1 Filed Pursuant to Rule No. 424(b)(3) Under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Registration Statement No. 333-61454. MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS, INC. OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING 6 7/8% NOTES DUE APRIL 1, 2011 ($250,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OUTSTANDING) FOR 6 7/8% NOTES DUE APRIL 1, 2011 REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OF MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS, INC. TERMS OF EXCHANGE OFFER - Expires 5:00 p.m., New York City time, July 9, 2001, unless extended - Not subject to any condition other than that the Exchange Offer not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission - All outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged - Tenders of outstanding notes may be withdrawn any time prior to 5:00 p.m. on the business day prior to expiration of the Exchange Offer - The exchange of notes will not be a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes - We will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer - The terms of the notes to be issued are substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except for certain transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the outstanding notes - The notes to be issued will not be listed on any securities exchange --------------- CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 10 OF THIS PROSPECTUS --------------- NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE NOTES TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER, OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. --------------- The date of this Prospectus is June 8, 2001
2 This Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will we accept surrenders for exchange from, holders of outstanding notes in any jurisdiction in which this Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the Securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdiction TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- Summary....................................................................3 Risk Factors..............................................................10 Forward-Looking Statements................................................11 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........................................12 Use of Proceeds...........................................................12 Capitalization............................................................12 The Exchange Offer........................................................13 Description Of The New Notes..............................................21 Plan of Distribution......................................................31 Legal Matters.............................................................31 Experts...................................................................32 Where You Can Find More Information.......................................32 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...........................32 i
3 SUMMARY This Summary may not contain all the information that may be important to you. You should read the entire Prospectus, including the financial data and related notes, before making an investment decision. The terms the "Company," "our company" and "we" as used in this Prospectus refer to "Martin Marietta Materials, Inc." and its subsidiaries as a combined entity, except where it is made clear that such term means only the parent company. THE EXCHANGE OFFER On March 30, 2001, we completed the private offering of $250 million of 6 7/8% Notes due 2011. We entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers in the private offering in which we agreed, among other things, to deliver to you this Prospectus and to complete the Exchange Offer within 225 days of the issuance of the 6 7/8% Notes due 2011. You are entitled to exchange in the Exchange Offer your outstanding notes for registered notes with substantially identical terms. If the Exchange Offer is not completed within 225 days of the issuance of the 6 7/8% Notes due 2011, then the interest rates on the notes will be increased by 0.25% for the first 90 days after such time and by an additional 0.25% thereafter, until the Exchange Offer is completed. You should read the discussion under the headings "-Summary Description of the New Notes" and "Description of the New Notes" for further information regarding the registered notes. We believe that the notes issued in the Exchange Offer may be resold by you without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, subject to certain conditions. You should read the discussion under the headings "-Summary of the Terms of Exchange Offer" and "The Exchange Offer" for further information regarding the Exchange Offer and resale of the notes. THE COMPANY We are the United States' second largest producer of aggregates and also manufacture and market magnesia-based products. Our aggregates segment processes and sells granite, limestone and other aggregates products for use in all sectors of the public infrastructure, industrial, commercial and residential construction industries. Also, in recent transactions, we have acquired asphaltic concrete, ready mixed concrete, paving construction and other businesses which establish vertical integration that complements our aggregates business. Through our Magnesia Specialties segment, we manufacture and market dolomitic lime and magnesia-based products, including heat-resistant refractory products for the steel industry and magnesia-based chemicals products for industrial, agricultural and environmental uses, including wastewater treatment, sulphur dioxide scrubbing and acid neutralization. As of May 1, 2001, we sold certain of our assets in the refractories business. In 2000, our aggregates business accounted for 90% of our total revenues and our magnesia and other specialty products segment accounted for 10% of our total revenues. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS On September 6, 2000, we announced that we would purchase the remaining interest in Meridian Aggregates Company under the terms of an investment agreement we entered into in October 1998. The purchase, which was completed on April 3, 2001, gave us 100% ownership of Meridian. The purchase price was estimated to be approximately $235 million, including our original October 1998 investment of $42 million, plus normal balance sheet liabilities, but remains subject to audited Meridian results and other purchase price adjustments. Meridian operates 25 aggregates production facilities and seven rail-served distribution yards in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Minnesota, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Washington and California with approximately 1.6 billion tons of mineral reserves. Meridian's revenue in 2000 was approximately $150 million on sales of over 23 million tons. On February 23, 2001, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties Inc., entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Inc. to sell certain assets related to our refractories business. In an accompanying manufacturing agreement, Magnesia Specialties agreed to supply the subsidiary of Minerals Technologies with certain refractories products out of our Manistee, Michigan plant for up to two years following the sale. The sale of Magnesia Specialties' refractories business will lessen the Magnesia 3
4 Specialties division's dependence on the steel industry. Excluding refractories products, Magnesia Specialties' sales to the steel industry would account for 43% of the division's 2000 net sales, as compared to 68% including refractories. The sale of the refractories business closed as of May 1, 2001. During 2000, the refractories business contributed $57.3 million to net sales. PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES Our executive offices are located at 2710 Wycliff Road, Raleigh, NC 27607-3033, telephone number (919) 781-4550. SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER The Exchange Offer relates to the exchange of up to $250 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes for an equal aggregate principal amount of new notes. The new notes will be obligations of Martin Marietta Materials entitled to the benefits of the indenture governing the outstanding notes. The form and terms of the new notes are identical in all material respects to the form and terms of the outstanding notes, except that the new notes have been registered under the Securities Act and therefore are not entitled to the benefits of the registration rights agreement that was executed as part of the offering of the outstanding notes. The registration rights agreement provides for registration rights with respect to the outstanding notes and for certain contingent increases in the interest rates of the outstanding notes if we fail to meet certain registration obligations under the agreement. Registration Rights Agreement........ You are entitled to exchange your notes for registered notes with substantially identical terms. The Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy these rights. After the Exchange Offer is complete, you will no longer be entitled to any exchange or registration rights with respect to your notes. The Exchange Offer................... We are offering to exchange $1,000 principal amount of 6 7/8% Notes due 2011 which have been registered under the Securities Act for each $1,000 principal amount of our outstanding 6 7/8% Notes due 2011 which were issued in March 2001 in a private offering. In order to be exchanged, an outstanding note must be properly tendered and accepted. All outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged. As of this date there are $250 million principal amount of notes outstanding. We will issue new notes on or promptly after expiration of the Exchange Offer. Resale of the New Notes.............. Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Commission set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, including "Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation" (available May 13, 1988), "Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated" (available June 5, 1991), "Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc." (available June 5, 1991) and "Warnaco, Inc." (available October 11, 1991), we believe that the notes issued in the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act provided that: - the notes issued in the Exchange Offer are being acquired in the ordinary course of business; - you are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of the notes issued to you in the Exchange Offer; - you are not a broker-dealer who purchased such outstanding notes directly from us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act; and 4
5 - you are not an "affiliate" of ours. If you do not meet all of the above conditions and you transfer any note issued to you in the Exchange Offer without delivering a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or without an exemption from registration of your notes from such requirements, you may incur liability under the Securities Act. We do not assume or indemnify you against such liability. Each broker-dealer that is issued notes in the Exchange Offer for its own account in exchange for notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the notes issued in the Exchange Offer. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, such a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. A broker-dealer may use this Prospectus for an offer to resell, resale or other retransfer of the notes issued to it in the Exchange Offer. We have agreed to keep the Registration Statement effective starting with the time the new notes are first issued and ending on the earlier of 180 days after the Exchange Offer is completed or the time when broker-dealers referred to in the paragraph above no longer own any old notes. We believe that no registered holder of the outstanding notes is an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of Martin Marietta Materials. The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will we accept surrenders for exchange from, holders of outstanding notes in any jurisdiction in which this Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. Expiration Date...................... The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, July 9, 2001, unless we decide to extend the expiration date. Accrued Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Outstanding Notes...... The new notes will bear interest from March 30, 2001. Holders of outstanding notes whose notes are accepted for exchange will be deemed to have waived the right to receive any payment of interest on such outstanding notes accrued from March 30, 2001 to the date of the issuance of the new notes. Consequently, holders who exchange their outstanding notes for new notes will receive the same interest payment on October 1, 2001 (the first interest payment date with respect to the outstanding notes and the new notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer) that they would have received had they not accepted the Exchange Offer. Termination of the Exchange Offer................................ We may terminate the Exchange Offer if we determine that our ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer could be materially impaired due to any legal or governmental action, new law, statute, rule or regulation or any interpretation of the staff of the Commission of any existing law, statute, rule or regulation. We do not expect any of the foregoing conditions to occur, although there can be no assurance that such conditions will not occur. You will have certain rights against us under the registration rights 5
