COVID-19 Risks and Uncertainties

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]

COVID-19 Risks and Uncertainties

COVID-19 Risks and Uncertainties

There is substantial uncertainty as to the overall effect the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the results of the Company for 2020 and beyond. Various events related to COVID-19 have resulted in lost revenue to our Company, limitations on our ability to source high demand products, limitations on our sales force to perform certain functions due to state or federal stay-at-home orders, slow-down of customer demand for our products and limitations of some customers to pay us on a timely basis.

On March 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act to provide certain relief as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Company has elected to defer the employer side social security payments in accordance with the CARES Act. The Company will continue to evaluate how the provisions of the CARES Act will impact its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The Company has utilized the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") Act for both Lawson Canada and Bolt for assistance with hourly employee costs. The CEWS is a program that provides a subsidy of certain eligible wages commencing March 15, 2020 through December 31, 2020 subject to meeting certain criteria. During the second quarter of 2020 the Company recorded $0.9 million in subsidies from the CEWS program which is recognized as a reduction to selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. No subsidies were recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2020.

In the first quarter of 2020, the government of the state of Illinois defined essential businesses, allowing Lawson to operate during the pandemic. A change in this status could result in the temporary closure of our business. Additionally the COVID-19 pandemic could result in a temporary closure of any or all of our distribution facilities or the Bolt branch locations, which would negatively impact our operations. Other disruptions to our supply chain such as reduced capacity or temporary

shutdowns of freight carriers could also negatively impact Company performance. The pandemic is negatively impacting sales and operations currently and may negatively impact future financial results, liquidity and overall performance of the Company. Additionally, it is reasonably possible that estimates made in the financial statements may be materially and adversely impacted in the near term as a result of these conditions, including delay in payment of receivables, impairment losses related to goodwill and other long-lived assets, and inability to utilize deferred tax assets.

The Lawson MRO business model relies upon customer interaction as well as a consistent schedule of onsite visits by our sales representatives to customer locations. The Bolt business model relies on foot traffic in its branch locations. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as social distancing guidelines and government mandated shelter in place orders, have negatively impacted the ability of our sales reps to visit our customers and for foot traffic to return to our Bolt branch locations, resulting in an overall negative impact on our business.

The second quarter 2020 financial performance of the Company was substantially negatively impacted as state and local governments throughout the United States and Canada imposed strict COVID-19 related restrictions, including shutdowns of nonessential businesses and stay-at-home orders, particularly in April. These restrictions were relaxed in May and June, and were further relaxed throughout the third quarter. The economic climate in the third quarter improved as non-essential businesses reopened in both limited capacity and full capacity. The relaxed restrictions resulted in increased customer contact and more consistent customer visits for Lawson MRO sales representatives, as well as increased customer visits to Bolt branch locations. The improved economic climate and increased activity of the Lawson MRO and Bolt segments led to a sequential improvement in financial results in the third quarter 2020 compared to the second quarter 2020.

The Company has taken several steps to mitigate the potential negative impacts of COVID-19. The actions taken included, but are not limited to, furloughing employees, reducing base salaries for a period of time, canceling travel and award trips, temporarily consolidating its Suwanee distribution center operations into the McCook facility, eliminating non-critical capital expenditures and eliminating various positions throughout the Company. In the third quarter the Company brought back approximately 70% of the previously furloughed employees. The Company reopened the Suwanee distribution center in a reduced capacity in the third quarter as overall business activity increased.

The Company continues to monitor its balance sheet and liquidity position and is taking actions to protect cash flows from operations, while at the same time managing its operating expenses in relation to current sales trends. At September 30, 2020, the Company had $17.2 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and an additional $66.0 million of borrowing capacity, net of outstanding letters of credit, under its committed credit facility. The Company recorded a liability of $32.5 million in relation to the acquisition of Partsmaster.

The Company will continue to closely monitor the operating environment and will take appropriate actions to protect the safety for its employees, customers and suppliers while continuing to meet its working capital needs and remain in compliance with its debt covenants.