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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended:  September 30, 2014
 
OR 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from                           to                           
 
Commission file number:  1-13429
 
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
Delaware
 
94-3196943
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
 
(I.R.S. Employer
or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
5956 W. Las Positas Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94588
(Address of principal executive offices) 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code):  (925) 560-9000
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ý  No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ý  No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
Large accelerated filer
ý
 
 
Accelerated filer
o
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company
o
 
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o  No ý
 
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2014:   48,948,467

1



PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements.
 
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, unaudited)
 
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

Current assets
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
258,238

 
$
215,764

 
$
251,208

Trade accounts receivable, net
127,495

 
118,895

 
90,017

Inventories
198,420

 
187,255

 
197,728

Deferred income taxes
13,141

 
12,330

 
12,699

Other current assets
12,985

 
12,519

 
16,454

Total current assets
610,279

 
546,763

 
568,106

 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
206,134

 
209,641

 
209,533

Goodwill
125,228

 
130,270

 
129,218

Intangible assets, net
34,782

 
42,541

 
41,773

Other noncurrent assets
5,420

 
4,961

 
4,983

Total assets
$
981,843

 
$
934,176

 
$
953,613

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

Line of credit and notes payable
$
38

 
$
956

 
$
103

Trade accounts payable
24,729

 
33,450

 
34,933

Accrued liabilities
56,913

 
47,268

 
51,745

Accrued profit sharing trust contributions
4,663

 
4,573

 
5,784

Accrued cash profit sharing and commissions
13,721

 
12,471

 
6,049

Accrued workers’ compensation
4,432

 
5,195

 
4,591

Total current liabilities
104,496

 
103,913

 
103,205

 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred income tax and other long-term liabilities
13,224

 
7,803

 
9,129

Total liabilities
117,720

 
111,716

 
112,334

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)


 


 


Stockholders’ equity
 

 
 

 
 

Common stock, at par value
490

 
487

 
486

Additional paid-in capital
217,011

 
194,721

 
207,418

Retained earnings
648,608

 
623,529

 
615,289

Treasury stock
(2,981
)
 
(9,825
)
 

Accumulated other comprehensive income
995

 
13,548

 
18,086

Total stockholders’ equity
864,123

 
822,460

 
841,279

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
981,843

 
$
934,176

 
$
953,613



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
2


Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands except per-share amounts, unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net sales
$
209,320

 
$
195,619

 
$
585,518

 
$
545,248

Cost of sales
113,767

 
105,724

 
316,285

 
301,461

Gross profit
95,553

 
89,895

 
269,233

 
243,787

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Research and development and other engineering
9,711

 
9,226

 
29,505

 
27,018

Selling
23,592

 
20,630

 
69,623

 
63,654

General and administrative
29,557

 
28,523

 
85,993

 
82,906

Impairment of goodwill
492

 

 
492

 

Loss (gain) on sale of assets
(17
)
 
631

 
(336
)
 
634

 
63,335

 
59,010

 
185,277

 
174,212

Income from operations
32,218

 
30,885

 
83,956

 
69,575

Interest (expense) income, net
(27
)
 
(9
)
 
44

 
32

Income before taxes
32,191

 
30,876

 
84,000

 
69,607

Provision for income taxes
11,577

 
10,870

 
30,849

 
26,304

Net income
$
20,614

 
$
20,006

 
$
53,151

 
$
43,303

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
$
0.42

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.09

 
$
0.89

Diluted
$
0.42

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.08

 
$
0.89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of shares outstanding
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
49,010

 
48,377

 
48,972

 
48,482

Diluted
49,227

 
48,551

 
49,172

 
48,603

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends declared per common share
$
0.140

 
$
0.125

 
$
0.405

 
$
0.250

 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
3


Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands, unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
$
20,614

 
$
20,006

 
$
53,151

 
$
43,303

Other comprehensive income (loss)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Translation adjustment, net of tax benefit (expense) of ($63) and $82, ($19) and ($2), respectively
(15,897
)
 
8,264

 
(17,091
)
 
1,449

Comprehensive income
$
4,717

 
$
28,270

 
$
36,060

 
$
44,752

 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
4


Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2014, and for the three months ended December 31, 2013
(In thousands except per-share amounts, unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional
 
 
 
Accumulated
Other
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Treasury
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Income (Loss)
 
Stock
 
Total
Balance, January 1, 2013
48,422

 
$
483

 
$
184,677

 
$
592,309

 
$
12,099

 
$

 
$
789,568

Net income

 

 

 
43,303

 

 

 
43,303

Translation adjustment, net of tax

 

 

 

 
1,449

 

 
1,449

Stock options exercised
194

 
2

 
5,331

 

 

 

 
5,333

Stock-based compensation

 

 
8,656

 

 

 

 
8,656

Tax effect of options exercised

 

 
(2,187
)
 

 

 

 
(2,187
)
Shares issued from release of Restricted Stock Units
111

 
2

 
(2,074
)
 

 

 

 
(2,072
)
Repurchase of common stock
(342
)
 

 

 

 

 
(9,825
)
 
(9,825
)
Cash dividends declared on common stock, $0.25 per share

 

 

 
(12,083
)
 

 

 
(12,083
)
Common stock issued at $33.81 per share for stock bonus
9

 

 
318

 

 

 

 
318

Balance, at September 30, 2013
48,394

 
487

 
194,721

 
623,529

 
13,548

 
(9,825
)
 
822,460

Net income

 

 

 
7,668

 

 
 

 
7,668

Translation adjustment, net of tax

 

 

 

 
4,492

 

 
4,492

Pension adjustment, net of tax

 

 

 

 
46

 

 
46

Stock options exercised
318

 
3

 
9,721

 

 

 

 
9,724

Stock-based compensation

 

 
3,434

 

 

 

 
3,434

Tax effect of options exercised

 

 
(458
)
 

 

 

 
(458
)
Retirement of treasury stock

 
(4
)
 

 
(9,821
)
 

 
9,825

 

Cash dividends declared on common stock, $0.125 per share

 

 

 
(6,087
)
 

 

 
(6,087
)
Balance, December 31, 2013
48,712

 
486

 
207,418

 
615,289

 
18,086

 

 
841,279

Net income

 

 

 
53,151

 

 

 
53,151

Translation adjustment, net of tax

 

 

 

 
(17,091
)
 

 
(17,091
)
Stock options exercised
144

 
2

 
4,176

 

 

 

 
4,178

Stock-based compensation

 

 
8,789

 

 

 

 
8,789

Tax effect of options exercised

 

 
(275
)
 

 

 

 
(275
)
Shares issued from release of Restricted Stock Units
176

 
2

 
(3,499
)
 

 

 

 
(3,497
)
Repurchase of common stock
(95
)
 

 

 

 

 
(2,981
)
 
(2,981
)
Cash dividends declared on common stock, $0.405 per share

 

 

 
(19,832
)
 

 

 
(19,832
)
Common stock issued at $35.87 per share for stock bonus
11

 

 
402

 

 

 

 
402

Balance, September 30, 2014
48,948

 
$
490

 
$
217,011

 
$
648,608

 
$
995

 
$
(2,981
)
 
$
864,123



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
5


Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands, unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Net income
$
53,151

 
$
43,303

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets
(336
)
 
634

Depreciation and amortization
22,105

 
21,631

Impairment loss on assets
492

 
1,025

Gain on contingent consideration adjustment
(386
)
 

Deferred income taxes
1,324

 
2,336

Noncash compensation related to stock plans
9,508

 
9,106

Excess tax benefit of options exercised and restricted stock units vested
(66
)
 
(42
)
Provision for doubtful accounts
25

 
342

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
 

 
 

Trade accounts receivable
(39,357
)
 
(36,296
)
Inventories
(3,235
)
 
17,643

Trade accounts payable
(9,121
)
 
(4,543
)
Income taxes payable
5,652

 
9,372

Accrued profit sharing trust contributions
(1,103
)
 
(606
)
Accrued cash profit sharing and commissions
7,743

 
9,053

Other current assets
(2,307
)
 
(1,218
)
Accrued liabilities
3,102

 
(112
)
Long-term liabilities
2,728

 
(1,563
)
Accrued workers’ compensation
(159
)
 
503

Other noncurrent assets
(603
)
 
1,352

Net cash provided by operating activities
49,157

 
71,920

Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(17,517
)
 
(12,949
)
Asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 
(5,300
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
612

 
1,823

Loan made to customer
(281
)
 

Loan repayment by customer
22

 

Loan repayment by related party

 
625

Net cash used in investing activities
(17,164
)
 
(15,801
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Deferred and contingent consideration paid for asset acquisition
(1,293
)


Repurchase of common stock
(2,981
)
 
(9,825
)
Debt and line of credit borrowings

 
1,378

Repayment of debt and line of credit borrowings
(60
)
 
(609
)
Issuance of common stock
4,178

 
5,333

Excess tax benefit of options exercised and restricted stock units vested
66

 
42

Dividends paid
(19,065
)
 
(12,081
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(19,155
)
 
(15,762
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(5,808
)
 
(146
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
7,030

 
40,211

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
251,208

 
175,553

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
258,238

 
$
215,764

Noncash activity during the period
 

 
 

Noncash capital expenditures
$
501

 
$
670

Dividends declared but not paid
6,862

 
6,015

Issuance of Company’s common stock for compensation
402

 
318


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
6

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)




1.    Basis of Presentation
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). Investments in 50% or less owned affiliates are accounted for using either the cost or the equity method. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
 
Interim Period Reporting
 
The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
 
The unaudited quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the financial information set forth therein, in accordance with GAAP. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data were derived from audited financial statements, but do not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The Company’s quarterly results fluctuate. As a result, the Company believes the results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

Revisions

The Company revised its September 30, 2013, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to classify $5.6 million of indefinite-lived assets as intangible assets, net, that had erroneously been classified as other noncurrent assets. The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, was revised to reflect $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of rental income from properties rented to third-parties as an offset to general and administrative expense rather than as net sales as originally reported in error. With this revision, rental incomes are reported, net of related expenses, in general and administrative expense. These revisions were not considered material to the affected periods.

Out-of-Period Adjustment

In the first quarter of 2014, the Company recorded an out-of-period adjustment, which increased gross profit, income from operations and net income by $2.3 million, $2.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The adjustment resulted from an over-statement of prior periods' workers compensation expense, net of cash profit sharing expense, and was not material to the current period's or any prior period's financial statements.

