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 June 30, 1998   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.
11,135,633 Shares, $1 par value, as of July 17, 1998.



                     LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) June 30, December 31, 1998 1997 (UNAUDITED) ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,905 $ 10,248 Marketable securities 13,660 11,638 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 33,883 33,714 Inventories (Note B) 43,875 41,788 Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses 7,736 5,760 Deferred income taxes 856 836 Total Current Assets 114,915 103,984 Marketable securities 13,228 21,713 Property, plant and equipment, less allowances for depreciation and amortization 41,829 40,963 Investments in real estate 3,956 3,731 Deferred income taxes 4,727 4,447 Other assets 14,861 14,136 Total Assets $ 193,516 $ 188,974 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 5,363 $ 4,928 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 16,277 17,902 Income taxes 1,243 1,641 Total Current Liabilities 22,883 24,471 Accrued liability under security bonus plans 14,572 14,000 Other 9,595 10,578 24,167 24,578 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 - (1998 - 11,135,633 shares; 1997 - 11,135,233 shares) 11,136 11,135 Capital in excess of par value 780 770 Retained earnings 134,842 128,708 Accumulated other comprehensive income (292) (688) Total Stockholders' Equity 146,466 139,925 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 193,516 $ 188,974 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
- 2 - LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) For the Three For the Six Months Ended Months Ended June 30, June 30, 1998 1997 1998 1997 Net sales $72,535 $70,390 $142,897 $136,273 Investment and other income 636 362 1,278 780 73,171 70,752 144,175 137,053 Cost of goods sold (Note B) 24,876 24,105 49,704 46,836 Selling, general and administrative expenses 40,028 37,184 78,476 72,805 64,904 61,289 128,180 119,641 Income before income taxes 8,267 9,463 15,995 17,412 Provision for income taxes 3,538 3,814 6,743 7,041 Net income $4,729 $ 5,649 $ 9,252 $ 10,371 Net income per share of common stock: Basic $ 0.42 $ 0.51 $ 0.83 $ 0.93 Diluted $ 0.42 $ 0.51 $ 0.83 $ 0.93 Cash dividends declared per share of common stock $ 0.14 $ 0.13 $ 0.28 $ 0.26 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 11,136 11,128 11,135 11,173 Diluted 11,161 11,140 11,167 11,179 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
- 3 - LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 1998 1997 Operating activities: Net income $ 9,252 $ 10,371 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,789 2,463 Changes in operating assets and liabilities (7,568) (10,814) Other (183) 1,072 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 4,290 3,092 Investing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment (3,504) (2,711) Purchases of marketable securities (102,548) (91,284) Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 109,201 94,854 Other 325 40 Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities 3,474 899 Financing activities: Purchases of treasury stock --- (4,062) Dividends paid (3,118) (2,919) Other 11 12 Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (3,107) (6,969) Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash 4,657 (2,978) Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 10,248 14,515 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 14,905 $ 11,537 See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
- 4 - 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, 1997. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1998, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 1998 and 1997 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six month periods ended June 30, 1998 and 1997 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 three and six month periods ended June 30, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1998. B) Inventories (consisting of primarily finished goods) at June 30, 1998 and cost of goods sold for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 1998 and 1997 were determined through the use of estimated gross profit rates. C) As of January 1, 1998, the Company adopted FASB Statement 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," (SFAS 130). SFAS 130 establishes new rules for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components; however, the adoption of this Statement had no impact on the Company's net income or stockholders' equity. SFAS 130 requires unrealized gains or losses on the Company's available-for-sale marketable securities and foreign currency translation adjustments to be included in other comprehensive income, which prior to adoption were reported separately in stockholders' equity. Total comprehensive income and its components, net of related tax, for the first three and six months of 1998 and 1997 are as follows:
Three months ended June 30 1998 1997 Net income $4,728,753 $ 5,648,375 Unrealized gains on marketable securities 18,000 48,000 Foreign currency translation adjustments (217,917) 58,728 Comprehensive income $4,528,836 $ 5,755,103
- 5 - Six months ended June 30 1998 1997
Net income $9,251,502 $10,370,532 Unrealized gains(losses) on marketable securities 166,000 (82,000) Foreign currency translation adjustments 229,951 (183,193) Comprehensive income $9,647,453 $10,105,339
The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of related tax, at June 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997 are as follows:
1998 1997 Unrealized gain on marketable securities $ 729,000 $ 563,000 Foreign currency translation adjustments (1,020,744) (1,250,695) Accumulated other comprehensive income $ (291,744) $ (687,695)
