1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared by TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (the “Company,” “TreeHouse,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to quarterly reporting on Form 10-Q. In our opinion, these statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of all interim periods reported herein. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual results.

The preparation of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to use our judgment to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

A detailed description of the Company’s significant accounting policies can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, to simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts. This ASU requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period, in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The ASU also requires acquirers to present separately on the face of the income statement, or disclose in the notes, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This ASU is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company will apply this guidance prospectively, beginning January 1, 2016.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, which clarifies the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) position on the presentation and measurement of debt issuance costs incurred in connection with line-of-credit agreements. ASU 2015-15 clarifies that the SEC will not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement. This ASU is effective upon issuance and did not change how the Company historically reported its deferred issuance costs incurred in connection with its line of credit.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires entities to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value (“NRV”). This ASU will not apply to inventory valued under the last-in-first-out method. Under current guidance, an entity is required to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market, with market defined as replacement cost, NRV, NRV less a normal profit margin. The three market measurements added complexity and reduced comparability in the valuation of inventory. FASB issued ASU 2015-11 as part of its simplification initiative to address these issues. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent), which removes the requirement to categorize investments within the fair value hierarchy for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient discussed in ASC 820-10-35. The ASU also limits required disclosures to investments for which an entity has elected to measure fair value using the practical expedient. Under current guidance, certain disclosures are required for all investments eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Upon adoption, the standard requires that entities apply these changes to all periods presented. The Company does not believe this ASU will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet. Under the ASU, an entity will present debt issuance costs as a direct deduction of the related debt liability with the amortization of the debt issuance costs reported as interest expense. Under current guidance, debt issuance costs are reported separately as an asset with the amortization recorded as interest expense. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The standard requires that entities apply the effects of these changes to all prior years presented, upon adoption, using a full retrospective approach. The Company does not believe this ASU will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, providing additional guidance surrounding the disclosure of going concern uncertainties in the financial statements and implementing requirements for management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, ending after December 15, 2016. The Company does not anticipate the adoption of the ASU will result in additional disclosures, however, management will begin performing the periodic assessments required by the ASU on its effective date.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which introduced a new framework to be used when recognizing revenue in an attempt to reduce complexity and increase comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. In July 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral on the effective date for this ASU, which will now be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard requires that entities apply the effects of these changes to all prior years presented, upon adoption, using either the full retrospective method, which presents the impact of the change separately in each prior year presented, or the modified retrospective method, which includes the cumulative changes to all prior years presented in beginning retained earnings in the year of initial adoption. The Company has not yet determined which of the two adoption methods to elect. The Company is currently assessing the impact this standard will have upon adoption.

3. ACQUISITIONS

Flagstone

On July 29, 2014, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Flagstone Foods (“Flagstone”), a privately owned U.S. based manufacturer of branded and private label varieties of snack nuts, trail mixes, dried fruit, snack mixes, and other wholesome snacks. Flagstone is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of private label wholesome snacks in North America, and is the largest manufacturer of private label trail mix in North America. The purchase price was approximately $854.2 million, net of acquired cash, after adjustments for working capital. The acquisition was financed through additional borrowings and the issuance of common stock. The acquisition expanded our existing product offerings by providing the Company with an entrance into the wholesome snack food category, while also providing more exposure to the perimeter of the store.

The Flagstone acquisition is accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting and the results of operations are included in our financial statements from the date of acquisition in the North American Retail Grocery and Industrial and Export segments. Included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income are Flagstone’s net sales of approximately $118 million and net loss of $4.5 million from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2014. The loss includes integration costs of $10.5 million.

We have completed the allocation of the purchase price to net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows:

The Company allocated $231.7 million to customer relationships and $6.3 million to trade names, each of which have an estimated life of 15 years. The Company allocated $1.6 million to formulas, which have an estimated life of 5 years. The Company allocated $1.8 million to capitalized software with an estimated life of 1 year. The aforementioned intangibles will be amortized on a straight line basis. The Company allocated $2.5 million to supplier relationships, which will be amortized in a method reflecting the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed over the period of one year. The Company has allocated all $511.3 million of goodwill to the North American Retail Grocery segment. Goodwill arises principally as a result of expansion opportunities related to Flagstone’s product offerings in the snacking category. None of the goodwill resulting from this acquisition is tax deductible. The Company incurred approximately $8.6 million of acquisition costs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and none in 2015. Since the initial preliminary purchase price allocation included in the Company’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2014, net adjustments of $5.7 million were made to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with corresponding adjustments to goodwill.

The following unaudited pro forma information shows the results of operations for the Company as if its acquisition of Flagstone had been completed as of January 1, 2014. Adjustments have been made for the pro forma effects of depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets recognized as part of the business combination, the issuance of common stock, interest expense related to the financing of the business combination, and related income taxes. The pro forma results may not necessarily reflect actual results of operations that would have been achieved, nor are they necessarily indicative of future results of operations.

Protenergy

On May 30, 2014, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of PFF Capital Group, Inc. (“Protenergy”), a privately owned Canadian based manufacturer of broths, soups, and gravies. Protenergy specializes in providing products in carton and recart packaging for both private label and corporate brands, and also serves as a co-manufacturer of national brands. The Company paid $140.1 million, net of acquired cash, for the purchase of Protenergy. The acquisition was financed through additional borrowings. The acquisition expanded our existing packaging capabilities and enables us to offer customers a full range of soup products, as well as leverage our research and development capabilities in the evolution of shelf stable liquids packaging from cans to cartons.

The Protenergy acquisition is accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting and the results of operations are included in our financial statements from the date of acquisition in the North American Retail Grocery and Industrial and Export segments. Included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income are Protenergy’s net sales of approximately $57.2 million from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2014. Also included is a net loss of $4.0 million from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2014. This loss includes integration costs of $5.8 million. At the date of acquisition, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon fair market values.

We have completed the allocation of the purchase price to net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows:

The Company allocated $49.5 million to customer relationships that have an estimated life of 15 years and $0.4 million to formulas with an estimated life of 5 years. These intangible assets will be amortized on a straight line basis. The Company recorded $7.6 million of unfavorable contractual agreements, which have an estimated life of 2.6 years. These unfavorable contracts will be amortized in a method reflecting the pattern in which the economic costs are incurred. As of the acquisition date, the Company has allocated all $50.7 million of goodwill to the North American Retail Grocery segment. Goodwill arises principally as a result of expansion opportunities, driven in part by Protenergy’s packaging technology. None of the goodwill resulting from this acquisition is tax deductible. The Company incurred approximately $0.5 million and $3.2 million in acquisition costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and none in 2015. These costs are included in the General and administrative expense line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Since the initial preliminary purchase price allocation included in the Company’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2014, net adjustments of $0.2 million were made to increase the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with corresponding adjustments to goodwill.

The following unaudited pro forma information shows the results of operations for the Company as if the acquisition of Protenergy had been completed as of January 1, 2014. Adjustments have been made for the pro forma effects of depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets recognized as part of the business combination, interest expense related to the financing of the business combination, and related income taxes. These pro forma results may not necessarily reflect actual results of operations that would have been achieved, nor are they necessarily indicative of future results of operations.

4. INVESTMENTS

We determine the appropriate classification of our investments at the time of purchase and reevaluate such designation as of each balance sheet date. The Company accounts for investments in debt and marketable equity securities as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading, depending on their classification. The investments held by the Company are classified as trading securities and are stated at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded as a component of the Interest income or Interest expense line on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Cash flows from purchases, sales, and maturities of trading securities are included in cash flows from investing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows based on the nature and purpose for which the securities were acquired.

Our investments include U.S. equity, non-U.S. equity, and fixed income securities that are classified as short-term investments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The U.S. equity, non-U.S. equity, and fixed income securities are classified as short-term investments as they have characteristics of other current assets and are actively managed.

We consider temporary cash investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $21.4 million and $31.6 million, respectively, represents cash and equivalents held in Canada in local currency and are convertible into other currencies. The cash and equivalents held in Canada are expected to be used for general corporate purposes in Canada, including capital projects and acquisitions.

For the three months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized unrealized losses totaling $0.8 million that are included in the Interest expense line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and $0.2 million of unrealized gains that are included in the Interest income line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized unrealized losses totaling $1.0 million that are included in the Interest expense line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and unrealized gains totaling $0.6 million that are included in the Interest income line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Realized gains for the three months ended September 30, 2015 were insignificant, while for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized gains totaling $0.2 million that are included in the Interest income line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. When securities are sold, their cost is determined based on the first-in, first-out method.

5. INVENTORIES

Approximately $89.7 million and $87.4 million of our inventory was accounted for under the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of accounting at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Approximately $138.9 million and $117.3 million of our inventory was accounted for using the weighted average costing approach at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

6. PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

Depreciation expense was $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and $46.2 million and $47.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

7. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 are as follows:

The Company has not incurred any goodwill impairments since its inception.

The carrying amounts of our intangible assets with indefinite lives, other than goodwill, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are as follows:

The decrease in the indefinite lived intangibles balance is due to foreign currency translation.

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets, with finite lives, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are as follows:

Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, were $661.5 million and $716.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense on intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $14.9 million and $15.0 million, respectively, and $45.8 million and $35.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Estimated amortization expense on intangible assets for 2015 and the next four years is as follows:

8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

9. INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense was recorded at an effective rate of 29.4% and 31.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to 35.4% and 33.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate is favorably impacted by an intercompany financing structure entered into in conjunction with the E.D. Smith Foods, Ltd. (“E.D. Smith”) acquisition in 2007. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to 2014 is largely attributable to acquisition related expenses incurred in the third quarter of 2014 that were not deductible for tax purposes and a decrease in state tax expense.

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of TreeHouse’s 2012 tax year during the first quarter of 2015, resulting in an immaterial cash refund to the Company. During the third quarter of 2015, the IRS initiated an examination of the Flagstone Foods’ pre-acquisition 2013 tax year. The Canadian Revenue Agency (“CRA”) is currently examining the 2008 through 2012 tax years of E.D. Smith. The E.D. Smith examinations are expected to be completed in 2016. The Company also has examinations in process with various state taxing authorities, which are expected to be completed in 2015 or 2016.

Management estimates that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by as much as $1.5 million within the next 12 months, primarily as a result of the lapsing of statutes of limitations.

10. LONG-TERM DEBT

On May 6, 2014, the Company entered into a new five year revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment of $900 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a $300 million term loan (the “Term Loan”) pursuant to a new credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The proceeds from the Term Loan and a draw at closing on the Revolving Credit Facility were used to repay in full, amounts outstanding under our prior $750 million revolving credit facility (the “Prior Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement replaced the Prior Credit Agreement, which was terminated upon the repayment of the amounts outstanding thereunder on May 6, 2014.

On July 29, 2014, the Company entered into an amendment to its Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), which among other things, provided for a new $200 million term loan (the “Acquisition Term Loan”). The Acquisition Term Loan was used to fund, in part, the acquisition of Flagstone.

The Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, and Acquisition Term Loan are known collectively as the “Credit Facility.” The Company’s average interest rate on debt outstanding under its Credit Facility for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was 1.89%.

Revolving Credit Facility — As of September 30, 2015, $458.9 million of the aggregate commitment of $900 million of the Revolving Credit Facility was available. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on May 6, 2019. In addition, as of September 30, 2015, there were $13.1 million in letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility that were issued but undrawn, which have been included as a reduction to the calculation of available credit.

Interest is payable quarterly or at the end of the applicable interest period in arrears on any outstanding borrowings. The interest rates under the Credit Agreement are based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio and are determined by either (i) LIBOR, plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.00% (inclusive of the facility fee), based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, or (ii) a Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% (inclusive of the facility fee), based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio.

