Attached files

file filename
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - LIFETIME BRANDS, INCd203694dex312.htm
EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - LIFETIME BRANDS, INCd203694dex321.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - LIFETIME BRANDS, INCd203694dex311.htm
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2016

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 0-19254

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   11-2682486

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York, 11530

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(516) 683-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of April 30, 2016 was 14,223,442.


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2016

INDEX

 

         Page No.  
Part I.  

Financial Information

  
Item 1.  

Financial Statements

  
 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – March 31, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015

     2   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) – Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

     3   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) – Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

     4   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) – Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

     5   
 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

     6   
 

Review Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     20   
Item 2.  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     21   
Item 3.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     31   
Item 4.  

Controls and Procedures

     31   
Part II.  

Other Information

  
Item 1.  

Legal Proceedings

     32   
Item 1A.  

Risk Factors

     32   
Item 6.  

Exhibits

     33   
Signatures        34   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     March 31,
2016
    December 31,
2015
 
     (unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,878      $ 7,131   

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $4,436 at March 31, 2016 and $5,300 at December 31, 2015

     74,203        90,576   

Inventory (Note A)

     139,670        136,890   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     10,771        8,783   

Income taxes receivable (Note H)

     4,033        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

     234,555        243,380   

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

     24,443        24,877   

INVESTMENTS (Note B)

     24,363        24,973   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net (Note C)

     94,843        96,593   

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note H)

     6,825        6,486   

OTHER ASSETS

     2,261        2,022   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 387,290      $ 398,331   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Current maturity of Credit Agreement Term Loan (Note D)

   $ 24,733      $ 19,646   

Short term loan (Note D)

     135        252   

Accounts payable

     21,183        27,245   

Accrued expenses

     33,212        40,154   

Income taxes payable (Note H)

     —          4,064   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

     79,263        91,361   

DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

     18,967        18,556   

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note H)

     8,860        8,596   

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY (Note D)

     77,040        65,617   

CREDIT AGREEMENT TERM LOAN (Note D)

     7,197        14,733   

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, shares authorized: 100 shares of Series A and 2,000,000 shares of Series B; none issued and outstanding

     —          —     

Common stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized: 25,000,000; shares issued and outstanding: 14,219,192 at March 31, 2016 and 14,030,221 at December 31, 2015

     142        140   

Paid-in capital

     168,876        165,780   

Retained earnings

     42,838        47,733   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note K)

     (15,893     (14,185
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     195,963        199,468   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 387,290      $ 398,331   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying independent registered public accounting firm review report and notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

- 2 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016     2015  

Net sales

   $ 110,925      $ 117,657   

Cost of sales

     70,374        72,749   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     40,551        44,908   

Distribution expenses

     13,317        13,483   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     31,808        33,596   

Restructuring expenses

     641        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (5,215     (2,171

Interest expense (Note D)

     (1,193     (1,431

Financing expense

     —          (154
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings

     (6,408     (3,756

Income tax benefit (Note H)

     2,270        1,363   

Equity in earnings (losses), net of taxes (Note B)

     (150     288   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET LOSS

   $ (4,288   $ (2,105
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

BASIC LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE G)

   $ (0.31   $ (0.15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE G)

   $ (0.31   $ (0.15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.0425      $ 0.0375   

See accompanying independent registered public accounting firm review report and notes to unaudited condensed

consolidated financial statements.

 

- 3 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016     2015  

Net loss

   $ (4,288   $ (2,105

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

    

Translation adjustment

     (1,679     (2,705

Derivative fair value adjustment

     (43     (54

Effect of retirement benefit obligations

     14        20   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

     (1,708     (2,739
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (5,996   $ (4,844
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying independent registered public accounting firm review report and notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

- 4 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016     2015  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net loss

   $ (4,288   $ (2,105

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

    

Provision for doubtful accounts

     2        18   

Depreciation and amortization

     3,484        3,555   

Amortization of financing costs

     162        149   

Deferred rent

     20        346   

Deferred income taxes

     113        —     

Stock compensation expense

     803        750   

Undistributed equity in (earnings) losses, net

     150        (288

Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of business acquisitions)

    

Accounts receivable

     15,731        27,355   

Inventory

     (3,510     (6,468

Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets

     (2,546     (3,593

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (10,508     (4,407

Income taxes receivable

     (3,561     —     

Income taxes payable

     (4,872     (5,071
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     (8,820     10,241   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (761     (1,406
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (761     (1,406
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility

     58,392        61,523   

Repayments of Revolving Credit Facility

     (46,813     (68,899

Repayment of Credit Agreement Term Loan

     (2,500     (2,500

Proceeds from Short Term Loan

     —          37   

Payments on Short Term Loan

     (117     (322

Payments for capital leases

     (16     —     

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     115        281   

Cash dividends paid (Note K)

     (594     (514
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     8,467        (10,394
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of foreign exchange on cash

     (139     (94

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (1,253     (1,653
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     7,131        5,068   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 5,878      $ 3,415   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying independent registered public accounting firm review report and notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

- 5 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

NOTE A — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization and business

Lifetime Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) designs, sources and sells branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home and markets its products under a number of brand names and trademarks, which are either owned or licensed by the Company, or through retailers’ private labels. The Company markets and sells its products principally on a wholesale basis to retailers. The Company also markets and sells a limited selection of its products directly to consumers through its Pfaltzgraff, Mikasa, Fred and Friends, Built NY, Lifetime Sterling and The English Table internet websites.

