EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 2098
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 2098_10-K_2022_0001564590-22-012597.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, rulers, pencil sharpeners 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 2021 were $182.0 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. The Company assembles its first aid kits at its facilities in Vancouver, WA, Rocky Mount, NC and Laval, Canada. The components for the first aid kits are primarily sourced from U.S. suppliers. In addition, the Company has manufacturing facilities in the U.S. at Smyrna, TN and Santa Ana, CA for Spill Magic absorbent products, Marlborough, MA for DMT sharpening tools, and Brooksville, FL for Med-Nap alcohol and benzalkonium chloride non-alcohol (BZK) wipes.
Recent accomplishments and initiatives
The Company’s key business accomplishments and initiatives include the following elements:
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Twelve years of consecutive sales growth averaging 10%;
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Diversification of Product Lines - During the past six years, sales of first aid and medical products have grown to over 50% of total sales. As a result, our reliance on sales of school and office products has declined, although such sales have also increased;
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Successful integration of two first aid and safety acquisitions made in 2020, First Aid Central, a Montreal-based supplier of first aid kits and safety, and Med-Nap LLC, a Florida-based manufacturer of antiseptic prep pad and towelette solutions. In addition, we have significantly expanded the production, distribution capacities, and product lines of the two acquired businesses.
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Implementation of a new warehouse management system that will lead to improve efficiencies in 2022.
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In 2021, the Company took several steps that significantly improved its capital position, including:
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Entering into a new mortgage agreement with HSBC Bank in December 2021 covering its properties in Vancouver, Washington and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The mortgage is $11.6 million with a fixed rate of 3.8%. During this time of increasing inflation, the Company has been able to fix the interest rate on $11.6 million of its capitalization. The new facility also has the effect of increasing capacity under our revolving line of credit to fund growth and potential acquisitions.
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In June 2021, the Company’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $3,580,047 was fully forgiven by the Small Business Administration, after management had successfully navigated the SBA’s extensive approval process.
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Commencing in 2020 and continuing through the present, Executive management has taken decisive actions to respond to the unprecedented business and operational uncertainties and disruption caused by the pandemic. These actions included:
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Taking steps beginning in 2020 to protect our global workforce, including travel restrictions, work-from-home requirements and preventative measures at our sites, and subsequently taking additional actions in response to changing circumstances.
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Increasing inventory across its product lines by approximately 40% through the 21-month period ending December 31, 2021, to ensure adequacy of product availability.
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Proactively managing its supply chains to minimize the impact of actual and potential disruptions and to ensure supply chain continuity.
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Managing increases in the Company’s costs, labor shortages and other operational challenges.
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Managing through macroeconomic uncertainty created by the pandemic by preserving the Company’s liquidity, engaging in cash preservation initiatives, and cost control measures.
Principal Products
The Company markets and sells under two main categories: i) first aid and safety; and ii) cutting, sharpening and measuring. The first aid and safety category includes first aid and safety products (First Aid Only®, PhysiciansCare®, Pac-Kit®, Spill Magic®, First Aid Central® and Med-Nap brands). The cutting, sharpening and measuring category includes school, home and office products (Westcott® brand), and hardware, industrial and sporting goods products (Clauss®, Camillus®, Cuda® and DMT® brands).
FIRST AID AND MEDICAL
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. In 2019, we introduced our next generation SmartCompliance Complete ™ which 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, an Acme United brand since 2017, 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 trusted provider and manufacturer of a wide variety of first aid kits since 2007. They assist Canadian businesses to stay compliant with federal & provincial first aid and safety 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, an Acme United brand since 2020, manufactures critical FDA regulated components found in first aid kits and used by healthcare facilities, including alcohol prep pads, alcohol wipes, benzalkonium chloride non-alcohol wipes, various antiseptic wipes, castile soap, and lens cleaning wipes. Med-Nap provides to the Company vertical integration advantages including shorter delivery times, lower total costs, and a secure U.S. source of supply during unprecedented healthcare challenges. The facilities offer a platform for future product expansion.
CUTTING, SHARPENING AND MEASURING
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 fun, 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, lawn & garden, food processing, 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 Titanium Carbide infused blades which has revolutionized cutting performance and edge-retention for hardware and industrial based cutting applications.
Camillus
Since 1876 Camillus has been supplying innovative and high-quality knives. The Camillus brand has a strong heritage in the hunting, sporting, survival and tactical markets. The Company acquired the brand in 2007 and re-launched it in 2009 with an updated and innovative line of fixed blade, folding knives, line of sight cutting tools and tactical tools. Many of the knives are enhanced with titanium carbonitride coatings to increase the hardness of the blade of up to 10 times that of untreated stainless steel. In 2021 Camillus continued its innovative path in creating outdoor tools that serve its customers with multifunction features, which allow outdoor enthusiasts to carry less tools.
Cuda
The Cuda line of fishing tools and knives was launched in 2014. Featuring titanium bonded German steels and alloys, Cuda tools provide world class hardness, corrosion and adhesive resistance. In 2014, Cuda won Best of Show in the “Fish Smart” category at the ICast show in Orlando, Florida. In 2016, Cuda won six GOOD DESIGN awards from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design. In 2017, Cuda launched a line of cut and puncture resistant gloves which feature quadruple layered Kevlar® and a line of telescopic landing nets featuring replaceable nets and a net containment system. In 2018, Cuda launched a Professional Series of knives, tools and fishing gaffs that are directed towards the commercial fishing market.
DMT
DMT products are leaders in diamond sharpening tools for knives, scissors, chisels, skis, skates and many other edges that require sharpening. DMT was founded in 1976 by aerospace engineers. 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 2017, DMT launched 12 new diamond sharpeners that include a gear-driven sharpener, sonic sharpener and pull through sharpeners that provide a simple sharpening solution for beginners as well as sharpening experts.
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, Camillus, PhysiciansCare, First Aid Only, Cuda, 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, 2021 was 9 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, ecommerce retailers, industrial distributors, wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply super stores, school supply distributors, and hardware chains (including through their websites). The Company also sells a limited selection of its products directly to consumers through its own websites. The Company had two customers in 2021 and 2020, respectively, that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to these two customers were approximately 17% and 11% of consolidated net sales in 2021 and 18% and 12% in 2020.
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 cutting category are 3M and Fiskars Corporation. The major competitors in the first aid and safety category are Honeywell and Cintas.
Seasonality
Traditionally, the Company’s sales 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 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
As of December 31, 2021, the Company employed 654 people, all of whom are full time and none of whom is covered by union contracts. Employee relations are considered good and no foreseeable problems with the work force are evident.
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:
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achieving planned revenue and profit growth in each of the Company's business segments;
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changes in customer requirements and in the volume of sales to principal customers;
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the ability of the Company to anticipate timing of orders and shipments particularly in the ecommerce area;
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emergence of new competitors or consolidation of existing competitors; and
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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.
If we identify a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting, such material weakness could result in material misstatements in our financial statements.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s inventory cycle count program at our Rocky Mount, NC warehouse (the Warehouse), as described below. 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 However, there
were no material misstatements in our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 as a result of this material weakness. To remediate the material weakness, at the end of 2021, the Company conducted a full physical inventory count at the Warehouse to provide evidence on existence of its inventory for the year ended December 31, 2021. As a result, the Company concluded that the controls were appropriately designed and operating effectively and further concluded that the material weakness had been remediated. In addition, our independent public accounting firm, Marcum LLP, expressed an unqualified opinion on our consolidated financial statements in each of the two years for the period ended December 31, 2021.