6 agreement executed when we issued the outstanding notes should we fail to consummate the Exchange Offer. Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes.................... The outstanding notes were issued in the form of one global note which was deposited with the Depositary Trust Company ("DTC"). Holders of the outstanding notes own certificateless interests in the global note evidenced by records in book-entry form maintained by DTC. If you are a holder of an outstanding note in book-entry form and you wish to tender your note for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer, you must transmit to First Union National Bank, as exchange agent, on or prior to the Expiration Date: either - a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, which accompanies this Prospectus, or a facsimile of the Letter of Transmittal, including all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the cover page of the Letter of Transmittal; or - a computer-generated message transmitted by means of the Automated Tender Offer Program system of DTC and received by the Exchange Agent and forming a part of a confirmation of book entry transfer in which you acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal; and, either - a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your outstanding notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfers described in this Prospectus under the heading "The Exchange Offer- Procedure for Tendering," must be received by the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date; or - the documents necessary for compliance with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below. Under certain circumstances, if you are a holder of outstanding notes in book-entry form, you are entitled to receive certificated notes in exchange for your book entry notes. You can find a description of these circumstances under the heading "Description of The New Notes-Form of Notes." However, as of this date, no certificated notes are issued and outstanding. If you acquire certificated notes prior to the Expiration Date, you must tender them in accordance with the procedures described in this Prospectus under the heading "Exchange Offer-Procedure for Tendering." By executing the Letter of Transmittal, each holder will represent to us that, among other things, (i) the notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such new notes whether or not such person is the holder, (ii) neither the holder nor any such other person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such 6
7 new notes and (iii) neither the holder nor any such other person is an "affiliate" of the Company as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners............................... If you are the beneficial owner of notes and your name does not appear on a security position listing of DTC as the holder of such notes, or if you are a beneficial owner of notes that are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender such notes in the Exchange Offer, you should promptly contact the person in whose name your notes are registered and instruct such person to tender on your behalf. If you wish to tender on your own behalf you must, prior to executing the Letter of Transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of record ownership may take considerable time. Guaranteed Delivery Procedures....... If you wish to tender your notes and time will not permit your documents to reach the Exchange Agent by the Expiration Date, or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on time or certificates for your notes cannot be delivered on time, you may tender your notes pursuant to the procedures described in this Prospectus under the heading "The Exchange Offer-Guaranteed Delivery Procedure." Withdrawal Rights.................... You may withdraw the tender of your notes at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 6, 2001, the business day prior to the Expiration Date. Acceptance of Outstanding Notes and Delivery of Exchange Notes....... Subject to certain conditions (as summarized above in "Termination of the Exchange Offer" and described more fully under the heading "The Exchange Offer-Termination"), we will accept for exchange any and all outstanding notes which are tendered in the Exchange Offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be delivered promptly following the Expiration Date. Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.............. The exchange of notes in the Exchange Offer will generally not be a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes. We believe you will not recognize any taxable gain or loss or any interest income as a result of such exchange. However, you should consult your own tax advisor. Use of Proceeds...................... We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. We will pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer. Exchange Agent....................... First Union National Bank is serving as agent in connection with Exchange Offer. The Exchange Agent can be reached at 401 South Tryon Street, 12th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28288-1179. For more information with respect to the Exchange Offer, the telephone number for the Exchange Agent is (800) 665-9343 and the facsimile number for the Exchange Agent is (704) 590-7618. 7
8 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES Securities Offered................... $250 million aggregate principal amount of 6 7/8% Notes due 2011. Maturity Date........................ April 1, 2011. Interest Payment Dates............... April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2001. Denominations........................ The notes issued in the Exchange Offer will be issued in minimum initial purchase amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. Optional Redemption.................. The notes may be redeemed at any time by paying the greater of principal and interest or a "make whole amount." Sinking Fund......................... None. Ranking.............................. The notes issued in the Exchange Offer are unsecured obligations of Martin Marietta Materials and will rank equally with each other and with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Martin Marietta Materials. See "Description of the New Notes-General". Registration Covenant; Exchange Offer....................... Under the registration rights agreement executed as part of the offering of the outstanding notes, we have agreed: to consummate the exchange offer within 45 days of the effective date of our registration statement; and to use our best efforts to cause to become effective a shelf registration statement for the resale of the notes if applicable law or interpretations of the staff of the Commission are changed such that the notes to be received in the Exchange Offer would not be transferable without restriction under the Securities Act, or if the exchange offer has not been completed within 225 days following the issue date of the outstanding notes, or if the Exchange Offer is not available to all holders of the outstanding notes. The interest rate on the notes will increase if we do not comply with certain of our obligations under the registration rights agreement. See "Exchange Offer". Risk Factors......................... You should carefully consider the specific factors set forth under "Risk Factors" as well as the other information and data included in this Prospectus. 8
9 SELECTED CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA The Statement of Earnings Data set forth below for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000 and the Balance Sheet Data set forth below as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. These consolidated financial statements have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors. The Statement of Earnings Data set forth below for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 1997 and the Balance Sheet Data set forth below as of December 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which also have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The selected financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS Net sales............................... $1,333,000 $ 1,258,827 $1,057,691 $ 900,863 $ 721,947 Freight and delivery revenues........... 184,517 175,292 143,805 128,326 102,974 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- Total revenues....................... 1,517,517 1,434,119 1,201,496 1,029,189 824,921 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- Cost of sales, other costs and expenses. 1,130,523 1,043,538 861,137 738,093 601,271 Freight and delivery costs.............. 184,517 175,292 143,805 128,326 102,974 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- Cost of operations................... 1,315,040 1,218,830 1,004,942 866,419 704,245 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS................ 202,477 215,289 196,554 162,770 120,676 Interest expense on debt................ 41,895 39,411 23,759 16,899 10,121 Other income and (expenses), net........ 8,239 18,435 1,347 5,341 8,398 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- Earnings before taxes on income......... 168,821 194,313 174,142 151,212 118,953 Taxes on income......................... 56,794 68,532 58,529 52,683 40,325 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- NET EARNINGS............................ $ 112,027 $ 125,781 $ 115,613 $ 98,529 $ 78,628 ========== ============ ========== ========== ========= BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE......... $ 2.40 $ 2.70 $ 2.49 $ 2.14 $ 1.71 ========== ============ ========== ========== ========= DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE....... $ 2.39 $ 2.68 $ 2.48 $ 2.13 $ 1.71 ========== ============ ========== ========== ========= CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE......... $ 0.54 $ 0.52 $ 0.50 $ 0.48 $ 0.46 ========== ============ ========== ========== ========= CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA Current deferred income tax benefits.... $ 16,750 $ 21,899 $ 18,978 $ 16,873 $ 15,547 Current assets--other................... 408,251 381,466 350,410 305,139 255,619 Property, plant and equipment, net...... 914,072 846,993 777,528 591,420 408,820 Goodwill, net........................... 374,994 375,327 348,026 148,481 39,952 Other intangibles, net.................. 34,462 31,497 27,952 26,415 23,216 Other noncurrent assets................. 92,910 85,392 65,695 17,385 25,764 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- TOTAL................................... $1,841,439 $ 1,742,574 $1,588,589 $1,105,713 $ 768,918 ========== ============ ========== ========== ========= Current liabilities--other.............. $ 143,958 $ 142,974 $ 136,576 $ 106,804 $ 86,871 Current maturities of long-term debt and commercial paper..................... 45,155 39,722 15,657 1,431 1,273 Long-term debt and commercial paper..... 601,580 602,011 602,113 310,675 125,890 Pension and postretirement benefits..... 84,950 85,839 76,209 63,070 52,646 Noncurrent deferred income taxes........ 86,563 81,857 75,623 50,008 13,592 Other noncurrent liabilities............ 15,947 16,165 14,712 11,889 7,669 Shareholders' equity.................... 863,286 774,006 667,699 561,836 480,977 ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- --------- TOTAL................................... $1,841,439 $ 1,742,574 $1,588,589 $1,105,713 $ 768,918 ========== ============ ========== ========== ========= 9
