2013 Q4 8K


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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):
 
February 20, 2014

LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
 
0-10546
 
36-2229304
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


8770 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois
 
60631
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
(773) 304-5050
        

Not Applicable
(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 obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 20, 2014, Lawson Products, Inc. issued a press release announcing its fourth quarter 2013 results. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release issued on February 20, 2014








SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 

    
 
 
 
LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 20, 2014
 
By: /s/ Ronald J. Knutson 
 
 
 
Name: Ronald J. Knutson
 
 
 
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer








EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number
 
Description
99.1
 
Press Release issued on February 20, 2014






2013 Q4 PR - 01


Lawson Products Reports Fourth Quarter 2013 Results

Improved Net Sales Growth and Cash Flows
Accelerated Sales Force Expansion to Continue in 2014


CHICAGO, February 20, 2014 - Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAWS) (Lawson or the "Company"), a distributor of products and services to the MRO marketplace, today announced results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013.

Michael DeCata, president and chief executive officer, commented, The fourth quarter results reflect our continued progress to improve our operations and add to our sales force. Our previous investments and focus on cost controls now provide a platform for future growth. During 2013, we expanded our territorial coverage by adding 49 direct sales representatives. It was the first year in eight years that we increased our direct sales rep count and the second consecutive quarter with a sales increase over the prior year. The majority of these sales rep additions occurred during the second half of the year, of which 22 occurred in the fourth quarter as we accelerated our rate of hiring. We are encouraged by the early results and plan to continue our sales force expansion for the foreseeable future.

"Our teams hard work over the past few years is beginning to translate into improved financial performance. In addition, during the quarter, we subleased a portion of our headquarters and will realize $2.9 million of future cash savings, favorably resolved a long-standing employment tax matter with the IRS, and entered into a definitive agreement to sell our non-core ASMP subsidiary for $12.5 million which has now closed. By eliminating these non-operational matters, we are now able to focus solely on our core operations. We believe our growing sales force, combined with continued operational efficiencies will better position us in the MRO marketplace and will translate into improved long-term financial results, said Mr. DeCata.

Financial Highlights

Net sales increased to $65.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $64.5 million in the fourth quarter of last year.

Ended the fourth quarter with 806 sales representatives, compared to 757 at the beginning of the year, an increase of over 6%, and the third consecutive quarter in a row with a net sales rep increase.

Adjusted non-GAAP operating income was $0.4 million in the fourth quarter versus $0.7 million in the prior year (See reconciliation in Table 1).

Improved operating cash flows led to a $2.2 million reduction in borrowings during the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 were $65.7 million versus $64.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Average daily sales increased 2.0% to $1.078 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 from $1.057 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, and also increased 1.1% over the $1.066 million reported in the third quarter of 2013. Sales rep headcount increased by 22 reps from the end of the third quarter of 2013 to the end of the fourth quarter of 2013. The fourth quarter of both 2013 and 2012 included 61 selling days, compared to 64 days in the third quarter of 2013.

As new sales representatives are added, the Company anticipates a short-term decrease in average sales per sales representative per day, as new representatives build up customer relationships in their territories. This was reflected in the decline of sales per sales representative per day of $1,358 in the fourth quarter of





2013 compared to $1,375 in the fourth quarter of 2012. Gross profit for the period as a percentage of sales was 60.3%, consistent with the fourth quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2013.

SG&A expenses increased to $40.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 from $38.6 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in incentive compensation, higher depreciation expense and costs associated with the hiring and on-boarding of new sales representatives, partially offset by lower consulting fees. The Company continues to focus on its cost control measures.

Excluding a loss of $2.9 million associated with the sublease of a portion of the Company's corporate headquarters as required under lease accounting rules, stock-based compensation and severance, adjusted non-GAAP operating income was $0.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to $0.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2012 (see reconciliation in Table 1). The operating loss of $3.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 versus operating income of $2.0 million in the same period last year primarily resulted from a non-recurring $1.6 million gain on the sale of assets in 2012 and non-recurring charges of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $2.9 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, as compared to income of $1.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

Fourth Quarter Corporate Highlights

Entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, Automatic Screw Machine Products Company, Inc., for $12.5 million. The transaction closed on February 14, 2014 and the net proceeds were utilized to pay down existing debt.