Withdrawal from Multi-Employer Defined-Benefit Pension Plan

Under the Company's collective bargaining arrangement with the tool and die craftsman and maintenance union, the Company has been contributing to a defined-benefit pension plan. In the second quarter of 2014, the Company and the union formally notified the defined-benefit pension plan administrator of their intent to withdraw from the plan. In the third quarter of 2014, the plan administrator responded by issuing a demand letter informing the Company that the annual withdrawal liability payment to be made by the Company was $145,400 and the payments were to be made in perpetuity.

Due to the amount and duration of payments, the Company was required to calculate and record a pension expense and liability based on the annual payments in perpetuity. The liability is included with other long-term liabilities in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company discounted the payment estimate using a discount rate of 5%, which approximates the credit-adjusted risk-free rate for the Company. The Company adjusted its liability to $3.0 million from the $2.9 million recorded in the second quarter of 2014, and recorded a corresponding defined-benefit expense in cost of sales. On a quarterly basis, the Company will re-evaluate the number of years that payments are required and the discount rate used to calculate the long-term liability and adjust it as facts and circumstances change. All quarterly adjustments to the long-term liability will be charged to cost

7



of sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Because of the funding status of the plan, the annual withdrawal liability payments will be recorded as interest expense on the long-term liability until such time as a finite debt balance is determined.

Revenue Recognition
 
The Company recognizes revenue when the earnings process is complete, net of applicable provision for discounts, returns and incentives, whether actual or estimated, based on the Company’s experience. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with the sales agreement or purchase order, ownership and risk of loss pass to the customer, collectability is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. The Company’s general shipping terms are F.O.B. shipping point, and title is transferred and revenue is recognized when the products are shipped to customers. When the Company sells F.O.B. destination point, title is transferred and the Company recognizes revenue on delivery or customer acceptance, depending on terms of the sales agreement. Service sales, representing after-market repair and maintenance, engineering activities, software license sales and services and lease income, though significantly less than 1% of net sales and not material to the condensed consolidated financial statements, are recognized as the services are completed or the software products and services are delivered. If actual costs of sales returns, incentives and discounts were to significantly exceed the recorded estimated allowance, the Company’s sales would be adversely affected.
 
Net Earnings Per Common Share
 
Basic earnings per common share are computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Potentially dilutive securities, using the treasury stock method, are included in the diluted per-share calculations for all periods when the effect of their inclusion is dilutive.
 
The following is a reconciliation of basic earnings per common share to diluted earnings per share:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net income available to common stockholders
$
20,614

 
$
20,006

 
$
53,151

 
$
43,303

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
49,010

 
48,377

 
48,972

 
48,482

Dilutive effect of potential common stock equivalents — stock options and restricted stock units
217

 
174

 
200

 
121

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
49,227

 
48,551

 
49,172

 
48,603

Earnings per common share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
$
0.42

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.09

 
$
0.89

Diluted
$
0.42

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.08

 
$
0.89

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from earnings per diluted share because their effect is anti-dilutive

 

 

 

 
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
 
With the approval of the Company’s stockholders on April 26, 2011, the Company adopted the Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2011 Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). The 2011 Plan amended and restated in their entirety, and incorporated and superseded, both the Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan (the “1994 Plan”), which was principally for the Company’s employees, and the Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 1995 Independent Director Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”), which was for the Company's directors who are not employees. Options previously granted under the 1994 Plan or the 1995 Plan were not affected by the adoption of the 2011 Plan and continue to be governed by the 1994 Plan or the 1995 Plan, respectively.
 
Under the 1994 Plan, the Company could grant incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. The Company, however, granted only non-qualified stock options under both the 1994 Plan and the 1995 Plan. The Company generally granted options under each of the 1994 Plan and the 1995 Plan once each year. The exercise price per share of each option granted under the 1994 Plan equaled the closing market price per share of the Company’s common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on the day preceding the day that the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors

8



met to approve the grant of the options. The exercise price per share under each option granted under the 1995 Plan was at the fair market value on the date specified in the 1995 Plan. Options vest and expire according to terms established at the grant date. Options granted under the 1994 Plan typically vest evenly over the requisite service period of four years and have a term of seven years. The vesting of options granted under the 1994 Plan will be accelerated if the grantee ceases to be employed by the Company after reaching age 60 or if there is a change in control of the Company. Options granted under the 1995 Plan were fully vested on the date of grant. Shares of common stock issued on exercise of stock options under the 1994 Plan and the 1995 Plan are registered under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
Under the 2011 Plan, the Company may grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, although the Company currently intends to award primarily restricted stock units and to a lesser extent, if at all, non-qualified stock options. The Company has not awarded, and does not currently intend to award, incentive stock options or restricted stock. Under the 2011 Plan, no more than 16.3 million shares of the Company’s common stock may be issued (including shares already issued) pursuant to all awards under the 2011 Plan, including on exercise of options previously granted under the 1994 Plan and the 1995 Plan. Shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to the 2011 Plan are registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

The following table represents the Company’s stock option and restricted stock unit activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Stock-based compensation expense recognized in operating expenses
$
3,041

 
$
2,959

 
$
8,781

 
$
8,644

Less: Tax benefit of stock-based compensation expense in provision for income taxes
1,075

 
1,087

 
3,142

 
3,031

Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax
$
1,966

 
$
1,872

 
$
5,639

 
$
5,613

Fair value of shares vested
$
3,098

 
$
3,007

 
$
8,789

 
$
8,656

Proceeds to the Company from the exercise of stock-based compensation
$
1,551

 
$
4,557

 
$
4,178

 
$
5,333

Tax effect from the exercise of stock-based compensation, including shortfall tax benefits
$
(89
)
 
$
(337
)
 
$
(275
)
 
$
(2,187
)
 
 
At September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Stock-based compensation cost capitalized in inventory
$
525

 
$
426

 
The amounts included in cost of sales, research and development and other engineering, selling, or general and administrative expense depend on the job functions performed by the employees to whom the stock options and restricted stock units were awarded.
 
The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock options granted or restricted stock units awarded are evaluated and revised, as necessary, to reflect market conditions and the Company’s experience.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; and Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s assumptions used to measure assets

9



and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset’s or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s investments consisted of only United States Treasury securities and money market funds, which are the Company’s primary financial instruments, maintained in cash equivalents and carried at cost, approximating fair value, based on Level 1 inputs. The balances of the Company’s primary financial instruments were as follows:
 
 
At September 30,
 
At December 31
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2013
Financial instruments
$
98,568

 
$
87,381

 
$
117,571

 
The carrying amounts of trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s contingent consideration related to acquisitions is classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy and is based on the Company's unobserved inputs and assumptions. In the third quarter of 2014, the fair value of the contingent consideration, related to the acquisition of Bierbach GmbH & Co. KG (“Bierbach”), a Germany corporation, was decreased from $0.8 million to $0.4 million, as a result of not retaining Bierbach's historical customers and increased competition.
 
Income Taxes
 
The Company uses an estimated annual effective tax rate to measure the tax benefit or tax expense recognized in each interim period. The estimated effective tax rate was slightly higher in the third quarter of 2014 than in the third quarter of 2013. The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2014 was 36.7% as compared to 37.8% for the first nine months of 2013. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to reduced operating losses in the first nine months of 2014 in the Europe and Asia/Pacific segments for which no tax benefit was recorded.
 
The following table presents the Company’s effective tax rates and income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except percentages)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Effective tax rate
36.0
%
 
35.2
%
 
36.7
%
 
37.8
%
Provision for income taxes
$
11,577

 
$
10,870

 
$
30,849

 
$
26,304

 
Acquisitions
 
In February 2013, the Company purchased certain assets relating to the TJ® ShearBrace (“ShearBrace”) product line of Weyerhaeuser NR Company (“Weyerhaeuser”) for $5.3 million in cash. The ShearBrace is a line of pre-fabricated shearwalls that complements the Company’s Strong-Wall shearwall, and is sold throughout North America. The Company’s measurement of assets acquired included goodwill of $0.9 million that has been assigned to the North America segment, and intangible assets of $3.6 million, both of which are subject to tax-deductible amortization. Net tangible assets consisting of inventory and equipment accounted for the balance of the purchase price. The weighted-average amortization period for the intangible assets is 11.3 years.
 
In November 2013, the Company purchased certain assets related to a connector product line from Bierbach for $1.2 million in cash and a contingent liability of $0.8 million. Bierbach manufactured and sold a line of connectors, primarily in Germany. The Company’s initial provisional measurement of assets acquired included goodwill of $0.7 million, which was assigned to the Europe segment, and intangible assets of $0.6 million, both of which are subject to tax-deductible amortization. Net tangible assets consisting of inventory and tooling accounted for the balance of the purchase price. The provisional measurement of the assets acquired was revised in the third quarter of 2014 to include goodwill of $0.5 million with intangible assets unchanged at $0.6 million. Net tangible assets consisting of inventory and tooling accounted for the balance of the purchase price. Also in the third quarter of 2014, the Company reduced the fair value of the contingent consideration liability from $0.8 million to $0.4 million due to a failure to retain Bierbach's historical customers and increased competition, which resulted in a $0.4 million gain that was

10



reported in general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The goodwill was fully impaired during the quarter. (See Note 1 "Basis of Presentation - Goodwill Impairment Testing" below).

In the first quarter of 2014, the Company paid $1.1 million in deferred consideration and $0.2 million in contingent consideration related to the acquisition of S&P Clever Reinforcement Company AG and S&P Clever International AG (collectively, “S&P Clever”). The remaining deferred and contingent consideration of $1.5 million is payable in the first quarter of 2015.

Under the business combinations topic of the FASB ASC, the Company accounted for these acquisitions as business combinations and ascribed acquisition-date fair values to the acquired assets. Provisional fair value measurements were made in the first and fourth quarters of 2013 for the acquired assets of ShearBrace and Bierbach, respectively. Adjustments to those measurements may be made in subsequent periods, up to one year from the acquisition date, as information necessary to complete the analysis is obtained. Fair value of intangible assets was based on Level 3 inputs. The Company has completed the measurement process for ShearBrace assets and expects the measurement process for the Bierbach acquisition to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2014.
 
Pro-forma financial information is not presented as it would not materially differ from the information presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Goodwill Impairment Testing

The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. These events or circumstances may include, among others, a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators such as decreases to sales forecasts, competition, or the disposition or relocation of a significant portion of a reporting unit's assets.

In the third quarter of 2014, the factors that led to the reduction in contingent consideration liability related to Bierbach discussed above resulted in management performing an impairment test to evaluate the recoverability of the Germany reporting unit's goodwill, which consists entirely of goodwill from the Bierbach acquisition. The test resulted in the impairment of all of the reporting unit’s goodwill in the amount of $0.5 million.

The Company performed a two-step impairment test on the goodwill of the Germany reporting unit. In the first step, the Company compared the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. The fair value was estimated using a discounted cash flow model, which considers estimates of projected future operating results and cash flows, discounted at an estimated after-tax weighted-average cost of capital. The discounted cash flow model requires significant judgment involving estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates, operating margins and working capital requirements used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates and future economic and market conditions (Level 3 fair value inputs). The Company bases its fair value estimates on assumptions that it believes to be reasonable, but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ materially from those estimates. Assumptions about the reporting unit’s operating performance in the first year of the discounted cash flow model used to determine whether or not the goodwill related to that reporting unit is impaired were derived from the Company’s 2014 projected annual operating results for the Germany reporting unit. The fair value model considers such factors as macro-economic conditions, revenue and expense forecasts, product line changes, material, labor and overhead costs, tax rates, working capital levels and the competitive environment. Future estimates, however derived, are inherently uncertain. Nonetheless, the Company believes that this is the most appropriate source on which to base its estimates.
 
As the carrying amount of the Germany reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a second test was performed to measure the amount of impairment, if any, by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to its assets and liabilities, other than goodwill, and comparing the resulting implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount. An impairment charge for the difference was then recorded. The goodwill impairment evaluation performed by management as of September 30, 2014, indicated that the carrying value of the Company's Germany reporting unit exceeded its fair value by more than 32% of the carrying value.

In connection with the impairment of the goodwill, the Company also reviewed associated long-lived assets in Germany, such as property and equipment, and intangible assets, for recoverability by comparing the projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with those assets to their carrying values. No impairment of long-lived assets was required as a result of that review during the third quarter of 2014.


11



Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification Update No. 2014-08 (Topic 205 and Topic 360), Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity ("ASC Update No. 2014-08"). ASC Update No. 2014-08 modifies the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. ASC Update No. 2014-08 also requires additional financial statement disclosures about discontinued operations, as well as disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations presentation. ASC Update No. 2014-08 is effective prospectively for years beginning on or after December 15, 2014. The Company expects that the adoption of ASC Update No. 2014-08 will not materially affect its financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC Update No. 2014-09"). ASC Update No. 2014-09 supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASC Update No. 2014-09 is that revenue is recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASC Update No. 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing GAAP. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASC Update No. 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company is currently evaluating the effects of adopting ASC Update No. 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements and has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard.

Other recent authoritative guidance issued by the FASB (including technical corrections to the ASC), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Securities and Exchange Commission did not or is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


2.    Trade Accounts Receivable, Net
 
Trade accounts receivable consisted of the following: 
 
At September 30,
 
At December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2013
Trade accounts receivable
$
131,323

 
$
122,328

 
$
92,413

Allowance for doubtful accounts
(836
)
 
(1,384
)
 
(945
)
Allowance for sales discounts and returns
(2,992
)
 
(2,049
)
 
(1,451
)
 
$
127,495

 
$
118,895

 
$
90,017

 

3.    Inventories
 
Inventories consisted of the following: 
 
At September 30,
 
At December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2013
Raw materials
$
77,845

 
$
75,032

 
$
81,338

In-process products
19,646

 
18,070

 
18,475

Finished products
100,929

 
94,153

 
97,915

 
$
198,420

 
$
187,255

 
$
197,728

 



12


4.    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
 
Property, plant and equipment, net, consisted of the following: 
 
At September 30,
 
At December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2013
Land
$
29,624

 
$
29,283

 
$
29,347

Buildings and site improvements
174,343

 
177,484

 
178,391

Leasehold improvements
5,404

 
5,068

 
5,213

Machinery, equipment, and software
230,534

 
221,459

 
225,831

 
439,905

 
433,294

 
438,782

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(246,287
)
 
(232,958
)
 
(235,535
)
 
193,618

 
200,336

 
203,247

Capital projects in progress
12,516

 
9,305

 
6,286

 
$
206,134

 
$
209,641

 
$
209,533

 


5.    Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net
 
Goodwill was as follows: 
 
At September 30,
 
At December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2013
North America
$
84,647

 
$
87,104

 
$
84,822

Europe
38,918

 
41,388

 
42,690

Asia/Pacific
1,663

 
1,778

 
1,706

Total
$
125,228

 
$
130,270

 
$
129,218

 
Amortizable and indefinite-lived intangible assets, net, were as follows: 
 
At September 30, 2014
 
Gross
 
 
 
Net
 
Carrying
 
Accumulated
 
Carrying
(in thousands)
Amount
 
Amortization
 
Amount
North America
$
34,490

 
$
(18,941
)
 
$
15,549

Europe
31,766

 
(12,533
)
 
19,233

Total
$
66,256

 
$
(31,474
)
 
$
34,782

 
 
At September 30, 2013
 
Gross
 
 
 
Net
(in thousands)
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Carrying
Amount
North America
$
34,591

 
$
(15,032
)
 
$
19,559

Europe
32,255

 
(9,273
)
 
22,982

Total
$
66,846

 
$
(24,305
)
 
$
42,541

 

13


 
At December 31, 2013
 
Gross
 
 
 
Net
(in thousands)
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Carrying
Amount
North America
$
34,520

 
$
(15,909
)
 
$
18,611

Europe
33,217

 
(10,055
)
 
23,162

Total
$
67,737

 
$
(25,964
)
 
$
41,773

 
Intangible assets consist of definite-lived and indefinite-lived assets. Definite-lived intangible assets include customer relationships, patents, unpatented technology and non-compete agreements. Amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, totaled $1.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, totaled $5.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets include in-process research and development assets and a trade name totaling $2.2 million, $5.6 million and $5.7 million at September 30, 2014, September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, respectively. During the second quarter of 2014, approximately $3.3 million of in-process research and development cost was transferred to definite-lived intangible assets and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over its useful life.

At September 30, 2014, estimated future amortization of definite-lived intangible assets was as follows: 
(in thousands)
 
Remaining three months of 2014
$
1,638

2015
6,152

2016
5,918

2017
4,142

2018
3,166

2019
3,138

Thereafter
8,444

 
$
32,598

 
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, were as follows: 
 
 
 
Intangible
(in thousands)
Goodwill
 
Assets
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
129,218

 
$
41,773

Reclassifications
(149
)
 
85

Impairment*
(492
)
 

Amortization

 
(5,511
)
Foreign exchange
(3,349
)
 
(1,565
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
$
125,228

 
$
34,782

             
*
See Note 1 "Basis of Presentation — Goodwill Impairment Testing"


6.    Debt
 
The Company has revolving lines of credit with various banks in the United States and Europe. Total available credit at September 30, 2014, was $304.4 million, including revolving credit lines and an irrevocable standby letter of credit in support of various insurance deductibles.
 
The Company’s primary credit facility is a revolving line of credit with $300.0 million in available credit. This credit facility will expire in July 2017. Amounts borrowed under this credit facility will bear interest at an annual rate equal to either, at the Company’s

14


option, (a) the rate for Eurocurrency deposits for the corresponding deposits of U.S. dollars appearing on Reuters LIBOR1screen page (the “LIBOR Rate”), adjusted for any reserve requirement in effect, plus a spread of 0.60% to 1.45%, determined quarterly based on the Company’s leverage ratio (at September 30, 2014, the LIBOR Rate was 0.15%), or (b) a base rate, plus a spread of 0.00% to 0.45%, determined quarterly based on the Company’s leverage ratio. The base rate is defined in a manner such that it will not be less than the LIBOR Rate. The Company will pay fees for standby letters of credit at an annual rate equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the applicable spread described above, and will pay market-based fees for commercial letters of credit. The Company is required to pay an annual facility fee of 0.15% to 0.30% of the available commitments under the credit agreement, regardless of usage, with the applicable fee determined on a quarterly basis based on the Company’s leverage ratio.
 
The Company’s unused borrowing capacity under other revolving credit lines and a term note totaled $4.4 million at September 30, 2014. The other revolving credit lines and term note charge interest ranging from 0.88% to 7.25%, have maturity dates from December 2014 to July 2017, and had outstanding balances totaling $0.0 million, $1.2 million and $0.1 million at September 30, 2014, September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2013, respectively. The Company was in compliance with its financial covenants at September 30, 2014.


7.    Commitments and Contingencies
 
From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings and other matters arising in the normal course of business.  The resolution of claims and litigation is subject to inherent uncertainty and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
 

Pending Claims
 
Four lawsuits (the “Cases”) have been filed against the Company in the Hawaii First Circuit Court: Alvarez v. Haseko Homes, Inc. and Simpson Manufacturing, Inc., Civil No. 09-1-2697-11 (“Case 1”); Ke Noho Kai Development, LLC v. Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., and Honolulu Wood Treating Co., LTD., Case No. 09-1-1491-06 SSM (“Case 2”); North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc. and K.C. Metal Products, Inc., Case No. 09-1-1490-06 VSM (“Case 3”); and Charles et al. v. Haseko Homes, Inc. et al. and Third Party Plaintiffs Haseko Homes, Inc. et al. v. Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., et al., Civil No. 09-1-1932-08 (“Case 4”).  Case 1 was filed on November 18, 2009.  Cases 2 and 3 were originally filed on June 30, 2009.  Case 4 was filed on August 19, 2009.  The Cases all relate to alleged premature corrosion of the Company’s strap tie holdown products installed in buildings in a housing development known as Ocean Pointe in Honolulu, Hawaii, allegedly causing property damage.  Case 1 is a putative class action brought by the owners of allegedly affected Ocean Pointe houses.  Case 1 was originally filed as Kai et al. v. Haseko Homes, Inc., Haseko Construction, Inc. and Simpson Manufacturing, Inc., Case No. 09-1-1476, but was voluntarily dismissed and then re-filed with a new representative plaintiff.  Case 2 is an action by the builders and developers of Ocean Pointe against the Company, claiming that either the Company’s strap tie holdowns are defective in design or manufacture or the Company failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the products’ susceptibility to corrosion in certain environments.  Case 3 is a subrogation action brought by the insurance company for the builders and developers against the Company claiming the insurance company expended funds to correct problems allegedly caused by the Company’s products.  Case 4 is a putative class action brought, like Case 1, by owners of allegedly affected Ocean Pointe homes.  In Case 4, Haseko Homes, Inc. (“Haseko”), the developer of the Ocean Pointe development, brought a third party complaint against the Company alleging that any damages for which Haseko may be liable are actually the fault of the Company. Similarly, Haseko’s sub-contractors on the Ocean Pointe development brought cross-claims against the Company seeking indemnity and contribution for any amounts for which they may ultimately be found liable. None of the Cases alleges a specific amount of damages sought, although each of the Cases seeks compensatory damages, and Case 1 seeks punitive damages.  Cases 1 and 4 have been consolidated.  In December 2012, the Court granted the Company summary judgment on the claims asserted by the plaintiff homeowners in Cases 1 and 4, and on the third party complaint and cross-claims asserted by Haseko and the sub-contractors, respectively, in Case 4. In April 2013, the Court granted Haseko and the sub-contractors’ motion for leave to amend their cross-claims to allege a claim for negligent misrepresentation. The Company continues to investigate the facts underlying the claims asserted in the Cases, including, among other things, the cause of the alleged corrosion; the severity of any problems shown to exist; the buildings affected; the responsibility of the general contractor, various subcontractors and other construction professionals for the alleged damages; the amount, if any, of damages suffered; and the costs of repair, if needed.  At this time, the likelihood that the Company will be found liable under any legal theory and the extent of such liability, if any, are unknown.  Management believes the Cases may not be resolved for an extended period in the absence of agreement to settle the Cases and other related legal proceedings (discussed below). The Company is defending itself vigorously in connection with the Cases.