10 RISK FACTORS An investment in the new notes issued in the Exchange Offer is subject to certain risks. You should carefully consider the following factors, as well as the more detailed descriptions elsewhere in this Prospectus in evaluating the Exchange Offer. OUR PROFITABILITY IS IMPACTED BY THE CYCLICALITY AND SEASONALITY OF OUR AGGREGATES DIVISION Our Aggregates division markets its products primarily to the construction industry, with approximately 46% of its shipments made to contractors in connection with highway and other public infrastructure projects and the balance of its shipments made primarily to contractors in connection with commercial and residential construction projects. Accordingly, our profitability is sensitive to national, as well as regional and local, economic conditions, and particularly to cyclical swings in construction spending, which is affected by fluctuations in interest rates, and demographic and population shifts, and to changes in the levels of infrastructure spending funded by the public sector. Due to our high level of fixed costs associated with aggregates production, our operating leverage can be substantial. Seasonal changes and other weather-related conditions can significantly affect the aggregates industry. Consequently, our Aggregates division's production and shipment levels coincide with general construction activity levels, most of which occur in the division's markets in the spring, summer and fall. The division's operations that are concentrated principally in the north central region of the Midwest generally experience more severe winter weather conditions than the division's operations in the Southeast and Southwest. North Carolina, our largest revenue generating state at 20% of 2000 net sales, is at risk for Atlantic Ocean hurricane activity and has experienced hurricane-related losses in recent years. OUR AGGREGATES DIVISION IS DEPENDENT ON THE ECONOMIES OF THE GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS WHERE WE OPERATE The Aggregates division's operations are concentrated in the southeastern, southwestern, midwestern and central regions of the nation; therefore, the division's - and, consequently, the Company's - operating performance and financial results depend on the strength of these specific regional economies. In recent years, economic growth in the United States, particularly in the Southeast and Southwest, has been generally strong. However, if federal appropriation levels are reduced, if a reduction occurs in state and local spending, or if the specific regional economies decline, the Aggregates division could be adversely affected. The Aggregates division's top five revenue-generating states, namely North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Georgia and Iowa, accounted for approximately 60% of 2000 net sales. A growing percentage of our aggregates shipments are being moved by rail or water through a distribution yard network. In 1994, 93% of our aggregates shipments were moved by truck, while the balance was moved by rail. In contrast, our aggregates shipments moved 80% by truck, 10% by rail and 10% by water in 2000. Further the acquisition of Meridian Aggregates Company and its rail-based distribution network, coupled with the extensive use of rail service in the Southwest Division, increases our dependence on and exposure to railroad performance, including track congestion, crew availability and power failures, and the ability to renegotiate favorable railroad shipping contracts. ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR OPERATIONS; POTENTIAL LITIGATION ARISING FROM OUR OPERATIONS COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION Our operations are subject to and affected by federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the environment, health and safety and other regulatory matters. Certain of our operations may from time to time involve the use of substances that are classified as toxic or hazardous substances within the meaning of these laws and regulations. We believe that our operations and facilities, both owned and leased, are in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations and that any noncompliance is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our operations or our financial condition. Despite these compliance efforts, risk of environmental liability is inherent in the operation of our businesses, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses, and there can be no assurance that environmental liabilities will not have a material adverse effect on us in the future. In addition, 10
11 future events, such as changes in existing laws or regulations or enforcement policies, or further investigation or evaluation of the potential health hazards of certain of our products or business activities, may give rise to additional compliance and other costs that could have a material adverse effect on us. From time to time claims of various types are asserted against us arising out of our operations in the normal course of business, including claims relating to land use and permits, safety, health and environmental matters (such as noise abatement, vibrations, air emissions and water discharges). Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and it is not possible to determine the probable outcome of, or the amount of liability, if any, from these matters. In the opinion of our management (which opinion is based in part upon consideration of the opinion of counsel), it is unlikely that the outcome of these claims will have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial condition. However, there can be no assurance that an adverse outcome in any of such litigation would not have a material adverse effect on us or our operating segments. LIQUID TRADING MARKET FOR NEW NOTES MAY NOT DEVELOP There has not been an established trading market for the notes. Although each initial purchaser has informed us that it currently intends to make a market in the outstanding notes and, if issued, the new notes, which will replace the outstanding notes, it has no obligation to do so and may discontinue making a market at any time without notice. We do not intend to apply for listing of the outstanding notes or, if issued, the new notes, on any securities exchange or for quotation through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The liquidity of any market for the notes will depend upon the number of holders of the notes, our performance, the market for similar securities, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the notes and other factors. A liquid trading market may not develop for the notes. FAILURE TO EXCHANGE OUTSTANDING NOTES MAY RESTRICT FUTURE TRANSFER Untendered outstanding notes that are not exchanged for new notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will remain restricted securities. Outstanding notes will continue to be subject to the following restrictions on transfer: (i) outstanding notes may be resold only if registered pursuant to the Securities Act, if an exemption from registration is available thereunder, or if neither such registration nor such exemption is required by law, (ii) outstanding notes will bear a legend restricting transfer in the absence of registration or an exemption therefrom and (iii) a holder of outstanding notes who desires to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of its outstanding notes under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if requested by us, must deliver to us an opinion of independent counsel experienced in Securities Act matters, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to us, that such exemption is available. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. You are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those arising out of economic, climatic, political, regulatory, competitive and other factors including inaccurate assumptions. You are also cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof based on management's current expectations and we do not undertake an obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a discussion identifying some important factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors." See also "Business-Competition," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations," and "Note A: Accounting Policies" and "Note L: Commitments and Contingencies" to our audited consolidated financial statements, each of which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. 11
12 RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows: YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........ 4.54 5.48 7.52 8.62 11.12 ==== ==== ==== ==== ===== We computed the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings and fixed charges, excluding capitalized interest, by fixed charges. For purposes of this ratio, "earnings" consist of earnings before taxes on income, extraordinary item and net cumulative effect of accounting changes, adjusted for undistributed earnings of less-than-fifty-percent-owned affiliates. "Fixed charges" represent interest expense relating to any indebtedness whether expensed or capitalized, as well as such portion of rental expense as can be demonstrated to be representative of an interest factor. USE OF PROCEEDS We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the new notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. We received net proceeds from the sale of the outstanding notes of approximately $248 million, which we used to finance our acquisition of the remaining interest of Meridian Aggregates Company and for general corporate purposes. CAPITALIZATION The following table sets forth our short-term debt and capitalization at December 31, 2000 and as adjusted to give effect to our sale of the outstanding notes (before deducting expenses associated with the offering of the outstanding notes). DECEMBER 31, 2000 ------------------------ AS ADJUSTED FOR ISSUANCE ACTUAL OF NOTES --------- ------------ (IN THOUSANDS) NOTES (UNAUDITED) - ----- Current portions of long-term debt: Loans Payable ............................................................... 5,155 5,155 Commercial paper, interest rates approximately 5.7% ......................... 40,000 40,000 --------- --------- Total current portion of long-term obligations .......................... 45,155 45,155 --------- --------- Long-term obligations: Loans Payable ............................................................... 3,252 3,252 5.875% Notes, due 2008 ...................................................... 199,141 199,141 6.9% Notes, due 2007 ........................................................ 124,961 124,961 7% Debentures, due 2025 ..................................................... 124,226 124,226 Commercial paper, interest rates ranging from 5.50% to 7.61% ................ 150,000 150,000 Notes offered hereby ............................................................ -- 250,000 --------- --------- Total long-term obligations ................................................. 601,580 851,580 --------- --------- Shareholders' equity: Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued .. -- -- Common Stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 46,783,000 issued ........................................................... 468 468 Additional paid-in capital .................................................. 356,546 356,546 Retained earnings ........................................................... 506,272 506,272 --------- --------- Total shareholders' equity .............................................. 863,286 863,286 --------- --------- Total capitalization .................................................... 1,510,021 1,760,021 ========= ========= 12