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist only of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016.

The Company’s business and working capital needs are highly seasonal, with a majority of sales occurring in the third and fourth quarters. In 2015 and 2014, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 59% and 60% of total annual net sales, respectively. In anticipation of the pre-holiday shipping season, inventory levels increase primarily in the June through October time period.

Revenue recognition

The Company sells products wholesale, to retailers and distributors, and retail, directly to the consumer. Wholesale sales and retail sales are recognized when title passes to the customer, which is primarily at the shipping point for wholesale sales and upon delivery to the customer for retail sales. Shipping and handling fees that are billed to customers in sales transactions are included in net sales and amounted to $394,000 and $409,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Net sales exclude taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to the taxing authorities.

The Company offers various sales incentives and promotional programs to its customers from time to time in the normal course of business. These incentives and promotions typically include arrangements such as cooperative advertising, buydowns, volume rebates and discounts. These arrangements and an estimate of sales returns are reflected as reductions in net sales in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales consists primarily of costs associated with the production and procurement of product, inbound freight costs, purchasing costs, royalties and other product procurement related charges.

Distribution expenses

Distribution expenses consist primarily of warehousing expenses and freight-out expenses.

 

- 6 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Inventory

Inventory consists principally of finished goods sourced from third-party suppliers. Inventory also includes finished goods, work in process and raw materials related to the Company’s manufacture of sterling silver products. Inventory is priced using the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market method. The Company estimates the selling price of its inventory on a product by product basis based on the current selling environment. If the estimated selling price is lower than the inventory’s cost, the Company reduces the value of the inventory to its net realizable value.

The components of inventory are as follows:

 

     March 31,      December 31,  
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  

Finished goods

   $ 136,929       $ 133,618   

Work in process

     1,662         1,754   

Raw materials

     1,079         1,518   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 139,670       $ 136,890   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair value of financial instruments

The Company determined the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of their short-term nature. The Company determined that the carrying amounts of borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility, term loan and short term loan approximate fair value since such borrowings bear interest at variable market rates.

Derivatives

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASC Topic No. 815 requires that all derivative instruments be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value as either an asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that qualify as hedges and have been designated as part of a hedging relationship for accounting purposes have no net impact on earnings to the extent the derivative is considered highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged, until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. If a derivative which is designated as part of a hedging relationship is considered ineffective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged, the changes in fair value are recorded in operations. For derivatives that do not qualify or are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, changes in fair value are recorded in operations.

Employee healthcare

The Company self-insures certain portions of its health insurance plan. The Company maintains an accrual for unpaid claims and estimated claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”). Although management believes that it uses the best information available to estimate claims IBNR, actual claims may vary significantly from estimated claims.

Restructuring Expenses

Costs associated with restructuring activities are recorded at fair value when a liability has been incurred. A liability has been incurred at the point of closure for any remaining operating lease obligations and at the communication date for severance.

 

- 7 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

In December 2015, the Company commenced an in-depth review of its U.S. Wholesale business segment, which included the evaluation of the segment’s efficiency and effectiveness. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded $0.6 million of restructuring expense, primarily for severance, related to the execution of this plan. At March 31, 2016, $0.6 million was accrued related to the restructuring plan. During 2016 the Company expanded this restructuring plan to focus on more specific actions required to achieve the plan’s objectives. The Company expects to incur an additional $1.2 million of expense during the second quarter of 2016 for the development and execution of this phase of the U.S. Wholesale restructuring.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs and ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This guidance requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. ASU 2015-15 clarifies that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. In connection with the adoption of this standard, debt issuance costs associated with the Company’s Term Loan are presented as a deduction from the Term loan balance as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The retrospective adoption of this pronouncement results in a reduction of Other assets of $621,000, a reduction of the Current maturity of Credit Agreement Term Loan of $354,000 and a reduction of Credit Agreement Term Loan of $267,000 on the condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2015. The debt issuance costs associated with the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility are presented as Other assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which provides guidance about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. The Company will apply the guidance prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which eliminates the requirement to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments. The Company will apply the new guidance prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the January 1, 2016 effective date. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted in Future Periods

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This standard will require all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. The standard will also allow an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it currently can for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, and will allow companies to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this pronouncement.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires a lessee, in most leases, to initially recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within with those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this pronouncement.