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Accounting Standards No. 131, Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (SFAS 131), which is effective for years beginning after December 15, 1997. SFAS 131 establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. SFAS 131 is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997, and therefore the Company will adopt the new requirements retroactively in 1998. Management has not completed its review of SFAS 131, but does not anticipate that the adoption of the statement will have a significant effect on the Company's reported financial disclosures. - 6 - D) Earnings per Share The calculation of dilutive weighted average shares outstanding for the three and six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997 are as follows:
Three months ended June 30 1998 1997 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 11,135,583 11,127,627 Dilutive impact of options outstanding 25,277 11,973 Dilutive weighted average shares outstanding 11,160,860 11,139,600 Six months ended June 30 1998 1997 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 11,135,476 11,172,843 Dilutive impact of options outstanding 31,531 5,989 Dilutive weighted average shares outstanding 11,167,007 11,178,832
- 7 - Independent Accountants' 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 June 30, 1998 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 1998 and 1997. 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, 1997, 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 27, 1998, 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, 1997, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived. ERNST & YOUNG LLP July 17, 1998 - 8 - ITEM 2 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Net sales for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 1998 advanced 3.0% to $72,535,000 and 4.9% to $142,897,000 relative to the comparable periods of 1997. The sales gains reflect increased contribution from substantially all Lawson operations. Net income for the second quarter declined 16.3% to $4,729,000 ($.42 per diluted share) from $5,649,000 ($.51 per diluted share) for the comparable period of 1997. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 1998 decreased 10.8% to $9,252,000 ($.83 per diluted share) from $10,371,000 ($.93 per diluted share) for the similar period of 1997. These declines are primarily attributable to lower gross margins and higher selling costs due to a restructuring of the sales force, which more than offset the gains in net sales noted above. Per share net income was positively impacted by purchases in 1997 under the Company's share repurchase program. Cash flows provided by operations for the six months ended June 30, 1998 increased to $4,290,000 from $3,092,000 in the comparable period of the prior year. This increase was due primarily to a smaller increase in operating assets (principally accounts receivable and inventories), which more than offset the decline in net income from the similar period of 1997. Current investments and cash flows from operations are expected to be sufficient to finance the Company's future growth, cash dividends and capital expenditures. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $3,504,000 and $2,711,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997. Capital expenditures during 1998 primarily reflect costs incurred relative to the construction of a new Lawson outbound facility in Atlanta, Georgia and purchases of computer related equipment. The new facility, expected to be completed during 1999 at a cost of approximately $7,000,000, will be used in place of the Norcross, Georgia facility, which will be closed. Capital expenditures during 1997 primarily reflect costs incurred for the completion of the facilities expansion at the Company's specialty chemical subsidiary, Drummond American Corporation. This project was completed at a cost of approximately $3,000,000. In 1996, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. No shares were purchased during 1998, while during the first six months of 1997, the Company expended $4,062,000 to acquire 187,500 shares under the 1996 stock repurchase program. To date, 479,500 shares have been purchased relative to the 1996 stock repurchase program. All treasury shares purchased as of June 30, 1998 have been retired. - 9 - Part II OTHER INFORMATION Items 1, 2, 3 and 5 are inapplicable and have been omitted from this report. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. (a) The annual meeting of stockholders of Lawson Products, Inc. was held on May 12, 1998. (b) Not applicable. (c1) Set forth below is the tabulation of the votes on each nominee for election as a director: Withheld For Authority Bernard Kalish 9,727,041 866,082 Sidney L. Port 9,729,841 863,282 Robert J. Washlow 9,735,116 858,007 (c2) Set forth below is the tabulation of the votes on the stockholder proposal concerning the sale or merger of the Company: For Against Abstain 1,053,046 8,655,057 48,711 (c3) Set forth below is the tabulation of the votes on the stockholder proposal concerning the elimination of a classified Board of Directors: For Against Abstain 2,755,894 6,963,112 37,808 (d) Not applicable. - 10 - Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. (a) 15 Letter from Ernst & Young LLP Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information 27 Financial Data Schedule (b) The registrant was not required to file Form 8-K for the most recently completed quarter. - 11 - 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 July 17, 1998 /s/ Bernard Kalish Bernard Kalish Chairman of the Board Dated July 17, 1998 /s/ Joseph L. Pawlick Joseph L. Pawlick Vice President and Controller - 12 -

                                                                      Exhibit 15



                         Consent of Independent Auditors


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 July 17, 1998 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 June 30, 1998.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 our report is not 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


Chicago, Illinois
July 17, 1998

                                




                                                         

















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5 1,000 6-MOS DEC-31-1998 JUN-30-1998 14,905 26,888 35,773 1,890 43,875 114,915 72,317 30,488 193,516 22,883 0 0 0 11,136 135,330 193,516 142,897 144,175 49,704 49,704 0 548 20 15,995 6,743 9,252 0 0 0 9,252 0.83 0.83