13 THE EXCHANGE OFFER GENERAL In connection with the sale of the outstanding notes (the "Old Notes"), we entered into an Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which we have agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the Old Notes, (1) to file with the Commission, within 60 days following the issue date of the Old Notes, a registration statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") under the Securities Act relating to an exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") pursuant to which notes substantially identical to the Old Notes (except that such notes (a) will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, (b) will have been registered under the Securities Act, and (c) will not contain registration rights or contingent interest reset provisions applicable to the Old Notes) (the "New Notes" and, together with the Old Notes, the "Notes"), would be offered in exchange for the Old Notes tendered at the option of the holders thereof and (2) to use our best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than 180 days from the issue date of the Old Notes. We have further agreed to commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, hold the offer open for at least 30 days and exchange New Notes for all Old Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the Exchange Offer. Under existing Commission interpretations, the New Notes will in general be freely transferable after the Exchange Offer without further registration under the Securities Act, except that broker-dealers receiving New Notes in the Exchange Offer ("Participating Broker-Dealers") will be subject to a prospectus delivery requirement with respect to resales of those New Notes. The Commission has taken the position that Participating Broker-Dealers may fulfill their prospectus delivery requirements with respect to the New Notes (other than a resale of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes constituting an unsold allotment from the original sale of the Old Notes) by delivery of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we are required to allow Participating Broker-Dealers and other persons, if any, subject to similar prospectus delivery requirements to use the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in connection with the resale of such New Notes. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement will be kept effective to permit resales of New Notes acquired by broker-dealers pursuant to the Exchange Offer for a period ending on the earlier of 180 days after the Exchange Offer has been consummated or such earlier time as such broker-dealers cease to own any New Notes. Each holder of Old Notes who wishes to exchange such Old Notes for New Notes in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent that any New Notes to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the New Notes and that it is not an affiliate of Martin Marietta Materials. If (1) prior to completion of the Exchange Offer, existing Commission interpretations are changed such that the New Notes would not be transferable without restriction under the Securities Act, (2) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 225 days following the issue date of the Old Notes or (3) the Exchange Offer is not available to all holders of the Old Notes, we will, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (3), in addition to) completing the Exchange Offer, file and use our best efforts to cause a registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement") under the Securities Act relating to a 13
14 shelf registration of the Old Notes for resale by holders (the "Resale Registration") to become effective on or prior to the applicable date set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement (the "Resale Registration Filing Deadline") and to remain effective until the earlier of two years following the date the Resale Registration is declared effective or such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). We will, in the event of the Resale Registration, provide to the holders of the applicable Old Notes copies of the prospectus that is a part of the registration statement filed in connection with the Resale Registration, notify such holders when the Resale Registration for the applicable Old Notes has become effective and take certain other actions as are required to permit unrestricted resales of the applicable Old Notes. A holder of Old Notes that sells such Old Notes pursuant to the Resale Registration generally would be required to be named as a selling noteholder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to purchasers, would be subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under the Securities Act in connection with such sales and would be bound by the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement that are applicable to such a holder (including certain indemnification obligations). If (1) we have not filed the Exchange Offer Registration Statement within 60 days following the Issue Date or, if applicable, the Resale Registration by the Resale Registration Filing Deadline or (2) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has not become effective within 180 days following the issue date of the Old Notes or, if applicable, the Resale Registration has not become effective within 120 days after the Resale Registration is filed or (3) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 45 days after the effective date of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (4) any registration statement required by the Registration Rights Agreement is filed and becomes effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective (except as specifically permitted therein) without being succeeded immediately by an additional effective registration statement (any such event referred to in clauses (1) through (4), a "Registration Default" and each period during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a "Registration Default Period"), then the per annum interest rate on the Old Notes will increase by 0.25% for the first 90 days of the Registration Default Period and by an additional 0.25% thereafter for the remaining portion of the Registration Default Period (at which time the interest rate will be reduced to the rate otherwise in effect). In the event the Exchange Offer is consummated, we will not be required to file a Shelf Registration Statement relating to any outstanding Old Notes other than those held by persons not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer, and the interest rate on such Old Notes will remain at its initial level of 6-7/8%. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been consummated upon the earlier to occur of (1) Martin Marietta Materials having exchanged New Notes for all outstanding Old Notes (other than Old Notes held by persons not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer) pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (2) Martin Marietta Materials having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, New Notes for all Old Notes that have been tendered and not withdrawn on the Expiration Date. Upon consummation, holders of Old Notes seeking liquidity in their investment would have to rely on exemptions to registration requirements under the securities laws, including the Securities Act. See "Risk Factors-Failure to exchange outstanding notes may restrict future transfer." Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, we will accept all Old Notes validly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. We will issue $1,000 principal amount of New Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of 14
15 outstanding Old Notes accepted in the Exchange Offer. Holders may tender some or all of their Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer in denominations of $1,000 and thereafter in integral multiples of $1,000 thereof. As of the date of this Prospectus, $250 million aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes is outstanding. In connection with the issuance of the Old Notes, we arranged for the Old Notes initially purchased by Qualified Institutional Buyers to be issued and transferable in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC, acting as depositary. The New Notes will also be issuable and transferable in book-entry form through DTC. This Prospectus, together with the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, is being sent to all registered holders of the Old Notes. We shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Old Notes when, as and if we have given oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent. See "-Exchange Agent." The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of Old Notes for the purpose of receiving New Notes from us and delivering New Notes to such holders. If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender or the occurrence of certain other events set forth herein, certificates for any such unaccepted Old Notes will be returned, without cost, to the tendering holder thereof as promptly as practicable after the Expiration Date. Holders of Old Notes who tender in the Exchange Offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes, in connection with the Exchange Offer. See "-Fees and Expenses." EXPIRATION DATES; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS The term "Expiration Date" shall mean July 9, 2001 unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the Exchange Offer, in which case the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest date to which the Exchange Offer is extended. In order to extend the Expiration Date, we will notify the Exchange Agent of any extension by oral or written notice and will mail to the record holders of Old Notes an announcement thereof, each prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date. Such announcement may state that we are extending the Exchange Offer for a specified period of time. We reserve the right (1) to delay acceptance of any Old Notes, to extend the Exchange Offer or to terminate the Exchange Offer and to refuse to accept Old Notes not previously accepted, if any of the conditions set forth herein under "-Termination" shall have occurred and shall not have been waived by us (if permitted to be waived by us), by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the Exchange Agent, and (2) to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner deemed by us to be advantageous to the holders of the Old Notes. Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice thereof. If the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined by us to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose such amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders of the Old Notes of such amendment. Without limiting the manner by which we may choose to make public announcements of any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment of the Exchange Offer, we will have no obligation to publish, advertise, or otherwise communicate any such public announcement, other than by making a timely release to the Dow Jones New Service. 15
16 INTEREST ON THE NEW NOTES The New Notes will bear interest from March 30, 2001, payable semiannually on April 1 and October 1 of each year commencing on October 1, 2001, at the rate of 6-7/8% per annum. Holders of Old Notes whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange will be deemed to have waived the right to receive any payment in respect of interest on the Old Notes accrued from March 30, 2001 until the date of the issuance of the New Notes. Consequently, holders who exchange their Old Notes for New Notes will receive the same interest payment on October 1, 2001 (the first interest payment date with respect to the Old Notes and the New Notes) that they would have received had they not accepted the Exchange Offer. PROCEDURE FOR TENDERING Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC's Book-Entry Transfer Facility system may make book-entry delivery of the Old Notes held as Book-Entry Interests (as defined below under the heading "Description of New Notes-Form of Notes") by causing DTC to transfer such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account in accordance with DTC's procedure for such transfer. Although delivery of Old Notes may be effected through book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC, either (1) the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, or (2) a computer-generated message transmitted by means of the Automated Tender Offer Program system of DTC and received by the Exchange Agent and forming a part of a confirmation of book entry transfer in which the holder of Old Notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal, must, in any case, be transmitted to and received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent at its addresses set forth herein under "-Exchange Agent" prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS PROCEDURES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. To tender in the Exchange Offer, a holder of Certificated Notes (as defined below under the heading "Description of New Notes-Form of Notes") must complete, sign and date the Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof, have the signatures thereon guaranteed if required by the Letter of Transmittal, and mail or otherwise deliver such Letter of Transmittal or such facsimile, together with the Old Notes and any other required documents, to the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The tender by a holder of Old Notes will constitute an agreement between such holder and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Letter of Transmittal. Delivery of all documents must be made to the Exchange Agent at its address set forth in this Prospectus. Holders may also requests that their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees effect such tender for such holders. The method of delivery of Old Notes and the Letters of Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the election and risk of the holders. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure timely delivery. No Letter of Transmittal or Old Notes should be sent to us. Only a holder of Old Notes may tender such Old Notes in the Exchange Offer. The term "holder" with respect to the Exchange Offer means any person in whose name Old Notes are registered on our books or any other person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the registered holder, or any person whose Old Notes are held of record by DTC who desires to deliver such Old Notes by book entry transfer at DTC. Any beneficial holder whose Old Notes are registered in the name of his broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact such registered holder promptly and 16
