Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. Announces Second Quarter Results

PLEASANTON, Calif., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (NYSE: SSD) (the "Company") today announced its second quarter 2010 earnings. On June 30, 2010, the Company agreed to sell substantially all of the assets of Simpson Dura-Vent Company, Inc. ("Simpson Dura-Vent"). As a result, the Company's results of operations reflect the reclassification of its venting operation as discontinued operations for each of the periods presented. The Company's continuing operations consist primarily of the operations of Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.

For the second quarter of 2010, net sales from continuing operations increased 8.8% to $165.6 million compared to net sales from continuing operations of $152.2 million for the second quarter of 2009. The Company had income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $21.1 million for the second quarter of 2010 compared to income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $11.2 million for the second quarter of 2009. Diluted income from continuing operations, net of tax, per common share was $0.42 for the second quarter of 2010 compared to diluted income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $0.23 per common share for the second quarter of 2009. The Company had a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2010 compared to a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $0.5 million for the second quarter of 2009. Diluted loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, per common share was $0.29 for the second quarter of 2010 compared to diluted loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $0.01 per common share for the second quarter of 2009. The Company had net income of $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2010 compared to net income of $10.7 million in the second quarter of 2009. Diluted net income per common share was $0.14 for the second quarter of 2010 compared to diluted net income per common share of $0.22 for the second quarter of 2009.

In the first half of 2010, net sales from continuing operations increased 10.7% to $289.4 million as compared to net sales from continuing operations of $261.3 million in the first half of 2009. The Company had income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $30.9 million for the first half of 2010 compared to income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $4.7 million for the first half of 2009. Diluted income from continuing operations, net of tax, per common share was $0.62 for the first half of 2010 compared to diluted income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $0.10 per common share for the first half of 2009. The Company had a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $15.0 million for the first half of 2010 compared to a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $2.4 million for the first half of 2009. Diluted loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, per common share was $0.30 for the first half of 2010 compared to diluted loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $0.05 per common share for the first half of 2009. The Company had net income of $15.9 million in the first half of 2010 compared to net income of $2.3 million in the first half of 2009. Diluted net income per common share was $0.32 for the first half of 2010 compared to diluted net income per common share of $0.05 for the first half of 2009.

On June 30, 2010, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with M&G Holding B.V. ("M&G") and a newly formed, wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of M&G, to sell substantially all of the assets of Simpson Dura-Vent. The Company's financial position, as of June 30, 2010, reflects the assets and liabilities of the venting operation to be sold as assets or liabilities held for sale at their estimated net realizable value. As of June 30, 2010, the major assets to be sold, at their net realizable value, were accounts receivable of $12.4 million and inventory of $19.9 million. In the second quarter of 2010, as a result of the entry into the agreement to sell assets of Simpson Dura-Vent, the Company recorded a pre-tax impairment of assets charge of $21.4 million in discontinued operations.

In the second quarter of 2010, sales increased throughout most of North America and Europe. The growth in the United States was strongest in the midwestern and northeastern regions, while sales in both California and the western region declined slightly as compared to the second quarter of 2009. Sales in Asia, although relatively small, have increased as the Company has recently expanded its presence in the region. Sales to dealer distributors increased, while sales to contractor distributors were flat and sales to home centers decreased over the same period. Sales increased across most of the Company's major product lines.

Income from operations increased 72.0% from $19.7 million in the second quarter of 2009 to $33.9 million in the second quarter of 2010. Gross margins increased from 38.9% in the second quarter of 2009 to 46.4% in the second quarter of 2010. The increase in gross margins was primarily due to lower manufacturing costs, including lower costs of material and labor, and increased absorption of fixed overhead, as a result of higher production volumes. Steel prices have decreased from their levels in early 2010, as demand has not returned to the steel markets as previously expected. The Company expects that steel prices may increase during the remainder of 2010 as steel producers reduce supply and their raw material costs are expected to increase. The Company's inventories decreased 7.9% from $163.8 million at December 31, 2009, to $150.8 million at June 30, 2010, primarily due to the reclassification of Simpson Dura-Vent's inventory as an asset held for sale, partly offset by purchases of raw materials.