 

- 8 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which affects reporting entities that measure inventory using first-in, first-out or average cost. Specifically, the guidance requires that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this pronouncement, but the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to clarify the principles of recognizing revenue and create common revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. Following the FASB’s finalization of a one year deferral of this standard, the ASU is now effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2016. This ASU can be adopted either retrospectively to each reporting period presented or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of the adoption. The Company is currently determining its implementation approach and assessing the impact, if any, on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE B — INVESTMENTS

The Company owns approximately a 30% interest in Grupo Vasconia S.A.B. (“Vasconia”), an integrated manufacturer of aluminum products and one of Mexico’s largest housewares companies. Shares of Vasconia’s capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, the Mexican Stock Exchange. The Quotation Key is VASCONI. The Company accounts for its investment in Vasconia using the equity method of accounting and records its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income in the Company’s statement of operations. Accordingly, the Company has recorded its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income (reduced for amortization expense related to the customer relationships acquired) for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The value of the Company’s investment balance has been translated from Mexican Pesos (“MXN”) to U.S. Dollars (“USD”) using the spot rates of MXN 17.27 and MXN 17.38 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company’s proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income has been translated from MXN to USD using the average exchange rates of MXN 18.02 and MXN 14.94 during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The effect of the translation of the Company’s investment resulted in a decrease to the investment of $0.6 million and $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively (also see Note K). These translation effects are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Included within prepaid expenses and other current assets at December 31, 2015 are amounts due from Vasconia of $55,000. Included within accrued expenses and accounts payable at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are amounts due to Vasconia of $63,000 and $28,000, respectively.

 

- 9 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

A summarized statement of income information for Vasconia in USD and MXN is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  
     USD      MXN      USD      MXN  

Net sales

   $ 37,325       $ 672,578       $ 47,339       $ 707,435   

Gross profit

     5,418         97,634         9,436         141,012   

Income from operations

     923         16,633         2,747         41,048   

Net income

     220         3,959         1,245         18,612   

The Company recorded equity in losses of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and equity in earnings of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Equity in losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes deferred tax expense of $0.2 million due to the requirement to record tax benefits for foreign currency translation losses through other comprehensive income (loss), with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value (based upon Vasconia’s quoted stock price) of the Company’s investment in Vasconia was $36.3 million and $35.9 million, respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in Vasconia was $24.1 million and $24.7 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The Company has a 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”), a leading wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil, which the Company acquired in December 2011. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in GSI was $0 and therefore the Company has not recorded its share of equity in losses in the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company will continue to monitor the operating results of GSI and will record equity in earnings when the equity in earnings exceeds the Company’s previously unrecognized losses.

The Company evaluated the disclosure requirements of ASC Topic No. 860, Transfers and Servicing, and determined that at March 31, 2016, the Company did not have a controlling voting interest or variable interest in any of its investments and therefore continued accounting for the investments using the equity method of accounting.

 

- 10 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

NOTE C — INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 31, 2016      December 31, 2015  
     Gross      Accumulated
Amortization
    Net      Gross      Accumulated
Amortization
    Net  

Goodwill

   $ 18,101       $ —        $ 18,101       $ 18,101       $ —        $ 18,101   

Indefinite-lived intangible assets:

               

Trade names

     7,616         —          7,616         7,616         —          7,616   

Finite-lived intangible assets:

               

Licenses

     15,847         (8,577     7,270         15,847         (8,462     7,385   

Trade names

     29,724         (7,389     22,335         29,724         (6,818     22,906   

Customer relationships

     50,823         (11,819     39,004         50,823         (10,806     40,017   

Other

     1,202         (685     517         1,202         (634     568   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 123,313       $ (28,470   $ 94,843       $ 123,313       $ (26,720   $ 96,593   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NOTE D — DEBT

Credit Agreement

The Company’s Credit Agreement, which expires in January 2019, provides for, among other things, a Revolving Credit Facility commitment totaling $175.0 million ($40.0 million of which is available for multi-currency borrowings) and a Term Loan facility.

At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility were $77.0 million and $65.6 million, respectively, and open letters of credit were $2.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. At March 31, 2016, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $63.3 million. The borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility depends, in part, on eligible levels of accounts receivable and inventory that fluctuate regularly and certain trademark values based upon periodic appraisals, and may be lower in the first and second quarters when the Company’s inventory level is lower due to seasonality.

The Company’s payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by each of its existing U.S. subsidiaries and will be unconditionally guaranteed by each of its future U.S. subsidiaries. Certain payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are also direct obligations of its foreign subsidiary borrowers designated as such under the Credit Agreement and, subject to limitations on such guaranties, are guaranteed by the foreign subsidiary borrowers, as well as by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Revolving Credit Facility and any hedging arrangements and cash management services and the guarantees by its domestic subsidiaries in respect of those obligations are secured by substantially all of the assets and stock (but in the case of foreign subsidiaries, limited to 65% of the capital stock in first-tier foreign subsidiaries and not including the stock of subsidiaries of such first-tier foreign subsidiaries) owned by the Company and the U.S. subsidiary guarantors, subject to certain exceptions. Such security interests consist of a first-priority lien, subject to certain permitted liens, with respect to the assets of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries pledged as collateral in favor of lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

- 11 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $32.5 million and $35.0 million, respectively, was outstanding under the Term Loan. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, unamortized debt issuance costs were $570,000 and $621,000. In May 2015 the credit agreement was amended to provide for a $10.0 million prepayment of the Term Loan, if such amount was greater than the payment that would have been required pursuant to the agreement’s original terms (50% of the Company’s excess cash flow for the 2015 fiscal year). In April 2016, the Company made a prepayment of $15.2 million in accordance with the amended terms.

