Highlights:

-- Third quarter operating income rose 53% on a 27% increase in sales.

-- Operating income as a percent of sales improved more than one percentage point to 10.7%.

-- Third quarter Utility Support Structures Segment operating income improved 51% on a 31% increase in sales.

-- Third quarter Irrigation Segment operating income improved 124% on a 71% increase in sales.

OMAHA, Neb., October 13, 2011 -- Valmont Industries, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of engineered products for infrastructure, and mechanized irrigation equipment for agriculture, and a provider of coating services, reported sales for the third quarter of $672.2 million compared with $527.8 million for the same period of 2010. Third quarter 2011 net earnings were $42.1 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, versus third quarter 2010 net earnings of $25.9 million, or $0.98 per diluted share.

Third Quarter Review:

“Increased revenue in every segment and a significant improvement in the operating performance of our businesses with strong market fundamentals resulted in a 27% sales gain and a 53% improvement in operating income,” said Mogens C. Bay, Valmont’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Substantially higher irrigation equipment sales had the greatest impact on third quarter revenue gains. Farmers increased their investment in pivots to improve productivity in light of strong feed-grain demand. Significantly higher North American Utility Support Structures Segment sales resulted from increased investment in the transmission grid by electric utilities. Increased revenues in the Engineered Infrastructure Products Segment mostly reflect higher international revenues. Coatings Segment sales increased due to improved revenues in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Third Quarter Segment Review:

Irrigation Segment (22% of 3rd Quarter Sales)

Center pivot and linear move mechanized irrigation equipment and parts for agriculture in global markets.

Global sales were $150.6 million, an increase of 71% over 2010. In international markets, sales increases were broad-based and supported by firm global crop prices. North American demand was significantly higher, even during the seasonally slow summer months. An increase in aftermarket parts sales due to irrigation equipment operating longer in hot weather, further supported North American sales increases.

A growing world population and a move towards higher protein in diets are resulting in increased global demand for feed-grains. Consequently, crop prices have remained firm for most of the year driving expectations for record farm incomes. We believe this environment motivated farmers to seek productivity enhancing tools to maximize income. Since mechanized irrigation equipment is one of the highest-return capital investments farmers can make to increase production, demand for Valmont’s products was substantially higher.

Operating income more than doubled to $23.8 million and was 15.8% of segment sales. The rise in operating income was driven by volume increases and the resulting operating leverage.

Utility Support Structures Segment (24% of 3rd Quarter Sales)

Steel and concrete structures for the global electric utility industry.

Sales of $159.8 million were 31% above 2010, led by increased demand in North America. Reduced activity in China, along with a decline in project orders, resulted in lower international sales compared with last year.

Order activity in North America increased during the third quarter resulting in a growing backlog. Electric utility companies have increased capital spending on projects to add physical capacity and increase the reliability of the transmission grid. We believe a growing pipeline of large projects is expected to stimulate demand for structures for a number of years.

Operating income rose 51% to $14.7 million and was 9.2% of segment sales. Operating margins for the quarter were pressured by shipments out of backlog taken when the pricing environment was highly competitive, and by higher material costs than last year.

Engineered Infrastructure Products Segment (33% of 3rd Quarter Sales)

Lighting, traffic and highway safety products, wireless communication structures and components, and industrial gratings and access systems worldwide.

Third quarter sales were $222.2 million, a 12% increase over 2010, mostly due to improved revenues in international markets. Government budgetary constraints, the lack of a long-term highway bill and a slow recovery in non-residential construction have led to weak market conditions and a competitive pricing environment in the North American commercial, and lighting and traffic markets.

In Europe, lighting and traffic sales improved modestly due to regional strength in some markets. In most European markets, pricing was competitive due to sluggish demand resulting from economic uncertainty and fiscal restraint.

Wireless communication product sales were lower in North American markets due to uncertainty about carrier consolidations. In China, sales improved.

Sales of engineered infrastructure products in the Asia-Pacific region were somewhat higher mainly as a result of growing infrastructure investment in Southeast Asia.

Operating income for the segment was flat despite higher sales. Operating income as a percent of sales was 7.7% compared with 8.7% in 2010. The pressure on operating income as a percent of sales reflects pricing competitiveness in all markets and generally higher material costs than last year.

Coatings Segment (12% of 3rd Quarter Sales)

Hot-dip galvanizing, and other coatings to protect against corrosion of steel and aluminum in global markets.

Sales of $80.8 million were 7% higher than last year. The increase in sales reflects higher internal demand from Valmont’s utility and irrigation divisions in North America. Revenues also rose in the Asia-Pacific region.

Operating income increased 5% to $14.2 million, or 17.6% of segment sales.

Included in “Other” are tubing, grinding media, and electrolytic manganese dioxide businesses. The improvement in results in these businesses reflects higher sales and improved operations.

Fourth Quarter Outlook:

“We are reconfirming our guidance for earnings per share for the year to be in the range of $5.70-5.90,” Mr. Bay said. “However, because of the deteriorating economic outlook in general over the past few months, particularly in Europe, we now expect results to be in the mid-to-lower end of that range.

“Going forward, our outlook remains positive. Demand for Utility Support Structures is rising. Recent order activity and a growing backlog support our expectations for a strong fourth quarter and 2012.

“In the irrigation business, a growing global demand for feed-grains to sustain dietary improvement and historically high farm income levels support a positive outlook.

“Our outlook for the Engineered Infrastructure Products Segment is mixed. In North America and Europe, we face reduced government spending and uncertain economic conditions. However, in the Asia-Pacific region we expect our operations to benefit from economic growth and new infrastructure investment, albeit at slower growth rates than in recent history.

“Coatings segment results will be mostly driven by economic conditions in North America and industrial demand in the Asia-Pacific region.”

An audio discussion of Valmont’s third quarter results by Mogens C. Bay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Terry J. McClain, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be available live by telephone by dialing 1-877-493-2981 and entering Conference ID#: 36684177 or via the Internet at 8:00 a.m. CDT October 14, 2011, by pointing browsers to: http://www.valmont.com/page.aspx?id=445&pid=21 After the event, you may listen by accessing the above link or by telephone. Dial 1-800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291, and enter the Conference ID#: 36684177 beginning October 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. CDT through 12:00 p.m. CDT on October 21, 2011.

Valmont is the global leader in designing and manufacturing poles, towers and structures for lighting and traffic, wireless communication and utility markets, industrial access systems, highway safety barriers and a provider of protective coating services. Valmont also leads the world in mechanized irrigation equipment for agriculture, enhancing food production while conserving and protecting natural water resources.

This release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management has made in light of experience in the industries in which Valmont operates, as well as management’s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate under the circumstances. As you read and consider this release, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond Valmont’s control) and assumptions. Although management believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect Valmont’s actual financial results and cause them to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include among other things, risk factors described from time to time in Valmont’s reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as future economic and market circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results, operating efficiencies, availability and price of raw material, availability and market acceptance of new products, product pricing, domestic and international competitive environments, and actions and policy changes of domestic and foreign governments. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statement included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement.