UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

______________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 1, 2014


HNI Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


Iowa
1-14225
42-0617510
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


408 East Second Street, P.O. Box 1109, Muscatine, Iowa  52761-0071
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (563) 272-7400


N/A                                
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):
 
o         Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o         Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o         Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o         Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



 
 
 
 


 
Section 8 — Other Events
 
 
Item 8.01      Other Events.
 
 
On October 1, 2014, HNI Corporation issued a press release announcing its acquisition of Vermont Casting Group, a privately held manufacturer of free-standing hearth stoves and fireplaces.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.
 
 
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the attached Exhibit shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
 


Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01      Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The following exhibit relating to Item 8.01 is filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.


Exhibit No.
Description
       99
Text of press release dated October 1, 2014.


 

 
 
 


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 hereunto duly authorized.


     
HNI CORPORATION
 
 
Date:
 October 1, 2014
  
By
/s/ Steven M. Bradford
       
Steven M. Bradford
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 
 
 

Exhibit Index


 
Exhibit No.
Description
       99
Text of press release dated October 1, 2014.

r8kexh991012014.htm
EXHIBIT 99                   
 
                                 News Release
 

 

For Information Contact:
Matthew D. McGough, Vice President, Corporate Finance (563) 272-7563
Kurt A. Tjaden, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (563) 272-7400
 


HNI CORPORATION ACQUIRES
LEADING HEARTH PROVIDER
VERMONT CASTINGS GROUP
 

MUSCATINE, Iowa (October 1, 2014) – HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI) and its Hearth & Home Technologies business announced the acquisition of the Vermont Castings Group, a leading manufacturer of free-standing hearth stoves and fireplaces.  The Vermont Castings Group has annual revenue of approximately $100 million.

"We're excited about the Vermont Castings Group joining HNI Corporation as part of our Hearth business.  Their unique brands, strong customer relationships and quality products are a great fit with our Hearth and Home business,"  said Stan Askren, Chairman, President and CEO of HNI Corporation.

"We look forward to working with the entire Vermont Castings team and leveraging our lean and marketing expertise to achieve outstanding customer support, and profitable growth for Vermont Castings' channel partners and end-users.  We are pleased to welcome the employees and customers of the Vermont Castings Group to the Hearth & Home Technologies family," said Brad Determan, President of Hearth & Home Technologies.  "The Vermont Castings Group brands have long and proud histories, and we are excited to add these to our industry-leading family of hearth brands."

Ricardo León, President, Vermont Castings Group, will continue in his role and report to Brad Determan.  The transaction was completed as an all cash transaction and is expected to provide nominal profit contribution in 2014 and positively contribute to 2015 earnings.
 
 
 
 
 
About HNI Corporation
 
 
HNI Corporation is a NYSE traded company (ticker symbol:  HNI) providing products and solutions for the home and workplace environments.  HNI Corporation is a leading global office furniture manufacturer and is also the nation's leading manufacturer of hearth products.  The Corporation's strong brands have leading positions in their markets.  More information can be found on the Corporation's website at www.hnicorp.com.
 
Forward-looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements that refer to future events and expectations.  These statements address future plans, outlook, objectives and financial performance including expectations for Vermont Castings Group acquisition will be accretive to earnings in 2015.  In addition, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "confident," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "hope," "intend," "likely," "may," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and variations of such words and similar expressions.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the Corporation's actual future results to differ materially from expected results.  These risks include, without limitation:  the Corporation's ability to realize financial benefits from its (a) price increases, (b) cost containment and business simplification initiatives, (c) investments in strategic acquisitions, new products and brand building, (d) investments in distribution and rapid continuous improvement, (e) ability to maintain its effective tax rate, (f) repurchases of common stock and (g) consolidation and logistical realignment initiatives; uncertainty related to the availability of cash and credit, and the terms and interest rates on which credit would be available, to fund operations and future growth; lower than expected demand for the Corporation's products due to uncertain political and economic conditions; slow or negative growth rates in global and domestic economies or in the domestic housing market; lower industry growth than expected; major disruptions at key facilities or in the supply of any key raw materials, components or finished goods; competitive pricing pressure from foreign and domestic competitors; higher than expected costs and lower than expected supplies of materials; higher costs for energy and fuel; changes in the mix of products sold and of customers purchasing; relationships with distribution channel partners, including the financial viability of distributors and dealers; restrictions imposed by the terms of the Corporation's revolving credit facility and note purchase agreement; currency fluctuations and other factors described in the Corporation's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.  The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements.


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