Interest rates on outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2016 ranged from 2.43% to 7.0%. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Credit Agreement provides for customary restrictions and events of default. Restrictions include limitations on additional indebtedness, acquisitions, investments and payment of dividends, among other things. Further, the Credit Agreement provides that at any time any Term Loan is outstanding or at any time no Term Loan is outstanding and availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is less than $17.5 million and continuing until availability of at least $20.0 million is maintained for three consecutive months, the Company is required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00 for each of four consecutive fiscal quarter periods. The Credit Agreement also provides that when the Term Loan is outstanding, the Company is required to maintain a Senior Leverage Ratio within defined parameters not to exceed 4.00 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2016; and 3.75 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter. For any fiscal quarter of the Company ending on September 30th, the maximum Senior Leverage Ratio is increased by an additional 0.25:1.00 in excess of the applicable level otherwise provided.

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, as of March 31, 2016, the maximum additional permitted indebtedness other than certain subordinated indebtedness was $58.5 million. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2016.

Other Credit Agreements

A subsidiary of the Company has a credit facility (“HSBC Facility” or “Short term loan”) with HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch (“HSBC”) for up to RMB 18.0 million ($2.9 million). The HSBC Facility is subject to annual renewal and may be used to fund general working capital needs of the Company’s subsidiary which is a trading company in the People’s Republic of China. Borrowings under the HSBC Facility are guaranteed by the Company and are granted at the sole discretion of HSBC. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, borrowings of RMB 870,000 ($135,000) and RMB 1.6 million ($252,000), respectively were outstanding under the HSBC Facility. Outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2016 carried an interest rate of 5.0%.

NOTE E — DERIVATIVES

The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $18.8 million and $20.1 million, at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, to manage interest rate exposure in connection with its variable interest rate borrowings. The hedge periods of these agreements commenced in March 2013 and expire in June 2018 and the notional amounts amortize over these periods. The interest rate swap agreements were designated as cash flow hedges under ASC Topic No. 815. The effective portion of the fair value gain or loss on these agreements is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The Company has also entered into certain foreign exchange contracts, primarily to offset the earnings impact related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with sales and inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. The aggregate gross notional value of foreign exchange contracts at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $14.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively. These foreign exchange contracts have not been designated as hedges as required in order to apply hedge accounting. The changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in earnings immediately.

 

- 12 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

The fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets are presented as follows (in thousands):

 

          Liabilities  
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments    Balance Sheet
Location
   March 31,
2016
     December 31,
2015
 

Interest rate swaps

   Accrued Expenses    $ 37       $ 10   
   Deferred rent & other
long-term liability
     70         25   
          Assets  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments    Balance Sheet
Location
   March 31,
2016
     December 31,
2015
 

Foreign exchange contracts

   Prepaid expenses and
other current assets
   $ 398       $ 261   

The fair value of the derivatives have been obtained from the counterparties to the agreements and were based on Level 2 observable inputs using proprietary models and estimates about relevant future market conditions.

The amounts of the gains and losses related to the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments are presented as follows (in thousands):

 

     Amount of Loss Recognized in OCI on Derivatives  
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments    2016      2015  

Interest rate swaps

   $ (43    $ (54

No amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are expected to be reclassified to interest expense in the next twelve months.

The amounts of the gains and losses related to the Company’s derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments are presented as follows (in thousands):

 

         

Amount of Gain
Recognized in Earnings
on Derivatives

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments    Location of Gain
Recognized in Earnings on
Derivatives
   2016      2015  

Foreign exchange contracts

   Selling, general and
administrative expense
   $ 552       $ —     

 

- 13 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

NOTE F STOCK COMPENSATION

Option Awards

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

     Options      Weighted-
average
exercise
price
     Weighted-
average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
     Aggregate
intrinsic value
 

Options outstanding, January 1, 2016

     2,242,202       $ 14.28         

Exercises

     (30,375      3.78         

Cancellations

     (23,375      15.32         

Expirations

     (800      15.95         
  

 

 

          

Options outstanding, March 31, 2016

     2,187,652         14.41         4.8         6,171,200   
  

 

 

          

 

 

 

Options exercisable, March 31, 2016

     1,694,819       $ 14.03         4.1       $ 5,584,600   
  

 

 

          

 

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their stock options on March 31, 2016. The intrinsic value is calculated for each in-the-money stock option as the difference between the closing price of the Company’s common stock on March 31, 2016 and the exercise price.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $275,000 and $163,500, respectively. The intrinsic value of a stock option that is exercised is calculated at the date of exercise.

Total unrecognized stock option compensation expense at March 31, 2016, before the effect of income taxes, was $2.6 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

Restricted Stock

A summary of the Company’s restricted stock activity and related information for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

     Restricted
Shares
     Weighted-
average
grant date
fair value
 

Nonvested restricted shares, January 1, 2016

     101,435       $ 14.77   

Grants

     1,674         12.52   

Cancellations

     (1,250      14.84   
  

 

 

    

Nonvested restricted shares, March 31, 2016

     101,859       $ 14.73   
  

 

 

    

Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining

   $ 935,000      

Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over

     2.3      

No restricted stock vested during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Performance shares

Each performance award represents the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The number of shares of common stock earned will be determined based on the attainment of specified performance goals by December 31, 2017, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The shares are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

- 14 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

A summary of the Company’s performance-based award activity and related information for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

     Performance-
based stock
awards (1)
     Weighted-
average
grant date
fair value
 

Nonvested performance-based awards, January 1, 2016

     66,150       $ 14.84   

Cancellations

     (941      14.84   
  

 

 

    

Nonvested performance-based awards, March 31, 2016

     65,209       $ 14.84   
  

 

 

    

Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining

   $ 646,600      

Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over

     1.75      

 

(1) Represents the target number of shares to be issued for each performance share award.

The Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $803,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, of which $501,000 represents stock option compensation expense, $270,000 represents restricted stock and performance based compensation expense and $32,000 represents stock awards granted in 2016. The Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $750,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, of which $597,000 represents stock option compensation expense, $100,000 represents restricted stock compensation expense and $53,000 represents stock awards granted in 2015.

At March 31, 2016, there were 471,450 shares available for awards that could be granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

NOTE G — LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted loss per common share adjusts net loss and basic loss per common share for the effect of all potentially dilutive shares of the Company’s common stock. The calculations of basic and diluted loss per common share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,  
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Net loss – basic and diluted

   $ (4,288    $ (2,105

Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic and diluted

     13,963         13,738   

Basic and diluted loss per common share

   $ (0.31    $ (0.15
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The computation of diluted loss per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2016 excludes options to purchase 2,187,652 shares and 101,859 restricted shares. The computation of diluted loss per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2015 excludes options to purchase 2,276,927 shares. These shares were excluded due to their antidilutive effects.

 

- 15 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

NOTE H — INCOME TAXES

On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates its tax positions and revises its estimates accordingly. The estimated value of the Company’s uncertain tax positions at March 31, 2016 is a gross liability of tax and interest of $169,000. The Company believes that $72,000 of its tax positions will be resolved within the next twelve months.

The Company has identified the following jurisdictions as “major” tax jurisdictions: U.S. Federal, California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and the United Kingdom. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the years prior to 2013. At March 31, 2016, the periods subject to examination for the Company’s major state jurisdictions are the years ended 2012 through 2015.

The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties is to record such items as a component of income taxes. Interest and penalties were not material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

NOTE I — BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company operates in three reportable business segments: U.S. Wholesale, International and Retail Direct. The U.S. Wholesale segment is the Company’s primary domestic business that designs, markets and distributes its products to retailers and distributors. The International segment consists of certain business operations conducted outside the U.S. which were previously included in the Wholesale segment. The Retail Direct segment is where the Company markets and sells a limited selection of its products directly to consumers through its Pfaltzgraff, Mikasa, Fred and Friends, Built NY and Lifetime Sterling internet websites.

The Company has segmented its operations to reflect the manner in which management reviews and evaluates the results of its operations. While the three segments distribute similar products, the segments are distinct due to the different methods the Company uses to sell, market and distribute the products. Management evaluates the performance of the U.S. Wholesale, International and Retail Direct segments based on net sales and income (loss) from operations. Such measures give recognition to specifically identifiable operating costs such as cost of sales, distribution expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Certain general and administrative expenses, such as senior executive salaries and benefits, stock compensation, director fees and accounting, legal and consulting fees, are not allocated to the specific segments and are reflected as unallocated corporate expenses.

 

- 16 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  

Net sales

     

U.S. Wholesale

   $ 82,268       $ 86,521   

International

     23,673         25,365   

Retail Direct

     4,984         5,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $ 110,925       $ 117,657   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     

U.S. Wholesale

   $ (1,789    $ 1,951   

International

     395         (545

Retail Direct

     37         (49

Unallocated corporate expenses

     (3,858      (3,528
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss from operations

   $ (5,215    $ (2,171
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

     

U.S. Wholesale

   $ 2,179       $ 2,187   

International

     1,270         1,330   

Retail Direct

     35         38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 3,484       $ 3,555   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     March 31,      December 31,  
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  

Assets

     

U.S. Wholesale

   $ 261,924       $ 269,143   

International

     112,369         115,128   

Retail Direct

     294         443   

Unallocated/ Corporate/ Other

     12,703         13,617   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 387,290       $ 398,331   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE J CONTINGENCIES

Wallace Silversmiths de Puerto Rico, Ltd. (“WSPR”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, operates a manufacturing facility in San Germán, Puerto Rico that is leased from the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (“PRIDCO”). In March 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) announced that the San Germán Ground Water Contamination site in Puerto Rico (the “Site”) had been added to the Superfund National Priorities List due to contamination present in the local drinking water supply.

In May 2008, WSPR received from the EPA a Notice of Potential Liability and Request for Information Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 9607(a) and 9604(e) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). In July 2011, WSPR received a letter from the EPA requesting access to the property that it leases from PRIDCO to conduct an environmental investigation, and the Company granted such access. In February 2013, the EPA requested access to conduct a further environmental investigation at the property. PRIDCO agreed to such access and the Company consented. EPA conducted a further investigation during 2013 and, in April 2015, notified the Company and PRIDCO that the results from vapor intrusion sampling may warrant implementation of measures to mitigate potential exposure to sub-slab soil gas. The Company reviewed the information provided by the EPA and requested that PRIDCO, as the property owner, find and implement a

 

