laws-20230504
0000703604FALSE00007036042023-05-042023-05-04

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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):May 4, 2023
DISTRIBUTION SOLUTIONS GROUP, 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,Illinois60631
(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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $1.00 par valueDSGR
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(NASDAQ Global Select Market)

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 May 4, 2023, Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2023 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 May 4, 2023






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.

    
DISTRIBUTION SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)
Date:
May 4, 2023
By: /s/ Ronald J. Knutson
Name: Ronald J. Knutson
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer






EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit NumberDescription




Document

Distribution Solutions Group Announces
Fiscal 2023 First Quarter Results
Achieves Record Revenue and Profit Growth, Strong Organic Revenue


CHICAGO, May 4, 2023 - Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DSGR) ("DSG" or the "Company"), a multi-platform specialty distribution company providing high touch, value-added distribution solutions to the maintenance, repair & operations (MRO), the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and the industrial technologies markets, today announced consolidated results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. This press release is supplemented by an earnings slide deck appearing on the Company’s investor relations page at https://investor.distributionsolutionsgroup.com/news/events.

Note Regarding Reverse Merger Accounting

As a result of the April 1, 2022 strategic combination of Lawson Products, Gexpro Services and TestEquity, the Company's financial results are reported under reverse merger accounting treatment as required by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Accordingly, Lawson Products results are included only for the period following the April 1, 2022 merger closing date. GAAP results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 include the combined results of Gexpro Services and TestEquity, while GAAP results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include the results of Lawson Products, Gexpro Services and TestEquity.

The following represents a summary of certain operating results (unaudited). See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures in tables 2 and 3.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20232022% Change
GAAP Revenue$348,270 $154,085 126.0 %
Pre-Merger Revenue(1)— 117,877 N/M
Adjusted Revenue348,270 271,962 28.1 %
GAAP Operating Income16,721 2,988 N/M
Pre-Merger Operating Income(1)— 12,076 N/M
Adjusted Operating Income16,721 15,064 11.0 %
GAAP Operating income as a percent of GAAP Revenue4.8%1.9%
Adjusted EBITDA$39,353 $22,672 73.6 %
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of Adjusted Revenue11.3%8.3%
(1)Represents Lawson Products pre-merger revenue and operating income

Bryan King, CEO and Chairman of the Board, said, “I am excited to report the continued strong financial performance of DSG. During the first quarter, revenue and EBITDA margin improvement continued, with adjusted revenue growth of 28%, fueled by organic growth of 13.7%, and adjusted EBITDA expansion to $39.4 million, or 11.3% of revenue. This margin profile represents a 300 basis point improvement compared to one year ago as our execution has tracked our vision for why we formed the DSG platform a year ago. We remain confident in our prospects and continue to focus on generating shareholder value by driving sales growth, improving profitability and creating incremental cash flow through solid performance.

"We continue to watch the demand environment, and although certain end markets have moderated somewhat, we anticipate continued year-over-year revenue and profitability expansion as 2023 progresses with a focus on organic growth, strategic acquisitions and improved operational efficiencies. We believe that our asset light business model, combined with our focus on growing operating cash flows, positions us well to enhance shareholder value in 2023 and beyond.

"We were also thrilled to recently announce our agreement to acquire Hisco, a leading distributor of specialty products serving industrial technology applications, which is expected to close by the end of the
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second quarter. We believe that combining with Hisco will strategically accelerate our growth trajectory for all of our operating companies, with expansion in both customers and product offerings, coupled with better scale and incremental cost synergies," concluded Mr. King.

First Quarter Highlights (1)

GAAP revenue was $348.3 million, an increase of $194.2 million or 126.0%, which included $38.9 million of additional revenue from companies acquired in 2022 other than Lawson Products.
Non-GAAP adjusted revenue, which in the first quarter of 2022 includes the pre-merger revenue of Lawson Products for comparison, increased 28.1% or approximately $76.3 million. This improvement was driven by strong organic growth of 13.7% plus revenue from companies acquired in 2022 (other than Lawson Products).
Reported operating income increased by $13.7 million from the prior year period to $16.7 million or 4.8% of GAAP revenue. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA increased by 73.6% from the prior year period to $39.4 million or 11.3% of revenue.
Diluted income per share was $0.28 for the quarter compared to a diluted loss per share of $0.25 in the year-ago quarter. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.52 in the first quarter 2023 compared to $0.00 for the same period a year ago.
On March 30, 2023, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement for the acquisition of HIS Company, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Hisco”), for $269.1 million in cash payable at closing, with a potential additional earn-out payment of up to $12.6 million and $37.5 million, payable in cash or DSG common stock, in potential employee retention payments. DSG anticipates funding the transaction using a combination of an expanded committed credit facility and approximately $100 million of equity to be raised in a rights offering to existing stockholders. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory and customary closing conditions.
(1) See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures in tables 2 and 3.