15


 
Based on facts currently known to the Company, the Company believes that all or part of the claims alleged in the Cases may be covered by its insurance policies.  On April 19, 2011, an action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA v. Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc., et al., Civil No. 11-00254 ACK (the "National Union Action").  In this National Union Action, Plaintiff National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (“National Union”), which issued certain Commercial General Liability insurance policies to the Company, seeks declaratory relief in the Cases with respect to its obligations to defend or indemnify the Company, Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., and a vendor of the Company’s strap tie holdown products.  By Order dated November 7, 2011, all proceedings in the National Union action have been stayed.  If the stay is lifted, in the absence of an agreement to settle the Cases and the National Union action, the Company intends vigorously to defend all claims advanced by National Union.

On April 12, 2011, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (“Fireman’s Fund”), another of the Company’s general liability insurers, sued Hartford Fire Insurance Company (“Hartford”), a third insurance company from whom the Company purchased general liability insurance, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company v. Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Civil No. 11 1789 SBA (the “Fireman’s Fund action”).  The Company has intervened in the Fireman’s Fund action. By Order dated September 29, 2014, the Court formally stayed proceedings in the Fireman’s Fund Action, and ordered the action administratively closed. The Fireman’s Fund Action is subject to motion to reopen in the absence of an agreement to settle the Cases and the Fireman’s Fund Action
 
On November 21, 2011, the Company commenced a lawsuit against National Union, Fireman’s Fund, Hartford and others in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City and County of San Francisco (the “San Francisco coverage action”).  In the San Francisco coverage action, the Company alleges generally that the separate pendency of the National Union action and the Fireman’s Fund action presents a risk of inconsistent adjudications; that the San Francisco Superior Court has jurisdiction over all of the parties and should exercise jurisdiction at the appropriate time to resolve any and all disputes that have arisen or may in the future arise among the Company and its liability insurers; and that the San Francisco coverage action should also be stayed pending resolution of the underlying Ocean Pointe Cases. The San Francisco coverage action has been ordered stayed pending resolution of the Cases.
 
Through mediation, a tentative settlement in principle has been reached to resolve all of these legal proceedings, including Cases 1, 2, 3 and 4; the National Union action; the Fireman’s Fund action; and the San Francisco coverage action. Formal settlement documents have been circulated for review and comment. If the tentative settlement in principle is documented in a final, enforceable agreement and its conditions are satisfied, the Company will incur no uninsured liability in any of these legal proceedings. The Company cannot predict when, if ever, any settlement will be finalized, and an unfavorable outcome could result in uninsured liability that substantially exceeds the amount of such tentative settlement in principle. It is not possible to reasonably estimate the amount or range of any such possible excess.

Nishimura v. Gentry Homes, Ltd; Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.; and Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., Civil no. 11-1-1522-07, was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of Hawaii on July 20, 2011.  The Nishimura case alleges premature corrosion of the Company’s strap tie holdown products in a housing development at Ewa Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.  In February 2012, the Court dismissed three of the five claims the plaintiffs had asserted against the Company. In December 2013, the Court granted the Company's motion for summary judgment on the remaining claims. Currently, the case is closed, though it remains subject to appeal.
 
The Company is not engaged in any other legal proceedings as of the date hereof, which the Company expects individually or in the aggregate to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. The resolution of claims and litigation is subject to inherent uncertainty and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
 
Other
 
The Company’s policy with regard to environmental liabilities is to accrue for future environmental assessments and remediation costs when information becomes available that indicates that it is probable that the Company is liable for any related claims and assessments and the amount of the liability is reasonably estimable.  The Company does not believe that these environmental matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
 

16


Corrosion, hydrogen enbrittlement, cracking, material hardness, wood pressure-treating chemicals, misinstallations, misuse, design and assembly flaws, manufacturing defects, environmental conditions, surface preparation or other factors can contribute to failure of fasteners, connectors, tools, anchors, adhesives, coatings and tool products.  On occasion, some of the products that the Company sells have failed, although the Company has not incurred any material liability resulting from those failures.  The Company attempts to avoid such failures by establishing and monitoring appropriate product specifications, manufacturing quality control procedures, inspection procedures and information on appropriate installation methods and conditions.  The Company subjects its products to extensive testing, with results and conclusions published in Company catalogues and on its websites. Based on test results to date, the Company believes that, generally, if its products are appropriately selected, installed and used in accordance with the Company’s guidance, they may be reliably used in appropriate applications.


8.    Stock-Based Incentive Plans
 
The Company currently has one stock-based incentive plan, which incorporates and supersedes its two previous plans (see Note 1 “Basis of Presentation — Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”). Participants are granted stock-based awards only if the applicable Company-wide or profit-center operating goals, or both, established by the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Board of Directors at the beginning of the year, are met. Certain participants may have additional goals based on strategic initiatives of the Company.
 
The fair value of each restricted stock unit award is estimated on the date of the award based on the closing market price of the underlying stock on the day preceding the date of the award. On February 3, 2014, 342,950 restricted stock units were awarded, including 9,975 awarded to the Company’s directors who are not employees, at an estimated value of $30.98 per share, based on the closing price on January 31, 2014. The restrictions on these awards generally lapse one quarter on the date of the award and one quarter on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of the award.
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s unvested restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average Price
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value *
Unvested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
 
(in thousands)
 
 
(in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2014
 
448

 
$
32.45

 
 

Awarded
 
343

 
 

 
 

Vested
 
(282
)
 
 

 
 

Forfeited
 
(1
)
 
 

 
 

Outstanding at September 30, 2014
 
508

 
$
31.67

 
$
14,817

Outstanding and expected to vest at September 30, 2014
 
497

 
$
31.68

 
$
14,473

             
*
The intrinsic value is calculated using the closing price per share of $29.15 as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on September 30, 2014.
 
Based on the market value on the award date, the total intrinsic value of vested restricted stock units during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, was $9.0 million and $5.7 million, respectively.
 

17


No stock options were granted in 2013 or the first nine months of 2014. The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value *
Non-Qualified Stock Options
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
(in years)
 
(in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2014
 
1,021

 
$
29.35

 
 
 
 

Exercised
 
(144
)
 
 

 
 
 
 

Forfeited
 
(5
)
 
 

 
 
 
 

Outstanding at September 30, 2014
 
872

 
$
29.39

 
 
 
$
212

Outstanding and expected to vest at September 30, 2014
 
864

 
$
29.39

 
3.3
 
$
212

Exercisable at September 30, 2014
 
710

 
$
29.33

 
3.2
 
$
212

            
*
The intrinsic value represents the amount, if any, by which the fair market value of the underlying common stock exceeds the exercise price of the stock option, using the closing price per share of $29.15 as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on September 30, 2014.
 
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, was $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
 
A summary of the status of unvested stock options as of September 30, 2014, and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, are presented below: 
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested Stock Options
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Unvested at January 1, 2014
 
448

 
$
10.31

Vested
 
(285
)
 
10.30

Forfeited
 
(1
)
 
10.33

Unvested at September 30, 2014
 
162

 
$
10.33

 
As of September 30, 2014, $16.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost was related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements under the 2011 Incentive Plan for awards made through February 2014 and those expected to be made through February 2015. The portions of this cost related to stock options and restricted stock units awarded through February 2014 are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.
 

9.    Segment Information
 
The Company is organized into three reportable segments. The segments are defined by the regions where the Company’s products are manufactured, marketed and distributed to the Company’s customers. The three regional segments are the North America segment, comprising primarily the United States and Canada, the Europe segment, comprising continental Europe and the United Kingdom, and the Asia/Pacific segment, comprising the Company’s operations in China, Hong Kong, the South Pacific and the Middle East. These segments are similar in several ways, including the types of materials, the production processes, the distribution channels and the product applications.
 
The Company’s measure of profit or loss for its reportable segments is income (loss) from operations. The reconciling amount between consolidated income before tax and consolidated income from operations is interest income, which is primarily attributed to Administrative and All Other.


