EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 2098
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 2098_10-K_2025_0000950170-25-034843.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Overview
Acme United Corporation, a Connecticut corporation (together, with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative first aid and medical products and cutting technology to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets. Its principal products sold across all segments are first aid kits and medical products, scissors, shears, knives, and sharpening tools. The Company sells its products primarily to mass market and e-commerce retailers, industrial distributors, wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply superstores, sporting goods stores, and hardware chains.
The Company's operations are in the United States, Canada, Europe (located in Germany) and Asia (located in Hong Kong and China). The operations in the United States, Canada and Europe are primarily involved in product development, marketing, sales, administrative, manufacturing and distribution activities. The operations in Asia consist of sourcing, product development, production planning, quality control and sales activities. Total net sales in 2024 were $194 million. The Company was organized as a partnership in l867 and incorporated in l882 under the laws of the State of Connecticut.
The Company sources most of its products from suppliers located outside the United States, primarily in Asia. In recent years, as a result of acquisitions, the amount of first aid and medical products produced in North America has been increasing substantially. The components for the first aid kits are sourced from both U.S. and international suppliers. The Company assembles its first aid kits at its facilities in the following locations:
•Vancouver, WA,
•Rocky Mount, NC,
•Keene, NH
•Laval, Canada
In addition, the Company has manufacturing facilities in the U.S. as follows:
•La Vergne, TN - Spill Magic products
•Santa Ana, CA - Spill Magic products
•Marlborough, MA - DMT sharpening tools
•Brooksville, FL - Med-Nap alcohol and benzalkonium chloride non-alcohol (BZK) wipes.
Recent Accomplishments and Initiatives
Quantitative Achievements
In 2024, the Company’s key financial accomplishments included the following:
•Sales Growth - Continued strong average annual growth rate, 7% over ten years (2015 - 2024).
•Strong Financial Position - In recent years the Company has significantly reduced bank debt to provide at December 31, 2024, approximately $47 million of availability under its $65 million credit facility. This strong liquidity will allow the Company to fund acquisitions and growth.
•Dividend Increase - Increase in the quarterly dividend from $.02 per share in 2004 to $.15 per share in 2024 - an eight-fold increase.
Business and Operational Milestones and Achievements
•Diversification of Product Lines - - During the past eight years, sales of first aid and medical products have grown to approximately 61% of total sales. As a result, we have broadened our customer and revenue base. In addition, our sales of school, home, craft and office products increased 10% in 2024, partly due to the introduction of new products.
•First Aid Acquisition - On May 23, 2024, the Company acquired the assets of Elite First Aid, Inc., a leading supplier of tactical, trauma and emergency response products. The Company successfully completed the integration of the assets and business in the fourth quarter of 2024.
•Markets/Products- In 2024 we:
▪ Introduced first aid SmartCabinet 2.0 with patented RFID technology that automates the requisition process and helps end users to maintain OSHA compliance.
▪ Expanded in the craft market by providing advanced cutting tools which are used to create precise and unique designs.
▪ Expanded into the home and culinary markets with a wide variety of DMT sharpening tools, including versatile countertop pull-through sharpeners.
•Cost Reduction Initiatives - In 2024, the Company implemented a variety of productivity enhancements across our manufacturing and distribution facilities, along with a reduction in SG&A expenses and other costs, leading to approximately $2 million in ongoing annual savings.
•Capacity Expansion - In 2024, the Company installed a new storage racking system in our 340,000 square foot Rocky Mount, NC distribution center, resulting in a 30% capacity increase.
Principal Products
The Company markets and sells under two main product categories: i) first aid and medical; and ii) cutting and sharpening. The first aid and medical category includes first aid and safety products (First Aid Only®, PhysiciansCare®, Pac-Kit®, Spill Magic®, First Aid Central®, Med-Nap, Safety Made and Elite brands). The cutting and sharpening categories include school, home and office products (Westcott® brand), and hardware, industrial and sporting goods products (Clauss® and DMT® brands).
FIRST AID AND MEDICAL
First Aid Only
The First Aid Only brand offers first aid and medical products that meet regulatory requirements for a broad range of industries. The Smart Compliance® first aid system is an effective solution for maintaining compliance with ANSI standards. The Company’s SafetyHub App technology digitizes the replenishment process for a broad range of first aid components and provides data analytics to manage costs. Our next generation SmartCompliance Complete ™ offers a modular system that addresses first aid, bloodborne pathogen, bleed control, eyewash and OTC medication requirements for the most challenging workplace environments.
PhysiciansCare
The PhysiciansCare brand offers a variety of portable eyewash solutions and over-the counter medications, including the active ingredients aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Spill Magic
Spill Magic is a leader in bodily fluid and spill clean-up solutions with a lightweight, absorbent powder that quickly encapsulates a spill. The Spill Response System provides all the necessary tools to effectively clean up spills, saving time, money and reducing slip & fall accidents in various venues, including grocery, retail, and big box stores; food service & hotel chains; municipal facilities; and industry-specific distributors in the U.S.
First Aid Central
First Aid Central has been a provider and manufacturer of a wide variety of first aid kits since 2007. The first aid kits facilitate compliance by Canadian businesses with federal & provincial first aid and medical regulations through their wide variety of first aid kits, refills, and safety supplies, including CPR kits, burn kits, and automotive and emergency first aid kits.
Med-Nap
Med Nap, at our Brooksville facility, manufactures medical grade products, including alcohol prep pads and benzalkonium chloride antiseptic wipes. Med-Nap provides to the Company vertical integration advantages including shorter delivery times, lower total costs, and a U.S. source of supply during unprecedented healthcare challenges. The facilities offer a platform for future product expansion.
Safety Made
Safety Made is a leading manufacturer of first aid kits for the promotional products industry.
Elite First Aid
Elite is a leading supplier of tactical, trauma and emergency response products.
CUTTING AND SHARPENING
School, Home and Office
Westcott
Westcott, with a history of quality dating back to 1872, provides innovative cutting and measuring products for the school, home and office as well as industrial safety cutting. Principal products under the Westcott brand include scissors, rulers, pencil sharpeners, paper trimmers, safety cutters, lettering products, glue guns and other craft products. Westcott is one of the leading scissor and ruler brands in North America.
Many of the Westcott branded cutting products contain patented titanium bonding and proprietary non-stick coatings, making the blades more than three times harder than stainless steel as well as reducing friction and corrosion.
Westcott continues to expand their catalog of craft items with patented new technologies, handle designs and construction that has driven Westcott to be a leader in fashionable and functional solutions for students and adults. In addition, Westcott continues to build on its cutting line with an expanded assortment of ceramic safety knives which include new features, allowing its customers to remain safer on the job.
Hardware, Industrial and Sporting Goods
Clauss
Clauss, with its roots dating back to 1877, offers a line of quality cutting tools for professionals in the hardware & industrial, floral, sewing and housewares channels. Many of the Clauss products are enhanced with the Company’s patented titanium and proprietary non-stick coatings. In 2021, Clauss was the first to innovate and apply industrial Carbide materials to steel cutting blades, significantly improving cutting performance and edge-retention for hardware applications.
DMT
Diamond Machining Technology (DMT) was founded in 1976 by aerospace engineers and is a leader in diamond tools for sharpening knives, scissors, chisels, skis, skates and many other edges. The DMT products use a proprietary process of finely dispersed diamonds bonded to the surfaces of sharpeners and are famous for providing diamond sharpeners with the flattest sharpening surface, greatest concentrated amount of diamonds and the highest quality diamonds per sharpener. In 2023, DMT launched a broad assortment of products that provide simple sharpening solutions to the consumer and create enthusiasm surrounding the sharpening category. The EdgeSharp product assortment features an entirely new line of sharpeners that are easy to use while providing a safe sharpening experience. Today, DMT continues to innovate its sharpening assortment with sharpening solutions for the home consumer while continuing to provide the very best in professional sharpening
solutions. In 2024, we expanded into the home and culinary markets with a wide variety of tools, including versatile countertop pull-through sharpeners.
Intellectual Property
The Company owns many patents and trademarks that are important to its business. The Company’s success depends in part on its ability to maintain patent protection for its products, to preserve its proprietary technology and to operate without infringing upon the patents or proprietary rights of others. The Company generally files patent applications in the United States and foreign countries where patent protection for its technology is appropriate and available.
The Company also considers its trademarks important to the success of its business. The more significant trademarks include Westcott, Clauss, PhysiciansCare, First Aid Only, DMT, Pac-Kit, Spill Magic and First Aid Central.
Patents and trademarks are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The weighted average amortization period remaining for intangible assets at December 31, 2024 was 8 years.
Product Distribution; Major Customers
Independent manufacturer representatives and direct sales are primarily used to sell the Company’s line of consumer products to mass market, e-commerce retailers, industrial distributors, wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply super stores, school supply distributors, and hardware chains. The Company also sells its products directly to consumers through its own websites. The Company had two customers in 2024 and 2023, respectively, that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to these two customers were approximately 14% and 13% of consolidated net sales in 2024 and 14% and 12% in 2023.
Accounts Receivable
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had three customers each of which represented 10% or more of total trade receivables. Accounts receivables from these three customers were approximately 16%, 15%, and 11% of consolidated accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had three customers that individually represented 10% or more of total trade receivables, which accounted for 17%, 14%, and 14%.
Competition
The Company competes with many companies in each market and geographic area. The Company believes that the principal points of competition in these markets are product innovation, quality, price, merchandising, design and engineering capabilities, product development, timeliness and completeness of delivery, conformity to customer specifications and post-sale support. The major competitors in the first aid and safety category are Honeywell and Cintas. The major competitors in the cutting category are 3M and Fiskars Corporation.
Seasonality
Traditionally, the Company’s sales of its cutting, sharpening and measuring products are stronger in the second and third quarters and weaker in the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, due to the seasonal nature of the Westcott back-to-school market.
Compliance with Environmental Laws
The Company believes that it is in compliance with applicable environmental laws. The Company anticipates that no material adverse financial impact will result from compliance with current environmental rules and regulations.
Employees and Human Capital Considerations
The Company views its human capital as its most important asset. As of December 31, 2024, the Company employed 633 people, all of whom are full time and none of whom is covered by union contracts. Employee relations are considered good and the Company is not aware of any material work force issues.
Culture and Diversity
The Company’s workforce represents nearly all demographics, with diversity in age, race, ethnicity, and gender. Historically, the Company’s standard recruiting and hiring initiatives have created a diverse workforce. Our employees reflect the communities in which we are located. We seek to provide opportunities for growth and development at all levels of our organization.
Creating and fostering inclusive work environments and teams allow us to create an engaging and welcoming culture for our employees, which we believe positively affects the quality of our products and the experience we deliver to our customers.
Compensation and Benefits
The Company is committed to providing market-competitive pay and benefits to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
The Company provides a range of benefits to its employees and their families, including medical and prescription drug, dental, vision and long-term disability coverage, as well as 401(k) savings and flexible spending accounts.
Available Information
You may obtain at no charge, a copy of the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports on the Company’s website at http://www.acmeunited.com or by contacting the Investor Relations Department at the Company’s corporate offices by calling (203) 254-6060. Such reports and other information are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Ownership of the Company’s securities involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Potential investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K before deciding whether to invest in the Company’s securities. The Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The risks described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks that are currently unknown to the Company or that the Company currently considers immaterial may also impair its business or adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations.
Industry and Operational Risks
The Company is subject to a number of significant operational risks that might cause the Company’s actual results to vary materially from its forecasts, targets or projections, including:
•failing to achieve planned revenue and profit growth in each of the Company's business segments;
•changes in customer requirements and in the volume of sales to principal customers;
•the ability of the Company to anticipate timing of orders and shipments particularly in the e-commerce area;
•reliance on third party distributors;
•emergence of new competitors or consolidation of existing competitors; and
•industry demand fluctuations.
The Company’s expectations for both short and long-term future net revenues are based on the Company’s estimates of future demand. Orders from the Company’s principal customers are ultimately based on demand from end-users and end-user demand can be difficult to predict. Low end-user demand would negatively affect orders the Company receives from distributors and other principal customers which could, in turn adversely affect the Company’s revenues in any fiscal period. Additionally, revenue is based, in part, upon the Company’s ability to source its products and timely ship them to customers to meet such demand. If the Company’s estimates of sales are not accurate and the Company experiences unforeseen variability in its revenues and operating results, the Company may be unable to adjust its expense levels accordingly and its profit margins could be adversely affected.
