<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-12-049637.txt : 20120917
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-12-049637.hdr.sgml : 20120917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120718175612
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-12-049637
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120718

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO INC /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920371
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				943196943
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5956 W LAS POSITAS BLVD
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9255609000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5956 W LAS POSITAS BLVD
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>


<html>
<head>


  </head>
<body lang="EN-US">
<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
<tr>
<td width="53%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:53.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Simpson Manufacturing   Co.,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:53.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5956 W. Las Positas Blvd.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:53.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pleasanton, CA 94588</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:53.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:53.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">July&nbsp;18, 2012</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mr.&nbsp;Rufus Decker</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Accounting Branch Chief</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Division of Corporation Finance</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">United States Securities and Exchange Commission</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">100 F Street, N.E.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mail Stop 4631</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington, DC&#160; 20549</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
<tr>
<td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Simpson Manufacturing   Co.,&nbsp;Inc.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K for Fiscal Year   Ended December&nbsp;31, 2011 (filed February&nbsp;28, 2012)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-Q for the fiscal   Quarter Ended March&nbsp;31, 2012 (filed May&nbsp;8, 2012)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">File No.&nbsp;001-13429</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Decker:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Thank you for your follow-up comments in your letter of June&nbsp;26, 2012.&#160; Your comments are quoted below, followed by our responses.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K for the Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2011</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 7. Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Page&nbsp;26</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Comparison of the Years Ended December&nbsp;31, 2011 and 2010, Page&nbsp;27</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We note your response to comment four from our letter dated May&nbsp;22, 2012. Your proposed revisions to your future filings do not appear to provide sufficient detail through the eyes of management to enable investors to understand the changes in your gross profit from period to period. Please show us how you will revise your future filings to better explain how your product mix changed between periods and how this change in product mix affected your gross profit and gross margins. Consider quantifying how your sales by product changed for each period presented and providing an indication of the average profitability associated with each material product category.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Response</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In future filings we will explain material changes in gross profit between periods in addition to those attributable to changes in sales volume or in prices by presenting percentage increases or decreases in segment sales by wood and concrete product groups as well as presenting the average profitability of the affected product groups.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Using the 2011 10-K as an example, these changes would appear in future filings as follows:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Gross Profit</font></i></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gross profit increased 10.9% to $270.8 million in 2011 from $244.1 million in 2010. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased from 44.0% in 2010 to 44.9% in 2011, with wood products representing 88.8% of total sales, compared to 89.3% in 2010.&#160; The gross profit margin for the wood products group increased to 45.4% in</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\106752\12-16455-1\task5438765\16455-1-bg.htm',USER='106752',CD='Jul 19 02:31 2012' -->