Entered into an agreement to sublease a portion of the Companys leased headquarters, which will result in future net cash savings of approximately $2.9 million through the life of the sublease term of March 2023.

Settled a previous employment tax matter with the IRS for $0.8 million which was less than the previously established reserve of $1.2 million.

Improvements in our core operations will continue to make us more competitive in the MRO marketplace and lead to greater customer loyalty and additional business. With major investments and business enhancements behind us, we are now in a position to aggressively expand our sales force, continue to improve our processes and leverage our existing infrastructure, concluded Mr. DeCata.

Conference Call

Lawson Products, Inc., will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss fourth quarter 2013 results at 8:30 a.m. EST on February 20, 2014. The conference call is available by direct dial at 877-317-6789 in the U.S. or 412-317-6789 from outside of the U.S. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately one hour after completion of the call through March 31, 2014. Callers can access the replay by dialing 877-344-7529 in the U.S. or 412-317-0088 outside the U.S. The PIN access number for the replay is 10016326#. A streaming audio of the call and an archived replay will also be available on the investor relations page of Lawson's website through March 31, 2014.






About Lawson Products, Inc.

Founded in 1952, Lawson Products (NASDAQ: LAWS) is an industrial distributor of approximately 300,000 maintenance and repair products. Lawson Products serves the industrial, commercial, institutional and government maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market. The Company ships products to customers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean from five strategically located distribution centers in North America. Under its Kent Automotive brand, the Company supplies products to collision and mechanical repair shops as well as automotive OEMs. For additional information, please visit www.lawsonproducts.com.

This Release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. The terms "may," "should," "could," "anticipate," "believe," "continues," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "objective," "plan," "potential," "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. These statements are based on management's current expectations, intentions or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such differences or that might otherwise impact the business and include the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the December 31, 2013, Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2014. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any such factor or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

-TABLES FOLLOW-






Lawson Products, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
65,738

 
$
64,505

 
$
269,503

 
$
273,562

Cost of goods sold
26,111

 
25,605

 
108,208

 
116,144

Gross profit
39,627

 
38,900

 
161,295

 
157,418

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
40,196

 
38,624

 
163,797

 
170,079

Severance expense (benefit)
(127
)
 
(159
)
 
837

 
8,021

Loss (gain) on sale of assets
32

 
(1,588
)
 
(4
)
 
(3,721
)
Goodwill impairment

 

 

 
28,306

Other operating expenses, net
2,528

 

 
2,528

 

 
42,629

 
36,877

 
167,158

 
202,685

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
(3,002
)
 
2,023

 
(5,863
)
 
(45,267
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(298
)
 
(322
)
 
(1,097
)
 
(775
)
Other (expenses) income, net
(12
)
 
17

 
(162
)
 
(56
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
(3,312
)
 
1,718

 
(7,122
)
 
(46,098
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
257

 
482

 
(141
)
 
17,935

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(3,569
)
 
1,236

 
(6,981
)
 
(64,033
)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
674

 
487

 
1,861

 
1,483

Net income (loss)
$
(2,895
)
 
$
1,723

 
$
(5,120
)
 
$
(62,550
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share of common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
(0.41
)
 
$
0.14

 
$
(0.81
)
 
$
(7.46
)
Discontinued operations
0.08

 
0.06

 
0.22

 
0.18

Net income (loss) per share
$
(0.33
)
 
$
0.20

 
$
(0.59
)
 
$
(7.28
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
8,651

 
8,598

 
8,634

 
8,589

Effect of dilutive securities outstanding

 
14

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
8,651

 
8,612

 
8,634

 
8,589







Lawson Products, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
698

 
$
1,640

Restricted cash
800

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
30,221

 
29,451

Inventories, net
45,774

 
44,681

Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses
4,393

 
5,308

Deferred income taxes
5

 
17

Discontinued operations
8,960

 
9,232

Total current assets
90,851

 
90,329

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
58,974

 
66,981

Cash value of life insurance
9,179

 
14,943

Deferred income taxes
54

 
55

Other assets
481

 
449

Discontinued operations
406

 
174

Total assets
$
159,945

 
$
172,931

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Revolving line of credit
$
16,078

