Document


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):
 
April 19, 2018

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company  ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐







Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 19, 2018, Lawson Products, Inc. issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2018 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
April 19, 2018








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:
April 19, 2018
 
By: /s/ Ronald J. Knutson 
 
 
 
Name: Ronald J. Knutson
 
 
 
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Controller








EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number
 
Description
 





Exhibit


Lawson Products Announces First Quarter 2018 Results

Average Daily Sales Increase 15.0%

CHICAGO, April 19, 2018 - Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAWS) (Lawson or the "Company"), a distributor of products and services to the MRO marketplace, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.
 

Highlights

Average daily sales ("ADS") increased 15.0% to $1.341 million during the first quarter of 2018 compared to $1.166 million in the first quarter of 2017

Organic Lawson segment ADS increased by 4.0% compared to prior year quarter

GAAP operating income rose to $1.8 million compared to $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP EBITDA, adjusted for stock-based compensation and severance improved $2.2 million to $5.1 million from $2.9 million a year ago. The Lawson segment adjusted EBITDA was $4.5 million compared to $2.9 million a year ago quarter (see reconciliation in Table 2)

The Bolt Supply House ("Bolt Supply"), which was acquired in October of 2017, added $8.0 million of sales, $0.5 million of operating income and $0.6 million of adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter 2018 (see reconciliation in Table 2)


"The positive results achieved during the quarter demonstrate how we have strengthened our business both organically and through acquisitions," said Michael DeCata, president and chief executive officer. The 15% increase in average daily sales was driven by improved Lawson sales rep efficiency and the inclusion of Bolt Supply. The $2.2 million improvement in our adjusted non-GAAP EBITDA is a result of our sales growth combined with the leveraging of our existing expense base."


On January 1, 2018 the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 606-Revenue From Contracts With Customers (“ASC 606”). As part of the Company's adoption of ASC 606, it concluded that it has two separate performance obligations, and accordingly, two separate revenue streams: product and services. As a result, the Company is now reporting two separate revenue streams and two separate costs of revenues. The adoption of ASC 606 had a minimal impact on total reported revenues, costs and net income for the first quarter 2018 results. However, the adoption required the prospective reclassification of certain selling expenses associated with the separately identified vendor managed inventory services performance obligation historically classified as selling expense to cost of sales (see reconciliation in Table 1). As ASC 606 was adopted on a modified retrospective method, prior quarters are not restated.


First Quarter Results

Total sales increased 13.2% to $84.5 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $74.6 million in 2017 with 2018 having one less selling day. Average daily sales grew 15.0% to $1.341 million compared to $1.166 million in the previous year quarter. Sales were positively impacted by $8.0 million from the inclusion of the Bolt Supply acquisition completed in the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2017 and the 6.4% improvement of Lawson sales rep productivity compared to the first quarter 2017.
 




First quarter gross profit increased $1.3 million to $46.2 million compared to $44.9 million in 2017. The reclassification of expenses associated with vendor managed inventory services in the first quarter of 2018 reduced reported gross margins by $3.4 million. Prior to this reclassification, gross margins improved by 10.6% or $4.7 million. Due to the expense reclassification and the anticipated effect of the lower gross margins of Bolt Supply, reported gross margin was 54.7% compared to 60.1% a year ago. The Lawson segment gross margin grew to 60.6% versus 60.1% in the year ago quarter. The expansion in the Lawson segment gross margin was driven by improved efficiency in our fulfillment process and lower customer set-up costs partially offset by increased sales to our strategic customers who typically have lower gross margins.
 
Selling expenses decreased $2.9 million to $21.9 million in the first quarter from $24.8 million reported in the prior year quarter. This decrease is primarily due to the $3.4 million reclassification of services expense to cost of revenues, partially offset by the inclusion of Bolt Supply in the quarter. Prior to the expense reclassification, selling expenses increased by $0.5 million primarily due to the inclusion of Bolt Supply. The addition of Bolt Supply's selling expense of $0.6 million was partially offset by lower Lawson consulting and insurance expenses. As a percent of sales, selling expenses decreased from 33.2% to 26.0% due to the aforementioned reclassification of expenses, a reduction of costs within the Lawson segment and the proportionately lower selling expense structure in Bolt Supply's operations.

General and administrative expenses were $22.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to $19.4 million in the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily due to Bolt Supply expenses of $2.1 million, higher stock-based compensation of $1.0 million, a portion of which varies with the company stock price, and incremental severance. Excluding these items, the Lawson segment general and administrative expenses were down slightly compared to a year ago quarter as we continue to manage our costs.