Changes in United States and foreign laws and policies governing international trade, export controls, manufacturing, and investment in the jurisdictions where we currently source or sell products, and any negative consequences resulting from such changes, could materially affect our business.
Over the last seven years, the United States has undertaken a series of actions to increase tariffs on certain goods imported into the United States. In response to prior tariffs, certain governments imposed retaliatory tariffs on various goods, and in response to new or increased United States
tariffs, have threatened to similarly retaliate. Prior tariffs have increased the cost of certain of our products to customers, particularly products for the school and office markets that are manufactured for us in China. Historically, we have mitigated and will continue our efforts to mitigate the impact of tariffs by negotiations with suppliers and customers, passing price increases on to our customers, and diversifying our sources of products and materials. However, there can be no assurance that our mitigation actions will continue to be effective.
Specifically, the state of tariffs and other trade measures between the United States and China remains in flux. Starting in 2018, the United States and China engaged in an escalating imposition of tariffs and trade restrictions on each other’s products. The two countries signed a preliminary trade agreement in early 2020. However, in February 2025, the United States imposed additional tariffs on imports of Chinese-origin goods, and China announced retaliatory tariffs and additional trade restrictions on United States goods. In addition, in February 2025, the United States imposed new tariffs on Canada and Mexico and has threatened member countries of the European Union with tariffs. Canada and Mexico subsequently have announced retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. goods.
The impact that these and any other trade measures will have on our business and financial results is difficult to predict, particularly because trade is a current focus of the new United States administration and it is not possible to know the amount, scope, and nature of any additional tariffs or other trade measures the United States will adopt and how trading partners will respond to the administration’s future and present actions.
Any new or continued trade disputes or increased tensions between the United States and other countries, and any governmental actions, including further increases of existing tariffs or the imposition of new tariffs, may continue to adversely impact demand for our products, increase our costs, and disrupt our supply chain. These risks, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business results of operations and financial condition.
We expect to continue to experience inflationary pressure on our cost structure, and price increases may not be sufficient to offset cost increases or may result in sales volume declines.
Although inflation in the United States had been relatively low for many years, from 2021 to the present, the United States’ economy has experienced a substantial rise in the inflation rate. There is increased uncertainty as to whether the rise in inflation will continue and for how long. Increases in inflation raise the Company’s costs for labor, raw materials and services. Future market and competitive pressures may prohibit the Company from raising prices to offset increased raw material, or other product costs, including but not limited to packaging, direct labor, overhead, employee benefits, shipping costs, and other inflationary items, or to offset currency fluctuations. The inability to pass these costs through to the Company’s customers could have a negative effect on its results of operations. Commencing in the first half of 2022, the Company was not able to fully pass these costs along to customers. In the future, we may continue to experience future inflationary pressure on our cost structure. We may be able to pass some or all of these cost increases to customers by increasing the selling prices of our products in the future; however, higher product prices may also result in a reduction in sales volume and/or consumption. If we are not able to mitigate these inflationary pressures, such as by increasing our selling prices sufficiently, there could be a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
The ability to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner and to satisfy our customers’ fulfillment standards are subject to many factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Timely delivery of our products and the fulfillment of consumer demand throughout the year is critical to our success. Various factors that might affect product delivery to customers include vendor production delays, difficulties encountered in shipping from overseas, availability of shipping containers, customs clearance delays, and cybersecurity attacks on our vendors. We also rely upon third-party carriers for our product shipments from our distribution centers to customers. Accordingly, we are subject to risks, including inclement weather, natural disasters, cybersecurity attacks, general availability of trucks, and increased security restrictions associated with such carriers’ ability to provide delivery services to meet our shipping needs. The COVID-19 pandemic caused and future pandemics could cause disruptions in our global supply chain as a result of shortages of factory workers, travel restrictions, barriers to the movement of goods, and temporary closures of production facilities and distribution centers, all of which factors have resulted in extended lead times. Failure to deliver products to our customers in a timely and effective manner, has, in a number of instances, subjected us to penalties pursuant to certain of our contractual arrangements. Should any of the foregoing occur to a material extent, our reputation and brands could be damaged and we could suffer the loss of customers or reduced orders.
If we do not successfully optimize and manage our fulfillment processes, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed.
If we do not optimize and manage our fulfillment processes successfully and efficiently, it could result in excess or insufficient fulfillment, an increase in costs or impairment charges or harm our business in other ways. If we do not have sufficient fulfillment capacity or experience a
problem fulfilling orders in a timely manner, our customers may experience delays in receiving their purchases, which could harm our reputation and our relationship with our customers.
If we add new products or categories with different fulfillment requirements or change the mix in products that we sell, our fulfillment will become increasingly complex. Failure to successfully address such challenges in a cost-effective and timely manner could impair our ability to timely deliver our customers’ purchases and could harm our reputation and ultimately, our business, financial condition and operating results.
If we grow faster than we anticipate, we may exceed our distribution centers’ capacity, we may experience problems fulfilling orders in a timely manner or our customers may experience delays in receiving their purchases, which could harm our reputation and our relationship with our customers, and we would need to increase our capital expenditures more than anticipated.
Matters relating to the employment market and prevailing wage standards may adversely affect our business.
Our ability to meet our labor needs on a cost-effective basis is subject to numerous external factors, including the availability of qualified personnel in the workforce in the local markets in which we operate, unemployment levels within those markets, prevailing wage rates which have increased significantly, health and other insurance costs and changes in employment and labor laws. In the event prevailing wage rates continue to increase in the markets in which we operate, we may be required to concurrently increase the wages paid to our employees to maintain the quality of our workforce and customer service. To the extent such increases are not offset by price increases, our profit margins may decrease as a result. If we are unable to hire and retain employees capable of meeting our business needs and expectations, our business and brand image may be impaired. Any failure to meet our staffing needs or any material increase in turnover rates of our employees may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Further, we rely on the ability to attract and retain labor on a cost-effective basis. Our ability to attract and retain a sufficient workforce on a cost-effective basis depends on several factors. We may not be able to attract and retain a sufficient workforce on a cost-effective basis in the future. In the event of increased costs of attracting and retaining a workforce, our profit margins may materially decline as a result.
The Company’s Westcott business is subject to risks associated with seasonality which could adversely affect its cash flow, financial condition, or results of operations.
The Company’s business, historically, has experienced higher sales volume in the second and third quarters of the calendar year, when compared to the first and fourth quarters. The Company is a major supplier of products related to the “back-to-school” season, which occurs principally during the months of May through August. If this typical seasonal increase in sales of certain portions of the Company’s product line does not materialize in any year for any reason, the Company could experience a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to manage growth and continue to expand our operations successfully could adversely affect our financial results.
Our business has experienced significant historical growth both internally and through acquisitions through the years including through the acquisitions of Hawktree in 2023 and Elite First Aid in 2024. We expect our business to continue to grow organically and seek to grow through strategic acquisitions both domestically and internationally. This growth places significant demands on management and operational systems. If we cannot effectively manage our growth, we would likely experience operational inefficiencies and incur unanticipated costs, thus negatively impacting our operating results. To the extent we grow through strategic acquisitions, our success will depend on selecting the appropriate targets, integrating such acquisitions quickly and effectively and realizing any expected synergies and cost savings related to such acquisitions.
We may be unable to accurately forecast net sales and appropriately plan our expenses in the future.
We base our expense levels on our operating forecasts and estimates of future net sales and gross margins. Net sales and operating results are difficult to forecast, because they generally depend on the volume, timing and type of the orders we receive, all of which are uncertain. Additionally, our business is affected by general economic and business conditions in our markets. We may be unable to adjust our spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected shortfall in net sales. Any failure to accurately predict net sales or gross margins could cause our operating results in any given quarter, or a series of quarters, to be lower than expected, which could cause the price of our Common Stock to decline substantially.
Unfavorable shifts in industry-wide demand for the Company’s products could result in inventory valuation risk.
The Company evaluates its ending inventories for excess quantities, impairment of value, and obsolescence. This evaluation includes analysis of sales levels by product and projections of future demand based upon input received from our customers, sales team, and management. If inventories on hand are in excess of demand or slow moving, appropriate write-downs may be recorded. In addition, the Company might have to write off inventories that are considered obsolete based upon changes in customer demand, product design changes, or new product
introductions, which eliminate demand for existing products. Historically, the Company has not had to materially write down or write off product inventories.
Loss of a major customer could result in a decrease in the Company’s future sales and earnings.
Sales of our products are primarily concentrated in a few major customers including commercial retailers, office product superstores, and mass market distributors. The Company had two customers in 2024 and 2023, that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to those customers were approximately 14% and 13% in 2024 and 14% and 12% in 2023, respectively. The Company had three customers in 2024 that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated accounts receivable. Accounts receivable to those customers were approximately 16%, 15%, and 11%. In 2023, the Company had receivables to these customers of approximately 17%, 14%, and 14%, respectively. The Company anticipates that a limited number of customers may account for a substantial portion of its total net revenues for the foreseeable future. The business risks associated with this concentration, including increased credit risks for these and other customers and the possibility of related bad debt write-offs, could negatively affect our margins and profits. Additionally, the loss of a major customer, whether through competition or consolidation, or a disruption in sales to such a customer, could result in a decrease of the Company’s future sales and earnings.
Because our products are primarily sold by third parties, our financial results depend in part on the financial health of these parties and any loss of a third-party distributor could adversely affect the Company’s revenues.
A large majority of the Company’s products are sold through third-party distributors and large retailers. Some of our distributors also market products that compete with our products. Changes in the financial or business conditions or the purchasing decisions of these third parties or their customers could affect our sales and profitability.
Additionally, no assurances can be given that any or all of such distributors or retailers will continue their relationships with the Company. Distributors and other significant retail customers cannot easily be replaced and the loss of revenues and the Company’s inability to reduce expenses to compensate for the loss of revenues could adversely affect the Company’s net revenues and profit margins.
The loss of key management could adversely affect the Company’s ability to run its business.
The Company’s success depends, to a large extent, on the continued service of its executive management team, operating officers and other key personnel. The Company must therefore continue to recruit, retain and motivate management and operating personnel sufficient to maintain its current business and support its projected growth. The Company’s inability to meet its staffing requirements in the future could adversely affect its results of operations.
Execution or the lack thereof, of our e-commerce business may reduce our operating results.
The continued successful growth of our e-commerce business depends, in part, on third parties and factors over which we have limited control, including difficulty forecasting demand, changing consumer preferences, and e-commerce buying trends, both domestically and abroad, as well as promotional or other advertising initiatives employed by our customers or other third parties on their e-commerce sites. Additionally, sales in our e-commerce distribution channel may also divert sales from our other customers.
Additionally, the success of our e-commerce business depends, in part, on the timely receipt of our products by our customers and their end users. The efficient flow of our products requires that our distribution facilities have adequate capacity to support increases in our e-commerce business. If we encounter difficulties with forecasting demand and supply to our distribution facilities, we could face shortages of inventory, resulting in “out of stock” conditions in the e-commerce sites operated by our customers or other third parties, and we could incur significantly higher costs and longer lead times associated with distributing our products to our customers.
Our failure to successfully respond to these risks and uncertainties might adversely affect the sales in our e-commerce business, as well as damage our brands.
The Company is subject to intense competition in all of the markets in which it competes.
The Company’s products are sold in highly competitive markets including at mass merchants, high volume office supply stores and online. The Company believes that the principal points of competition in these markets are product innovation, quality, price, merchandising, design and engineering capabilities, product development, timeliness and completeness of delivery, conformity to customer specifications and post-sale support. Competitive conditions may require the Company to match or better competitors’ prices to retain business or market shares. The Company believes that its competitive position will depend on continued investment in innovation and product development, manufacturing and sourcing, quality standards, marketing and customer service and support. The Company’s success will depend in part on its ability to anticipate and offer products that appeal to the changing needs and preferences of our customers in the various market categories in which it competes.
The Company may not have sufficient resources to make the investments that may be necessary to anticipate those changing needs and the Company may not anticipate, identify, develop and market products successfully or otherwise be successful in maintaining its competitive position. In addition, there are numerous uncertainties inherent in successfully developing and commercializing innovative new products on a continuing basis, and new product launches may not provide expected growth results. There are no significant barriers to entry into the markets for most of the Company’s products.
Compromises of our information systems or unauthorized access to confidential information or our customers' or associates' personal information may materially harm our business or damage our reputation.
Through our sales and marketing activities and our business operations, we collect and store confidential information and certain personal information from our customers and associates. We also process payment card information and check information. In addition, in the normal course of business, we gather and retain personal information about our associates and generate and have access to confidential business information. Although we have taken steps designed to safeguard such information, there can be no assurance that such information will be protected against unauthorized access or disclosure. Computer hackers, if successful, may misappropriate such information. An employee of the Company, contractor or other third-party with whom we do business may also attempt to circumvent our security measures in order to obtain such information or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information. We could be subject to liability for failure to comply with privacy and information security laws, for failing to protect personal information, or for misusing personal information, such as use of such information for an unauthorized marketing purpose. Any compromise of our systems or data could disrupt our operations, damage our reputation, and expose us to claims from customers, financial institutions, regulators, payment card associations, employees, and other persons, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Although the Company has recently reduced its indebtedness, we continue to borrow under our bank line of credit, which could adversely affect our financial condition and ability to operate our business.
As of December 31, 2024, excluding net deferred financing costs of $34,983, $17,640,550 was outstanding and $47,359,450 was available for borrowing under the Company’s revolving credit facility. The Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rocky Mount, NC and Vancouver, WA were financed by a fixed rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. of which $10,409,797 was outstanding as of December 31, 2024. Our indebtedness if it were to increase substantially, combined with our other financial obligations and contractual commitments, could have significant consequences for our business. For example, it could:
•make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations under any of our debt instruments, including restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default under the agreements governing such indebtedness;
•require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, business development and other purposes;
•compromise our ability to capitalize on business opportunities and to react to competitive pressures, as compared to our competitors, due to our high level of debt and the restrictive covenants in our loan documents;
•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate;
•limit our ability to borrow additional funds, or to dispose of pledged assets to raise funds, if needed, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other corporate purposes.
These restrictions could adversely affect our financial condition and limit our ability to successfully implement our growth strategy.
In addition, we may need additional financing to support our business and pursue our growth strategy, including for strategic acquisitions. Our ability to obtain additional financing, if and when required, will depend on investor demand, our operating performance, the condition of the capital markets and other factors. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms when required, or at all. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity-linked or debt securities, those securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our common stock, and, in the case of equity and equity-linked securities, our existing stockholders may experience dilution.
The Company may need to raise additional capital to fund its operations.
The Company’s management believes that, under current conditions, the Company’s current cash and cash equivalents, cash generated by operations, together with the borrowing availability under its revolving loan agreement with HSBC Bank N.A., will be sufficient to fund planned
operations for the next twelve months from the issuance date of this report. However, if the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash from operations, it may be required to find additional funding sources. If adequate financing is unavailable or is unavailable on acceptable terms, the Company may be unable to maintain, develop or enhance its operations, products, and services, take advantage of future opportunities or adequately respond to competitive pressures.
Changes in interest rates could adversely affect us.
We have exposure to increases in interest rates under our revolving credit loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. which presently bears interest at SOFR + 1.70%. The economy has been experiencing inflation since 2021. In response to significant and prolonged increases in inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve has raised interest rates multiple times since the beginning of 2022, which has significantly increased our interest expense. Interest rates may remain at the current high levels or continue to increase. Increases in interest rates have increased our interest costs on our variable-rate debt as well as any future fixed rate debt. Any additional increase in the interest which we pay would reduce our cash available for working capital, acquisitions, and other uses.
In the event that we experience future pandemics, the economic effects of such pandemics and measures taken to arrest their spread by governmental and regulatory authorities, by the Company’s business partners or by the Company itself could adversely impact our business, including our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The Company’s business, operations and financial results, may be adversely affected by those risks and uncertainties resulting from any future pandemics. The extent of the impact of any such pandemic on our business, operating results, cash flows, liquidity and financial conditions will be primarily driven by the ultimate duration and severity of the pandemic and its impact on the U.S. and global economies.
The military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have resulted in geopolitical instability. Our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected by the negative impacts on the global economy resulting from these conflicts.
In February 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine. In response, Ukrainian military personnel and civilians are actively resisting the invasion. Although the length, impact and outcome of the war is highly unpredictable, this war has contributed to significant market and other disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices and supply of energy resources, instability in financial markets, supply chain interruptions, political and social instability, changes in consumer or purchaser preferences as well as an increase in cyberattacks and espionage.
Separately, on October 7, 2023, Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, launched a series of coordinated attacks from the Gaza Strip onto Israel. On October 8, 2023, Israel formally declared war on Hamas, and the armed conflict is ongoing as of the date of this filing. Hostilities between Israel and Hamas could escalate and involve surrounding countries in the Middle East. Furthermore, following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Houthi movement, which controls parts of Yemen, launched a number of attacks on marine vessels in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is an important maritime route for international trade. As a result of such disruptions, we may experience in the future extended lead times, delays in supplier deliveries, and increased freight costs. The risk of ongoing supply disruptions may further result in delayed deliveries of our products.
While the length and total impact of the military conflicts are unpredictable, it has led to market disruptions, including volatility in raw material prices and credit and capital markets, and supply chain challenges. In response to the military conflict, governments in the U.S. and abroad have imposed sanctions against Russia and proposed or threatened additional potential sanctions. These sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets in which we operate.
We do not have manufacturing operations in Ukraine or Russia nor any significant business relationships with Ukraine or Russian-based customers or suppliers. To date, we have not experienced any material impacts of the ongoing military conflict. We are monitoring the situation and its impact on the global markets, which may, in turn, impact our business. For example, it is possible that the conflict could result in lower sales if supply parts and raw materials for become less available or if there are continued significant increases in energy and fuel prices.
Based on the continued, and more recently increased market volatility and geopolitical unrest pertaining to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Middle East, European energy crisis and highly inflationary environment, and corresponding macro-economic uncertainty, we cannot reasonably estimate the full impact the conflict will have on our long-term financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows. It is not possible to predict the extent and duration of the military conflict, sanctions, and any associated market disruptions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
A material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting which could, if not remediated, result in material misstatements in our financial statements.
In connection with the preparation of our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024, we identified a material weakness related to the Company’s information technology general controls (ITGCs). A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As reported in this annual report, the material weakness identified as a result of ITGCs that were not designed and operating effectively related to logical security and privileged access management for a financially relevant system. In response to the material weakness, the Company removed the privileged access and will further limit users with privileged access as discussed in Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in this Annual Report. The actions deemed taken are subject to continued review, supported by monitoring and testing by management as well as audit committee oversight. If our remedial measures are insufficient to address the material weakness or if another material weakness or significant deficiencies in our internal control are discovered or occur in the future, our ability to report our financial condition and results of operations in a timely and accurate manner may be materially adversely affected and investor confidence in the Company may be negatively impacted.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
Failure to protect the Company’s proprietary rights or the costs of protecting these rights could adversely affect its business.
The Company’s success depends in part on its ability to obtain patents and trademarks and to preserve other intellectual property rights covering its products and processes. The Company has obtained certain domestic and foreign patents and intends to continue to seek patents on its inventions when appropriate. The process of seeking patent protection can be time consuming and expensive. There can be no assurance that pending patents related to any of the Company’s products will be issued, in which case the Company may not be able to legally prevent others from producing similar and/or compatible competing products. If other companies were to sell similar and/or compatible competing products, the Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Company’s efforts to protect its intellectual property will be successful. Any infringement of the Company’s intellectual property could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
If the Company is found to have infringed the intellectual property rights of others or cannot obtain necessary intellectual property rights from others, its competitiveness could be negatively impaired.
If the Company is found to have violated the trademark, trade secret, copyright, patent or other intellectual property rights of others, directly or indirectly, including through the use of third-party marks, ideas, or technologies, such a finding could result in the need to cease use of such mark, trade secret, copyrighted work or patented invention in the Company’s business, as well as the obligation to pay for past infringement. If rights holders are willing to permit the Company to continue to use such intellectual property rights, they could require a payment of a substantial amount for continued use of those rights. Either ceasing use or paying such amounts could cause the Company to become less competitive and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Even if the Company is not found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, claims of infringement could adversely affect the Company’s business. The Company could incur significant legal costs and related expenses to defend against such claims, and the Company could incur significant costs associated with discontinuing to use, provide, or manufacture certain products, services or trademarks even if it is ultimately found not to have infringed such rights.
Product liability claims or regulatory actions could adversely affect the Company's financial results and reputation.
Claims for losses or injuries allegedly caused by some of the Company’s products could arise in the ordinary course of its business. In addition to the risk of substantial monetary judgments, product liability claims or regulatory actions could result in negative publicity that could harm the Company’s reputation in the marketplace or the value of its brands. The Company also could be required to recall possible defective products, which, if material, could result in adverse publicity and significant expenses. Although the Company maintains product liability insurance coverage, potential product liability claims are subject to a deductible or could be excluded under the terms of the policy. Historically, the Company has not experienced any material product liability claims or regulatory actions.
The Company’s businesses and operations are subject to regulation in the U.S. and abroad.
Changes in laws, regulations and related interpretations may alter the environment in which the Company does business. This includes changes in environmental, data privacy, competitive and product-related laws, as well as changes in accounting standards, taxation and other regulations. Accordingly, regulatory, tax and legal contingencies (including environmental, human resource, product liability, patent and other intellectual property matters), should they exist in the future, could require the Company to record significant reserves or pay significant fines or damages during a reporting period, which could materially impact the Company’s results. In addition, new regulations may be enacted in the U.S. or
abroad that may require the Company to incur additional personnel-related, environmental or other costs on an ongoing basis, significantly restrict the Company’s ability to sell certain products, or incur fines or penalties for noncompliance, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
As a U.S. based multinational company, the Company is also subject to tax regulations in the U.S. and multiple foreign jurisdictions, some of which are interdependent. For example, certain income that is earned and taxed in countries outside the U.S. may not be taxed in the U.S. until those earnings are actually repatriated or deemed repatriated. If these or other tax regulations should change, the Company’s financial results could be impacted.
Certain or our products and facilities are subject to regulation by the FDA and by analogous foreign regulators.
The FDA requires us to register certain of our products and manufacturing facilities. Our facilities in the United States are subject to inspections by the FDA while our facility in Canada is subject to inspection by HealthCanada to confirm compliance with their requirements. There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to comply with FDA and HealthCanada requirements applicable to our current products and facilities or any product or facility we may establish in the future. The failure to address any concerns raised by the FDA and HealthCanada could also lead to facility shutdown or the delay or withholding of product approval by these agencies, or product recalls, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company is subject to environmental regulation and environmental risks.
The Company is subject to national, state, provincial and/or local environmental laws and regulations that impose limitations and prohibitions on the discharge and emission of, and establish standards for the use, disposal and management of, certain materials and waste. These environmental laws and regulations also impose liability for the costs of investigating and cleaning up sites, and certain damages resulting from present and past spills, disposals, or other releases of hazardous substances or materials. Environmental laws and regulations can be complex and may change often. Capital and operating expenses required to comply with environmental laws and regulations can be significant, and violations may result in substantial fines and penalties. In addition, environmental laws and regulations, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, in the United States impose liability on several grounds for the investigation and clean-up of contaminated soil, ground water and buildings and for damages to natural resources on a wide range of properties. For example, contamination at properties formerly owned or operated by the Company, as well as at properties it will own and operate, and properties to which hazardous substances were sent by the Company, may result in liability for the Company under environmental laws and regulations. The costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations and any claims concerning noncompliance, or liability with respect to contamination in the future could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Overseas Operations
The Company’s operations are global in nature. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by the political and economic conditions in the countries in which we conduct business, by fluctuations in currency exchange rates and other factors related to our international operations.
As our international operations and activities expand, we face increasing exposure to the risks of operating in foreign countries. These factors include:
•Changes generally in political, regulatory or economic conditions in the countries in which we conduct business;
•Trade protection measures in favor of local producers of competing products, including government subsidies, tax benefits, changes in local tax rates, trade actions (such as anti-dumping proceedings) and other measures giving local producers a competitive advantage over the Company;
•Changes in foreign currency exchange rates which could adversely affect our competitive position, selling prices and manufacturing costs, and therefore the demand for our products in a particular market; and
•The effects of any future pandemics in foreign countries.