If additional material weaknesses 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.
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 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. These factors presently include the impact of supply chain issues and the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company.
Customers place great emphasis on timely delivery of our products for specific selling seasons, especially during our second and third fiscal quarters, and on the fulfillment of consumer demand throughout the year. We cannot control all of the various factors that might affect product delivery to customers. On-going risks of our business 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 labor disputes, inclement weather, natural disasters, cybersecurity attacks, possible acts of terrorism, 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 continues to 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, often under special vendor requirements to use specific carriers and delivery schedules, 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.
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. The availability of labor in certain of the markets in which we operate has declined in recent years and competition for such labor has increased, especially under the economic crises experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our ability to attract and retain a sufficient workforce on a cost-effective basis depends on several factors, including
the ability to protect staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 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, including the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 over the years including through two new strategic acquisitions in 2020. 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.
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 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 office product superstores and mass market distributors. The Company had two customers in 2021 and 2020, respectively, that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to those customers were approximately 17% and 11% in 2021 and 18% and 12% in 2020, 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.
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.
Our e-commerce business constituted approximately 18% of our net sales in 2021 and has been our fastest growing distribution channel over the last several years. 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 may not be able to maintain or to raise prices in response to increasing costs or inflation.
Future market and competitive pressures may prohibit the Company from raising prices to offset increased product costs, shipping costs, labor costs, and other inflationary items, whether due to increases in the costs of raw materials or components or to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.
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 may attempt to penetrate our or our vendors' network security and, if successful, 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.
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 the Prime Rate less 1.25%. In response to the COVID pandemic, actions of the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banking institutions were taken to create and maintain a low interest rate environment. However, the U.S. Federal Reserve has indicated that it intends to increase interest rates in 2022. Increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs on our variable-rate debt as well as any future fixed rate debt. Any increase in the interest which we pay would reduce our cash available for working capital, acquisitions, and other uses.
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. The FDA also inspects these facilities and products to confirm compliance with its requirements. There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to comply with FDA 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 could also lead to facility shutdown or the delay or withholding of product approval by the FDA, 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 increasingly 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 duration, severity, spread and recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic in foreign countries, including through variant strains of the underlying virus.
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, and, commencing in 2020 through the present, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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 impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and 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 in China 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 in China. 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 increased against the U.S. Dollar during the last two years. If the Chinese Renminbi continues to increase 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. Future interventions by China may result in further currency appreciation and increase our product costs over time. 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 has been increased by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 doubtful accounts 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.
Changes in trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and their enforcement, may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and outlook.
In 2018, the United States levied tariffs on the import of some products from China, which is an important source of many of the Company’s products. To date these tariffs have affected folding and fixed blade knives; paper trimmers and rotary cutters; metal cutting shears; instruments for hand measuring as well as a wide range of components used in first aid kit production. In order to offset the impact of to these tariffs, the Company has implemented price increases on the affected products. Tariff levels may be further increased and the types of products subject to tariffs may be expanded. Although the Company intends to continue to pass additional price increases on to our customers, such tariff-related developments could have a negative impact on customer demand and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we might have to modify our current business practices, including potentially sourcing from alternative vendors, which could result in inefficiencies and delays in production and cause the Company to incur additional costs.
Pandemic Related Risks
The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to arrest its spread, as well as measures we have taken and continue to take in response to the pandemic, could adversely impact our business, including our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The outbreak and global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted economic activity and conditions worldwide and continues to impact our business operations. The extent to which COVID-19 will continue to impact our business is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, including the efficacy and public acceptance of vaccines, the spread of COVID-19 variants and the extent of federal, state, and local government responses affecting the economy. These impacts may include, but are not limited to:
•
Significant weakness, reductions or volatility in demand for one or more of our products, which have been and may in the future be caused by, among other things: the temporary inability of consumers to purchase our products, store closures, office closures, school closures or delayed opening for schools and other higher education programs, quarantine or other travel restrictions, or financial hardship among customers, retailers and consumers, shifts in demand away from one or more of our more discretionary or higher priced products to lower priced products, or prior stockpiling of goods; if prolonged, such impacts could further increase the difficulty in planning our operations, which, in turn, may adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition;
•
Difficult or inability in meeting our customers’ needs and achieving cost targets due to disruptions in our manufacturing operations, supply arrangements as well as distribution centers caused by the disruption of essential manufacturing and supply elements such as raw materials or other finished product components, transportation, workforce, or other manufacturing and distribution capability;
•
Failure of third parties on which we rely, including our suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, external business partners, and customers to meet their obligations to the Company, or significant disruptions in their ability to do so, which may be caused by their own financial or operational difficulties. Any such failure or disruption may adversely impact our operations, liquidity and financial condition; or
•
Significant changes in the political and labor conditions in markets in which we manufacture, sell or distribute our products, including quarantines, governmental or regulatory actions, safety protocols or restrictions that limit or close our facilities; restrict our employees’ ability or willingness to travel or perform necessary business functions, or otherwise prevent our facilities or our suppliers or customers from adequately staffing operations, including operations necessary for the production, distribution, sale, and support of our products, which could adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. We do not yet know the full extent of the impacts on our business, our operations, or the global economy as a whole. Despite our efforts to manage and remedy these impacts to the Company, the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could materially and adversely impact our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, and depends on factors beyond our knowledge or control. In this regard, the extent of the impact of the pandemic on our business, operating results, cash flows, liquidity and financial conditions will be primarily driven by the ultimate duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the U.S. and global economies.
Vaccine mandates applicable to us could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
OSHA issued an ETS in November 2021 that mandated either the full vaccination or weekly testing of employees for employers with 100 or more employees. On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court re-imposed a previously ordered stay of the ETS and returned the case to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The majority of the Supreme Court held that the challengers to the ETS were likely to prevail on the merits because OSHA exceeded its statutory authority. While the Supreme Court’s ruling enjoined OSHA from imposing its mandate, the ruling has no impact on the ability of private employers to impose their own vaccine mandate. On January 25, 2022, OSHA announced it was withdrawing the ETS as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. However, any additional vaccine mandates, or the requirement for employees to receive vaccine booster doses, may be announced in other jurisdictions in which our businesses operate. Our implementation of existing or additional vaccine mandates may result in attrition, including attrition of critically skilled labor, and difficulty securing future labor needs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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 shareholders. 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, 2021, 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 3,098,053 shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates as of December 31, 2021. 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 and distribution
Warehousing and distribution
Manufacturing, warehousing and distribution
Solingen, Germany
35,000
Warehousing, distribution and administrative
470,460
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
42,500
Warehousing and distribution
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
2,850
Administrative
Laval, Quebec, Canada
14,500
Manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and administrative
Hong Kong, China
2,750
Administrative
Guangzhou, China
3,500
Administrative
Ningbo, China
1,800
Administrative
197,600
Total:
668,060
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 200,000 shares. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the Company repurchased a total of 43,214 shares of its Common Stock, 3,579 shares under the repurchase program announced in 2010 and 39,635 shares under the repurchase plan announced in 2019. As of December 31, 2021, a total of 160,365 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, including those risks and uncertainties resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic, future waves of COVID-19, including through the Delta and Omicrom variants and any new variant strains of the underlying virus; any future pandemics; the continuing effectiveness, global availability, and public acceptance of existing vaccines; the effectiveness, availability, and public acceptance of vaccines against variant strains of potential new viruses; and the heightened impact the pandemic has on many of the risks described herein, including, without limitation, risks relating to disruptions in our supply chain, and labor shortages, any of which could materially adversely impact the Company’s ability to manufacture, source or distribute its products, both domestically and internationally.