Operating income in the first quarter of 2018 was $1.8 million compared to $0.7 million a year ago. Adjusted non-GAAP EBITDA, adjusted for stock-based compensation and severance increased to $5.1 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to $2.9 million in the year ago quarter (see reconciliation in Table 2). The growth in adjusted non-GAAP EBITDA from a year ago was primarily due to an additional $1.6 million being generated from the Lawson segment, with the remaining $0.6 million being generated by Bolt Supply.

Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $1.2 million, or $0.13 per diluted share compared to net income of $0.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. The first quarter of 2018 includes income tax expense which negatively impacted our fully diluted earnings per share by $0.07.

"Our performance this quarter demonstrated the benefit of our acquisition strategy as well as our ability to leverage our infrastructure as we grow organic sales. Our improving financial performance is a continuation of benefits realized by the investments we have made over the past several years, combined with a stronger industrial economy. We will continue to execute our plan to achieve higher profit through increased sales combined with leveraging our infrastructure," concluded Mr. DeCata.




2




Conference Call

Lawson Products, Inc., will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss first quarter 2018 results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 19, 2018. The conference call is available by direct dial at 1-877-737-7051 in the U.S. or 1-201-689-8878 from outside of the U.S. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the call through May 31, 2018. Callers can access the replay by dialing 1-877-481-4010 in the U.S. or 1-919-882-2331 outside the U.S. The PIN access number for the replay is 27236#. A streaming audio of the call and an archived replay will also be available on the investor relations page of Lawson's website through May 31, 2018.

About Lawson Products, Inc.

Founded in 1952, Lawson Products, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, IL, sells and distributes specialty products to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government maintenance, repair and operations market (MRO). The company is dedicated to helping customers in the U.S. and Canada lower their total cost of operation by increasing productivity and efficiency. The combination of Lawson Managed Inventory and the company’s problem-solving professionals ensures customers always have the right parts to handle the job. Through The Bolt Supply House, customers in Western Canada have access to products at several retail branches. Under its Kent Automotive brand, the company provides collision and mechanical repair products to the automotive aftermarket. 

Lawson Products ships from several strategically located distribution centers to customers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

For additional information, please visit https://www.lawsonproducts.com or https://www.kent-automotive.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, 2017, Form 10-K filed on February 22, 2018. 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-

3




Lawson Products, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
Product revenue
$
74,970

 
$
74,617

Service revenue
9,489

 

Net revenue
$
84,459

 
$
74,617

 
 
 
 
Product cost of goods sold
34,832

 
29,738

Service costs
3,409

 

Gross profit
46,218

 
44,879

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Selling expenses
21,940

 
24,804

General & administrative expenses
22,441

 
19,363

Operating expenses
44,381

 
44,167

 
 
 
 
Operating income
1,837

 
712

 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(240
)
 
(94
)
Other income, net
287

 
225

 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
1,884

 
843

Income tax expense (benefit)
648

 
(14
)
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
1,236

 
$
857

 
 
 
 
Basic income per share of common stock
$
0.14

 
$
0.10

 
 
 
 
Diluted income per share of common stock
$
0.13

 
$
0.09



4




Lawson Products, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
4,357

 
$
4,416

Restricted cash
800

 
800

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $504 and $476, respectively
39,097

 
38,575

Inventories, net
50,589

 
50,928

Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses
4,764

 
3,728

Total current assets
99,607

 
98,447

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
26,392

 
27,333

Deferred income taxes
20,806

 
21,248

Goodwill
19,132

 
19,614

Cash value of life insurance
12,007

 
11,964

Intangible assets, net
11,342

 
11,813

Other assets
246

 
248

Total assets
$
189,532

 
$
190,667

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Revolving line of credit
$
17,899

 
$
14,543

Accounts payable
13,209

 
12,394

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
28,727

 
33,040

Total current liabilities
59,835

 
59,977

 
 
 
 
Security bonus plan
12,928

 
12,981

Financing lease obligation
6,128

 
6,420

Deferred compensation
5,838

 
5,476

Deferred rent liability
3,329

 
3,512

Deferred tax liability
3,050

 
3,115

Other liabilities
4,859

 
5,696

Total liabilities
95,967

 
97,177

 
 
 
 
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 - 8,921,609 and 8,921,302 shares, respectively
Outstanding - 8,888,335 and 8,888,028 shares, respectively
8,922

 
8,921

Capital in excess of par value
13,655

 
13,005

Retained earnings
72,360

 
71,453

Treasury stock – 33,274 shares
(711
)
 
(711
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(661
)
 
822

Total stockholders’ equity
93,565

 
93,490

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
189,532

 
$
190,667



5





  LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
SEC 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 with 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 non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. See Tables below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. 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.

