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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications have no effect on net income as previously reported.

Revenue Recognition — The Company recognizes two revenue streams: revenues from the sale of product and revenues from the performance of VMI services. The Company offers VMI services only in conjunction with product sales. The Company does not bill product sales and services separately. A portion of selling expenses is allocated to cost of sales for reporting purposes based upon the estimated time spent on such services. Product revenue includes product sales and billings for freight and handling charges. Sales and associated cost of goods sold are generally recognized when products are shipped and title passes to customers. We accrue for returns based on historical evidence of return rates. Service revenue and associated cost of sales are recognized when services are performed. A portion of service revenue and cost of service is deferred, as not all services are performed in the same period as billed. The Company also operates as a lessor and recognizes lease revenue on a straight-line basis over the life of each lease. The Company has adopted the practical expedient not to separate the non-lease components that would be within the scope of ASC 606 from the associated lease component as the relevant criteria under ASC 842 are met.

Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amount of the Company’s cash equivalents at December 31, 2020 approximates fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts — The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is 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 the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on the Company’s 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 the Company could be revised.

Inventories — 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 weighted average for the Bolt segment as well as Partsmaster. 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.

Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation expense is computed primarily by the straight-line method for buildings, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and vehicles. The Company estimates useful lives of 20 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and vehicles. Amortization of financing and capital leases is included in depreciation expense.

Depreciation expense was $4.4 million and $3.9 million for 2020 and 2019 respectively. Capitalized software is amortized over estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years using the straight-line method. Amortization expense of capitalized software was $0.6 million for 2020 and 2019 respectively.

Cash Value of Life Insurance — The Company has invested funds in life insurance policies on certain current and former employees. The cash surrender value of the policies is invested in various investment instruments and is recorded as an asset on our consolidated balance sheet. The Company records these funds at contractual value. The change in the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies, which is recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses, is the change in the policies' contractual values.
Deferred Compensation — The Company’s Executive Deferral Plan (“Deferral Plan”) allows certain executives to defer payment of a portion of their earned compensation. The deferred compensation is recorded in an Account Balance, which is a bookkeeping entry made by the Company to measure the amount due to the participant. The Account Balance is equal to the participant’s deferred compensation, adjusted for increases and/or decreases in the amount that the participant has designated to one or more bookkeeping portfolios that track the performance of certain mutual funds. Lawson adjusts the deferred compensation liability to equal the contractual value of the participants’ Account Balances. These adjustments are the changes in contractual value of the individual plans and are recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses.

On August 31, 2020, the Company acquired Partsmaster from NCH Corporation, and assumed certain liabilities, including non-qualified deferred compensation plans related to Partsmaster employees. Effective December 31, 2020, Lawson accepted sponsorship of the portions of the non-qualified plans related to Partsmaster employees. The plans were frozen effective January 1, 2021.

Stock-Based Compensation — Compensation based on the share value of the Company’s common stock is valued at its fair value at the grant date and the expense is recognized over the vesting period. Fair value is re-measured each reporting period for liability-classified awards that may be redeemable in cash. We account for forfeitures of stock-based compensation in the period in which they occur.

Goodwill — The Company had $35.2 million and $20.9 million of goodwill in 2020 and 2019, respectively. 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 has four reporting units; Lawson MRO, Bolt, Screw Products, and Partsmaster. 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. During the first and second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company identified a triggering event due to adverse changes in the business climate related to COVID-19. As a result, the Company performed interim quantitative impairment tests as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 on the goodwill in its Bolt reporting unit, which is also the Bolt reportable segment. The Company compared the estimated fair value using the income approach and the market approach of the reporting unit with its estimated book value. Based on the evaluation performed, the Company determined that goodwill was not impaired as the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its respective carrying amounts. The income approach calculations are dependent on several subjective factors including forecasts of future revenue and earnings and the discount rate. The market approach is based on financial multiples of comparable companies.

After reviewing the financial performance of the reporting units compared to our projected results, as well as macroeconomic conditions as a whole including the effect of the COVD-19 pandemic, we determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the goodwill generated by the acquisition of Screw Products, which reporting unit is a part of the Lawson reportable segment, had been impaired. As a result, we performed a quantitative impairment test as of December 1, 2020. The Company bases its measurement of the fair value of the reporting unit using the income approach. The income approach calculations are dependent on several subjective factors, including forecasts of future revenue and earnings and the discount rate.

