Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. (DSGR)
SIC breadcrumb: Wholesale Trade > SIC Major Group 50 > SIC 5080 Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=703604. Latest filing source: 0000703604-26-000008.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read DSGR's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read DSGR's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,980,023,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-05 |
| Net income | 8,345,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-05 |
| Assets | 1,748,621,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-05 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-03-05. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000703604.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,570,402,000 | 1,804,104,000 | 1,980,023,000 | |||||||
| Net income | -1,629,000 | 29,688,000 | 6,214,000 | 7,221,000 | 15,113,000 | -5,052,000 | 7,406,000 | -8,967,000 | -7,332,000 | 8,345,000 |
| Operating income | -1,457,000 | 9,936,000 | 9,210,000 | 9,066,000 | 20,550,000 | 11,421,000 | 41,786,000 | 42,991,000 | 55,955,000 | 78,263,000 |
| Gross profit | 168,062,000 | 183,018,000 | 189,540,000 | 197,354,000 | 186,538,000 | 130,278,000 | 390,898,000 | 551,875,000 | 613,775,000 | 662,038,000 |
| Diluted EPS | -0.19 | 3.25 | 0.67 | 0.77 | 1.62 | -0.49 | 0.21 | -0.20 | -0.16 | 0.18 |
| Operating cash flow | 9,196,000 | 32,528,000 | 10,320,000 | -11,029,000 | 102,286,000 | 56,453,000 | 83,849,000 | |||
| Capital expenditures | 3,112,000 | 1,256,000 | 2,524,000 | 2,028,000 | 1,687,000 | 3,026,000 | 8,307,000 | 15,337,000 | 13,684,000 | 21,015,000 |
| Share buybacks | 176,000 | 20,000 | 523,000 | 4,527,000 | 3,254,000 | 0.00 | 1,940,000 | 3,619,000 | 2,580,000 | 23,753,000 |
| Assets | 135,307,000 | 191,111,000 | 197,142,000 | 204,429,000 | 256,304,000 | 491,360,000 | 1,215,610,000 | 1,550,331,000 | 1,727,255,000 | 1,748,621,000 |
| Liabilities | 74,174,000 | 97,621,000 | 97,969,000 | 96,428,000 | 133,882,000 | 325,591,000 | 652,615,000 | 888,730,000 | 1,086,712,000 | 1,099,274,000 |
| Stockholders' equity | 61,133,000 | 93,490,000 | 99,173,000 | 108,001,000 | 155,248,000 | 165,769,000 | 562,995,000 | 661,601,000 | 640,543,000 | 649,347,000 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 10,421,000 | 4,416,000 | 11,883,000 | 5,495,000 | 28,393,000 | 14,671,000 | 24,554,000 | 83,931,000 | 66,479,000 | 61,753,000 |
| Free cash flow | 7,168,000 | 30,841,000 | 7,294,000 | -19,336,000 | 86,949,000 | 42,769,000 | 62,834,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | -0.57% | -0.41% | 0.42% | |||||||
| Operating margin | 2.74% | 3.10% | 3.95% | |||||||
| Return on equity | -2.66% | 31.76% | 6.27% | 6.69% | 9.73% | -3.05% | 1.32% | -1.36% | -1.14% | 1.29% |
| Return on assets | -1.20% | 15.53% | 3.15% | 3.53% | 5.90% | -1.03% | 0.61% | -0.58% | -0.42% | 0.48% |
| Liabilities / equity | 1.21 | 1.04 | 0.99 | 0.89 | 0.86 | 1.96 | 1.16 | 1.34 | 1.70 | 1.69 |
| Current ratio | 2.23 | 1.64 | 1.61 | 1.87 | 1.46 | 1.10 | 2.82 | 2.72 | 2.67 | 2.56 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
Operating margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Income statement bridge from reported figures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Revenue: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept Revenues; source concepts us-gaap:Revenues | Gross profit: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept GrossProfit; source concepts us-gaap:GrossProfit | Operating income: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept OperatingIncomeLoss; source concepts us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss | Net income: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept NetIncomeLoss; source concepts us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0000703604-26-000008; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: OperatingIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: GrossProfit. Source concepts: us-gaap:GrossProfit.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0000703604-26-000008; filed 2026-03-05. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-04-30. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000703604.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-Q1 | 2019-03-31 | 91,343,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2019-Q2 | 2019-06-30 | 96,097,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2019-Q3 | 2019-09-30 | 94,779,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2020-Q1 | 2020-03-31 | 91,035,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2020-Q2 | 2020-06-30 | 72,146,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2020-Q3 | 2020-09-30 | 90,277,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | -0.23 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | 0.84 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 0.28 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-03-31 | 5,907,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 0.14 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-06-30 | 3,024,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | -0.03 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | -16,330,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | -5,224,000 | -0.11 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-03-31 | -5,224,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 0.04 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-06-30 | 1,896,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 0.46 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | -25,925,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 3,261,000 | 0.07 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-03-31 | 3,261,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 502,437,000 | 0.11 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-06-30 | 5,003,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 517,958,000 | 0.14 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 481,599,000 | -6,371,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 495,995,000 | 382,000 | 0.01 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0000703604-26-000024; filed 2026-04-30. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0000703604-26-000024; filed 2026-04-30. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0000703604-26-000024; filed 2026-04-30. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0000703604-26-000024.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of DSG’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and other information included in DSG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2025.
References to “DSG”, the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us” refer to Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. and all entities consolidated in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Overview
Organization and Structure
DSG is a multi-platform specialty distribution company providing high touch, value-added distribution solutions to the maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”), the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and the industrial technologies markets.
We manage and report our operating results through four reportable segments: Lawson, TestEquity, Gexpro Services and Canada Branch Division. A summary of our reportable segments is presented below. For additional details about our segments see Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 13 – Segment Information, within Item 1. Financial Statements.
Lawson is a distributor of specialty products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and governmental MRO marketplace. Lawson primarily distributes MRO products to its customers through a network of sales representatives and an inside sales channel throughout the United States and Canada.
TestEquity is a distributor of test and measurement equipment and solutions, industrial and electronic production supplies, vendor managed inventory programs, and converting, fabrication and adhesive solutions from its leading manufacturer partners supporting the aerospace and defense, wireless and communication, semiconductors, industrial electronics and automotive, and electronics manufacturing industries.
Gexpro Services is a global supply chain solutions provider, specializing in the development of mission critical production line management, aftermarket and field installation programs.
Canada Branch Division is a distributor of industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, power tools and related value-add services to the Canadian MRO market through the sale of products and services via warehouse shipments and to its walk-up customers through 35 branch locations.
In addition to these four reportable segments, we have an “All Other” category which includes unallocated DSG holding company costs that are not directly attributable to the ongoing operating activities of our reportable segments.
Recent Events
Eastern Valve Acquisition
On March 9, 2026, DSG completed the acquisition of Eastern Valve & Control Specialties Ltd. (“Eastern Valve” and the “Eastern Valve Transaction”). Eastern Valve is located in Paradise, Newfoundland, Canada, and supplies and services industrial valve products throughout Atlantic Canada. Eastern Valve was acquired to expand DSG’s operating footprint in the Canadian market.
Organic Growth Strategy
We intend to grow our businesses organically by exploring growth opportunities that provide different channels to reach customers, increase revenue and generate positive results. We plan to utilize our Company structure to grow organic revenue through collaborative selling across our customer bases and expanding the digital capabilities across our platform.
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Acquisition Strategy
In addition to organic growth, we plan to actively pursue acquisition opportunities complementary to our businesses and that we believe will be financially accretive to our organization.
Sales Drivers
DSG believes that the Purchasing Managers Index (“PMI”) published by the Institute for Supply Management is an indicative measure of the relative strength of the economic environment of the industry in which it operates. The PMI is a composite index of economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector. A measure of the PMI index above 50 is generally viewed as indicating an expansion of the manufacturing sector while a measure below 50 is generally viewed as representing a contraction. The average monthly PMI was 52.6 in the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to 50.1 in the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Lawson Sales Drivers
The North American MRO market is highly fragmented. Lawson competes for business with several national distributors as well as a large number of regional and local distributors. The MRO business is impacted by the overall strength of the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
Lawson’s revenue is also influenced by the number of sales representatives and their productivity. Lawson plans to continue concentrating its efforts on increasing the productivity and size of its sales team. Additionally, Lawson drives revenue through the expansion of products sold to existing customers as well as attracting new customers and additional ship-to locations. Lawson also utilizes an inside sales team to help drive field sales representative productivity and also utilizes an e-commerce site to generate sales.
TestEquity Sales Drivers
The North American market for test and measurement, industrial, and electronic production supplies is highly fragmented, with competition ranging from global to regional distributors. We believe TestEquity stands out through its portfolio of specialized brands, technical knowledge, and digital platforms, each tailored to serve specific needs across the electronics lifecycle. These brands maintain unique identities and address every stage of the electronics process—from R&D to assembly and ongoing maintenance. This multi-brand approach enables TestEquity to offer an extensive product range, expert support, and tailored technical solutions, positioning it as a trusted partner across diverse customer requirements.
Revenue growth is fueled by TestEquity’s comprehensive catalog of test and measurement equipment, electronic production supplies, and industrial tools, supported by a high-touch, consultative sales model. Strategic acquisitions have expanded its customer base and strengthened recurring rental revenue. We believe that continued investments in e-commerce, rising demand from high-growth sectors like aerospace and telecommunications, and TestEquity’s strong positioning as a preferred vendor amid supplier consolidation will contribute to sustained momentum and long-term value creation.
Gexpro Services Sales Drivers
The global supply chain solutions market is highly fragmented across Gexpro Services’ key vertical segments. Gexpro Services’ competitors range from large global distributors and manufacturers to small regional domestic distributors and manufacturers. Gexpro Services’ revenue is influenced by our OEMs’ production schedules, new product introduction launches, and service project needs.
Gexpro Services’ strategy is to increase revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, customer-led geographic expansion, new customer development in its six key vertical markets and leveraging its portfolio of recent acquisitions to expand its installation and aftermarket services.
Canada Branch Division Sales Drivers
Canada Branch Division is a distributor of industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, power tools and related value-add services to the Canadian MRO market through the sale of products and services via warehouse shipments and to its walk-up customers through 35 branch locations.
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Canada Branch Division’s strategy is to grow revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, via introduction of new product lines and services in geographic areas that were underserviced previously. Additionally, Canada Branch Division will engage new customers and additional ship-to locations with its national sales team.
Supply Chain Disruptions and Tariffs
We continue to be affected by rising supplier costs caused by inflation, and increased tariffs, transportation and labor costs. We have instituted various price increases during 2025 and 2026 in response to rising supplier costs and increased tariffs, transportation and labor costs in order to attempt to manage our gross profit margins.
Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods
Our results of operations are not directly comparable on a year-over-year basis due to acquisition activity. We account for acquisitions under Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Accordingly, the results of acquisitions are only included subsequent to their respective acquisition dates. Refer to Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 1. Financial Statements for a description of the acquisition completed in 2026 and the reportable segment in which the acquisition’s results of operations are included.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
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 infrequently occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. These 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.
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of the Company’s operating performance and may provide investors with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods because Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain non-operational or non-cash items whose fluctuations from period to period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operating performance of our business and consequently may impact the overall comparability from period to period. We define Adjusted EBITDA as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, severance and acquisition related retention costs, costs related to the execution and integration of acquisitions, amortization of fair value step-up resulting from acquisitions and other non-recurring items. Management uses operating income and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its reportable segments. See Note 13 – Segment Information within Item 1. Financial Statements for additional information about our reportable segments.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis and Operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. A reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA by segment is not provided because management does not determine or review net income at the segment level and does not allocate non-operating costs and expenses to its segments, such as income taxes, interest expense, and various other non-operating income and expense.
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Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)
[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
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[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of DSG’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the year-over-year comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. Discussions of items for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the year-over-year comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K can be found in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in DSG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2025.
References to “DSG”, the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us” refer to Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. and all entities consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Overview
Organization and Structure
DSG is a multi-platform specialty distribution company providing high touch, value-added distribution solutions to the maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”), the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and the industrial technologies markets.
We manage and report our operating results through four reportable segments: Lawson, TestEquity, Gexpro Services and Canada Branch Division. A summary of our segments is presented below. For additional details about our segments, see Item 1. Business and Note 14 – Segment Information in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Lawson is a distributor of specialty products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government MRO marketplace.
TestEquity is a distributor of test and measurement equipment and solutions, industrial and electronic production supplies, vendor managed inventory programs, and converting, fabrication and adhesive solutions from its leading manufacturer partners supporting the aerospace and defense, wireless and communication, semiconductors, industrial electronics and automotive, and electronics manufacturing industries.
Gexpro Services is a global supply chain solutions provider, specializing in the development of mission critical production line management, aftermarket and field installation programs.
Canada Branch Division combines the operations of our Bolt and Source Atlantic subsidiaries, which distribute industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, power tools and related value-add services to the Canadian MRO market through the sale of products and services via warehouse shipments and to its walk-up customers through 35 branch locations.
In addition to these four reportable segments, we have an “All Other” category which includes unallocated DSG holding company costs that are not directly attributable to the ongoing operating activities of our reportable segments.
Recent Events
2025 Debt Amendment
In December 2025, the Company amended and expanded the senior secured facility through 2030. The new facility includes $700 million of term debt and a revolving credit arrangement of $400 million, an increase over the previous revolver capacity of $255 million. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about the Amended Credit Agreement.
Share Repurchase Increase
27
In November 2025, the Board authorized a $30.0 million increase to the Company’s existing stock repurchase program for shares of DSG common stock. As a result of the additional authorization, the aggregate repurchase authorization under the Company’s repurchase program for shares of DSG common stock increased from $37.5 million to $67.5 million. The remaining availability for stock repurchases under the stock repurchase program was $32.9 million at December 31, 2025.
Sales Drivers
DSG believes that the Purchasing Managers Index (“PMI”) published by the Institute for Supply Management is an indicative measure of the relative strength of the economic environment of the industry in which it operates. The PMI is a composite index of economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector. A measure of the PMI index above 50 is generally viewed as indicating an expansion of the manufacturing sector while a measure below 50 is generally viewed as representing a contraction. The average monthly PMI was 48.9 in the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 48.3 in the year ended December 31, 2024, and 47.1 in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Lawson Sales Drivers
The North American MRO market is highly fragmented. Lawson competes for business with several national distributors as well as a large number of regional and local distributors. The MRO business is impacted by the overall strength of the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
Lawson’s revenue is also influenced by the number of sales representatives and their productivity. Lawson plans to continue concentrating its efforts on increasing the productivity and size of its sales team. Additionally, Lawson drives revenue through the expansion of products sold to existing customers as well as attracting new customers and additional ship-to locations. Lawson also utilizes an inside sales team to help drive field sales representative productivity and also utilizes an e-commerce site to generate sales.
TestEquity Sales Drivers
The North American market for test and measurement, industrial, and electronic production supplies is highly fragmented, with competition ranging from global to regional distributors. We believe TestEquity stands out through its portfolio of specialized brands, technical knowledge, and digital platforms, each tailored to serve specific needs across the electronics lifecycle. These brands maintain unique identities and address every stage of the electronics process—from R&D to assembly and ongoing maintenance. This multi-brand approach enables TestEquity to offer an extensive product range, expert support, and tailored technical solutions, positioning it as a trusted partner across diverse customer requirements.
Revenue growth is fueled by TestEquity’s comprehensive catalog of test and measurement equipment, electronic production supplies, and industrial tools, supported by a high-touch, consultative sales model. Strategic acquisitions have expanded its customer base and strengthened recurring rental revenue. We believe that continued investments in e-commerce, rising demand from high-growth sectors like aerospace and telecommunications, and TestEquity’s strong positioning as a preferred vendor amid supplier consolidation will contribute to sustained momentum and long-term value creation.
Gexpro Services Sales Drivers
The global supply chain solutions market is highly fragmented across Gexpro Services’ key vertical segments. Gexpro Services’ competitors range from large global distributors and manufacturers to small regional domestic distributors and manufacturers. Gexpro Services’ revenue is influenced by our OEMs’ production schedules, new product introduction launches, and service project needs.
Gexpro Services’ strategy is to increase revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, customer-led geographic expansion, new customer development in its six key vertical markets and leveraging its portfolio of recent acquisitions to expand its installation and aftermarket services.
Canada Branch Division Sales Drivers
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Canada Branch Division combines the operations of our Bolt and Source Atlantic subsidiaries, which distribute industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, power tools and related value-add services to the Canadian MRO market through the sale of products and services via warehouse shipments and to its walk-up customers through 35 branch locations. Source Atlantic was acquired in 2024 to expand DSG’s operating footprint in the Canadian market.
Canada Branch Division’s strategy is to grow revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, via introduction of new product lines and services in geographic areas that were underserviced previously. Additionally, Canada Branch Division will engage new customers and additional ship-to locations with its national sales team.
Supply Chain Disruptions and Tariffs
We continue to be affected by rising supplier costs caused by inflation, and increased tariffs, transportation and labor costs. We have instituted various price increases during 2023, 2024 and 2025 in response to rising supplier costs, increased tariffs, transportation and labor costs in order to attempt to manage our gross profit margins.
Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods
Our results of operations are not directly comparable on a year-over-year basis due to various business combinations. We account for acquisitions under Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Accordingly, the results of acquisitions are only included subsequent to their respective acquisition dates. Refer to Note 3 – Business and Asset Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a description of each acquisition completed in 2024 and the reportable segment that each acquisition’s respective results of operations is included in.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
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 infrequently occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. These 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.
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of the Company’s operating performance and may provide investors with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods because Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain non-operational or non-cash items whose fluctuations from period to period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operating performance of our business and consequently may impact the overall comparability from period to period. We define Adjusted EBITDA as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, severance and acquisition related retention costs, costs related to the execution and integration of acquisitions, amortization of fair value step-up resulting from acquisitions and other non-recurring items. Management uses operating income and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its reportable segments. See Note 14 – Segment Information within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about our reportable segments.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis and Operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. A reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA by segment is not provided because management does not determine or review net income at the segment level and does not allocate non-operating costs and expenses to its segments, such as income taxes, interest expense, and various other non-operating income and expense.
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Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | Canada Branch Division | All Other | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 8,345 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 11,066 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 2,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 55,352 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 18,763 | $ | 14,405 | $ | 48,811 | $ | 7,714 | $ | (11,430) | $ | 78,263 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 27,074 | 33,032 | 14,128 | 6,645 | — | 80,879 | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 2,926 | 1,787 | 413 | — | 1,546 | 6,672 | ||||||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 2,620 | 1,579 | 511 | 770 | — | 5,480 | ||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related costs(3) | 109 | (178) | (129) | 329 | 34 | 165 | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(4) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(5) | 150 | 326 | — | 172 | 3,134 | 3,782 | ||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 51,642 | $ | 50,951 | $ | 63,734 | $ | 15,630 | $ | (6,716) | $ | 175,241 |
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | Canada Branch Division | All Other | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (7,332) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,796 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 358 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 55,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 14,555 | $ | 3,967 | $ | 36,533 | $ | 6,024 | $ | (5,124) | $ | 55,955 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 24,349 | 30,799 | 15,489 | 3,739 | — | 74,376 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 4,132 | 433 | — | — | 668 | 5,233 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 4,937 | 17,791 | 460 | 49 | (1) | 23,236 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related costs(3) | 7,023 | 2,251 | 1,501 | 23 | (656) | 10,142 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(4) | 1,066 | — | — | 1,816 | — | 2,882 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(5) | 337 | 1,047 | 1,792 | — | 257 | 3,433 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 56,399 | $ | 56,288 | $ | 55,775 | $ | 11,651 | $ | (4,856) | $ | 175,257 |
(1) Expense (benefit) primarily for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company’s stock price.
(2) Includes severance expense from actions taken not related to a formal restructuring plan and acquisition related retention expenses.
(3) Transaction and integration costs related to acquisitions.
(4) Inventory fair value step-up adjustment for acquisition accounting related to acquisitions completed.
(5) Other non-recurring costs consist of certain non-recurring strategic projects and other non-recurring items.
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Composition of Results of Operations
Segment revenue and Operating income (loss) by reportable segment includes sales to external customers and sales transactions between our segments, referred to as intersegment revenue, and the impact of those intersegment revenue transactions on operating activities. Reconciliations of segment revenue and Operating income (loss) to our consolidated results of operations in the consolidated financial statements are provided in Note 14 – Segment Information within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR 2025 AS COMPARED TO 2024
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | Amount | % of Revenue | Amount | % of Revenue | |||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||
| Lawson | $ | 481,088 | 24.3 | % | $ | 469,044 | 26.0 | % | |||||
| TestEquity | 783,237 | 39.6 | % | 771,180 | 42.7 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 496,655 | 25.1 | % | 440,723 | 24.4 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division | 221,426 | 11.2 | % | 125,099 | 6.9 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment revenue elimination | (2,383) | (0.1) | % | (1,942) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Total Revenue | 1,980,023 | 100.0 | % | 1,804,104 | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Cost of goods sold | |||||||||||||
| Lawson | 217,058 | 11.0 | % | 211,784 | 11.7 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 613,707 | 31.0 | % | 595,368 | 33.0 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 341,685 | 17.3 | % | 302,228 | 16.8 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division | 147,910 | 7.5 | % | 82,897 | 4.6 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment cost of goods sold elimination | (2,375) | (0.1) | % | (1,948) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Total Cost of goods sold | 1,317,985 | 66.6 | % | 1,190,329 | 66.0 | % | |||||||
| Gross profit | 662,038 | 33.4 | % | 613,775 | 34.0 | % | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||
| Lawson | 245,267 | 12.4 | % | 242,705 | 13.5 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 155,125 | 7.8 | % | 171,845 | 9.5 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 106,159 | 5.4 | % | 101,962 | 5.7 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division | 65,802 | 3.3 | % | 36,178 | 2.0 | % | |||||||
| All Other | 11,422 | 0.6 | % | 5,130 | 0.3 | % | |||||||
| Total Selling, general and administrative expenses | 583,775 | 29.5 | % | 557,820 | 30.9 | % | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 78,263 | 4.0 | % | 55,955 | 3.1 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense | (55,352) | (2.8) | % | (55,145) | (3.1) | % | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | (1,000) | (0.1) | % | (988) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (2,500) | (0.1) | % | (358) | — | % | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 19,411 | 1.0 | % | (536) | — | % | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 11,066 | 0.6 | % | 6,796 | 0.4 | % | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 8,345 | 0.4 | % | $ | (7,332) | (0.4) | % |
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Overview of Consolidated Results of Operations
Our consolidated revenue increased $175.9 million for 2025 compared to 2024 primarily driven by $121.5 million of revenue from acquisitions completed in 2024 and an increase in organic revenue of $54.4 million. Consolidated Gross profit and Selling, general and administrative expenses also increased over the prior year primarily driven by the 2024 acquisitions of ESS, S&S Automotive, Source Atlantic, TCR and ConRes TE (each as defined in Note 3 – Business and Asset Acquisitions in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data).