18


The following tables illustrate certain measurements used by management to assess the performance as of or for the following periods: 

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net Sales
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

North America
$
171,064

 
$
157,278

 
$
476,546

 
$
444,772

Europe
34,609

 
33,866

 
97,297

 
89,855

Asia/Pacific
3,647

 
4,475

 
11,675

 
10,621

Total
$
209,320

 
$
195,619

 
$
585,518

 
$
545,248

Sales to Other Segments*
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

North America
$
1,058

 
$
1,316

 
$
3,151

 
$
3,247

Europe
308

 
20

 
934

 
332

Asia/Pacific
5,890

 
3,968

 
13,218

 
12,979

Total
$
7,256

 
$
5,304

 
$
17,303

 
$
16,558

Income (Loss) from Operations
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

North America
$
29,914

 
$
28,659

 
$
82,598

 
$
73,582

Europe
3,447

 
3,682

 
6,283

 
1,742

Asia/Pacific
(148
)
 
(649
)
 
(1,783
)
 
(1,878
)
Administrative and all other
(995
)
 
(807
)
 
(3,142
)
 
(3,871
)
Total
$
32,218

 
$
30,885

 
$
83,956

 
$
69,575

            
* The sales to other segments are eliminated in consolidation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
At
 
At September 30,
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2013
Total Assets
 

 
 

 
 

North America
$
684,820

 
$
630,459

 
$
627,196

Europe
190,359

 
196,958

 
201,384

Asia/Pacific
29,379

 
32,757

 
31,560

Administrative and all other
77,285

 
74,002

 
93,473

Total
$
981,843

 
$
934,176

 
$
953,613

 
Cash collected by the Company’s United States subsidiaries is routinely transferred into the Company’s cash management accounts and, therefore, has been included in the total assets of “Administrative and all other.” Cash and cash equivalent balances in the “Administrative and all other” segment were $166.8 million, $120.1 million, and $156.0 million, as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The following table illustrates the distribution of the Company’s net sales by product group for the following periods:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wood Construction Products
$
175,522

 
$
164,091

 
$
496,564

 
$
462,751

Concrete Construction Products
33,704

 
31,488

 
88,735

 
82,323

Other
94

 
40

 
219

 
174

Total
$
209,320

 
$
195,619

 
$
585,518

 
$
545,248

 

19


Wood construction products include connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and pre-fabricated shearwalls and are used for connecting and strengthening wood-based construction primarily in the residential construction market. Concrete construction products include adhesives, chemicals, mechanical anchors, carbide drill bits, powder actuated tools and fiber reinforcing materials and are used for restoration, protection or strengthening concrete, masonry and steel construction in residential, industrial, commercial and infrastructure construction.


10.    Subsequent Events
 
In October 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.14 per share, estimated to total $6.9 million, to be paid on January 29, 2015, to stockholders of record on January 8, 2015. The Board of Directors also scheduled the Company’s 2015 annual meeting of stockholders for Tuesday, April 21, 2015.





20


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
This document contains forward-looking statements, based on numerous assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties, such as statements below regarding sales, sales trends, profits, losses, gross profit margins, effective tax rate, capital spending, steel prices for any future period and remediation of material weaknesses. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it does not and cannot give any assurance that its beliefs and expectations will prove to be correct. Many factors could significantly affect the Company’s operations and cause the Company’s actual results to be substantially different from the Company’s expectations. Those factors include, but are not limited to: (i) general economic and construction business conditions; (ii) customer acceptance of the Company's products; (iii) relationships with key customers; (iv) materials and manufacturing costs; (v) the financial condition of customers, competitors and suppliers; (vi) technological developments; (vii) increased competition; (viii) changes in capital and credit market conditions; (ix) governmental and business conditions in countries where the Company's products are manufactured and sold; (x) changes in trade regulations; (xi) the effect of acquisition activity; (xii) changes in the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations or intentions; (xiii) material weaknesses, if any, in the Company's disclosure controls and procedures; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors.” Actual results might differ materially from results suggested by any forward-looking statements in this report. The Company does not have an obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.
 
The following is a discussion and analysis of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations for the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The following should be read in conjunction with the interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes appearing elsewhere herein.
 
Overview
 
The Company designs, manufactures and sells building construction products that are of high quality and performance, easy to use and cost-effective for customers. It operates in three business segments determined by geographic region: North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. The Company’s stated goals are to strengthen its core wood construction products, expand its global footprint to be less dependent on housing starts in the United States and continue to invest in strategic initiatives, such as expanding its offering of concrete construction products, particularly specialty chemicals, and wood construction products, particularly truss plates and software.
 
The North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific segments all sell both wood construction products and concrete construction products.

Until recently, the Europe segment sold primarily wood construction products. The segment now sells a mix of products, but continues to sell more wood construction product than concrete construction product. Due to a slightly weakening economy, net sales in some regions of the segment have trended down. Though the Company expects this trend to continue for the remainder of 2014, it cannot predict whether this trend will continue in 2015 given the number of factors influencing the European market. For the current year, the Company estimates that the Europe segment will report an operating profit.

With the expansion of product lines that repair, protect and strengthen concrete, brick, masonry or asphalt construction, concrete construction product sales have increased in the Asia/Pacific segment. Based on current conditions, the Company expects the Asia/Pacific segment to report operating losses for 2014 and 2015.
 
The Admin and all other column includes expenses such as stock compensation for certain members of management, interest expense, self-insured workers compensation claims, if any, for certain members of management, foreign exchange gains or losses and income tax expense. It also includes revenues and expenses related to real estate activities, such as rental income and associated expenses on the Company’s facility in Vacaville, California, which the Company has leased to a third party for a term expiring in August 2020.
 
The Company has continued to benefit from steady housing starts, primarily in the North American segment, with increased sales volumes in the third quarter of 2014. Unlike lumber or other products that have a more direct correlation to housing starts, however, the Company’s products are used to a greater extent in areas that are subject to natural forces, such as seismic or wind events. The Company’s products are used in a sequential process that follows the construction process. Residential and commercial construction begins with the foundation, followed by the wall and the roof systems, and the installation of the Company’s products flow into a project or a house according to those schedules. Foundation product sales could be considered a leading indicator. Sales of these products in the third quarter of 2014 increased compared to the same period in 2013.


21


The Company’s sales also tend to be seasonal, with operating results varying from quarter to quarter. With some exceptions, the Company’s sales and income have historically been lower in the first and fourth quarters than in the second and third quarters of the year, as customers purchase construction materials in the late spring and summer months for the construction season. In addition, weather conditions, such as extended cold or wet weather, which affect and sometimes delay installation of some of the Company’s products, could negatively affect the Company’s results of operations. Political and economic events can also affect the Company’s sales and profitability.


Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014, Compared
with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Net sales increased 7.0% to $209.3 million for the third quarter of 2014 from $195.6 million for the third quarter of 2013. The Company had net income of $20.6 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $20.0 million for the third quarter of 2013. Diluted net income per common share was $0.42 for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $0.41 per common share for the third quarter of 2013.

The following table illustrates the differences in the Company’s operating results in the three months ended September 30, 2014, from the three months ended September 30, 2013, and the increases or decreases for each category by segment:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Segment
 
 
September 30,
 
North
 
 
 
Asia/
 
Admin &
 
September 30,
(in thousands)
2013
 
America
 
Europe
 
Pacific
 
All Other
 
2014
Net sales
$
195,619

 
$
13,786

 
$
743

 
$
(828
)
 
$

 
$
209,320

Cost of sales
105,724

 
8,249

 
719

 
(896
)
 
(29
)
 
113,767

Gross profit
89,895

 
5,537

 
24

 
68

 
29

 
95,553

Research and development and other engineering expense
9,226

 
606

 
(117
)
 
(4
)
 

 
9,711

Selling expense
20,630

 
2,886

 
86

 
(6
)
 
(4
)
 
23,592

General and administrative expense
28,523

 
783

 
461

 
(431
)
 
221

 
29,557

Impairment of goodwill

 
 
 
492

 
 
 

 
492

Loss (gain) on sale of assets
631

 
7

 
(663
)
 
8

 

 
(17
)
Income from operations
30,885


1,255


(235
)

501


(188
)
 
32,218

Interest expense, net
(9
)
 
(18
)
 
31

 
(22
)
 
(9
)
 
(27
)
Income before income taxes
30,876

 
1,237

 
(204
)
 
479

 
(197
)
 
32,191

Provision for income taxes
10,870

 
(175
)
 
45

 
843

 
(6
)
 
11,577

Net income
$
20,006

 
$
1,412

 
$
(249
)
 
$
(364
)
 
$
(191
)
 
$
20,614

 
Net sales
 
The following table represents net sales by segment for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
 
North
 
 
 
Asia/
 
 
(in thousands)
America
 
Europe
 
Pacific
 
Total
Three Months Ended
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

September 30, 2013
$
157,278

 
$
33,866

 
$
4,475

 
$
195,619

September 30, 2014
171,064

 
34,609

 
3,647

 
209,320

Increase (decrease)
$
13,786

 
$
743

 
$
(828
)
 
$
13,701

Percentage increase (decrease)
8.8
%
 
2.2
%
 
(18.5
)%
 
7.0
%


22


The following table represents segment net sales as percentages of total net sales for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
 
North
America
 
Europe
 
Asia/
Pacific
 
Total
Percentage of total 2013 net sales
80.4
%
 
17.3
%
 
2.3
%
 
100.0
%
Percentage of total 2014 net sales
81.7
%
 
16.5
%
 
1.8
%
 
100.0
%
 
In the third quarter of 2014, the Company's net sales increased in the North America segment and were up slightly in the Europe segment. North America net sales benefited from an improvement in economic activity in the region.

Segment net sales:
North America – Net sales increased 8.8% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to increased sales volumes, partly offset by the effects of foreign currency translation.
Europe – Net sales increased 2.2% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, mostly due to the effects of foreign currency translations and increased sales volumes, partly offset by slightly lower average selling prices. Net sales in some regions of the segment are trending down from prior quarters due to weakening economic conditions in the region.

Consolidated net sales channels and product groups:
Net sales to contractor distributors, dealer distributors, home centers and lumber dealers increased in the third quarter of 2014, compared to the third quarter of 2013 due to increased home construction activity.
Wood construction product net sales, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shearwalls, represented 84% of total Company net sales in the third quarter of both 2014 and 2013.
Concrete construction product sales, including adhesives, chemicals, mechanical anchors, powder actuated tools and reinforcing fiber materials, represented 16% of total Company net sales in the third quarter of both 2014 and 2013.

Gross profit
 
The following table represents gross profit by segment for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
 
North
 
 
 
Asia/
 
Admin &
 
 
(in thousands)
America
 
Europe
 
Pacific
 
All Other
 
Total
Three Months Ended
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

September 30, 2013
$
75,369

 
$
13,733

 
$
863

 
$
(70
)
 
$
89,895

September 30, 2014
80,906

 
13,757

 
931

 
(41
)
 
95,553

Increase
$
5,537

 
$
24

 
$
68

 
$
29

 
$
5,658

Percentage increase
7.3
%
 
0.2
%
 
7.9
%
 
*

 
6.3
%
                         
* The statistic is not meaningful or not material.
 
The following table represents gross profit as a percentage of sales by segment for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
(in thousand)
North
America
 
Europe
 
Asia/
Pacific
 
Admin &
All Other
 
Total
2013 gross profit percentage
47.9
%
 
40.6
%
 
19.3
%
 
*
 
46.0
%
2014 gross profit percentage
47.3
%
 
39.7
%
 
25.5
%
 
*
 
45.6
%
                         
* The statistic is not meaningful or not material.
 
