EXHIBIT 10.5
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                             BARCLAYS BANK PLC
                      Birmingham Corporate Banking Centre
           P.O. Box No. 5960, 15 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2EP

Private & Confidential
The Directors                               Direct Dial: (0121)480 5531
Simpson Strong-Tie International Inc.       Fax. No: (0121)480 5506
Winchester Road                             Ext. No:
Cardinal Point                                      SCB/KH/hbh
TAMWORTH
Staffordshire    B73 3HG                    1st July 1998

Dear Sirs

SIMPSON STRONG-TIE INTERNATIONAL INC.
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We are writing to confirm that we have agreed facilities for the above 
company as described below. The facilities are repayable upon demand at 
any time, but subject to this overriding condition, the limits have been 
marked forward for review by 15th June 1999.

FACILITIES
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Overdraft                       GBP250,000 (two hundred and fifty 
                                thousand pounds

Rental Guarantee to Royal       GBP442,000 (four hundred and forty-two 
London                          thousand pounds

HM Customs & Excise
Guarantee                       GBP10,000 (2 x GBP5,000)

Company Barclaycard             GBP15,000 (fifteen thousand pounds)

BACs                            GBP70,000(seventy thousand pounds)

Purpose                         To assist with the working capital 
                                requirements of the company

Interest/Commission/Fees        Interest will charged at a rate of 2% 
                                above Barclays Bank's Base Rate current 
                                from time to time.

                                No amounts may be drawn in excess of the 
                                agreed facility but if exceptionally the 
                                Bank pays amounts which are not agreed 
                                in advance and which create an excess 
                                position, then a borrowing margin of 15% 
                                will apply to the unauthorised amounts 
                                calculated daily.

                                Interest will be charged quarterly in 
                                arrears in March, June, September and 
                                December, or at such other intervals as 
                                the Bank may notify to you.

                                Base Rate is currently 7.5% and 
                                variations in Base Rate are published in 
                                the press.

                                Commission will be charged in line with 
                                the Bank tariff current from time to 
                                time, a copy of which is in your 
                                possession. The tariff is usually 
                                reviewed annually in May.

                                Commission in respect of the Rental 
                                Guarantee will be charged at a reate of 
                                0.45% per annum.

                                The commission and management time 
                                charge will be debited quarterly in 
                                arrears in March, June, September and 
                                December.

                                A renewal fee of GBP500 will be charged 
                                on acceptance of this letter.

Security                        The facility will be secured/guaranteed 
                                by:

                                1.  Standby Letter of Credit in the sum 
                                    of GBP442,000 from the Union Bank re 
                                    the Rental Guarantee to Royal 
                                    London.

                                2.  A Guarantee from Simpson 
                                    Manufacturing Inc in respect of the 
                                    remaining facilities

                                and any other security which is now 
                                held or hereinafter may be held by the 
                                Bank, all of which security is to be 
                                available as cover for all liabilities 
                                of the Borrower whether actual or 
                                contingent to the Bank at any time.

Condition Precedent             The facility is conditional upon the 
                                Standby Letter of Credit being renewed 
                                at its expiry dates.

Information                     The Borrower will provide the Bank with:

                                Copies of its audited, trading and 
                                consolidated profit and loss account and 
                                balance sheet as soon as they are 
                                available, and not later than 180 days 
                                from the end of each accounting 
                                reference period.

Acceptance                      This offer will be available for 
                                acceptance until 30th July 1998 after 
                                which date, the offer will lapse unless 
                                extended in writing by the Bank.

                                Acceptance will be signified by signing 
                                and returning the attached copy letter

Yours faithfully,

/s/S C Brettell
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S C BRETTELL
CORPORATE MANAGER