These risks and uncertainties further include, without limitation, the following: (i) changes in the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, which may be made at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the impact of uncertainties in global economic conditions, whether caused by COVID-19 or otherwise, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by COVID-19 or otherwise; (iv) labor shortages and related costs the Company may incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees; (v) the impact of rising inflation rates; (vi) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment, including the additional inventory it acquired in 2020 and 2021 in anticipation of supply chain disruptions; uncertainties; (vii) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (viii) the impact of competition; (ix) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; (x) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; (xi) rising wages and benefits; (xii) currency fluctuations; (xiii) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position, including the imposition of new tariffs or changes in existing tariff rates; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors affecting the Company, see the Risk Factors described in Item 1A included in this Report Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 applicable law or regulation.
Critical Accounting Policies & Estimates
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements. Certain accounting estimates are particularly important to the understanding of the Company’s financial position and results of operations and require the application of significant judgment by the Company’s management and can be materially affected by changes from period to period in economic factors or conditions that are outside the control of management. The Company’s management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates. Those estimates are based on historical operations, future business plans and projected financial results, the terms of existing contracts, the observance of trends in the industry, information provided by customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. The following discusses the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates:
Estimates - Operating results may be affected by certain accounting estimates. The most sensitive and significant accounting estimates in the financial statements relate to customer rebates, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, obsolete and slow-moving inventories, potentially uncollectible accounts receivable, intangibles, accruals for income taxes, and stock-based compensation. Although the Company’s management has used available information to make judgments on the appropriate estimates to account for the above matters, there can be no assurance that future events will not significantly affect the estimated amounts related to these areas where estimates are required. However, historically, actual results have not been materially different than original estimates.
Revenue Recognition - The Company's revenues result from the sale of goods or services 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 “FOB Shipping Point” or upon delivery “FOB Destination". When revenue is recorded, estimates of returns are made and recorded as a reduction of revenue. Customer rebates and incentives 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, in the notes to consolidated financial statements in this report for a more detailed discussion.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon a review of outstanding accounts receivable, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The allowance for doubtful accounts 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.
Customer Rebates - Customer rebates and incentives are a common practice in the office products industry. We incur customer rebate costs to obtain favorable product placement, to promote sell-through of products and to maintain competitive pricing. Customer rebate costs and incentives, including volume rebates, promotional funds, catalog allowances and slotting fees, are accounted for as a reduction to gross sales. These costs are recorded at the time of sale and are based on individual customer contracts. Management periodically reviews accruals for these rebates and allowances and adjusts accruals when appropriate.
Obsolete and Slow Moving Inventory - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost of inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out method. An allowance is established to adjust the cost of inventory to its net realizable value. Inventory allowances are recorded for obsolete or slow moving inventory based on assumptions about future demand and marketability of products, the impact of new product introductions and specific identification of items, such as discontinued products. These estimates could vary significantly from actual requirements if future economic conditions, customer inventory levels or competitive conditions differ from expectations.
Income Taxes - Deferred income tax liabilities or assets are established for temporary differences between financial and tax reporting bases and are subsequently adjusted to reflect changes in tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred income tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
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. The weighted average amortization period for intangible assets at December 31, 2021 was 9 years. The Company periodically reviews the values recorded for intangible assets and goodwill to assess recoverability from future operations whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company assessed the recoverability of its long-lived 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 and no reduction in their estimated useful lives.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Stock based compensation cost is measured at the grant date fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option - pricing model to determine fair value of the awards, which involves certain subjective assumptions. 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 for which vesting requirements will not be completed (“forfeitures”). Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect estimates of fair value stock-based compensation, and the related amount recognized on the consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 11 - Stock Option Plans, in the notes to consolidated financial statements in this report for a more detailed discussion.
Results of Operations 2021 Compared with 2020
Traditionally, the Company’s sales 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 back-to-school market.
COVID-19 Pandemic Related Considerations
As noted above under “Forward-Looking Statements” and the Risk Factors described in Item 1A included in this Report Annual Report on Form 10-K, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign governments adopted mitigation measures, creating significant uncertainties in the U.S. and global economies, including the shutdown of large portions of, or imposition of restrictions on, the U.S. and global economies. Notwithstanding a general improvement in conditions and reduction of adverse effects from the pandemic, as of December 31, 2021 there continues to be significant uncertainty around the scope, severity, and duration of the pandemic, as well as the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to it and the overall impact on the U.S., global economies, and our operating results in future periods.
Commencing late in the first quarter of 2020 and continuing through the filing of this report, the COVID-19 pandemic and certain related challenges have affected the Company’s financial results and business operations. These challenges include: difficulties in hiring employees for
its manufacturing and distribution centers due to current domestic labor shortages, increased labor costs, higher employee turnover compared to pre-pandemic levels. In addition, a portion of the Company’s workforce in its headquarters and elsewhere continue to work remotely. As a result, the Company has experienced and continues to experience operating inefficiencies.
In addition, as economies have re-opened, global supply chains have struggled to keep up with increasing demand, and the resulting supply chain disruptions have, in certain cases, affected our ability to ship products in a timely manner. These supply chain disruptions and the increase in demand have also led to increased freight, labor and product costs that affected our operating margin in 2021, and those disruptions and increased costs are likely to persist in the near term and potentially for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Company, beginning in April 2020 and continuing through the end of 2021 and through the present has acquired and maintained additional inventory to minimize the impact of any potential disruption to its supply chain. The Company believes that it has sufficient inventory of its products to meet anticipated demand in the near future. However, any further increase in the duration or severity of the COVID-19 pandemic or a resurgence of the pandemic and the continuation of related supply chain and labor issues, might adversely affect the Company’s ability to manufacture, source or distribute its products both domestically and internationally. The occurrence of any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operations and financial condition.
Further, the resurgence in the spread of COVID-19 toward the end of 2021 and into 2022 has created greater uncertainty regarding the economic outlook for the near term, even as vaccines have become widely available. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity and the Company’s operating results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Net Sales
In 2021, sales increased by $18,084,519, or 11%, to $182,087,559 compared to $164,003,040 in 2020.
The U.S. segment sales increased by 9%, in 2021 compared to 2020. Approximately 65% was attributable to strong sales of first aid and medical products, primarily due to continued market share gains in the industrial channel as well as increases in mass market and e-commerce channels. Approximately 35% of the growth came from strong sales of Westcott craft products.
Net sales in Canada for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased 31% in U.S. dollars and 22% in local currency compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to higher sales of first aid products.