These risks could affect the cost of manufacturing and selling our products, our pricing, sales volume, and ultimately our financial performance. The likelihood of such occurrences and their potential effect on the Company vary from country to country and are unpredictable.
Reliance on foreign suppliers could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company sources its products from suppliers located in Asia, Europe and the United States. The Company’s Asia vendors are located primarily in China, which subjects the Company to various risks within the region including regulatory, political, economic and foreign currency changes. The Company’s ability to continue to select and retain reliable vendors and suppliers who provide timely deliveries of quality products efficiently will impact its success in meeting customer demand for timely delivery of quality products.
The Company’s sourcing operations and its vendors are impacted by labor costs in China and other global locations. Labor historically has been readily available at low cost relative to labor costs in North America. However, labor costs have risen in some regions due to the effects of rapid social, political and economic changes. There can be no assurance that labor will continue to be available to the Company’s suppliers at costs consistent with historical levels or that changes in labor or other laws will not be enacted which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations. Interruption to supplies from any of the Company’s vendors, or the loss of one or more key vendors, could have a negative effect on the Company’s business and operating results.
Changes in currency exchange rates might negatively affect the profitability and business prospects of the Company and its overseas vendors. In particular, the Chinese Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. Dollar. If the Chinese Renminbi increases with respect to the U.S. Dollar in the future, the Company may experience cost increases on such purchases, and this can adversely impact profitability. The Company may not be successful at implementing customer pricing or other actions in an effort to mitigate the related effects of the product cost increases.
Additional factors that could adversely affect the Company’s business in connection with its foreign suppliers include increases in transportation costs, new or increased import duties, transportation delays, work stoppages, capacity constraints and poor quality; the possibility that the Company might experience any of these factors would increase in the event of future pandemics.
Continuing uncertainty in the global economy could negatively impact our business.
Uncertainty in the global economy could adversely affect our customers and our suppliers and businesses such as ours. In addition, any uncertainty could have a variety of negative effects on the Company, such as reduction in revenues, increased costs, lower gross margin percentages, increased allowances for credit losses and/or write-offs of accounts receivable and could otherwise have material adverse effects on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We cannot provide assurance that we will continue to pay dividends or purchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase programs.
We continue to pay and declare dividends on a quarterly basis and we anticipate that we will continue to do so. However, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient cash or surplus under applicable law to be able to continue to pay dividends at our current level or purchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase programs. This may result from extraordinary cash expenses, actual expenses exceeding contemplated costs, funding of capital expenditures, increases in reserves or lack of available capital. We may also suspend the payment of dividends or our stock repurchase program if the Board deems such action to be in the best interests of our stockholders. If we do not pay dividends or decrease the amount of dividends we pay, the price of our common stock would likely decrease. At December 31, 2024, a total of 160,365 shares may be purchased in the future under the repurchase program which the Company announced in 2019.
Our shares of common stock are thinly traded and our stock price may be volatile.
Because our common stock is thinly traded, its market price may fluctuate significantly more than the stock market in general or the stock prices of other companies listed on major stock exchanges. There were approximately 3,289,572 shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates as of December 31, 2024. Thus, our common stock is less liquid than the stock of companies with broader public ownership, and, as a result, the trading price for shares of our common stock may be more volatile. Among other things, trading of a relatively small volume of our common stock may have a greater impact on the trading price for our stock than would be the case if our public float were larger.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties
Location
Square
Footage
Purpose
Owned
Rocky Mount, NC
Vancouver, WA
Brooksville, FL
340,000
53,000
42,460
Warehousing, manufacturing and distribution
Warehousing, manufacturing and distribution
Warehousing, manufacturing and distribution
Keene, NH
11,000
Warehousing, manufacturing and distribution
Solingen, Germany
35,000
Warehousing, distribution and administrative
481,460
Leased
Shelton, CT
34,200
Administrative
Bentonville, AK
1,500
Administrative
Marlborough, MA
28,000
Manufacturing, warehousing and distribution
Santa Ana, CA
10,000
Manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution
La Vergne, TN
56,000
Manufacturing, warehousing and distribution
Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada
20,000
Warehousing and distribution
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
2,850
Administrative
Laval, Quebec, Canada
42,860
Manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and administrative
Hong Kong, China
2,750
Administrative
Guangzhou, China
3,500
Administrative
Ningbo, China
1,800
Administrative
203,460
Total:
684,920
The Company’s facilities located in the United States and China are utilized by all of its segments. The Company’s facilities located in Canada and Germany are utilized by its Canadian segment and its European segment, respectively.
Management believes that the Company's facilities, whether leased or owned, are adequate to meet its current needs and should continue to be adequate for the foreseeable future.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
There are no pending material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or, to the actual knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental agency.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company's Common Stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol "ACU".
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On November 14, 2019, the Company announced a Common Stock repurchase program of up to a total of 200,000 shares. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the Company did not repurchase any of its shares of Common Stock. As of December 31, 2024, a total of 160,365 shares may be purchased under the repurchase program announced in 2019. The 2019 program does not have an expiration date.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Reserved

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Information
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) 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 by the United States and retaliatory actions by other governments; (iv) the continuing adverse impact of inflation, including product costs, and interest rates; (v) potential adverse effects on the Company, its customers, and suppliers resulting from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; (vi) 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; (vii) labor related costs the Company has and may continue to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (viii) currency fluctuations; (ix) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment; (x) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (xi) the impact of competition; (xii) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; (xiii) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors affecting the Company, see the Risk Factors described in Item 1A included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year December 31, 2024 and below under “Financial Condition”. All forward-looking statements in this report are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require our management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.
We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. There are items within our financial statement that require estimation but are not deemed critical, as defined above.
For a detailed discussion of our significant accounting policies and related judgments, see Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report.
Results of Operations 2024 Compared with 2023
Traditionally, the Company’s sales and profits are stronger in the second and third quarters and weaker in the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, due to the seasonal nature of the Westcott back-to-school market.
Net Sales
In 2024, sales increased by $2,989,044, or 2%, to $194,489,991 compared to $191,500,947 in 2023. Excluding the impact of the hunting and fishing product lines sold on November 1, 2023, net sales for 2024 increased 6% compared to 2023.
The U.S. segment sales increased by 2% in 2024 compared to 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased 7% compared to the same period in 2023. The sales increase for the year was due to market share gains across multiple product lines.
European net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased 5% in both U.S. dollars and local currency, compared with the same period in 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased 8% compared to the same period in 2023 due to market share gains in the office channel.
Net sales in Canada for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased 5% in U.S. dollars (3% in local currency) compared to the same period in 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased 1% compared to the same period in 2023. Sales of first aid products were strong, however sales of school and office products continued to be adversely impacted by a soft economy.
Gross Profit
Gross profit was $76,350,824 (39.3% of net sales) in 2024 compared to $72,210,235 (37.7% of net sales) in 2023. The increase was primarily due to productivity improvements in the Company's manufacturing and distribution facilities.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $62,210,882 in 2024 compared with $59,021,618 in 2023, an increase of $3,189,264, or 5.4%. SG&A expenses were 32.0% of net sales in 2024 compared to 30.8% in 2023. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to higher personnel related costs.
Operating Income
Operating income was $14,139,942 in 2024 compared with $13,188,617 in 2023, an increase of $951,325.
Operating income in the U.S. segment increased in 2024 by approximately $1,768,000 compared to 2023, primarily due to productivity improvements in the Company's manufacturing and distribution facilities.
Operating income in the European segment decreased by $648,000 compared to 2023 primarily due to planned increases in headcount to support growth in the business.
Operating income in Canada decreased in 2024 by approximately $168,000 compared to 2023. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to lower net sales of school and office products.
Interest Expense, net
Net interest expense for 2024 was $1,942,643 compared with $2,977,164 for 2023, a decrease of $1,034,521. The decrease in net interest expense resulted from a lower average debt outstanding under the revolving loan agreement of approximately $16 million.
Total Other Income, net
Total other income, net was $95,110 in 2024 compared to $12,523,151 in 2023. The decrease in total other income, net was due to the gain on the sale of the Camillus and Cuda business in 2023. The pre-tax gain was approximately $12,564,153.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $2,270,058 in 2024, resulting in an effective tax rate of 18% compared to $4,941,444 in 2023, an effective tax rate of 22%. The lower effective tax rate in 2024 was due to a higher proportion of earnings in jurisdictions with a lower tax rate. Also in 2024, the Company recorded a tax credit of approximately $600,000 related to employee exercise of stock options, compared to $385,000 in 2023.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
The Company did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions during 2024.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During 2024, working capital increased by approximately $6.6 million compared to December 31, 2023. Inventory increased by approximately $0.8 million, or 1%. Inventory turnover, calculated using a twelve-month average inventory balance, was 2.1 at December 31, 2024 as compared to 2.1 at December 31, 2023. The reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory was $1,254,121 at December 31, 2024 compared to $1,338,211 at December 31, 2023. We do not anticipate material increases in the allowance for slow moving and obsolete inventory in the ordinary course of business during 2025. Receivables increased by approximately $2.0 million at December 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023. The average number of days sales outstanding in accounts receivable was 54 days in 2024 compared to 55 days in 2023.
Long-term debt consists of (i) borrowings under the Company’s revolving loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. and (ii) amounts outstanding under the fixed rate mortgage related to the Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rocky Mount, NC and Vancouver, WA. The revolving loan agreement provides for borrowings of up to $65 million at an interest rate that ranges from SOFR +1.70% up to a high of SOFR + 2.45% on a basis that varies quarterly with the funded debt to EBITDA ratio. The current interest rate is SOFR plus 1.70%; interest is payable monthly. The credit facility has an expiration date of May 31, 2026. The Company must pay a facility fee, payable quarterly, in an amount equal to one eighth of one percent (.125%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit line. The facility is intended to provide liquidity for growth, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and other business activities. Under the revolving loan agreement, the Company is required to maintain specific amounts of funded debt to EBITDA, a fixed charge coverage ratio and must have annual net income greater than $0, measured as of the end of each fiscal year. As of December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under the revolving loan agreement as then in effect.
At December 31, 2024, total debt outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility increased by approximately $4.5 million compared to total debt outstanding at December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2024, $17,640,550 was outstanding, and $47,359,450 was available for borrowing under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
The Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rocky Mount, NC and Vancouver, WA were financed by a fixed rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at a fixed interest rate of 3.8%. The Company entered into the agreement on December 1, 2021. Payments of principal and interest are due monthly, with all amounts outstanding due on maturity on December 1, 2031. The outstanding principal on December 31, 2024, was $10,409,797.
On May 23, 2024, the Company acquired the assets of Elite First Aid, Inc ("Elite First Aid") for approximately $7.1 million. Elite First Aid is a leading supplier of tactical, trauma and emergency medical products.
On November 1, 2023, the Company sold the assets of its Camillus Cutlery and Cuda business lines (the “Business”) to GSM Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“GSM Holdings”), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement entered into on the same date. The purchase price for the assets was $19.8 million. At closing, GSM Holdings paid $18.3 million to the Company; the balance of the purchase price, $1.5 million, was subject to a 12-month holdback as a non-exclusive source of recovery primarily to satisfy indemnification claims under the Asset Purchase Agreement. The Company received payment of the $1.5 million in November 2024. The divestiture resulted in a gain of $12.6 million, which was recorded within Other Income, Net in the consolidated statements of operations. The gain, net of tax, was approximately $9.6 million. Sales of Camillus and Cuda products represented approximately 6% of the total net sales in 2023.
Capital expenditures during 2024 and 2023 were $7,148,648 and $4,673,717, respectively, which were, in part, financed with borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
The Company believes that cash on hand, and cash generated from operating activities, together with funds available under its revolving credit facility, are expected, under current conditions, to be sufficient to finance the Company’s planned operations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of this Form 10-K.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Standards not yet Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires additional categories of information about federal, state and foreign income taxes to be included in effective tax rate reconciliation disclosure. Additionally, the newly added categories also apply to the income taxes paid disclosure. Implementation of said additions are subject to quantitative thresholds. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2023-09.