Research and development and engineering expense increased 17.3% from $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 to $5.7 million in the second quarter of 2010, primarily due to increased personnel costs of $0.9 million. Selling expense increased 7.8% from $15.4 million in the second quarter of 2009 to $16.6 million in the second quarter of 2010, primarily as a result of increased personnel costs of $0.8 million and increased promotional costs of $0.4 million. General and administrative expense increased 7.8% from $19.0 million in the second quarter of 2009 to $20.5 million in the second quarter of 2010. The increase resulted primarily from increased cash profit sharing of $3.0 million and various other items, partly offset by decreases in administrative personnel expenses of $1.1 million and intangible asset amortization expense of $0.8 million. The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 37.8% in the second quarter of 2010, as compared to 42.9% in the second quarter of 2009. The decrease in the effective tax rate as compared to the prior year is primarily due to reduced losses in countries where a valuation allowance is recorded.

In the first half of 2010, sales increased throughout most of North America and Europe. The growth in the United States was strongest in the midwestern and northeastern regions, while sales in California declined slightly as compared to the first half of 2009. Sales in Asia, although relatively small, have increased as the Company has recently expanded its presence in the region. Sales to dealer distributors increased, while sales to contractor distributors were flat and sales to home centers decreased over the same period. Sales increased across most of the Company's major product lines.

Income from operations increased over 300% from $12.3 million in the first half of 2009 to $51.0 million in the first half of 2010. Gross margins increased from 34.4% in the first half of 2009 to 45.2% in the first half of 2010. The increase in gross margins was primarily due to lower manufacturing costs, including lower costs of material and labor, and increased absorption of fixed overhead.

Research and development and engineering expense increased 11.4% from $9.4 million in the first half of 2009 to $10.4 million in the first half of 2010, primarily due to increased personnel costs of $1.3 million partly offset by various other items. Selling expense increased 4.6% from $30.1 million in the first half of 2009 to $31.5 million in the first half of 2010, primarily as a result of increased personnel costs of $1.1 million and increased promotional costs of $0.3 million. General and administrative expense decreased 1.8% from $38.1 million in the first half of 2009 to $37.5 million in the first half of 2010. The decrease was primarily the result of lower bad debt expense of $1.9 million, administrative personnel costs of $1.3 million, intangible asset amortization expense of $0.7 million and various other items, partly offset by increased cash profit sharing of $3.8 million and various other items. The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 39.2% in the first half of 2010, as compared to 61.5% in the first half of 2009. The decrease in the effective tax rate as compared to the prior year is primarily due to reduced losses in countries where a valuation allowance is recorded.

At its meeting on July 20, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share. The record date for the dividend will be October 7, 2010, and it will be paid on October 28, 2010.

Investors, analysts and other interested parties are invited to join the Company's conference call on Friday, July 30, 2010, at 6:00 am Pacific Time. To participate, callers may dial 800-862-9098. The call will be webcast simultaneously as well as being available for one month through a link on the Company's website at www.simpsonmfg.com.

This document contains forward-looking statements, based on numerous assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. 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 differ substantially 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; and (xiii) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 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 Company's results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 (unaudited), are as follows:

The Company's financial position (unaudited) as of June 30, 2010 and 2009, and December 31, 2009, is as follows:

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., headquartered in Pleasanton, California, through its subsidiary, Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., designs, engineers and is a leading manufacturer of wood-to-wood, wood-to-concrete and wood-to-masonry connectors and fastening systems, stainless steel fasteners and pre-fabricated shearwalls. Simpson Strong-Tie also offers a full line of adhesives, mechanical anchors and powder actuated tools for concrete, masonry and steel. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SSD."

For further information, contact Barclay Simpson at (925) 560-9032.

SOURCE Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.