8-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2024

 

ACME UNITED CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Connecticut

001-07698

06-0236700

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

(Commission file number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Waterview Dr, Shelton, Connecticut

 

06484

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 254-6060

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $2.50 par value per share

 

ACU

 

NYSE American

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 


ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

On March 1, 2024, Acme United Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

Description

99.1

Press release dated March 1, 2024.

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

ACME UNITED CORPORATION

 

By

/s/ Walter C. Johnsen

Walter C. Johnsen

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

Dated: March 1, 2024

By

/s/ Paul G. Driscoll

Paul G. Driscoll

Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 1, 2024

 

 


EX-99.1

 

 

ACME UNITED CORPORATION NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Paul G. Driscoll Acme United Corporation 1 Waterview Drive Shelton, CT 06484

Phone: (203) 254-6060

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2024

 

 

ACME UNITED REPORTS STRONG FOURTH QUARTER AND

FULL YEAR 2023 EARNINGS

 

SHELTON, CT – March 1, 2024 – Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $191.5 million compared to $194.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of 1%. Net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2023, were $41.9 million compared to $44.1 million in the same period of 2022, a decrease of 5%. Excluding the impact of the Camillus and Cuda product lines sold on November 1, 2023, sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 declined 1% compared to the 2022 period.

 

On November 1, 2023, the Company sold its Camillus and Cuda hunting and fishing product lines to GSM Holdings, Inc. The sales price was $19.8 million, of which $1.5 million is subject to customary escrow requirements. The Company recognized an after-tax gain on the sale of approximately $9.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2023. The revenues from the divested product lines were approximately $12.0 million in 2022.

 

Excluding the impact of the sale of Camillus and Cuda, net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $8.2 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, compared to $3.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in 2022. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, including the sale of Camillus and Cuda, was $17.8 million, or $4.86 per diluted share.

 

Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 excluding the impact of the sale of the Camillus and Cuda product lines was $1.6 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $0.6 million, or ($0.17) per diluted share, for the same period in 2022. Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 including the sale of the Camillus and Cuda product lines was $11.2 million, or $2.87 per diluted share.

 

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Chairman and CEO Walter C. Johnsen said, “We had an outstanding year of strong earnings and achievements in 2023. The sale of Cuda and Camillus in the fourth quarter enabled the Company to focus on our core businesses and reduced our debt by $13 million. The Company successfully completed its previously announced program to reduce inventory by $5 million. We also implemented a series of cost reduction and productivity initiatives that generated approximately $6.5 million in savings, a substantial increase of the initial target of $5 million. As a result, we strengthened our balance sheet, raised our gross margin significantly, and our free cash flow reached a record $24 million. In addition, we gained market share in the first aid and medical business. Our Westcott team successfully introduced new craft and industrial cutting tools.”

 

Mr. Johnsen added, “The Company is looking forward to a strong year in 2024. We anticipate growth from new first aid customers, additional placement of cutting tools in the craft and mass markets, and new DMT sharpener business. With our strong balance sheet, we continue to look for accretive acquisitions.”

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, net sales in the U.S. segment decreased 6% compared to the same period in 2022. Excluding the impact of the sale of the Camillus and Cuda product lines, sales declined 2%. For the year ended December 31, 2023, net sales in the U.S. segment decreased 1% compared to the same period in 2022. Excluding the impact of the sale of the Camillus and Cuda product lines, sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 were constant compared to 2022 primarily due to customer reductions of inventory in the first half of 2023.

 

European net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2023 declined 8% in U.S. dollars and 13% in local currency compared to the same period in 2022. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased 4% in U.S. dollars and 6% in local currency compared to 2022. The declines in net sales in local currency for both periods were mainly due to a soft economy in Europe.

 

Net sales in Canada for the three months ended December 31, 2023, increased 11% in U.S. dollars and 12% in local currency compared to the same period in 2022. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased 1% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency

2

 


 

compared to 2022. The growth in local currency for both periods was mainly due to higher sales of first aid products.

 

Gross margin was 39.1% in the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to 31.9% in the same period in 2022. Gross margin was 37.7% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 32.8% for the same period in 2022. The increases for both periods were primarily due to productivity improvements in the Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities, as well as lower in-bound freight costs.

 

The Company’s bank debt less cash as of December 31, 2023, was $19.0 million compared to $55.0 million as of December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $2.0 million in dividends on its common stock and generated approximately $24.0 million in free cash flow, including a reduction in inventory of $5.0 million. Additionally, the net proceeds from the sale of the Camillus and Cuda product lines amounted to approximately $13.0 million.

 

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Acme United will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results, which will be broadcast on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. ET. To listen or participate in a question and answer session, dial 877-407-0784. International callers may dial 201-689-8560. The confirmation code is 13743912. You may access the live webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.acmeunited.com. A replay may be accessed under Investor Relations, Audio Archives.

