Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our operating results depend upon many factors and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below. The material risks and uncertainties known to us and described below may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and may give rise to or amplify many of the risks discussed below.
Business Risks
A significant portion of our inventory may become obsolete.
Our business strategy requires us to carry a significant amount of inventory to meet rapid processing of customer orders. If our inventory forecasting and production planning processes result in inventory levels exceeding the levels demanded by customers or should our customers decrease their orders with us, our operating results could be adversely affected due to costs of carrying the inventory and additional inventory write-downs for excess and obsolete inventory.
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Work stoppages and other disruptions at transportation centers or shipping ports, along with other supply chain disruptions, may adversely affect our ability to obtain inventory and make deliveries to our customers.
Our ability to rapidly process customer orders is an integral component of our overall business strategy. Interruptions at our company-operated facilities or disruptions at a major transportation center or shipping port, due to events such as severe weather, labor interruptions, natural disasters, acts of terrorism or other events, could affect our ability to maintain core products in inventory, deliver products to our customers on a timely basis or adversely affect demand for our products, which may in turn adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, other supply chain disruptions have impacted our ability to maintain certain core products in inventory and deliver products to customers on a timely basis, and may continue to impact our ability to do so. Such supply chain disruptions may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
TestEquity relies on a single supplier for a significant amount of its product inventory, and any disruptions in such supplier’s business, operations or financial condition, or TestEquity’s relationship with such supplier, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
TestEquity relies on a single supplier for a significant amount of its product inventory, including electronic test and measurement equipment. Any disruptions in that particular supplier’s business, operations or financial condition, or TestEquity’s relationship with this significant supplier, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in our customers, product mix and pricing strategy could cause our gross profit margin percentage to decline in the future.
From time to time, our businesses have experienced overall changes in the product mix demand of customers. When customers or product mix changes, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our gross profit margins. Changes in our customers, product mix, volume of orders or prices charged, along with additional freight costs or lower productivity levels, could cause our gross profit margin percentage to decline. Our gross profit margin percentage may also come under pressure in the future if we increase the percentage of national accounts in our customer base, as sales to these customers are generally at lower margins.
Disruptions of our information and communication systems could adversely affect the Company.
We depend on our information and communication systems to process orders, purchase and manage inventory, maintain cost-effective operations, sell and ship products, manage accounts receivable collections and serve our customers. Disruptions in the operation of information and communication systems can occur due to a variety of factors including power outages, hardware failure, programming faults and human error. Disruptions in the operation of our information and communication systems, whether over a short or an extended period of time or affecting one or multiple distribution centers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Cyber attacks or other information security incidents could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, subject us to additional legal costs and damage our reputation in the marketplace.
We are increasingly dependent on digital technology to process and record financial and operating data and communicate with our employees and business partners. During the normal course of business we receive, retain and transmit certain confidential information that our customers provide to purchase products or services or to otherwise communicate with us, as well as certain information about our employees.
Our technologies, systems and networks (and those of our business partners) have been and may in the future be the target of cyber attacks and/or information security incidents that may have resulted in, or may in the future result in, the unauthorized release, misuse, loss or destruction of proprietary, personal and other information, or other disruption of our business operations, including compromise of our email systems. For example, in February 2022, DSG became aware that its computer network was the subject of a cyber incident potentially involving unlawful access. Because of the nature of the information that may have been compromised, we were required to notify the parties whose information was potentially compromised of the incident as well as various governmental agencies and have taken other actions, such as offering credit monitoring services.
Such attacks or incidents could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, subject us to additional legal costs and damage our reputation in the marketplace. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to
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expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and fix any information security vulnerabilities.
The inability to successfully recruit, integrate and retain productive sales representatives could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We have committed to a plan to increase the size of our sales force. A successful expansion in our sales force requires us to identify under-served territories that offer the greatest potential growth opportunity, locate and recruit talented sales representatives, provide them with the proper training, and successfully integrate them into our organization. This expansion will require significant investment in capital and resources. The failure to identify the optimal sales territories, recruit and retain quality sales representatives and provide them with sufficient support could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
It is also critical to retain the experienced and productive sales representatives that have historically contributed to the successes of our businesses. Failure to retain a sufficient number of talented, experienced and productive sales representatives could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to retain talented employees, managers and executives could negatively impact our business and operating results.