On January 1, 2018 the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 606-Revenue From Contracts With Customers (“ASC 606”). As part of the Company's adoption of ASC 606, it concluded that it has two separate performance obligations, and accordingly, two separate revenue streams: product and services. As a result, the Company is now reporting two separate revenue streams and two separate costs of revenues. The adoption of ASC 606 had a minimal impact on total reported revenues, costs and net income for the first quarter of 2018. However, the adoption required prospective reclassification of certain selling expenses associated with the separately identified vendor managed inventory services performance obligation costs historically classified as selling expenses to cost of sales. As ASC 606 was adopted on a modified retrospective method, prior quarters are not restated. The following information is intended to provide comparable information on selected financial statement line items in accordance with both ASC 606 and previous accounting literature (ASC 605 Revenue Recognition).

TABLE 1 - Impact of ASC 606 on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
As Reported
 
Service Revenues and Costs Adjustments
 
Pro-Forma as if previous accounting guidance was in effect
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product revenue
$
74,970

 
$
9,664

 
$
84,634

Service revenue
9,489

 
(9,489
)
 

Net Revenue
84,459

 
175

 
84,634

 
 
 
 
 
 
Product cost of goods sold
34,832

 

 
34,832

Service costs
3,409

 
(3,409
)
 

Total cost of goods sold
38,241

 
(3,409
)
 
34,832

 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit
46,218

 
3,584

 
49,802

Gross profit percentage
54.7
%
 
 
 
58.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling expenses
21,940

 
3,546

 
25,486

General and administrative expenses
22,441

 

 
22,441

Operating expenses
44,381

 
3,546

 
47,927

 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
$
1,837

 
$
38

 
$
1,875



6




Table 2 - Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Lawson Segment
 
Bolt Supply Segment
 
Consolidated
 
Consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income, as reported per GAAP
$
1,357

 
$
480

 
$
1,837

 
$
712

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
1,636

 
50

 
1,686

 
1,705

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation (1)
970

 

 
970

 
(30
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Severance expense
526

 
102

 
628

 
465

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA
$
4,489

 
$
632

 
$
5,121

 
$
2,852


(1)    A portion of stock-based compensation expense varies with the Company's stock price



7




LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
TABLE 3 - QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
Historic Lawson Segment Sales Representative and Productivity
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Mar. 31 2018
 
Dec. 31 2017
 
Sep. 30 2017
 
Jun. 30 2017
 
Mar. 31 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of business days
63

 
61

 
63

 
64

 
64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average daily net sales (Dollars in thousands)
$
1,213

 
$
1,191

 
$
1,201

 
$
1,172

 
$
1,166

Year over year increase
4.0
%
 
6.1
 %
 
9.5
%
 
8.1
%
 
7.1
%
Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
1.8
%
 
(0.8
)%
 
2.5
%
 
0.5
%
 
3.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average active sales rep. count (1)
968

 
987

 
991

 
981

 
990

Period-end active sales rep. count
966

 
983

 
988

 
987

 
979

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales per rep. per day
$
1,253

 
$
1,207

 
$
1,212

 
$
1,195

 
$
1,178

Year over year increase
6.4
%
 
8.3
 %
 
11.3
%
 
8.1
%
 
2.6
%
Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
3.8
%
 
(0.4
)%
 
1.4
%
 
1.4
%
 
5.7
%

(1)
Average active sales rep count represents the average of the month-ends sales representative count


LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
TABLE 4 - CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Mar. 31 2018 (2)
 
Dec. 31 2017
 
Sep. 30 2017
 
Jun. 30 2017
 
Mar. 31 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average daily net sales
$
1,341

 
$
1,322

 
$
1,201

 
$
1,172

 
$
1,166

Year over year increase
15.0
%
 
17.8
%
 
9.5
%
 
8.1
%
 
7.1
%
Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
1.4
%
 
10.1
%
 
2.5
%
 
0.5
%
 
3.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
84,459

 
$
80,633

 
$
75,651

 
$
75,006

 
$
74,617

Gross profit
46,218

 
46,993

 
46,005

 
45,141

 
44,879

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit percentage
54.7
%
 
58.3
%
 
60.8
%
 
60.2
%
 
60.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general & administrative expenses
$
44,381

 
$
46,750

 
$
44,915

 
$
42,672

 
$
44,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of property (1)

 

 

 
(5,422
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
44,381

 
46,750

 
44,915

 
37,250

 
44,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
$
1,837

 
$
243

 
$
1,090

 
$
7,891

 
$
712


(1)
The three months ended June 30, 2017 includes $5.4 million related to the sale of the Fairfield, NJ distribution center
(2)
Reflects the adoption of ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018 including the reclassification of $3.4 million of selling expense as a reduction of gross profit

Contact

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


8