The following represents a summary of certain operating results for each reportable segment and our all other category (unaudited). See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures in tables 2 and 3.
Lawson ProductsGexpro ServicesTestEquityAll OtherConsolidated DSG
(Dollars in thousands)Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022
GAAP Revenue$125,280 $— $101,016 $81,683 $107,359 $72,402 $14,615 $— $348,270 $154,085 
Pre-Merger Revenue(1)— 104,902 — — — — — 12,975 — 117,877 
Adjusted Revenue$125,280 $104,902 $101,016 $81,683 $107,359 $72,402 $14,615 $12,975 $348,270 $271,962 
GAAP Operating Income$8,245 $— $7,374 $3,592 $26 $(604)$1,076 $— $16,721 $2,988 
Pre-Merger Operating Income(1)— 11,096 — — — — — 980 — 12,076 
Adjusted Operating Income8,245 11,096 7,374 3,592 26 (604)1,076 980 16,721 15,064 
Adjusted EBITDA$18,450 $8,042 $11,674 $8,011 $7,659 $5,491 $1,570 $1,128 $39,353 $22,672 
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of Adjusted Revenue14.7%7.7%11.6%9.8%7.1%7.6%10.7%8.7%11.3%8.3%
(1)Represents Lawson Products and The Bolt Supply House pre-merger revenue and operating income

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Conference Call

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss first quarter 2023 results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 4, 2023. The conference call is available by direct dial at 1-888-506-0062 in the U.S. or 1-973-528-0011 from outside of the U.S. The participant access code is 484346. A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone approximately two hours after completion of the call through May 18, 2023. 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 48132. A streaming audio of the call and an archived replay will also be available on the investor relations page of Distribution Solutions Group’s website. Presentations may be supplemented by a series of slides appearing on the company’s investor relations home page at https://investor.distributionsolutionsgroup.com/news/events.

About Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.

Distribution Solutions Group (“DSG”) is a multi-platform specialty distribution company providing high touch, value-added distribution solutions to the maintenance, repair & operations (MRO), the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and the industrial technologies markets. DSG was formed through the strategic combination of Lawson Products, a leader in MRO distribution of C-parts, Gexpro Services, a leading global supply chain services provider to manufacturing customers, and TestEquity, a leader in electronic test & measurement solutions.

Through its collective businesses, DSG is dedicated to helping customers lower their total cost of operation by increasing productivity and efficiency with the right products, expert technical support and fast, reliable delivery to be a one-stop solution provider. DSG serves approximately 110,000 customers in several diverse end markets supported by approximately 3,100 dedicated employees and strong vendor partnerships. DSG ships from strategically located distribution and service centers to customers in North America, Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East.

For more information on Distribution Solutions Group please visit www.distributionsolutionsgroup.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties. The terms “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplates,” “continues,” “could,” “ensure,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecasts,” “if,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “shall,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” “would,” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from current expectations. DSG can give no assurance that any goal or plan set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and DSG cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made. DSG undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. Certain risks associated with DSG’s business are also discussed from time to time in the reports DSG files with the SEC, including DSG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, DSG’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and DSG’s Current Reports on Form 8-K. In addition, the following factors, among others, could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements: (i) unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the mergers; (ii) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the mergers results in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (iii) any problems arising in combining the businesses of Lawson Products, TestEquity and Gexpro Services, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected and (iv) risks and uncertainties relating to the pending acquisition of Hisco by DSG and the related financing thereof, including the risks that the transaction may
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not be completed on the timeline expected, that DSG may encounter difficulties integrating the business of DSG and Hisco, that DSG may not achieve the synergies contemplated with respect to the transaction and that certain assumptions with respect to Hisco’s business or the transaction could prove to be inaccurate.

