Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were $44.1 million compared to $45.8 million in the same period of 2021, a decrease of 4% (2% in constant currency). Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $193.9 million compared to $182.1 million in the same period in 2021, an increase of 7% (8% in constant currency).

The net loss was $597,000, or ($0.17) per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared to net income of $2,338,000, or $0.60 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $3.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared, on an adjusted basis, to $10.1 million, or $2.57 per diluted share (or $13.7 million, or $3.45 per diluted share, including the impact of the PPP loan forgiveness), for the same period in 2021. The declines in net income and diluted earnings per share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were mainly due to exceptionally high transportation costs and higher interest expense. In addition, the fourth quarter of 2022 was impacted by certain large retailers reducing inventory.

Chairman and CEO Walter C. Johnsen said, “Throughout 2022, our performance was impacted by unusually high ocean shipping costs, port congestion and demurrage fees, outbound freight costs due to truck driver shortages, and high fuel costs. In addition, particularly as the year progressed, production input costs increased due to inflation, and we were impacted by higher interest rates than in prior years.”

“In total, commencing in the first quarter of 2022, we incurred $4.0 million in exceptional supply chain expenses, of which $0.9 million was recognized in the fourth quarter. Many of the supply chain issues have subsided.”

Mr. Johnsen continued, “Beginning in the fall of 2022, we implemented cost savings initiatives which we expect to generate over $5.0 million in savings during 2023. These savings are due to improved efficiency in our production and warehouse facilities, reduced transportation costs, and lower spending in SG&A than in 2022. In 2023 we are continuing our program to reduce inventory which began in the fourth quarter of 2022. Our year-end inventory level decreased $2.9 million in accordance with our target for the fourth quarter of 2022. In addition, we plan to reduce inventory by $5.0 million in 2023. We intend to use the resulting increased cash flow on reducing debt and funding acquisitions.”

“We have many growth opportunities in 2023 including new first aid and medical placements in the industrial and retail markets, new Westcott craft products in the mass and ecommerce markets, new customers and programs with our Camillus hunting and camping tools and expanded sales of Spill Magic products to large mass market retailers.”

“We expect the combination of continued revenue growth, $5.0 million of cost and productivity savings, the normalization of supply chain expenses, and reduced debt to position the Company for a much-improved year in 2023.”

For the three months ended December 31, 2022, net sales in the U.S. segment decreased 2% compared to the same period in 2021. The fourth quarter of 2022 was impacted by inventory reductions that affected many of our customers. For the year ended December 31, 2022, net sales in the U.S. segment increased 8% compared to the same period in 2021. The growth was primarily attributable to increased sales of first aid and medical products.

European net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were constant in U.S. dollars but increased 13% in local currency compared to the same period of 2021. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased 2% in U.S. dollars but increased 10% in local currency compared to the same period of 2021. The growth in the three and twelve months was mainly due to new customers in the office channel.

Net sales in Canada for the three months ended December 31, 2022 decreased 22% in U.S. dollars and 16% in local currency compared to the same period in 2021. The sales decline in the fourth quarter of 2022 was due to reduced consumer demand in comparison to the same period in 2021 when there were unusually high sales driven by the pandemic along with retailer inventory reductions. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased 4% in U.S. dollars and were constant in local currency compared to the same period in 2021.

Gross margin was 32.0% in the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to 35.1% in the same period in 2021. Gross margin was 32.8% for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to 35.6% for the same period in 2021. The declines in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were primarily due to exceptionally high ocean container costs and demurrage charges. The impact on gross margins as a percentage of sales due to the aforementioned supply chain expenses were 2.1% and 1.6% for the three and twelve months, respectively, ended December 31, 2022.

The Company’s bank debt less cash as of December 31, 2022 was $55 million compared to $40 million as of December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company paid approximately $11 million for the acquisition of the assets of Live Safely Products, LLC and paid $1.9 million in dividends on its common stock. We increased inventory during the twelve-month period by approximately $10 million to prepare for continued growth and to be positioned to offset the impact of potential supply chain interruptions related to COVID-19. The increase in inventory was also a result of higher product costs.

Conference Call and Webcast InformationAcme United will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results, which will be broadcast on Thursday, March 2, 2023, 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 13735711. 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 UnitedACME 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®, Spill Magic®, Westcott®, Clauss®, Camillus®, Cuda®, DMT®, Med-Nap and Safety Made. For more information, visit www.acmeunited.com.