Refer to Results by Reportable Segment below for a complete discussion of our results of operations.
Results by Reportable Segment
Lawson Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 480,768 | $ | 468,976 | $ | 11,792 | 2.5 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 320 | 68 | 252 | 370.6 | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 481,088 | 469,044 | 12,044 | 2.6 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 217,058 | 211,784 | 5,274 | 2.5 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 264,030 | 257,260 | 6,770 | 2.6 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 245,267 | 242,705 | 2,562 | 1.1 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 18,763 | $ | 14,555 | $ | 4,208 | 28.9 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 54.9 | % | 54.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 51,642 | $ | 56,399 | $ | (4,757) | (8.4) | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $12.0 million, or 2.6%, to $481.1 million in 2025 compared to revenue of $469.0 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by $17.0 million of additional revenue generated from the acquisitions completed in 2024, partially offset by a decline in military customer sales of $5.2 million.
Gross profit increased $6.8 million, or 2.6%, to $264.0 million in 2025 compared to gross profit of $257.3 million in 2024 primarily as a result of the inclusion of $9.2 million of additional gross profit from the acquisitions completed in 2024 partially offset by lower revenue for legacy Lawson. Lawson gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 54.9% in 2025 compared to gross profit as a percentage of revenue of 54.8% in the prior year.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.6 million to $245.3 million in 2025 compared to $242.7 million in 2024. The increase was driven primarily by additional selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $3.8 million due to the acquisitions completed in 2024, higher employee related costs of $5.8 million and higher depreciation and amortization expense of $2.7 million partially offset by a decrease in severance expense, merger and acquisition expenses and stock based compensation of $2.3 million, $6.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2025, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $51.6 million, a decrease of 8.4% or $4.8 million from the prior year primarily driven by lower organic revenue and higher selling, general and administrative expenses primarily from higher
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employee related costs, partially offset by additional contributions of approximately $4.4 million generated by the acquisitions completed in 2024.
TestEquity Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 782,367 | $ | 770,866 | $ | 11,501 | 1.5 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 870 | 314 | 556 | 177.1 | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 783,237 | 771,180 | 12,057 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 613,707 | 595,368 | 18,339 | 3.1 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 169,530 | 175,812 | (6,282) | (3.6) | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 155,125 | 171,845 | (16,720) | (9.7) | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 14,405 | $ | 3,967 | $ | 10,438 | 263.1 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 21.6 | % | 22.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 50,951 | $ | 56,288 | $ | (5,337) | (9.5) | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $12.1 million, or 1.6%, to $783.2 million in 2025 compared to $771.2 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by $7.2 million of revenue generated from the acquisition completed in 2024, and an increase of $19.0 million in the test and measurement, rentals, chambers, fabrication value added and calibration business, partially offset by a $14.1 million decrease in electronic production supplies and printing value added services.
Gross profit decreased $6.3 million to $169.5 million in 2025 compared to $175.8 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by $3.4 million of higher depreciation expense due to the expansion of the rental equipment fleet from the 2024 acquisition of ConRes TE and a sales mix shift toward test and measurement which have lower margins. TestEquity gross profit as a percentage of revenue decreased to 21.6% in 2025 compared to 22.8% in the prior year primarily due to higher depreciation expense on the expanded rental equipment fleet, higher inventory write-offs of $1.2 million and a shift in sales mix toward test and measurement which have lower margins partially offset by favorability in vendor rebates.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for TestEquity’s sales representatives and expenses to operate TestEquity’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $16.7 million to $155.1 million in 2025 compared to $171.8 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in severance and acquisition related retention expense of $16.2 million and merger and acquisition expenses of $2.4 million primarily related to the 2023 acquisition of Hisco, partially offset by an increase in stock based compensation of $1.4 million.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2025, TestEquity generated Adjusted EBITDA of $51.0 million, a decrease of $5.3 million, or 9.5%, from the same period a year ago primarily driven by lower gross margins and higher employee compensation expenses partially offset by additional net margins of $7.7 million generated from the 2024 acquisition of ConRes TE.
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Gexpro Services Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 495,495 | $ | 439,163 | $ | 56,332 | 12.8 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 1,160 | 1,560 | (400) | (25.6) | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 496,655 | 440,723 | 55,932 | 12.7 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 341,685 | 302,228 | 39,457 | 13.1 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 154,970 | 138,495 | 16,475 | 11.9 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 106,159 | 101,962 | 4,197 | 4.1 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 48,811 | $ | 36,533 | $ | 12,278 | 33.6 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 31.2 | % | 31.4 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 63,734 | $ | 55,775 | $ | 7,959 | 14.3 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $55.9 million, or 12.7%, to $496.7 million in 2025 compared to $440.7 million in 2024. There was one less selling day in the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the same period a year ago. A selling day generally represents a business day in which Gexpro Services ships products to its customers. Average daily sales increased 13.1% over the same period a year ago. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by increased sales in the renewable energy, aerospace and defense and technology vertical markets of $25.3 million, $15.8 million, and $8.0 million, respectively, and additional revenue generated from the 2024 acquisition of TCR of $3.9 million. This was partially offset by softness within the consumer and industrial vertical market. Tariff costs passed through in the form of product price increases accounted for approximately 1.6% or $7.1 million of the 2025 revenue growth.
Gross profit increased $16.5 million to $155.0 million in 2025 compared to $138.5 million in 2024 primarily due to higher revenue. Gexpro Services’ gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 31.2% in 2025 compared to 31.4% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage decrease for 2025 was primarily the result of a sales mix shift and tariff costs not recovered through price increases to customers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of sales and marketing expenses primarily relating to compensation, costs associated with supporting Gexpro Services’ service facilities, overhead expenses within finance, legal, human resources and information technology, and other costs required to operate Gexpro Services’ business.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $4.2 million to $106.2 million in 2025 compared to $102.0 million in 2024. The increase was primarily due to $2.0 million of additional expenses driven by the 2024 acquisition of TCR, investments of $2.0 million to support 2025 new commercial investments, an increase in stock-based compensation of $0.4 million and additional expenses to support the increase in revenue. These were partially offset by lower merger and acquisition expenses of $1.6 million and a reduction to non-recurring strategic project consulting costs of $1.8 million.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2025, Gexpro Services generated Adjusted EBITDA of $63.7 million, an increase of $8.0 million, or 14.3% from 2024 primarily driven by higher organic revenue, managing gross profit margins and leveraging Selling, general, and administrative expenses over a higher sales base.
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Canada Branch Division Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 221,393 | $ | 125,099 | $ | 96,294 | 77.0 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 33 | — | 33 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 221,426 | 125,099 | 96,327 | 77.0 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 147,910 | 82,897 | 65,013 | 78.4 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 73,516 | 42,202 | 31,314 | 74.2 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 65,802 | 36,178 | 29,624 | 81.9 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 7,714 | $ | 6,024 | $ | 1,690 | 28.1 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 33.2 | % | 33.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 15,630 | $ | 11,651 | $ | 3,979 | 34.2 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $96.3 million, or 77.0%, to $221.4 million in 2025 compared to $125.1 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by $93.4 million of additional revenue generated from the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024.
Gross profit increased $31.3 million to $73.5 million in 2025 compared to gross profit of $42.2 million in 2024 primarily as a result of the inclusion of $30.7 million of additional gross profit from the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue decreased to 33.2% in 2025 compared to 33.7% in the prior year primarily due to the lower gross profit margin profile of Source Atlantic as compared to Bolt.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for Canada Branch Division consist of compensation, expenses to operate its distribution network and branch locations and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $29.6 million to $65.8 million in 2025 compared to $36.2 million in 2024. Approximately $29.6 million of the increased expenses, including depreciation, was driven by the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2025, Canada Branch Division generated Adjusted EBITDA of $15.6 million, an increase of $4.0 million, or 34.2% from the same period a year ago with an increase of approximately $3.4 million driven by the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024.
Consolidated Non-operating Income and Expense
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | (55,352) | $ | (55,145) | $ | (207) | 0.4 | % | ||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | $ | (1,000) | $ | (988) | $ | (12) | 1.2 | % | ||||||
| Other income (expense), net | $ | (2,500) | $ | (358) | $ | (2,142) | N/M | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 11,066 | $ | 6,796 | $ | 4,270 | 62.8 | % |
N/M Not meaningful
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Interest Expense
Interest expense was flat in 2025 compared to 2024 as higher average borrowings in 2025 were partially offset with lower interest rates in 2025.
Change in Fair Value of Earnout Liabilities
The $1.0 million expense in 2025 and the $1.0 million expense in 2024 related to the change in fair value of the earnout liabilities associated with the Frontier acquisition.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists of effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest income, net and other non-operating income and expenditures. The $2.1 million change in 2025 compared to 2024 was primarily due to unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates and an unfavorable decrease in interest income.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense was $11.1 million, a 57.0% effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to income tax expense of $6.8 million and a (1,267.9)% effective tax rate for the prior year. The change in the year-over-year effective tax rate was primarily due to a change in valuation allowances related to interest expense limitation deferred tax assets. The disproportionate effective tax rates were caused by limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and other permanent items on pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to a small pre-tax loss in the prior year.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents were $61.8 million on December 31, 2025, compared to $66.5 million on December 31, 2024.
The Company believes its current balances of cash and cash equivalents, availability under its Amended Credit Agreement and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet its liquidity needs for the next twelve months. In December 2025, the Company amended and expanded the senior secured facility through 2030. The new facility includes $700 million of term debt and a revolving credit arrangement of $400 million, an increase over the previous revolver capacity of $255 million. The Company used the proceeds from the initial term loan to repay the existing $709 million outstanding under the Original Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data). Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about the Amended Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $61.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $393.7 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the Amended Credit Agreement.
Our primary short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs are to finance operating expenses, working capital, capital expenditures, potential business acquisitions, strategic initiatives and general corporate purposes. Our current debt obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement mature in December 2030. Required principal payments on the Amended Credit Agreement for the next twelve months are $35.0 million. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information related to our debt obligations. Access to debt capital markets has historically provided the Company with sources of liquidity, beyond normal operating cash flows. We do not currently anticipate having difficulty in obtaining financing from those markets in the future, however, we cannot provide assurance that unforeseen events or events beyond our control (such as a potential tightening of debt capital markets, including in response to the implementation of new tariffs as part of the U.S. trade policy and any reciprocal or retaliatory tariffs thereto) will not have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
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Sources and Uses of Cash
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows:
| (in thousands) | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | Change | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 83,849 | $ | 56,453 | $ | 27,396 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (29,492) | $ | (229,683) | $ | 200,191 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | (64,266) | $ | 159,301 | $ | (223,567) |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $83.8 million primarily due to net income including non-cash items, partially offset by investments in trade working capital and other net cash flow items.
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $56.5 million, primarily due to non-cash items, partially offset by a net loss, payments of $34.6 million related to the Hisco retention bonuses and other net cash flow items.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $29.5 million, primarily due to the purchase of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment, partially offset by the sale of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $229.7 million, primarily due to the purchase of ESS, S&S Automotive, Source Atlantic, TCR and ConRes TE as well as purchases of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment. This was partially offset by the sale of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $64.3 million primarily due to the repayment of previous indebtedness in conjunction with the December 2025 debt refinancing of the Original Credit Agreement with the Amended Credit Agreement, principal payments on the previous term loans and repurchases of DSG common stock under the repurchase program. This was partially offset by proceeds from the Amended Credit Agreement. During 2025, deferred financing costs of $4.6 million were incurred related to the Amended Credit Agreement.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $159.3 million primarily due to borrowings under the Company’s credit facility partially offset by principal payments on the term loans. In conjunction with the Source Atlantic Transaction, the Company borrowed $200 million under the incremental term loan facility on August 14, 2024. During 2024, deferred financing costs of $2.1 million were incurred related to the Original Credit Agreement.
Financing and Capital Requirements
Credit Facility
In December 2025, the Company amended and expanded the senior secured facility through 2030. The new facility includes $700 million of term debt and a revolving credit arrangement of $400 million, an increase over the previous revolver capacity of $255 million and permits the Company to increase the commitments under the credit facility from time to time by up to $500 million in the aggregate, subject to, among other things, receipt of additional commitments from existing and/or new lenders and pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants. The Company used the proceeds from the initial term loan to repay the existing $709 million outstanding under the Original Credit Agreement. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about the Amended Credit Agreement.
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On December 31, 2025, we had $704.4 million in outstanding borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement and $393.7 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the senior secured revolving credit facility component.
As of December 31, 2025, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under our Amended Credit Agreement. While we were in compliance with our financial covenants as of December 31, 2025, failure to meet the covenant requirements of the Amended Credit Agreement in future quarters could lead to higher financing costs and increased restrictions, reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds, or accelerate the payment of our indebtedness and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2025, we had contractual commitments to purchase approximately $240 million of products from our suppliers and contractors over the next twelve months.
Capital Expenditures
During the year ended December 31, 2025, total net capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment and rental equipment were $26.8 million including proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment. The Company expects to spend approximately $25 million to $30 million for net capital expenditures during 2026 to support ongoing operations.
Stock Repurchase Program
The Company’s Board of Directors previously authorized a stock repurchase program that permits the Company to repurchase DSG common stock. The timing and the amount of any repurchases will be determined by management under parameters established by the Board of Directors and depend on various factors including an evaluation of our stock price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability and other market conditions. In November 2025, the Board of Directors increased the existing stock repurchase program by $30.0 million bringing the total authorized stock repurchase program to $67.5 million.
During 2025, the Company repurchased 776,924 shares of DSG common stock at an average cost of $30.26 per share for a total cost of $23.5 million. During 2024, the Company repurchased 85,644 shares of DSG common stock at an average cost of $30.13 per share for a total cost of $2.6 million. The remaining availability for stock repurchases under the program was $32.9 million at December 31, 2025. See Note 11 – Stockholders’ Equity within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES
We have disclosed our significant accounting policies in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The following provides information on the accounts requiring more significant estimates.
Income Taxes - Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of uncertain tax positions.
Goodwill Impairment - Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually on October 1st, or when an event or other circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value.
The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company considers factors such as macroeconomic, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall
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Table of Contents
financial performance and other relevant factors that would affect the individual reporting units. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, then no further impairment testing is needed. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company will move to the next step in the process. The Company will estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit’s carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will record an impairment of goodwill equal to the amount the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill previously recognized.
Business Combinations - We allocate the purchase price paid for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with our acquisitions based on their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition. This allocation involves a number of assumptions, estimates, and judgments in determining the fair value, as of the acquisition date, of the following:
•intangible assets, including the valuation methodology (the relief of royalty method for trade names and multi-period excess earnings method for customer relationships), estimations of future cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates, recurring revenue attributed to customer relationships, and our assumed market segment share, as well as the estimated useful life of intangible assets;
•deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, and tax-related valuation allowances;
•inventory;
•property, plant and equipment;
•pre-existing liabilities or legal claims;
•contingent consideration, including estimating the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant thresholds; and
•goodwill as measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.
Our assumptions and estimates are based upon comparable market data and information obtained from our management and the management of the acquired companies. We allocate goodwill to the reporting units of the business that are expected to benefit from the business combination.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000703604-25-000012.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of DSG’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in DSG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed on March 7, 2024, the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in DSG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed on March 14, 2023 and the Lawson Products, Inc. unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022, filed on April 28, 2022.
This section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the year-over-year comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. As a result of the change in our operating and reportable segments during the third quarter of 2024, this section also presents year-over-year comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 on a recasted basis to reflect the change. For additional details about our segment realignment in the third quarter of 2024, see Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
References to “DSG”, the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us” refer to Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. and all entities consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Overview
Organization and Structure
DSG is a multi-platform specialty distribution company providing high touch, value-added distribution solutions to the maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”), the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and the industrial technologies markets.
We manage and report our operating results through four reportable segments: Lawson, TestEquity, Gexpro Services and Canada Branch Division. A summary of our segments is presented below. For additional details about our segments, see Item 1. Business and Note 14 – Segment Information in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Lawson is a distributor of specialty products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government MRO market.
TestEquity is a distributor of test and measurement equipment and solutions, industrial and electronic production supplies, vendor managed inventory programs, and converting, fabrication and adhesive solutions from its leading manufacturer partners supporting the aerospace and defense, wireless and communication, semiconductors, industrial electronics and automotive, and electronics manufacturing industries.
Gexpro Services is a global supply chain solutions provider, specializing in the development of mission critical production line management, aftermarket and field installation programs.
Canada Branch Division combines the operations of our Bolt and Source Atlantic subsidiaries, which distribute industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, power tools and related value-add services to the Canadian MRO market through the sale of products and services via warehouse shipments and to its walk-up customers through 38 branch locations.
In addition to these four reportable segments, we have an “All Other” category which includes unallocated DSG holding company costs that are not directly attributable to the ongoing operating activities of our reportable segments.
Recent Events
2024 Business and Asset Acquisitions
On November 18, 2024, DSG acquired the assets of ConRes Test Equipment, (“ConRes TE” and the “ConRes TE Transaction”). These assets were acquired to expand TestEquity’s test equipment offerings and value-add service capabilities
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in all of our end markets. The results of operations from the additional assets acquired from ConRes TE have been included in the TestEquity reportable segment subsequent to its acquisition date.
On October 30, 2024, DSG completed the acquisition of Tech-Component Resources Pte Ltd (“TCR” and the “TCR Transaction”). TCR is a distributor of fasteners, mechanical components, and other industrial products in Southeast Asia. TCR was acquired to provide us with a strategic foothold in this growing region. The results of operations of TCR have been included in the Gexpro Services reportable segment subsequent to its acquisition date.
On August 14, 2024, DSG completed the acquisition of Source Atlantic Limited (“Source Atlantic” and the “Source Atlantic Transaction”). Source Atlantic, headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, is a wholesale distributor of industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, and related value-add services for the Canadian MRO market. Source Atlantic was acquired to expand DSG’s operating footprint in the Canadian market. The results of operations of Source Atlantic have been included in the Canada Branch Division reportable segment subsequent to its acquisition date.
On May 1, 2024, DSG completed the acquisition of S&S Automotive Inc. (“S&S Automotive” and the “S&S Automotive Transaction”). S&S Automotive is a distributor of automotive, industrial, and safety supplies primarily to the automotive dealership market based near Chicago in Woodridge, Illinois. S&S Automotive was acquired to expand Lawson’s services and products to the automotive end market. The results of operations of S&S Automotive have been included in the Lawson reportable segment subsequent to its acquisition date.
On January 19, 2024, DSG acquired the assets of Safety Supply Illinois LLC, conducting business as Emergent Safety Supply (“ESS” and the “ESS Transaction”). ESS is a national distributor of safety products based near Chicago in Batavia, Illinois. ESS was acquired to expand Lawson’s safety product category. The results of operations of ESS have been included in the Lawson reportable segment subsequent to its acquisition date.
Refer to Note 3 – Business and Asset Acquisitions in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about these acquisitions.
Debt Amendment
On August 14, 2024, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”). The Third Amendment provided for an additional $200 million incremental term loan and a $55 million increase in the senior secured revolving credit facility to $255 million, and permits the Company to increase the commitments under the agreement from time to time by up to $300 million in the aggregate, subject to, among other things, receipt of additional commitments from existing and/or new lenders and pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants. Refer to Note 9 – Debt in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about DSG’s credit agreement.
Sales Drivers
DSG believes that the Purchasing Managers Index (“PMI”) published by the Institute for Supply Management is an indicative measure of the relative strength of the economic environment of the industry in which it operates. The PMI is a composite index of economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector. A measure of the PMI index above 50 is generally viewed as indicating an expansion of the manufacturing sector while a measure below 50 is generally viewed as representing a contraction. The average monthly PMI was 48.3 in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 47.1 in the year ended December 31, 2023, and 53.5 in the year ended December 31, 2022.
Lawson Sales Drivers
The North American MRO market is highly fragmented. Lawson competes for business with several national distributors as well as a large number of regional and local distributors. The MRO business is impacted by the overall strength of the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
Lawson’s revenue is also influenced by the number of sales representatives and their productivity. Lawson plans to continue concentrating its efforts on increasing the productivity and size of its sales team. Additionally, Lawson drives revenue through the expansion of products sold to existing customers as well as attracting new customers and additional ship-
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to locations. Lawson also is expanding its inside sales team to help drive field sales representative productivity and also utilizes an e-commerce site to generate sales.
TestEquity Sales Drivers
Across the test and measurement, industrial and electronic production supplies businesses, the North American market is highly fragmented with competitors ranging from large global distributors to national and regional distributors.