Standards Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which amends ASC 280. The intent
of ASU 2023-07 is to improve the disclosures around a public entity’s reportable segments and address requests from investors for additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses by requiring entities to disclose on an annual and interim basis: (i) significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss and (ii) an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition, which represents the difference between segment revenue less segment expenses disclosed under the significant expense principle and each reported measure of segment profit or loss. Furthermore, entities will be required to: (i) provide all annual disclosures about a segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required under ASC 280 on an interim basis as well, (ii) clarify that an entity is not precluded from reporting additional measures of a segment’s profit or loss that are used by the CODM in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, and (iii) disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. As part of this Annual Report, the Company adopted ASU 2023-07, which was applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. Refer to Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements herein for further details regarding this adoption.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to provide this information.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the years ended December 31,
Net sales
$
194,489,991
$
191,500,947
Cost of goods sold
118,139,167
119,290,712
Gross profit
76,350,824
72,210,235
Selling, general and administrative expenses
62,210,882
59,021,618
Operating income
14,139,942
13,188,617
Non-operating items:
Interest:
Interest expense
(2,083,323
)
(3,096,481
)
Interest income
140,680
119,317
Interest expense, net
(1,942,643
)
(2,977,164
)
Gain on sale of business
-
12,564,153
Other income (expense), net
95,110
(41,002
)
Total other income, net
95,110
12,523,151
Income before income tax expense
12,292,409
22,734,604
Income tax expense
2,270,058
4,941,444
Net income
$
10,022,351
$
17,793,160
Earnings per share:
Basic
$
2.71
$
4.98
Diluted
$
2.45
$
4.86
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended
December 31,
Net income
$
10,022,351
$
17,793,160
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Foreign currency translation
(1,045,555
)
382,312
Comprehensive income
$
8,976,796
$
18,175,472
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
December 31,
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
6,398,692
$
4,795,953
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $493,705 and $567,015 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively
28,236,177
26,234,421
Inventories
56,254,383
55,469,992
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
4,571,230
4,773,464
Restricted cash
-
750,000
Total current assets
95,460,482
92,023,830
Property, plant and equipment:
Land
2,687,669
2,387,093
Buildings and building improvements
20,506,081
17,501,583
Machinery and equipment
37,367,957
34,704,536
Total property, plant and equipment
60,561,707
54,593,212
Less: accumulated depreciation
28,908,379
26,568,275
Net property, plant and equipment
31,653,328
28,024,937
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization
20,323,031
19,001,448
Goodwill
9,907,657
8,188,829
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net
4,826,088
2,002,272
Total assets
$
162,170,586
$
149,241,316
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
9,004,876
$
12,101,735
Operating lease liability - current portion
1,564,243
1,098,942
Current portion of mortgage payable
436,949
419,309
Other accrued liabilities
11,865,533
12,391,998
Total current liabilities
22,871,601
26,011,984
Long-term debt
17,605,567
13,104,691
Mortgage payable, net of current portion
9,868,167
10,283,988
Operating lease liability - non-current portion
3,366,605
1,026,351
Deferred income taxes
1,464,656
899,344
Other non-current liabilities
13,355
16,274
Total liabilities
55,189,951
51,342,632
Commitments and contingencies (see note 17)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $2.50: 5,299,370 shares issued and 3,754,498 shares outstanding in 2024; 5,190,072 shares issued and 3,645,200 shares outstanding in 2023
13,248,415
12,966,178
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,544,872 shares in 2024 and 2023
(15,995,622
)
(15,995,622
)
Additional paid-in capital
17,981,156
15,917,781
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2,751,142
)
(1,705,587
)
Retained earnings
94,497,828
86,715,934
Total stockholders' equity
106,980,635
97,898,684
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
162,170,586
$
149,241,316
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Outstanding
Shares of
Common Stock
Common Stock
Treasury
Stock
Additional
Paid-In Capital
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Retained
Earnings
Total
Balances, December 31, 2022
3,538,179
$
12,698,624
$
(15,995,622
)
$
13,447,797
$
(2,087,899
)
$
70,967,232
$
79,030,132
Net income
17,793,160
17,793,160
Other comprehensive income
382,312
382,312
Stock compensation expense
1,940,443
1,940,443
Distribution to stockholders ($0.57 per common share)
(2,044,458
)
(2,044,458
)
Issuance of common stock
86,765
216,914
1,235,606
1,452,520
Cash settlement of stock options
(292,152
)
(292,152
)
Net share settlement of stock options
20,256
50,640
(413,913
)
(363,273
)
Balances, December 31, 2023
3,645,200
12,966,178
(15,995,622
)
15,917,781
(1,705,587
)
86,715,934
97,898,684
Net income
10,022,351
10,022,351
Other comprehensive loss
(1,045,555
)
(1,045,555
)
Stock compensation expense
2,183,001
2,183,001
Distribution to stockholders ($0.60 per common share)
(2,240,457
)
(2,240,457
)
Issuance of common stock
71,354
187,377
1,433,860
1,621,237
Cash settlement of stock options
(415,900
)
(415,900
)
Net share settlement of stock options
37,944
94,860
(1,137,586
)
(1,042,726
)
Balances, December 31, 2024
3,754,498
$
13,248,415
$
(15,995,622
)
$
17,981,156
$
(2,751,142
)
$
94,497,828
$
106,980,635
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years ended December 31,
Operating activities:
Net income
$
10,022,351
$
17,793,160
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation
3,500,876
2,956,513
Amortization of intangible assets
2,568,349
2,111,078
Stock compensation expense
2,183,001
1,940,443
Deferred income taxes
565,312
594,059
Non-cash lease adjustment
(40,373
)
(57,648
)
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory
-
171,476
Provision for credit losses
393,945
(129,219
)
Amortization of deferred financing costs
39,738
39,405
Change in earnout liability
24,481
170,000
Gain on sale of business, net of tax of $2,907,000
-
(9,644,000
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
(2,459,450
)
6,329,398
Inventories
(329,896
)
3,648,679
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(704,417
)
(950,338
)
Accounts payable
(2,981,506
)
1,552,352
Other accrued liabilities
(807,171
)
2,374,137
Total adjustments
1,952,889
11,106,335
Net cash provided by operating activities
11,975,240
28,899,495
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(7,148,648
)
(4,673,717
)
Purchase of intellectual property
-
(301,736
)
Proceeds from sale of business, net of related costs
1,100,000
13,152,613
Acquisition of Safety Made
(750,000
)
(750,000
)
Acquisition of Elite First Aid
(6,140,519
)
-
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(12,939,167
)
7,427,160
Financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) of long-term debt
4,476,192
(36,835,642
)
Repayments on mortgage
(413,235
)
(409,624
)
Distributions to stockholders
(2,221,924
)
(1,993,049
)
Cash settlement of stock options
(415,900
)
(292,152
)
Tax paid on net share settlement of stock options
(1,042,726
)
(363,273
)
Issuance of common stock
1,621,237
1,452,520
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
2,003,644
(38,441,220
)
Effect of exchange rate changes
(186,979
)
60,110
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
852,738
(2,054,455
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year
5,545,954
7,600,409
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year
$
6,398,692
$
5,545,954
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes
$
2,248,217
$
5,771,876
Cash paid for interest expense
$
1,903,301
$
3,179,184
Non-cash investing activities
Safety Made acquisition contingent consideration
$
-
$
750,000
Elite First Aid acquisition contingent consideration and holdback
$
1,000,000
$
-
Non-cash financing activities
Dividends accrued not paid
$
563,175
$
546,710
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Operations
The operations of Acme United Corporation (the “Company”) consist of three reportable segments. The operations of the Company are structured and evaluated based on geographic location. The three reportable segments operate in the United States (including Asian operations), Canada and Europe. Principal products across all segments are first aid kits and medical products, scissors, shears, knives, and sharpeners, which are sold primarily to wholesale, contract and retail distributors, office supply super stores, mass market retailers, industrial and medical distributors, school supply distributors, drug store retailers, sporting goods stores, hardware chains and wholesale florists.
2. Accounting Policies
Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most sensitive and significant accounting estimates relate to customer rebates, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, obsolete and slow-moving inventories, potentially uncollectible accounts receivable, intangibles and stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned by the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Translation of Foreign Currency - For foreign operations whose functional currencies are not U.S. dollars, assets and liabilities are translated at rates in effect at the end of the year; revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the year. Resulting translation adjustments are made directly to accumulated other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recognized in operating results. Included in other income (expense), net were foreign currency transaction gains of $79,088 in 2024 and transaction losses of $39,410 in 2023.
Cash Equivalents - Investments with an original maturity of three months or less, as well as time deposits and certificates of deposit that are readily redeemable at the date of purchase, are considered cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable - The Company provides an allowance for expected credit losses based upon a review of outstanding accounts receivable, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The allowance for expected credit losses represents estimated uncollectible accounts receivables associated with potential customer defaults on contractual obligations, usually due to potential insolvencies. The allowance includes amounts for certain customers where a risk of default has been specifically identified. In addition, the allowance includes a provision for customer defaults based on historical experience. The Company actively monitors its accounts receivable balances, and its historical experience of annual accounts receivable write-offs has been negligible. Accounts receivable are shown less an allowance for expected credit losses of $493,705 at December 31, 2024 and $567,015 at December 31, 2023. As of January 1, 2023, accounts receivable, less an allowance for credit losses was $32,603,463.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance
$
567,015
$
1,060,812
Provision for credit losses
393,945
(129,219
)
Write-offs
(467,255
)
(364,578
)
Recoveries collected
-
-
Ending balance
$
493,705
$
567,015
Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, or net realizable value, determined by the first-in, first-out method for our cutting products. Cost for our first aid and medical products is computed using standard cost, which approximates actual cost on a first in, first out basis.
Property, Plant and Equipment, and Depreciation - Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The range of estimated useful lives of these assets are as follows: buildings and building improvements useful lives range from 10 to 39 years; machinery and equipment useful lives range from 3 to 10 years. The Company tests its property, plant and equipment whenever events or changes in circumstances (triggering event) indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. During 2024 and 2023, there were no triggering events that would indicate its carrying amount may not be recoverable. As a result, there was no impairment of the carrying amounts of such assets and no reduction in their estimated useful lives.
Intangible Assets and Goodwill - Intangible assets with finite useful lives are recorded at cost upon acquisition and amortized over the term of the related contract, if any, or useful life, as applicable. Intangible assets held by the Company with finite useful lives include patents and trademarks. Patents and trademarks are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The weighted average amortization period for intangible assets acquired during the year ended December 31, 2024 was 13 years. The Company periodically reviews the values recorded for finite lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances (triggering event) indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. During 2024 and 2023, there were no triggering events that would indicate its carrying amount may not be recoverable. As a result, there was no impairment of the carrying amounts of such assets and no reduction in their estimated useful lives. The Company annually reviews goodwill to assess recoverability from future operations whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amounts may not be recoverable. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company assessed the recoverability of its intangible assets and goodwill and believed that there were no events or circumstances present that would require a test of recoverability on those assets. As a result, there was no impairment of the carrying amounts of such assets.
Contingent Consideration - As part of the acquisition of Safety Made, $1.5 million of the purchase price was placed in escrow to be paid to the sellers, contingent on the acquired business meeting certain revenue milestones over a two-year period, commencing on the date of the acquisition. The fair value of the contingent liability at each reporting date is based on certain estimates and judgments made by management. Those estimates are made from the most relevant data available at that time and include historical data and future projections. On June 1, 2024, the Escrow Agent disbursed to the Seller the second and final payment of $750,000, as determined by the calculation outlined in the purchase agreement. As part of the acquisition of Elite First Aid, Inc., $500,000 of the purchase price was heldback, to be paid to the sellers, contingent on the acquired business meeting certain revenue milestones during any consecutive 12-month period from May 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
Deferred Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes are provided for the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and on operating loss carryovers, using tax rates in effect in years in which the differences are expected to reverse.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The Company applies various valuation approaches in determining the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities within a hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 - Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.
The availability of observable inputs can vary among the various types of financial assets and liabilities. To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for financial statement disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement. Level 3 inputs are applied in determining the fair value of our mortgage payable and long-term debt as disclosed in Note 8.
Financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accrued liabilities are considered Level 1 in fair value hierarchy. The amounts reported on the consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair value due to their relatively short maturities and prevailing interest rates.
Leases - The Company determines if an arrangement is an operating lease at inception. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. All other leases are recorded on the balance sheet with right-of-use (“ROU”) assets representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities representing the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
Lessees and lessors may elect to apply a package of practical expedients permitting entities not to reassess: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (ii) lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) whether initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases qualify for capitalization under the amended guidance. These practical expedients must be elected as a package and consistently applied. The Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients upon adoption.
ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term and include options to extend or terminate the lease when they are reasonably certain to be exercised. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the present value of lease payments is determined primarily using our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term on an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Lease arrangements with lease and non-lease components are generally accounted for as a single lease component. The Company's operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Revenue Recognition - The Company's revenues result from the sale of goods and reflect the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. The Company records revenue based on a five-step model in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"). For its contracts with customers, the Company identifies the performance obligations (goods or services), determines the transaction price, allocates the contract transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognizes the revenue when (or as) the performance obligation is transferred to the customer. A good or service is transferred when (or as) the customer obtains control of that good or service. Depending on the contractual terms of each customer, revenue is recognized either at the time of shipment or upon delivery. When revenue is recorded, estimates of returns are made and recorded as a reduction of revenue. Customer rebates and incentives are earned based on promotional programs in place, volume of purchases or other factors are also estimated at the time of revenue recognition and recorded as a reduction of that revenue. Refer to Note 9 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for a more detailed discussion.
Shipping Costs - The costs of shipping product to the Company’s customers ($8,400,878 in 2024 and $8,638,865 in 2023) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Advertising Costs - The Company expenses the production costs of advertising the first time that the related advertising takes place. Advertising costs ($1,508,685 in 2024 and $1,817,783 in 2023) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Concentration - The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral for the extension of credit. Allowances for credit losses are provided and have been within management's expectations. The Company had two customers in 2024 and 2023, that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to these customers were approximately 14% and 13% of consolidated net sales in 2024 and 14% and 12% in 2023. The Company maintains cash balances across multiple financial institutions that are highly rated and considered to have strong creditworthiness. Management believes that the Company is not subject to significant risk of cash concentration.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Standards not yet Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires additional categories of information about federal, state and foreign income taxes to be included in effective tax rate reconciliation disclosure. Additionally, the newly added categories also apply to the income taxes paid disclosure. Implementation of said additions are subject to quantitative thresholds. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2023-09.
Standards Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which amends ASC 280. The intent of ASU 2023-07 is to improve the disclosures around a public entity’s reportable segments and address requests from investors for additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses by requiring entities to disclose on an annual and interim basis: (i) significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss and (ii) an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition, which represents the difference between segment revenue less segment expenses disclosed under the significant expense principle and each reported measure of segment profit or loss. Furthermore, entities will be required to: (i) provide all annual disclosures about a segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required under ASC 280 on an interim basis as well, (ii) clarify that an entity is not precluded from reporting additional measures of a segment’s profit or loss that are used by the CODM in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, and (iii) disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. As part of this Annual Report, the Company adopted ASU 2023-07, which was applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. Refer to Note 10 herein for further details regarding this adoption.
3. Inventories
Inventories consisted of:
December 31,
Finished goods
$
40,074,026
$
39,315,594
Work in process
247,260
208,212
Materials and supplies
15,933,097
15,946,186
Inventories:
$
56,254,383
$
55,469,992
Inventories are stated net of valuation allowances for slow moving and obsolete inventory of $1,254,121 as of December 31, 2024 and $1,338,211 as of December 31, 2023.
4. Intangible Assets and Goodwill
The Company’s intangible assets and goodwill consisted of:
December 31,
Tradename
$
11,267,698
$
10,007,698
Customer List
21,114,198
18,824,198
Non-Compete
1,667,536
1,247,536
Patents
2,271,980
2,271,980
Subtotal
$
36,321,412
$
32,351,412
Less: Accumulated Amortization
15,918,312
13,349,964
Translation Adjustments
(80,069
)
-
Intangible Assets
$
20,323,031
$
19,001,448
Goodwill
$
9,907,657
$
8,188,829
Total:
$
30,230,688
$
27,190,277
Amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $2,568,349 and $2,111,078, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years, calculated on a similar basis, is as follows: 2025 - $2,431,597; 2026 - $2,033,725; 2027 - $1,705,356; 2028 - $1,588,689; and 2029 - $1,518,055.
5. Other Accrued Liabilities
The Company’s other current and non-current accrued liabilities consisted of:
December 31,
Customer Rebates
$
5,872,181
$
5,720,898
Contingent Liability - Safety Made
-
750,000
Contingent Liability - Elite
500,000
-
Accrued Compensation
2,388,504
2,585,124
Dividend Payable
563,175
546,710
Income Taxes Payable
230,396
362,741
Other
2,324,632
2,442,799
Total:
$
11,878,888
$
12,408,272
6. Profit Sharing
The Company has a qualified 401k plan covering substantially all of its United States employees. Annual Company contributions to this plan are determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company contributed 50% of employee’s contributions, up to the first 6% contributed by each employee. Total contribution expense under this 401k plan was $415,530 in 2024 and $428,047 in 2023.
7. Income Taxes
The amounts of income tax expense reflected in operations is as follows:
Current:
Federal
$
1,045,995
$
3,405,403
State
175,507
397,174
Foreign
537,654
544,251
Total:
$
1,759,156
$
4,346,828
Deferred:
Federal
$
480,188
$
554,763
State
30,714
39,853
Total:
510,902
594,616
Total Income Tax Expense:
$
2,270,058
$
4,941,444
A summary of United States and foreign income before income taxes follows:
United States
$
9,225,285
$
18,984,939
Foreign
3,067,124
3,749,665
Total:
$
12,292,409
$
22,734,604
As discussed in Note 10 below, for segment reporting, direct import sales are included in the United States segment. However, the revenues are earned by our Hong Kong subsidiary and related income taxes are paid in Hong Kong whose rate approximates 16.5%. As such, income of the Asian subsidiary is included in the foreign income before taxes.
The following schedule reconciles the amounts of income taxes computed at the United States statutory rates to the actual amounts reported in operations:
Federal income taxes at 21% statutory rate
$
2,531,261
$
4,774,267
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax effect
144,938
612,818
Stock options
(600,969
)
(385,601
)
Permanent items
251,518
183,139
Foreign tax rate difference
(56,690
)
(243,179
)
Provision for income taxes:
$
2,270,058
$
4,941,444
The following summarizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities:
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment
$
2,620,900
$
2,328,345
Intangible assets
1,487,297
1,336,996
Other
887,074
609,817
Total deferred tax liabilities
4,995,271
4,275,158
Deferred income tax assets:
Net operating loss carryover
915,122
930,000
Stock compensation
2,011,200
1,964,332
Asset valuations
1,317,965
852,308
Other
201,450
559,174
Total deferred tax assets
4,445,737
4,305,814
Less: valuation allowance
(915,122
)
(930,000
)
Total deferred tax assets, net
3,530,615
3,375,814
Net deferred income tax liability:
$
1,464,656
$
899,344
The gross amount of the net operating loss available as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, with the net operating loss applying to foreign locations, is $3,050,406 and $3,100,000, respectively. These net operating loss carry forwards do not have an expiration date.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examination for years before 2021, state and local examinations for year before 2020 and foreign examinations before 2021. The Company evaluated its tax positions for each year which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions, in accordance with the requirements of ASC 740 and as a result, concluded no adjustment was necessary.
The Company’s evaluation of uncertain tax positions was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2021 and forward, the tax years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of December 31, 2024.
Due to the uncertain nature of the realization of the Company's deferred income tax assets based on past performance of its German subsidiary, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for the amount of deferred income tax assets which are not expected to be realized. This valuation allowance, all of which is related to deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses of the Company’s German subsidiary of approximately $0.9 million, is subject to periodic review, and, if the allowance is reduced, the tax benefit will be recorded in future operations as a reduction of the Company's tax expense.
8. Long-Term Debt and Stockholders’ Equity
Long-term debt consists of (i) borrowings under the Company’s revolving loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. and (ii) amounts outstanding under the fixed rate mortgage related to the Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rocky Mount, NC and Vancouver, WA. The revolving loan agreement provides for borrowings of up to $65 million at an interest rate that ranges from Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) +1.70% up to a high of SOFR + 2.35% on a basis that varies quarterly with the funded debt to EBITDA ratio. The current interest rate is SOFR plus 1.70%; interest is payable monthly. The credit facility has an expiration date of May 31, 2026. The Company must pay a facility fee, payable quarterly, in an amount equal to one eighth of one percent (.125%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit line. The facility is intended to provide liquidity for growth, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and other business activities. Under the revolving loan agreement, the Company is required to maintain specific amounts of funded debt to EBITDA, a fixed charge coverage ratio and must have annual net income greater than $0, measured as of the end of each fiscal year. As of December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under the revolving loan agreement as then in effect.
As of December 31, 2024, $17,640,550, excluding net deferred financing cost of $34,983, was outstanding and $47,359,450 was available for borrowing under the Company’s revolving loan agreement.
The Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rocky Mount, NC and Vancouver, WA were financed by a fixed rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at a fixed interest rate of 3.8%. The Company entered into the agreement on December 1, 2021. Commencing on January 1, 2022, payments of principal and interest are due monthly, with all amounts outstanding due on maturity on December 1, 2031. Long-term debt associated with the mortgage consisted of the following at December 31, 2024 and 2023:
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Mortgage payable - HSBC Bank N.A.
$
10,409,797
$
10,823,033
Less debt issuance costs
(104,681
)
(119,736
)
10,305,116
10,703,297
Less current maturities
436,949
419,309
Long-term mortgage payable less current maturities
$
9,868,167
$
10,283,988
Minimum annual mortgage payments are due as follows: 2025 - $436,949; 2026 - $454,112; 2027 - $471,949; 2028 - $489,510; 2029 - $509,713 and thereafter - $8,047,570.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company has pledged certain assets as collateral for its debt obligations under its revolving loan agreement with HSBC. The collateral consists of all inventory, property, plant, equipment, and accounts receivable. The Company believes that the collateral provided is sufficient to secure the related debt.
The carrying value of the Company’s bank debt is a reasonable estimate of fair value, which uses Level 3 inputs, because of the nature of its payment terms and maturity.
On November 14, 2019, the Company announced a Common Stock repurchase program of up to a total of 200,000 shares. The program does not have an expiration date. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Common Stock. As of December 31, 2024, a total of 160,365 shares may be purchased in the future under the repurchase program.
9. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Nature of Goods and Services
The Company recognizes revenue from the sales of a broad line of products that are grouped into two main categories: (i) first aid and medical; and (ii) cutting, sharpening and measuring. The first aid and medical category includes first aid kits and refills and a variety of safety products. The cutting and sharpening category includes scissors, knives, paper trimmers, pencil sharpeners and other sharpening tools. Revenue recognition is evaluated through the following five steps: (i) identification of the contract or contracts with a customer; (ii) identification of the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determination of the transaction price; (iv) allocation of the transaction price in the contract; and (v) recognition of revenue when or as a performance obligation is satisfied.
When Performance Obligations Are Satisfied
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue is generated by the sale of the Company’s products to its customers. Sales contracts (purchase orders) generally have a single performance obligation that is satisfied at a point in time, with shipment or delivery, depending on the terms of the underlying contract. Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in the contract. The amount of consideration we receive and revenue we recognize is impacted by incentives ("customer rebates"), including sales rebates, which are generally tied to sales volume levels, in-store promotional allowances, shared media and customer catalogue allowances and other cooperative advertising arrangements; freight allowance programs offered to our customers; and allowance for returns and discounts. The Company generally recognizes customer rebate costs as a deduction to gross sales at the time that the associated revenue is recognized.
Significant Payment Terms
Payment terms for each customer are dependent on the agreed upon contractual repayment terms. The repayment terms are typically between 30 and 90 days, but they vary dependent on the size of the customer and its risk profile to the Company. Some customers receive discounts for early payment.
Product Returns
The Company accepts product returns in the normal course of business. The Company estimates reserves for returns and the related refunds to customers based on historical experience. Reserves for returned merchandise are included as a component of “Accounts receivables” in the consolidated balance sheets.
Practical Expedient Usage and Accounting Policy Elections
For the Company’s contracts that have an original duration of one year or less, the Company uses the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-32-18 applicable to such contracts and accordingly, does not consider the time value of money in relation to significant financing components. The effect of applying this practical expedient election did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Per ASC 606-10-25-18B, the Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control as a fulfillment activity instead of a performance obligation. Furthermore, shipping and handling activities performed before transfer of control of the product also do not constitute a separate and distinct performance obligation.
The Company has elected to exclude from the transaction price those amounts which relate to sales and other taxes that are assessed by governmental authorities and that are imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the Company from a customer.