European net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased 19% in U.S. dollars and 15% in local currency, compared with the same period in 2020. Approximately 75% of the increase was due to increased sales in the e-commerce channel across all brands. The remaining growth was mainly due to market share gains in Westcott cutting products
Gross Profit
Gross profit was 35.6% of net sales in 2021 compared to 36.3% in 2020. The decline was primarily due to cost inflation pressures and higher transportation costs, which equally contributed to the decline. Price increases have partially offset the cost increases.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $52,030,370 in 2021 compared with $48,182,050 in 2020, an increase of $3,848,320, or 8.0%. SG&A expenses were 28.6% of net sales in 2021 compared to 29.4% in 2020. Approximately 80% of the increase in SG&A expenses was due to higher commissions and shipping costs related to higher sales. The remaining increases was mainly due to added expenses related to the acquisition of Med Nap.
Operating Income
Operating income was $12,769,987 in 2021, compared with $11,412,664 in 2020, and increase of $1,357,323. Operating income in the U.S. segment increased in 2021 by approximately $649,000 over 2020, primarily due to higher sales. Operating income in Canada increased in 2021 by approximately $561,000 over 2020, primarily due to the acquisition of First Aid Central. Operating income in the European segment increased in 2021 by approximately $147,000 over 2020, primarily due to higher sales.
Interest Expense, Net
Net interest expense for 2021 was $908,223, compared with $919,709 for 2020, a decrease of $11,486.
Other Expense
Other expense was $194,877 in 2021 compared to $666,227 in 2020. The decrease in other expense is primarily related to a one-time non-cash charge of approximately $750,000 related to the termination of the Company’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan in 2020.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $1,519,255 in 2021, resulting in an effective tax rate of 10% compared to 1,727,962, an effective tax rate of 18% in 2020. Income tax expense in 2021 included a $1.4 million tax credit for stock-based compensation. The Company’s effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021, excluding the tax credit and the income from the PPP Loan forgiveness was 24%, compared to 21% in 2020. The higher effective tax rate in 2021 is due to a higher proportion of earnings in jurisdictions with a higher tax rate.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
The Company did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions during 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During 2021, working capital increased by approximately $11.5 million compared to December 31, 2020. Inventory increased by approximately $3 million, or 6%. The increase was primarily due to anticipated growth in our business as well as the acquisition of product to offset the impact of potential supply chain interruptions. The Company expects that changes in inventory levels will continue to be consistent with changes in sales, including the seasonal impact on the Company’s revenue stream. Inventory turnover calculated using a twelve-month average inventory balance, was 2.3 at December 31, 2021 as compared to 2.3 at December 31, 2020. The reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory was $1,554,217 at December 31, 2021 compared to $1,471,925 at December 31, 2020. We do not anticipate material increases in the allowance for slow moving and obsolete inventory in the ordinary course of business during 2022.
Receivables increased by approximately $7.0 million at December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily due to higher sales in the second half of the fourth quarter. The average number of days sales outstanding in accounts receivable was 60 days in 2021 compared to 60 days in 2020.
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 on the Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rocky Mount, NC and Vancouver, WA. The revolving loan agreement provides for borrowings of up to $50 million at Prime Rate less 1.25%. The credit facility has an expiration date of May 24, 2023. The Company must pay a facility fee, payable quarterly, in an amount equal to two tenths of one percent (.20%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit line. The facility is intended to provide liquidity for working capital, growth, share repurchases, dividends, acquisition and other business activities. Under the revolving loan agreement, the Company is required to maintain specific amounts of tangible net worth, a specified debt to net worth ratio and a fixed charge coverage ratio and must have annual net income greater than zero, measured as of the end of each fiscal year. At December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the covenants then in effect under the loan agreement.
At December 31, 2021, total debt outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility decreased by approximately $5.7 million compared to total debt at December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, $33,037,172 was outstanding and $16,962,828 was available for borrowing under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
On May 7, 2020, the Company received a two-year loan (the “PPP Loan”) from HSBC Bank USA, N.A., the lender, in the amount of $3,508,047 under the Paycheck Protection Program established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Under the CARES Act, all or a portion of the PPP Loan was eligible to be forgiven by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and the lender, upon application by the Company, provided that the Company shall have used the loan proceeds for certain eligible purposes. The PPP Loan was fully forgiven by the SBA and on June 9, 2021, payment in the amount of $3,508,047 was made by the SBA to the lender. The Company recorded the amount forgiven as income during the year ended December 31, 2021.
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, 2021, was $11,620,000.
Capital expenditures during 2021 and 2020 were $6,372,615 and $2,569,174, respectively, which were, in part, financed with borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. The increase is primarily related to improvements at our distribution center in Rocky Mount, NC including new HVAC (approximately $2 million) and warehouse management systems (approximately $1 million).
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 and Adopted Accounting Standards
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The update eliminates, clarifies and modifies certain guidance related to the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The amendments in this update eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual, or interim, goodwill impairment
test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. In addition, income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit should be considered when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact to the financial statements of the Company.

---

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.

---

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
$
182,087,559
$
164,003,040
Cost of goods sold
117,287,202
104,408,326
Gross profit
64,800,357
59,594,714
Selling, general and administrative expenses
52,030,370
48,182,050
Operating income
12,769,987
11,412,664
Non-operating items:
Interest:
Interest expense
(921,965
)
(944,363
)
Interest income
13,742
24,654
Interest expense, net
(908,223
)
(919,709
)
PPP loan forgiveness
3,508,047
-
Other expense
(194,877
)
(666,227
)
Total other income (expense), net
3,313,170
(666,227
)
Income before income tax expense
15,174,934
9,826,728
Income tax expense
1,519,255
1,727,962
Net income
$
13,655,679
$
8,098,766
Earnings per share:
Basic
$
3.93
$
2.42
Diluted
$
3.45
$
2.31
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
$
13,655,679
$
8,098,766
Other comprehensive gain
Foreign currency translation
(554,681
)
647,632
Change in net prior service credit and actuarial gains, net of income
tax expense
-
514,271
Total other comprehensive (loss) income
(554,681
)
1,161,903
Comprehensive income
$
13,100,998
$
9,260,669
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
$
4,843,349
$
4,167,376
Accounts receivable, less allowance
34,220,635
27,173,431
Inventories
53,552,254
50,704,197
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
2,634,376
1,640,904
Total current assets
95,250,614
83,685,908
Property, plant and equipment:
Land
1,761,434
1,770,453
Buildings and building improvements
13,455,514
12,898,761
Machinery and equipment
29,760,410
24,524,045
Total property, plant and equipment
44,977,358
39,193,259
Less: accumulated depreciation
20,949,861
18,954,352
Net property, plant and equipment
24,027,497
20,238,907
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization
17,230,529
18,721,423
Goodwill
4,799,829
4,799,829
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net
3,130,215
2,421,669
Total assets
$
144,438,684
$
129,867,736