17 instruct such registered holder to tender on his behalf. If such beneficial holder wishes to tender on his own behalf, such beneficial holder must, prior to completing and executing the Letter of Transmittal and delivering his Old Notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the Old Notes in such holder's name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of record ownership may take considerable time. Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be Guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office of correspondent in the United States or an "eligible guarantor institution" within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act (an "Eligible Institution") unless the Old Notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered (1) by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or (2) for the account of an Eligible Institution. If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any Old Notes listed therein, such Old Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers which authorize such person to tender the Old Notes on behalf of the registered holder, in either case signed as the name of the registered holder or holders appears on the Old Notes. If the Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by us, evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to so act must be submitted with the Letter of Transmittal. All the questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of the tendered Old Notes will be determined by us in our sole discretion, which determinations will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all Old Notes not validly tendered or any Old Notes that our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Old Notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. Neither Martin Marietta Materials, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Old Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Old Notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned without cost by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holder of such Old Notes unless otherwise provided in the Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date. In addition, we reserve the right in our sole discretion to (1) purchase or make offers for any Old Notes that remain outstanding subsequent to the Expiration Date, or, as set forth under "-Termination," to terminate the Exchange Offer and (2) to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase Old Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or offers may differ from the terms of the Exchange Offer. By tendering, each holder of Old Notes will represent to us that among other things, the New Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such New Notes, whether or not such person is the holder, that neither the holder nor any other person has 17
18 an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes and that neither the holder nor any such other person is our "affiliate" within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURE Holders who wish to tender their Old Notes and (a) whose Old Notes are not immediately available, or (b) who cannot deliver their Old Notes, the Letter of Transmittal, or any other required documents to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date, or (c) who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may effect a tender if: (1) The tender is made through an Eligible Institution; (2) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent receives from such Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery) setting forth the name and address of the holder of the Old Notes, the certificate number or numbers of such Old Notes and the principal amount of Old Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby, and guaranteeing that, within five business days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with the certificate(s) representing the Old Notes to be tendered in proper form for transfer and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent; and (3) Such properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with the certificate(s) representing all tendered Old Notes in proper form for transfer (or confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC of Old Notes delivered electronically) and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal are received by the Exchange Agent within five business days after the Expiration Date. WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Expiration Date. To withdraw a tender of Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth in this Prospectus prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must (1) specify the name of the person having deposited the Old Notes to be withdrawn (the "Depositor"), (2) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of such Old Notes), (3) be signed by the Depositor in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such Old Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfers sufficient to permit the Trustee with respect to the Old Notes to register the transfer of such Old Notes into the name of the Depositor withdrawing the tender and (4) specify the name in which any such Old Notes are to be registered, if different from that of the Depositor. All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for such withdrawal notices will be determined by us, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any Old Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer and no New Notes will be issued with respect thereto unless the Old Notes so withdrawn are validly tendered. Any Old Notes which have been 18
19 tendered but which are not accepted for exchange will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Old Notes may be tendered by following one of the procedures described above under "-Procedures for Tendering" at any time prior to the Expiration Date. TERMINATION Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange New Notes for, any Old Notes not therefore accepted for exchange, and may terminate or amend the Exchange Offer as provided herein before the acceptance of such Old Notes if: (1) any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer, which, in our judgment, might materially impair our ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer or (2) any law, statute, rule or regulation is proposed, adopted or enacted, or any existing law, statute rule or regulation is interpreted by the staff of the Commission or court of competent jurisdiction in a manner, which, in our judgment, might materially impair our ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer. If we determine that we may terminate the Exchange Offer, as set forth above, we may (1) refuse to accept any Old Notes and return any Old Notes that have been tendered to the holders thereof, (2) extend the Exchange Offer and retain all Old Notes tendered prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer, subject to the rights of such holders of tendered Old Notes to withdraw their tendered Old Notes, or (3) waive such termination event with respect to the Exchange Offer and accept all properly tendered Old Notes that have not been withdrawn. If such waiver constitutes a material change in the Exchange Offer, we will disclose such change by means of a supplement to this Prospectus that will be distributed to each registered holder of Old Notes and we will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of five to ten business days, depending upon the significance of the waiver and the manner of disclosure to the registered holders of the Old Notes, if the Exchange Offer would otherwise expire during such period. EXCHANGE AGENT First Union National Bank has been appointed as Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer. Questions and requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of this Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal should be directed to the Exchange Agent addressed as follows: By Mail or Hand Delivery: First Union National Bank 401 South Tryon Street, 12th Floor Charlotte, NC 28288-1179 Facsimile Transmission: (704) 590-7618 Confirm by Telephone: (800) 665-9343 19
20 FEES AND EXPENSES The expenses of soliciting tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be borne by us. The principal solicitation for tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer is being made by mail. Additional solicitations may be made by our officers and regular employees and our affiliates in person, by telegraph or telephone. We will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or other persons soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. We, however, will pay the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse the Exchange Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith. We may also pay brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding copies of this Prospectus, Letters of Transmittal and related documents to the beneficial owners of the Old Notes and in handling or forwarding tenders for exchange. The expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer, including fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent and Trustee and accounting and legal fees, will be paid by us. We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, certificates representing New Notes or Old Notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the Old Notes tendered, or if tendered Old Notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the Letter of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES The following discussion summarizing the federal income tax consequences of the Exchange Offer reflects the opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, counsel to the Company, as to material federal income tax consequences expected to result from the Exchange Offer. An opinion of counsel is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") or the courts, and there can be no assurances that the IRS will not take, and that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to that described below. Moreover, the following discussion does not constitute comprehensive tax advice to any particular Holder of Old Notes. The summary is based on the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable Treasury regulations, judicial authority and administrative pronouncements. The tax consequences described below could be modified by future changes in the relevant law, which could have retroactive effect. Each Holder of Old Notes should consult its own tax advisor as to these and any other federal income tax consequences of the Exchange Offer as well as any tax consequences to it under foreign, state, local or other law. In the opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, for purposes of U.S. federal income tax, an exchanging Holder will not recognize any gain or loss in respect of an exchange of an Old Note for a New Note, and such Holder's basis and holding period in the New Note will be the same as such Holder's basis and holding period in the Old Note. The Exchange Offer will result in no U.S. federal income tax consequences to a non-exchanging Holder. 20