Gross profit increased to $95.6 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $89.9 million in the third quarter of 2013. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased from 46.0% in the third quarter of 2013 to 45.6% in the third quarter of 2014.


23




North America – Gross profit margin decreased from 47.9% in the third quarter of 2013 to 47.3% in the third quarter of 2014, primarily as a result of increases in factory overhead as a percentage of sales caused by increased costs on flat production volumes.
Europe – Gross profit margin decreased from 40.6% in the third quarter of 2013 to 39.7% in the third quarter of 2014, as a result of increases in warehousing costs, factory overhead (on decreased production volumes) and labor costs each as a percentage of sales.
Product mix – The gross profit margin differential between wood construction products and concrete construction products, which have lower gross profit margins, was 12% and 13% in the third quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Research and development and engineering expense

Research and development and engineering expense increased 5.3% to $9.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $9.2 million in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to increases of $1.1 million in personnel costs and $0.2 million in cash profit sharing, partly offset by decreases of $0.8 million in professional fees and $0.2 million in depreciation expense.

North America – Research and development and engineering expense increased $0.6 million, primarily due to increases of $1.3 million in personnel costs, which was mostly due to a reduction of capitalized personnel costs related to software development, and $0.2 million in cash profit sharing, partly offset by decreases of $0.8 million in professional fees and $0.3 million in depreciation expense.

Selling expense

Selling expense increased 14.4% to $23.6 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $20.6 million in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to increases of $1.0 million in personnel costs, $0.7 million in professional fees, $0.6 million in cash profit sharing and commissions and $0.6 million in advertising and promotional costs.

North America – Selling expense increased $2.9 million, primarily due to increases of $0.9 million in personnel costs related to the addition of staff and pay rate increases instituted in January 2014, $0.7 million in professional fees, $0.6 million in cash profit sharing and commissions and $0.6 million in advertising and promotions.

General and administrative expense

General and administrative expense increased 3.6% to $29.6 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $28.5 million in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to increases of $1.1 million in unrealized foreign currency losses, $0.6 million in amortization expense, $0.3 million in depreciation expense and $0.2 million in personnel costs, partly offset by decreases of $0.7 million in professional fees and $0.4 million in bad debt expense as well as a $0.4 million gain resulting from a reduction of a contingent consideration liability related to the Bierbach acquisition in 2013.

North America – General and administrative expense increased $0.8 million, primarily due to increases of $0.6 million in amortization expense, $0.3 million in depreciation expense and $0.3 million in personnel expense, partly offset by decreases of $0.5 million in professional fees and $0.2 million in bad debt expense.
Europe – General and administrative expense increased by $0.5 million, primarily due to increases of $1.3 million in unrealized foreign currency losses, partly offset by a $0.4 million gain resulting from a reduction of a contingent consideration liability related to the Bierbach acquisition in 2013, as well as decreases of $0.3 million in professional fees and $0.2 million in bad debt expense.

Impairment of goodwill

In the third quarter of 2014, the Company recorded a $0.5 million impairment associated with Bierbach goodwill acquired in Germany in November 2013, and as a result, the goodwill of the Germany reporting unit was fully impaired. The impairment resulted from a reduction in expected future sales from former Bierbach customers.

Income taxes

The effective income tax rate in the third quarter of 2014 was 36.0% as compared to 35.2% in the third quarter of 2013.


24



Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014, Compared
with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Net sales increased 7.4% to $585.5 million in the first nine months of 2014 from $545.2 million in the first nine months of 2013. The Company had net income of $53.2 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $43.3 million in the first nine months of 2013. Diluted net income per common share was $1.08 in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $0.89 per common share in the first nine months of 2013.

The following table illustrates the differences in the Company’s operating results in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, from the nine months ended September 30, 2013, and the increases or decreases for each category by segment:
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Segment
 
 
September 30,
 
North
 
 
 
Asia/
 
Admin &
 
September 30,
(in thousands)
2013
 
America
 
Europe
 
Pacific
 
All Other
 
2014
Net sales
$
545,248

 
$
31,774

 
$
7,442

 
$
1,054

 
$

 
$
585,518

Cost of sales
301,461

 
11,376

 
3,304

 
707

 
(563
)
 
316,285

Gross profit
243,787

 
20,398

 
4,138

 
347

 
563

 
269,233

Research and development and other engineering expense
27,018

 
2,077

 
280

 
130

 

 
29,505

Selling expense
63,654

 
5,150

 
581

 
288

 
(50
)
 
69,623

General and administrative expense
82,906

 
4,511

 
(1,139
)
 
(169
)
 
(116
)
 
85,993

Impairment of goodwill

 
 
 
492

 
 
 

 
492

Loss (gain) on sale of assets
634

 
(356
)
 
(617
)
 
3

 

 
(336
)
Income from operations
69,575


9,016


4,541


95


729

 
83,956

Interest income, net
32

 
(68
)
 
134

 
(67
)
 
13

 
44

Income before income taxes
69,607

 
8,948

 
4,675

 
28

 
742

 
84,000

Provision for income taxes
26,304

 
3,516

 
75

 
644

 
310

 
30,849

Net income
$
43,303

 
$
5,432

 
$
4,600

 
$
(616
)
 
$
432

 
$
53,151

 
Net sales
 
The following table represents net sales by segment for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
 
North
 
 
 
Asia/
 
 
(in thousands)
America
 
Europe
 
Pacific
 
Total
Nine Months Ended
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

September 30, 2013
$
444,772

 
$
89,855

 
$
10,621

 
$
545,248

September 30, 2014
476,546

 
97,297

 
11,675

 
585,518

Increase
$
31,774

 
$
7,442

 
$
1,054

 
$
40,270

Percentage increase
7.1
%
 
8.3
%
 
9.9
%
 
7.4
%

The following table represents segment net sales as percentages of total net sales for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
 
North
America
 
Europe
 
Asia/
Pacific
 
Total
Percentage of total 2013 net sales
81.6
%
 
16.5
%
 
1.9
%
 
100.0
%
Percentage of total 2014 net sales
81.4
%
 
16.6
%
 
2.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
In the first nine months of 2014, the Company's net sales increased in all segments, with North America reporting the largest increase in dollars, primarily due to increased sales volumes as a result of an improvement in economic activity in the region.

25




Segment net sales:
North America – Net sales increased 7.1% in the first nine months of 2014, compared to the first nine months of 2013, primarily due to increased sales volumes, partly offset by slightly lower average selling prices and the effects of foreign currency translation.
Europe – Net sales increased 8.3% in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013, mostly due to increased sales volumes and the effects of foreign currency translations, partly offset by slightly lower average selling prices. However, sales growth has trended lower in the most recent two quarters of 2014, consistent with declining economic activity in the region, and the Company believes this trend will continue through the end of 2014.

Consolidated net sales channels and product groups:
Net sales to contractor distributors, dealer distributors and lumber dealers increased in the first nine months of 2014, compared to the first nine months of 2013.
Wood construction product net sales represented 85% of total Company net sales in the first nine months of both 2014 and 2013.
Concrete construction product net sales represented 15% of total Company net sales in the first nine months of both 2014 and 2013.

Gross profit

The following table represents gross profit by segment for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
 
North
 
 
 
Asia/
 
Admin &
 
 
(in thousands)
America
 
Europe
 
Pacific
 
All Other
 
Total
Nine Months Ended
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

September 30, 2013
$
208,497

 
$
33,591

 
$
2,190

 
$
(491
)
 
$
243,787

September 30, 2014
228,895

 
37,729

 
2,537

 
72

 
269,233

Increase
$
20,398

 
$
4,138

 
$
347

 
$
563

 
$
25,446

Percentage increase
9.8
%
 
12.3
%
 
15.8
%
 
*

 
10.4
%
                         
* The statistic is not meaningful or not material.
 
The following table represents gross profit as a percentage of sales by segment for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2014:
 
(in thousand)
North
America
 
Europe
 
Asia/
Pacific
 
Admin &
All Other
 
Total
2013 gross profit percentage
46.9
%
 
37.4
%
 
20.6
%
 
*
 
44.7
%
2014 gross profit percentage
48.0
%
 
38.8
%
 
21.7
%
 
*
 
46.0
%
                         
* The statistic is not meaningful or not material.
 

Gross profit increased 10.4% in the first nine months of 2014 to $269.2 million from $243.8 million in the first nine months of 2013. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 46.0% in the first nine months of 2014 from 44.7% in the first nine months of 2013. Based on current information, the Company estimates that its full year 2014 gross profit margin will be between 45% and 46%.

North America – Gross profit margin increased to 48.0% in the first nine months of 2014 from 46.9% in the first nine months of 2013, as a result of decreases as a percentage of sales in all elements of costs, with the largest decreases as a percentage of sales in material and in factory overhead elements (caused by increased volumes). In the first nine months of 2014, the gross profit margin was affected by an atypical $3.0 million pension charge that resulted from the Company's withdrawal from a multi-employer union-based defined-benefit pension plan, partly offset by an atypical $2.5 million correction to workers' compensation expense in states where the Company is not self-insured.

26



Europe – Gross profit margin increased to 38.8% in the first nine months of 2014 from 37.4% in the first nine months of 2013, as a result of decreases as a percentage of sales in factory overhead (caused by increased volumes), shipping and warehouse costs and material costs.
Product mix – The gross profit margin differential between wood construction products and concrete construction products, which have lower gross profit margins, was 13% and 12% in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively. This negatively affected gross margins in North America, with concrete construction products representing 13% of North America net sales in the first nine months of both 2014 and 2013, and in Europe, with concrete construction products at 20% and 19% of Europe net sales in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Steel prices – The Company expects the market price for steel to remain flat for the remainder of 2014.

Research and development and engineering expense

Research and development and engineering expense increased 9.2% to $29.5 million in the first nine months of 2014 from $27.0 million in the first nine months of 2013, primarily due to increases of $1.1 million in personnel costs related to the addition of staff in support of product and software development and pay rate increases instituted in January 2014, $0.9 million in cash profit sharing and $0.4 million in professional fees. Software development costs of $1.8 million were capitalized in the first nine months of 2014 compared to $1.6 million in software development costs capitalized in the first nine months of 2013.

North America – Research and development and engineering expense increased $2.1 million, primarily due to increases of $1.1 million in personnel costs and $0.8 million in cash profit sharing.
Europe – Research and development and engineering expense increased $0.3 million, primarily due to an increase in professional fees.