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
8,976,629
$
7,601,123
Operating lease liability - current portion
1,000,470
872,908
Current portion of mortgage payable
388,536
266,667
Other accrued liabilities
9,909,477
11,460,024
Total current liabilities
20,275,112
20,200,722
Long-term debt
33,037,172
38,767,167
Long-term debt-PPP Loan
-
3,508,047
Mortgage payable, net of current portion
11,080,923
2,911,111
Operating lease liability - non-current portion
2,364,236
1,654,025
Deferred income taxes
599,280
110,221
Total liabilities
67,356,723
67,151,293
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $2.50: - 5,065,518 shares issued and 3,520,646 shares outstanding in 2021; 4,840,571 shares issued and 3,338,913 shares outstanding in 2020,
12,654,787
12,100,663
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,544,872 in 2021 and 1,501,658 shares in 2020
(15,995,622
)
(14,522,178
)
Additional paid-in capital
11,930,067
7,930,673
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,380,648
)
(825,967
)
Retained earnings
69,873,377
58,033,252
Total stockholders' equity
77,081,961
62,716,443
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
144,438,684
$
129,867,736
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, 2019
3,350,833
$
12,094,413
$
(14,235,190
)
$
8,262,208
$
(1,987,870
)
$
51,571,420
$
55,704,981
Net income
8,098,766
8,098,766
Other comprehensive Income
1,161,903
1,161,903
Stock compensation expense
1,259,079
1,259,079
Distribution to shareholders
(1,636,934
)
(1,636,934
)
Issuance of common stock
2,500
$
6,250
53,504
59,754
Cash settlement of stock options
(1,644,118
)
(1,644,118
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(14,420
)
(286,988
)
(286,988
)
Balances, December 31, 2020
3,338,913
12,100,663
(14,522,178
)
7,930,673
(825,967
)
58,033,252
62,716,443
Net income
13,655,679
13,655,679
Other comprehensive loss
(554,681
)
(554,681
)
Stock compensation expense
1,806,758
1,806,758
Distribution to shareholders
(1,815,554
)
(1,815,554
)
Issuance of common stock
224,947
554,124
2,534,921
3,089,045
Cash settlement of stock options
(342,285
)
(342,285
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(43,214
)
(1,473,444
)
(1,473,444
)
Balances, December 31, 2021
3,520,646
$
12,654,787
$
(15,995,622
)
$
11,930,067
$
(1,380,648
)
$
69,873,377
$
77,081,961
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
$
13,655,679
$
8,098,766
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation
2,557,680
2,427,557
Amortization
1,490,894
1,324,423
Stock compensation expense
1,806,758
1,259,079
Deferred income taxes
489,059
60,937
Non-cash lease expense
158,250
86,042
Provision for doubtful accounts
-
778,869
Pension settlement
-
526,857
PPP Loan Forgiveness
(3,508,047
)
-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
(7,228,368
)
(2,028,341
)
Inventories
(3,209,330
)
(10,049,513
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(1,040,319
)
159,078
Accounts payable
1,497,258
460,179
Other accrued liabilities
(1,528,936
)
2,617,103
Total adjustments
(8,515,101
)
(2,377,730
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
5,140,578
5,721,036
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(6,372,615
)
(2,569,174
)
Acquisition of Med-Nap
-
(9,307,518
)
Acquisition of First Aid Central
-
(2,075,210
)
Net cash used by investing activities
(6,372,615
)
(13,951,902
)
Financing activities:
Net (repayments) borrowings of long-term debt
(5,729,995
)
5,526,760
Proceeds from PPP Loan
-
3,508,047
Repayments on mortgage
(3,177,778
)
(266,667
)
Borrowing on mortgage
11,469,459
-
Distributions to stockholders
(1,792,356
)
(1,604,706
)
Cash settlement of stock options
(342,285
)
(1,644,118
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(1,473,444
)
(286,988
)
Issuance of common stock
3,089,045
58,754
Net cash provided by financing activities
2,042,646
5,291,082
Effect of exchange rate changes
(134,636
)
285,277
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
675,973
(2,654,507
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
4,167,376
6,821,883
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
4,843,349
$
4,167,376
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes
$
874,996
$
755,337
Cash paid for interest expense
$
908,781
$
930,357
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 scissors, shears, knives, rulers, pencil sharpeners, first aid safety kits, and related products which are sold primarily to wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply super stores, mass market retailers, industrial 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, accruals for income taxes 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 expense were foreign currency transaction losses of $239,753 in 2021 and foreign currency transaction gains of $96,372 in 2020.
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 - Accounts receivable are shown less an allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,007,187 at December 31, 2021 and $1,151,715 at December 31, 2020.
Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, or net realizable value, determined by the first-in, first-out method.
Property, Plant and Equipment, and Depreciation - Property, plant and equipment is 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 useful lives range from 10 to 39 years; machinery and equipment useful lives range from 3 to 10 years.
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 at December 31, 2021 was 9 years. The Company periodically reviews the values recorded for intangible assets and 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, 2021 and 2020, the Company assessed the recoverability of its long-lived 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 and no reduction in their estimated useful lives.
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.
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 has elected to apply the package of practical expedients upon adoption.
ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at 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 our 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 or services 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 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, in the notes to consolidated financial statements in this report for a more detailed discussion.
Shipping Costs - The costs of shipping product to our customers ($10,071,710 in 2021 and $7,486,600 in 2020) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase in shipping costs is primarily related to higher sales volume, increased shipping rates and incremental expedited costs related the installation of the new warehouse management system in our Rocky Mount distribution center.
Advertising Costs - The Company expenses the production costs of advertising the first time that the related advertising takes place. Advertising costs ($976,268 in 2021 and $1,084,261 in 2020) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Subsequent Events - The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2021 through the date the consolidated financial statements were included in this Form 10-K and filed with the SEC.
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 2021 and 2020, respectively, that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to these customers were approximately 17% and 11% of consolidated net sales in 2021 and 18% and 12% in 2020.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The update eliminates, clarifies and modifies certain guidance related to the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
3. Inventories
Inventories consisted of:
December 31,
Finished goods
$
40,412,875
$
40,287,710
Work in process
88,847
67,208
Materials and supplies
13,050,532
10,349,279
Inventories:
$
53,552,254
$
50,704,197
Inventories are stated net of valuation allowances for slow moving and obsolete inventory of $1,554,217 as of December 31, 2021 and $1,471,925 as of December 31, 2020.
4. Intangible Assets and Goodwill
The Company’s intangible assets and goodwill consisted of:
December 31,
First Aid Only Tradename
$
3,410,000
$
3,410,000
First Aid Only Customer List
5,500,010
5,500,010
DMT Trademarks
1,387,000
1,387,000
DMT Customer List
1,369,000
1,369,000
DMT Non-Compete
183,000
183,000
Slice License Agreement
379,921
379,921
Patents
2,271,980
2,271,980
Trademarks
663,698
663,698
Pac-Kit Tradename, Customer List
1,500,000
1,500,000
Spill Magic Customer List
3,965,000
3,965,000
Spill Magic Trademarks
1,034,000
1,034,000
Spill Magic Non-Compete
67,111
67,111
C-Thru Customer List
1,050,000
1,050,000
FAC
1,332,963
1,332,963
Med-Nap
2,920,145
2,920,145
Subtotal
27,033,828
27,033,828
Less: Accumulated Amortization
9,803,299
8,312,405
Intangible Assets
$
17,230,529
$
18,721,423
Goodwill
$
4,799,829
$
4,799,829
Total:
$
22,030,358
$
23,521,252
Amortization expense for patents and trademarks for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $1,490,894 and $1,324,423, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five succeeding years, calculated on a similar basis, is as follows: 2022 - $1,459,787; 2023 - $1,455,590; 2024 - $1,450,400; 2025 - $1,488,207; and 2026 - $1,447,427.