- 17 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

solution acceptable to the EPA. While WSPR did not cause the sub-surface condition that resulted in the potential for vapor intrusion, in order to protect the health of its employees and continue its business operations, it has nevertheless implemented corrective action measures to prevent vapor intrusion such as sealing floors of the building and conducting periodic air monitoring to address potential exposure. On August 13, 2015, the EPA released its remedial investigation and feasibility study (“RI/FS”) for the Site. On December 11, 2015, the EPA issued the Record of Decision (“ROD”) for OU-1, electing to implement its preferred remedy which consists of soil vapor extraction and dual-phase extraction/in-situ treatment. This selected remedy includes soil vapor extraction (“SVE”) to address soil (vadose zone) source areas at the Site, impermeable cover as necessary for the implementation of SVE, dual phase extraction in the shallow saprolite zone, and in-situ treatment as needed to address residual sources. The EPA’s estimated capital cost for its selected remedy is $7.3 million. The EPA also designated a second operable unit which will consist of further investigations to determine the nature and extent of groundwater contamination. WSPR never used the primary contaminant of concern and did not take up its tenancy at the Site until after the EPA had discovered the contamination in the local water supply. The EPA has also issued notices of potential liability to numerous other entities affiliated with the Site, which used the contaminants of concern.

Accordingly, based on the above uncertainties and variables, it is not possible at this time for the Company to estimate its share of liability, if any, related to this matter. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations related to this matter, it is possible that the ultimate liability resulting from this matter and the impact on the Company’s results of operations could be material.

The Company is, from time to time, involved in other legal proceedings. The Company believes that other current litigation is routine in nature and incidental to the conduct of the Company’s business and that none such litigation, individually or collectively, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE K OTHER

Cash dividends

On March 3, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0425 per share payable on May 16, 2016 to shareholders of record on May 2, 2016. As of March 31, 2016, the Company accrued $623,000 for the payment of the dividend.

Supplemental cash flow information

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

     

Cash paid for interest

   $ 1,028       $ 1,151   

Cash paid for taxes

     5,881         6,018   

Non-cash investing activities:

     

Translation adjustment

   $ 1,679       $ 2,705   

 

- 18 -


Table of Contents

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,  
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  

Accumulated translation adjustment:

     

Balance at beginning of period

   $ (12,961    $ (7,680

Translation loss during period

     (1,679      (2,705
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ (14,640    $ (10,385
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated deferred losses on cash flow hedges:

     

Balance at beginning of period

   $ (20    $ (18

Derivative fair value adjustment, net of taxes of $29 and $49 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

     (43      (54
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ (63    $ (72
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated effect of retirement benefit obligations:

     

Balance at beginning of period

   $ (1,204    $ (2,224

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss: (1)

     

Amortization of actuarial losses, net of taxes of $9 and $13 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

     14         20   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ (1,190    $ (2,204
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period

   $ (15,893    $ (12,661
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts are recorded in selling, general and administrative expense on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

- 19 -


Table of Contents

Review Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Lifetime Brands, Inc.:

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Lifetime Brands, Inc. as of March 31, 2016, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Lifetime Brands, Inc. as of December 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein) and we expressed an unqualified audit opinion on those consolidated financial statements in our report dated March 14, 2016. We did not audit the consolidated financial statements of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries (a corporation in which the Company has a 30% interest), which statements have been audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries, is based solely on the report of the other auditors. In the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s investment in Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries is stated at $24.7 million at December 31, 2015, and the Company’s equity in the net income of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries is stated at $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. In our opinion, the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Lifetime Brands, Inc. as of December 31, 2015, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Jericho, New York

May 10, 2016

 

- 20 -


Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Lifetime Brands, Inc. (the “Company” and, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company” shall include its consolidated subsidiaries), contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company’s plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues, performance, capital expenditures, financing needs and other information that is not historical information. Many of these statements appear, in particular, in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “may,” “should,” “seeks,” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the Company’s examination of historical operating trends, are based upon the Company’s current expectations and various assumptions. The Company believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and assumptions, but there can be no assurance that the Company will realize its expectations or that the Company’s assumptions will prove correct.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed as forward-looking statements are set forth in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K in Part I, Item 1A under the heading Risk Factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others, risks related to:

 

    Indebtedness;

 

    Liquidity;

 

    Interest;

 

    General economic factors and political conditions;

 

    Competition;

 

    Customer practices;

 

    Intellectual property, brands and licenses;

 

    International operations;

 

    Supply chain;

 

    Foreign exchange rates;

 

    International trade and transportation;

 

    Product liability;

 

    Regulatory matters;

 

    Product development;

 

    Reputation;

 

    Technology;

 

    Personnel;

 

    Price fluctuations;

 

    Seasonality;

 

    Business interruptions;

 

    Projections;

 

    Fixed costs; and

 

    Acquisitions and investments;

 

- 21 -


Table of Contents

There may be other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Company designs, sources and sells branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home. During the first quarter of 2016 the Company realigned its U.S. Wholesale product categories. The realignment included grouping certain pantryware products and spice racks within the Kitchenware product category. The Company’s realigned product categories include two categories of products that people use to prepare, serve and consume foods: Kitchenware (kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, cutting boards, cookware, pantryware, spice racks, and bakeware) and Tableware (dinnerware, stemware, flatware and giftware); and one category, Home Solutions, which comprises other products used in the home (thermal beverageware, food storage and home décor). In 2015, with categories recast to conform with the current period presentation, Kitchenware products and Tableware products accounted for approximately 92% of the Company’s U.S. Wholesale net sales and 90% of the Company’s consolidated net sales.