 
$
16,127

Accounts payable
14,787

 
11,421

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
23,521

 
31,330

Discontinued operations
564

 
950

Total current liabilities
54,950

 
59,828







Security bonus plan
16,143

 
18,837

Financing lease obligation
10,223

 
10,786

Deferred compensation
5,867

 
5,741

Deferred rent liability
4,961

 
4,621

Other liabilities
1,889

 
2,258

Discontinued operations

 
127

Total liabilities
94,033

 
102,198

 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $1 par value:
 
 
 
Authorized - 500,000 shares, issued and outstanding — None

 

Common stock, $1 par value:
 
 
 
Authorized - 35,000,000 shares
Issued – 8,670,512 and 8,614,837 shares, respectively
Outstanding – 8,658,885 and 8,605,901 shares, respectively
8,671

 
8,615

Capital in excess of par value
7,799

 
6,951

Retained earnings
47,644

 
52,764

Treasury stock – 11,627 and 8,936 shares, respectively
(187
)
 
(155
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
1,985

 
2,558

Total stockholders’ equity
65,912

 
70,733

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
159,945

 
$
172,931








  LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
REGULATION G GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, the Company's management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures can provide additional meaningful reflection of underlying trends of the business because they provide a comparison of historical information that excludes certain infrequently occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. See Table 1 below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
TABLE 1 - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss), as reported per GAAP
$
(3,002
)
 
$
2,023

 
$
(5,863
)
 
$
(45,267
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation (1)
562

 
434

 
2,267

 
(306
)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
32

 
(1,588
)
 
(4
)
 
(3,721
)
Severance
(127
)
 
(159
)
 
837

 
8,021

Loss on sublease arrangement
2,928

 

 
2,928

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 
28,306

Inventory rationalization (2)

 

 

 
3,893

Adjusted non-GAAP operating income (loss)
$
393

 
$
710

 
$
165

 
$
(9,074
)

(1)    Expense for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company's stock price
(2)    A non-cash charge in 2012 as a result of discontinuing certain products





LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
TABLE 2 - QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Dec. 31, 2013
 
Sep. 30, 2013
 
Jun. 30, 2013
 
Mar. 31, 2013
 
Dec. 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of business days
61

 
64

 
64

 
63

 
61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average daily net sales
$
1,078

 
$
1,066

 
$
1,067

 
$
1,067

 
$
1,057

Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
1.1%

 
(0.1
)%
 
 %
 
0.9
%
 
(1.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average active sales rep. count (1)
794

 
774

 
764

 
762

 
769

Period-end active sales rep. count
806

 
784

 
773

 
760

 
767
(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales per rep. per day
$
1.358

 
$
1.377

 
$
1.397

 
$
1.400

 
$
1.375

Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
(1.4)%

 
(1.4
)%
 
(0.2)%

 
1.8%

 
(1.4)%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
65,738

 
$
68,235

 
$
68,317

 
$
67,213

 
$
64,505

Gross profit
39,627

 
41,220

 
40,634

 
39,814

 
38,900

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit percentage
60.3%

 
60.4%

 
59.5%

 
59.2%

 
60.3%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general & administrative expenses
$
40,196

 
$
39,424

 
$
40,833

 
$
43,344

 
$
38,624

Severance expense (benefit)
(127
)
 
962

 
2

 

 
(159
)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
32

 
(36
)
 

 

 
(1,588
)
Other expenses, net
2,528

 

 

 

 

 
42,629

 
40,350

 
40,835

 
43,344

 
36,877

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
$
(3,002
)
 
$
870

 
$
(201
)
 
$
(3,530
)
 
$
2,023


(1)
Average active sales representative count represents the average of the month-end sales representative counts

(2)
Following the transition of the U.S. independent agents to employee status, the Company began January 1, 2013 with 757 sales representatives

Contact

Investor Relations:
Lawson Products, Inc.
Ronald J. Knutson
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
773-304-5665