Through the Hisco Transaction, TestEquity expanded its product offerings, including adhesives, chemicals and tapes as well as specialty materials such as electrostatic discharge, thermal management materials and static shielding bags. Hisco operates in 32 locations across North America, including its Precision Converting facilities that provide value-added fabrication and its Adhesive Materials Group that provides an array of custom repackaging solutions. Hisco also offers vendor-managed inventory and Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) programs with specialized warehousing for chemical management, logistics services and cold storage.
Gexpro Services Sales Drivers
The global supply chain solutions market is highly fragmented across Gexpro Services’ key vertical segments. Gexpro Services’ competitors range from large global distributors and manufacturers to small regional domestic distributors and manufacturers. Gexpro Services’ revenue is influenced by our OEMs’ production schedules, new product introduction launches, and service project needs.
Gexpro Services’ strategy is to increase revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, customer-led geographic expansion, new customer development in its six key vertical markets and leveraging its portfolio of recent acquisitions to expand its installation and aftermarket services.
Canada Branch Division Sales Drivers
Canada Branch Division combines the operations of our Bolt and Source Atlantic subsidiaries, which distribute industrial MRO supplies, safety products, fasteners, power tools and related value-add services to the Canadian MRO market through the sale of products and services via warehouse shipments and to its walk-up customers through 38 branch locations. Source Atlantic was acquired to expand DSG’s operating footprint in the Canadian market.
Canada Branch Division’s strategy is to grow revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, via introduction of new product lines and services in geographic areas that were underserviced previously. Additionally, Canada Branch Division will engage new customers and additional ship-to locations with its national sales team.
Supply Chain Disruptions
We continue to be affected by rising supplier costs caused by inflation and increased transportation and labor costs. We have instituted various price increases during 2023 and 2024 in response to rising supplier costs, as well as increased transportation and labor costs in order to manage our gross profit margins.
Cyber Incident Litigation
On February 10, 2022, DSG disclosed that Lawson Products’ computer network was the subject of a cyber incident potentially involving unauthorized access to certain confidential information (the “Cyber Incident”). DSG engaged a cybersecurity forensics firm to assist in the investigation of the incident and to assist in securing its computer network.
Because of the nature of the information that may have been compromised, DSG was required to notify the parties whose information was potentially compromised of the incident as well as various governmental agencies and has taken other actions, such as offering credit monitoring services. On April 4, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against DSG related to the Cyber Incident (the “Cyber Incident Suit”). At December 31, 2024, DSG had not incurred material costs as a result of the Cyber Incident. For more information about the Cyber Incident Suit, refer to Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods
Our results of operations are not directly comparable on a year-over-year basis due to various business combinations. We account for acquisitions under Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Accordingly, the results of acquisitions are only included subsequent to their respective acquisition dates. Business combinations that affected the year-over-year comparability of our financial results were as follows:
2024 Comparability Factors
Refer to the 2024 Business Acquisitions section above for a description of each acquisition completed in 2024 and the reportable segment that each acquisition’s respective results of operations is included in.
2023 Comparability Factors
On June 8, 2023, we completed the acquisition of HIS Company, Inc. The results of operations of HIS Company, Inc. have been included in the TestEquity reportable segment subsequent to the acquisition date.
2022 Comparability Factors
On April 1, 2022 (the “Merger Date”) we completed the Mergers whereby TestEquity and Gexpro Services became wholly-owned subsidiaries of DSG. The Mergers were accounted for as a reverse merger under the accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions as provided in ASC 805. Under this guidance, TestEquity and Gexpro Services were treated as a combined entity as the accounting acquirer for financial reporting purposes, and DSG was identified as the accounting acquiree. This determination was primarily made as TestEquity and Gexpro Services were under the common control of an entity that owned a majority of the voting rights of the combined entity, and therefore, only DSG experienced a change in control. Accordingly, the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 include the results of operations of TestEquity and Gexpro Services on a consolidated basis for the full year, and the results of operations of DSG’s legacy Lawson, Canada Branch Division and All Other have only been included subsequent to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
2022 Supplemental Information - Lawson and Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
For management to discuss Lawson’s and Canada Branch Division’s operating results on a comparable basis, Lawson’s and Canada Branch Division’s GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include Lawson’s and Canada Branch Division’s historical pre-merger components of operating income, prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, along with pre-merger pro forma adjustments prepared under SEC Regulation S-X Article 11, in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Lawson and Canada Branch Division for each period presented. Management believes this supplemental information provides the most meaningful basis of comparison for Lawson’s and Canada Branch Division’s operations, is more useful in identifying current business trends, and is important for the users of our financial statements in understanding Lawson’s and Canada Branch Division’s businesses. Refer to Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 3 – Business and Asset Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for information about the Mergers.
This supplemental information may not reflect the actual results we would have achieved had the Mergers occurred at the beginning of 2022 and should not be viewed as a substitute for the results of operations presented in accordance with GAAP. Lawson’s and Canada Branch Division’s historical operating results prior to the Mergers were obtained from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Lawson Products, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022. The pro forma adjustments were obtained from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included in DSG’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on August 24, 2023.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
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 infrequently occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. These non-GAAP financial measures
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should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of the Company’s operating performance and may provide investors with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods because Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain non-operational or non-cash items whose fluctuations from period to period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operating performance of our business and consequently may impact the overall comparability from period to period. We define Adjusted EBITDA as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, severance and acquisition related retention costs, costs related to the execution and integration of acquisitions, inventory net realizable value adjustments, amortization of fair value step-up resulting from acquisitions and other non-recurring items. Management uses operating income and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its reportable segments. See Note 14 – Segment Information of our consolidated financial statements within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about our reportable segments.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis and Operating income to Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. A reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA by segment is not provided because management does not determine or review net income at the segment level and does not allocate non-operating costs and expenses to its segments, such as income taxes, interest expense, and various other non-operating income and expense.
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | Canada Branch Division | All Other | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (7,332) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,796 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 358 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 988 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 55,145 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 14,555 | $ | 3,967 | $ | 36,533 | $ | 6,024 | $ | (5,124) | $ | 55,955 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 24,349 | 30,799 | 15,489 | 3,739 | — | 74,376 | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 4,132 | 433 | — | — | 668 | 5,233 | ||||||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 4,937 | 17,791 | 460 | 49 | (1) | 23,236 | ||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related costs(3) | 7,023 | 2,251 | 1,501 | 23 | (656) | 10,142 | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventory net realizable value adjustment(4) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(5) | 1,066 | — | — | 1,816 | — | 2,882 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(6) | 337 | 1,047 | 1,792 | — | 257 | 3,433 | ||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 56,399 | $ | 56,288 | $ | 55,775 | $ | 11,651 | $ | (4,856) | $ | 175,257 |
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| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | Canada Branch Division | All Other | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,967) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 2,982 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | (758) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 42,774 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | (16,465) | $ | 27,000 | $ | 5,731 | $ | (5,773) | $ | 42,991 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 19,532 | 26,002 | 15,986 | 2,068 | — | 63,588 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 7,940 | — | — | — | — | 7,940 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 476 | 23,949 | 238 | 3 | — | 24,666 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related costs(3) | 3,015 | 6,215 | 1,081 | — | 1,250 | 11,561 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventory net realizable value adjustment(4) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(5) | — | 3,582 | — | — | — | 3,582 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(6) | 202 | — | 886 | — | 1,620 | 2,708 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 63,663 | $ | 43,283 | $ | 45,191 | $ | 7,802 | $ | (2,903) | $ | 157,036 |
| Year Ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson(7) | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | Canada Branch Division(7) | All Other(7) | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 7,406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 5,531 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 670 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 483 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 3,395 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 24,301 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 6,536 | $ | 11,375 | $ | 21,291 | $ | 4,614 | $ | (2,030) | $ | 41,786 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 10,594 | 17,480 | 15,175 | 1,937 | — | 45,186 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 2,448 | — | — | — | — | 2,448 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 1,429 | 1,095 | 266 | 6 | — | 2,796 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related costs(3) | 4,698 | 4,786 | 5,957 | — | — | 15,441 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventory net realizable value adjustment(4) | 1,737 | — | — | — | — | 1,737 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(5) | 1,943 | — | 163 | 761 | — | 2,867 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(6) | 1,199 | — | 354 | — | 44 | 1,597 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 30,584 | $ | 34,736 | $ | 43,206 | $ | 7,318 | $ | (1,986) | $ | 113,858 |
(1) Expense (benefit) primarily for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company’s stock price.
(2) Includes severance expense from actions taken not related to a formal restructuring plan and acquisition related retention expenses.
(3) Transaction and integration costs related to acquisitions.
(4) Inventory net realizable value adjustment recorded to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records.
(5) Inventory fair value step-up adjustment for acquisition accounting related to acquisitions completed.
(6) Other non-recurring costs consist of certain non-recurring strategic projects and other non-recurring items.
(7) Includes the operating results of Lawson, Canada Branch Division and All Other subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date in accordance with GAAP accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions.
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Composition of Results of Operations
The following results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 include the combined operations of DSG, while the following results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 include the accounts of the TestEquity and Gexpro Services combined entity, as the accounting acquirer, for the full year, and the results of DSG’s legacy Lawson, Canada Branch Division and All Other businesses have only been included for activity subsequent, and not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Segment revenue and Operating income (loss) by reportable segment includes sales to external customers and sales transactions between our segments, referred to as intersegment revenue, and the impact of those intersegment revenue transactions on operating activities. Reconciliations of segment revenue and Operating income (loss) to our consolidated results of operations in the consolidated financial statements are provided in Note 14 – Segment Information within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR 2024 AS COMPARED TO 2023
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | Amount | % of Revenue | Amount | % of Revenue | |||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||
| Lawson | $ | 469,044 | 26.0 | % | $ | 468,711 | 29.8 | % | |||||
| TestEquity | 771,180 | 42.7 | % | 641,768 | 40.9 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 440,723 | 24.4 | % | 405,733 | 25.8 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division | 125,099 | 6.9 | % | 55,890 | 3.6 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment revenue elimination | (1,942) | (0.1) | % | (1,700) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Total Revenue | 1,804,104 | 100.0 | % | 1,570,402 | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Cost of goods sold | |||||||||||||
| Lawson | 211,784 | 11.7 | % | 203,251 | 12.9 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 595,368 | 33.0 | % | 499,916 | 31.8 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 302,228 | 16.8 | % | 284,664 | 18.1 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division | 82,897 | 4.6 | % | 32,396 | 2.1 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment cost of goods sold elimination | (1,948) | (0.1) | % | (1,700) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Total Cost of goods sold | 1,190,329 | 66.0 | % | 1,018,527 | 64.9 | % | |||||||
| Gross profit | 613,775 | 34.0 | % | 551,875 | 35.1 | % | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||
| Lawson | 242,705 | 13.5 | % | 232,962 | 14.8 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 171,845 | 9.5 | % | 158,317 | 10.1 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 101,962 | 5.7 | % | 94,069 | 6.0 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division | 36,178 | 2.0 | % | 17,763 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
| All Other | 5,130 | 0.3 | % | 5,773 | 0.4 | % | |||||||
| Total Selling, general and administrative expenses | 557,820 | 30.9 | % | 508,884 | 32.4 | % | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 55,955 | 3.1 | % | 42,991 | 2.7 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense | (55,145) | (3.1) | % | (42,774) | (2.7) | % | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | (988) | (0.1) | % | 758 | — | % | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (358) | — | % | (2,982) | (0.2) | % | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (536) | — | % | (2,007) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,796 | 0.4 | % | 6,960 | 0.4 | % | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (7,332) | (0.4) | % | $ | (8,967) | (0.6) | % |
Overview of Consolidated Results of Operations
Our consolidated revenue increased $233.7 million for 2024 compared to 2023 primarily driven by $268.2 million of revenue from acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2024 offset by a decline in organic revenue of $34.5 million. Consolidated Gross profit and Selling, general and administrative expenses also increased over the prior year primarily driven by the inclusion of the Hisco, ESS, S&S, Source Atlantic, TCR and ConRes TE acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2024.
Refer to Results by Reportable Segment below for a complete discussion of our results of operations.
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Results by Reportable Segment
Lawson Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 468,976 | $ | 468,379 | $ | 597 | 0.1 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 68 | 332 | (264) | (79.5) | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 469,044 | 468,711 | 333 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 211,784 | 203,251 | 8,533 | 4.2 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 257,260 | 265,460 | (8,200) | (3.1) | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 242,705 | 232,962 | 9,743 | 4.2 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 14,555 | $ | 32,498 | $ | (17,943) | (55.2) | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 54.8 | % | 56.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 56,399 | $ | 63,663 | $ | (7,264) | (11.4) | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $0.3 million, or 0.1%, to $469.0 million in 2024 compared to revenue of $468.7 million in 2023. The increase was primarily driven by $39.8 million of revenue generated from the acquisitions completed in 2024 and strengthening sales within the automotive end market of $2.9 million, offset by a decline in sales to Lawson’s core, governmental and strategic customers of $42.4 million primarily as a result of fewer sales representatives.
Gross profit decreased $8.2 million, or 3.1%, to $257.3 million in 2024 compared to gross profit of $265.5 million in 2023 primarily due to a shift in sales toward larger lower margin profile customers and the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $1.1 million related to the S&S Automotive Transaction. Lawson gross profit as a percent of revenue was 54.8% in 2024 compared to gross profit as a percent of revenue of 56.6% in the prior year. The gross profit margin percentage decrease for 2024 was primarily the result of the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $1.1 million related to the S&S Automotive Transaction, a shift in sales toward larger lower margin profile customers and a lower margin profile from the 2024 acquisitions than its organic margin profile.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $9.7 million to $242.7 million in 2024 compared to $233.0 million in 2023. Approximately $10.3 million of the increased expenses was driven by the acquisitions completed in 2024 in addition to higher severance and merger and acquisition expenses of $4.5 million and $4.0 million, respectively. These costs were partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense of $3.8 million and a decrease in variable compensation as a result of lower sales.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2024, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $56.4 million, a decrease of 11.4% or $7.3 million from the prior year primarily driven by lower organic revenue and gross profit margin partially offset by contributions of approximately $6.2 million generated by the acquisitions completed in 2024.
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TestEquity Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 770,866 | $ | 641,643 | $ | 129,223 | 20.1 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 314 | 125 | 189 | 151.2 | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 771,180 | 641,768 | 129,412 | 20.2 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 595,368 | 499,916 | 95,452 | 19.1 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 175,812 | 141,852 | 33,960 | 23.9 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 171,845 | 158,317 | 13,528 | 8.5 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 3,967 | $ | (16,465) | $ | 20,432 | (124.1) | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 22.8 | % | 22.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 56,288 | $ | 43,283 | $ | 13,005 | 30.0 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $129.4 million, or 20.2%, to $771.2 million in 2024 compared to $641.8 million in 2023. The increase was primarily driven by $157.4 million of revenue generated from acquisitions completed in 2024 and 2023, partially offset by a $28.0 million decline in legacy TestEquity revenue due to a slowdown in the electronics assembly market causing softening in the electronic production supplies end markets.
Gross profit increased $34.0 million to $175.8 million in 2024 compared to $141.9 million in 2023 primarily as a result of the inclusion of the acquisitions completed in 2024 and 2023, which generated $39.5 million of additional gross profit during 2024, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit on the decline in legacy TestEquity revenue. TestEquity gross profit as a percent of revenue increased to 22.8% in 2024 compared to 22.1% in the prior year. 2023 included expense of $3.6 million for the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory related to the acquisition completed in 2023.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for TestEquity’s sales representatives and expenses to operate TestEquity’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $13.5 million to $171.8 million in 2024 compared to $158.3 million in 2023. Approximately $17.3 million of the increased expenses, including depreciation, was driven by the acquisitions completed in 2024 and 2023. These costs were partially offset by lower merger and acquisition expenses of $4.0 million and lower personnel expenses in 2024 compared to 2023 inclusive of severance and acquisition related retention expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2024, TestEquity generated Adjusted EBITDA of $56.3 million, an increase of $13.0 million from the same period a year ago with an increase of approximately $16.2 million driven by the acquisitions completed in 2024 and 2023, partially offset by a reduction of $3.2 million in legacy TestEquity primarily due to a decline in organic revenue.
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Gexpro Services Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 439,163 | $ | 404,490 | $ | 34,673 | 8.6 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 1,560 | 1,243 | 317 | 25.5 | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 440,723 | 405,733 | 34,990 | 8.6 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 302,228 | 284,664 | 17,564 | 6.2 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 138,495 | 121,069 | 17,426 | 14.4 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 101,962 | 94,069 | 7,893 | 8.4 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 36,533 | $ | 27,000 | $ | 9,533 | 35.3 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 31.4 | % | 29.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 55,775 | $ | 45,191 | $ | 10,584 | 23.4 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $35.0 million, or 8.6%, to $440.7 million in 2024 compared to $405.7 million in 2023. There were two more selling days in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the same period a year ago. A selling day generally represents a business day in which Gexpro Services ships products to its customers. Average daily sales increased 7.8% over the same period a year ago. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by increased sales in the renewable energy vertical market of $21.8 million, increased sales in the aerospace and defense vertical market of $6.4 million, strengthening sales within the technology vertical market of $6.7 million and $0.6 million of revenue generated from the acquisition completed in 2024, partially offset by softness within the consumer and industrial vertical market.
Gross profit increased $17.4 million to $138.5 million in 2024 compared to $121.1 million in 2023. Gexpro Services’ gross profit as a percent of revenue was 31.4% in 2024 compared to 29.8% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2024 was primarily the result of strategic sourcing initiatives, supply chain improvements and end market sales mix.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of sales and marketing expenses primarily relating to compensation, costs associated with supporting Gexpro Services’ service facilities, overhead expenses within finance, legal, human resources and information technology, and other costs required to operate Gexpro Services’ business.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $7.9 million to $102.0 million in 2024 compared to $94.1 million in 2023. The increase was primarily driven by additional consulting costs of $1.8 million to support non-recurring strategic projects, non-recurring legal fees of $1.0 million and investments to support future growth and additional compensation.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2024, Gexpro Services generated Adjusted EBITDA of $55.8 million, an increase of $10.6 million, or 23.4% from 2023 primarily driven by higher organic revenue and managing gross profit margins, partially offset by an increase in Selling, general, and administrative expenses.
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Canada Branch Division Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 125,099 | $ | 55,890 | $ | 69,209 | 123.8 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | — | — | — | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 125,099 | 55,890 | 69,209 | 123.8 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 82,897 | 32,396 | 50,501 | 155.9 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 42,202 | 23,494 | 18,708 | 79.6 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 36,178 | 17,763 | 18,415 | 103.7 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 6,024 | $ | 5,731 | $ | 293 | 5.1 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 33.7 | % | 42.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 11,651 | $ | 7,802 | $ | 3,849 | 49.3 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $69.2 million, or 123.8%, to $125.1 million in 2024 compared to $55.9 million in 2023. The increase was primarily driven by $70.3 million of revenue generated from the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024, partially offset by a decline in organic Canada Branch Division revenue of $1.1 million.
Gross profit increased $18.7 million to $42.2 million in 2024 compared to gross profit of $23.5 million in 2023 primarily as a result of the inclusion of the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024, which generated $18.7 million of additional gross profit during 2024. Gross profit as a percent of revenue decreased to 33.7% in 2024 compared to 42.0% in the prior year primarily due to the lower gross profit margin profile of Source Atlantic as compared to Bolt.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for Canada Branch Division consist of compensation, expenses to operate its distribution network and branch locations and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $18.4 million to $36.2 million in 2024 compared to $17.8 million in 2023. Approximately $18.1 million of the increased expenses, including depreciation, was driven by the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2024, Canada Branch Division generated Adjusted EBITDA of $11.7 million, an increase of $3.8 million from the same period a year ago with an increase of approximately $4.1 million driven by the acquisition of Source Atlantic completed in 2024.
Consolidated Non-operating Income and Expense
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | (55,145) | $ | (42,774) | $ | (12,371) | 28.9 | % | ||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | $ | (988) | $ | 758 | $ | (1,746) | N/M | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | $ | (358) | $ | (2,982) | $ | 2,624 | (88.0) | % | ||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 6,796 | $ | 6,960 | $ | (164) | (2.4) | % |
N/M Not meaningful
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Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $12.4 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to an increase in interest rates and higher outstanding borrowings related to the acquisitions of Hisco, S&S Automotive, Source Atlantic, TCR and ConRes TE.
