, 1999, 20%  on the fourth  anniversary of the grant
    date, and 20% on the fifth anniversary of the grant date.

                                       11
<PAGE>
              AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                     OPTION VALUES AT DECEMBER 30, 1995 (*)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          NUMBER OF
                                                                         SECURITIES
                                                                         UNDERLYING        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                     UNEXERCISED OPTIONS  IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                                                      AT DEC. 30, 1995     DEC. 30, 1995($)(**)
                                                                     -------------------  -----------------------
                                       SHARES ACQUIRED     VALUE        EXERCISABLE/           EXERCISABLE/
NAME                                   ON EXERCISE(#)   REALIZED($)     UNEXERCISABLE          UNEXERCISABLE
- -------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -------------------  -----------------------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>          <C>                  <C>
Harvey L. Karp.......................                                        1,800,000/0             45,225,000/0
William D. O'Hagan...................         1,702         20,450       160,000/251,016      3,190,000/3,020,432
Earl W. Bunkers......................         7,002         73,540          4,400/26,600           55,399/447,214
William H. Hensley...................        20,380        371,754          4,400/15,572           55,399/153,108
Lee R. Nyman.........................           786          9,444         16,600/35,300          237,586/433,896
John B. Hansen.......................           870         10,453         22,400/27,518          470,092/429,745
</TABLE>

- ---------
 *  Adjusted  to reflect  the two-for-one  stock split in  the form  of a  stock
    dividend, which occurred effective September 6, 1995.

**   Represents the difference between the  closing price of the Common Stock on
    the last trading day prior  to December 30, 1995  and the exercise price  of
    the options.

The  Company did  not award stock  appreciation rights to  any executive officer
during 1995, nor  was any  award made under  any long-term  incentive plan.  The
Company  does not have  a defined benefit  or actuarial plan  covering the Chief
Executive Officer or any of 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 one year periods  as
of  December 31 for each  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, among other  things, (i) increase  Mr. Karp's annual
base salary to $550,000, and (ii)  make Mr. Karp's discretionary cash  incentive
bonus  for years subsequent to 1993  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 1,000,000  shares of Common Stock  (adjusted to reflect the
two-for-one split) at  $4.125 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  1,800,000  shares  of  Common Stock  (adjusted  to  reflect  the
two-for-one  split)  were amended  to  provide that  Mr.  Karp may  exercise his
options from time to time by paying the

                                       12
<PAGE>
exercise price in  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 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 an employment
agreement (the  "O'Hagan Employment  Agreement") with  William D.  O'Hagan.  The
O'Hagan  Employment Agreement  original term 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,
among other things, (i) discretionary cash incentive bonuses in years subsequent
to  1993  consistent  with  the  executive  bonus  program  which  the   Company
establishes  for other  key executives,  and (ii)  an option  to acquire 100,000
shares of  Common  Stock  (adjusted  to reflect  the  two-for-one  stock  split)
pursuant  to the Company's 1991 Incentive  Stock Option Plan. These options vest
ratably over a five year  term, with the first 20%  vesting on January 1,  1995.
Mr.  O'Hagan's options may be exercised by  cash or, at Mr. O'Hagan's option, by
executing a promissory 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 200,000 shares
of  Common  Stock  (adjusted  to  reflect  the  two-for-one  split).  During the
employment term, Mr. O'Hagan can only be terminated for Cause (as defined in the
O'Hagan Employment Agreement).