The Credit Agreement is fully and unconditionally, as well as jointly and severally, guaranteed by our 100% owned direct and indirect subsidiaries, Bay Valley Foods, LLC; Sturm Foods, Inc.; S.T. Specialty Foods, Inc.; American Importing Company, Inc.; Ann’s House of Nuts, Inc.; Snacks Parent Corporation; and certain other subsidiaries that may become guarantors in the future (collectively known as the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The Revolving Credit Facility contains various financial and restrictive covenants and requires that the Company maintain certain financial ratios, including a leverage and interest coverage ratio. The Credit Agreement also contains cross-default provisions which could result in the acceleration of payments in the event TreeHouse or the Guarantor Subsidiaries (i) fails to make a payment when due in respect of any indebtedness or guarantee having an aggregate principal amount greater than $50 million or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition related to such indebtedness or guarantee as a result of which the holder(s) of such debt are permitted to accelerate the payment of such debt.

Term Loan — On May 6, 2014, the Company entered into a $300 million senior unsecured Term Loan pursuant to the Credit Agreement. The Term Loan matures on May 6, 2021. The interest rates applicable to the Term Loan are based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio and are determined by either (i) LIBOR, plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.25%, or (ii) a Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.25%. Payments are due on a quarterly basis. The Term Loan is subject to substantially the same covenants as the Revolving Credit Facility, and also has the same Guarantor Subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2015, $296.3 million was outstanding under the Term Loan.

Acquisition Term Loan — On July 29, 2014, the Company entered into a $200 million unsecured Acquisition Term Loan pursuant to the Credit Agreement. The Acquisition Term Loan matures on May 6, 2019. The interest rates applicable to the Acquisition Term Loan are based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio and are determined by either (i) LIBOR, plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.00%, or (ii) a Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.00%. Payments are due on a quarterly basis. The Acquisition Term Loan is subject to substantially the same covenants as the Revolving Credit Facility, and has the same Guarantor Subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2015, $192.5 million was outstanding under the Acquisition Term Loan.

2022 Notes — On March 11, 2014, the Company completed its underwritten public offering of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.875% notes due March 15, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The net proceeds of $394 million ($400 million less underwriting discount of $6 million, providing an effective interest rate of 4.99%) were used to extinguish the Company’s previously issued 7.75% notes due on March 1, 2018 (the “2018 Notes”). The Company issued the 2022 Notes pursuant to an Indenture between the Company, the Guarantor Subsidiaries, and the Trustee.

The Indenture provides, among other things, that the 2022 Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company’s payment obligations under the 2022 Notes are fully and unconditionally, as well as jointly and severally, guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantor Subsidiaries, in addition to any future domestic subsidiaries that (i) guarantee or become borrowers under its credit facility or (ii) guarantee certain other indebtedness incurred by the Company or its restricted subsidiaries. Interest is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The 2022 Notes mature on March 15, 2022.

The Company may redeem some or all of the 2022 Notes at any time prior to March 15, 2017 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes redeemed, plus an applicable “make-whole” premium. On or after March 15, 2017, the Company may redeem some or all of the 2022 Notes at redemption prices set forth in the Indenture. In addition, at any time prior to March 15, 2017, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the 2022 Notes at a redemption price of 104.875% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes redeemed with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings.

Subject to certain limitations, in the event of a change in control of the Company, the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the 2022 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to the purchase date.

The Indenture contains restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and the Guarantor Subsidiaries to: (i) pay dividends or make other restricted payments, (ii) make certain investments, (iii) incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock, (iv) create liens, (v) pay dividends or make other payments (except for certain dividends and payments to the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company), (vi) merge or consolidate with other entities or sell substantially all of its assets, (vii) enter into transactions with affiliates, and (viii) engage in certain sale and leaseback transactions. The foregoing limitations are subject to exceptions as set forth in the Indenture. In addition, if in the future, the 2022 Notes have an investment grade credit rating by both Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, certain of these covenants will thereafter no longer apply to the 2022 Notes for so long as the 2022 Notes are rated investment grade by the two rating agencies.

Tax Increment Financing — On December 15, 2001, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (“URA”) issued $4.0 million of redevelopment bonds, pursuant to a “Tax Increment Financing Plan” to assist with certain aspects of the development and construction of the Company’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania facilities. The agreement was transferred to the Company as part of the acquisition of the soup and infant feeding business. The Company has agreed to make certain payments with respect to the principal amount of the URA’s redevelopment bonds through May 2019. As of September 30, 2015, $1.3 million remains outstanding that matures May 1, 2019. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 7.16%.