Change in Fair Value of Earnout Liabilities
The $1.0 million expense in 2024 and the $0.8 million benefit in 2023 related to the change in fair value of the earnout liabilities associated with the Frontier acquisition.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists of effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest income, net and other non-operating income and expenditures. The $2.6 million change in 2024 compared to 2023 was partly due to favorable increases in interest income and favorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense was $6.8 million, a (1,267.9)% effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to income tax expense of $7.0 million and a (346.8)% effective tax rate for the prior year. The change in the year-over-year effective tax rate was primarily due to a change in valuation allowances related to interest expense limitation deferred tax assets. The disproportionate effective tax rates were caused by limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and other permanent items on a small pre-tax loss amount.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR 2023 AS COMPARED TO 2022
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | Amount | % of Revenue | Amount | % of Revenue | |||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | $ | 468,711 | 29.8 | % | $ | 324,783 | 28.2 | % | |||||
| TestEquity | 641,768 | 40.9 | % | 392,358 | 34.1 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 405,733 | 25.8 | % | 385,326 | 33.5 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division(1) | 55,890 | 3.6 | % | 48,955 | 4.3 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment revenue elimination | (1,700) | (0.1) | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Revenue | 1,570,402 | 100.0 | % | 1,151,422 | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Cost of goods sold | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | 203,251 | 12.9 | % | 154,030 | 13.4 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 499,916 | 31.8 | % | 302,980 | 26.3 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 284,664 | 18.1 | % | 272,462 | 23.7 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division(1) | 32,396 | 2.1 | % | 31,052 | 2.7 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment cost of goods sold elimination | (1,700) | (0.1) | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Cost of goods sold | 1,018,527 | 64.9 | % | 760,524 | 66.1 | % | |||||||
| Gross profit | 551,875 | 35.1 | % | 390,898 | 33.9 | % | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | 232,962 | 14.8 | % | 164,217 | 14.3 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 158,317 | 10.1 | % | 78,003 | 6.8 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 94,069 | 6.0 | % | 91,573 | 8.0 | % | |||||||
| Canada Branch Division(1) | 17,763 | 1.1 | % | 13,289 | 1.2 | % | |||||||
| All Other | 5,773 | 0.4 | % | 2,030 | 0.2 | % | |||||||
| Total Selling, general and administrative expenses | 508,884 | 32.4 | % | 349,112 | 30.3 | % | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 42,991 | 2.7 | % | 41,786 | 3.6 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense | (42,774) | (2.7) | % | (24,301) | (2.1) | % | |||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | — | % | (3,395) | (0.3) | % | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 758 | — | % | (483) | — | % | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (2,982) | (0.2) | % | (670) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (2,007) | (0.1) | % | 12,937 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,960 | 0.4 | % | 5,531 | 0.5 | % | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,967) | (0.6) | % | $ | 7,406 | 0.6 | % |
(1) Includes the operating results of Lawson, Canada Branch Division and All Other subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Overview of Consolidated Results of Operations
Our consolidated results of operations include the financial impact of the Mergers that were completed on April 1, 2022 and the other acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022. The increase in gross profit for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to the inclusion of Lawson and Canada Branch Division operations only subsequent, and not prior, to the Merger Date and to the Hisco and other acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022. Expenses for 2023 were impacted by the other
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acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022.
Refer to Results by Reportable Segment below for a complete discussion of our results of operations.
Results by Reportable Segment
Lawson Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 468,379 | $ | 324,783 | $ | 143,596 | 44.2 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 332 | — | 332 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 468,711 | 324,783 | 143,928 | 44.3 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 203,251 | 154,030 | 49,221 | 32.0 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 265,460 | 170,753 | 94,707 | 55.5 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 232,962 | 164,217 | 68,745 | 41.9 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | 6,536 | $ | 25,962 | 397.2 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 56.6 | % | 52.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 63,663 | $ | 30,584 | $ | 33,079 | 108.2 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $143.9 million, or 44.3%, to $468.7 million in 2023 compared to revenue of $324.8 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $125.3 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date. The remaining increase was primarily driven by strengthening sales to Lawson’s strategic and governmental customers and automotive end market customers from a combination of organic growth and the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2022 and 2023 to offset rising supplier costs.
Gross profit increased $94.7 million, or 55.5%, to $265.5 million in 2023 compared to gross profit of $170.8 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $70.9 million of gross profit in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date. The remaining increase was primarily the result of increased sales volume, price increases and lower net freight expense and spreading operating expenses over a higher sales level. Lawson gross profit as a percent of revenue was 56.6% in 2023 compared to gross profit as a percent of revenue of 52.6% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2023 was primarily the result of price increases, lower net freight expense and leveraging operating expenses over a higher sales base. The gross profit margin percentage for the same period of 2022 was impacted by increased supplier costs from inflation and supply chain disruptions and a sales shift toward lower margin customers. Gross profit margin for 2022 was also impacted by an inventory charge of $1.7 million to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records and the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $1.9 million related to the Mergers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $68.7 million to $233.0 million in 2023 compared to Selling, general and administrative expenses of $164.2 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $62.7 million of Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date.
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Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $63.7 million, an increase of 108.2% or $33.1 million from the same period a year ago primarily due to $18.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date and increased revenue and gross profit margin partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
Supplemental Information
For management to discuss Lawson’s operating results on a comparable basis, Lawson’s GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include Lawson’s historical pre-merger components of operating income, prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, along with pre-merger pro forma adjustments prepared under SEC Regulation S-X Article 11, in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Lawson for each period presented. These pro forma results presented in the tables below are referred to within this supplemental results of operations discussion concerning Lawson as “pro forma”.
Refer to the section titled 2022 Supplemental Information - Lawson and Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA above for further explanation of the calculation of this supplemental information.
Lawson Pro Forma Results - Calculation of Supplemental Information (Unaudited)
| (in thousands) | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawson Operating Income | GAAP Results(1) | Pre-Merger Results(2) | Pro-Forma Adjustments(3) | Pro Forma Results(4) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 324,783 | $ | 104,902 | $ | — | $ | 429,685 | ||||||||||||||
| Intersegment revenue | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | 324,783 | 104,902 | — | 429,685 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 154,030 | 49,371 | — | 203,401 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 170,753 | 55,531 | — | 226,284 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 164,217 | 44,435 | 4,086 | 212,738 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 6,536 | $ | 11,096 | $ | (4,086) | $ | 13,546 | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson Adjusted EBITDA(5) | $ | 30,584 | $ | 8,042 | $ | 38,626 |
(1) Operating income prepared in accordance with GAAP, which includes Lawson’s results of operations subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date. See Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation.
(2) Lawson’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which occurred prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date and were not included in the Company’s GAAP operating results under reverse merger acquisition accounting.
(3) Pro-forma adjustments include the incremental expense related to the fair value adjustment of share-based compensation awards of $1.9 million and the net impact of $2.2 million from the elimination of historical depreciation and amortization expense and recognition of new depreciation expense on the fair value of property, plant and equipment and amortization expense related to identifiable intangible assets.
(4) Lawson’s pro forma results of operations adjusted for comparability on a period-over-period basis. These results represent Lawson’s total operating activities for the year ended 2022, regardless of the Merger Date (that is, they reflect both pre- and post-Merger results of Lawson, including the pro forma adjustments related to the pre-Merger period).
(5) Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section above for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
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Lawson - 2023 as Compared to Pro Forma 2022 (Unaudited)
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | Pro Forma 2022(1) | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 468,379 | $ | 429,685 | $ | 38,694 | 9.1% | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 332 | — | 332 | —% | |||||||||
| Revenue | 468,711 | 429,685 | 39,026 | 9.1% | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 203,251 | 203,401 | (150) | (0.1)% | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 265,460 | 226,284 | 39,176 | 17.3% | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 232,962 | 212,738 | 20,224 | 9.7% | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | 13,546 | $ | 18,952 | 107.5% | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 56.6 | % | 52.7 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 63,663 | $ | 38,626 | $ | 25,037 | 64.8% |
(1)For comparability purposes, Lawson’s GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include the historical unaudited results of Lawson prior to the Merger Date and certain pro-forma adjustments including the incremental expense related to the fair value adjustment of share-based compensation awards and incremental depreciation and amortization expense related to the fair value adjustments of property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets. Refer to the section Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods and the section 2022 Supplemental Information - Lawson and Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and the section Lawson Pro Forma Results - Calculation of Supplemental Information (Unaudited) for more information related to the calculation of adjusted amounts.
(2)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $39.0 million, or 9.1%, to $468.7 million in 2023 compared to pro forma revenue of $429.7 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by strengthening sales to Lawson’s strategic and governmental customers of $25.2 million and automotive end market customers of $13.5 million from a combination of organic growth and the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2022 and 2023 to offset rising supplier costs.
Gross profit increased $39.2 million to $265.5 million in 2023 compared to pro forma gross profit of $226.3 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of increased sales volume and price increases, which contributed to an increase in gross profit of $29.4 million, lower net freight expense of $2.9 million, lower expense for write-offs of obsolete and excess inventory of $3.2 million and spreading operating expenses over a higher sales level. Lawson gross profit as a percent of revenue was 56.6% in 2023 compared to pro forma gross profit as a percent of pro forma revenue of 52.7% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2023 was primarily the result of price increases, lower net freight costs, lower expense for write-offs of obsolete and excess inventory and leveraging operating costs over a higher sales base. The pro forma gross profit margin percentage for the same period of 2022 was impacted by increased supplier costs from inflation and supply chain disruptions and a sales shift toward lower margin customers. Pro forma gross profit margin for 2022 was also impacted by an inventory charge of $1.7 million to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records and the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $1.9 million related to the Mergers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $20.2 million to $233.0 million in 2023 compared to pro forma Selling, general and administrative expenses of $212.7 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by additional depreciation and amortization of $9.2 million as a result of the fair value step-up adjustments related to the reverse merger acquisition accounting and higher stock-based compensation of $12.2 million due to expense of $7.9 million
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in 2023 and a benefit of $4.2 million realized in 2022, partially offset by lower acquisition related costs of $4.7 million in 2023 compared to the same period of 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $63.7 million, an increase of 64.8% or $25.0 million from the same period a year ago primarily driven by increased revenue and gross profit margin partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
TestEquity Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 641,643 | $ | 392,358 | $ | 249,285 | 63.5 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 125 | — | 125 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 641,768 | 392,358 | 249,410 | 63.6 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 499,916 | 302,980 | 196,936 | 65.0 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 141,852 | 89,378 | 52,474 | 58.7 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 158,317 | 78,003 | 80,314 | 103.0 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | (16,465) | $ | 11,375 | $ | (27,840) | (244.7) | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 22.1 | % | 22.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 43,283 | $ | 34,736 | $ | 8,547 | 24.6 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $249.4 million, or 63.6%, to $641.8 million in 2023 compared to $392.4 million in the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily driven by $273.4 million of revenue generated from acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022 offset by a $24.0 million decline in legacy TestEquity revenue due to a slowdown in the test and measurement market, primarily caused by tightening of capital budgets in TestEquity’s customer base and softening in the EPS end markets.
Gross profit increased $52.5 million to $141.9 million in 2023 compared to $89.4 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of the inclusion of the acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022, which generated $57.9 million of additional gross profit during 2023 offset by a decline in legacy TestEquity revenue. TestEquity gross profit as a percent of revenue decreased to 22.1% in 2023 compared to 22.8% in the prior year primarily due to the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $3.6 million related to the Hisco Transaction and a shift in sales mix from the lower gross margin rates from the 2022 and 2023 acquisitions.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for TestEquity’s sales representatives and expenses to operate TestEquity’s distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $80.3 million to $158.3 million in 2023 compared to $78.0 million in the same period of 2022. Approximately $68.8 million of the increased expenses, including depreciation, was driven by the acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022 of which $22.8 million was related to the Hisco retention bonuses. The remaining increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses of $11.5 million is primarily due to $4.6 million of additional amortization of intangible assets acquired through the Hisco acquisition, $1.4 million of higher acquisition related expenses and $5.5 million of higher expenses for health insurance, allowance for doubtful accounts and other professional services.
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Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, TestEquity generated Adjusted EBITDA of $43.3 million, an increase of $8.5 million from the same period a year ago with approximately $19.7 million driven by the acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022 partially offset by $7.3 million due to lower gross profit margin on lower legacy TestEquity revenue and $3.9 million primarily due to higher expenses for health insurance, allowance for doubtful accounts and other professional services.
Gexpro Services Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 404,490 | $ | 385,326 | $ | 19,164 | 5.0 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 1,243 | — | 1,243 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 405,733 | 385,326 | 20,407 | 5.3 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 284,664 | 272,462 | 12,202 | 4.5 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 121,069 | 112,864 | 8,205 | 7.3 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 94,069 | 91,573 | 2,496 | 2.7 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 27,000 | $ | 21,291 | $ | 5,709 | 26.8 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 29.8 | % | 29.3 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 45,191 | $ | 43,206 | $ | 1,985 | 4.6 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $20.4 million, or 5.3%, to $405.7 million in 2023 compared to $385.3 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by strengthening sales within Gexpro Services’ Aerospace & Defense, Industrial Power, and Transportation end markets of $7.3 million, $17.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, partially offset by continued softness in the Technology/Semiconductor end markets of $24.5 million. The increase also came from a combination of organic growth and the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2022 and 2023 to offset rising supplier costs.
Gross profit increased $8.2 million to $121.1 million in 2023 compared to $112.9 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of increased sales volume and price increases and lower net freight expense of $6.1 million partially offset by an increase in expense for write-offs for obsolete and excess inventory of $3.6 million and higher freight capitalization of $0.5 million. Gexpro Services gross profit as a percent of revenue was 29.8% in 2023 compared to 29.3% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2023 was primarily the result of price increases and lower net freight costs partially offset by higher expense for write-offs of obsolete and excess inventory.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of sales and marketing expenses primarily relating to compensation, costs associated with supporting Gexpro Services’ service facilities, overhead expenses within finance, legal, human resources and information technology, and other costs required to operate Gexpro Services’ business and service customers.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $2.5 million to $94.1 million in 2023 compared to $91.6 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by $1.7 million of additional expenses from the Frontier acquisition completed at the end of the first quarter of 2022 and additional compensation and product fulfillment costs to support the organic sales growth.
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Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Gexpro Services generated Adjusted EBITDA of $45.2 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 4.6% from the same period a year ago primarily driven by increased revenue and gross profit margin, partially offset by an increase in Selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Canada Branch Division Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 55,890 | $ | 48,955 | $ | 6,935 | 14.2 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | — | — | — | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 55,890 | 48,955 | 6,935 | 14.2 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 32,396 | 31,052 | 1,344 | 4.3 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 23,494 | 17,903 | 5,591 | 31.2 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 17,763 | 13,289 | 4,474 | 33.7 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 5,731 | $ | 4,614 | $ | 1,117 | 24.2 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 42.0 | % | 36.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 7,802 | $ | 7,318 | $ | 484 | 6.6 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $6.9 million, or 14.2%, to $55.9 million in 2023 compared to revenue of $49.0 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $14.6 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Canada Branch Division operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Canada Branch Division operations prior to the Merger Date. This was partially offset by a decrease in the sale of fasteners to corporate customers in 2023 compared to 2022.
Gross profit increased $5.6 million, or 31.2%, to $23.5 million in 2023 compared to gross profit of $17.9 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $6.1 million of gross profit in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Canada Branch Division operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Canada Branch Division operations prior to the Merger Date. Canada Branch Division gross profit as a percent of revenue was 42.0% in 2023 compared to gross profit as a percent of revenue of 36.6% in the prior year period. Gross profit margin for 2022 was impacted by the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $0.8 million related to the Mergers and a shift in sales mix to lower margin products, specifically fasteners sold to corporate customers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for Canada Branch Division consist of compensation, expenses to operate its distribution network and branch locations and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $4.5 million to $17.8 million in 2023 compared to Selling, general and administrative expenses of $13.3 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $4.5 million of Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Canada Branch Division operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Canada Branch Division operations prior to the Merger Date.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Canada Branch Division generated Adjusted EBITDA of $7.8 million, an increase of 6.6% or $0.5 million from the same period a year ago primarily due to $2.1 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2023 with no
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comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Canada Branch Division operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Canada Branch Division operations prior to the Merger Date.
Supplemental Information
For management to discuss Canada Branch Division’s operating results on a comparable basis, Canada Branch Division’s GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include Canada Branch Division’s historical pre-merger components of operating income, prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, along with pre-merger pro forma adjustments prepared under SEC Regulation S-X Article 11, in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Canada Branch Division for each period presented. These pro forma results presented in the tables below are referred to within this supplemental results of operations discussion concerning Canada Branch Division as “pro forma”.
Refer to the section titled 2022 Supplemental Information - Lawson and Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA above for further explanation of the calculation of this supplemental information.
Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Results - Calculation of Supplemental Information (Unaudited)
| (in thousands) | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Branch Division Operating Income | GAAP Results(1) | Pre-Merger Results(2) | Pro-Forma Adjustments(3) | Pro Forma Results(4) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 48,955 | $ | 12,975 | $ | — | $ | 61,930 | ||||||||||||||
| Intersegment revenue | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | 48,955 | 12,975 | — | 61,930 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 31,052 | 8,008 | — | 39,060 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 17,903 | 4,967 | — | 22,870 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 13,289 | 3,987 | — | 17,276 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 4,614 | $ | 980 | $ | — | $ | 5,594 | ||||||||||||||
| Canada Branch Division Adjusted EBITDA(5) | $ | 7,318 | $ | 1,128 | $ | — | $ | 8,446 |
(1) Operating income prepared in accordance with GAAP, which includes Canada Branch Division’s results of operations subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date. See Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation.
(2) Canada Branch Division’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which occurred prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date and were not included in the Company’s GAAP operating results under reverse merger acquisition accounting.
(3) There were no significant pro-forma adjustments for Canada Branch Division.
(4) Canada Branch Division’s pro forma results of operations adjusted for comparability on a period-over-period basis. These results represent Canada Branch Division’s total operating activities for the year ended 2022, regardless of the Merger Date (that is, they reflect both pre- and post-Merger results of Canada Branch Division, including the pro forma adjustments related to the pre-Merger period).
(5) Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section above for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
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Canada Branch Division - 2023 as Compared to Pro Forma 2022 (Unaudited)
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | Pro Forma 2022(1) | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 55,890 | $ | 61,930 | $ | (6,040) | (9.8)% | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | — | — | — | —% | |||||||||
| Revenue | 55,890 | 61,930 | $ | (6,040) | (9.8)% | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 32,396 | 39,060 | (6,664) | (17.1)% | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 23,494 | 22,870 | 624 | 2.7% | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 17,763 | 17,276 | 487 | 2.8% | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 5,731 | $ | 5,594 | $ | 137 | 2.4% | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 42.0 | % | 36.9 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 7,802 | $ | 8,446 | $ | (644) | (7.6)% |
(1)For comparability purposes, Canada Branch Division’s GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include the historical unaudited results of Canada Branch Division prior to the Merger Date and certain pro-forma adjustments including the incremental expense related to the fair value adjustment of share-based compensation awards and incremental depreciation and amortization expense related to the fair value adjustments of property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets. Refer to the section Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods and the section 2022 Supplemental Information - Lawson and Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and the section Canada Branch Division Pro Forma Results - Calculation of Supplemental Information (Unaudited) for more information related to the calculation of adjusted amounts.
(2)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue decreased $6.0 million, or 9.8%, to $55.9 million in 2023 compared to pro forma revenue of $61.9 million in the same period of 2022 primarily driven by a decrease in the sale of fasteners to corporate customers of $7.2 million and an unfavorable currency impact of $2.0 million, partially offset by an increase in branch sales of $3.2 million.
Gross profit increased $0.6 million to $23.5 million in 2023 compared to pro forma gross profit of $22.9 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of a shift in sales mix to higher margin products. Canada Branch Division gross profit as a percent of revenue was 42.0% in 2023 compared to pro forma gross profit as a percent of pro forma revenue of 36.9% in the prior year period. The pro forma gross profit margin percentage for 2022 was impacted by the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $0.8 million related to the Mergers and a shift in sales mix to lower margin products, specifically fasteners sold to corporate customers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for Canada Branch Division consist of compensation, expenses to operate its distribution network and branch locations and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.5 million to $17.8 million in 2023 compared to pro forma Selling, general and administrative expenses of $17.3 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by higher employee compensation costs.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Canada Branch Division generated Adjusted EBITDA of $7.8 million, a decrease of 7.6% or $0.6 million from the same period a year ago primarily driven by a decrease in Canada Branch Division revenue partially offset by an increase in gross profit margin and Selling, general and administrative expenses.
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Consolidated Non-operating Income and Expense
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | (42,774) | $ | (24,301) | $ | (18,473) | 76.0 | % | ||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | $ | — | $ | (3,395) | $ | 3,395 | N/M | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | $ | 758 | $ | (483) | $ | 1,241 | N/M | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | $ | (2,982) | $ | (670) | $ | (2,312) | N/M | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 6,960 | $ | 5,531 | $ | 1,429 | 25.8 | % |
N/M Not meaningful
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $18.5 million in 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 primarily due to an increase in interest rates and higher borrowings related to the Hisco and other 2023 and 2022 acquisitions.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
The $3.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt in 2022 was primarily due to the write-off of previously capitalized financing costs as a result of the debt refinancing related to the Mergers.
Change in Fair Value of Earnout Liabilities
The $0.8 million benefit in 2023 related to the change in fair value of the earnout liabilities associated with the Frontier acquisition and the Hisco Transaction. The $0.5 million expense in 2022 primarily related to the change in fair value of the earnout derivative liability associated with the earnout provisions of the Merger Agreements and the Frontier earnout. Refer to Note 8 – Earnout Liabilities and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for information about the earnout liabilities.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists of effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest income, net and other non-operating income and expenditures. The $2.3 million change in 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was partly due to unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates and other insignificant changes in other non-operating income and expenditures.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense was $7.0 million, a (346.8)% effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to income tax expense of $5.5 million and a 42.8% effective tax rate for the prior year. The change in the year-over-year effective tax rate was primarily due to an increase in the partial valuation allowance against our excess interest expense carryforward balance, state taxes, foreign income and a pre-tax loss in the current year. The 2022 income tax was also impacted by the creation of a consolidated group for federal income tax purposes as a result of the completion of the Mergers.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents were $66.5 million on December 31, 2024 compared to $83.9 million on December 31, 2023.
The Company believes its current balances of cash and cash equivalents, availability under its Amended Credit Agreement and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet its liquidity needs for the next twelve months. On August 14, 2024, the Company borrowed $200 million under the incremental term loan of the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company used a portion of these proceeds to fund the Source Atlantic Transaction. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $66.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $253.0 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the Amended Credit Agreement.