5. Other Accrued Liabilities
The Company’s other current and non-current accrued liabilities consisted of:
December 31,
Customer Rebates
$
5,413,829
$
6,068,294
Accrued Compensation
1,585,938
3,072,375
Dividend Payable
457,745
434,546
Income Taxes Payable
564,172
459,596
Other
1,887,793
1,425,213
Total:
$
9,909,477
$
11,460,024
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, 2021 and 2020, 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 $419,298 in 2021 and $369,890 in 2020.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted, which included provisions, which among others, provide temporary relief for those retirement plan participants affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Participants who met certain criteria could take a penalty-free hardship withdrawal, borrow from their accounts at higher limits and suspend making payments on their participant loans until 2021. During the period between March 27, 2020 and September 22, 2020, participants impacted by COVID-19 (as defined in the Plan document) could borrow from their account up to the lesser of $100,000 or the vested account balance and could suspend loan repayments due during that period until January 2021.
The CARES Act also removed the 10% early withdrawal penalty for a coronavirus-related distribution up to $100,000 made during 2020. Participants who took a coronavirus-related distribution could spread the income over a three-year period for income tax purposes or avoid
income taxes if the distribution is repaid with the three-year period following the distribution. The voluntary adoption of this provision by the Plan was effective March 27, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the Plan has not been formally amended, as a formal amendment is not required until the plan year ended December 31, 2022. The Plan intends to formally adopt the amendment upon a future restatement of the Plan, prior to this date.
7. Income Taxes
The amounts of income tax expense (benefit) reflected in operations is as follows:
Current:
Federal
$
4,980
$
880,149
State
153,937
159,909
Foreign
870,739
788,314
Total:
$
1,029,656
$
1,828,372
Deferred:
Federal
$
401,196
$
(59,801
)
State
88,403
(40,609
)
Total:
489,599
(100,410
)
Total Income Tax Expense:
$
1,519,255
$
1,727,962
The current state tax provision was comprised of taxes on income, the minimum capital tax and other franchise taxes related to the jurisdictions in which the Company's facilities are located.
A summary of United States and foreign income before income taxes follows:
United States
$
9,721,756
$
4,524,432
Foreign
5,453,178
5,302,296
Total:
$
15,174,934
$
9,826,728
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
$
2,915,698
$
1,864,097
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax effect
115,855
89,842
Permanent items
(1,508,877
)
(99,877
)
Foreign tax rate difference
(3,421
)
(126,100
)
Provision for income taxes:
$
1,519,255
$
1,727,962
The following summarizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities:
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Plant, property and equipment
$
1,916,218
$
1,556,398
1,916,218
1,556,398
Deferred income tax assets:
Asset valuations
983,055
992,101
Other
333,883
454,076
1,316,938
1,446,177
Net deferred income tax liability:
$
599,280
$
110,221
On January 22, 2018, the FASB released guidance on the accounting for tax on the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Act. The GILTI provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of foreign corporations. The Company considers any potential GILTI as an expense in the period the tax is incurred.
In 2021, the Company evaluated its tax positions for years 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 files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s evaluation of uncertain tax positions was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2018 and forward, the tax years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of December 31, 2021.
Due to the uncertain nature of the realization of the Company's deferred income tax assets based on past performance of its German subsidiary and net loss carry forward expiration dates, 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, 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 Shareholders’ 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 $50 million at Prime Rate less 1.25%. The credit facility has an expiration date of May 24, 2023. The Company must pay a facility fee, payable quarterly, in an amount equal to two tenths of one percent (.20%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit line. The facility is intended to provide liquidity for growth, share repurchases, dividends, acquisition and other business activities. Under the revolving loan agreement, the Company is required to maintain specific amounts of tangible net worth, a specified debt to net worth ratio and a fixed charge coverage ratio and must have annual net income greater than zero, measured as of the end of each fiscal year. December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the covenants then in effect under the loan agreement.
As of December 31, 2021, $33,037,172 was outstanding and $16,962,828 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 consisted of the following at December 31, 2021:
Mortgage payable - HSBC Bank N.A.
11,620,000
Less debt issuance costs
(150,541
)
11,469,459
Less current maturities
388,536
Long-term mortgage payable, less current maturities
11,080,923
Minimum annual mortgage payments are due as follows: 2022 - $390,521; 2023 - $404,588; 2024 - $419,309; 2025 - $436,949; 2026 - $454,112; and thereafter - $9,514,521.
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 twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the Company repurchased 43,214 shares of its Common Stock, 3,579 shares under the repurchase program announced in 2010 and 39,635 shares under the repurchase plan announced in 2019. As of December 31, 2021, a total of 160,365 shares may be purchased in the future under the repurchase program announced in 2019.
On May 7, 2020, the Company received a two-year loan (the “PPP Loan”) from HSBC Bank, N.A., the lender, in the amount of $3,508,047 under the Paycheck Protection Program established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Under the CARES Act, all or a portion of the PPP Loan was eligible to be forgiven by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and the lender, upon application by the Company, provided that the Company shall have used the loan proceeds for certain eligible purposes. The PPP Loan was fully forgiven by the SBA and on June 9, 2021, payment in the amount of $3,508,047 was made by the SBA to the lender. The Company recorded the amount forgiven as income for the year ending December 31, 2021.
The carrying value of the Company’s bank debt is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the nature of its payment terms and maturity.
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 safety; and (ii) cutting, sharpening and measuring. The first aid and safety category includes first aid kits and refills, over-the-counter medications 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. 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.” The effect of applying this practical expedient did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements in the year ended December 31, 2020.
Disaggregation of Revenues
The following table represents external net sales disaggregated by product category, by segment:
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021
(amounts in 000's)
United States
Canada
Europe
Total
First Aid and Safety
$
82,955
$
7,012
$
1,253
$
91,220
Cutting, Sharpening and Measuring
69,520
7,329
14,019
90,868
Total Net Sales
$
152,475
$
14,341
$
15,272
$
182,088
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020
(amounts in 000's)
United States
Canada
Europe
Total
First Aid and Safety
$
74,386
$
4,552
$
$
79,921
Cutting, Sharpening and Measuring
65,805
6,434
11,843
84,082
Total Net Sales
$
140,191
$
10,986
$
12,826
$
164,003
10. Segment Information
The Company reports financial information based on the organizational structure used by the Company’s chief operating decision makers for making operating and investment decisions and for assessing performance. 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 chief operating decision makers review 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 cutting devices, measuring instruments and safety products for school, office, home, hardware, sporting and industrial use.
Domestic sales orders are filled primarily from the Company’s distribution centers and facilities in North Carolina, Washington, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Florida and California. The Company is responsible for the costs of shipping, insurance, customs clearance, duties, storage and distribution related to such products. Orders filled from the Company’s inventory are generally for less than container-sized lots.
Direct import sales are products sold by the Company’s Asian subsidiary, directly to major U.S. retailers who take ownership of the products in Asia. These sales are completed by delivering product to the customers’ common carriers at the shipping points in Asia. Direct import sales are made in larger quantities than domestic sales, typically full containers. Direct import sales represented approximately 9% and 10% of the Company’s total net sales in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The Chief Operating Decision Maker evaluates the performance of each operating segment based on segment revenues and operating income. Segment revenues are defined as total revenues, including both external customer revenue and inter-segment revenue. Segment operating earnings are defined as segment revenues, less cost of goods sold and operating expenses. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets used in the respective reportable segment’s operations. Inter-segment amounts are eliminated to arrive at consolidated financial results.