Related to the Lawson MRO, Bolt, and Partsmaster reporting units, the Company performed a qualitative assessment as of December 1, 2020 and determined that it was more likely than not the fair value of the reporting units exceeded the carrying value of the reporting units.

Intangible Assets — The Company's intangible assets consist of trade names, and customer relationships. Intangible assets are amortized over a weighted average of 12 and 11 year estimated useful lives for trade names and customer relationships, respectively. The Company amortizes trade name intangible assets on a straight-line basis and customer relationship intangible assets on a basis consistent with their estimated economic benefit.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets — The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and definite life intangibles, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the assets' carrying amount to their expected future undiscounted net cash flows. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. No impairments occurred in 2019 or 2020.
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. A valuation allowance is established to offset any deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not (i.e. greater than 50% likely) that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the amount of a valuation allowance to be provided on recorded deferred tax assets involves estimates regarding (1) the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, (2) expected future taxable income, (3) the impact of tax planning strategies and (4) the ability to carry back deferred tax assets to offset prior taxable income. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including past operating results, projections of future taxable income and the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies. The projections of future taxable income include a number of estimates and assumptions regarding our volume, pricing and costs. Additionally, valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be impacted by changes to tax laws. 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 tax positions.

Earnings from the Company's foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. A distribution of these non-U.S. earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise would subject the Company to foreign withholding taxes and may subject the Company to U.S. federal and state taxes.

The Company recognizes the benefit of tax positions when a benefit is more likely than not (i.e., greater than 50% likely) to be sustained on its technical merits. Recognized tax benefits are measured at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained, based on cumulative probability, in final settlement of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

Leases — Leases are categorized as either operating or financing leases at commencement. For both classes of leases, a Right Of Use ("ROU") asset and corresponding lease liability are recognized at commencement. Operating leases consist of the company headquarters, distribution centers, and Bolt branches. Financing leases consist of equipment such as forklifts and copiers. The value of the lease assets and liabilities are the present value of the total cash payments for each lease. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to discount the total cash payments to present value for each lease. The Company will review each lease to determine if there is a more appropriate discount rate to apply. Upon commencement, rent expense is recognized on a straight line basis for each operating lease. Each financing lease ROU asset is amortized on a straight line basis over the lease period. Prior to acquisition, Partsmaster participated in a leasing program where they actively leased parts washer machines to customers. The Company will continue the leasing program for the foreseeable future. These leases are classified as operating leases. The leased machines are recognized as fixed assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and the leasing revenue is recognized on a straight line basis.

Earnings per Share — Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution from the exercise or conversion of outstanding stock options, market stock units and restricted stock awards into common stock. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 no options to purchase shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because all of the options were in the money.

Foreign Currency — The accounts of foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. All balance sheet amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the applicable period end. Components of income or loss are translated using the average exchange rate for each reporting period.

Gains and losses resulting from changes in the exchange rates from translation of the subsidiary accounts in local currency to U.S. dollars are reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses resulting from the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are included as a component of net income or loss upon settlement of the transaction.

Gains and losses resulting from foreign intercompany transactions are included as a component of net income or loss each reporting period unless the transactions are of a long-term-investment nature and settlement is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable future, in which case the gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

Treasury Stock — The Company repurchased 47,504 and 32,362 of its common stock in 2020 and 2019, respectively, through its previously announced stock repurchase plan. The Company repurchased 32,682 and 64,252 shares of its common stock in 2020 and 2019, respectively from employees upon the vesting of restricted stock to offset the income taxes owed by
those employees. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of stockholders’ equity. The cost of the common stock repurchased and held in treasury was $3.3 million and $4.5 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Acquisitions — The Company recognizes identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions for the purchase price allocation process to value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill.

Use of Estimates — Preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for service revenue, service cost, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, goodwill and intangible assets valuation, and income taxes in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which revises the requirements for how an entity should measure credit losses on financial instruments. The pronouncement is effective for smaller reporting companies in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and the new guidance will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is still evaluating the effect the adoption of the new standard will have on its financial statements.