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Our primary short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs are to finance operating expenses, working capital, capital expenditures, potential business acquisitions, strategic initiatives and general corporate purposes. Our current debt obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement mature in April 2027. Required principal payments on the Amended Credit Agreement for the next twelve months are $40.3 million. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information related to our debt obligations. Access to debt capital markets has historically provided the Company with sources of liquidity, beyond normal operating cash flows. We do not anticipate having difficulty in obtaining financing from those markets in the future, however, we cannot provide assurance that unforeseen events or events beyond our control (such as a potential tightening of debt capital markets) will not have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
Sources and Uses of Cash
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows:
| (in thousands) | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | Change | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 56,453 | $ | 102,286 | $ | (45,833) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (229,683) | $ | (278,523) | $ | 48,840 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | 159,301 | $ | 250,406 | $ | (91,105) |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $56.5 million primarily due to non-cash items, partially offset by a net loss, payments of $34.6 million related to the Hisco retention bonuses and other net cash flow items.
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $102.3 million, primarily due to non-cash items, partially offset by a net loss and improvements in working capital.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $229.7 million, primarily due to the purchase of ESS, S&S Automotive, Source Atlantic, TCR and certain assets of ConRes TE as well as purchases of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment. This was partially offset by the sale of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $278.5 million, primarily due to the Hisco Transaction, as well as purchases of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment which was partially offset by the sale of rental equipment.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $159.3 million primarily due to borrowings under the Company’s credit facility partially offset by principal payments on the term loans. In conjunction with the Source Atlantic Transaction, the Company borrowed $200 million under the incremental term loan facility on August 14, 2024. During 2024, deferred financing costs of $2.1 million were incurred related to the Amended Credit Agreement.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $250.4 million, due to borrowings under the Company’s credit facility and proceeds from a rights offering that we completed during the second quarter of 2023, partially offset by repayment of previous indebtedness and principal payments on the term loans. In conjunction with the Hisco Transaction, the Company borrowed $305.0 million under the incremental term loan facility on June 8, 2023 and raised approximately $98.5 million, net of offering costs, through the rights offering. During 2023, deferred financing costs of $3.4 million were incurred related to the First Amendment, dated June 8, 2023, to the Company’s credit facility.
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Financing and Capital Requirements
Credit Facility
On August 14, 2024, in connection with the Source Atlantic Transaction, DSG entered into the Third Amendment, which provided for an additional $200 million incremental term loan and a $55 million increase in the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility, and permits the Company to increase the commitments under the credit facility from time to time by up to $300 million in the aggregate, subject to, among other things, receipt of additional commitments from existing and/or new lenders and pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants.
As amended, the Amended Credit Agreement includes a $255 million senior secured revolving credit facility, a $250 million senior secured initial term loan facility, $505 million of incremental term loans, and a $50 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a description of the Amended Credit Agreement.
On December 31, 2024, we had $739.9 million in outstanding borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement and $253.0 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the senior secured revolving credit facility component.
As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under our Amended Credit Agreement. While we were in compliance with our financial covenants as of December 31, 2024, failure to meet the covenant requirements of the Amended Credit Agreement in future quarters could lead to higher financing costs and increased restrictions, reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds, or accelerate the payment of our indebtedness and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2024, we had contractual commitments to purchase approximately $173 million of products from our suppliers and contractors over the next twelve months.
Capital Expenditures
During the year ended December 31, 2024, total capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment and rental equipment were $23.2 million excluding proceeds from the sale of rental equipment. The Company expects to spend approximately $20 million to $25 million for capital expenditures during 2025 to support ongoing operations.
Stock Repurchase Program
The Company’s Board of Directors previously authorized a stock repurchase program that permits the Company to repurchase its common stock. The timing and the amount of any repurchases will be determined by management under parameters established by the Board of Directors and depend on various factors including an evaluation of our stock price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability and other market conditions. In December 2023, the Board of Directors increased the existing repurchase program by $25.0 million bringing the total authorized to $37.5 million.
During 2024, the Company repurchased 85,644 shares of DSG common stock at an average cost of $30.13 per share for a total cost of $2.6 million. During 2023, the Company repurchased 138,725 shares of DSG common stock at an average cost of $26.09 per share for a total cost of $3.6 million. The remaining availability for stock repurchases under the program was $26.4 million at December 31, 2024. See Note 11 – Stockholders’ Equity within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information.
Retention Bonuses
Under the Hisco Purchase Agreement, DSG became obligated to pay $37.5 million in cash or DSG common stock in retention bonuses to certain Hisco employees that remain employed with Hisco or its affiliates for at least twelve months after the closing of the Hisco Transaction. Pursuant to the Hisco Purchase Agreement, the Company paid $1.8 million of the retention bonuses in 2023 and $34.6 million in 2024, with the remaining balance of $1.1 million to be paid in 2025.
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Table of Contents
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES
We have disclosed our significant accounting policies in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The following provides information on the accounts requiring more significant estimates.
Income Taxes - Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of uncertain tax positions.
Goodwill Impairment - Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually on October 1st, or when an event or other circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value.
The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company considers factors such as macroeconomic, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant factors that would affect the individual reporting units. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, then no further impairment testing is needed. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company will move to the next step in the process. The Company will estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit’s carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will record an impairment of goodwill equal to the amount the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill previously recognized.
Business Combinations - We allocate the purchase price paid for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with our acquisitions based on their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition. This allocation involves a number of assumptions, estimates, and judgments in determining the fair value, as of the acquisition date, of the following:
•intangible assets, including the valuation methodology (the relief of royalty method for trade names and multi-period excess earnings method for customer relationships), estimations of future cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates, recurring revenue attributed to customer relationships, and our assumed market segment share, as well as the estimated useful life of intangible assets;
•deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, and tax-related valuation allowances;
•inventory;
•property, plant and equipment;
•pre-existing liabilities or legal claims;
•contingent consideration, including estimating the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant thresholds; and
•goodwill as measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.
Our assumptions and estimates are based upon comparable market data and information obtained from our management and the management of the acquired companies. We allocate goodwill to the reporting units of the business that are expected to benefit from the business combination.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000703604-24-000021.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of DSG's financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in DSG's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Lawson Products, Inc. unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022.
References to “DSG”, the “Company”, "we", "our" or "us" refer to Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. and all entities consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Overview
Organization and Structure
DSG is a multi-platform specialty distribution company providing high touch, value-added distribution solutions to the maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”), the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and the industrial technologies markets. The Mergers that were consummated on April 1, 2022 resulted in the combination of Lawson, TestEquity and Gexpro Services. For a description of the Mergers, refer to Item 1. Business and Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
We manage and report our operating results through three reportable segments: Lawson, TestEquity and Gexpro Services. A summary of our segments is presented below. For additional details about our segments, see Item 1. Business and Note 14 – Segment Information in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Lawson is a distributor of specialty products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government MRO market.
TestEquity is a distributor of test and measurement equipment and solutions, industrial and electronic production supplies, vendor managed inventory programs, and converting, fabrication and adhesive solutions from its leading manufacturer partners supporting the aerospace and defense, wireless and communication, semiconductors, industrial electronics and automotive, and electronics manufacturing industries.
Gexpro Services is a global supply chain solutions provider, specializing in the development of mission critical production line management, aftermarket and field installation programs.
In addition to these three reportable segments, we have an “All Other” category which includes unallocated DSG holding company costs that are not directly attributable to the ongoing operating activities of our reportable segments and the results of a non-reportable segment.
Recent Events
HIS Company, Inc. Acquisition
On June 8, 2023, DSG acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Hisco, a distributor of specialty products serving industrial technology applications, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated March 30, 2023. The total purchase consideration exchanged for the Hisco Transaction was $267.3 million, net of cash acquired of $12.2 million, with a potential additional earn-out payment subject to Hisco achieving certain performance targets. DSG will also pay $37.5 million in cash or DSG common stock in retention bonuses to certain Hisco employees that remain employed with Hisco or its affiliates for at least twelve months after the closing of the Hisco Transaction.
In connection with the Hisco Transaction, DSG combined the operations of TestEquity and Hisco, creating one of the largest suppliers serving the electronics design, production, and repair industries. Accordingly, Hisco results are included in the TestEquity reportable segment after the date of acquisition.
DSG funded the Hisco Transaction with borrowings under its 2023 Amended Credit Agreement and proceeds raised from the Rights Offering, both discussed below. Refer to Note 3 – Business Acquisitions for further details about the Hisco Transaction.
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Debt Amendment
On June 8, 2023, the Company entered into the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment”), which amended the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended by the First Amendment, the “2023 Amended Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as borrowers or guarantors, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The First Amendment provides for a $305 million incremental term loan. Refer to Note 9 – Debt for additional information about the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement.
Rights Offering
On May 30, 2023, the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately $100 million pursuant to a Rights Offering of transferable subscription rights to holders of DSG common stock as of the close of business on May 1, 2023. Refer to Note 11 – Stockholders' Equity for additional information about the Rights Offering. The Company incurred transaction costs related to the issuance of DSG common stock for the Rights Offering of $1.5 million, which were recorded against Capital in excess of par value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Sales Drivers
DSG believes that the Purchasing Managers Index ("PMI") published by the Institute for Supply Management is an indicative measure of the relative strength of the economic environment of the industry in which it operates. The PMI is a composite index of economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector. A measure of the PMI index above 50 is generally viewed as indicating an expansion of the manufacturing sector while a measure below 50 is generally viewed as representing a contraction. The average monthly PMI was 47.1 in the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 53.5 in the year ended December 31, 2022.
Lawson Sales Drivers
The North American MRO market is highly fragmented. Lawson competes for business with several national distributors as well as a large number of regional and local distributors. The MRO business is impacted by the overall strength of the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
Lawson's revenue is also influenced by the number of sales representatives and their productivity. Lawson plans to continue concentrating its efforts on increasing the productivity and size of its sales team. Additionally, Lawson drives revenue through the expansion of products sold to existing customers as well as attracting new customers and additional ship-to locations. Lawson also is expanding its inside sales team to help drive field sales representative productivity and also utilizes an e-commerce site to generate sales.
TestEquity Sales Drivers
Across the test and measurement, industrial and electronic production supplies businesses, the North American market is highly fragmented with competitors ranging from large global distributors to national and regional distributors.
Through the Hisco Transaction, TestEquity expanded its product offerings, including adhesives, chemicals and tapes as well as specialty materials such as electrostatic discharge, thermal management materials and static shielding bags. Hisco operates in 38 locations across North America, including its Precision Converting facilities that provide value-added fabrication and its Adhesive Materials Group that provides an array of custom repackaging solutions. Hisco also offers vendor-managed inventory and Radio Frequency Identification ("RFID") programs with specialized warehousing for chemical management, logistics services and cold storage.
Gexpro Services Sales Drivers
The global supply chain solutions market is highly fragmented across Gexpro Services' key vertical segments. Gexpro Services’ competitors range from large global distributors and manufacturers to small regional domestic distributors and
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manufacturers. Gexpro Services' revenue is influenced by our OEMs’ production schedules, new product introduction launches, and service project needs.
Gexpro Services' strategy is to increase revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, customer-led geographic expansion, new customer development in its six key vertical markets and leveraging its portfolio of recent acquisitions to expand its installation and aftermarket services.
Supply Chain Disruptions
We continue to be affected by rising supplier costs caused by inflation and increased transportation and labor costs. We have instituted various price increases during 2022 and 2023 in response to rising supplier costs, as well as increased transportation and labor costs in order to manage our gross profit margins.
Cyber Incident Litigation
On February 10, 2022, DSG disclosed that Lawson Products' computer network was the subject of a cyber incident potentially involving unauthorized access to certain confidential information (the “Cyber Incident”). DSG engaged a cybersecurity forensics firm to assist in the investigation of the incident and to assist in securing its computer network.
Because of the nature of the information that may have been compromised, DSG was required to notify the parties whose information was potentially compromised of the incident as well as various governmental agencies and has taken other actions, such as offering credit monitoring services. At December 31, 2023, DSG had not incurred material costs as a result of the Cyber Incident. On April 4, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against DSG related to the Cyber Incident (the “Cyber Incident Suit”). For more information about the Cyber Incident Suit, refer to Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods
Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 are not directly comparable to prior results for the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the Mergers that were completed on April 1, 2022. The Mergers were accounted for as a reverse merger under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions as provided in Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805"). Under this guidance, TestEquity and Gexpro Services were treated as a combined entity as the accounting acquirer for financial reporting purposes, and DSG was identified as the accounting acquiree. This determination was primarily made as TestEquity and Gexpro Services were under the common control of an entity that owned a majority of the voting rights of the combined entity, and therefore, only DSG experienced a change in control. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 reflect the results of operations of TestEquity and Gexpro Services on a consolidated basis for the full year, and the results of operations of DSG's legacy Lawson business are only included subsequent to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date. The combined operations of all three entities are included in the consolidated financial statements for the full year ended December 31, 2023.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
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 infrequently occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. These 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.
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of the Company's operating performance and may provide investors with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods because Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain non-operational or non-cash items whose fluctuations from period to period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operating performance of our business and consequently may impact the overall
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comparability from period to period. We define Adjusted EBITDA as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, severance and acquisition related retention costs, costs related to the execution and integration of the Mergers and other acquisitions, inventory net realizable value adjustments, amortization of fair value step-up resulting from the Mergers and other acquisitions and other non-recurring items. Management uses operating income and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its reportable segments. See Note 14 – Segment Information of our consolidated financial statements within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information about our reportable segments.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis and Operating income to Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. A reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA by segment is not provided because management does not determine or review net income at the segment level and does not allocate non-operating costs and expenses to its segments, such as income taxes, interest expense, and various other non-operating income and expense.
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | All Other | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,967) | ||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,960 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 2,982 | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | (758) | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 42,774 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | (16,465) | $ | 27,000 | $ | (42) | $ | 42,991 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 19,532 | 26,002 | 15,986 | 2,068 | 63,588 | |||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 7,940 | — | — | — | 7,940 | |||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 476 | 23,949 | 238 | 3 | 24,666 | |||||||||||||
| Merger and acquisition related costs(3) | 3,015 | 6,215 | 1,081 | 1,250 | 11,561 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(5) | — | 3,582 | — | — | 3,582 | |||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(6) | 202 | — | 886 | 1,620 | 2,708 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 63,663 | $ | 43,283 | $ | 45,191 | $ | 4,899 | $ | 157,036 |
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| Year Ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | Lawson(7) | TestEquity | Gexpro Services | All Other(7) | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 7,406 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 5,531 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 670 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 483 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 3,395 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 24,301 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 6,536 | $ | 11,375 | $ | 21,291 | $ | 2,584 | $ | 41,786 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 10,594 | 17,480 | 15,175 | 1,937 | 45,186 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 2,448 | — | — | — | 2,448 | |||||||||||||||||
| Severance and acquisition related retention expenses(2) | 1,429 | 1,095 | 266 | 6 | 2,796 | |||||||||||||||||
| Merger and acquisition related costs(3) | 4,698 | 4,786 | 5,957 | — | 15,441 | |||||||||||||||||
| Inventory net realizable value adjustment(4) | 1,737 | — | — | — | 1,737 | |||||||||||||||||
| Inventory step-up(5) | 1,943 | — | 163 | 761 | 2,867 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring(6) | 1,199 | — | 354 | 44 | 1,597 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 30,584 | $ | 34,736 | $ | 43,206 | $ | 5,332 | $ | 113,858 |
(1) Expense (benefit) primarily for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company’s stock price.
(2) Includes severance expense from actions taken in 2023 and 2022 not related to a formal restructuring plan and acquisition related retention expenses for the Hisco Transaction.
(3) Transaction and integration costs related to the Mergers and other acquisitions.
(4) Inventory net realizable value adjustment recorded to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records.
(5) Inventory fair value step-up adjustment for Lawson resulting from the reverse merger acquisition accounting and acquisition accounting for additional acquisitions completed by Gexpro Services or TestEquity.
(6) Other non-recurring costs consist of non-capitalized deferred financing costs incurred in conjunction with the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement, certain non-recurring strategic projects and other non-recurring items.
(7) Includes the operating results of Lawson and All Other subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date in accordance with GAAP accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions.
Supplemental Information - Lawson Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
For management to discuss Lawson's operating results on a comparable basis, Lawson's GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include Lawson's historical pre-merger components of operating income, prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, along with pre-merger pro forma adjustments prepared under SEC Regulation S-X Article 11, in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Lawson for each period presented. Management believes this supplemental information provides the most meaningful basis of comparison for Lawson's operations, is more useful in identifying current business trends, and is important for the users of our financial statements in understanding Lawson's business. Refer to Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for information about the Mergers.
This supplemental information may not reflect the actual results we would have achieved had the Mergers occurred at the beginning of 2022, and should not be viewed as a substitute for the results of operations presented in accordance with GAAP. Lawson's historical operating results prior to the Mergers were obtained from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Lawson Products, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022. The pro forma adjustments were obtained from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included in DSG's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on August 24, 2023.
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Lawson Pro Forma Results - Calculation of Supplemental Information (Unaudited)
| (in thousands) | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawson Operating Income | GAAP Results(1) | GAAP Results(2) | Pre-Merger Results(3) | Pro-Forma Adjustments(4) | Pro Forma Results(5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 468,379 | $ | 324,783 | $ | 104,902 | $ | — | $ | 429,685 | ||||||||||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 332 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | 468,711 | 324,783 | 104,902 | — | 429,685 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 203,251 | 154,030 | 49,371 | — | 203,401 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 265,460 | 170,753 | 55,531 | — | 226,284 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 232,962 | 164,217 | 44,435 | 4,086 | 212,738 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | 6,536 | $ | 11,096 | $ | (4,086) | $ | 13,546 | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson Adjusted EBITDA(6) | $ | 63,663 | $ | 30,584 | $ | 8,042 | $ | 38,626 |
(1) Operating income prepared in accordance with GAAP. No pre-merger or pro-forma adjustments were necessary because these results represent Lawson’s total operating activities for the full year ended December 31, 2023.
(2) Operating income prepared in accordance with GAAP, which includes Lawson’s results of operations subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date. See Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
(3) Lawson's results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which occurred prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date and were not included in the Company's GAAP operating results under reverse merger acquisition accounting.
(4) Pro-forma adjustments include the incremental expense related to the fair value adjustment of share-based compensation awards of $1.9 million and the net impact of $2.2 million from the elimination of historical depreciation and amortization expense and recognition of new depreciation expense on the fair value of property, plant and equipment and amortization expense related to identifiable intangible assets.
(5) Lawson's pro forma results of operations adjusted for comparability on a period-over-period basis. These results represent Lawson’s total operating activities for the year ended 2022, regardless of the Merger Date (that is, they reflect both pre- and post-Merger results of Lawson, including the pro forma adjustments related to the pre-Merger period).
(6) Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section above for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Composition of Results of Operations
The following results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 include the combined operations of DSG. The following results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 include the accounts of the TestEquity and Gexpro Services combined entity, as the accounting acquirer, for the full year, and the results of DSG's legacy Lawson business have only been included for activity subsequent, and not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Segment revenue and Operating income (loss) by reportable segment includes sales to external customers and sales transactions between our segments, referred to as intersegment revenue, and the impact of those intersegment revenue transactions on operating activities. Reconciliations of segment revenue and Operating income (loss) to our consolidated results of operations in the consolidated financial statements are provided in Note 14 – Segment Information within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR 2023 AS COMPARED TO 2022
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | Amount | % of Revenue | Amount | % of Revenue | |||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | $ | 468,711 | 29.8 | % | $ | 324,783 | 28.2 | % | |||||
| TestEquity | 641,768 | 40.9 | % | 392,358 | 34.1 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 405,733 | 25.8 | % | 385,326 | 33.5 | % | |||||||
| All Other(2) | 55,890 | 3.6 | % | 48,955 | 4.3 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment revenue elimination | (1,700) | (0.1) | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Revenue | 1,570,402 | 100.0 | % | 1,151,422 | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Cost of goods sold | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | 203,251 | 12.9 | % | 154,030 | 13.4 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 499,916 | 31.8 | % | 302,980 | 26.3 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 284,664 | 18.1 | % | 272,462 | 23.7 | % | |||||||
| All Other(2) | 32,396 | 2.1 | % | 31,052 | 2.7 | % | |||||||
| Intersegment cost of goods sold elimination | (1,700) | (0.1) | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Cost of goods sold | 1,018,527 | 64.9 | % | 760,524 | 66.1 | % | |||||||
| Gross profit | 551,875 | 35.1 | % | 390,898 | 33.9 | % | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | 232,962 | 14.8 | % | 164,217 | 14.3 | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 158,317 | 10.1 | % | 78,003 | 6.8 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 94,069 | 6.0 | % | 91,573 | 8.0 | % | |||||||
| All Other(2) | 23,536 | 1.5 | % | 15,319 | 1.3 | % | |||||||
| Total Selling, general and administrative expenses | 508,884 | 32.4 | % | 349,112 | 30.3 | % | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 42,991 | 2.7 | % | 41,786 | 3.6 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense | (42,774) | (2.7) | % | (24,301) | (2.1) | % | |||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | — | % | (3,395) | (0.3) | % | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | 758 | — | % | (483) | — | % | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (2,982) | (0.2) | % | (670) | (0.1) | % | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (2,007) | (0.1) | % | 12,937 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,960 | 0.4 | % | 5,531 | 0.5 | % | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (8,967) | (0.6) | % | $ | 7,406 | 0.6 | % |
(1) Includes the operating results of Lawson subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
(2) Includes the operating results of All Other subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Overview of Consolidated Results of Operations
Our consolidated results of operations include the financial impact of the Mergers that were completed on April 1, 2022 and the other acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022. The increase in gross profit for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to the inclusion of Lawson operations only subsequent, and not prior, to the Merger Date and the Hisco and other acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022. Expenses for 2023 were impacted by the other acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022.
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Refer to Results by Reportable Segment below for a complete discussion of our results of operations.
