Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

12.               Related Party Transactions

The Company pays an airplane charter company standard hourly rates when an airplane is hired for use by its Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer in travel between his home and Company offices or by him and other Company employees in travel on business. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the total cost to the Company for this and other airplanes that were used was $508 thousand, $532 thousand and $409 thousand, respectively, including $30 thousand, $30 thousand and $27 thousand, respectively, paid to the Company’s Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer for compensation. The independent members of the Board unanimously approved this arrangement. The Company computes the compensation cost of the use of airplanes using the Standard Industrial Fare Level (“SIFL”) tables prescribed under applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations.

In December 2007, the Company extended its lease on a property in Addison, Illinois, which is co-owned by Gerald Hagel, who has served as a vice president of Simpson Strong-Tie since March 2007. The extension is for an additional five years through 2012. The Company paid $270 thousand per year to lease the property from Mr. Hagel and his wife Susan Hagel, a former employee of Simpson Strong-Tie.

In 2010 and 2011, the Company paid Keymark $0.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for fees owed to Keymark for software development. In December 2009, the Company lent $0.6 million to Keymark for working capital needs. This loan bore interest at an annual rate of 7%, payable monthly. This loan was backed by the intellectual property of Keymark. The full amount of this loan was repaid in 2011. See Note 6.

In December 2009 and January 2010, the Company made loans of $0.7 million and $1.8 million to two entities related to Keymark. Both of these loans bear interest at an annual rate of 5.5%, payable monthly, and the principal amounts will be due and payable in February 2013, or earlier if Keymark is sold. Each of these loans is backed by a real property deed of trust.

In 2011, the Company purchased the software assets of Keymark valued at $11.5 million for $6.2 million in net cash payments and its 46.1% interest in Keymark. The Company no longer has an equity interest in Keymark or any remaining receivables from Keymark. See Note 6.

In 2011, the Company purchased 125 thousand shares of its common stock for $3.5 million from the Simpson PSB Fund (a charitable organization). The Chairman Emeritus of the Company, who is a director and significant stockholder of the Company, serves as a director and officer of the Simpson PSB Fund. The price per share was $27.60, which was the closing price on the day after the day that the stock purchase agreement was signed. The independent members of the Board of Directors unanimously approved this transaction.