Our success depends on, among other things, our ability to attract, develop and retain talented employees, including executives and other key managers. The loss of certain key executives and managers or the failure to attract and develop talented employees could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The inability of management to successfully implement changes in operating processes could lead to disruptions in our operations.
We strive to improve operational efficiencies throughout our organization and to identify and initiate changes intended to improve our internal operations. The implementation of changes to our current operations involve a risk that the changes may not work as intended, may disrupt related processes, may not be properly applied or may not result in accomplishing the intended efficiencies. Failure to successfully manage the implementation of these changes could lead to disruptions in our operations.
The inability to successfully integrate additional acquisitions into our organization could adversely affect our operations and operating results.
One of our growth strategies is to actively pursue additional acquisition opportunities which complement our business model. However, there are risks associated with pursuing acquisitions, which include the incurrence of significant transaction costs without the guarantee that such transactions will be completed. Further, we may fail to successfully identify the right opportunities and/or to successfully integrate the acquired businesses, operations, technologies, systems and/or personnel with those of DSG, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. See also the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors – TestEquity Merger and Gexpro Services Merger Risks” for a discussion of various additional risk factors relating to our completed business combination with TestEquity and Gexpro Services.
We operate in highly competitive markets.
The marketplaces in which we operate are highly competitive. Our competitors include large and small companies with similar or greater market presence, name recognition, and financial, marketing, and other resources. We believe the competition will continue to challenge our business with their product selection, financial resources and services.
Changes that affect governmental and other tax-supported entities could negatively impact our sales and earnings.
A portion of our sales are derived from the United States military and other governmental and tax-supported entities. These entities are largely dependent upon government budgets and require adherence to certain laws and regulations. A decrease in the levels of defense and other governmental spending or the introduction of more stringent governmental regulations and oversight, could lead to reduced sales or an increase in compliance costs which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Debt Financing Risks
We have a significant amount of indebtedness, and our significant indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We incurred a significant amount of indebtedness in connection with the Mergers, and our significant indebtedness includes a significant amount of indebtedness under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. In addition, we may be able to incur a significant amount of additional indebtedness, subject to the terms and restrictions of our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Our indebtedness could have significant consequences on our future operations, including:
• events of default if we fail to comply with the financial and other covenants contained in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and/or other agreements governing our debt instruments, which could result in all of the debt becoming immediately due and payable or require us to negotiate an amendment to financial or other covenants that could cause us to incur additional fees and expenses;
• reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, investments, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, and limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for these purposes;
• limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, and increasing our vulnerability to, changes in our business, the industries in which we operate, and the overall economy;
• limiting our ability to buy back common stock or pay dividends;
• placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to any of our competitors that have less debt or are less leveraged; and
• increasing our vulnerability to the impact of adverse economic and industry conditions.
Our ability to meet our payment and other obligations under our debt instruments will depend on our ability to generate significant cash flow in the future. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure that we will generate cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our indebtedness obligations and to fund other liquidity needs.
Failure to adequately fund our operating and working capital needs through cash generated from operations and cash available through our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement could negatively impact our ability to invest in our business and maintain our capital structure.
Our business requires investment in working capital and fixed assets. We expect to fund these investments from cash generated from operations and funds available from our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or from our credit agreement could cause us to have insufficient funds to operate our business. Adequate funds may not be available when needed or may not be available on favorable terms.
Failure to meet the covenant requirements of our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement could lead to higher financing costs and increased restrictions and reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds.
Our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains financial and other restrictive covenants. These covenants could adversely affect us by limiting our financial and operating flexibility as well as our ability to plan for and react to market conditions and to meet our capital needs. Failure to meet these covenant requirements could lead to higher financing costs and increased restrictions, reduce or eliminate our ability to borrow funds, or accelerate the payment of our indebtedness. In addition, prior to the closing of the TestEquity Merger, TestEquity was in default of certain debt covenants of its term loan and revolving line of credit agreements. In connection therewith, on September 6, 2019, February 28, 2020, March 27, 2020, October 9, 2020 and June 30, 2021, TestEquity entered into forbearance agreements with its lender. Such term loan and revolving line of credit agreements were terminated in connection with the closing of the TestEquity Merger.