Results by Reportable Segment
Lawson Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 468,379 | $ | 324,783 | $ | 143,596 | 44.2 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 332 | — | 332 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 468,711 | $ | 324,783 | $ | 143,928 | 44.3 | % | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 203,251 | 154,030 | 49,221 | 32.0 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 265,460 | 170,753 | 94,707 | 55.5 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 232,962 | 164,217 | 68,745 | 41.9 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | 6,536 | $ | 25,962 | 397.2 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 56.6 | % | 52.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 63,663 | $ | 30,584 | $ | 33,079 | 108.2 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $143.6 million, or 44.2%, to $468.7 million in 2023 compared to revenue of $324.8 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $125.3 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date. The remaining increase was primarily driven by strengthening sales to Lawson's strategic and governmental customers and automotive end market customers from a combination of organic growth and the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2022 and 2023 to offset rising supplier costs.
Gross profit increased $94.7 million, or 55.5%, to $265.5 million in 2023 compared to gross profit of $170.8 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $70.9 million of gross profit in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date. The remaining increase was primarily the result of increased sales volume, price increases and lower net freight expense and spreading operating expenses over a higher sales level. Lawson gross profit as a percent of revenue was 56.6% in 2023 compared to gross profit as a percent of revenue of 52.6% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2023 was primarily the result of price increases, lower net freight expense and leveraging operating expenses over a higher sales base. The gross profit margin percentage for the same period of 2022 was impacted by increased supplier costs from inflation and supply chain disruptions and a sales shift toward lower margin customers. Gross profit margin for 2022 was also impacted by an inventory charge of $1.7 million to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records and the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $1.9 million related to the Mergers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson's distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $68.7 million to $233.0 million in 2023 compared to Selling, general and administrative expenses of $164.2 million in the same period of 2022 primarily due to $62.7 million of Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date.
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Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $63.7 million, an increase of 108.2% or $33.1 million from the same period a year ago primarily due to $18.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2023 with no comparable amount in 2022 due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date and increased revenue and gross profit margin partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
Supplemental Information
For management to discuss Lawson's operating results on a comparable basis, Lawson's GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include Lawson's historical pre-merger components of operating income, prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, along with pre-merger pro forma adjustments prepared under SEC Regulation S-X Article 11, in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Lawson for each period presented. These pro forma results presented in the table below are referred to within this supplemental results of operations discussion as "pro forma".
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | Pro Forma 2022(1) | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 468,379 | $ | 429,685 | $ | 38,694 | 9.1% | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 332 | — | 332 | —% | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 468,711 | $ | 429,685 | $ | 39,026 | 9.1% | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 203,251 | 203,401 | (150) | (0.1)% | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 265,460 | 226,284 | 39,176 | 17.3% | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 232,962 | 212,738 | 20,224 | 9.7% | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 32,498 | $ | 13,546 | $ | 18,952 | 107.5% | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 56.6 | % | 52.7 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 63,663 | $ | 38,626 | $ | 25,037 | 64.8% |
(1)For comparability purposes, Lawson's GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include the historical unaudited results of Lawson prior to the Merger Date and certain pro-forma adjustments including the incremental expense related to the fair value adjustment of share-based compensation awards and incremental depreciation and amortization expense related to the fair value adjustments of property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets. Refer to the section Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods and the section Supplemental Information - Lawson Pro Forma Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for more information related to the calculation of adjusted amounts.
(2)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $39.0 million, or 9.1%, to $468.7 million in 2023 compared to pro forma revenue of $429.7 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by strengthening sales to Lawson's strategic and governmental customers of $25.2 million and automotive end market customers of $13.5 million from a combination of organic growth and the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2022 and 2023 to offset rising supplier costs.
Gross profit increased $39.2 million to $265.5 million in 2023 compared to pro forma gross profit of $226.3 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of increased sales volume and price increases, which contributed to an increase in gross profit of $29.4 million, lower net freight expense of $2.9 million, lower expense for write-offs of obsolete and excess inventory of $3.2 million and spreading operating expenses over a higher sales level. Lawson gross profit as a percent of revenue was 56.6% in 2023 compared to pro forma gross profit as a percent of pro forma revenue of 52.7% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2023 was primarily the result of price increases, lower net freight costs, lower expense for write-offs of obsolete and excess inventory and leveraging operating costs over a higher sales base. The pro forma gross profit margin percentage for the same period of 2022 was impacted by increased supplier costs from inflation and supply chain disruptions and a sales shift toward lower margin customers. Pro forma gross profit margin for 2022 was also impacted by an inventory charge of $1.7 million to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where
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the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records and the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $1.9 million related to the Mergers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson's distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $20.2 million to $233.0 million in 2023 compared to pro forma Selling, general and administrative expenses of $212.7 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by additional depreciation and amortization of $9.2 million as a result of the fair value step-up adjustments related to the reverse merger acquisition accounting and higher stock-based compensation of $12.2 million due to expense of $7.9 million in 2023 and a benefit of $4.2 million realized in 2022, partially offset by lower acquisition related costs of $4.7 million in 2023 compared to the same period of 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $63.7 million, an increase of 64.8% or $25.0 million from the same period a year ago primarily driven by increased revenue and gross profit margin partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
TestEquity Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 641,643 | $ | 392,358 | $ | 249,285 | 63.5 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 125 | — | 125 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 641,768 | 392,358 | 249,410 | 63.6 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 499,916 | 302,980 | 196,936 | 65.0 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 141,852 | 89,378 | 52,474 | 58.7 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 158,317 | 78,003 | 80,314 | 103.0 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | (16,465) | $ | 11,375 | $ | (27,840) | (244.7) | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 22.1 | % | 22.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 43,283 | $ | 34,736 | $ | 8,547 | 24.6 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $249.4 million, or 63.6%, to $641.8 million in 2023 compared to $392.4 million in the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily driven by $273.4 million of revenue generated from acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022 offset by a $24.0 million decline in legacy TestEquity revenue due to a slowdown in the test and measurement market, primarily caused by tightening of capital budgets in TestEquity's customer base and softening in the EPS end markets.
Gross profit increased $52.5 million to $141.9 million in 2023 compared to $89.4 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of the inclusion of the acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022, which generated $57.9 million of additional gross profit during 2023 offset by a decline in legacy TestEquity revenue. TestEquity gross profit as a percent of revenue decreased to 22.1% in 2023 compared to 22.8% in the prior year primarily due to the amortization of the fair value step-up of inventory of $3.6 million related to the Hisco Transaction and a shift in sales mix from the lower gross margin rates from the 2022 and 2023 acquisitions.
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for TestEquity's sales representatives and expenses to operate TestEquity's distribution network and overhead expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $80.3 million to $158.3 million in 2023 compared to $78.0 million in the same period of 2022. Approximately $68.8 million of the increased expenses, including depreciation, was driven by the acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022 of which $22.8 million was related to the Hisco retention bonuses. The remaining increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses of $11.5 million is primarily due to $4.6 million of additional amortization of intangible assets acquired through the Hisco acquisition, $1.4 million of higher acquisition related expenses and $5.5 million of higher expenses for health insurance, allowance for doubtful accounts and other professional services.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, TestEquity generated Adjusted EBITDA of $43.3 million, an increase of $8.5 million from the same period a year ago with approximately $19.7 million driven by the acquisitions completed in 2023 and 2022 partially offset by $7.3 million due to lower gross profit margin on lower legacy TestEquity revenue and $3.9 million primarily due to higher expenses for health insurance, allowance for doubtful accounts and other professional services.
Gexpro Services Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers | $ | 404,490 | $ | 385,326 | $ | 19,164 | 5.0 | % | ||||||
| Intersegment revenue | 1,243 | — | 1,243 | — | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | 405,733 | 385,326 | 20,407 | 5.3 | % | |||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 284,664 | 272,462 | 12,202 | 4.5 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 121,069 | 112,864 | 8,205 | 7.3 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 94,069 | 91,573 | 2,496 | 2.7 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 27,000 | $ | 21,291 | $ | 5,709 | 26.8 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 29.8 | % | 29.3 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 45,191 | $ | 43,206 | $ | 1,985 | 4.6 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased $20.4 million, or 5.3%, to $405.7 million in 2023 compared to $385.3 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by strengthening sales within Gexpro Services' Aerospace & Defense, Industrial Power, and Transportation end markets of $7.3 million, $17.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, partially offset by continued softness in the Technology/Semiconductor end markets of $24.5 million. The increase also came from a combination of organic growth and the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2022 and 2023 to offset rising supplier costs.
Gross profit increased $8.2 million to $121.1 million in 2023 compared to $112.9 million in the same period of 2022 primarily as a result of increased sales volume and price increases and lower net freight expense of $6.1 million partially offset by an increase in expense for write-offs for obsolete and excess inventory of $3.6 million and higher freight capitalization of $0.5 million. Gexpro Services gross profit as a percent of revenue was 29.8% in 2023 compared to 29.3% in the prior year period. The gross profit margin percentage improvement for 2023 was primarily the result of price increases and lower net freight costs partially offset by higher expense for write-offs of obsolete and excess inventory.
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of sales and marketing expenses primarily relating to compensation, costs associated with supporting Gexpro Services’ service facilities, overhead expenses within finance, legal, human resources and information technology, and other costs required to operate Gexpro Services' business and service customers.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $2.5 million to $94.1 million in 2023 compared to $91.6 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily driven by $1.7 million of additional expenses from the Frontier acquisition completed at the end of the first quarter of 2022 and additional compensation and product fulfillment costs to support the organic sales growth.
Adjusted EBITDA
During 2023, Gexpro Services generated Adjusted EBITDA of $45.2 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 4.6% from the same period a year ago primarily driven by increased revenue and gross profit margin, partially offset by an increase in Selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Consolidated Non-operating Income and Expense
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | (42,774) | $ | (24,301) | $ | (18,473) | 76.0 | % | ||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | $ | — | $ | (3,395) | $ | 3,395 | N/M | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | $ | 758 | $ | (483) | $ | 1,241 | N/M | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | $ | (2,982) | $ | (670) | $ | (2,312) | N/M | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 6,960 | $ | 5,531 | $ | 1,429 | 25.8 | % |
N/M Not meaningful
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $18.5 million in 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 primarily due to an increase in interest rates and higher borrowings related to the Hisco and other 2023 and 2022 acquisitions.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
The $3.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt in 2022 was primarily due to the write-off of previously capitalized financing costs as a result of the debt refinancing related to the Mergers.
Change in Fair Value of Earnout Liabilities
The $0.8 million benefit in 2023 related to the change in fair value of the earnout liabilities associated with the Frontier acquisition and the Hisco Transaction. The $0.5 million expense in 2022 primarily related to the change in fair value of the earnout derivative liability associated with the earnout provisions of the Merger Agreements and the Frontier earnout. Refer to Note 8 – Earnout Liabilities and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for information about the earnout liabilities.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists of effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest income, net and other non-operating income and expenditures. The $2.3 million change in 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was partly due to unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates and other insignificant changes in other non-operating income and expenditures.
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Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense was $7.0 million, a (346.8)% effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to income tax expense of $5.5 million and a 42.8% effective tax rate for the prior year. The change in the year-over-year effective tax rate was primarily due to an increase in the partial valuation allowance against our excess interest expense carryforward balance, state taxes, foreign income and a pre-tax loss in the current year. The 2022 income tax was also impacted by the creation of a consolidated group for federal income tax purposes as a result of the completion of the Mergers.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents were $83.9 million on December 31, 2023 compared to $24.6 million on December 31, 2022.
The Company believes its current balances of cash and cash equivalents, availability under its 2023 Amended Credit Agreement and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet its liquidity needs for the next twelve months. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $83.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $198.3 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement.
On June 2, 2023, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $98.5 million from the Rights Offering, in which 4,444,444 shares of DSG common stock were sold at a purchase price of $22.50 per share. On June 8, 2023, the Company borrowed $305 million under the incremental term loan of the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement. The Company used these combined proceeds primarily to fund the Hisco Transaction and to pay down its revolving credit facility.
Our primary short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs are to finance operating expenses, working capital, capital expenditures, potential business acquisitions, strategic initiatives and general corporate purposes. Our current debt obligations under the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement mature in April 2027. Required principal payments on the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement for the next twelve months are $30.3 million. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information related to our debt obligations. Access to debt capital markets has historically provided the Company with sources of liquidity, beyond normal operating cash flows. We do not anticipate having difficulty in obtaining financing from those markets in the future, however, we cannot provide assurance that unforeseen events or events beyond our control (such as a potential tightening of debt capital markets) will not have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
Sources and Uses of Cash
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows:
| (in thousands) | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | Change | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 102,286 | $ | (11,029) | $ | 113,315 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (278,523) | $ | (126,688) | $ | (151,835) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | 250,406 | $ | 148,461 | $ | 101,945 |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $102.3 million primarily due to non-cash items, partially offset by a net loss and improvements in working capital.
Net cash used in operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $11.0 million, excluding non-cash items, primarily due to increased accounts receivables driven by higher sales and increased inventories due to increased supplier costs driven by inflation and global supply chain disruptions.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $278.5 million, primarily due to the Hisco Transaction, as well as purchases of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment which was partially offset by the sale of rental equipment.
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Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $126.7 million, primarily due to acquisitions completed by TestEquity and Gexpro Services, as well as purchases of property, plant and equipment and rental equipment which was partially offset by the sale of rental equipment.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $250.4 million due to proceeds from the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement and the Rights Offering partially offset by repayment of previous indebtedness and principal payments on the term loans. In conjunction with the Hisco Transaction, the Company borrowed $305.0 million under the incremental term loan facility on June 8, 2023 and raised approximately $98.5 million, net of offering costs, through the Rights Offering which closed during the second quarter of 2023. During 2023, deferred financing costs of $3.4 million were incurred related to the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $148.5 million, primarily due to proceeds from term loans and revolving credit facilities to finance the Mergers and other acquisitions, partly offset by repayment of previous indebtedness. Deferred financing costs of $12.0 million were incurred during 2022 related to these financing activities.
Financing and Capital Requirements
Credit Facility
On June 8, 2023, in connection with the Hisco Transaction, DSG entered into the First Amendment, which amended and replaced the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 1, 2022 with the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement, and provided for a $305 million incremental term loan facility. The 2023 Amended Credit Agreement also provides for the Company to increase the commitments from time to time by up to $200 million in the aggregate, subject to, among other things, receipt of additional commitments from existing and/or new lenders and pro forma compliance with certain financial covenants.
The 2023 Amended Credit Agreement includes a $200 million senior secured revolving credit facility, a $250 million senior secured initial term loan facility, a $305 million incremental term loan and a $50 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for a description of the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement.
On December 31, 2023, we had $574.7 million in outstanding borrowings under the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement and $198.3 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the senior secured revolving credit facility component.
As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under our 2023 Amended Credit Agreement. While we were in compliance with our financial covenants as of December 31, 2023, failure to meet the covenant requirements of the 2023 Amended Credit Agreement in future quarters could lead to higher financing costs and increased restrictions, reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds, or accelerate the payment of our indebtedness and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2023, we had contractual commitments to purchase approximately $146 million of products from our suppliers and contractors over the next twelve months.
Capital Expenditures
During the year ended December 31, 2023, total capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment and rental equipment were $24.7 million excluding proceeds from the sale of rental equipment. The Company expects to spend approximately $16 million to $20 million for capital expenditures during 2024 to support ongoing operations.
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Stock Repurchase Program
The Company's Board of Directors previously authorized a stock repurchase program that permits the Company to repurchase its common stock. The timing and the amount of any repurchases will be determined by management under parameters established by the Board of Directors and depend on various factors including an evaluation of our stock price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability and other market conditions. In December 2023, the Board of Directors increased the existing repurchase program by $25.0 million bringing the total authorized to $37.5 million.
During 2023, the Company repurchased 138,725 shares of DSG common stock at an average cost of $26.09 per share for a total cost of $3.6 million. During 2022, the Company repurchased 108,178 shares of DSG common stock at an average cost of $17.93 per share for a total cost of $1.9 million. The remaining availability for stock repurchases under the program was $29.0 million at December 31, 2023. See Note 11 – Stockholders' Equity within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information.
Retention Bonuses
As part of the Purchase Agreement, DSG will also pay $37.5 million in cash or DSG common stock in retention bonuses to certain Hisco employees that remain employed with Hisco or its affiliates for at least twelve months after the closing of the Hisco Transaction. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company paid $1.8 million of the retention bonuses during 2023 and will pay $34.6 million during 2024, with the remaining balance of $1.1 million to be paid in 2025.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES
We have disclosed our significant accounting policies in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The following provides information on the accounts requiring more significant estimates.
Income Taxes - Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of uncertain tax positions.
Goodwill Impairment - Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually on October 1st, or when an event or other circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value.
The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company considers factors such as macroeconomic, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant factors that would affect the individual reporting units. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, then no further impairment testing is needed. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company will move to the next step in the process. The Company will estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit's carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will record an impairment of goodwill equal to the amount the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill previously recognized.
Business Combinations - We allocate the purchase price paid for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with our acquisitions based on their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition. This allocation involves a number of assumptions, estimates, and judgments in determining the fair value, as of the acquisition date, of the following:
•intangible assets, including the valuation methodology (the relief of royalty method for trade names and multi-period excess earnings method for customer relationships), estimations of future cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates, recurring revenue attributed to customer relationships, and our assumed market segment share, as well as the estimated useful life of intangible assets;
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Table of Contents
•deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, and tax-related valuation allowances;
•inventory;
•property, plant and equipment;
•pre-existing liabilities or legal claims;
•contingent consideration, including estimating the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant thresholds; and
•goodwill as measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.
Our assumptions and estimates are based upon comparable market data and information obtained from our management and the management of the acquired companies. We allocate goodwill to the reporting units of the business that are expected to benefit from the business combination.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000703604-23-000033.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Lawson Products, Inc. audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in DSG's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the Lawson Products, Inc. unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in DSG’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022.
References to “DSG”, the “Company”, "we", "our" or "us" refer to Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. and all entities consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Overview
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. The Mergers that were consummated in April 2022 resulted in the combination of Lawson Products, Inc. ("Lawson"), TestEquity Acquisition, LLC ("TestEquity") and 301 HW Opus Holdings, Inc., conducting business as Gexpro Services ("Gexpro Services"). For a description of the business combination, refer to Item 1. Business and Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation in Item 8. Financial Statements.
We manage and report our operating results through three reportable segments: Lawson, TestEquity and Gexpro Services. A summary of our segments is presented below. For additional details about our segments, see Item 1. Business and Note 14 – Segment Information in Item 8. Financial Statements.
Lawson is a distributor of specialty products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government MRO market.
TestEquity is a distributor of test and measurement equipment and solutions, electronic production supplies, and tool kits from its leading manufacturer partners supporting the technology, aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, education, and medical industries.
Gexpro Services is a global supply chain solutions provider, specializing in developing and implementing VMI and kitting programs to high-specification manufacturing customers.
In addition to these three reportable segments, we have an “All Other” category which includes unallocated DSG holding company costs that are not directly attributable to the ongoing operating activities of our reportable segments and the inconsequential results of a non-reportable segment.
Sales Drivers
DSG believes that the Purchasing Managers Index ("PMI") published by the Institute for Supply Management is an indicative measure of the relative strength of the economic environment of the industry in which we operate. The PMI is a composite index of economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector. We believe that a measure of that index above 50 generally indicates expansion of the manufacturing sector while a measure below 50 generally represents contraction. The average monthly PMI was 53.5 in the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 60.7 in the year ended December 31, 2021.
Lawson Sales Drivers
The North American MRO market is highly fragmented. Lawson competes for business with several national distributors as well as a large number of regional and local distributors. The MRO business is impacted by the overall strength of the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
Lawson's revenue is also influenced by the number of sales representatives and their productivity. Lawson plans to continue concentrating its efforts on increasing the productivity and size of its sales team. Additionally, Lawson drives revenue through the expansion of products sold to existing customers as well as attracting new customers and additional ship-to locations. Lawson also uses an inside sales team and an e-commerce site to generate sales.
TestEquity Sales Drivers
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Across both the test and measurement and electronic production supplies businesses, the North American market is highly fragmented with competitors ranging from large global distributors to national and regional distributors.
TestEquity management focuses on the internal metric of Sales per Day (“SPD”) and Day Adjust Growth (“DAG”). The SPD calculates and compares TestEquity’s total sales divided by the number of selling days, adjusted for weekends and holidays. A selling day generally represents a business day in which TestEquity ships products to its customers. The DAG represents the percentage increase or decrease in the SPD for a defined period of time.
Specifically in respect of its electronic production supplies business, the current semi-conductor chip shortage, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is negatively impacting TestEquity’s business as such chips are key elements to the electronic production process. TestEquity anticipates that recovery of this important part of its customers’ supply chain will occur in 2023.
Gexpro Services Sales Drivers
The global supply chain solutions market is highly fragmented across Gexpro Services' key vertical segments. Gexpro Services’ competitors range from large global distributors and manufacturers to small regional domestic distributors and manufacturers. Gexpro Services revenue is influenced by our OEMs’ production schedules, new product introduction launches, and service project needs.
Gexpro Services drives revenue through increasing wallet share with existing customers, customer-led geographic expansion, and new customer development in its six key vertical markets. Additionally, Gexpro Services drives revenue through expansion of its installation and aftermarket services by leveraging its portfolio of recent acquisitions.
Key Factors Affecting our Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Supply Chain Disruptions
Along with the broader economy, we continue to be affected by rising supplier costs caused by inflation and increased transportation and labor costs. This results in challenges in acquiring and receiving inventory in a timely fashion and fulfilling customer orders, which offset some of the sales gains we recorded in 2022 compared to 2021. The supply chain disruptions have also led to higher product costs which have contributed to lower gross profit margins as a percentage of sales in certain pieces of our business. We have instituted various price increases during 2021 and 2022 in response to rising supplier costs, as well as increased transportation and labor costs.
Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods
Our results of operations are not directly comparable to prior results for the periods presented due to the Mergers that were completed on April 1, 2022. The Mergers were accounted for as a reverse merger under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions as provided in Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805"). Under this guidance, TestEquity and Gexpro Services were treated as a combined entity as the accounting acquirer for financial reporting purposes, and DSG was identified as the accounting acquiree. This determination was primarily made as TestEquity and Gexpro Services were under the common control of an entity that owns a majority of the voting rights of the combined entity, and therefore, only DSG experienced a change in control. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 reflect the results of operations and financial position of TestEquity and Gexpro Services on a consolidated basis, and the results of operations of DSG's legacy Lawson business are included only subsequent, and not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
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 infrequently
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occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. These 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.
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of the Company's operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, severance costs, costs related to the execution of the Mergers, adjustments recorded to reduce inventory related to certain discontinued products, amortization of fair value step-up resulting from the Mergers, acquisition related costs (unrelated to the Mergers), and other non-recurring items. The following table provides our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)
| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2022(8) | 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 41,786 | $ | 11,421 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 45,186 | 18,683 | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation(1) | 2,448 | — | ||||||||
| Severance costs(2) | 2,796 | 50 | ||||||||
| Merger/integration costs(3) | 12,659 | 2,435 | ||||||||
| Inventory net realizable value adjustment(4) | 1,737 | — | ||||||||
| Inventory step-up(5) | 2,867 | 212 | ||||||||
| Acquisition related costs(6) | 2,782 | 6,373 | ||||||||
| Other non-recurring(7) | 1,597 | 243 | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 113,858 | $ | 39,417 |
(1) Expense primarily for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company’s stock price.
(2) Includes severance expense from actions taken in 2022 and 2021, not related to a formal restructuring plan.
(3) Merger transaction costs related to the negotiation, review and execution of the Merger Agreements relating to the Mergers and subsequent integration costs.
(4) Inventory net realizable value adjustment recorded to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records.
(5) Inventory fair value step-up adjustments resulting from the reverse merger acquisition accounting for Lawson and acquisition accounting for additional acquisitions completed by Gexpro Services.
(6) Expense for acquisition related costs, unrelated to the Mergers.
(7) Other non-recurring costs consists of sales force optimization and other non-recurring items.
(8) Includes the operating results of Lawson subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date in accordance with GAAP accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions.
Management uses operating income and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of its reportable segments. See Note 14 – Segment Information of our consolidated financial statements within Item 8. Financial Statements for additional information about our reportable segments. The following table provides Adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment:
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| Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | $ | 30,584 | $ | — | ||||||
| TestEquity | 34,736 | 16,107 | ||||||||
| Gexpro Services | 43,206 | 23,310 | ||||||||
| All Other(2) | 5,332 | — | ||||||||
| Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 113,858 | $ | 39,417 |
(1) Includes the operating results of Lawson subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date in accordance with GAAP accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions.
(2) Includes the operating results of All Other subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date in accordance with GAAP accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions.
Supplemental Information - Lawson Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
For management to discuss Lawson's operating results on a comparable basis, Lawson's historical, pre-merger components of operating income have been provided separately in the table below. In addition, Lawson's GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include the results prior to the Merger Date in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Lawson for each period presented. Management believes this historical information provides the most meaningful basis of comparison for Lawson's operations, is more useful in identifying current business trends, and is important for the user of our financial statements in understanding Lawson's business. Refer to Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements for information about the Mergers.
These non-GAAP amounts are not considered to be prepared in accordance with GAAP, have not been prepared as pro forma results under applicable regulations, may not reflect the actual results we would have achieved had the Mergers occurred at the beginning of 2021, and should not be viewed as a substitute for the results of operations presented in accordance with GAAP. Lawson's historical operating results prior to the Mergers were obtained from the consolidated financial statements included in DSG's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in DSG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022.
| (in thousands) | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawson Operating Income | GAAP Results(1) | Pre-Merger Results(2) | AdjustedResults(3) | GAAP Results(1) | Pre-Merger Results(4) | AdjustedResults(3) | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 324,783 | $ | 104,902 | $ | 429,685 | $ | — | $ | 371,668 | $ | 371,668 | ||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 154,030 | 49,371 | 203,401 | — | 171,193 | 171,193 | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 170,753 | 55,531 | 226,284 | — | 200,475 | 200,475 | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 164,217 | 44,435 | 208,652 | — | 192,283 | 192,283 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 6,536 | $ | 11,096 | $ | 17,632 | $ | — | $ | 8,192 | $ | 8,192 | ||||||||||
| Lawson Adjusted EBITDA(5) | $ | 30,584 | $ | 8,042 | $ | 38,626 | $ | — | $ | 30,390 | $ | 30,390 |
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(1) Operating income prepared in accordance with GAAP, which includes Lawson’s results of operations subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the operating results of Lawson were not included in the Company's GAAP results. See Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements.
(2) Lawson's results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which occurred prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, were not included in the Company's GAAP operating results under reverse merger acquisition accounting.
(3) Lawson's results of operations adjusted for comparability on a period-over-period basis. These non-GAAP results represent Lawson’s total operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, regardless of the Mergers (that is, they reflect both pre- and post-Merger results of Lawson).
(4) Lawson's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, which occurred prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date, were not included in the Company's GAAP operating results under reverse merger acquisition accounting. See Note 1 – Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements.
(5) Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section above for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to operating income.
Composition of Results of Operations
The following results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 include the accounts of the TestEquity and Gexpro Services combined entity, as the accounting acquirer, and include the results of Lawson only subsequent, and not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR 2022 AS COMPARED TO 2021
Consolidated Results of Operations
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | Amount | % of Revenue | Amount | % of Revenue | |||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | $ | 324,783 | 28.2 | % | $ | — | — | % | |||||
| TestEquity | 392,358 | 34.1 | % | 264,161 | 50.8 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 385,326 | 33.5 | % | 256,129 | 49.2 | % | |||||||
| All Other(2) | 48,955 | 4.3 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Revenue | 1,151,422 | 100.0 | % | 520,290 | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Cost of goods sold | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | 154,030 | 13.4 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 302,980 | 26.3 | % | 206,971 | 39.8 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 272,462 | 23.7 | % | 183,041 | 35.2 | % | |||||||
| All Other(2) | 31,052 | 2.7 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Cost of goods sold | 760,524 | 66.1 | % | 390,012 | 75.0 | % | |||||||
| Gross profit | 390,898 | 33.9 | % | 130,278 | 25.0 | % | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||||
| Lawson(1) | 164,217 | 14.3 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| TestEquity | 78,003 | 6.8 | % | 56,861 | 10.9 | % | |||||||
| Gexpro Services | 91,573 | 8.0 | % | 61,996 | 11.9 | % | |||||||
| All Other(2) | 15,319 | 1.3 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total Selling, general and administrative expenses | 349,112 | 30.3 | % | 118,857 | 22.8 | % | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 41,786 | 3.6 | % | 11,421 | 2.2 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense | (24,301) | (2.1) | % | (16,737) | (3.2) | % | |||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | (3,395) | (0.3) | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | (483) | — | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (670) | (0.1) | % | 577 | 0.1 | % | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 12,937 | 1.1 | % | (4,739) | (0.9) | % | |||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 5,531 | 0.5 | % | 313 | 0.1 | % | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 7,406 | 0.6 | % | $ | (5,052) | (1.0) | % |
(1) Includes the operating results of Lawson subsequent, but not prior, to the Merger Date of April 1, 2022.
(2) Includes the operating results of All Other subsequent, but not prior, to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Overview of Consolidated Results of Operations
Our consolidated results of operations include the financial impact of the Mergers that were completed on April 1, 2022. The increase in gross profit for 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to the inclusion of Lawson operations only subsequent, and not prior, to the Merger Date. Expenses for 2022 were impacted by the inclusion of Lawson operations only subsequent, and not prior, to the Merger Date, the 2021 and 2022 acquisitions, and Merger related costs.
Refer to Results by Reportable Segment below for a complete discussion of our results of operations.
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Results by Reportable Segment
Lawson Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 324,783 | $ | — | $ | 324,783 | — | % | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 154,030 | — | 154,030 | — | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 170,753 | — | 170,753 | — | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 164,217 | — | 164,217 | — | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 6,536 | $ | — | $ | 6,536 | — | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 52.6 | % | — | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 30,584 | $ | — | $ | 30,584 | — | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to operating income.
The increase in revenue, gross profit and operating income for 2022 compared to 2021 was due to the inclusion of Lawson operations beginning on the Merger Date and not including any Lawson operations prior to the Merger Date.
Supplemental Information
For management to discuss Lawson's operating results on a comparable basis, Lawson's GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include its results prior to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date in order to reflect the total operating activities attributable to Lawson for each period presented. These non-GAAP Adjusted Results presented in the table below are referred to within this results of operations discussion as "Adjusted".
| Year Ended December 31, | Adjusted Change | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | Adjusted 2022(1) | Adjusted 2021(1) | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 429,685 | $ | 371,668 | $ | 58,017 | 15.6% | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 203,401 | 171,193 | 32,208 | 18.8% | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 226,284 | 200,475 | 25,809 | 12.9% | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 208,652 | 192,283 | 16,369 | 8.5% | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 17,632 | $ | 8,192 | $ | 9,440 | 115.2% | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 52.7 | % | 53.9 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 38,626 | $ | 30,390 | $ | 8,236 | 27.1% |
(1)For comparability purposes, Lawson's GAAP results of operations were adjusted to include the historical results of Lawson prior to the Merger Date. Refer to the section Factors Affecting Comparability to Prior Periods and the non-GAAP measures section Supplemental Information - Lawson Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for more information related to the calculation of adjusted amounts.
(2)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to operating income.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Adjusted revenue increased 15.6% to $429.7 million for 2022 compared to adjusted revenue of $371.7 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in adjusted revenue compared to the prior year was primarily driven by the realization of price increases enacted throughout 2021 and 2022 to offset rising supplier costs, increased quantity volumes and strengthening sales to our strategic customers and automotive end market.
Adjusted gross profit increased $25.8 million to $226.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $200.5 million in the prior year primarily as a result of increased sales and the related price increases put in place. Lawson adjusted gross profit as a percent of adjusted revenue was 52.7% for 2022 compared to 53.9% in the prior year. The adjusted
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gross margin percentage for 2022 was impacted by increased supplier costs from inflation, supply chain disruptions and a sales shift toward lower margin customers. Adjusted gross profit was also impacted by an inventory charge of $1.7 million to reduce inventory related to discontinued products where the anticipated net realizable value was lower than the cost reflected in our records and the amortization of the fair value step-up of $1.9 million related to the Mergers. Price increases enacted throughout 2021 and 2022 have generally offset the negative impacts of these higher costs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of compensation and support for Lawson sales representatives as well as expenses to operate Lawson's distribution network and overhead expenses. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $208.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the adjusted amount of $192.3 million in the same period a year ago. Higher expense on a year-to-date basis versus a year ago were primarily driven by compensation expense to support increased sales, higher severance and higher amortization expense related to the reverse merger accounting, partially offset by lower costs related to the Mergers and stock-based compensation.
Adjusted EBITDA
During the year ended December 31, 2022, Lawson generated Adjusted EBITDA of $38.6 million, an increase of 27.1% or $8.2 million from the same period a year ago driven by increased revenue and margins.
TestEquity Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 392,358 | $ | 264,161 | $ | 128,197 | 48.5 | % | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 302,980 | 206,971 | 96,009 | 46.4 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 89,378 | 57,190 | 32,188 | 56.3 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 78,003 | 56,861 | 21,142 | 37.2 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 11,375 | $ | 329 | $ | 11,046 | N/M | |||||||
| Gross profit margin | 22.8 | % | 21.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 34,736 | $ | 16,107 | $ | 18,629 | 115.7 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to operating income.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue increased to $392.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $264.2 million during the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily driven by the TEquipment and National Test Equipment acquisitions during the second quarter of 2022 and the acquisition of MCS in 2021, which generated aggregate revenue of $96.6 million for the post-acquisition periods, as well as organic growth of 12.1% in the existing base business.
Gross profit increased $32.2 million to $89.4 million in 2022 compared to $57.2 million in the same period of 2021 primarily due to acquisitions and increased sales in the base business. As a percent of revenue, gross profit improved to 22.8% in 2022 as compared to 21.6% in 2021 driven by an expansion of margins within the existing base business and a shift in sales mix toward higher margin electronic production supplies.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $21.1 million to $78.0 million in 2022 from $56.9 million in 2021. Approximately $14.8 million of the increased costs were due to the acquisitions made in 2021 and 2022. The remainder of the increase was driven primarily by an increase in merger and acquisition related costs of $2.8 million and additional compensation and distribution costs to support the organic revenue growth in the base business.
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Adjusted EBITDA
During the year ended December 31, 2022, TestEquity generated Adjusted EBITDA of $34.7 million, an increase of $18.6 million from the same period a year ago with approximately $8.5 million of the Adjusted EBITDA increase driven by the acquisitions closed during 2021 and 2022 and increases in revenue and margins on the base business.
Gexpro Services Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 385,326 | $ | 256,129 | $ | 129,197 | 50.4 | % | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 272,462 | 183,041 | 89,421 | 48.9 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 112,864 | 73,088 | 39,776 | 54.4 | % | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 91,573 | 61,996 | 29,577 | 47.7 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 21,291 | $ | 11,092 | $ | 10,199 | 91.9 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | 29.3 | % | 28.5 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 43,206 | $ | 23,310 | $ | 19,896 | 85.4 | % |
(1)Refer to the Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA section in Overview for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to operating income.
Revenue and Gross Profit
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $385.3 million. This compares to revenue of $256.1 million for the same period a year ago, or a 50.4% increase. A selling day generally represents a business day in which Gexpro Services ships products to its customers. Average daily sales increased 51.1% over the same period a year ago, primarily as a result of revenue generated from the 2021 and 2022 acquisitions of $107.0 million for the post-acquisition periods and organic growth in the base business of 8.9% through an expansion of products and services to existing customers as well as the addition of new customers.
Gross profit was $112.9 million or 29.3% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to gross profit of $73.1 million or 28.5% for the same period a year ago. The gross profit increase was driven by the 2021 and 2022 acquisitions, an improvement in the global supply chain over 2021 activities and price increases put in place.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consists of sales and marketing expenses primarily relating to compensation, costs associated with supporting Gexpro Services’ service facilities, overhead expenses within finance, legal, human resources and information technology, and other costs required to operate the business and service customers.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $91.6 million compared to $62.0 million for the same period a year ago. The increase of $29.6 million over a year ago was primarily driven by the inclusion of the 2021 and 2022 acquisitions of approximately $24.5 million. The remainder of the increase was driven primarily by an increase in merger related costs of $2.8 million and additional compensation and product fulfillment costs to support the organic growth of the existing base business.
Adjusted EBITDA
During the year ended December 31, 2022, Gexpro Services generated Adjusted EBITDA of $43.2 million, an increase of $19.9 million from the same period a year ago with approximately $16.7 million driven by the acquisitions closed during 2021 and 2022 and increases in revenue and margins on the organic base business.
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Consolidated Non-operating Income and Expense
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | (24,301) | $ | (16,737) | $ | (7,564) | 45.2 | % | ||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | $ | (3,395) | $ | — | $ | (3,395) | — | % | ||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liabilities | $ | (483) | $ | — | $ | (483) | — | % | ||||||
| Other income (expense), net | $ | (670) | $ | 577 | $ | (1,247) | (216.1) | % | ||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | $ | 5,531 | $ | 313 | $ | 5,218 | N/M |
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $7.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily due to higher borrowings offset by a lower interest rate with the debt refinancing related to the Mergers.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
The $3.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2022 was due to the write-off of previously capitalized financing costs as a result of the debt refinancing related to the Mergers.
Change in Fair Value of Earnout Liability
The $0.5 million expense in the year ended December 31, 2022 related to the change in fair value of the earnout liabilities associated with the earnout provisions of the Merger Agreements and the Frontier earnout. Refer to Note 8 – Earnout Derivative Liability and Note 3 – Business Acquisitions, respectively, within Item 8. Financial Statement for information about the earnout liability.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other expense, net increased $1.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the prior year primarily due to the inclusion of Lawson operations subsequent to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense was $5.5 million, a 42.8% effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to income tax expense of $0.3 million and a (6.6)% effective tax rate for the prior year. The change in the year over year effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in the valuation allowance and merger costs incurred during 2022, and the creation of a consolidated group for federal income tax purposes as a result of the completion of the Mergers referenced in Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements. Relative to the U.S. statutory rate, the effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 was impacted by state taxes, foreign operations and liabilities and transaction expenses related to the Mergers.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents were $24.6 million on December 31, 2022 compared to $14.7 million on December 31, 2021.
The Company believes its current balances of cash and cash equivalents, availability under its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet its liquidity needs for the next twelve months. As of December 31, 2022, liquidity for the Company was $101.6 million comprised of $24.6 million of cash and cash equivalents and $77.0 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.
Our primary short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs are to finance operating expenses, working capital, capital expenditures, potential business acquisitions, strategic initiatives and general corporate purposes. Our current debt obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement mature in April 2027. Principal payments on the
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Amended and Restated Credit Agreement for the next twelve months are $15.0 million. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements for additional information related to our debt obligations. Access to debt capital markets has historically provided the Company with sources of liquidity, beyond normal operating cash flows. We do not anticipate having difficulty in obtaining financing from those markets in the future, however, we cannot provide assurance that events beyond our control will not have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
Sources and Uses of Cash
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows:
| (in thousands) | December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | Change | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (11,029) | $ | 10,320 | $ | (21,349) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (126,688) | $ | (41,376) | $ | (85,312) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | 148,461 | $ | 34,668 | $ | 113,793 |
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash used in operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $11.0 million, excluding non-cash items, primarily due to increased accounts receivables and inventories driven by higher sales and increased supplier costs driven by inflation and global supply chain disruptions.
Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $10.3 million, excluding non-cash items, primarily due to decreased accounts receivable and increased accrued expenses partially offset by increased inventories.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $126.7 million, primarily as a result of the other acquisitions completed during the year by TestEquity and Gexpro Services as described in Note 3 – Business Acquisitions within Item 8. Financial Statements.
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021was $41.4 million, primarily due to business acquisitions and purchases of rental equipment.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $148.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to proceeds under the April 1, 2022 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement partially offset by repayment of previous indebtedness. On April 29, 2022, the Company borrowed the $50 million available under the delayed draw term loan facility to finance the acquisition of Interworld Highway, LLC made by TestEquity. Deferred financing costs of $12.0 million were incurred during the year in connection with the April 1, 2022 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and January 3, 2022 Gexpro Services Credit Agreement.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $34.7 million, primarily due to increased borrowings on the Company's revolving lines of credit partially offset by payments on the Company's term loans and a capital contribution to finance the MCS acquisition.
Financing and Capital Requirements
Credit Facility
On April 1, 2022, in connection with the closing of the Mergers, DSG entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which includes a $200 million senior secured revolving credit facility, a $250 million senior secured initial term loan facility and a $50 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility. Refer to Note 9 – Debt within Item 8. Financial Statements for a description of the agreement.
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On December 31, 2022, we had $417.1 million in outstanding borrowings and $77.0 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under the revolving credit facility.
As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.
While we were in compliance with our financial covenants as of December 31, 2022, failure to meet the covenant requirements of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement in future quarters could lead to higher financing costs and increased restrictions, reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds, or accelerate the payment of our indebtedness and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2022, we had contractual commitments to purchase approximately $168 million of product from our suppliers and contractors which is expected to be paid in the next twelve months.
Stock Repurchase Program
The Company's Board of Directors previously authorized a stock repurchase program that permits the Company to repurchase its common stock. The timing and the amount of any repurchases will be determined by management under parameters established by the Board of Directors and depend on various factors including an evaluation of our stock price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability and other market conditions.
On November 2, 2022, the Board of Directors increased the existing repurchase program from $7.5 million to $12.5 million, and as a result, the Company had $7.6 million of remaining availability for stock repurchases under the program as of December 31, 2022. See Note 11 – Stock Repurchase Program within Item 8. Financial Statements for further information.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
We have disclosed our significant accounting policies in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Item 8. Financial Statements. The following provides information on the accounts requiring more significant estimates.
Inventory Reserves - Inventories principally consist of finished goods stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in-first-out method for the Lawson segment and primarily the weighted average method for the TestEquity and Gexpro Services segments. Most of our products are not exposed to the risk of obsolescence due to technology changes. However, some of our products do have a limited shelf life, and from time to time we add and remove items from our catalogs, brochures or website for marketing and other purposes.
To reduce the cost basis of inventory to a lower of cost or net realizable value, a reserve is recorded for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on historical experience and monitoring of current inventory activity. Estimates are used to determine the necessity of recording these reserves based on periodic detailed analysis using both qualitative and quantitative factors. As part of this analysis, the Company considers several factors including the inventories length of time on hand, historical sales, product shelf life, product life cycle, product category and product obsolescence. In general, depending on the product category, we reserve inventory with low turnover at higher rates than inventory with higher turnover.
At December 31, 2022, our inventory reserve was $10.7 million, equal to approximately 3.9% of our gross inventory. A hypothetical change of one hundred basis points to our reserve as a percent of total inventory would have affected our cost of goods sold by $2.8 million.
Income Taxes - Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of uncertain tax positions.
Goodwill Impairment - Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually on October 1st, or
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when an event or other circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value.
The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company considers factors such as macroeconomic, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant factors that would affect the individual reporting units. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, then no further impairment testing is needed. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company will move to the next step in the process. The Company will estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit's carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will record an impairment of goodwill equal to the amount the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill previously recognized.