-TABLES FOLLOW-
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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

March 31,
2023
December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$31,144 $24,554 
Restricted cash188 186 
Accounts receivable, less allowances172,688 166,301 
Inventories, net269,981 264,374 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets25,726 22,773 
Total current assets499,727 478,188 
Property, plant and equipment, net64,433 64,395 
Rental equipment, net27,168 27,139 
Goodwill348,212 348,048 
Deferred tax asset179 189 
Intangible assets, net219,213 227,994 
Cash value of life insurance17,500 17,166 
Right of use operating lease assets46,403 46,755 
Other assets5,520 5,736 
Total assets$1,228,355 $1,215,610 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$90,871 $80,486 
Current portion of long-term debt16,094 16,352 
Current portion of lease liabilities10,744 9,964 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities55,426 62,677 
Total current liabilities173,135 169,479 
Long-term debt, less current portion, net395,215 395,825 
Lease liabilities39,061 39,828 
Deferred tax liability24,123 23,834 
Other liabilities24,412 23,649 
Total liabilities
655,946 652,615 
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 - 21,441,506 and 19,730,362 shares, respectively
Outstanding - 21,125,289 and 19,416,784 shares, respectively
21,125 19,417 
Capital in excess of par value591,292 591,796 
Retained deficit(19,833)(25,736)
Treasury stock – 316,217 and 313,578 shares, respectively
(12,643)(12,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income(7,532)(9,956)
Total stockholders’ equity572,409 562,995 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$1,228,355 $1,215,610 

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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,
 20232022
Revenue$348,270 $154,085 
Cost of goods sold215,399 113,201 
Gross profit132,871 40,884 
Selling, general and administrative expenses116,150 37,896 
Operating income (loss)16,721 2,988 
Interest expense(7,670)(6,856)
Loss on extinguishment of debt— (581)
Change in fair value of earnout liabilities(57)— 
Other income (expense), net(975)956 
Income (loss) before income taxes8,019 (3,493)
Income tax expense (benefit)2,112 (956)
Net income (loss)$5,907 $(2,537)
Basic income (loss) per share of common stock$0.28 $(0.25)
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock$0.28 $(0.25)








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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31,
 20232022
Operating activities
Net income (loss)$5,907 $(2,537)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization15,722 7,589 
Amortization of debt issue costs469 655 
Extinguishment of debt— 581 
Stock-based compensation2,204 — 
Deferred income taxes612 — 
Change in fair value of earnout liability57 — 
Gain on sale of rental equipment(889)(736)
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment151 — 
Bargain purchase option— — 
Charge for step-up of acquired inventory— — 
Net realizable value and reserve adjustment for obsolete and excess inventory2,158 636 
Bad debt expense253 50 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable(6,015)(12,534)
Inventories(7,243)(12,126)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets(2,941)(110)
Accounts payable11,183 7,097 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities(8,698)(2,252)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities928 155 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities13,858 (13,532)
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment(4,490)(410)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired— (56,429)
Purchases of rental equipment(2,420)(2,657)
Proceeds from sale of rental equipment1,816 1,923 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities(5,094)(57,573)
Financing activities
Proceeds from revolving lines of credit93,953 34,277 
Payments on revolving lines of credit(87,607)(46,064)
Proceeds from term loans— 145,630 
Payments on term loans(7,500)(57,036)
Deferred financing costs— (7,939)
Shares repurchased held in treasury(117)— 
Payment of financing lease principal(123)(73)
Payment of earnout(1,000)— 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(2,394)68,795 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents222 (7)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash6,592 (2,317)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period24,740 14,671 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period$31,332 $12,354 
Cash and cash equivalents$31,144 $12,354 
Restricted cash188 — 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$31,332 $12,354 
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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Table 1 - Selected Segment Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
20232022
Revenue:
Lawson Products$125,280 $— 
Gexpro Services101,016 81,683 
TestEquity107,359 72,402 
Other14,615 — 
Total$348,270 $154,085 
Operating Income:
Lawson Products$8,245 $— 
Gexpro Services7,374 3,592 
TestEquity26 (604)
Other1,076 — 
Total$16,721 $2,988 



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DISTRIBUTION SOLUTIONS GROUP, 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 reflections of underlying trends of the business because they provide a comparison of historical information that includes certain results of pre-merger Lawson Products for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and excludes for all periods 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, 2023 and 2022. 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.