If we require more liquidity than is available to us under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, we may need to raise additional funds through debt or equity offerings which may not be available when needed or may not be available on terms favorable to us. Should funding be insufficient at any time in the future, we may be unable to develop or enhance our products or services, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Government efforts to combat inflation, along with other interest rate pressures arising from an inflationary economic environment, could lead to higher financing costs.
Inflation has risen on a global basis, the United States has been experiencing historically high levels of inflation, and government entities have taken various actions to combat inflation, such as raising interest rate benchmarks. Government entities may continue their efforts, or implement additional efforts, to combat inflation, which could include among other things continuing to raise interest rate benchmarks and/or maintaining interest rate benchmarks at elevated levels. Such government efforts, along with other interest rate pressures arising from an inflationary economic environment, could lead to higher financing costs and have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Common Stock Risks
The market price of our common stock may decline.
The price of our common stock could decrease if our financial performance is inadequate or does not meet investors' expectations, if there is deterioration in the overall market for equities, if large amounts of shares are sold in the market, if there is index trading, or if investors have concerns that our business, financial condition, results of operations and capital requirements are negatively impacted by an economic downturn or any other adverse development.
Entities affiliated with Luther King Capital Management Corporation and J. Bryan King beneficially own a significant majority of the outstanding shares of DSG common stock and therefore have significant influence over our company, and this influence could delay or deter a change in control or other business combination or otherwise cause us to take actions with which you may disagree.
Based on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by LKCM, J. Bryan King and various other persons and entities (as amended through June 17, 2022), entities affiliated with Luther King Capital Management Corporation ("LKCM") beneficially owned in the aggregate approximately 14.6 million shares of DSG common stock as of June 15, 2022, representing approximately 75% of the outstanding shares of DSG common stock as of September 30, 2022. J. Bryan King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a Principal of LKCM. As a result, LKCM has significant influence over the outcome of matters requiring a stockholder vote, including the election of directors and the approval of other significant matters, and LKCM’s interests may not align with the interests of other stockholders. This concentration of ownership could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or other business combination that might be beneficial to our stockholders.
In addition, as a result of this concentrated ownership interest, DSG believes that it qualifies as a “controlled company,” as that term is defined by Rule 5615(c) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules and, accordingly, DSG believes that, if it so desired, it would be generally exempt from the requirements of Rule 5615(c) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules that would otherwise require DSG to have:
• a majority of the DSG board of directors comprised of independent directors;
• a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors; and
• director nominees selected, or recommended for the DSG board of directors’ selection, either by (1) independent directors constituting a majority of the DSG board of directors’ independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate or (2) a nominating committee comprised solely of independent directors.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
A violation of federal, state or local environmental protection regulations could lead to significant penalties and fines or other remediation costs.
Our product offerings include a wide variety of industrial chemicals and other products which are subject to a multitude of federal, state and local regulations. These environmental protection laws change frequently and affect the composition, handling, transportation, storage and disposal of these products. Failure to comply with these regulations could lead to severe penalties and fines for each violation.
Additionally, a facility we own in Decatur, Alabama, was found to contain hazardous substances in the soil and groundwater as a result of historical operations prior to our ownership. We retained an environmental consulting firm to further investigate the contamination, including measurement and monitoring of the site. The Company concluded that further remediation was required, and accordingly, has made an accrual for the estimated cost of this environmental matter. A
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remediation plan was approved by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the remediation of the affected area is ongoing. Additional procedures may be required that could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our results of operations could be affected by changes in taxation.
Our results of operations could be affected by changes in tax rates, audits by taxing authorities or changes in laws, regulations and their interpretation. Changes in applicable tax laws and regulations could affect our ability to realize our deferred tax assets, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
COVID-19 and Other Infectious Disease Risks
The coronavirus strain ("COVID-19") created a worldwide pandemic which has continued to affect our business and could have further undetermined material adverse effects on our revenues, operating results and financial condition.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lost revenue to our company, limitations on our ability to source high demand product, limitations on our sales force to perform certain functions due to state or federal stay-at-home orders, a slow-down of customer demand for our products and limitations on the ability of some customers to pay us on a timely basis. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operational and financial performance includes affecting our ability to execute our business strategies and initiatives in the expected time frame. The extent of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on us will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on travel, transports and person to person contact, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted at the present time. On a broader scale, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted global supply chains and created significant volatility and disruption of financial markets. An extended period of global supply chain and economic disruption could materially affect our sales, workforce, supply chains, results of operations, and financial condition.