21 DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES The Old Notes were issued under an indenture dated as of December 7, 1998 (the "Indenture") between Martin Marietta Materials, as issuer, and First Union National Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), a copy of which will be made available upon request to Martin Marietta Materials. Upon the issuance of the New Notes the Indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The following summary of the material provisions of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, reference to the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms contained therein and those terms made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. Unless otherwise indicated, the description set forth below applies to both the Old Notes and the New Notes (collectively, the "Notes"). GENERAL The New Notes offered hereby will be limited to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount at any time (less the principal amount of any Old Notes that remain outstanding at such time) outstanding and will mature on April 1, 2011. The New Notes will be unsecured obligations of Martin Marietta Materials and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Martin Marietta Materials. The New Notes will be issued solely in exchange for an equal principal amount of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The form and terms of the New Notes will be identical in all material respects to the form and terms of the Old Notes except that: (1) the New Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, (2) the New Notes will have been registered under the Securities Act and (3) the Registration Rights and contingent interest reset provisions applicable to the Old Notes are not applicable to the New Notes. The Notes will bear interest at 6-7/8% per annum payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2001, to the person in whose name the Notes were registered at the close of business on the preceding March 15 and September 15, respectively, subject to certain exceptions. The New Notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in purchase amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes (other than Notes issued as Global Notes) will be payable, and the Notes (other than Notes issued as Global Notes) will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable, at the office of the Trustee and at any other office maintained at that time by us for such purpose, provided that, at our option, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the holder as it appears in the register of the Notes. For certain information about Notes issued in global form, see "-- Form of Notes" below. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The Indenture provides that the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to us upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest that remains unclaimed for two years. In the event the Trustee or the Paying Agent returns money to us following such two-year period, the registered holders of the Notes (the "Noteholders") thereafter shall be entitled to payment only from us, subject to all applicable escheat, abandoned property and similar laws. The Indenture does not limit the amount of additional unsecured indebtedness that we or any of our Subsidiaries may incur. The terms of the Notes and the covenants contained in the Indenture do not afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other similar transaction involving Martin Marietta Materials that may adversely affect Noteholders. See "-- Certain Covenants" below. 21
22 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION; SINKING FUND The Notes will be redeemable at the option of Martin Marietta Materials, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior written notice mailed to the registered holders thereof, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum, as determined by the Quotation Agent (as defined herein), of the present values of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and the remaining scheduled payments of interest thereon from the redemption date to the maturity date of the Notes to be redeemed, exclusive of interest accrued to the redemption date (the "Remaining Life"), discounted from their respective scheduled payment dates to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 25 basis points plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Trustee or paying agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, then on and after such redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (or such portion thereof) called for redemption. "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity with the Remaining Life. "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of two Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date. "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by Martin Marietta Materials. "Reference Treasury Dealer" means Chase Securities Inc. and its successors; provided, however, that if the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date. "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated on the third business day preceding such redemption date using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. We may at any time, and from time to time, purchase the Notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise. The Notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption obligation prior to maturity. 22
23 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the holders of not less than a majority principal amount of the then outstanding Notes; provided that Martin Marietta Materials and the Trustee may not without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby (1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, (2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on the Notes, (3) reduce the principal of or extend the fixed maturity of the Notes, or (4) make the Notes payable in money other than that stated in the Notes. Any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes, except a default in payment of principal or interest or in respect of other provisions requiring the consent of the holder of each Note in order to amend. Without the consent of any Noteholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes without notice to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture concerning mergers, consolidations and transfers of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, to appoint a trustee other than the Trustee (or any successor thereto) as trustee in respect of the Notes, or to add, change or eliminate provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendment to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In addition, without the consent of any Noteholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Noteholder. Whenever we request the Trustee to take any action under the Indenture, including a request to amend or supplement the Indenture without the consent of any Noteholder, we are required to furnish the Trustee with an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the action have been complied with. Without the consent of any Noteholder, the Trustee may waive compliance with any provisions of the Indenture or the Notes if the waiver does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Noteholder. CERTAIN COVENANTS The terms of the Notes and the covenants contained in the Indenture do not afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other similar transaction involving Martin Marietta Materials that may adversely affect Noteholders. The Indenture does not limit the amount of additional unsecured indebtedness that Martin Marietta Materials or any of its Subsidiaries may incur. Certain Definitions. For purposes of the covenants included in the Indenture, the following terms generally shall have the meanings provided below. "Attributable Debt" for a lease means the carrying value of the capitalized rental obligation determined under generally accepted accounting principles whether or not such obligation is required to be shown on the balance sheet as a long-term liability. The carrying value may be reduced by the capitalized value of the rental obligations, calculated on the same basis, that any sublessee has for all or part of the same property. "Attributable Debt" does not include any obligation to make payments arising from the transfer of tax benefits under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (as it may from time to time be amended, or any successor statute) to the extent such obligation is offset by or conditioned upon receipt of payments from another person. A lease obligation shall be counted only once even if the Company and one or more of its Subsidiaries may be responsible for the obligation. "Capital Expenditures" means, for any period, any expenditures of the Company or its Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, are required to be included in fixed asset accounts as reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries. 23
24 "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means total assets less (1) total current liabilities (excluding any Debt which, at the option of the borrower, is renewable or extendible to a term exceeding 12 months and which is included in current liabilities and further excluding any deferred income taxes which are included in current liabilities) and (2) goodwill, patents and trademarks, all as stated on the Company's most recent consolidated balance sheet preceding the date of determination. "Debt" means any debt for borrowed money which would appear on the balance sheet as a liability or any guarantee of such a debt and includes purchase money obligations. "Debt" does not include any obligation to make payments arising from the transfer of tax benefits under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (as it may from time to time be amended, or any successor statute) to the extent such obligation is offset by or conditioned upon receipt of payments from another person. A Debt shall be counted only once even if the Company and one or more of its Subsidiaries may be responsible for the obligation. "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien. "Lien" does not include any obligation arising from the transfer of tax benefits under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (as it may from time to time be amended, or any successor statute) to the extent such obligation is offset by or conditioned upon receipt of payments from another person. "Long-Term Debt" means Debt that by its terms matures on a date more than 12 months after the date it was created or Debt that the obligor may extend or renew without the obligee's consent to a date more than 12 months after the Debt was created. "Principal Property" means any mining and quarrying or manufacturing facility located in the United States and owned by the Company or by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries from the date the Notes are first issued and which has, as of the date the Lien is incurred, a net book value (after deduction of depreciation and other similar charges) greater than 3% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, except (1) any such facility or property which is financed by obligations of any State, political subdivision of any State or the District of Columbia under terms which permit the interest payable to the holders of the obligations to be excluded from gross income as a result of the plant, facility or property satisfying the conditions of Section 103(b)(4)(C), (D), (E), (F) or (H) or Section 103(b)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or Section 142(a) or Section 144(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or of any successors to such provisions, or (2) any such facility or property which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. However, the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company may at any time declare any mining and quarrying or manufacturing facility or other property to be a Principal Property by delivering a certificate to that effect to the Trustee. "Restricted Property" means any Principal Property, any Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the date the Notes are first issued or secured by a Principal Property (including any property received upon a conversion or exchange of such debt), or any shares of stock of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (including any property or shares received upon a conversion, stock split or other distribution with respect to the ownership of such stock). "Restricted Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary that has substantially all its assets located in, or carries on substantially all its business in, the United States and that owns a Principal Property. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a Subsidiary shall not be a Restricted Subsidiary during such period of time as it has shares of capital stock registered under the Exchange Act or it files reports and other information with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. 24