Applying the practical expedient in ASC 340-40-25-4 - Other Assets and Deferred Costs, the Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred. These costs are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses.”
Disaggregation of Revenues
The following table represents external net sales disaggregated by product category, by segment:
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024
(amounts in 000's)
United States
Canada
Europe
Total
First Aid and Safety
$
109,142
$
8,890
$
1,244
$
119,276
Cutting and Sharpening
57,010
4,371
13,833
75,214
Total Net Sales
$
166,152
$
13,261
$
15,077
$
194,490
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023
United States
Canada
Europe
Total
First Aid and Safety
$
104,932
$
8,160
$
1,369
$
114,461
Cutting and Sharpening
58,273
5,731
13,036
77,040
Total Net Sales
$
163,205
$
13,891
$
14,405
$
191,501
10. Segment Information
The Company aligns its businesses into three reportable business segments based on geographical location. This segment structure reflects (i) the manner in which the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, regularly assesses information for decision-making purposes, including the allocation of resources, and (ii) how the Company operates its businesses, assesses performance, and communicates results and strategy, among other items, to the Board and its stockholders.
The Company’s reportable business segments consist of: (1) United States; (2) Canada; and (3) Europe. As described below, the activities of the Company’s Asian operations are closely linked to those of the U.S. operations; accordingly, the Company’s CODM reviews the financial results of both on a consolidated basis, and the results of the Asian operations have been aggregated with the results of the United States operations to form one reportable segment called the “United States segment” or “U.S. segment”. Each reportable segment derives its revenue from the sales of i) first aid and medical products and ii) cutting and sharpening tools to school, home, office, hardware, sporting and industrial markets.
The Company's CODM evaluates the performance of each operating segment based on segment revenues and operating income. Segment revenues are defined as total revenues, excluding inter-segment revenue. Segment operating earnings are defined as segment revenues, less cost of goods sold and operating expenses. Assets are reviewed by the CODM on a consolidated basis and therefore are not presented by reportable business segment.
The following table sets forth certain financial data by segment for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Financial data by segment:
(000’s omitted)
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024
(amounts in 000's)
United States
Canada
Europe
Total
Net Sales
$
166,152
$
13,261
$
15,077
$
194,490
Less: Segment cost of sales
100,092
8,294
9,753
118,139
Less: Segment selling, general, and administrative expenses
52,815
4,269
5,127
62,211
Segment operating income
$
13,245
$
$
$
14,140
Interest expense
(2,083
)
Interest income
Other income, net
Income before income taxes
$
12,293
Assets
143,538
9,677
8,956
162,171
Additions to property, plant and equipment
6,866
7,148
Depreciation and amortization
5,663
6,069
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023
(amounts in 000's)
United States
Canada
Europe
Total
Net Sales
$
163,205
$
13,891
$
14,405
$
191,501
Less: Segment cost of sales
101,531
8,407
9,353
119,291
Less: Segment selling, general, and administrative expenses
50,198
4,618
4,206
59,022
Segment operating income
$
11,477
$
$
$
13,188
Interest expense
(3,096
)
Interest income
Gain on sale of business
12,564
Other (expense), net
(41
)
Income before income taxes
$
22,734
Assets
131,382
8,557
9,302
149,241
Additions to property, plant and equipment
4,626
-
4,673
Depreciation and amortization
4,833
5,011
The table below presents revenue by geographic area. Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of the customer.
(000’s omitted)
Revenues
United States
$
165,080
$
162,070
International:
Canada
13,261
13,891
Europe
15,077
14,405
Other
1,072
1,135
Total International
$
29,410
$
29,431
Total Revenues
$
194,490
$
191,501
The table below presents long-lived assets by geographic area. Long-lived assets are attributed to countries based on location of the asset.
(000’s omitted)
Long-lived assets
United States
$
62,499
$
55,006
International:
Canada
3,814
1,691
Europe
Other
Total International
$
4,210
$
2,211
Total Long-lived assets
$
66,709
$
57,217
11. Stock Option Plans
The Company grants stock options under the 2022 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “2022 Employee Plan”) and under the 2017 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan (the “2017 Director Plan”). The Company also has two plans under which the Company no longer grants options but under which certain options remain outstanding: the 2005 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan (the “2005 Director Plan”) and the 2012 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “2012 Employee Plan”).
The 2022 Employee Plan, which was approved by the stockholders of the Company at the April 20, 2022, Annual Meeting, provides for the issuance of incentive and non-qualified stock options at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The terms of the options granted are subject to the provisions of the 2022 Employee Plan. Options granted under the 2022 Employee Plan vest 25% one day after the first anniversary of the grant date and 25% one day after each of the next three anniversaries. As of December 31, 2024, the number of shares available for grant under the 2022 Employee Plan is 186,375. Under the terms of the 2022 Employee Plan, no option may be granted under that plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the plan.
The 2012 Employee Plan, which became effective April 23, 2012, provides for the issuance of incentive and non-qualified stock options at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The terms of the options granted are subject to the provisions of the 2012 Employee Plan. Options granted under the 2012 Employee Plan vest 25% one day after the first anniversary of the grant date and 25% one day after each of the next three anniversaries. Under the terms of the 2012 Employee Plan, no option may be granted under that plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the plan.
The 2017 Director Plan provides for the issuance of stock options for up to a total of 50,000 shares of the Company's common stock to non-salaried directors. Under the 2017 Director Plan, Directors elected after the effective date and at subsequent Annual Meetings who have not received any prior grants under the plan or previous plans shall receive an initial grant of an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Option”). Each year, each elected non-salaried Director not receiving an Initial Option will receive an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Annual Option”). The Initial Option vests 25% on the date of grant and 25% on the anniversary of the grant date in each of the following 3 years. Each Annual Option becomes fully exercisable one day after the date of grant. The exercise price of each option granted equals the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted and expires ten (10) years from the date of grant. The 2017 Director Plan provides that the Board of Directors has the authority to increase or decrease the number of shares of Common Stock which are the subject of the annual or initial option grants to directors. No options may be granted under the 2017 Director Plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan, i.e., after April 24, 2027. As of December 31, 2024, there were 37,500 shares available for grant under the 2017 Director Plan.
The 2005 Director Plan, as amended, provided for the issuance of stock options for up to a total of 180,000 shares of the Company's common stock to non-salaried directors. Under the 2005 Director Plan, Directors elected on April 25, 2005 and at subsequent Annual Meetings who had not received any prior grant under this or previous plans received an initial grant of an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Option”). Each year, each elected Director not receiving an Initial Option received a 5,000 share option (the “Annual Option”). The Initial Option vested 25% on the date of grant and 25% on the anniversary of the grant date in each of the following 3 years. Each Annual Option became fully exercisable one day after the date of grant. The exercise price of each option granted equaled the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option was granted and expired ten (10) years from the date of grant. As provided in the Director Plan, no options could be granted under the 2005 Director Plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan, i.e., after April 25, 2015.
The Company’s stock option plans for both employees and directors permit options to be exercised on a net basis and receive either cash or shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Specifically, optionees may, at the time of exercise of an option and subject to the consent of the
Company, elect either (i) to receive from the Company cash in an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option (or portion thereof) that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (a) the fair market value per share over (b) the exercise price per share of the option (a “net cash settlement”); or (ii) to make payment of the exercise price of the option by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such option by the number of shares having an aggregate fair market value equal to the total exercise price of the option (or portion thereof). In 2024 and 2023, the Company paid a total of approximately $415,900 and $292,153 respectively, to optionees who had elected a net cash settlement of their respective share options. In 2024 and 2023, the Company issued 37,944 and 20,256 shares, respectively, to optionees who had elected a net share settlement.
A summary of changes in options issued under the Company’s stock option plans follows:
Options outstanding at the beginning of the year
1,598,761
1,617,672
Options granted
37,500
163,500
Options forfeited
(10,500
)
(6,938
)
Options exercised
(222,671
)
(175,473
)
Options outstanding at the end of the year
1,403,090
1,598,761
Options exercisable at the end of the year
1,126,972
1,138,706
Common stock available for future grants at the end of the year
223,875
3,250
Weighted average exercise price per share:
Granted
$
38.26
$
30.47
Forfeited
31.63
20.68
Exercised
21.87
16.95
Outstanding
27.82
26.77
Exercisable
26.61
24.82
A summary of options outstanding as December 31, 2024 is as follows:
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices
Number
Outstanding
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Number
Exercisable
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
$19.23 to $22.86
338,454
$
21.48
338,454
$
21.48
$22.87 to $24.03
304,637
23.46
304,637
23.46
$24.04 to $29.91
286,374
27.00
220,499
26.30
$29.92 to $38.09
225,875
31.56
93,505
32.85
$38.10 to $39.56
247,750
39.38
169,877
39.47
1,403,090
1,126,972
The weighted average remaining contractual life of all outstanding stock options is 6 years.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of employee and non-employee director stock options. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant, using an option-pricing model, is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These assumptions include estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (“expected term”), the estimated volatility of the Company’s Common Stock price over the expected term (“volatility”) and the number of options that will not fully vest in accordance with applicable vesting requirements (“forfeitures”).
The Company estimates the expected term of options granted by evaluating various factors, including the vesting period, historical employee information, as well as current and historical stock prices and market conditions. The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock by calculating historical volatility based on the closing stock price on the last day of each of the 84 months leading up to the month the option was granted. The risk-free interest rate that the Company uses in the option valuation model is the interest rate on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bond issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the options granted. Historical information was the basis for calculating the dividend yield. The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and to revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company used a mix of historical data and future assumptions to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and to
record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. All stock-based payment awards are amortized over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.
The assumptions used to value option grants for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
Expected life in years
Interest rate
3.85
%
4.17
%
Volatility
0.455
0.422
Dividend yield
1.5
%
1.8
%
Total stock-based compensation recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $2,183,001 and $1,940,443, respectively. At December 31, 2024, there was approximately $2,222,084 of unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested stock-based payments granted to the Company’s employees. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining unamortized expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2 years.
The weighted average fair value at the date of grant for options granted during 2024 and 2023 was $17.16 and $12.65 per option, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options was $13,865,264 and $25,727,340 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable options was $12,455,936 and $20,536,948 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during 2024 and 2023 was $4,430,260 and $2,646,835, respectively.
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested options as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 follows:
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024
Number of Awards
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested Outstanding, beginning of year
460,055
$
11.81
Granted
37,500
17.16
Cancelled/Forfeited
(8,875
)
12.00
Expired
-
-
Vested, outstanding shares
(212,562
)
11.31
Unvested Outstanding, end of year
276,118
$
12.91
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023
Number of Awards
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested Outstanding, beginning of year
485,498
$
10.77
Granted
163,500
12.65
Cancelled/Forfeited
(875
)
11.10
Expired
-
-
Vested, outstanding shares
(188,068
)
9.86
Unvested Outstanding, end of year
460,055
$
11.81
12. Earnings Per Share
The calculation of earnings per share is as follows:
Numerator:
Net income
$
10,022,351
$
17,793,160
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding
3,700,568
3,572,144
Effect of diluted employee stock options
397,981
85,553
Denominator for dilutive earnings per share
4,098,549
3,657,697
Basic earnings per share
$
2.71
$
4.98
Diluted earnings per share
$
2.45
$
4.86
For 2024 all outstanding options were included in the calculation of diluted shares. In 2023, 591,624 stock options were excluded from diluted earnings per share calculations because they would have been anti-dilutive.
13. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss follow:
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment
Balances, December 31, 2022
$
(2,087,899
)
Translation adjustment
382,312
Balances, December 31, 2023
$
(1,705,587
)
Translation adjustment
(1,045,555
)
Balances, December 31, 2024
$
(2,751,142
)
14. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
(dollars in 000’s):
December 31,
December 31,
Cash and cash equivalents
$
6,399
$
4,796
Restricted Cash - current
-
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
6,399
$
5,546
Restricted cash, which was reported within current assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023, consisted of the contingent payment held in escrow related to the acquisition of certain assets of Safety Made. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid the final $750,000 due upon the satisfaction of certain financial targets associated with the Safety Made acquisition.
15. Leases
The Company has operating leases for office and warehouse space and equipment under various arrangements which provide the right to use the underlying asset and require lease payments for the lease term. The Company’s lease portfolio consists of operating leases which expire at various dates through 2029.