Selling expense

Selling expense increased 9.4% to $69.6 million in the first nine months of 2014 from $63.7 million in the first nine months of 2013, primarily due to increases of $2.3 million in personnel costs, $2.0 million in professional fees, $1.1 million in cash profit sharing and commissions and $0.6 million in advertising and promotional costs.

North America – Selling expense increased $5.2 million, primarily due to increases of $1.9 million in personnel costs related to the addition of staff in support of product and software development and pay rate increases instituted in January 2014, $1.8 million in professional fees, $0.7 million in advertising and promotional costs and $0.7 million in cash profit sharing and commissions.
Europe – Selling expense increased $0.6 million, primarily due to increases of $0.4 million in personnel costs and $0.2 million in cash profit sharing and commissions.

General and administrative expense

General and administrative expense increased 3.7% to $86.0 million in the first nine months of 2014 from $82.9 million in the first nine months of 2013, primarily due to increases of $2.5 million in cash profit sharing, $1.5 million in personnel costs, $0.7 million in depreciation expense, $0.4 million in unrealized foreign currency losses and $0.3 million in amortization expense, partly offset by a $1.0 million impairment of fixed assets in the first nine months of 2013 (compared to no impairment of fixed assets in the first nine months of 2014), a $0.4 million gain resulting from a reduction in a contingent consideration liability related to the Bierbach acquisition (compared to no gain recorded in the first nine months in 2013), and decreases of $0.4 million in bad debt expense and $0.3 million in professional fees.

North America – General and administrative expense increased $4.5 million, primarily due to increases of $1.6 million in cash profit sharing, $1.1 million in personnel costs related to the addition of administrative and information technology staff and pay rate increases instituted in January 2014, $0.9 million in depreciation expense and $0.3 million in unrealized foreign currency losses.
Europe – General and administrative expense decreased by $1.1 million, primarily due to $1.0 million in impairment of fixed assets in 2013, a $0.4 million gain resulting from a reduction of a contingent consideration liability related to the Bierbach acquisition and a decrease of $0.6 million in professional fees, partly offset by increases of $0.7 million in unrealized foreign currency losses and $0.4 million in personnel costs.

Income taxes

The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2014 was 36.7% as compared to 37.8% for the first nine months of 2013. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to reduced operating losses in the first nine months of 2014 in the

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Europe and Asia/Pacific segments for which no tax benefit was recorded. Based on current information, and subject to future events and circumstances, the Company estimates that its 2014 effective tax rate will be between 37% and 39%.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification Update No. 2014-08 (Topic 205 and Topic 360), Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity ("ASC Update No. 2014-08"). ASC Update No. 2014-08 modifies the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. ASC Update No. 2014-08 also requires additional financial statement disclosures about discontinued operations, as well as disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations presentation. ASC Update No. 2014-08 is effective prospectively for years beginning on or after December 15, 2014. The Company expects that the adoption of ASC Update No, 2014-08 will not materially affect its financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC Update No. 2014-09"). ASC Update No. 2014-09 supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASC Update No. 2014-09 is that revenue is recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASC Update No. 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing GAAP. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASC Update No. 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company is currently evaluating the effects of adopting ASC Update No. 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements and has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard.


Liquidity and Sources of Capital

Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities
 
As of September 30, 2014, working capital was $505.8 million compared to $442.9 million at September 30, 2013, and $464.9 million at December 31, 2013. The increase in working capital from December 31, 2013, was primarily due to increases of $37.5 million in trade accounts receivable, net, and $7.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, and decreases of $10.2 million in trade accounts payable and $1.1 million in accrued profit sharing trust contributions. The increase in trade accounts receivable, net, was primarily due to seasonal increases in net sales during the third quarter of 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to increased profits from operations. The decrease in trade accounts payable was primarily due to decreased material purchases in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease in accrued profit sharing trust was primarily due to the 2013 contribution paid in the first quarter of 2014, partially offset by the accrued contribution through the first nine months of 2014. The increase in working capital from December 31, 2013, was partly offset by decrease of $3.5 million in other current assets and increases of $7.7 million in accrued cash profit sharing and commissions and $5.2 million in other accrued liabilities. The decrease in other current assets was primarily due to the decrease in income taxes receivable, primarily due to timing of estimated income tax payments as of September 30, 2014, compared to December 31, 2013. The increase in accrued cash profit sharing and commissions was due to higher net sales and operating profits in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The working capital change and changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities, combined with net income of $53.2 million and noncash expenses, primarily charges for depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation totaling $31.7 million, resulted in net cash provided by operating activities of $49.2 million. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had unused credit available of $304.4 million, including a $300.0 million credit facility.

As of September 30, 2013, working capital was $442.9 million as compared to $404.1 million at September 30, 2012, and $402.5 million at December 31, 2012. The increase in working capital from December 31, 2012, was primarily due to increases of $40.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, $36.1 million in net trade accounts receivable and $0.9 million in deferred income taxes, and decreases of $3.7 million in trade accounts payable and $0.6 million in accrued profit sharing trust contributions. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to increased profit from operations, issuance of the Company’s stock and proceeds from sales of facilities in Ireland and Germany. The increase in net trade accounts receivable was primarily due to seasonal increases in net sales during the third quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. The decrease in trade accounts payable was primarily due to decreased material purchases in the third quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. The decrease in accrued profit sharing trust was due to the 2012 contribution paid in the first quarter of 2013. The increases in working capital

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from December 31, 2012, were partly offset by decreases of $16.9 million in inventories and $11.0 million in other current assets and increases of $9.1 million in accrued cash profit sharing, $2.3 million in accrued expenses and $ 0.8 million in line of credit and notes payable. Raw material inventories decreased 21.8% as compared to December 31, 2012, while in-process and finished goods inventories increased 3.8% over the same period. The decrease in other current assets was primarily due to the decrease in income tax receivable, primarily due to timing of estimated income tax payments as of September 30, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013. The increase in accrued cash profit sharing was due to higher operating profits in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, while the increase in accrued liabilities was primarily due to increased purchases and to value-added taxes that resulted from increased sales in the third quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. The increase in line of credit and notes payable was primarily from borrowing for working capital in Europe. The working capital change and changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities, combined with net income of $43.3 million and noncash expenses, primarily charges for depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and impairment of assets totaling $31.8 million, resulted in net cash provided by operating activities of $71.9 million.

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company’s investing activities used cash of $17.2 million, including $17.5 million in capital expenditures, partly offset by proceeds from the sale of assets of $0.6 million. The Company’s capital expenditures were primarily to increase manufacturing capacity in North America, to develop software in North America and to improve information technology support systems, generally. The Company estimates that its full-year capital spending will be $21.0 million to $23.0 million in 2014.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company’s investing activities used cash of $15.8 million, including $12.9 million in capital expenditures and $5.3 million for the acquisition of the ShearBrace product line from Weyerhaeuser, partly offset by a Keymark-related entity’s repayment of a loan of $0.6 million and proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $1.8 million.

Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company’s financing activities used net cash of $19.2 million, including $19.1 million in dividend payments, $3.0 million for the repurchase of common stock, $1.1 million in deferred purchase payments related to the 2012 S&P Clever acquisition and $0.2 million in contingent consideration also related to the 2012 S&P Clever acquisition, partly offset by $4.2 million from the issuance of common stock on the exercise of stock options. In October 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.14 per share, estimated to total $6.9 million, to be paid on January 29, 2015, to stockholders of record on January 8, 2015. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized up to $50.0 million, for the repurchase of common stock in 2014, $47.0 million of which remained available at September 30, 2014.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company’s financing activities used net cash of $15.8 million, including $12.1 million in dividend payments, $9.8 million for the repurchase of common stock and repayment of $0.6 million of borrowings on credit facilities, partly offset by $1.4 million cash provided by borrowings on credit facilities, primarily for working capital in Europe, and $5.3 million from the issuance of common stock on the exercise of stock options.

The Company believes that cash generated by operations and borrowings available under its credit facility will be sufficient for the Company’s working capital needs and planned capital expenditures for the next 12 months. Depending, however, on the Company’s future growth and possible acquisitions, it may become necessary to secure additional sources of financing, which may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all. The $300.0 million unsecured credit agreement will expire in July 2017.
 
A significant portion of the cash and cash equivalents held by the Company is in foreign currencies. Cash and cash equivalents of $92.8 million held in foreign countries could be subject to additional taxation if it were repatriated to the United States. The Company has no plans to repatriate cash and cash equivalents held outside the United States, as it is expected to be used to fund future international growth and acquisitions.
 
The Company believes that the effect of inflation on the Company has not been material in recent years, as general inflation rates have remained relatively low. Because, however, the Company’s main raw material is steel, increases in steel prices may adversely affect the Company’s gross profit margin if it cannot recover the higher costs through price increases.
 


29



Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
The Company has foreign exchange rate risk in its international operations, primarily Europe and Canada, and through purchases from foreign vendors. The Company does not currently hedge this risk. If the exchange rate were to change by 10% in any one country or currency where the Company has operations, the change in net income would not be material to the Company’s operations as a whole. Foreign currency translation adjustments resulted in decreases in comprehensive income of -$15.9 million and -$17.1 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The translation adjustment decreases were primarily due to the strengthening United States dollar in relation to nearly all other currencies.
 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of September 30, 2014, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the chief executive officer (“CEO”) and the chief financial officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")). Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures designed reasonably to assure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed reasonably to assure that information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and the CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as a result of the material weaknesses that existed in its internal control over financial reporting as described below.
 
The Company’s management, including the CEO and the CFO, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or the Company’s internal control over financial reporting will necessarily prevent all fraud and material errors. Internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the facts that there are resource constraints and that the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. The inherent limitations in internal control over financial reporting include the realities that judgments can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls also can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of controls. The design of any system of internal control is also based in part on assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential events and conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in circumstances, or the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.

Notwithstanding the material weaknesses discussed below, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the interim condensed consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

Material Weaknesses. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management identified the following material weaknesses as of December 31, 2013, which remained unremediated at September 30, 2014 (see below):

(a) The Company’s management did not design and maintain effective controls over the valuation of goodwill. Specifically, management did not design a review precise enough to determine the accuracy and support of certain forecasts and assumptions related to the goodwill impairment assessments. This material weakness resulted in errors in the Company’s step-one goodwill impairment models, which were not detected by its internal control review process.

(b) The Company’s management did not design and maintain effective internal controls related to the valuation of indefinite-lived in-process research and development intangible assets. Specifically, management did not design a process or controls to evaluate impairments at the individual asset level in accordance with GAAP.