25 "Subsidiary" means a corporation, a majority of the Voting Stock of which is owned by the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries. "Voting Stock" means capital stock having voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect directors. Limitations on Liens. Subject to the following three sentences, the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, as security for any Debt, incur a Lien on any Restricted Property, unless the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary secures or causes to be secured any outstanding Notes equally and ratably with all Debt secured by such Lien. The Lien may equally and ratably secure such Notes and any other obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries that are not subordinated to any outstanding Notes. This restriction will not apply to, among other things, certain Liens (1) existing at the time a corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; (2) existing at the time of the acquisition of the Restricted Property or incurred to finance all or some of the purchase price or cost of construction, provided that the Lien may not extend to any other Restricted Property (other than, in the case of construction, unimproved real property) owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the property is acquired or the Lien is incurred and provided further that the Lien may not be incurred more than one year after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of full operation of the property; (3) in favor of the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; (4) existing at the time a corporation merges into, consolidates with, or enters into a share exchange with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or a person transfers or leases all or substantially all its assets to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or (5) in favor of a government or governmental entity that secure payment pursuant to a contract, subcontract, statute or regulation, secure Debt guaranteed by the government or governmental agency, secure Debt incurred to finance all or some of the purchase price or cost of construction of goods, products or facilities produced under contract or subcontract for the government or governmental entity, or secure Debt incurred to finance all or some of the purchase price or cost of construction of the property subject to the Lien. In addition and notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, without securing the Notes, incur a Lien that otherwise would be subject to the restrictions, provided that after giving effect to such Lien the aggregate amount of all Debt secured by Liens that otherwise would be prohibited plus all Attributable Debt in respect of sale-leaseback transactions that otherwise would be prohibited by the covenant limiting sale-leaseback transactions described below would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. Limitations on Sale-Leaseback Transactions. Subject to the following two sentences, the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell or transfer a Principal Property and contemporaneously lease it back, except a lease for a period of three years or less. Notwithstanding the foregoing restriction, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell a Principal Property and lease it back for a longer period if (1) the lease is between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; (2) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions set forth above under the caption "Limitations on Liens," to create a Lien on the property to be leased securing Debt in an amount at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt in respect of the sale-leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the outstanding Notes; 25
26 (3) the Company owns or acquires other property which will be made a Principal Property and is determined by the Board of Directors of the Company to have a fair value equal to or greater than the Attributable Debt incurred; (4) within 270 days the Company makes Capital Expenditures with respect to a Principal Property in an amount at least equal to the amount of the Attributable Debt; or (5) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary makes an optional prepayment in cash of its Debt or capital lease obligations at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt for the lease, the prepayment is made within 270 days, the Debt prepaid is not owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Debt prepaid is not subordinated to any of the Notes, and the Debt prepaid was Long-Term Debt at the time it was created. In addition and notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, without securing the Notes, enter into a sale-leaseback transaction that otherwise would be subject to the restrictions, provided that after giving effect to such sale-leaseback transaction the aggregate amount of all Debt secured by Liens that otherwise would be prohibited by the covenant limiting Liens described above plus all Attributable Debt in respect of sale-leaseback transactions that otherwise would be prohibited would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation unless (1) the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation assumes by supplemental indenture all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture, (2) immediately after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing, and (3) the Company shall have delivered an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that the consolidation, merger or transfer and the supplemental indenture comply with the Indenture. When a successor corporation, trustee, paying, agent or registrar assumes all of the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor will be released from those obligations. DEFAULT AND REMEDIES An Event of Default under the Indenture in respect of the Notes is: (1) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Notes; (2) default in payment of principal on the Notes; (3) failure by the Company for 90 days, after notice to it to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture for the benefit of holders of the Notes; and (4) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the Notes to be due and payable immediately, but under certain conditions such acceleration may be rescinded by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. No holder of Notes may pursue any remedy against the Company under the Indenture (other than with respect to the right to receive payment of principal or interest, if any) unless such holder previously shall have given 26
27 to the Trustee written notice of default and unless the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes shall have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy and shall have offered the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it, the Trustee shall not have complied with the request within 60 days of receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes. Noteholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it from the Company or, under certain circumstances, the holders of the Notes seeking to direct the Trustee to take certain actions under the Indenture against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power under the Indenture in respect of the Notes. The Indenture provides that the Trustee will give to the holders of the Notes notice of all defaults known to it, within 90 days after the occurrence of any default with respect to the Notes, unless the default shall have been cured or waived. The Trustee may withhold from Noteholders notice of any continuing default (except a default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines in good faith that withholding such notice is in the interests of such holders. The Company is required annually to certify to the Trustee as to the compliance by the Company with certain covenants under the Indenture and the absence of a default thereunder, or as to any such default that existed. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Note holder waives and releases all such claims and liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes. DEFEASANCE The Indenture provides that the Company may, subject to certain conditions described below, discharge its indebtedness and its obligations or certain of its obligations under the Indenture in respect of the Notes by depositing funds or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) or Notes of the same series with the Trustee. The Indenture provides that (1) the Company will be discharged from any obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture and certain other obligations under the Indenture and any noncompliance with such obligations shall not be an Event of Default in respect of the Notes or (2) provided that 91 days have passed from the date of the deposit referred to below and certain specified Events of Default have not occurred, the Company will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Notes (except for certain obligations, including obligations to register the transfer and exchange of the Notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, to maintain paying agencies and to cause money to be held in trust), in either case upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money, Notes of the same series, and/or U.S. Government Obligations that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and each installment of interest on the Notes on the date when such payments become due in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes. In the event of any such defeasance under clause (1) above, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, other than with respect to the covenants relating to limitations on liens and sale-leaseback transactions and reporting thereon, and covenants relating to consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, shall remain in full force and effect. In the event of defeasance and discharge under clause (2) above, the holders of the Notes are entitled to payment only from the trust fund created by such deposit for payment. In the case of the Company's discharge from any and all obligations in respect of the Notes as described in clause (2) above, the trust may be established only if, among other things, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that, if the Notes are then listed on a national securities exchange, such deposit, defeasance or discharge will not cause the Notes to be delisted. For federal income tax purposes, defeasance and discharge under clause (2) above may cause holders of the Notes to recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the obligations of the trust to the holder and such holder's tax basis in 27
28 the Notes. Prospective purchasers should consult their tax advisors as to the possible tax effects of such a defeasance and discharge. Pursuant to the escrow trust agreements that the Company may execute in connection with the defeasance of all or certain of its obligations under the Indenture as provided above, the Company from time to time may elect to substitute U.S. Government Obligations or Notes of the same series for any or all of the U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee; provided that the money, U.S. Government Obligations, and/or Notes of the same series in trust following such substitution or substitutions will be sufficient, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, to pay the principal of and each installment of interest on the Notes on the date when such payments become due in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes. The escrow trust agreements also may enable the Company (1) to direct the Trustee to invest any money received by the Trustee on the U.S. Government Obligations comprising the trust in additional U.S. Government Obligations, and (2) to withdraw monies or U.S. Government Obligations from the trust from time to time; provided that the money and/or U.S. Government Obligations in trust following such withdrawal will be sufficient, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, to pay the principal of and each installment of interest on the Notes on the date when such payments become due in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes. GOVERNING LAW The Notes and the Indenture will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. FORM OF NOTES The certificates representing the Notes will be issued in fully registered form, without coupons. Except as described in the next paragraph, the Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC's nominee in the form of a global Note certificate (the "Global Note") or will remain in the custody of the Trustee pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate Agreement between DTC and the Trustee. Holders of the Notes will own certificateless interests in the Global Note evidenced by records in book entry form maintained by DTC (the "Book-Entry Interests"). Except as set forth below, the Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Note may not be exchanged for Notes in physical, certificated form ("Certificated Notes") except in the limited circumstances described below. All interests in the Global Note may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. CERTAIN BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES FOR THE GLOBAL NOTES The descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC set forth below are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the DTC settlement system and are subject to change by DTC from time to time. Neither the Company nor the Exchange Agent take any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and investors are urged to contact the DTC system or its participants directly to discuss these matters. DTC has advised the Company that it is (1) a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, (2) a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, (3) a member of the Federal Reserve System, 28