    Effective as of August 10, 1995, the Company amended the O'Hagan  Employment
Agreement,  to provide for annual upward adjustments, commencing in 1996, of Mr.
O'Hagan's base salary in relation to increases granted to other key  executives,
an  extension of the term of the  O'Hagan Employment Agreement for an additional
three years, and to provide that  the Company could not terminate Mr.  O'Hagan's
employment  upon  less  than  thirty  days  prior  written  notice.  The O'Hagan
Employment Agreement  was amended  to  add provisions  concerning a  "Change  in
Control",  which  is defined  to mean  (i) a  change in  control which  would be
required to  be  reported to  the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  or  any
securities  exchange on which the Common  Stock is listed, (ii) any non-exempted
person or party becoming the beneficial owner of securities representing 20%  or
more  of the voting power of the Company,  or (iii) when the individuals who, on
August 10, 1995,  constituted the  Board of Directors  of the  Company cease  to
constitute  at least a  majority of the  Board, provided that  new directors are
deemed to have been directors on that date if elected by or on recommendation of
at least sixty percent of the directors  who were directors on August 10,  1995.
If  concurrent  with,  or at  any  time within  six  months after  a  "Change in
Control", either the Company terminates Mr. O'Hagan's employment or Mr.  O'Hagan
voluntarily  terminates his employment, then Mr.  O'Hagan would be entitled to a
lump sum severance payment in the following amount: (i) Mr. O'Hagan's full  base
salary

                                       13
<PAGE>
through  the date of termination; (ii) an amount equal to the product of (x) Mr.
O'Hagan's then annual base  salary rate, multiplied by  (y) the number of  years
(including  partial years) then remaining in the term; and (iii) an amount equal
to the product of  (x) Mr. O'Hagan's bonus  for the immediately preceding  year,
multiplied  by (y) the number of years (treating any remaining partial year as a
full year) then remaining in the  term. In addition, Mr. O'Hagan would  continue
(at  the Company's expense)  to participate, for the  number of years (including
partial years) then remaining in the term, in all the Company's employee benefit
plans, to the same extent and upon the same terms and conditions as Mr.  O'Hagan
participated  immediately prior to the  termination, provided that Mr. O'Hagan's
participation is permissible  or otherwise practicable  under the general  terms
and  provisions of such benefit  plans. Finally, in such  event, on the later of
(x) the day Mr. O'Hagan notifies the Company he is terminating as a result of  a
"Change  in Control",  and (y)  ten (10)  days prior  to the  date Mr. O'Hagan's
employment is terminated, all remaining  unvested options previously granted  to
Mr.  O'Hagan would become  immediately exercisable on that  date. In addition to
the amendments discussed above, the O'Hagan Employment Agreement was amended  to
reference additional options granted pursuant to the 1991 Incentive Stock Option
Plan and 1994 Stock Option Plan.

    The  Company  does  not  have any  other  employment  agreements  with Named
Officers. Except as  set forth above,  the Company has  no compensatory plan  or
arrangement with respect to any Named 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

    Base  compensation payable to  Mr. Karp, the Company's  Chairman, and to Mr.
O'Hagan, its Chief Executive  Officer, is principally governed  by the terms  of
their   employment  agreements.  These  agreements   provide  for  minimum  base
compensation of $550,000 for Mr. Karp and $375,000 for Mr. O'Hagan effective  as
of  January 1, 1994. Effective as of January 1, 1995, the Compensation Committee
increased the base compensation payable to  each of Messrs. Karp and O'Hagan  by
five  percent, which  was in  line with  base compensation  increases granted to
other key executives in 1994.

    The employment  agreements for  Messrs. Karp  and O'Hagan  also provide  for
payment  of an  annual discretionary bonus.  For 1995, Messrs.  Karp and O'Hagan
were awarded discretionary bonuses in the  amount of 80% and 75%,  respectively,
of  their gross wages (excluding  bonuses for 1994 which  were paid in 1995, and
certain other miscellaneous items). The bonuses paid to Messrs. Karp and O'Hagan
were set by  the Compensation Committee,  based on its  favorable assessment  of
their contributions to the Company's growth and profitability in 1995.

    The  Compensation  Committee increased  base  compensation payable  to other
officers  during  1995  by  an  average  of  five  percent,  based  in  part  on
recommendations from Messrs. Karp and O'Hagan, as well as the Company's positive
operating  results. Bonuses paid to officers other than Messrs. Karp and O'Hagan
for 1995 did not  exceed 60% of  gross wages (excluding  bonuses for 1994  which
were  paid in 1995,  and certain other miscellaneous  items). These bonuses were
paid pursuant to the Company's 1995 bonus program, which provided for bonuses to
be paid based on the Company's attainment of income targets for fiscal 1995.  In
the case of officers employed by the Company's operating divisions, bonuses were
based  on targeted  income for  fiscal 1995 at  both the  divisional and Company
level.