If the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, some or all of our facilities (including distribution facilities and/or branch locations) could be required to temporarily close, 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.
Our sales results may be negatively impacted in the future by any social distancing guidelines and government mandated shelter in place orders that would prevent our sales representatives from visiting customers in person, or that would otherwise reduce customer visits to our branch locations. The reduction of operations and temporary shut down by many of our customers in response to COVID-19 has also negatively impacted our sales and ability to collect on existing credit balances, and we may continue to be impacted by those and additional reductions and shut downs until the pandemic ends.
Further, vendors who are negatively impacted by COVID-19 may temporarily shut down operations or have difficulty obtaining inventory, which could negatively impact our ability to fulfill customer orders. As a result, the Company may be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the various federal, state and local restrictions enacted to combat the pandemic.
Certain items on our balance sheet require judgments on their valuation, including intangible assets and goodwill. These valuations are based on assumptions that take future financial performance into account. COVID-19 may have a negative impact to our future financial performance that would require us to revise assumptions about future financial performance and impair the value of these assets. It is reasonably possible that estimates made based on future operating results and cash flows of the Company may be materially and adversely impacted in the near term as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impairment losses related to goodwill.
In addition, the increased number of employees working remotely as a result of COVID-19 can exacerbate the risks mentioned in regards to internal controls and cybersecurity.
TestEquity Merger and Gexpro Services Merger Risks
Completion of the Mergers resulted in the issuance of a significant number of shares of DSG common stock, and may result in the issuance of a significant number of additional shares of DSG common stock, which could have a negative effect on the price of DSG common stock.
We issued an aggregate of 10.3 million shares of DSG common stock on April 1, 2022 in connection with the closing of the Mergers. In addition, we could be obligated to issue up to an aggregate of 1.7 million additional shares of DSG common
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stock in accordance with the earnout provisions of the Merger Agreements. As of September 30, 2022 , approximately 1,238,000 additional shares of DSG common stock are expected to be issued to entities affiliated with LKCM in accordance with and subject to certain terms and conditions of the first earnout provision of the Merger Agreements. The remaining 462,000 additional shares of DS G common stock would be available to be issued to entities affiliated with LKCM or forfeited in in accordance with and subject to certain terms and conditions of the second earnout provision of the Merger Agreements. The issuance of such a significant number of shares of DSG common stock could have a negative effect on the market price of DSG common stock. Such downward pressure could also encourage short sales by certain investors, which could place further downward pressure on the market price of DSG common stock.
In addition, in accordance with the Merger Agreements, DSG granted to certain entities affiliated with LKCM certain registration rights with respect to the shares of DSG common stock that DSG has issued, and would be required to issue, in connection with the Mergers. Any sales of those shares, or the anticipation of the possibility of such sales, could create downward pressure on the market price of DSG common stock.
There may be difficulties in integrating certain operations of TestEquity’s and Gexpro Services’ respective businesses with our legacy operations, and the failure to successfully combine those operations within our expected timetable could adversely affect our future results and the market price of our common stock.
The Mergers involve the combination of businesses that previously operated as independent businesses. We have been devoting, and will continue to need to devote, significant management attention and resources to combining certain business operations of TestEquity and Gexpro Services with our legacy business operations and attending to other post-closing matters. This may decrease the time our management team will have to manage our businesses, service existing customers, attract new customers and develop new products, services and strategies. One potential consequence of such distractions could be the failure of management to realize other opportunities that could be beneficial to us.
If our management is not able to effectively manage the process following the closing of the Mergers, or if any significant business activities are interrupted as a result of the process, our businesses could suffer.
Furthermore, it is possible that the Mergers could result in the loss of key employees. If we are not able to fully realize the anticipated savings and synergies in a timely manner, or the cost to achieve these synergies is greater than expected, we may not fully realize the anticipated benefits (or any benefits) of the Mergers, or it may take longer than expected to realize any benefits. The failure to fully or timely realize the anticipated benefits could have a negative effect on the market price of DSG common stock.