Capital Lease Obligations and Other — The Company owes $5.8 million related to capital leases. Capital lease obligations represent machinery and equipment financing obligations, which are payable in monthly installments of principal and interest, and are collateralized by the related assets financed.

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the number of weighted average common shares outstanding during the reporting period. The weighted average number of common shares used in the diluted earnings per share calculation is determined using the treasury stock method and includes the incremental effect related to the Company’s outstanding stock-based compensation awards.

On July 22, 2014, the Company closed the public offering of an aggregate 4,950,331 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price of $75.50 per share. The Company used the net proceeds ($358 million) from the stock offering to fund, in part, the acquisition of Flagstone.

The following table summarizes the effect of the share-based compensation awards on the weighted average number of shares outstanding used in calculating diluted earnings per share:

12. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Board of Directors adopted, and the Company’s Stockholders approved, the “TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Equity and Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”). On April 23, 2015, the Plan was amended and restated to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan by 3 million shares, effective February 27, 2015. The Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee, which consists entirely of independent directors. The Compensation Committee determines specific awards for our executive officers. For all other employees, if the committee designates, our Chief Executive Officer or such other officers will, from time to time, determine specific persons to whom awards under the Plan will be granted, and the terms and conditions of each award. The Compensation Committee or its designee, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, also will make all other necessary decisions and interpretations under the plan.

Under the Plan, the Compensation Committee may grant awards of various types of compensation, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, other types of stock-based awards, and other cash-based compensation. The maximum number of shares available to be awarded under the Plan is approximately 12.3 million, of which approximately 3.8 million remain available as of September 30, 2015.

Income before income taxes for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 includes share-based compensation expense of $5.0 million and $15.5 million, respectively. Share-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $7.4 million and $17.1 million, respectively. The tax benefit recognized related to the compensation cost of these share-based awards was approximately $1.7 million and $5.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $2.7 million and $6.1 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

Stock Options — The following table summarizes stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Stock options generally have a three year vesting schedule, which vest one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, and expire ten years from the grant date.

Compensation costs related to unvested options totaled $12.3 million at September 30, 2015 and will be recognized over the remaining vesting period of the grants, which averages 2.2 years. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value its stock option awards. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock options issued in 2015 include the following: expected volatility of 25.07%, expected term of six years, risk free rate of 1.98% and no dividends. The weighted average grant date fair value of awards granted during 2015 was $22.00.

Restricted Stock Units — Employee restricted stock unit awards generally vest based on the passage of time. These awards generally vest one-third on each anniversary of the grant date. Director restricted stock units generally vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. Certain directors have deferred receipt of their awards until their departure from the Board of Directors, or a specified date. As of September 30, 2015, 95 thousand director restricted stock units have been earned and deferred.

The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Future compensation costs related to restricted stock units are approximately $19.4 million as of September 30, 2015, and will be recognized on a weighted average basis, over the next 2.1 years. The grant date fair value of the awards granted in 2015 is equal to the Company’s closing stock price on the grant date.

Performance Units — Performance unit awards are granted to certain members of management. These awards contain service and performance conditions. For each of the three performance periods, one-third of the units will accrue, multiplied by a predefined percentage between 0% and 200%, depending on the achievement of certain operating performance measures. Additionally, for the cumulative performance period, a number of units will accrue, equal to the number of units granted, multiplied by a predefined percentage between 0% and 200%, depending on the achievement of certain operating performance measures, less any units previously accrued. Accrued units will be converted to stock or cash, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, generally, on the third anniversary of the grant date. The Company intends to settle these awards in stock and has the shares available to do so. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, based on achievement of operating performance measures, 93,505 performance units were converted into 66,674 shares of stock, an average conversion ratio of 0.71 shares for each performance unit. The following table summarizes the performance unit activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

Future compensation costs related to the performance units are estimated to be approximately $5.2 million as of September 30, 2015, and are expected to be recognized over the next 1.5 years. The grant date fair value of the awards is equal to the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant.

13. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss consists of the following components, all of which are net of tax, except for the foreign currency translation adjustment:

The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income lines impacted by reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss are outlined below:

14. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Pension, Profit Sharing, and Postretirement Benefits — Certain employees and retirees participate in pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Employee benefit plan obligations and expenses included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are determined based on plan assumptions, employee demographic data, including years of service and compensation, benefits and claims paid, and employer contributions.

Components of net periodic pension expense are as follows:

The Company contributed $2.0 million to the pension plans in the first nine months of 2015. The Company does not expect to make additional contributions to the plans in 2015.

Components of net periodic postretirement expense are as follows:

The Company expects to contribute approximately $0.2 million to the postretirement health plans during 2015.

Net periodic pension costs are recorded in the Cost of sales and General and administrative lines of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

15. OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE, NET

The Company incurred other operating expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, which consisted of the following:

16. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Non-cash financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 include the gross issuance of 264,490 shares and 142,860 shares, respectively, of restricted stock units and performance units. A portion of these shares were withheld to satisfy minimum statutory tax withholding requirements and are included as a financing cash outflow. Income taxes paid in the first nine months of 2015 were lower than the first nine months of 2014 due to the availability of federal and state overpayments carried forward from the 2014 tax year and applied to the Company’s 2015 tax liabilities.

17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation, Investigations and Audits — The Company is party in the ordinary course of business to certain claims, litigation, audits, and investigations. The Company believes that it has established adequate reserves that are probable and reasonably estimable that may be incurred in connection with any such currently pending or threatened matter, none of which are significant. In the Company’s opinion, the settlement of any such currently pending or threatened matter is not expected to have a material impact on its financial position, annual results of operations, or cash flows.

18. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risks managed by derivative instruments include interest rate risk, foreign currency risk and commodity price risk. Derivative contracts are entered into for periods consistent with the related underlying exposure and do not constitute positions independent of those exposures. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

The Company manages its exposure to changes in interest rates by optimizing the use of variable-rate and fixed-rate debt and by utilizing interest rate swaps to hedge our exposure to changes in interest rates, to reduce the volatility of our financing costs, and to achieve a desired proportion of fixed versus floating-rate debt, based on current and projected market conditions, with a bias toward fixed-rate debt.

Due to the Company’s operations in Canada, we are exposed to foreign currency risk. The Company enters into foreign currency contracts to manage the risk associated with foreign currency cash flows. The Company’s objective in using foreign currency contracts is to establish a fixed foreign currency exchange rate for the net cash flow requirements for purchases that are denominated in U.S. dollars. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and changes in their fair value are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, with their fair value recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $7.6 million of U.S. dollar foreign currency contracts outstanding, expiring in October of this year. As of September 30, 2014, the Company did not have any foreign currency contracts outstanding.

Certain commodities we use in the production and distribution of our products are exposed to market price risk. The Company utilizes derivative contracts to manage this risk. The majority of commodity forward contracts are not derivatives, and those that are, generally qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception under the guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities and, therefore, are not subject to its provisions. For derivative commodity contracts that do not qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception, the Company records their fair value on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in value being recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company’s derivative commodity contracts may include contracts for diesel, oil, plastics, natural gas, electricity, and other commodity contracts that do not meet the requirements for the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception.

The Company’s diesel contracts are used to manage the Company’s risk associated with the underlying cost of diesel fuel used to deliver products. The contracts for oil and plastics are used to manage the Company’s risk associated with the underlying commodity cost of a significant component used in packaging materials. Contracts for natural gas and electricity are used to manage the Company’s risk associated with the utility costs of its manufacturing facilities, and commodity contracts that are derivatives that do not meet the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception are used to manage the price risk associated with raw material costs. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding contracts for the purchase of 71,085 megawatts of electricity, expiring throughout 2015 and 2016; 1.8 million pounds of plastics, expiring throughout 2015; 4.5 million gallons of diesel, expiring throughout 2015 and early 2016; 2.4 million dekatherms of natural gas, expiring throughout 2016; and 1.5 million pounds of coffee, expiring throughout 2016.

The following table identifies the derivative, its fair value, and location on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:

We recorded the following gains and losses on our derivative contracts in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

19. FAIR VALUE

The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014: