Ply Gem Industries Completes Acquisition of Simonton Windows from Fortune Brands Home & Security

Strengthens North American Leadership Position in the Low-Maintenance, Energy-Efficient Residential Window Market

CARY, N.C.--()--Ply Gem Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PGEM), a leading manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, through its subsidiary, Ply Gem Industries, has finalized the acquisition of Simonton Windows from Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS). As part of the deal, Ply Gem has also acquired all assets of SimEx, a vinyl and PVC foam extrusion manufacturing operation in West Virginia. The transaction, valued at approximately $130 million, aligns with Ply Gem’s plans for strategic growth, while contributing to earnings growth through targeted acquisitions of complementary specialty product lines.

The deal unites two leading low-maintenance, energy-efficient residential window businesses under the Ply Gem umbrella, and is expected to:

· Create a more comprehensive, balanced portfolio by combining Simonton’s strength in the repair and remodeling (R&R) market with Ply Gem’s leadership in the new construction market.

· Establish a stronger national residential windows platform with manufacturing scale and channel distribution advantages to serve both R&R and new construction customers.

· Generate opportunities for operational efficiencies in order to enhance customer service and propel future profitability, core tenets of Ply Gem’s strategic vision.

“The addition of Simonton Windows is in full alignment with our strategic growth plan and will better balance the mix of end markets that we serve while strengthening our core capabilities and contributing significantly to revenues in the future,” said Gary E. Robinette, Ply Gem’s President and CEO. “Simonton is a perfect fit for the Ply Gem culture, and we are confident this new addition will help us achieve synergies and competitive advantages to drive an increase in top line sales, as well as customer and shareholder value.”

Ply Gem maintains that it will operate Simonton Windows as a stand-alone business unit, similar to the way its existing Siding and Window groups operate today. Simonton customers will continue to be serviced through its existing relationships.

“We are pleased to welcome the Simonton team to the Ply Gem family and look forward to joining forces in the years ahead to build and maintain the best exterior building products company in the industry,” said Robinette.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Simonton produces ENERGY STAR-qualified vinyl replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact resistant products, at manufacturing facilities in West Virginia, Illinois and California.

About Ply Gem Holdings, Inc.

Ply Gem (NYSE: PGEM), headquartered in Cary, N.C., is a leading manufacturer of exterior building products in North America. Ply Gem produces a comprehensive product line of windows and patio doors, vinyl and aluminum siding and accessories, designer accents, cellular PVC trim and mouldings, vinyl fencing and railing, stone veneer and gutterware, used in both new construction and home repair and remodeling in the United States and Canada. Visit www.plygem.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain certain statements that are not historical facts, including information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations. Those statements constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from the results expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, including: the availability and cost of raw materials and purchased components, the level of construction and remodeling activity, changes in general economic and business conditions, conditions affecting the industries we serve and our customers, the rate of sales growth, availability of labor force and efficiencies, product liability claims, our high degree of leverage and other factors discussed in the Companys news releases, public statements and/or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Companys most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Many of these factors are outside of the Company’s control and all of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Investors:
Ply Gem
Shawn Poe, 919-677-3901
or
Media:
Gibbs & Soell
Audra Hession, 212-697-2600

Contacts

Investors:
Ply Gem
Shawn Poe, 919-677-3901
or
Media:
Gibbs & Soell
Audra Hession, 212-697-2600