Forward Looking StatementsThe 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, including those risks and uncertainties resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic, future waves of COVID-19, including through the Delta and Omicron variants and any new variant strains of the underlying virus; any future pandemics; the continuing effectiveness, global availability, and public acceptance of existing vaccines; the effectiveness, availability, and public acceptance of vaccines against variant strains of potential new viruses; and the heightened impact the pandemic has on many of the risks described herein, including, without limitation, risks relating to disruptions in our supply chain, and labor shortages, any of which could materially adversely impact the Company’s ability to manufacture, source or distribute its products, both domestically and internationally.

These risks and uncertainties further 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, whether caused by COVID-19 or otherwise, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by COVID-19, natural disasters or otherwise; (iv) labor-related costs the Company has incurred and continues to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (v) the continuing adverse impact of inflation on products costs and interest rates; (vi) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment, including the additional inventory the Company acquired in anticipation of supply chain disruptions and uncertainties; (vii) potential adverse effects on the Company, its customers, and suppliers resulting from the war in Ukraine; (viii) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (ix) the impact of competition; (x) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; (xi) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; (xii) currency fluctuations; (xiii) international trade policies and 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.

ContactsAcme United CorporationPaul G. Driscoll, 203-254-6060pdriscoll@acmeunited.com

ACME UNITED CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
YEAR END REPORT 2022
(Unaudited)
           
    Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended
Amounts in 000's except per share data   December 31, 2022     December 31, 2021
           
           
Net sales $ 44,104     $ 45,793  
Cost of goods sold   30,021       29,737  
Gross profit   14,083       16,056  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 14,110       12,999  
Operating (loss) income   (27 )     3,057  
Interest expense   (937 )     (240 )
Interest income   16       3  
Interest expense, net   (921 )     (237 )
Other income, net   108       18  
Total other income, net   108       18  
Income before income tax expense   (839 )     2,838  
Income tax (benefit) expense   (242 )     500  
Net income $ (597 )   $ 2,338  
           
Shares outstanding - Basic   3,537       3,550  
Shares outstanding - Diluted   3,537       3,915  
           
Earnings per share - Basic $ (0.17 )   $ 0.66  
Earnings per share - Diluted   (0.17 )     0.60  
           
ACME UNITED CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
YEAR END REPORT 2022 (cont.)
(Unaudited)
           
           
    Year Ended     Year Ended
Amounts in 000's except per share data   December 31, 2022     December 31, 2021
           
Net sales $ 193,962     $ 182,088  
Cost of goods sold   130,403       117,287  
Gross profit   63,559       64,801  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 57,285       52,030  
Operating income   6,274       12,771  
Interest expense   (2,396 )     (922 )
Interest income   32       14  
Interest expense, net   (2,364 )     (908 )
PPP loan forgiveness   -       3,508  
Other expense, net   (246 )     (196 )
Total other (expense) income, net   (246 )     3,312  
Income before income tax expense   3,663       15,175  
Income tax expense   628       1,519  
Net income $ 3,035     $ 13,656  
           
Shares outstanding - Basic   3,528       3,471  
Shares outstanding - Diluted   3,719       3,955  
           
Earnings per share - Basic $ 0.86     $ 3.93  
Earnings per share - Diluted   0.82       3.45  
           
Reconciliation to reported net income (GAAP)        
Net income as reported (GAAP)   3,035       13,656  
PPP loan forgiveness   -       (3,508 )
Net income as adjusted   3,035       10,148  
Earnings per share before PPP loan forgiveness - Basic $ 0.86     $ 3.93  
Earnings per share before PPP loan forgiveness - Diluted 0.82       3.45  
           
ACME UNITED CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
YEAR END REPORT 2022
(Unaudited)
         
Amounts in 000's   December 31, 2022   December 31, 2021
         
Assets:        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 6,100     $ 4,843  
Accounts receivable, net   32,603     34,221  
Inventories   63,325     53,552  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,572     2,635  
Total current assets   105,600     95,251  
         
Property, plant and equipment, net   26,416     24,027  
Operating lease right of use asset   2,632     3,130  
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization 20,790     17,231  
Goodwill   8,189     4,800  
Other assets   750     0  
Total assets   $ 164,377     $ 144,439  
         
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable   $ 10,514     $ 8,977  
Operating lease liability - short term   1,130     1,000  
Mortgage payable - short term   405     389  
Other accrued liabilities   10,078     9,880  
Total current liabilities   22,127     20,246  
Long term debt   49,916     33,037  
Mortgage payable - long term   10,694     11,081  
Operating lease liability - long term   1,683     2,364  
Other non-current liabilities   927     629  
Total liabilities   85,347     67,357  
Total stockholders' equity   79,030     77,082  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 164,377     $ 144,439  
Acme United (AMEX:ACU)
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