At the heart of the Company is a culture of innovation. The Company employs over 120 artists, engineers, industrial designers and graphics specialists, who create new products, packaging and merchandising concepts. The Company brought over 5,500 new or redesigned products to market in 2015 and expects to introduce approximately 5,500 new or redesigned products in 2016. Historically, new products generally reach their peak sales in 12 to 18 months following introduction.

The Company markets several product lines within each of its product categories and under most of the Company’s brands, primarily targeting moderate price points through virtually every major level of trade. The Company believes it possesses certain competitive advantages based on its brands, its emphasis on innovation and new product development and its sourcing capabilities. The Company owns or licenses a number of leading brands in its industry including Farberware®, Mikasa®, KitchenAid®, KitchenCraft®, Pfaltzgraff®, Sabatier®, Kamenstein®, masterclass®, Fred®, Towle® and Built NY®. Historically, the Company’s sales growth has come from expanding product offerings within its product categories, by developing existing brands, acquiring new brands and establishing new product categories. Key factors in the Company’s growth strategy have been the selective use and management of the Company’s brands and the Company’s ability to provide a stream of new products and designs. The Company has also significantly expanded its international footprint through acquisitions of businesses which own or license complementary brands in markets outside the United States.

In the second quarter of 2016 the Company acquired the brands, product portfolio and certain other assets of Wilton Armetale.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company operates in three reportable segments: U.S. Wholesale, International and Retail Direct. The U.S. Wholesale segment, is the Company’s primary domestic business that designs, markets and distributes its products to retailers and distributors. The International segment consists of certain business operations conducted outside the U.S. The Retail Direct segment is that in which the Company markets and sells a limited selection of its products directly to consumers through its Pfaltzgraff, Mikasa, Fred and Friends, Built NY and Lifetime Sterling internet websites. The Company has segmented its operations to reflect the manner in which management reviews and evaluates its results of operations.

 

- 22 -


Table of Contents

EQUITY INVESTMENTS

The Company owns approximately 30% of the outstanding capital stock of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. (“Vasconia”), an integrated manufacturer of aluminum products and one of Mexico’s largest housewares companies. Shares of Vasconia’s capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, the Mexican Stock Exchange. The Quotation Key is VASCONI.

The Company accounts for its investment in Vasconia using the equity method of accounting and has recorded its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income, net of taxes, as equity in earnings in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Pursuant to a Shares Subscription Agreement (the “Agreement”), the Company may designate four persons to be nominated as members of Vasconia’s Board of Directors. As of March 31, 2016, Vasconia’s Board of Directors is comprised of ten members of whom the Company has designated three members.

The Company owns approximately 40% of the outstanding capital stock of GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”). GSI is a wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil. The Company accounts for its investment in GSI using the equity method of accounting, however subsequent to impairment losses recognized in 2014, the Company has not recorded its share of equity. The Company will continue to monitor the operating results of GSI and will record equity in earnings when the equity in earnings exceeds the Company’s previously unrecognized losses.

Pursuant to a Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company has the right to designate three persons (including one independent person, as defined) to be nominated as members of GSI’s Board of Directors which shall be comprised of a maximum of seven members. As of March 31, 2016, GSI’s Board of Directors is comprised of six members (including two independent members) of which three have been designated by the Company (including one independent member).

SEASONALITY

The Company’s business and working capital needs are highly seasonal, with a majority of sales occurring in the third and fourth quarters. In 2015 and 2014, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 59% and 60% of total annual net sales, respectively. In anticipation of the pre-holiday shipping season, inventory levels increase primarily in the June through October time period.

RESTRUCTURING

In December 2015, the Company commenced an in-depth review of its U.S. Wholesale business segment, which included the evaluation of the segment’s efficiency and effectiveness. The restructuring plan included the realignment of product categories to best achieve the Company’s strategic plan and implementation of cost reduction initiatives. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded $0.6 million of restructuring expense, primarily for severance, related to the execution of this plan. During 2016 the Company expanded this restructuring plan to focus on more specific actions required to achieve the plan’s objectives. The Company expects to incur an additional $1.2 million of expense during the second quarter of 2016 for the development and execution of this phase of the U.S. Wholesale restructuring.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates discussed in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

- 23 -


Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth statement of operations data of the Company as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016     2015  

Net sales

     100.0     100.0

Cost of sales

     63.4        61.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     36.6        38.2   

Distribution expenses

     12.0        11.5   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     28.7        28.6   

Restructuring expenses

     0.6        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (4.7     (1.9

Interest expense

     (1.1     (1.2

Financing expense

     —          (0.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings

     (5.8     (3.2

Income tax benefit

     2.0        1.2   

Equity in earnings (losses), net of taxes

     (0.1     0.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (3.9 )%      (1.8 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

- 24 -


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

MARCH 31, 2015

Net Sales

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $110.9 million, a decrease of $6.8 million, or 5.8%, as compared to net sales of $117.7 million for the corresponding period in 2015.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $82.3 million, a decrease of $4.2 million, or 4.9%, as compared to net sales of $86.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015. As a result of the Company’s realignment of its U.S. Wholesale segment product categories, previous periods presented for the U.S. Wholesale product categories have been recast to conform to the current period presentation.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Kitchenware product category, which includes sales of tools and gadgets, cookware, bakeware, pantryware and cutlery, were $55.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of $4.5 million, or 7.5%, as compared to $60.2 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The sales decrease in the U.S. Wholesale Kitchenware product category primarily was the result of a retailer’s inventory rationalization strategy.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Tableware product category were $19.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 0.5%, as compared to $19.8 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in the U.S. Wholesale Tableware product category was attributable to a decrease in dinnerware and glassware sales due to the timing of programs, partially offset by an increase in the sales of metals products from warehouse club programs.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Home Solutions product category, which includes sales of home décor and Built NY products, were $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, an increase of $0.4 million, or 6.2%, as compared to $6.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase in the U.S. Wholesale Home Solutions product category reflects an increase in home décor, partially offset by a decrease in Built NY sales.