 

About Acme United

ACME UNITED CORPORATION is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative safety solutions and cutting technology to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets. Its leading brands include First Aid Only®, First Aid Central®, PhysiciansCare®, Pac-Kit®, Spill Magic®, Westcott®, Clauss®, DMT®, Med-Nap and Safety Made. For more information, visit www.acmeunited.com.

 

Forward Looking Statements

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The Company may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements” including statements contained in this report and in other communications by the Company, which are made in good faith pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. When used in this document, words like “may,” “might,” “will,” “except,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “potential,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from our current expectations.

 

Forward-looking statements in this report, including without limitation, statements related to the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may impact the Company’s business, operations and financial results.

 

These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the following: (i) changes in the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, which may be made at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the impact of uncertainties in global economic conditions, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) the continuing adverse impact of inflation, including product costs, and interest rates; (iv) potential adverse effects on the Company, its customers, and suppliers resulting from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; (v) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by pandemics, natural disasters, or otherwise, including trucker shortages, port closures and delays, and delays with container ships themselves; (vi) labor related costs the Company has and may continue to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (vii) currency fluctuations including, for example, the fluctuation of the dollar against the euro; (viii) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment; (ix) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (x) the impact of competition; (xi) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; (xii) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; (xiii) international trade policies and

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their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position, including the imposition of new tariffs or changes in existing tariff rates; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Amounts in 000's except per share data

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

41,942

 

 

$

44,104

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

25,538

 

 

 

30,021

 

Gross profit

 

 

16,404

 

 

 

14,083

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

 

14,311

 

 

 

14,110

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

2,093

 

 

 

(27

)

Interest expense

 

 

501

 

 

 

937

 

Interest income

 

 

(41

)

 

 

(16

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

460

 

 

 

921

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

12,551

 

 

 

-

 

Other (expense) income, net

 

 

(18

)

 

 

109

 

Total other income (expense), net

 

 

12,533

 

 

 

109

 

Income before income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

14,166

 

 

 

(839

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

2,958

 

 

 

(242

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

11,208

 

 

$

(597

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding - Basic

 

 

3,610

 

 

 

3,537

 

Shares outstanding - Diluted

 

 

3,909

 

 

 

3,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share - Basic

 

$

3.10

 

 

$

(0.17

)

Earnings per share - Diluted

 

 

2.87

 

 

 

(0.17

)

 

 

5

 


 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

Year Ended

 

Amounts in 000's except per share data

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

191,501

 

 

$

193,962

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

119,291

 

 

 

130,403

 

Gross profit

 

 

72,210

 

 

 

63,559

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

 

59,022

 

 

 

57,285

 

Operating income

 

 

13,188

 

 

 

6,274

 

Interest expense

 

 

3,096

 

 

 

2,396

 

Interest income

 

 

(119

)

 

 

(31

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

2,977

 

 

 

2,365

 

Gain on sale assets

 

 

12,551

 

 

 

-

 

Other expense, net

 

 

(28

)

 

 

(246

)

Total other income (expense), net

 

 

12,523

 

 

 

(246

)

Income before income tax expense

 

 

22,734

 

 

 

3,663

 

Income tax expense

 

 

4,941

 

 

 

628

 

Net income

 

$

17,793

 

 

$

3,035

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding - Basic

 

 

3,572

 

 

 

3,528

 

Shares outstanding - Diluted

 

 

3,658

 

 

 

3,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share - Basic

 

$

4.98

 

 

$

0.86

 

Earnings per share - Diluted

 

 

4.86

 

 

 

0.82

 

 

 

6

 


 

Amounts in 000's

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

4,796

 

 

$

6,100

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

26,234

 

 

 

32,603

 

Inventories

 

 

55,470

 

 

 

63,325

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

4,774

 

 

 

2,822

 

Restricted cash

 

 

750

 

 

 

750

 

Total current assets

 

 

92,024

 

 

 

105,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

28,025

 

 

 

26,416

 

Operating lease right of use asset

 

 

2,002

 

 

 

2,632

 

Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization

 

 

19,001

 

 

 

20,790

 

Goodwill

 

 

8,189

 

 

 

8,189

 

Other assets

 

 

-

 

 

 

750

 

Total assets

 

$

149,241

 

 

$

164,377

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

12,102

 

 

$

10,514

 

Operating lease liability - short term

 

 

1,099

 

 

 

1,130

 

Mortgage payable - short term

 

 

419

 

 

 

405

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

12,392

 

 

 

10,078

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

26,012

 

 

 

22,127

 

Long term debt

 

 

13,105

 

 

 

49,916

 

Mortgage payable, net of current portion Mortgage
   payable - long term

 

 

10,284

 

 

 

10,694

 

Operating lease liability - long term

 

 

1,026

 

 

 

1,683

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

916

 

 

 

927

 

Total liabilities

 

 

51,343

 

 

 

85,347

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

97,898

 

 

 

79,030

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

149,241

 

 

$

164,377

 

 

7