We are subject to business uncertainties as a result of the Mergers that could materially and adversely affect our businesses.
Uncertainty about the effect of the Mergers on employees, customers, suppliers and others having business relationships with our company may have a material and adverse effect on us. These uncertainties may impair our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel for a period of time after the closing of the Mergers. These uncertainties could also cause our customers and suppliers and others that deal with us to seek to change existing business relationships with us. Employee retention and recruitment may be challenging for the combined company as employees and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with the combined company. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that after the Mergers we will be able to attract or retain key management personnel or other key employees to the same extent that legacy Lawson, TestEquity and Gexpro Services had been previously able to attract or retain their own employees. The departure of existing key employees or the failure of potential key employees to accept employment with the combined company, despite our retention and recruiting efforts, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We have incurred and may continue to incur significant transaction costs in connection with the Mergers.
We have incurred and may continue to incur significant, non-recurring costs in connection with consummating the Mergers. Non-recurring transaction costs include, but are not limited to, fees paid to legal, accounting and financial advisors, filing fees and other costs. Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the combination process.
We may be required to recognize impairment charges for goodwill and other intangible assets.
As a result of the closing of the Mergers on April 1, 2022 , we have an amount of goodwill and other intangible assets on our balance sheet that is significantly greater than the amount of goodwill and other intangible assets on our December 31, 2021 consolidated balance sheet. In ac cordance with GAAP, our management periodically assesses our goodwill and other intangible
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assets to determine if they are impaired. Significant negative industry or economic trends, disruptions to our business, an inability to effectively integrate acquired businesses, unexpected significant changes, planned changes in use of the assets, divestitures and market capitalization declines may impair goodwill and other intangible assets. Any charges relating to such impairments could materially and adversely affect our results of operations in the periods recognized, which could result in an adverse effect on the market price of DSG common stock.
TestEquity’s and Gexpro Services’ international operations subject us to additional legal and regulatory regimes.
TestEquity has business operations and/or sales in a number of foreign countries, including Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom, and Gexpro Services has business operations and/or sales in a number of foreign countries, including Hungary and China. As a result of the completion of the Mergers, we are subject to a wider array of foreign legal and regulatory regimes (including tax regimes) than those to which we were subject prior to the completion of the Mergers. Compliance with diverse legal and regulatory requirements, including in connection with the movement or repatriation of cash, may be costly, time-consuming and require significant resources. Violations could result in significant fines or monetary damages, sanctions, prohibitions or restrictions on doing business and damage to our reputation. In addition, operating in foreign countries requires us to manage the potential conflicts between locally accepted business practices in any given jurisdiction and our obligations to comply with laws and regulations with respect to such jurisdictions, including anti-corruption laws or regulations applicable to DSG, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) and the UK Bribery Act 2010 (the “UKBA”). The U.S., U.K. and other foreign agencies and authorities have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against companies for violations of export controls, the FCPA, the UKBA, and other laws, rules, sanctions, embargoes and regulations, including those established by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). Any violation of these legal requirements, even if prohibited by our policies, procedures and controls, could subject us to criminal or civil enforcement actions, penalties for non-compliance or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business and reputation.
Litigation relating to the Mergers could result in the payment of damages following the closing of the Mergers.
DSG and members of the DSG board of directors currently are, and may in the future be, parties, among others, to litigation related to the Merger Agreements and the Mergers. Among other remedies, the stockholders in the pending litigation seek, and other stockholders could seek, monetary damages. The outcome of any legal proceedings are difficult to predict and any such lawsuits could result in substantial costs to us. The existence of litigation relating to the Mergers may also be costly and distracting to management. Further, the defense or settlement of any lawsuit or claim may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. See Note 18 - Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements, included in Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements, for a description of certain of our pending legal proceedings relating to the Mergers, which are incorporated herein by reference.
As a result of the Mergers, DSG’s ability to use its net operating losses and certain other tax attributes generated prior to the Mergers may be subject to limitations.
As a result of the Mergers, DSG’s ability to use its net operating losses and certain other tax attributes generated prior to the Mergers may be subject to limitations.
TestEquity and Gexpro Services were private companies before the Mergers and may not have had in place the financial organization, reporting and internal controls necessary for a public company.
TestEquity and Gexpro Services were private companies before the Mergers and may not have had in place the financial organization, reporting and controls which are required for a U.S. public company. The cost of implementing this type of financial organization, reporting and controls in respect of TestEquity and Gexpro Services and integrating their financial reporting processes with our financial reporting processes may be significant. If there are limitations in TestEquity’s or Gexpro Services’ financial organization, reporting and controls, or if we are unable to effectively integrate their financial reporting processes with our financial reporting processes, we could have, among other things, material weaknesses in our internal controls, violate our indebtedness covenants, miss an SEC reporting deadline or otherwise fail to comply with an applicable law or regulation.
General Risks
Our results of operations may be adversely impacted by a downturn in the economy or in certain sectors of the economy.
Any decline or uncertainty in the strength of the economy may lead to a decrease in customer spending and may cause certain customers to cancel or delay placing orders. Some of our customers may file for bankruptcy protection, preventing us
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from collecting on accounts receivable and may result in our stocking excess inventory. Contractions in the credit markets may also cause some of our customers to experience difficulties in obtaining financing, leading to lower sales, delays in the collection of receivables and result in an increase in bad debt expense.
Adverse economic conditions could also affect our key suppliers and contractors. This could lead us to incur additional expenses or result in delays in shipping products to our customers. Economic uncertainty can make it difficult to accurately predict future order activity and affect our ability to effectively manage inventory levels. There are no assurances that we would be able to establish alternative financing or obtain financing with terms similar to our existing financing arrangements, including our credit agreement.
Changes in energy costs, tariffs and the cost of raw materials used in our products, and other inflationary pressures, could impact our cost of goods and distribution and occupancy expenses, which may result in lower operating margins.
Increases in the cost of raw materials used in our products (e.g., steel, brass, copper), increases in tariffs and increases in energy costs, as well as other inflationary pressures, will raise the production costs of our vendors. Those vendors have typically looked to pass the higher costs along to us through price increases. If we are unable to fully pass such increased prices and costs through to our customers or to modify our activities, the impact would have an adverse effect on our operating profit margins and financial condition. On the other hand, a decrease in oil prices may result in weaker demand from oil and gas customers in the future, resulting in lower net sales. Changes in trade policies could affect our sourcing of product and ability to secure sufficient product and/or impact the cost or price of our products, with potentially negative impacts on our reported gross profits and results of operations.
Supply chain constraints, inflationary pressure, and labor shortages could impact our cost of goods and other costs and expenses, which may result in lower gross margins and/or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our businesses have been and may continue to be impacted by supply chain constraints, resulting in inflationary pressure on material costs, longer lead times, port congestion, and increased freight costs. This results in challenges in acquiring and receiving inventory in a timely fashion and fulfilling customer orders. In addition, we have been and may continue to be impacted by labor shortages. This results in challenges in fulfilling customer orders and can have a negative impact on our operating results as we may be required to utilize higher-cost temporary labor. We have also experienced and continue to experience inflationary pressure in other areas that adversely impact our cost of goods sold and other costs and expenses. While we have instituted various price increases during 2022 in response to rising supplier costs, as well as increased transportation and labor costs, there can be no assurance that future cost increases can be partially or fully passed on to customers, or that the timing of such sales price increases will match our supplier cost increases. As a result, we are unable to predict the impact of these constraints on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is exposed to the risk of foreign currency changes.
A number of our subsidiaries are located and operate in foreign countries and use those foreign currencies as their functional currency. Operating results denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars when consolidated into our financial statements. Therefore, we are exposed to market risk relating to the change in the value of such foreign currencies (including the Canadian dollar, the Mexican peso, the British pound sterling, the Euro, the Danish krone, the Brazil real, the Chinese renminbi, and the Turkish lira) relative to the U.S. dollar that could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
In addition, t he revolving credit facility under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is available to be drawn in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and any other additional currencies that may be agreed between us and our lenders. Any borrowings in Canadian dollars or any other foreign currency would expose us to market risk relating to the change in the value of such foreign currency in relation to the U.S. dollar.
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Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.