29 (4) a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, and (5) a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants (collectively, the "Participants") and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical transfer and delivery of certificates. DTC's Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the Initial Purchasers), banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to DTC's system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (collectively, the "Indirect Participants") that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through Participants or Indirect Participants. The Company expects that pursuant to procedures established by DTC (1) upon deposit of each Global Note, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants designated by the Initial Purchasers with an interest in the Global Note and (2) ownership of such Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the interests of Participants) and the records of Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to the interests of persons other than Participants). The laws of some jurisdictions may require that in order to effectively transfer interests in securities to certain persons, such persons must take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Notes represented by a Global Note to such persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through Participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Notes represented by a Global Note to pledge or transfer such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC's system, or to otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest. So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a Global Note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by the Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will not be entitled to have Notes represented by such Global Note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes, and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the Trustee thereunder. Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such holder is not a Participant or an Indirect Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of Notes under the Indenture with respect to such Global Note. The Company understands that under existing industry practice, in the event that the Company requests any action of holders of Notes, or a holder that is an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note desires to take any action that DTC, as the holder of such Global Note, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the Participants to take such action and the Participants would authorize holders owning through such Participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instruction of such holders. Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of Notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to such Notes. Payments with respect to the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, any Notes represented by a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee on the applicable record date will be payable by the Company's Paying Agent to or at the direction of DTC or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of the Global Note representing such Notes under the Indenture. Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company and the Company's Paying Agent may treat the persons in whose names the Notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving 29
30 payment thereon and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Accordingly, neither the Company, nor the Trustee, nor any Paying Agent has or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of such amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, liquidated damages, if any, and interest). Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and DTC. Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC's procedures. Neither the company nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing DTC's operations. SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT All payments of principal and interest with respect to the Notes will be made by the Company in immediately available funds. Secondary trading in long-term notes and notes of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearinghouse or next-day funds. In contrast, the Global Notes are expected to trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the Global Notes will therefore be required by the Depositary to settle in immediately available funds. Secondary trading in Certificated Notes will also be required to be settled in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the Notes. CERTIFICATED NOTES The Global Notes will be exchanged for Notes of like tenor and an equal aggregate principal amount, in authorized denominations and in definitive form, if (1) DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or the Company determines that DTC is unable to continue as Depositary and the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days, (2) the Company provides for such exchange pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, (3) the Company determines that such Notes shall no longer be represented by Global Notes and executes and delivers to the Trustee instructions to such effect or (4) an Event of Default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes, and which entitles the holders of the Notes to accelerate the Notes' maturity, shall have occurred and be continuing. Such Certificated Notes shall be registered in such name or names as DTC shall instruct the Trustee. It is expected that such instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from Participants or Indirect Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in Global Notes. Upon any such issuance, the Trustee is required to register such definitive Notes in the name of such person or persons (or the nominee of any thereof) and cause the same to be delivered thereto. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by DTC or any Participant or Indirect Participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related Notes and each such person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Notes to be issued). 30
31 TRUSTEE First Union National Bank from time to time performs other services for the Company in the normal course of business. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed to keep the Registration Statement effective from the time the New Notes are first issued and ending on the earlier of 180 days after the Exchange Offer is completed or the time when such broker-dealers no longer own any Old Notes. In addition, the Company agreed that, for a period of 90 days from March 22, 2001, the date of the Offering Memorandum distributed in connection with the sale of the Old Notes, none of Martin Marietta Materials, any of its subsidiaries, other affiliates over which any of them exercises management or voting control, or any person acting on their behalf will, without the prior written consent of Chase Securities Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities substantially similar to the Notes other than in connection with this Exchange Offer. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of the New Notes by broker-dealers. New Notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. We have been advised by Chase Securities, Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, First Union Securities, Inc., Wachovia Securities, Inc., BB&T Capital Markets/Scott & Stringfellow, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., RBC Dominion Securities Corporation, State Street Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC, collectively the Initial Purchasers of the Old Notes, that following completion of the Exchange Offer they intend to make a market in the New Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer; however, such entities are under no obligation to do so and any market activities with respect to the New Notes may be discontinued at any time. LEGAL MATTERS Certain legal matters with respect to the issuance of the New Notes will be passed upon for the Company by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York and Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., 101 North Tryon Street, Suite 1900, Charlotte, North Carolina. Richard A. Vinroot, a shareholder of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., is a director of the Company. Certain members of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. beneficially owned less than one percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock as of the date of this Prospectus. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Initial Purchasers of the Notes by Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York. 31
32 EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may inspect and copy reports, proxy statements and other information at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the Commission located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You may obtain information on the operation of the Commission's public reference facilities by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. You also may obtain copies of periodic reports, proxy statements and other information at prescribed rates by writing to the Commission, Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You also may access this information electronically through the Commission's web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. This web site contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants such as ourselves that have filed electronically with the Commission. This Prospectus is a part of a Registration Statement filed by us with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. As such we make reference in this Prospectus to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information about us and about the securities we hereby offer, you should consult the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. You should be aware that statements contained in this Prospectus concerning the provisions of any documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such document so filed. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. We will file with First Union National Bank, which acts as trustee pursuant to the indenture under which the new notes will be issued, within 15 days after we file with the Commission, copies of all of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may prescribe) which we are required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. We will also provide such other information as is required pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE We hereby incorporate by reference into this Prospectus the following documents or information filed with the Commission (File No. 1-12744): (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000; (2) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2001; and (3) all documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is part and prior to the effectiveness thereof or subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering made hereby. 32
33 For purposes of this Prospectus, statements contained herein (or documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein) will be considered modified or superseded to the extent that a subsequent statement contained herein (or a subsequently filed document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein) modifies them. Statements or documents that are so modified or superseded will not be considered part of this Prospectus, except as so modified or superseded. This Prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about the Company that is not included in or delivered with the document. This information is available to you without charge upon written or oral request to Roselyn Bar, Corporate Secretary and Deputy General Counsel, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., 2710 Wycliff Road, Raleigh, NC 27607-3033, telephone number (919) 783-4603. To obtain timely delivery, you must request the information no later than five business days before the date the Exchange Offer expires. YOU MUST REQUEST THIS INFORMATION BY JUNE 29, 2001. 33
34 ================================================================================ $250,000,000 MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS, INC. 6 7/8% NOTES DUE APRIL 1, 2011 ---------------- PROSPECTUS ---------------- JUNE 8, 2001 ================================================================================