Latham Group, Inc. 10-Q

Item 1A. Risk Factors We have disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report, the risk factors that materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed other than the risk factors set forth below. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the Annual Report and the other information set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. You should be aware that these risk factors and other information may not described every risk that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. We depend on a global network of third-party suppliers to provide components and raw materials essential to the manufacturing of our pools and price increases or deviations in the quality of the raw materials used to manufacture our products could adversely affect our net sales and operating results. We rely on manufacturers and other suppliers to provide us with the components and raw materials to manufacture our products. The primary raw materials used in our products are polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) plastic, galvanized steel, fiberglass, aluminum, carbon fiber, Kevlar fiber, various resins, gelcoat, polypropylene fabric and roving. Other than occasional strategic purchases of larger quantities of certain raw materials, we generally buy materials on an as-needed basis. We are dependent upon the ability of our suppliers to consistently provide raw materials and components that meet our specifications, quality standards and other applicable criteria. Our suppliers’ failure to provide raw materials and components that meet such criteria on a timely basis could adversely affect production schedules and our product quality, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and 39 Table of Contents results of operations. While we believe that our relationships with our current suppliers are sufficient to provide the materials necessary to meet present production demand, these relationships may not continue or the quantity or quality of materials available from these suppliers may not be sufficient to meet our future needs, irrespective of whether we successfully implement our growth strategy, and we may not be able to obtain supplies on favorable terms. In the event of a shortage of our raw materials, we may not be able to arrange for alternative sources of such materials on a timely basis or on equally favorable terms. For example, in 2021 and continuing in 2022, we experienced and continue to experience raw material shortages, particularly of resin, which limited our fiberglass pool production and decreased our profitability in 2021 and may impact us similarly in the future. Although we have taken actions to increase and diversify our resin and other raw materials supply base, we may not succeed in procuring sufficient supply of resin and other raw materials that we need, which could result in lost sales and a decline in our profitability. In addition, increases in the cost of the raw materials used to manufacture our products could adversely affect our operating results. The cost of many of the raw materials we use in the manufacture of our products, such as steel, is subject to price volatility. Changes in prices of our raw materials have a direct impact on our cost of sales. Accordingly, we are exposed to the risk of increases in the market prices of raw materials used in the manufacture of our products. We are experiencing inflationary pressures in certain areas of our business, including with respect to prices of our raw materials and employee wages, although, to date, we have been able to offset such pressures, to some extent, through price increases and other measures. If we are unable to increase our prices or experience a delay in our ability to increase our prices or to recover such increases in our costs, our gross profit will suffer. In addition, increases in the price of our products to compensate for increased costs of raw materials may reduce demand for our products and adversely affect our competitive position. An interruption of our production capability at one or more of our manufacturing facilities from accident, calamity or other causes, or events affecting the global economy, could adversely affect our business and results of operations . We manufacture our products at a limited number of manufacturing facilities, and shifting production rapidly to another facility in the event of a loss of one of or a portion of one of our manufacturing facilities could lead to increased costs. A temporary or permanent loss of the use of one or more of our manufacturing facilities due to accidents, fire (such as the fire at our Texas facility in April 2022 that resulted in a total loss of the manufacturing facility), explosions, labor issues, tornadoes, other weather conditions, natural disasters, condemnation, cancellation or non-renewals of leases, terrorist attacks or other acts of violence or war or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on our operating costs. An interruption in our production capabilities could also require us to make substantial capital expenditures to replace damaged or destroyed facilities or equipment. Any of these events could result in substantial repair costs and higher operating costs. Inflation could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Inflation in the United States began to rise significantly in the second half of the calendar year of 2021 and continued to increase in the first nine months of 2022. This is primarily believed to be the result of the economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the global supply chain disruptions, strong economic recovery and associated widespread demand for goods, government stimulus packages, and the war between Russia and Ukraine, among other factors. For instance, global supply chain disruptions have resulted in shortages in materials and services. Such shortages have resulted in inflationary cost increases for labor, materials, and services, and could continue to cause costs to increase as well as scarcity of certain products. Global supply chain disruptions continue to persist, and may become worse due to the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic-related lock-downs in China or for other reasons. We are experiencing inflationary pressures in certain areas of our business, including with respect to prices of our raw materials and employee wages, although, to date, we have been able to offset such pressures, to some extent, through price increases and other measures. We cannot, however, predict any future trends in the rate of inflation or associated increases in our operating costs and how that may impact our business. In addition, the demand for our products may soften as we continue to increase the prices of our products to offset the inflationary pressure. To the extent we are unable to recover higher operating costs resulting from inflation or otherwise mitigate the impact of such costs on our business, or to continue to grow our sales volumes, our net sales and gross margins could decrease, and our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Economic and political change could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Our business has been and could continue to be adversely affected by events over which we have limited or no control, including pandemics, recessions, general or specific inflations, trade restrictions, changes to tax laws, changes to other laws, and armed conflicts, among others. These events may disrupt the supply and prices of raw materials or labor required to produce the products we sell, affect the ability of our customers to operate their businesses such that they lessen their purchases from us, and affect the ability 40 Table of Contents of potential consumers of our products to purchase them. These effects may occur in any of the markets in which we compete. The current military conflict between Russia and Ukraine could adversely affect our operations, and related sanctions and other actions that have been or may be enacted by the United States, the European Union, or other governing entities could adversely affect our business, our business partners, our suppliers, and our customers. While our operations are primarily within North America and we have no operations in Russia or Ukraine, and we do not have direct exposure to customers and vendors in Russia and Ukraine, we continue to monitor any adverse impact that such events may have on the global economy in general, on our business and operations and on the businesses and operations of our business partners, suppliers and customers. The demand for our swimming pools and related products may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic conditions and trends in consumer spending. A swimming pool is a consumer discretionary purchase. Consumer discretionary spending affects our sales and is impacted by factors outside of our control, including general economic conditions, the residential housing market, unemployment rates and wage levels, interest rate fluctuations, inflation, disposable income levels, consumer confidence and access to credit. In economic downturns such as many are forecasting for the fourth quarter 2022 and continuing throughout 2023, the demand for swimming pools and related products may decline, often corresponding with declines in discretionary consumer spending, the growth rate of pool eligible households and swimming pool construction. This cyclicality in consumer demand for our products means that the results for any prior period may not be indicative of results for any future period. In addition, consumer demand for swimming pools is impacted by consumer demand for, and spending on, outdoor living spaces. While we believe consumers have increased spending on outdoor living in recent years, the level of spending could decrease in the future if interest rates continue to rise, access to credit tightens or the economy contracts. Any substantial deterioration in general economic conditions that diminishes consumer confidence or discretionary income may reduce our sales and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even in generally favorable economic conditions, severe and/or prolonged downturns in the housing market could have a material adverse impact on our financial performance. Such downturns expose us to certain additional risks, including, but not limited to the risk of dealer closures or bankruptcies, which could shrink our potential customer base and inhibit our ability to collect on those dealers’ receivables. Further, a recessionary economic environment could weaken the financial condition of our suppliers potentially leading to shortages of critical raw materials, manufacturing equipment, components and services. We believe that consumers’ access to consumer credit is a factor enabling the purchase of new pools because a significant percentage of consumers finance their pool installations. Tightening consumer credit or increases in interest rates could prevent consumers from obtaining financing for pools, which could negatively impact our sales.