While the Company’s management concluded that these material weaknesses did not result in any misstatements, they could result in a misstatement of the aforementioned account balances or disclosures that would result in a material misstatement in the annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.


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Remediation. The Company’s management has been actively engaged in developing a comprehensive remediation plan to address fully such material weaknesses. The Company's plan to address the material weaknesses was finalized during the second quarter of 2014, and included the following:
enhancing the controls over the review of the annual goodwill assessment for impairment; and
designing an appropriate process and controls to perform the annual assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment in accordance with GAAP.

Remediation will not be completed until the fourth quarter of 2014, when the annual impairment assessments are completed and reviewed by management.

The Company’s management believes the foregoing efforts will effectively remediate such material weaknesses. As management continues to evaluate and work to improve the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, management may determine to take additional measures to address such material weaknesses or determine to modify the remediation plan described above.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company made no changes to its internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
 
From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings and other matters arising in the normal course of business.  The resolution of claims and litigation is subject to inherent uncertainty and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
 
Four lawsuits (the “Cases”) have been filed against the Company in the Hawaii First Circuit Court: Alvarez v. Haseko Homes, Inc. and Simpson Manufacturing, Inc., Civil No. 09-1-2697-11 (“Case 1”); Ke Noho Kai Development, LLC v. Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., and Honolulu Wood Treating Co., LTD., Case No. 09-1-1491-06 SSM (“Case 2”); North American Specialty Ins. Co. v. Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc. and K.C. Metal Products, Inc., Case No. 09-1-1490-06 VSM (“Case 3”); and Charles et al. v. Haseko Homes, Inc. et al. and Third Party Plaintiffs Haseko Homes, Inc. et al. v. Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., et al., Civil No. 09-1-1932-08 (“Case 4”).  Case 1 was filed on November 18, 2009.  Cases 2 and 3 were originally filed on June 30, 2009.  Case 4 was filed on August 19, 2009.  The Cases all relate to alleged premature corrosion of the Company’s strap tie holdown products installed in buildings in a housing development known as Ocean Pointe in Honolulu, Hawaii, allegedly causing property damage.  Case 1 is a putative class action brought by the owners of allegedly affected Ocean Pointe houses.  Case 1 was originally filed as Kai et al. v. Haseko Homes, Inc., Haseko Construction, Inc. and Simpson Manufacturing, Inc., Case No. 09-1-1476, but was voluntarily dismissed and then re-filed with a new representative plaintiff.  Case 2 is an action by the builders and developers of Ocean Pointe against the Company, claiming that either the Company’s strap tie holdowns are defective in design or manufacture or the Company failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the products’ susceptibility to corrosion in certain environments.  Case 3 is a subrogation action brought by the insurance company for the builders and developers against the Company claiming the insurance company expended funds to correct problems allegedly caused by the Company’s products.  Case 4 is a putative class action brought, like Case 1, by owners of allegedly affected Ocean Pointe homes.  In Case 4, Haseko Homes, Inc. (“Haseko”), the developer of the Ocean Pointe development, brought a third party complaint against the Company alleging that any damages for which Haseko may be liable are actually the fault of the Company. Similarly, Haseko’s sub-contractors on the Ocean Pointe development brought cross-claims against the Company seeking indemnity and contribution for any amounts for which they may ultimately be found liable. None of the Cases alleges a specific amount of damages sought, although each of the Cases seeks compensatory damages, and Case 1 seeks punitive damages.  Cases 1 and 4 have been consolidated.  In December 2012, the Court granted the Company summary judgment on the claims asserted by the plaintiff homeowners in Cases 1 and 4, and on the third party complaint and cross-claims asserted by Haseko and the sub-contractors, respectively, in Case 4. In April 2013, the Court granted Haseko and the sub-contractors’ motion for leave to amend their cross-claims to allege a claim for negligent misrepresentation. The Company continues to investigate the facts underlying the claims asserted in the Cases, including, among other things, the cause of the alleged corrosion; the severity of any problems shown to exist; the buildings affected; the responsibility of the general contractor, various subcontractors and other construction professionals for the alleged damages; the amount, if any, of damages suffered; and the costs of repair, if needed.  At this time, the likelihood that the Company will be found liable under any legal theory and the extent of such liability, if any, are unknown.  Management believes the Cases may not be resolved for an extended period in the absence of agreement to settle the Cases and other related legal proceedings (discussed below). The Company is defending itself vigorously in connection with the Cases.
 

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Based on facts currently known to the Company, the Company believes that all or part of the claims alleged in the Cases may be covered by its insurance policies.  On April 19, 2011, an action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA v. Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc., et al., Civil No. 11-00254 ACK (the "National Union Action").  In this National Union Action, Plaintiff National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (“National Union”), which issued certain Commercial General Liability insurance policies to the Company, seeks declaratory relief in the Cases with respect to its obligations to defend or indemnify the Company, Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., and a vendor of the Company’s strap tie holdown products.  By Order dated November 7, 2011, all proceedings in the National Union action have been stayed.  If the stay is lifted, in the absence of an agreement to settle the Cases and the National Union action, the Company intends vigorously to defend all claims advanced by National Union.

On April 12, 2011, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (“Fireman’s Fund”), another of the Company’s general liability insurers, sued Hartford Fire Insurance Company (“Hartford”), a third insurance company from whom the Company purchased general liability insurance, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company v. Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Civil No. 11 1789 SBA (the “Fireman’s Fund action”).  The Company has intervened in the Fireman’s Fund action. By Order dated September 29, 2014, the Court formally stayed proceedings in the Fireman’s Fund Action, and ordered the action administratively closed. The Fireman’s Fund Action is subject to motion to reopen in the absence of an agreement to settle the Cases and the Fireman’s Fund Action
 
On November 21, 2011, the Company commenced a lawsuit against National Union, Fireman’s Fund, Hartford and others in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City and County of San Francisco (the “San Francisco coverage action”).  In the San Francisco coverage action, the Company alleges generally that the separate pendency of the National Union action and the Fireman’s Fund action presents a risk of inconsistent adjudications; that the San Francisco Superior Court has jurisdiction over all of the parties and should exercise jurisdiction at the appropriate time to resolve any and all disputes that have arisen or may in the future arise among the Company and its liability insurers; and that the San Francisco coverage action should also be stayed pending resolution of the underlying Ocean Pointe Cases. The San Francisco coverage action has been ordered stayed pending resolution of the Cases.
 
Through mediation, a tentative settlement in principle has been reached to resolve all of these legal proceedings, including Cases 1, 2, 3 and 4; the National Union action; the Fireman’s Fund action; and the San Francisco coverage action. Formal settlement documents have been circulated for review and comment. If the tentative settlement in principle is documented in a final, enforceable agreement and its conditions are satisfied, the Company will incur no uninsured liability in any of these legal proceedings. The Company cannot predict when, if ever, any settlement will be finalized, and an unfavorable outcome could result in uninsured liability that substantially exceeds the amount of such tentative settlement in principle. It is not possible to reasonably estimate the amount or range of any such possible excess.

Nishimura v. Gentry Homes, Ltd; Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.; and Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., Civil no. 11-1-1522-07, was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of Hawaii on July 20, 2011.  The Nishimura case alleges premature corrosion of the Company’s strap tie holdown products in a housing development at Ewa Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.  In February 2012, the Court dismissed three of the five claims the plaintiffs had asserted against the Company. In December 2013, the Court granted the Company's motion for summary judgment on the remaining claims. Currently, the case is closed, though it remains subject to appeal.
 
The Company is not engaged in any other legal proceedings as of the date hereof, which the Company expects individually or in the aggregate to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. The resolution of claims and litigation is subject to inherent uncertainty and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
 

Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
We are affected by risks specific to us, as well as risks that generally affect businesses operating in global markets. Some of the significant factors that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results appear in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (available at www.simpsonmfg.com/docs/10K-2013.pdf or www.sec.gov).

 


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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
In February 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $50.0 million of the Company’s common stock. This replaced the $50.0 million repurchase authorization from February 2013. The authorization will remain in effect through the end of 2014. The following table presents the monthly repurchases by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2014:

 
 
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased under the Plans or Programs
August 2014
 
42,400

 
$
30.71

 
42,400

 
$48.7 million
September 2014
 
52,600

 
$
31.91

 
95,000

 
$47.0 million
     Total
 
95,000

 
$
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Item 6. Exhibits.
 
The following exhibits are either incorporated by reference into this report or filed with this report, as indicated below.
 
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
 
3.2
Bylaws of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., as amended through February 3, 2014, are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of its Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 3, 2014.

4.1
Amended Rights Agreement dated as of June 15, 2009, between Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., which includes as Exhibit B the form of Rights Certificate, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated June 15, 2009.
 
4.2
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., dated July 30, 1999, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of its Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated August 4, 1999.
 
4.3
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan for Salaried Employees is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File Number 333-173811, dated April 29, 2011.
 
4.4
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan for Hourly Employees is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File Number 333-173811, dated April 29, 2011.
 
10.1
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended through February 13, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
 
10.2
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 1995 Independent Director Stock Option Plan, as amended through November 18, 2004, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
 
10.3
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. Executive Officer Cash Profit Sharing Plan, as amended through February 25, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement dated March 8, 2013.
 

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10.4
Credit Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2012, among Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. as Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its separate capacities as Swing Line Lender and L/C issuer and as Administrative Agent, and Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., and Simpson Strong-Tie International, Inc. as Guarantors, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 1, 2012.
 
10.5
Form of Indemnification Agreement between Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. and its directors and executive officers, as well as the officers of Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
 
10.6
Compensation of Named Executive Officers is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 11, 2013.

10.7
Compensation of Named Executive Officers is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 26, 2014.
 
10.8
Compensation of Named Executive Officers is incorporated by reference to Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2014.
 
10.9
Compensation of Named Executive Officers is incorporated by reference to Item 5.02 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 22, 2014.
 
10.10
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2011 Incentive Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Schedule 14A Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2011.
 
10.11
Separation agreement dated as of July 3, 2013, between Michael J. Herbert, Vice President of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., on the one hand, and Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., on the other hand, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
 
31
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications are filed herewith.
 
32
Section 1350 Certifications are filed herewith.
 
99.1
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 1994 Employee Stock Bonus Plan, as amended through November 18, 2004, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
101
Financial statements from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, formatted in XBRL, are filed herewith and include: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
 
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
DATE:
November 7, 2014
 
 
By /s/Brian J. Magstadt
 
 
Brian J. Magstadt
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(principal accounting and financial officer)
 
 
 
 
 


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