Certain of the Company’s lease arrangements contain renewal provisions, exercisable at the Company's option. The probability of renewal is not reasonably certain and therefore not included in ROU assets and lease liabilities. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
Operating lease cost was $1.7 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively, was included in cost of goods sold and $1.0 million and $0.8 million, respectively, was included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Information related to leases (dollars in 000’s):
Year ended
Year ended
Operating cash flow information:
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Operating lease cost
$
1,723
$
1,344
Operating lease - cash flow
$
1,763
$
1,406
Non-cash activity:
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities
$
4,632
$
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Weighted-average remaining lease term
3.6 years
2.0 years
Weighted-average discount rate
%
%
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2024:
(dollars in 000’s):
$
1,848
1,295
1,019
1,042
Total future minimum lease payments
$
5,564
Less: imputed interest
(633
)
Present value of lease liabilities - current
1,564
Present value of lease liabilities - non-current
$
3,367
16. Business Combinations and Divestitures
On May 23, 2024, the Company acquired certain assets of Elite First Aid, Inc ("Elite First Aid"). Based in Wake Forest, NC, Elite First Aid is a leading supplier of tactical, trauma and emergency medical products.
The fair value of consideration transferred is as follows:
(dollars in 000’s):
Cash
$
6,141
Contingent consideration
$
Holdback
$
Total
$
7,141
The purchase price was allocated to assets acquired as follows (in thousands):
Assets:
Accounts Receivable
$
Inventory
1,127
Prepaid Expense
Intangible Assets
Customer list
2,290
Tradename
1,260
Non-Compete
Goodwill
1,719
Total assets
$
7,141
The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, pursuant to ASC 805 - Business Combinations. All assets acquired in the acquisition are included in the Company’s United States operating segment. Intangible assets include Customer List, Trade Names, Non-Compete Agreements, and Goodwill, and each were recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date using Level 3 inputs. The useful lives of the identified intangible assets range from 5 years to 15 years. The non-compete has an estimated useful life of 5 years. The tradename and customer list both have 15-year estimated useful lives. The weighted average amortization period of intangibles acquired during the year is 13 years. The excess purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is primarily attributable to expanded market opportunities for emergency response products. All goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.
The purchase price for the assets was $7,141,000. At closing, the Company paid $6,141,000 to Elite First Aid; the balance of the purchase price, $1,000,000, is subject to holdbacks as follows: (a) $500,000, the payment of which is contingent upon certain revenue milestones during any consecutive 12-month period from May 31, 2024 to December 31, 2025; and (b) $500,000, which is subject to a 13-month holdback as a non-exclusive source of recovery primarily to satisfy indemnification claims under the Asset Purchase Agreement. The $500,000 contingent payment is reported in other long term liabilities and the $500,000 holdback is reported in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024.
Management has determined that providing supplemental pro forma financial information reflecting the combined results of operations as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the prior period is not required, as the impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations is not significant.
The results of Elite First Aid have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date forward, with no material impact on reported revenue or net income.
Divestitures
On November 1, 2023, the Company sold the assets of its Camillus Cutlery and Cuda business lines (the “Business”) to GSM Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“GSM Holdings”), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement entered into on the same date.
The sale price of the Business was $19.8 million. At closing, GSM Holdings paid $18.3 million to the Company; the balance of the purchase price, $1.5 million, was subject to a 12-month holdback as a non-exclusive source of recovery primarily to satisfy indemnification claims under the Asset Purchase Agreement. In November 2024, the Company received payment of $1.1 million, net of related costs. The divestiture resulted in a gain of $12.6 million, which was recorded within Other Income, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The gain, net of tax, was approximately $9.6 million.
Sales of Camillus and Cuda products represented approximately 6% of the total net sales in 2023. The divestiture did not meet the criteria for reporting as discontinued operations.
17. Commitments and Contingencies
There are no pending material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party, or, to the actual knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental authority.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Acme United Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, based on our audits, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in 2013 and our report dated March 6, 2025, expressed an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting because of the existence of a material weakness.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Business Combination
As described in Note 16 to the Company’s financial statements, on May 23, 2024, the Company acquired Elite First Aid, Inc. in a business combination for the purchase price of $7,141,000. Management applied significant judgment in estimating the fair value of certain intangible assets. Changes to the underlying valuation of the customer relationship intangible asset could have a material impact on the financial statements. We identified the valuation of the customer relationship intangible asset as a critical audit matter. The significant estimation was primarily due to the complexity of the valuation model used to measure the fair value as well as the sensitivity of the respective fair value to the underlying significant assumption. The significant assumption used to estimate the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset is the estimated revenue growth rate. Auditing this significant assumption led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures to evaluate the significant assumption.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
Our audit procedures related to the business combination include the following, amongst others:
•We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the accounting for the business combination and over the determination of the purchase price allocation. We considered the results of our tests of controls in our audit procedures.
•To test the acquisition and the underlying valuation of the customer relationship intangible asset, our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the Company's selection of the valuation methodology, evaluating the method and significant assumptions used by the Company's valuation specialist, and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data supporting the significant assumptions and estimates.
•We involved our valuation specialists to assist with our evaluation of the methodology used by the Company.
•We audited the assumption of revenue growth rates as follows: a) tested the first year of Elite First Aid, Inc.’s revenue projection by auditing its revenue that the Company recognized from the acquisition date through December 31, 2024; b) compared the assumption to both industry and comparable companies' historical revenue and growth rates; and c) compared the assumption to the Company's historical revenue and growth rates.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008; such date takes into consideration the acquisition of a portion of UHY LLP by Marcum LLP in April 2010.
Boston, Massachusetts
March 6, 2025
PCAOB Firm ID #688
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Acme United Corporation
Adverse Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described in the following paragraph on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:
It was determined that as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s logical security controls were not operating effectively. Specifically, the provisioning/modifications of access, user recertification and privileged access controls over the respective financially relevant system, were not operating effectively to ensure that users maintained proper segregation of duties and therefore could result in users having inappropriate rights. Other information technology general controls, automated process level controls and manual controls that are dependent upon the information derived from such financially relevant system were also determined to be ineffective as a result of such deficiencies.
This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2024 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 6, 2025 on those financial statements.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows and the related notes for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024 of the Company, and our report dated March 6, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
March 6, 2025

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
There have been no disagreements with accountants related to accounting and financial disclosures in 2024.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act of 1934) as of December 31, 2024. Based on and as of the time of such evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of December 31, 2024, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, management identified a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) related to ineffective Information Technology General Controls (ITGCs) over logical security and privileged access management for a financially relevant system.
During a period of time in the fourth quarter of 2024, and prior to year end, the controls for modification of access, user recertification and privileged access controls over the respective financially relevant system were not operating effectively to ensure that users maintained proper segregation of duties. Specifically, one individual was given privileged access rights for the purpose of conducting maintenance on user access. Accordingly, this could have resulted in users having inappropriate access rights, leading to other ITGCs, automated process-level controls, and manual controls that are dependent upon the information derived from such financially relevant system to be ineffective.
Remediation
The privileged access for the one individual was removed on December 20, 2024 when the subject maintenance was completed. As part of its remediation efforts, management will further limit users with privileged access to ensure proper segregation of duties.
While this control deficiency constituted a material weakness, management has determined that it did not result in any misstatements to the financial statements, nor did it impact previously reported financial results.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP, has issued an adverse attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, as stated in their report which is included in the Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Marcum LLP has also audited our consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2024, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and its report dated March 6, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on our consolidated financial statements.
As previously reported, during the year ended December 31, 2023, management identified a material weakness related to ineffective ITGCs. It was determined that as of December 31, 2023, the Company's change management and logical controls were not designed and implemented effectively to ensure: 1) IT program and data changes affecting the Company's financial IT applications and underlying accounting records were identified, tested, authorized and implemented appropriately to validate that data produced by its relevant IT system(s) were complete and
accurate and 2) appropriate segregation of duties that would adequately restrict user and privileged access to the financially relevant systems and underlying accounting records to the appropriate Company personnel. Other ITGCs, automated process-level controls, and manual controls that were dependent upon the information derived from such financially relevant systems were also determined to be ineffective as a result of such deficiency. This material weakness did not result in any misstatement of the Company's consolidated financial statements for any period presented.
To remediate the material weakness described above, during 2024, the Company implemented database change management and auditing software and has designed and implemented associated management review processes. These controls were added to provide assurance that IT program and data changes affecting the Company's accounting records are identified, tested, authorized and implemented appropriately. In addition, the added controls provide proper segregation of duties to restrict user and privileged access to appropriate Company personnel. As a result, the Company concluded that the controls were appropriately designed and operating effectively and have concluded that the material weakness has been remediated as of December 31, 2024.
Inherent Limitation on Effectiveness of Controls
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by the board of directors, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP including those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Except for factors pertaining to the remediation of the material weakness identified above, there have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, to which this report relates, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information regarding Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Election of Directors” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Code of Conduct
The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct that is applicable to its employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. The Code of Conduct is available in the investor relations section on the Company’s website at www.acmeunited.com.
If the Company makes any substantive amendments to the Code of Conduct which apply to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Controller, or grants any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Conduct to the Company’s executive officers, the Company will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on its website.
Information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting requirements and certain corporate governance matters is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled (i) “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934”, (ii) “Nominations for Directors”, and (iii) “Audit Committee” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information with respect to executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Executive Compensation” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners, directors and executive officers is incorporated herein by reference to the information in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Directors and Officers” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is incorporated herein by reference to the information in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Information regarding director independence is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Independence Determinations” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information regarding principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Fees to Auditors” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements.
•Consolidated Balance Sheets
•Consolidated Statements of Operations
•Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
•Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
•Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
•Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
•Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
•Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is presented in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) The exhibits listed under Item 15(b) are filed or incorporated by reference herein.
(b) Exhibits.
The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain of the exhibits, as indicated, have been previously filed and are incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit No.
Identification of Exhibit
3(i)
Re-Stated Certificate of Incorporation July 1, 2005 (2)
3(ii)
Bylaws (4)
Specimen of Common Stock certificate (18) (p)
4(vi)
Description of Common Stock (19)
10.4
Severance Pay Plan dated September 28, 2004* (15)
10.5(a)
Salary Continuation Plan dated September 28, 2004, as amended (3)*
10.6(a)
2005 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan, amended (6)
10.6(b)
Amendment to the 2005 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan (12)
10.7
2017 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan (9)
10.8
Deferred Compensation Plan dated October 2, 2007* (16)
10.9(a)
2012 Acme United Employee Stock Option Plan (11)
10.9(b)
Amendment to the 2012 Acme United Employee Stock Option Plan* (12)
10.10(a)
Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC, dated April 5, 2012 (13)
10.10(b)
Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC (14)
10.10(c)
Amended and restated secured revolving note (14)
10.10(d)
Amendment No. 2 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated October 2013 (15)
10.10(e)
Amendment No. 4 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated May 6, 2016 (12)
10.10(f)
Second amended and restated secured revolving note (12)
10.10(g)
Amendment No. 5 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated January 2017 (16)
10.10(h)
Amendment No. 6 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated March 2018 (20)
10.10(i)
Amendment No. 7 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated March 2018 (20)
10.10(j)
Amendment No. 8 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated March 2018 (20)
10.10(j)
Amendment No. 9 to Revolving Loan Agreement with HSBC dated November 2022 (21)
10.11
Change in Control Plan as amended dated February 24, 2011* (17)
Insider Trading Policy
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1
Consent of Marcum LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1
Certification of Walter Johnsen pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
Certification of Paul Driscoll pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
Certification of Walter Johnsen pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certification of Paul Driscoll pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document- the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, has been formatted in Inline XBRL.
* Indicates a management contract or a compensatory plan or arrangement
(1)Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed on August 19, 2014.
(2)Previously filed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2005.
(3)Previously filed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2005.
(4)Previously filed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2006.
(5)Previously filed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
(6)Previously filed in the Company’s Proxy Statement filed on March 29, 2005. This plan expired in 2015.
(7)Previously filed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2010.
(8)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 17, 2005.
(9)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Proxy Statement filed on March 22, 2017.
(10)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2008.
(11)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2012.
(12)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2016.
(13)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2012.
(14)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2013.
(15)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 6, 2014.
(16)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2017.
(17)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2011.
(18)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed in 1971.
(19)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2021.
(20)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 8, 2022.
(21)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2022.