Hillman Companies (HLM-P)

Risks

• Risks Relating to Our Business
• Supply and demand for our products is influenced by general economic conditions and trends in spending on repair and remodel home projects, new home construction, and personal protective equipment. Adverse trends in, among other things, the general health of the economy, consumer confidence, interest rates, repair and remodel home projects, new home construction activity, commercial construction activity, and the use of personal protective equipment could adversely affect our business.
• The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
• To compete successfully, we must develop and commercialize a continuing stream of innovative new products that create consumer demand.
• Our business may be adversely affected by seasonality.
• Because our business is working capital intensive, we rely on our ability to manage our product purchasing and customer credit policies.
• We are subject to inventory management risks: insufficient inventory may result in increased costs, lost sales and lost customers, while excess inventory may increase our costs.
• We have substantial fixed costs and, as a result, our operating income is sensitive to changes in our net sales.
• Large customer concentration and the inability to penetrate new channels of distribution could adversely affect our business.
• Successful sales and marketing efforts depend on our ability to recruit and retain qualified employees.
• Increases in labor costs, potential labor disputes and work stoppages or an inability to hire skilled distribution, sales and other personnel could adversely affect our business.
• We are exposed to adverse changes in currency exchange rates.
• Our results of operations could be negatively impacted by inflation or deflation in supply chain costs, including raw materials, sourcing, transportation and energy.
• We are subject to the risks of doing business internationally.
• Our business is subject to risks associated with sourcing product from overseas.
• Acquisitions have formed a significant part of our growth strategy in the past and may continue to do so. If we are unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates, successfully integrate an acquired business, or obtain financing needed to complete an acquisition, our growth strategy may not succeed.
• If we were required to write down all or part of our goodwill or indefinite-lived trade names, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
• Our success is highly dependent on information and technology systems.
• Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential customer, employee, supplier, or Company information, whether through a breach of our computer systems, including cyber-attacks or otherwise, could severely harm our business.
• Despite current indebtedness levels, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial leverage.
• We are subject to fluctuations in interest rates.
• Restrictions imposed by the indenture governing the 6.375% Senior Notes, and by our Senior Facilities and our other outstanding indebtedness, may limit our ability to operate our business and to finance our future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities.
• We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, including the notes, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.
• Our ability to repay our debt is affected by the cash flow generated by our subsidiaries.
• Volatility and weakness in bank and capital markets may adversely affect credit availability and related financing costs for us.