    The Compensation Committee  periodically grants stock  options to  executive
officers  and other  key employees  as part  of the  Company's overall executive
compensation program. As set forth above in

                                       14
<PAGE>
the "Option Grants" table, the Compensation Committee made several option grants
in 1995  to  Mr.  O'Hagan,  the Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and  also
authorized  an amendment to  his employment agreement  providing for accelerated
option vesting upon  a termination  connected to  a "Change  in Control."  These
options  were granted to Mr. O'Hagan to  provide an additional incentive for him
to continue  to serve  as the  Company's Chief  Executive Officer  for the  next
several  years. The  Compensation Committee also  granted options  to acquire an
aggregate of 27,000 shares of Common Stock to other executive officers, based in
part on recommendations from Messrs. Karp and O'Hagan. When granting options  to
executive  officers, the  Compensation Committee  considers the  total number of
shares available  under  the  Company's  option plans,  the  number  of  options
previously  granted to  such officers,  Company and  individual performance, and
each officer's level of responsibility within the Company. No specific corporate
or individual performance factors are used, however. The Compensation  Committee
believes  that stock  options are  an integral  part of  the Company's executive
compensation program, which motivate executives to practice long-term  strategic
management,  and align  their financial  interests with  those of  the Company's
stockholders.

    Section 162(m)  of the  Internal Revenue  Code limits  the deductibility  of
compensation  paid to  each of  the Chief Executive  Officer and  the four other
highest paid  executive officers  to $1  million per  year, subject  to  certain
exceptions.  The Compensation Committee is  comprised of "outside" directors and
the Company's 1994 Stock  Option Plan has been  structured so that  compensation
attributable  to options will 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 determines 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 authorize  such
compensation. During 1995, Mr. Karp's annual cash compensation slightly exceeded
the maximum deductible amount.

ALLAN MACTIER                                              ROBERT J. PASQUARELLI

                                       15
<PAGE>
                          CORPORATE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

    The  following table  compares total  stockholder 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. The Common Stock  first traded on the  New York Stock Exchange  under
the symbol MLI on a "when issued" basis on February 27, 1991.

                                     [GRAPH]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         02/27/91     12/28/91     12/26/92     12/25/93     12/31/94     12/31/95
                                                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Mueller Industries, Inc...............................         100           76          203          310          275          538
Dow Jones Equity Market Index.........................         100          115          129          140          141          196
Dow Jones Building Material Index.....................         100          108          140          170          138          188
</TABLE>

                                       16
<PAGE>
                           CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND
                          TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT

    In  connection  with  the relocation  of  Mr. O'Hagan,  the  Company's Chief
Executive Officer and Board member, from Wichita, Kansas to Memphis,  Tennessee,
in  August, 1995,  the Company  advanced Mr.  O'Hagan $200,000,  at no interest,
towards the purchase of a new house in the Memphis, Tennessee area. The  advance
was  for a one year period, subject  to mandatory earlier payment in full within
fifteen days of the sale of Mr. O'Hagan's current residence. Two other executive
officers had similar advances  outstanding during 1995.  Mr. Richard G.  Miller,
the  Company's  Vice  President  and  Chief  Information  Officer,  was advanced
$125,000 in connection with  his relocation to Wichita,  Kansas, and Mr.  Lowell
Hill,  the Company's Vice President -  Human Resources, was advanced $116,000 in
connection with his relocation  to the Memphis, Tennessee  area. As of March  7,
1996, the advances to Messrs. O'Hagan and Hill remained outstanding.

                  AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
                        INCREASE AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

    The  Board  of  Directors  has  unanimously  voted  to  recommend  that  the
stockholders adopt an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 20,000,000  shares
to  50,000,000 shares. If  the amendment is  approved, the shares  may be issued
from time to time  by the Board  of Directors. It is  not expected that  further
authorization from stockholders will be solicited for the issuance of any shares
of  Common Stock, except to the extent  such authorization is required by law or
by the rules of the  New York Stock Exchange.  Currently there is no  agreement,
arrangement  or understanding relating to the issuance and sale of Common Stock.
Stockholders do  not have,  and the  proposed amendment  would not  create,  any
preemptive rights.