The following table sets forth certain financial data by segment for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
Financial data by segment:
(000’s omitted)
Year Ended December 31, 2021
United States
Canada
Europe
Consolidated
Net sales
$
152,475
$
14,341
$
15,272
$
182,088
Operating income
9,521
1,893
1,356
12,770
Assets
125,521
9,100
9,818
144,439
Additions to property, plant and equipment
6,309
6,373
Depreciation and amortization
3,822
4,049
Year Ended December 31, 2020
United States
Canada
Europe
Consolidated
Net sales
$
140,191
$
10,986
$
12,826
$
164,003
Operating income
8,872
1,332
1,209
11,413
Assets
113,831
7,432
8,605
129,868
Additions to property, plant and equipment
2,386
2,569
Depreciation and amortization
3,668
3,841
The following is a reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated income before taxes:
Total operating income
$
12,770
$
11,413
Interest expense, net
Other (income) expense
(3,313
)
Consolidated income before taxes
$
15,175
$
9,827
The table below presents revenue by geographic area. Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of the customer.
Revenues
United States
$
151,205
$
138,921
International:
Canada
14,341
10,986
Europe
15,272
12,826
Other
1,270
1,270
Total International
$
30,883
$
25,082
Total Revenues
$
182,088
$
164,003
11. Stock Option Plans
The Company grants stock options under the 2012 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “2012 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”).
The 2012 Employee Plan, which became effective April 23, 2012, provides for the issuance of incentive and nonqualified 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. As of December 31, 2021, the number of shares available for grant under the 2012 Employee Plan was 18,650. 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. Options outstanding under the Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Option Plan have the same vesting schedule as the 2012 Employee Plan. On February 22, 2022, the Board of Directors, approved the Acme United 2022 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “2022 Plan”), with the adoption and effectiveness of the 2022 Plan being subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company at the April 25, 2022 Annual Meeting.
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 grant under this 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 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. As provided in the Director Plan, 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, 2021, there were no 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 has amended certain of its stock option plans for both employees and directors to 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 2021 and 2020, the Company paid a total of approximately $342,285 and $1,644,118 respectively, to optionees who had elected a net cash settlement of their respective share options. In 2021, the Company issued 7,726 shares to optionees who had elected a net share settlement. There were no such elections in 2020.
A summary of changes in options issued under the Company’s stock option plans follows:
Options outstanding at the beginning of the year
1,487,925
1,363,694
Options granted
299,750
280,750
Options forfeited
(5,525
)
(9,125
)
Options exercised
(245,098
)
(147,394
)
Options outstanding at the end of the year
1,537,052
1,487,925
Options exercisable at the end of the year
971,568
985,475
Common stock available for future grants at the end of the year
18,650
104,372
Weighted average exercise price per share:
Granted
$
38.38
$
23.05
Forfeited
23.01
21.72
Exercised
15.15
14.51
Outstanding
24.60
20.26
Exercisable
21.33
18.99
A summary of options outstanding as December 31, 2021 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
$9.26 to $16.08
133,477
$
13.59
133,477
$
13.59
$16.09 to $21.35
250,250
18.40
199,250
18.09
$21.36 to $24.86
692,575
22.85
452,841
22.72
$24.87 to $31.56
161,000
25.30
161,000
25.30
$31.57 to $39.56
299,750
38.38
25,000
37.92
1,537,052
971,568
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 twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:
Expected life in years
6 - 7
Interest rate
.42 - 1.11%
.30 - 1.63%
Volatility
.397 - .415
.358 - .375
Dividend yield
1.3 - 1.8%
2.0 - 2.2%
Total stock-based compensation recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1,806,758 and $1,259,079, respectively. At December 31, 2021, there was approximately $3,963,334 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, 2021, the remaining unamortized expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3 years.
The weighted average fair value at the date of grant for options granted during 2021 and 2020 was $13.63 and $6.59 per option, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options was $15,436,026 at December 31, 2021. The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable options was $12,128,507 at December 31, 2021. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during 2021 was $6,582,918.
12. Earnings Per Share
The calculation of earnings per share follows:
Numerator:
Net income
$
13,655,679
$
8,098,766
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding
3,471,374
3,342,630
Effect of diluted employee stock options
483,861
166,867
Denominator for dilutive earnings per share
3,955,235
3,509,497
Basic earnings per share
$
3.93
$
2.42
Diluted earnings per share
$
3.45
$
2.31
For 2021 and 2020, respectively, 229,250 and 309,900 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
Net prior service
credit and
actuarial losses
Total
Balances, December 31, 2019
$
(1,473,599
)
$
(514,271
)
$
(1,987,870
)
Change in net prior service credit and actuarial losses, net of tax
-
514,271
514,271
Translation adjustment
647,632
-
647,632
Balances, December 31, 2020
$
(825,967
)
$
-
$
(825,967
)
Translation adjustment
(554,681
)
-
(554,681
)
Balances, December 31, 2021
$
(1,380,648
)
$
-
$
(1,380,648
)
14. 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 2026.
Certain of the Company’s lease arrangements contain renewal provisions, exercisable at the Company's option. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
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.
ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date 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 our 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 agreements 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. Operating lease cost was $1.3 million for the twelve-months ended December 31, 2021. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, $0.5 million was included in cost of goods sold and $0.8 million was included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Information related to leases (in 000’s):
Twelve months ended
December 31, 2021
Operating lease cost
$
1,265
Operating lease - cash flow
$
1,098
Non-cash activity:
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities
$
1,760
December 31, 2021
Weighted-average remaining lease term
4.0 years
Weighted-average discount rate
%
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2021:
$
1,128
Total future minimum lease payments
$
3,664
Less : imputed interest
(300
)
Less : present value of lease liabilities - current
(1,000
)
Present value of lease liabilities - non-current
$
2,364
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders 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, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, 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, 2021, 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 30, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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 Matter
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/ 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.
Marcum LLP
New Haven, Connecticut
March 30, 2022
PCAOB Firm ID #688
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Acme United Corporation
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, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
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, 2021 and 2020 and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows and the related notes for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, of the Company, and our report dated March 30, 2022 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 Annual 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
New Haven, Connecticut
March 30, 2022

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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 2020.

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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, 2021. 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 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 of 1934 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, 2021, 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.
Evaluation of Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, management identified a material weakness related to the Company’s inventory cycle count program. The Company’s controls related to the existence of inventory at the Rocky Mount, NC warehouse (the “Warehouse”) were not effective as the cycle count program used did not demonstrate that inventory quantities were sufficiently counted. This was the consequence of a number of factors, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, resulting in delays in the counting process. This material weakness did not result in any misstatement of the Company's consolidated financial statements for any period presented. Our independent public accounting firm, Marcum LLP, audited our consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2020, and 2021, and for each of the two years in the periods ended December 31, 2020, and 2021, and their report expressed an unqualified opinion on our consolidated financial statements.
To remediate the material weakness described above, The Company conducted a full physical inventory count at the Warehouse to provide evidence on existence of its inventory for the year ended December 31, 2021. 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.
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 United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, Management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.