<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2011 from 44.9% in 2010 and for the concrete products group increased to 30.2% in 2011 from 22.4% in 2010. The increased gross margins in both product groups resulted from increased absorption of fixed overhead from higher production volumes to meet higher demand. The Company continues to face uncertainty in the cost and availability of steel. If steel prices increase and the Company is not able to maintain its prices or increase them sufficiently, the Company&#146;s margins could deteriorate.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As a percentage of net sales, gross profit in the North American segment increased from 46.2% in 2010 to 48.8% in 2011, with wood products representing 89.0% of total sales, up from 88.9% in 2010.&#160; Increased production during 2011 resulted in increased absorption of fixed overhead, also positively affecting gross profit margin. Increased overhead absorption in the wood product group was partly offset by increased labor and material costs, resulting in the product group&#146;s gross profit margin increasing to 48.7% in 2011 from 46.6% in 2010. The concrete products group also benefited from lower material costs and factory and tooling costs, which increased the product group&#146;s gross profit margin to 37.2% in 2011 from 29.0% in 2010.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As a percentage of net sales, gross profit for the European segment decreased from 35.0% in 2010 to 32.6% in 2011. Increased sales in the lower margin concrete products group relative to the wood products group contributed to decreased European gross profit margins with concrete products representing 8.2% of total sales, up from 5.1% in 2010.&#160; The gross profit margin for the wood products group decreased from 38.4% in 2010 to 34.3% in 2011 primarily due to increased material costs.&#160; The concrete products group had an 86.1% increase in sales in 2011 as compared to 2010, and due to the volume increases, absorption of fixed overhead increased as well. For 2011, the concrete product group had a gross profit margin of 5.7%, which was an improvement from the margin loss in 2010.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, page&nbsp;32</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Goodwill Impairment Testing, page&nbsp;33</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We note your response to comment six from our letter dated May&nbsp;22, 2012 in which you indicate that you have not aggregated any individual components into reporting units for purposes of goodwill impairment.&#160; Your response indicates that each component is generally an individual country where you conduct operations. However, based on your disclosures on pages&nbsp;28 and 30, it appears that you may have discrete financial information available at a regional level in the United States.&#160; Please clarify for us the level at which you test goodwill for your North American region.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Response</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">After further analysis and consistent with ASC 350-20-55, we clarify that the North American operating segment has five components:&#160; Northwest US, Southwest US, Northeast US, Southwest US (collectively the &#147;US Components&#148;) and Canada.&#160; The Company evaluated the Canadian component and determined that its economic characteristics are sufficiently different to conclude that it should be considered a separate reporting unit.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Discrete financial information is available for each of the US Components and is used by the North American segment manager to review component operations.&#160; The US Components are supported by a shared administrative office.&#160; Each of the US Components sells common products to a similar customer base.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\106752\12-16455-1\task5438765\16455-1-bg.htm',USER='106752',CD='Jul 19 02:31 2012' -->

<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In addition, the US Components share the following assets and resources:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">intellectual property, such as patents on products and manufacturing processes, and other intangible assets;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">manufacturing assets used for the production of concrete products and truss plates;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">results from common research and development projects, including the following:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">designing and testing new or existing products,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">obtaining building code approvals for new or existing products, and</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">engineering specified products as requested by architects or engineers in the field; and</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">T</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">he following assets, services and processes:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 72.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">tooling design,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">inventory management, with excesses or shortages balanced among the components,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">enterprise resource planning systems and development,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">marketing,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">management of national sales accounts where customers occupy the territories of multiple components,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">finance, treasury, payroll and other back office support,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">risk management,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">training and employee development programs, and</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">employee resource programs.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 108.3pt;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">These activities are managed centrally at the US Components level and costs are allocated among the four US components.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Because of these factors, we concluded that the US Components are economically similar, that the goodwill is recoverable from the US Components working in concert and that the US Components can be aggregated under ASC 350-20-55-5, 55-6 and 55-7 into a single reporting unit.&#160; We test goodwill at this reporting unit level, which is one level below the operating segment level.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Audited Consolidated Financial Statements</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Note 14. Segment Information, Page&nbsp;64</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We note your response to comment 10 from our letter dated May&nbsp;22, 2012. In your April&nbsp;27, 2012 first quarter earnings call, you made mention of various products such as truss plates, adhesives and mechanical anchors. In the proposed future filings disclosure you provided in your response, these products are included in broader product categories of wood construction and concrete, masonry, and asphalt construction. Please tell us if you separately track revenues for your truss plate, adhesives and mechanical anchor products and if so, what consideration you gave to disclosing net sales for each of these products separately.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Response</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As products are sold and invoiced to our customers, we collect sales information down to the individual part number purchased by the individual customer.&#160; These individual parts are aggregated with other similar parts and summarized information may be used by our sales managers and product managers. The information reviewed by senior management is, however, aggregated into the broader wood products group and concrete, masonry, and asphalt (&#147;concrete&#148;) products group.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company primarily produces and sells lines of wood and concrete construction products.&#160; These products can be sold individually or in combination within their product groups, depending on the customer and the customer&#146;s needs.&#160; Pricing of these products can vary depending on product mix and volume purchased.&#160; Because of their similarity in the market place, management looks at each of the Company&#146;s two product groups as a whole and has made efforts to be able to furnish a full line of each group of products.&#160; Such efforts include developing new products internally to fill out the product line or acquiring new products through asset or company acquisitions.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\106752\12-16455-1\task5438765\16455-1-bg.htm',USER='106752',CD='Jul 19 02:31 2012' -->

