EX-99.1 2 q22017pressrelease.htm PRESS RELEASE Exhibit


Lawson Products Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

Significant Improvement in Operating Income on 8.2% Sales Increase

CHICAGO, July 27, 2017 - Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAWS) (“Lawson” or the "Company"), a distributor of products and services to the MRO marketplace, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Second Quarter Highlights

•
Sales increased 8.2% to $75.0 million, compared to $69.3 million a year ago
    
•
GAAP operating income was $7.9 million compared to break-even operating results in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted operating income improved to $2.9 million from $0.7 million excluding the gain on the sale of real estate, stock-based compensation and severance (see reconciliation in Table 1)

•
Fully diluted earnings per share was $0.80 and improved to $0.20 from $0.02 on a recurring basis (see reconciliation in Table 2)

•
The quarter ended with $11.1 million of accessible cash, no outstanding debt and $35.5 million of availability on our revolving credit facility

“Average daily sales increased 8.2% year-over-year and 6.9% on an organic basis. Over the past several quarters, we have seen an uptick in our average daily sales and productivity of our reps. There were sales increases across all customer categories including regional, large national, Kent Automotive and government. Growth in our large national accounts was driven primarily by our success in converting additional locations and customer account expansion. Despite the shift in customer mix, our gross margins remained above 60% generating significant growth in gross margin dollars," said Michael DeCata, president and chief executive officer.

“Coupled with managing operating costs down as a percent of sales, we generated a significant improvement in our adjusted operating income to $2.9 million from $0.7 million. The quarter also benefited from a $5.4 million gain from the sale of our discontinued Fairfield distribution center.

"Our service intensive value proposition and sales reps’ deep product knowledge distinguishes us among MRO distributors and are helping to drive growth and expand our customer base. It's rewarding to see that our previous investments in our sales force and deliberate actions taken to improve sales rep productivity are having a positive impact on our performance. Our improving results, combined with an expanding industrial economy, makes us optimistic that these trends will continue,” stated Mr. DeCata.


Second Quarter Results

Net sales were $75.0 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $69.3 million in 2016. Both periods had 64 selling days. Average daily sales were $1.172 million compared to $1.084 million in the previous year quarter. Sales were positively impacted by increased productivity of sales representatives, the effect of acquisitions completed in 2016 and an improving MRO marketplace. Excluding 2016 acquisitions, net sales grew 6.9% for the quarter. Year to date sales were up 7.6% over the prior year.
 



Gross profit increased to $45.1 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to $42.5 million in the second quarter of 2016 primarily due to higher sales. While gross profit percentage remained flat with the first quarter, it declined as a percent of sales to 60.2% from 61.3% a year ago. The change in gross profit margin from a year ago was primarily the result of sales mix changes to larger national customers, that typically generate lower product margins, and the impact of the 2016 acquisitions.
 
Selling expenses increased to $23.8 million in the second quarter of 2017 from $23.2 million in the prior year quarter; however, decreased as a percent of sales to 31.7% from 33.5% from a year ago as fixed selling costs were leveraged over a higher sales base. The increase in expense was primarily due to increased compensation costs on higher sales, and consulting costs, offset by lower health insurance expenses.

General and administrative expenses decreased to $18.9 million in the second quarter of 2017 from $19.3 million in the prior year quarter. Lower acquisition related costs and depreciation were partially offset by restoring incentive compensation accruals on improved results.

Operating income in the second quarter of 2017 was $7.9 million compared to break-even operating results a year ago. Adjusted non-GAAP operating income was $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to $0.7 million a year ago (see reconciliation in Table 1). The increase from a year ago was primarily driven by leveraging our operating structure on increased sales while at the same time managing our operating costs.

Net income for the second quarter of 2017 was $7.3 million, or $0.80 per diluted share including $0.60 per diluted share from the gain on sale of real estate. This compares to net income of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago.

At June 30, 2017, the Company had $11.1 million in available cash and cash equivalents, no borrowings under its line of credit and an additional borrowing capacity of $35.5 million.

“All of our 2016 acquisitions have been integrated and we are beginning to benefit from the increased sales and additional operating leverage. We remain committed to our plan and will continue to invest in the development of our sales reps as well as pursue additional acquisitions,” concluded Mr. DeCata.


Conference Call

Lawson Products, Inc., will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss second quarter 2017 results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2017. 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 August 31, 2017. 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 15910#. A streaming audio of the call and an archived replay will also be available on the investor relations page of Lawson's website through August 31, 2017.


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About Lawson Products, Inc.

