LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. (Form: 8-K)  

 


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):   April 30, 2009

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

     
Delaware 0-10546 36-2229304
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
1666 E. Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois   60018
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (847) 827-9666

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))


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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 30, 2009, Lawson Products, Inc. issued a press release announcing, among other things, its operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2009. 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 30, 2009






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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 hereunto duly authorized.

         
    LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC.
          
April 30, 2009   By:   Neil E. Jenkins
       
        Name: Neil E. Jenkins
        Title: Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Press Release dated April 30, 2009
EX-99.1

Lawson Products, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2009 Results
Company implements further cost control initiatives

DES PLAINES, Ill.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—April 30, 2009—Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAWS) (the “Company”), a distributor of services, systems and products to the MRO and OEM marketplaces, today announced results for the first quarter of 2009.

First Quarter 2009 Highlights

    Revenue for the quarter was $99.4 million.

    Cash flow from operations for the quarter was $1.7 million.

    Company continues to progress with cost control initiatives, and recently announced an 11% headcount reduction, the closing of its Dallas, Texas distribution facility and an 85% dividend cut.

    Balance sheet remains strong with positive cash flow and ample liquidity including significant availability under its bank credit facility to fund operations during challenging economic times.

The continuing slowdown in the global economy significantly impacted net sales for the quarter, which were $99.4 million, compared to net sales of $125.9 million for the prior year period. Gross profit declined to $54.2 million in the first quarter of 2009, a $19.9 million decline from the year ago quarter. Gross profit margins declined to 54.5% for the quarter as compared to 58.9% in the first quarter of 2008, resulting primarily from an increasingly competitive pricing environment, a change in the sales mix to lower margin products and an increase in inventory reserves. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $8.2 million or 12.6% to $56.6 million as compared to $64.8 million in the first quarter 2008, primarily due to lower compensation expense including sales commissions.

Operating loss for the first quarter of 2009 was $9.0 million compared to operating income of $7.9 million in 2008. Restructuring charges and additional costs related to the settlement of the investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, totaled $6.5 million in 2009 and $1.3 million in 2008. Excluding the effect of these charges, adjusted operating loss was $2.5 million as compared to adjusted operating income of $9.3 million in 2008.

The Company reported a net loss of $5.9 million, which compared to net income of $4.4 million in the first quarter of 2008. Net loss per share was $0.70 for the first quarter of 2009, compared to net income of $0.51 per share a year ago.

During the first quarter of 2009 the Company continued to implement aggressive cost reduction measures in response to current economic conditions. These cost reduction measures include:

    Streamlined the supply chain by closing the Charlotte, NC distribution facility and announcing the closure of its Dallas, Texas distribution center, expected to be substantially completed in the second quarter.

A total reduction of the Company’s work force of approximately 11%, or roughly 150 employees.

    The reduction of the Company’s quarterly dividend from $0.20 to $0.03.

Thomas Neri, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “While the global economic recession continues to impact our business, we remain committed to making aggressive cost decisions that will better position Lawson to emerge as a stronger company than it was when we entered this challenging period. We have taken decisive actions since the beginning of the year to better align our cost structure with today’s realities. These cost reduction measures are expected to result in future annualized savings of between $10 million and $12 million beginning in the second quarter of 2009. We expect approximately two-thirds of the annualized amount to be realized during the balance of the year.”

Neri concluded, “Beyond our cost initiatives, we continue to position the company for long-term sales and earnings growth. We are focused on improving sales through our ‘Smarter Maintenance’ value proposition, providing our customers inventory management, technical expertise and quality engineered products. In addition, we are implementing numerous initiatives at all levels of the organization that will allow us to better serve our customers while streamlining non-value added activities. These improvements will strengthen Lawson and make sure it is well-equipped to take advantage of future opportunities.”

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About Lawson Products, Inc.
Lawson Products, headquartered in Des Plaines, IL, is a leader in selling and distributing services, systems, and products to the industrial, commercial, and institutional maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market. The company also manufacturers, sells, and distributes production and specialized component parts, and provides services and systems to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

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 include the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the December 31, 2008 Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2009. 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.

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LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
    Three Months Ended March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)   2009   2008
Net sales
  $ 99,381     $ 125,870  
Cost of goods sold
    45,214       51,742  
 
               
Gross profit
    54,167       74,128  
 
               
Operating expenses:
               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    56,632       64,828  
Severance and other charges
    6,452       602  
Settlement related costs
    49       751  
 
               
Operating (loss) income
    (8,966 )     7,947  
Other income
    725       108  
Interest expense
    (74 )     (229 )
 
               
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes
    (8,315 )     7,826  
 
               
Income tax (benefit) provision
    (2,396 )     3,302  
 
               
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (5,919 )     4,524  
 
               
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
    (29 )     (155 )
 
               
Net (loss) income
  $ (5,948 )   $ 4,369  
 
               
Basic (loss) income per share of common stock:
               
Continuing operations
  $ (0.70 )   $ 0.53  
Discontinued operations
          (0.02 )
 
               
 
  $ (0.70 )   $ 0.51  
 
               
Diluted (loss) income per share of common stock:
               
Continuing operations
  $ (0.70 )   $ 0.53  
Discontinued operations
          (0.02 )
 
               
 
  $ (0.70 )   $ 0.51  
 
               
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock
  $ 0.03     $ 0.20  
 
               
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    8,522       8,522  
 
               
Diluted
    8,522       8,523  
 
               

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LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES    
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS    
(Amounts in thousands)    
    March 31,   December 31,
    2009   2008
    (Unaudited)        
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 8,255     $ 4,300  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
    43,423       48,634  
Inventories
    82,389       86,435  
Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses
    13,383       11,812  
Deferred income taxes
    6,454       6,127  
Property held for sale
    1,799        
Discontinued current assets
    329       296  
 
               
Total current assets
    156,032       157,604  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    44,812       47,783  
Cash value of life insurance
    16,840       17,970  
Deferred income taxes
    18,154       18,159  
Goodwill
    26,876       25,748  
Other
    3,831       3,732  
 
               
Total assets
  $ 266,545     $ 270,996  
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 18,988     $ 16,334  
Settlement payable – current
    10,000       10,000  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    33,418       41,205  
Discontinued current liabilities
    59       53  
 
               
Total current liabilities
    62,465       67,592  
Revolving line of credit
    13,050       7,700  
Security bonus plan
    25,832       26,218  
Deferred compensation
    11,837       11,301  
Settlement payable — noncurrent
    10,000       10,000  
Other
    10,332       9,441  
 
               
 
    71,051       64,660  
 
               
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    133,029       138,744  
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 266,545     $ 270,996  
 
               

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LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
REGULATION G GAAP RECONCILIATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED NON-GAAP OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME

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 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 infrequently occurring or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. See the table below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. 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.

                 
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2009   2008
Operating (loss) income, as reported per GAAP
  $ (8,966 )   $ 7,947  
Severance and other charges (1)
    6,452       602  
Settlement related costs (2)
    49       751  
 
               
Adjusted non-GAAP operating (loss) income
  $ (2,465 )   $ 9,300  
 
               

(1)   Severance and other charges reflect costs associated with the 11% reduction in force and the closure of the Charlotte, North Carolina and Dallas, Texas distribution centers.

(2)   Legal and other related expenses associated with the investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Contact: Lawson Products, Inc.
F. Terrence Blanchard
847-827-9666, ext. 2269  

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