<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Truss plates are an example of a product line the Company needed to fill out the Company&#146;s wood construction product lines and to compete with its major competitors.&#160; As such, truss plates were discussed in our April&nbsp;27, 2012, conference call because of the December&nbsp;2011 asset acquisition of a truss plate manufacturer.&#160; Prior to 2012, the Company did not internally produce or sell truss plates and, currently, truss plate sales are immaterial to the Company&#146;s overall results.&#160; The ability to provide truss plates along with our other wood construction products is, however, helpful in retaining our current business and competing for additional business.&#160; We intend to market truss plates as part of the full line of wood construction products through our existing sales channels.&#160; Over time, we will continue to integrate truss plate production and sales into our wood construction products group.&#160; Although we could provide discrete truss plate information, that information is not generally used by senior management.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Similarly, we can provide discrete adhesive and mechanical anchor information, but these products can be, and often are, sold together.&#160; Depending on the products and applications, we price, market and sell the products together.&#160; Providing discrete product information would not provide a useful account of the Company&#146;s efforts.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We note that in both your earnings calls and your MD&amp;A, you make reference to certain financial information, such as net sales, at a regional level within North America. So that we may better understand how you determine your reportable segments, please tell us if your chief operating decision maker and/or your board of directors receive any type of discrete financial information for the North American segment at a regional level (such as California or the Midwestern United States). If your chief operating decision maker and/or your board of directors receive any such information, please tell us in detail the nature of the information provided and how it is used by the chief operating decision maker and/or board members.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Response</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The sales information provided in the earnings calls and in the MD&amp;A is not used to manage the business but has been provided in response to investor inquiries that we have often received.&#160; Until the last few years, a significant portion of the Company&#146;s operations was based in the United States and was largely based on new housing starts.&#160; As such, it became customary to provide some regional US sales information at the behest of investors.&#160; For example, the regional US sales information presented in both the earnings call and in the MD&amp;A is a summation of sales by regional groups defined by the National Association of Home Builders, which used the regions to report housing starts.&#160; This information was requested by investors presumably because it related our sales to housing starts by region.&#160; Currently, we only prepare the report for earnings calls and for the MD&amp;A.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The chief operating decision maker (the &#147;CEO&#148;) receives this information once every quarter only for the purposes of preparing for the quarterly earnings call and for reference in her quarterly review of the MD&amp;A disclosures.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The current CEO transitioned to this position from the CFO position at the beginning of this year.&#160; During the transition through April&nbsp;of this year, the CEO received the same information as she had received as CFO.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Excluding quarterly sales information used for preparation of the quarterly earnings call and the MD&amp;A, the CEO now receives periodic segment information on the Company&#146;s operations only for each operating segment (as disclosed) and no longer receives financial information provided to the CFO.&#160; The Company&#146;s board of directors has not requested and (except to the extent regional sales information is included in our filed reports) is not routinely provided regional sales information discussed in the earnings calls or included in the MD&amp;A.&#160; The periodic operating segment information provided to the board of directors is similar to what the CEO receives.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">If you have further questions or comments and if you think it would be helpful, we are open to having a conference call with you and your staff.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\106752\12-16455-1\task5438765\16455-1-bg.htm',USER='106752',CD='Jul 19 02:31 2012' -->

<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We acknowledge that:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the Company&#146;s filings,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Company&#146;s filing, and</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">the Company may not assert the Commission staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under federal securities laws of the United States.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please let us know whether or not you have any further comments or questions. You may call me at (925) 560-9216 or Jeff Mackenzie at (925) 560-9016.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Sincerely,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Brian Magstadt</font></p>    </td>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Brian Magstadt</font></p>    </td>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\106752\12-16455-1\task5438765\16455-1-bg.htm',USER='106752',CD='Jul 19 02:31 2012' -->

</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