INCREASE OF AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

    The  Board of Directors  recommends that the number  of authorized shares of
Common Stock  be  increased to  50,000,000  shares. The  Company  currently  has
20,000,000  shares of Common  Stock authorized. The  Company's two-for-one stock
split in the form  of a stock  dividend, with a September  6, 1995 record  date,
doubled  the  number of  shares  of Common  Stock  outstanding and  reserved for
issuance, thereby  reducing  the number  of  shares of  Common  Stock  otherwise
available  for  issuance. As  of March  7,  1996, the  Company had  virtually no
authorized shares of  Common Stock  that were  not outstanding  or reserved  for
issuance under various stock option plans or agreements.

    The  Board believes  that it  is desirable  to have  a sufficient  number of
shares of Common Stock available, as the occasion may arise, for possible future
financings and  acquisition  transactions,  stock  dividends  or  splits,  stock
issuances  pursuant  to  employee  benefit  plans  and  other  proper  corporate
purposes. Having such  additional shares  available for issuance  in the  future
would  give  the Company  greater flexibility  by allowing  shares to  be issued
without incurring the delay and expense of a special stockholder's meeting.

VOTE REQUIRED

    Approval of  the  proposal to  increase  the authorized  Common  Stock  will
require  the  affirmative vote  of  a majority  of  the shares  of  Common Stock
outstanding and entitled to vote at  the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and  broker
non-votes will have the effect of negative votes.

                                       17
<PAGE>
                            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 28,
1996, subject to ratification by the Company's stockholders. If the  appointment
of E & Y is not ratified by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the Board of
Directors  will reconsider  its action  and will  appoint auditors  for the 1996
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 1997 ANNUAL MEETING

    It  is presently anticipated that the 1997 Annual Meeting will be held on or
about May 6, 1997.  In order for  a stockholder proposal to  be included in  the
Company's  proxy materials for the  1997 Annual Meeting, it  must be received by
the Secretary of the Company  no later than November 9,  1996. It is urged  that
any  such proposal be sent  by certified mail, return  receipt requested. If the
date of the 1997 Annual Meeting is changed  to a date more than 30 days  earlier
or  later than May 6, 1997, 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 1995  all filing requirements
applicable to its officers, directors and ten percent shareholders were complied
with, except that (i) Mr. Lowell Hill  failed to timely file his initial Form  3
upon  becoming  an  executive  officer,  and (ii)  Mr.  William  D.  O'Hagan, an
executive officer and director, failed to  timely file his Form 4 indicating  he
had acquired options in July 1995.

    Consolidated financial statements for the Company are included in the Annual
Report  to Stockholders for the year 1995 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.

                                       18
<PAGE>
    A  COPY OF THE  COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON  FORM 10-K AS  FILED FOR THE YEAR
1995 (EXCLUDING  EXHIBITS) WILL  BE  FURNISHED, WITHOUT  CHARGE, BY  WRITING  TO
WILLIAM  H.  HENSLEY,  SECRETARY,  MUELLER INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  AT  THE COMPANY'S
PRINCIPAL PLACE  OF  BUSINESS.  CURRENTLY,  THE  COMPANY'S  PRINCIPAL  PLACE  OF
BUSINESS  IS  2959 NORTH  ROCK ROAD,  WICHITA, KANSAS  67226. COMMENCING  IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE  SECOND QUARTER OF  1996, THE ADDRESS  OF THE COMPANY'S  PRINCIPAL
PLACE OF BUSINESS WILL BE 6799 GREAT OAKS, SUITE 200, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38138.

                                            By order of the Board of Directors

                                                    William H. Hensley
                                                   Corporate Secretary

March 15, 1996

                                       19
<PAGE>
                            MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
             PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - MAY 8, 1996
          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 amendment increasing number of
   authorized shares of Common Stock from
   20,000,000 to 50,000,000                / / FOR                  / / AGAINST                  / / ABSTAIN
3. 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 ITEMS 2 AND 3.

 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 8, 1996

    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 8, 1996, 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: _____________________, 1996

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