Celebrating our 65th anniversary in 2017, Lawson Products (NASDAQ: LAWS) is an industrial distributor of maintenance and repair products. Lawson carries a comprehensive line of products and provides inventory management services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market. With several strategically located distribution centers in North America, Lawson ships to customers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. 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 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, 2016, Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2017. 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-

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

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
75,006

 
$
69,348

 
$
149,623

 
$
139,059

Cost of goods sold
29,865

 
26,822

 
59,603

 
54,074

Gross profit
45,141

 
42,526

 
90,020

 
84,985

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling expenses
23,806

 
23,204

 
48,610

 
45,957

General & administrative expenses
18,866

 
19,293

 
38,229

 
37,830

Total S&A
42,672

 
42,497

 
86,839

 
83,787

Gain on sale of property
(5,422
)
 
—

 
(5,422
)
 
—

Operating expenses
37,250

 
42,497

 
81,417

 
83,787

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
7,891

 
29

 
8,603

 
1,198

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(166
)
 
(153
)
 
(260
)
 
(319
)
Other (expenses) income, net
(115
)
 
250

 
110

 
373

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
7,610

 
126

 
8,453

 
1,252

Income tax expense (benefit)
337

 
(46
)
 
323

 
63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
7,273

 
$
172

 
$
8,130

 
$
1,189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic income per share of common stock
$
0.82

 
$
0.02

 
$
0.92

 
$
0.14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted income per share of common stock
$
0.80

 
$
0.02

 
$
0.89

 
$
0.13



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Lawson Products, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
11,123

 
$
10,421

Restricted cash
800

 
800

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
35,017

 
30,200

Inventories, net
42,373

 
42,561

Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses
3,492

 
3,788

Total current assets
92,805

 
87,770

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
27,547

 
30,907

Cash value of life insurance
10,443

 
10,051

Goodwill
5,681

 
5,520

Deferred income taxes
20

 
20

Other assets
934

 
1,039

Total assets
$
137,430

 
$
135,307

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Revolving line of credit
$
—

 
$
841

Accounts payable
7,206

 
11,307

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
26,050

 
27,289

Total current liabilities
33,256

 
39,437

 
 
 
 
Security bonus plan
13,427

 
14,216

Financing lease obligation
6,998

 
7,543

Deferred compensation
5,026

 
4,830

Deferred rent liability
3,637

 
3,676

Other liabilities
4,388

 
4,472

Total liabilities
66,732

 
74,174

 
 
 
 
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 - 8,907,639 and 8,864,929 shares, respectively
Outstanding - 8,874,365 and 8,832,623 shares, respectively
8,908

 
8,865

Capital in excess of par value
11,843

 
11,055

Retained earnings
49,895

 
41,943

Treasury stock – 33,274 and 32,306 shares, respectively
(711
)
 
(691
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
763

 
(39
)
Total stockholders’ equity
70,698

 
61,133

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
137,430

 
$
135,307



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  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 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 June 30, 2017 and 2016. 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
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
Operating income, as reported per GAAP
$
7,891

 
$
29

 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation (1)
415

 
515

 
 
 
 
Severance (benefit) expense
(9
)
 
143

 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of property (2)
(5,422
)
 
—

 
 
 
 
Adjusted non-GAAP operating income
$
2,875

 
$
687


(1)    A portion of stock-based compensation expense varies with the Company's stock price
(2)    Gain on sale of Fairfield, New Jersey distribution center

TABLE 2 - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED NON-GAAP DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share, as reported per GAAP
$
0.80

 
$
0.02

 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of property (1)
(0.60
)
 
—

 
 
 
 
Adjusted non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
$
0.20

 
$
0.02


(1)    Gain on sale of Fairfield, New Jersey distribution center


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LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
TABLE 3 - QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Jun. 30 2017
 
Mar. 31 2017
 
Dec. 31 2016
 
Sep. 30 2016
 
Jun. 30 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of business days
64

 
64

 
60

 
64

 
64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average daily net sales
$
1,172

 
$
1,166

 
$
1,122

 
$
1,097

 
$
1,084

Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
0.5%

 
3.9
%
 
2.3
%
 
1.2
 %
 
(0.5
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average active sales rep. count (1)
981

 
990

 
1,007

 
1,007

 
981

Period-end active sales rep. count
987

 
979

 
1,009

 
1,006

 
1,020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales per rep. per day
$
1.195

 
$
1.178

 
$
1.114

 
$
1.089

 
$
1.105

Sequential quarter increase (decrease)
1.4%

 
5.7
%
 
2.3%

 
(1.4)%

 
(3.7)%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
75,006

 
$
74,617

 
$
67,315

 
$
70,199

 
$
69,348

Gross profit
45,141

 
44,879

 
40,504

 
42,573

 
42,526

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit percentage
60.2%

 
60.1%

 
60.2%

 
60.6%

 
61.3%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general & administrative expenses
$
42,672

 
$
44,167

 
$
45,548

 
$
40,184

 
$
42,497

Gain on sale of property (2)
(5,422
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
37,250

 
44,167

 
45,548

 
40,184

 
42,497

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
$
7,891

 
$
712

 
$
(5,044
)
 
$
2,389

 
$
29


(1)
Average active sales rep count represents the average of the month-ends
(2)    Sale of Fairfield, New Jersey, distribution center

Contact

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


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