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.
Marcum LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation's internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, is included below under the heading Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Except for changes referenced 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, 2021, 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.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the directors and executive officers of the Company. All directors of the Company hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors to hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
Name
Age
Position Held with Company
Walter C. Johnsen
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Brian S. Olschan
President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Paul G. Driscoll
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
Rex L. Davidson
Director
Richmond Y. Holden, Jr.
Director
Susan H. Murphy
Brian K. Barker
Director
Director
Stevenson E. Ward III
Director
Walter C. Johnsen has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 1, 2007; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from November 30, 1995 to December 31, 2006. Mr. Johnsen previously served as Vice Chairman and a principal of Marshall Products, Inc., a medical supply distributor. Mr. Johnsen has served on the Board of TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc., a publicly traded company, since February 1, 2016. Mr. Johnsen’s qualifications to serve on the Board of the Company include the in-depth knowledge of all facets of the Company’s business which he has gained during his more than twenty-five years of service as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
Brian S. Olschan has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since January 1, 2007; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from January 1999 to December 31, 2006; Senior Vice President - Sales and Marketing of the Company from September 1996 to January 1999. Mr. Olschan previously served as Vice President and General Manager of the Cordset and Assembly Business of General Cable Corporation, an electrical wire and cable manufacturer. Mr. Olschan’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his detailed knowledge of the Company’s operations which he has gained in his capacity as a member of senior management for more than 24 years, including as Chief Operating Officer since January 1999 and President since January 2007.
Paul G. Driscoll has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer since October 2, 2002. Mr. Driscoll joined Acme as Director of International Finance on March 19, 2001. From 1997 to 2001, he was employed by Ernest and Julio Gallo Winery, including as Director of Finance and Operations in Japan. Prior to Gallo he served in several increasingly responsible finance positions in Sterling Drug Inc. in New York City and Sanofi S.A. in France.
Rex L. Davidson has served as Director since 2006. Executive Director of the Helms Fund, 2013-2019. The Helms Fund provides "gap financing" to socially responsible business ventures for capital expenditures. Additionally, since 2009, Mr. Davidson has served as President of Rex Davidson Associates, LLC, a management consulting service. From 2009 to 2019, Mr. Davidson served as Executive Director of Las Cumbres Community Services, which provides developmental disability and mental health services to children, adults and families in Northern New Mexico; from 2019 to 2020, he served as the Director of Special Initiatives. From 1982 to 2009, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc., and President of Goodwill Industries Housing Corporation. Mr. Davidson’s qualifications to serve on the Board include significant management experience at the highest level, having been responsible for the management of Goodwill Industries, an organization with over 2,000 employees and revenues in excess of $100 million. Mr. Davidson’s experience in the areas of compensation of personnel at all levels, his experience relating to retail matters, such as retail trends and pricing, and diversity policies are of significant benefit to the Company.
Richmond Y. Holden, Jr. has served as Director since 1998. Mr. Holden served as President and CEO of INgageHub, a cloud based Marketing SaaS platform, from January 2015 through early 2016; he continued to serve as a senior advisor to the company until 2019. From 2007 through 2014, Mr. Holden served in senior executive positions at School Specialty, Inc., a distributor of school supplies, equipment and curriculum products. He last served as Executive Vice President of School Specialty, Inc., and President of the Curriculum Group, a division of School Specialty Inc., from 2013 to December 2014. He was President of Educational Resources, a division of School Specialty, Inc., from 2010 to 2013. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of J.L. Hammett Co., a reseller of educational curriculum, equipment, furniture and products from 1992 to 2006. Mr. Holden served on the Board of Directors of Software Secure, Incorporated, a privately-held company headquartered in Newton, MA, which focused on secure online educational testing technology, from 2007 until its sale in late 2016. He has served on the Board of Directors of Codman Academy Charter Public School in Boston MA since 2012. The qualifications of Mr. Holden to serve on the Board of the Company include his substantial senior executive management experience of large complex companies in the educational markets. In particular, as a result of his experience with School Specialty Inc., then a $650 million publicly held reseller of educational products, Mr. Holden has broad knowledge of educational markets and operational matters relating to developmental strategy, finance, marketing, sales, technology, sourcing, pricing and distribution.
Susan H. Murphy has served as Director since 2003. Vice President Emerita, Cornell University, from which Dr. Murphy retired in 2016 after a 38-year career, commencing in 1978. She served as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid from 1985 to 1994; Vice President of Student and Academic Services from 1994 to June 2015, and thereafter she worked in Alumni Affairs and Development until her retirement. In 2013, Dr. Murphy became a member of the Board of Trustees of Adelphi University and served as Vice Chair of its Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2021. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Kendal at Ithaca, a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community (since 2014 and Vice Chair since 2019). Dr. Murphy is immediate past President of Tompkins County Community Foundation, and, since 2017, a member of its executive committee; she also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Foundation (2017 - 2019). Dr. Murphy received a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Cornell University. Dr. Murphy has broad senior management level experience in a large, complex organization. In particular, her experience in employee compensation matters and the development and implementation of diversity policies is helpful to the Company.
Brian K. Barker has been a founder and CEO of AntelopeAI, LLC an artificial intelligence and machine learning start-up since December 2018. He was a founder, director, and CEO of NorthBay Solutions, LLC, a big data and analytics company from 2010 to 2018, and continues to serve as a director. Mr. Barker was the General Manager of the xDoc business unit for Document Sciences Corporation, a document management and customer communications management solutions company, from 2007 until it was acquired by EMC Corporation, an information infrastructure solutions company, in 2008, and then continued as General Manager of the xDoc Business Unit until 2010. He previously was CEO of Cambridge Technology Vision, LLC, a merger and acquisition support software company, from 1997 to 2001, and was President of ClearSpring Technologies, Inc., an event-driven management software company, from 1989 to 1992. Mr. Barker is the co- inventor of Acquisition Trustee, which Intralinks Holdings, Inc. acquired to incorporate in its platform for secure document sharing. The qualifications of Mr. Barker to serve on the Board include his strong data analysis background, significant entrepreneurial achievements, and executive management experience at rapidly growing information technology companies.
Stevenson E. Ward III has served as Director since 2001. Mr. Ward served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Triton Thalassic Technologies, Inc. from 2000 until his retirement in 2014. Triton’s technology controls and inactivates pathogens in the healthcare and industrial industries. From 1998 through 2000, Mr. Ward served as Senior Vice President-Administration of Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc., a major multinational pharmaceutical company. He served as Executive Vice President (1996-1998), responsible for legal, tax, treasury, employee benefits and other functions, and Chief Financial Officer (1994-1996) of Sanofi, Inc., the North American holding company for Sanofi. He also served as Vice President-Finance and Administration, Pharmaceutical Group, Sterling Winthrop, Inc. (1992-1994). Prior to joining Sterling, he was employed by General Electric Company in management positions in Purchasing, Corporate Audit and Finance. Mr. Ward’s qualifications for service on the Board include his extensive experience in senior executive level positions in finance, corporate audit and administration at two Fortune 100 multinational corporations. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree.
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 2020 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 2022 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
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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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
(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)
10.3
2002 Acme United Employee Stock Option Plan as amended (12)
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 Dated (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
10.11
Change in Control Plan as amended dated February 24, 2011* (17)
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
*
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.