Business Combinations - We allocate the purchase price paid for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with our acquisitions based on their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition. This allocation involves a number of assumptions, estimates, and judgments in determining the fair value, as of the acquisition date, of the following:
•intangible assets, including the valuation methodology (the relief of royalty method for trade names and multi-period excess earnings method for customer relationships), estimations of future cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates, recurring revenue attributed to customer relationships, and our assumed market segment share, as well as the estimated useful life of intangible assets;
•deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions, and tax-related valuation allowances;
•inventory;
•property, plant and equipment;
•pre-existing liabilities or legal claims; and
•goodwill as measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.
Our assumptions and estimates are based upon comparable market data and information obtained from our management and the management of the acquired companies. We allocate goodwill to the reporting units of the business that are expected to benefit from the business combination.
Valuation of Earnout Derivative Liability - The Company's earnout derivative liability is classified as a Level 3 instrument and is measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of the earnout derivative liability is measured using the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model using a distribution of potential outcomes on a monthly basis for the year ended December 31, 2022. Inputs to that model include the expected time to liquidity, the risk-free interest rate over the term, expected volatility based on representative peer companies and the estimated fair value of the underlying class of common stock. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the earnout derivative liability are the fair value of the underlying stock at the valuation date and the estimated term of the earnout arrangement periods. Generally, increases (decreases) in the fair value of the underlying stock and estimated term would result in a directionally similar impact to the fair value measurement.
Other Information Regarding DSG’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
While Lawson Products, Inc. was the legal acquirer of TestEquity and Gexpro Services in the April 1, 2022 Mergers, TestEquity and Gexpro Services were treated as the combined accounting acquirer of Lawson Products, Inc. (now DSG following the name change of the registrant on May 5, 2022) for financial reporting purposes. As TestEquity and Gexpro Services were under common control for the historical periods presented prior to the Mergers in this Form 10-K, they are presented on a consolidated basis following consummation of the Mergers for all periods presented herein. The Mergers were accounted for as a reverse merger under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the accounting guidance for reverse acquisitions as provided in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805"). Under this guidance, TestEquity and Gexpro Services were treated as a combined entity as the accounting acquirer for financial reporting purposes, and DSG was identified as the accounting acquiree. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 reflect the results of operations and financial position of TestEquity and Gexpro Services on a consolidated basis, and the results of operations of DSG's legacy Lawson business are only included subsequent to the April 1, 2022 Merger Date.
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BDO USA, LLP (BDO) was the principal auditor of Lawson Products, Inc., prior to consummation of the Mergers, and audited the 2021 financial statements of Lawson Products, Inc., which were included in Lawson Products, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Grant Thornton, LLP (GT) was the auditor of TestEquity prior to consummation of the Mergers. The historical consolidated financial statements of Test Equity and Gexpro Services (and including, the legacy Lawson Products, Inc. business since April 1, 2022) had not been audited prior to their inclusion in this Form 10-K. In connection with and following consummation of the Mergers, the Company engaged BDO to audit the 2022 consolidated financial statements (and BDO’s engagement was ratified by the stockholders of DSG at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on November 15, 2022), and engaged GT to audit the 2021 consolidated financial statements of DSG. Under the applicable SEC rules and interpretations, a registrant may only have one principal auditor at any one time, and the auditor engaged to conduct the audit of the most recently to be completed fiscal year end period is considered to be the principal auditor. As DSG had not been previously audited and BDO is both the principal auditor of DSG following the Mergers (as auditor of the most recently completed fiscal year included in this Form 10-K) and prior to the Mergers (as auditor of the registrant), the Company concluded that DSG did not experience a change in its principal auditor in 2022. GT’s engagement as auditor of the 2021 financial statements was completed upon filing this Form 10-K.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000703604-22-000019.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
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Overview
We are a distributor of products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional, and governmental maintenance, repair and operations ("MRO") marketplace. We operate in two reportable segments: Lawson and Bolt. The Lawson operating segment primarily distributes MRO products to its customers through a network of sales representatives throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Bolt operating segment primarily distributes its MRO products through a network of 14 branches located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia, Canada.
Sales Drivers
The North American MRO market is highly fragmented. We compete for business with several national distributors as well as a large number of regional and local distributors. The MRO business is influenced by the overall strength of the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy which has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. One measure used to evaluate the strength of the industrial products market is the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) published by the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI is a composite index of economic activity in the United States manufacturing sector and is available at https://www.instituteforsupplymanagement.org. A measure of that index above 50 generally indicates expansion of the manufacturing sector while a measure below 50 generally represents contraction. The average monthly PMI was 60.7 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to 52.5 for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Our sales are also influenced by the number of sales representatives and their productivity. One metric we use to measure sales rep productivity is Average Daily Sales ("ADS") in which we calculate our total sales divided by the number of selling days, which exclude weekends and holidays. Our sales are affected by the number and effectiveness of sales representatives and the amount of sales each representative can generate from providing products and services to our customers, which we measure as average sales per day per sales representative. We had an average of 1,072 sales representatives working for us in 2021 compared to an average of 1,012 in 2020, an increase of 5.9%. This was primarily driven by the inclusion of Partsmaster sales reps for the full year of 2021 compared to the four-month post-acquisition period in 2020.
Lawson segment ADS, including Partsmaster, increased 19.8% to $1,471 million in the full year 2021 compared to $1,228 million in the prior year. Partsmaster contributed $57.8 million of revenue and operating income of $1.6 million in the full year 2021, compared to $22.6 million of revenue and $0.8 million of operating income in the four-month post-acquisition period of 2020. Excluding the impact of Partsmaster, Lawson segment ADS increased 9.1% in 2021 compared to the prior year, primarily driven by improved business conditions and fewer COVID-19 related restrictions compared to the full year of 2020. We plan to continue concentrating our efforts on increasing the productivity and size of our sales team.
Supply Chain Disruptions
Along with the broader economy, we are experiencing additional pressure in our supply chain, labor shortages and inflation. This results in challenges in acquiring and receiving inventory in a timely fashion and fulfilling customer orders, which has offset some of the sales gains we recorded in 2021 compared to 2020. The supply chain disruptions have also led to increased product costs which have contributed to lower gross margins as a percentage of sales compared to the prior year. We have instituted various price increases during 2021 in response to rising supplier costs, as well as increased transportation and labor costs. Further discussion in included within the financial discussion of the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Partsmaster Acquisition
In August 2020, we acquired Partsmaster, a leading Maintenance, Repair and Operations ("MRO") distributor from NCH Corporation, with approximately 200 sales representatives and approximately 16,000 customers throughout the United States and Canada. The purchase price of the acquisition was $35.3 million in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities. We paid $2.3 million at the time of the acquisition and paid the remaining $33.0 million in May 2021. We also subleased the Partsmaster distribution center located in Greenville, TX from NCH and we currently fulfill orders from the facility. We will move out of the Greenville, TX facility and into a new distribution facility in Dallas, TX in the first quarter of 2022. The integration of Partsmaster into Lawson was substantially completed in July 2021.
Additional information related to the Partsmaster acquisition is provided in Note 3 - Acquisition in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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COVID-19 Pandemic
Various events related to COVID-19 may impact revenue, product sourcing, sales functions, and customers' ability to pay timely.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in March 2020. This resulted in widespread closures of businesses, decreased travel and other substantial restrictions on economic activity beginning in the first quarter of 2020. The most severe restrictions were effective in the second quarter of 2020, particularly the month of April. These restrictions began to be relaxed subsequent to April 2020, which led to an improved business climate and increased economic activity throughout the remainder of the year. The relaxed restrictions continued during 2021, which led to increased business activity and contributed to improved operating results compared to the prior year 2020.
We will continue to closely monitor the overall economic and operating environment and we will take appropriate actions to protect the safety of our employees, customers and suppliers. While we believe that COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions continue to negatively impact our sales and cost control measures, our ability to effectively service our customers has continued to generate positive cash flow that has enabled us to maintain a strong financial position. We plan to continue to respond to pandemic developments in a prompt and disciplined manner with an emphasis on maintaining our strong financial position.
Proposed Combination with TestEquity and Gexpro Services
On December 29, 2021, Lawson entered into the Merger Agreements for the combination of Lawson, TestEquity and Gexpro Services. See “Proposed Combination with TestEquity and Gexpro Services” included in Part I. Item 1. Business, which section is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, upon closing of the Mergers, Lawson anticipates entering into a new credit arrangement consisting of a $200 million revolving credit facility, a $250 term loan facility, and a $50 million delayed draw term loan facility, as contemplated by the debt financing commitment letter described in “Debt Financing Commitment Letter” included in Part I. Item 1. Business, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
Lawson expects to complete the Mergers in the second quarter of 2022.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR 2021 AS COMPARED TO 2020
| Year Ended December 31, | Year-to-Year | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | Amount | % of Net Sales | Amount | % of Net Sales | Amount | % | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 417,733 | 100.0 | % | $ | 351,591 | 100.0 | % | $ | 66,142 | 18.8 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 198,498 | 47.5 | 165,053 | 46.9 | 33,445 | 20.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 219,235 | 52.5 | 186,538 | 53.1 | 32,697 | 17.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 96,643 | 23.1 | 76,775 | 21.8 | 19,868 | 25.9 | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 110,605 | 26.5 | 89,213 | 25.5 | 21,392 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 207,248 | 49.6 | 165,988 | 47.3 | 41,260 | 24.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 11,987 | 2.9 | 20,550 | 5.8 | (8,563) | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (869) | (0.2) | (654) | (0.2) | (215) | |||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 801 | 0.2 | 889 | 0.3 | (88) | |||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 11,919 | 2.9 | 20,785 | 5.9 | (8,866) | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 2,513 | 0.6 | 5,672 | 1.6 | (3,159) | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 9,406 | 2.3 | % | $ | 15,113 | 4.3 | % | $ | (5,707) |
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Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted Operating Income
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 infrequently occurring, seasonal or non-operational items that impact the overall comparability. These 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.
Adjusted operating income is defined by us as GAAP operating income excluding stock-based compensation, severance expense, and other non-recurring items in the period in which these items are incurred. Operating income was $12.0 million for 2021 inclusive of $4.8 million of stock-based compensation compared to $20.6 million in 2020 which included $2.0 million of stock-based compensation. Excluding stock-based compensation, severance and other non-recurring items, adjusted operating income was $27.5 million in 2021 compared to the prior year of $27.4 million, driven by higher sales volume offset by lower gross margins and higher selling expenses and incentive compensation.
| Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income (Unaudited) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twelve Months Ended | |||||||
| December 31, | |||||||
| (Dollars in Thousands) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| Operating income as reported per GAAP | $ | 11,987 | $ | 20,550 | |||
| Stock-based compensation (1) | 4,838 | 2,009 | |||||
| Severance expense (2) | 264 | 2,077 | |||||
| Inventory reserves (3) | 1,368 | — | |||||
| Costs related to merger agreements (4) | 8,317 | — | |||||
| Acquisition related costs (5) | 687 | 880 | |||||
| Goodwill impairment (6) | — | 1,918 | |||||
| Non-GAAP adjusted operating Income | $ | 27,461 | $ | 27,434 |
(1) Expense for stock-based compensation, of which a portion varies with the Company's stock price.
(2) Includes severance expense from actions taken in 2021 and 2020 along with 2020 severance and retention costs related to the Partsmaster acquisition.
(3) Includes expense for Partsmaster inventory rationalization plan and write-down of personal protective equipment inventory to net realizable value.
(4) Primarily costs related to the negotiation, review and execution of the merger agreements relating to Lawson’s proposed business combination with TestEquity and Gexpro Services.
(5) Primarily signing bonus costs pertaining to the acquisition of Partsmaster.
(6) Represents the goodwill impairment related to the 2018 acquisition of Screw Products, Inc. as the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeded its estimated fair value.
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Sales and Gross Profits
Sales and gross profit results by operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Net sales | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson | $ | 371,668 | $ | 312,803 | $ | 58,865 | 18.8 | % | ||||||
| Bolt | 46,065 | 38,788 | 7,277 | 18.8 | % | |||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 417,733 | $ | 351,591 | $ | 66,142 | 18.8 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson | $ | 200,475 | $ | 171,258 | $ | 29,217 | 17.1 | % | ||||||
| Bolt | 18,760 | 15,280 | 3,480 | 22.8 | % | |||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 219,235 | $ | 186,538 | $ | 32,697 | 17.5 | % | ||||||
| Gross profit margin | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson | 53.9 | % | 54.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Bolt | 40.7 | % | 39.4 | % | ||||||||||
| Consolidated | 52.5 | % | 53.1 | % |
Consolidated revenue in 2021 increased 18.8% to $417.7 million from $351.6 million in 2020. Average daily sales increased to $1.664 million in 2021 compared to $1.390 million in 2020 with two less selling days in 2021. The increased sales is partially driven by the inclusion of Partsmaster sales of $57.8 million for the full year of 2021 compared to $22.6 million of sales for the 2020 four-month post-acquisition period. Excluding Partsmaster, consolidated sales improved by 9.4% on a year over year basis. Additionally, sales in 2020 were negatively impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to widespread shutdowns of businesses and restrictions on other business activity throughout the year, particularly in the second quarter of 2020. The improved business environment in 2021 led to increased sales to strategic, core and Kent customers in the Lawson segment, as well as increased Bolt segment sales compared to the prior year. This was partially offset by supply chain disruptions which led to challenges of receiving inventory in a timely fashion and fulfilling customer orders, as well as lower sales among Government customers. Excluding a foreign currency effect of $5.2 million, consolidated revenue increased by 17.3% for the year.
Gross profit increased to $219.2 million in 2021 from $186.5 million in 2020. The increased gross profit is driven by the inclusion of Partsmaster gross profit of $36.4 million for the full year 2021 compared to $13.2 million of gross profit from the fourth month post-acquisition period of 2020. Gross profit as a percent of sales decreased to 52.5% from 53.1% a year ago, driven primarily by increased freight and supplier costs due to supply chain disruptions. The organic Lawson MRO (excluding Bolt, Screw Products and Partsmaster) gross margin as a percent of sales decreased to 58.3% compared to the prior year organic gross margin percent of 59.8% prior to the effect of the reclassification of service costs associated with service revenue. This is primarily a result of additional inventory reserves of $1.4 million primarily related to the integration of Partsmaster and the impact of the supply chain disruptions previously mentioned.
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2021 | 2020 | Amount | % | ||||||||||
| Selling expenses | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson | $ | 92,726 | $ | 73,706 | $ | 19,020 | 25.8 | % | ||||||
| Bolt | 3,917 | 3,069 | 848 | 27.6 | % | |||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 96,643 | $ | 76,775 | $ | 19,868 | 25.9 | % | ||||||
| General and administrative expenses | ||||||||||||||
| Lawson | $ | 99,556 | $ | 79,837 | $ | 19,719 | 24.7 | % | ||||||
| Bolt | 11,049 | 9,376 | 1,673 | 17.8 | % | |||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 110,605 | $ | 89,213 | $ | 21,392 | 24.0 | % |
Selling expenses increased to $96.6 million in 2021 from $76.8 million in 2020 and, as a percent of sales increased to 23.1% in 2021 from 21.8% in 2020. The increased selling expense was driven by increased sales compared to the prior year, as well as the inclusion of selling expense of $21.4 million for Partsmaster for the full year 2021 compared to selling expense of $6.5 million for the 2020 four-month post-acquisition period. As a percent of sales, the increase was driven by the inclusion of Partsmaster with a higher sales cost and the return to more normalized sales activities in 2021.
General and administrative expenses increased to $110.6 million in 2021 compared to $89.2 million in 2020 primarily due to the inclusion of Partsmaster general and administrative expense of $13.9 million for the full year 2021 compared to $7.4 million in the 2020 post-acquisition period, as well as $8.3 million of expense related to the negotiation, review and execution of the merger agreements relating to Lawson’s proposed combination with TestEquity and Gexpro Services and a $2.8 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, a portion of which varies with the Company stock price. The remaining increase was driven to support higher sales and temporary cost reductions put in place in 2020 that were re-established in 2021.
Goodwill Impairment
The Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment analysis as of December 1, 2020 for the Screw Products reporting unit. The Company engaged a third-party valuation firm to determine the value of the Screw Products reporting unit and determined that the carrying value of the net assets exceeded the fair value of the reporting unit and accordingly recognized an impairment charge of $1.9 million in 2020. The impairment charge is included in General and administrative expense. No impairment charges were recorded in 2021.
Interest Expense
Interest expenses increased $0.2 million in 2021 over the prior year, due primarily to higher average outstanding balances under our credit agreement.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net was $0.8 million in 2021 compared to other income, net of $0.9 million in 2020. Other income, net in both years was driven by fluctuations in the Canadian currency exchange rate.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $2.5 million resulting in a 21.1% effective tax rate for 2021 compared to income tax expense of $5.7 million and a 27.3% effective tax rate for 2020. The lower effective tax rate in 2021 is due primarily to the release of a Canadian deferred taxes valuation allowance of $1.2 million and higher stock compensation benefits.
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Available cash and cash equivalents were $4.2 million on December 31, 2021 compared to $28.4 million on December 31, 2020. The decrease in available cash is primarily due to the payment of the acquisition liability related to the purchase of Partsmaster for $33.0 million in May 2021.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $5.4 million, primarily driven by reported operating earnings offset by increased working capital from increases in inventory and accounts receivable balances due to higher sales compared to the prior year.
Capital expenditures were $8.2 million for the full year 2021 compared to $1.7 million in 2020, primarily for improvements to our distribution centers and information technology.
Cash provided by financing activities was $10.7 million for the full year 2021, primarily due to the net proceeds of $11.9 million from our Revolving Credit Facility primarily driven by the final Partsmaster payment.
In 2019, our Board of Directors authorized a program in which we may repurchase up to $7.5 million of our common stock from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or by other methods. We did not repurchase any shares of stock in 2021 under this plan.
The Company anticipates that outstanding stock performance rights with a value of $10.7 million at December 31, 2021 will be paid out within the next twelve months prior to expiration.
Revolving Credit Facility
On December 31, 2021 we had $11.9 million in outstanding borrowings and $87.1 million of borrowing availability remaining, net of outstanding letters of credit, under our Revolving Credit Facility.
Along with certain standard terms and conditions, the Credit Agreement requires the Company to comply with certain financial covenants including an EBITDA to Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio and a Total Net Leverage Ratio. As of December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all financial covenants. See Note 13 - Credit Agreement for further information on the Company Credit Agreement.
While we were in compliance with the financial covenants included in our Credit Agreement for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, failure to meet the covenant requirements of the Credit Agreement in future periods could lead to higher financing costs, increased restrictions, or reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We believe cash provided by operations and funds available under our Credit Agreement are sufficient to fund our operating requirements, strategic initiatives and capital improvements, although we cannot provide assurance that events beyond our control will not have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
See “Debt Financing Commitment Letter”, included in Part I. Item 1. Business, for a description of the potential new financing arrangement that will be executed in connection with the closing of the Transactions, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Also, as of December 31, 2021, we had contractual commitments to purchase approximately $40.4 million of product from our suppliers and contractors. The contractual commitments have increased compared to prior years primarily due to supply chain disruptions.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
We have disclosed our significant accounting policies in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. The following provides information on the accounts requiring more significant estimates.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts — We evaluate the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where we are aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings, substantial down-grading of credit ratings), a specific reserve for bad debts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the receivable to the amount we believe will be collected. For all other customers, we recognize reserves for bad debts based on our historical experience of bad debt write-offs as a percent of accounts receivable outstanding. If circumstances change (e.g., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations), the estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to us could be revised. At December 31, 2021, our reserve was 1.7% of our gross accounts receivable outstanding. A hypothetical change of one percent to our reserve as a percent of our gross accounts receivable would have affected our annual doubtful accounts expense by approximately $0.5 million.
Inventory Reserves — Inventories consist principally of finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost (determined using the first-in-first-out method for the Lawson segment and weighted average for Partsmaster and the Bolt segment) or net realizable value. Most of our products are not exposed to the risk of obsolescence due to technology changes. However, some of our products do have a limited shelf life, and from time to time we add and remove items from our catalogs, brochures or website for marketing and other purposes.
To reduce our inventory to a lower of cost or market value, we record a reserve for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on historical experience and monitoring of our current inventory activity. We use estimates to determine the necessity of recording these reserves based on periodic detailed analysis, using both qualitative and quantitative factors. As part of this analysis, we consider several factors including the inventories’ length of time on hand, historical sales, product shelf life, product life cycle, product category and product obsolescence. In general, depending on the product category, we reserve inventory with low turnover at higher rates than inventory with higher turnover.
At December 31, 2021, our inventory reserve was $7.7 million, equal to approximately 9.5% of our gross inventory. A hypothetical change of one percent to our reserve as a percent of total inventory would have affected our cost of goods sold by $0.8 million.
Income Taxes — Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of uncertain tax positions.
Goodwill Impairment – Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is allocated to the appropriate reporting unit as reviewed by the Company's segment managers. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually on December 1st, or when an event or other circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value. The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree, is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. The Company considers factors such as macroeconomic, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant factors that would affect the individual reporting units. If we determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, then no further impairment testing is needed. If we determine that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company will move to the next step in the process. The Company
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will estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare it to the reporting unit's carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will record an impairment of goodwill equal to the amount the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill previously recognized.
Revenue Recognition - For reporting purposes, the Company has two separate performance obligations including products and vendor managed inventory services. The allocation of product and service revenue as well as the estimation of service costs requires judgments and assumptions including the standalone selling prices, the period of time that it takes for the service obligation to be fulfilled and the amount of time spent on vendor managed inventory services during the sales process. Changes in various assumptions could increase or decrease the allocation of service revenue and related costs; however, would not materially impact total reported revenues or reported operating income.
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