SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                    WASHINGTON, D. C.  20549

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                            FORM 10-Q

          Quarterly Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of
               The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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For Quarter Ended March 31, 1996      Commission file no. 0-10546

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


           Delaware                              36-2229304
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(State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

1666 East Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois         60018
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(Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone no., including area code:   (847) 827-9666


Not applicable
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Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed
since last report.


     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  X   No     


     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the
issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable
date.
11,600,614 Shares, $1 par value, as of April 19, 1996.






                 LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES        
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS        
          
                                                  March 31,      December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)                                 1996           1995
------------- ------------- (UNAUDITED) ASSETS - ------ Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,487 $ 10,432 Marketable securities 21,863 16,068 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 28,188 28,296 Inventories (Note B) 29,527 27,083 Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses 5,426 5,635 Deferred income taxes 636 464 ------------- ------------- Total Current Assets 96,127 87,978 Marketable securities 15,775 20,847 Property, plant and equipment, less allowances for depreciation and amortization 35,586 35,501 Investments in real estate 3,197 3,152 Deferred income taxes 3,253 3,201 Other assets 10,661 9,935 ------------- ------------- Total Assets $164,599 $160,614 ============= =============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - ------------------------------------ Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 4,086 $ 3,219 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 13,816 14,329 Income taxes 3,782 962 ------------- ------------- Total Current Liabilities 21,684 18,510 ------------- ------------- Accrued liability under security bonus plans 11,735 11,422 Other 8,070 7,871 ------------- ------------- 19,805 19,293 ------------- ------------- 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 - (1996 - 11,600,614 shares; 1995 - 11,686,614 shares) 11,601 11,687 Capital in excess of par value 490 494 Retained earnings 111,832 111,321 ------------- ------------- 123,923 123,502 Other (813) (691) ------------- ------------- Total Stockholders' Equity 123,110 122,811 ------------- ------------- Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $164,599 $160,614 ============= ============= See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. - 2 -
LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 1995 --------- --------- Net sales $ 56,108 $ 54,845 Investment and other income 631 1,026 --------- --------- 56,739 55,871 --------- --------- Cost of goods sold (Note B) 16,678 15,421 Selling, general and administrative expenses 33,272 32,211 49,950 47,632 --------- --------- Income before income taxes 6,789 8,239 Provision for income taxes 2,765 3,214 --------- --------- Net income 4,024 5,025 Retained earnings at beginning of period 111,321 195,609 Deduct: Treasury stock retired 2,005 --- Cash dividends declared 1,508 1,482 --------- --------- Retained earnings at end of period $111,832 $199,152 ========= ========= Net income per share of common stock $0.35 $0.40 ===== ===== Cash dividends declared per share of common stock $0.13 $0.12 ===== ===== Weighted average shares outstanding 11,622 12,454 ========= ========= See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. - 3 - /TABLE LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (Amounts in thousands)
For the Three months ended March 31, 1996 1995 --------- --------- Operating activities: Net income $ 4,024 $ 5,025 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,003 842 Changes in operating assets and liabilities 22 (2,835) Other 545 499 --------- --------- Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 5,594 3,531 --------- --------- Investing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment (1,079) (1,120) Purchases of marketable securities (141,305) (60,404) Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 140,409 63,491 Other 50 644 --------- --------- Net Cash (Used in)/Provided by Investing Activities (1,925) 2,611 --------- --------- Financing activities: Purchases of treasury stock (2,095) (6,414) Dividends paid (1,519) (1,512) --------- --------- Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (3,614) (7,926) --------- --------- Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 55 (1,784) Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 10,432 9,853 --------- --------- Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 10,487 $ 8,069 ========= ========= See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. - 4 - /TABLE Part I NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A) As contemplated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the accompanying consolidated financial statements and footnotes have been condensed and therefore, do not contain all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. Reference should be made to the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 1995. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 1996, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings for the three month periods ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 are unaudited. In the opinion of the Company, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) have been made, which are necessary to present fairly the results of operations for the interim periods. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1996. B) Inventories (consisting of finished goods) at March 31, 1996 and cost of goods sold for the three month periods ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 were determined through the use of estimated gross profit rates. The following exhibits are attached to Part I: 1. Letter from independent accountants furnished pursuant to Rule 10.01 (d) of regulation S-X. 2. Letter from independent accountants furnished pursuant to Item 601, #15 of regulation S-K. - 5 - Part I Independent Accountant's Review Report Board of Directors Lawson Products, Inc. We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Lawson Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 1996 and 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, which will be performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the consolidated balance sheet of Lawson Products, Inc. as of December 31, 1995, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended, not presented herein, and in our report dated February 26, 1996, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1995, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived. ERNST & YOUNG LLP April 19, 1996 - 6 - Part I April 19, 1996 Board of Directors Lawson Products, Inc. We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-17912 dated November 4, 1987) of Lawson Products, Inc. of our report dated April 19, 1996 relating to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of Lawson Products, Inc. which are included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996. Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 our report is not a part of the registration statement prepared or certified by accountants within the meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933. ERNST & YOUNG LLP - 7 - Part I ITEM 2 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Cash flows provided by operations for the three months ended March 31, 1996 increased to $5,594,000 from $3,531,000 in the comparable period of the prior year. This advance was due primarily to an increase in accrued income taxes. In addition to satisfying operating requirements, current investments and cash flows from operations are expected to finance the Company's future growth, cash dividends and capital expenditures. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $1,079,000 and $1,120,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995. Capital expenditures during 1996 reflect primarily purchases of computer related equipment, while 1995 additions include the completion of a Lawson outbound facility in Addison, Illinois, at a cost of approximately $5,600,000. In December of 1994, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. During the first three months of 1996, the Company expended $2,095,000 to acquire the remaining 86,000 shares authorized for repurchase. Also, during the three month period ended March 31, 1995, the Company purchased 252,500 shares at a cost of $6,414,000, relative to the share authorization noted above. Net sales for the three month period ended March 31, 1996, gained 2.3% to $56,108,000 relative to the comparable period of 1995. The gain is principally the result of an increase in the number of orders processed which more than offset a decrease in the average order size. Net income declined 19.9% to $4,024,000 ($.35 per share) for the three months ended March 31, 1996 from $5,025,000 ($.40 per share) for the similar period of 1995. This decrease is attributable to lower gross margins and a higher effective income tax rate, which more than offset the advance in net sales noted above. Results for the three months ended March 31, 1995 include the effect of net life insurance proceeds of approximately $300,000 ($.02 per share). Per share net income for 1996 and 1995 was positively impacted by the Company's share repurchase program. - 8 - Part II OTHER INFORMATION Items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are inapplicable and have been omitted from this report. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. (a) Not applicable. (b) The registrant was not required to file Form 8-K for the most recently completed quarter. - 9 - 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 thereunto duly authorized. LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. (Registrant) Dated April 22, 1995 /s/ Bernard Kalish Bernard Kalish Chairman of the Board Dated April 22, 1995 /s/ Joseph L. Pawlick Joseph L. Pawlick Vice President and Controller - 10 -
 

5 1,000 3-MOS DEC-31-1996 MAR-31-1996 10,487 37,638 28,188 0 29,527 96,127 35,586 0 164,599 21,684 0 11,601 0 0 111,509 164,599 56,108 56,739 16,678 16,678 0 252 10 6,789 2,765 4,024 0 0 0 4,024 0.35 0.35