Lawson Products Inc.

John Wolz

2001 Revenue$379.4 million
2000 Revenue $349.0 million
2001 Closing Price26.00
2000 Closing Price27.19

expanded its fastener business at the beginning of 2001 with the acquisition of the North American Industrial Products and Kent Automotive divisions of Premier Farnell plc. Premier Farnell boosts Lawson sales 10.4%.
Lawson�s 400,000 products include such industrial supplies as hoses, lubricants and cleansers, and car parts.
Founded in 1952, Lawson purchases most products in bulk and repackages in smaller quantities, and 90% of the products are sold with Lawson�s own label.
In 1999 Lawson, through its ACS/Simco subsidiary, acquired SunSource Inc.�s Inventory Management Company Inc. and its Hillman Industrial division. The divisions comprised the OEM fastener business of SunSource.
Lawson has 16 distribution centers and a manufacturing plant � Automatic Screw Machine Products Co. of Decatur, AL � and 1,775 independent sales reps in North America.
Founder Sidney Port and his family own about 45% of the stock.

Headquarters: 1666 E. Touhy Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018. Tel: 847 827-9666 or 800 448-8985 Fax 847 297-2037
Web: lawsonproducts.com
NASDAQ Symbol: LAWS
CEO: Robert Washlow
Investor Relations: Joseph Pawlick
Founded: 1952
Employees: 1,240
Percentage of revenue from fastener-related products: 47% \�2002 FastenerNews.com