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Table 2 - Reconciliation of GAAP Revenue to Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue and
GAAP Operating Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
Q1 2023 and Q1 2022
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Lawson ProductsGexpro ServicesTestEquityAll OtherConsolidated DSG
Quarter EndedQ1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2022
GAAP Revenue$125,280 $— $101,016 $81,683 $107,359 $72,402 $14,615 $— $348,270 $154,085 
Pre-Merger Revenue(1)— 104,902 — — — — — 12,975 — 117,877 
Adjusted Revenue$125,280 $104,902 $101,016 $81,683 $107,359 $72,402 $14,615 $12,975 $348,270 $271,962 
GAAP Operating Income$8,245 $— $7,374 $3,592 $26 $(604)$1,076 $— $16,721 $2,988 
Pre-Merger Operating Income(1)— 11,096 — — — — — 980 — 12,076 
Adjusted Operating Income8,245 11,096 7,374 3,592 26 (604)1,076 980 16,721 15,064 
Depreciation and amortization6,558 1,946 3,865 2,821 4,805 4,768 494 143 15,722 9,678 
Adjustments:
Merger/integration costs(2)1,009 2,974 214 842 — 600 — — 1,223 4,416 
Stock-based compensation(3)2,204 (8,595)— — — — — — 2,204 (8,595)
Severance costs(4)238 621 — — 113 456 — 351 1,082 
Acquisition related costs(5)— — 161 569 2,715 271 — — 2,876 840 
Inventory step-up(6)— — — 163 — — — — — 163 
Other non-recurring(7)196 — 60 24 — — — — 256 24 
Adjusted EBITDA$18,450 $8,042 $11,674 $8,011 $7,659 $5,491 $1,570 $1,128 $39,353 $22,672 
GAAP Operating income as a percent of GAAP Revenue6.6%—%7.3%4.4%—%(0.8)%7.4%—%4.8%1.9%
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of GAAP Revenue14.7%—%11.6%9.8%7.1%7.6%10.7%—%11.3%14.7%
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of Adjusted Revenue14.7%7.7%11.6%9.8%7.1%7.6%10.7%8.7%11.3%8.3%
(1)Represents Lawson Products pre-merger revenue and operating income
(2)Merger transaction costs related to the negotiation, review and execution of the merger agreements relating to the business combination of Lawson Products, TestEquity and Gexpro Services and subsequent integration costs
(3)Expense (benefit) primarily for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company’s stock price
(4)Includes severance expense for actions taken in 2023 and 2022, not related to a formal restructuring plan
(5)Expense for acquisition related costs, unrelated to the business combination of Lawson Products, TestEquity and Gexpro Services
(6)Inventory fair value step-up adjustments resulting from the acquisition accounting for additional acquisitions completed by Gexpro Services
(7)Other non-recurring costs consist of sales force optimization and other non-recurring items

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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Table 3 - Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) and GAAP Diluted EPS to
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted Diluted EPS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2023March 31, 2022
Amount
Diluted EPS(2)
Amount
Diluted EPS(2)
Net income (loss) as reported per GAAP$5,907 $0.28 $(2,537)$(0.25)
Pretax adjustments:
Acquisition related costs2,876 0.13 840 0.08 
Stock-based compensation2,204 0.10 — — 
Merger/integration costs1,223 0.06 1,442 0.14 
Severance costs351 0.02 456 0.04 
Change in fair value of earnout liability57 — — — 
Loss on extinguishment of debt— — 581 0.06 
Inventory step-up— — 163 0.02 
Other non-recurring256 0.01 24 — 
Total pretax adjustments6,967 0.33 3,506 0.34 
Tax effect on adjustments(1)
(1,832)(0.09)(961)(0.09)
Total adjustments, net of tax5,135 0.24 2,545 0.25 
Non-GAAP adjusted net income$11,042 $0.52 $$— 
(1)Tax effected at full year tax rate of 26.3% and 27.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2)Pretax adjustments to diluted EPS calculated on 21.304 million and 10.301 million diluted shares for the first quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively.








Contact

Investor Relations:
Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.
Ronald J. Knutson
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
773-304-5665

Investor Relations Contacts:
Three Part Advisors, LLC
Steven Hooser or Sandy Martin
214-872-2710
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