Net sales for the International segment were $23.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 6.7%, as compared to net sales of $25.4 million for the corresponding period in 2015. In constant currency, net sales decreased approximately 2.2%. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in tableware sales with certain customers, offset by an increase in kitchenware on-line retail and export sales.

Net sales for the Retail Direct segment were $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 13.8%, as compared to net sales of $5.8 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The 2015 period benefited from delayed shipments in 2014 as a result of west coast dock workers slowdown.

Gross margin

Gross margin for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $40.6 million, or 36.6%, as compared to $44.9 million, or 38.2%, for the corresponding period in 2015.

Gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment was $28.8 million, or 35.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $32.0 million, or 37.0%, for the corresponding period in 2015. Gross margin may be expected to fluctuate from period to period based on a number of factors, including product and customer mix. The Company’s investment in brand development through customer incentives offset an improvement in product margin across most divisions.

Gross margin for the International segment was $8.4 million, or 35.5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $9.0 million, or 35.6%, for the corresponding period in 2015. The change in margin was a result of the strengthened U.S. Dollar against Pound Sterling, offset by a change in product mix.

 

- 25 -


Table of Contents

Gross margin for the Retail Direct segment was $3.4 million, or 67.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $3.9 million, or 66.6%, for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase in gross margin in the Retail Direct segment reflects a decrease in promotional activities and lower product breakage costs.

Distribution expenses

Distribution expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $13.3 million as compared to $13.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 12.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to 11.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment were approximately 11.1% and 10.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses, distribution expenses for the U.S. Wholesale segment were 11.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 10.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increases reflect the effect of a decrease in sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses and an increase in labor and facility costs.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the International segment were approximately 11.4% and 10.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s U.K. warehouses were 12.5% and 11.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The change reflects the decrease in sales volume.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the Retail Direct segment were approximately 30.0% and 31.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in expenses was due to lower product breakage costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $31.8 million, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 5.4%, as compared to $33.6 million for the corresponding period in 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016, for the U.S. Wholesale segment were $20.9 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 0.9%, from $21.1 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in headcount and decreases in travel and selling expenses. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 25.4% and 24.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 for the International segment were $5.3 million, a decrease of $1.6 million, from $6.9 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in expenses was in part due to the weakness of the Pound Sterling against the U.S. Dollar in the three months ended March 31, 2016, as well as foreign currency transaction gains.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Retail Direct segment were $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in headcount and duplicative costs incurred in 2015 from the consolidation of the Company’s customer service call center functions.

Unallocated corporate expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $3.8 million as compared to $3.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in acquisition related expenses.

Restructuring expenses

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded $0.6 million of restructuring expense, primarily for severance, related to the execution of the U.S. Wholesale restructuring plan.

 

- 26 -


Table of Contents

Interest expense

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $1.2 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, from $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in expense was attributable to a reduction in total indebtedness including scheduled repayments of the Company’s Term Loan.

Financing expense

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company wrote off $0.2 million of expenses related to the refinancing of indebtedness that was not completed. The Company did not incur financing expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Income tax benefit

The income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $2.3 million as compared to $1.4 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 35.4% as compared to 36.3% for the corresponding 2015 period. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 reflects a change in state tax rates.

Equity in earnings (losses)

Equity in earnings (losses) of Vasconia, net of taxes, was a loss of $(0.2) million, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to earnings of $0.3 million, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Equity in losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes deferred tax expense of $0.2 million due to the requirement to record tax benefits for foreign currency translation losses through other comprehensive income (loss), with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities. Vasconia reported income from operations of $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to a $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in income from operations is primarily due to a decrease in sales volume and margin in the aluminum business.

As described above, the Company’s investment in GSI was $0 as of March 31, 2016. The Company has not recorded its share of equity in losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company will continue to monitor the operating results of GSI and will record equity in earnings when the equity in earnings exceeds the Company’s previously unrecognized losses.

 

- 27 -


Table of Contents

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s principal sources of cash to fund liquidity needs are: (i) cash provided by operating activities and (ii) borrowings available under its revolving credit facility. The Company’s primary uses of funds consist of working capital requirements, capital expenditures and payments of principal and interest on its debt.

At March 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $5.9 million compared to $7.1 million at December 31, 2015. Working capital was $155.3 million at March 31, 2016 compared to $152.0 million at December 31, 2015. Liquidity, which includes cash and cash equivalents and availability under its credit facilities (subject to the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement), was $64.4 million.

The Company’s Credit Agreement, which expires in January 2019, provides for, among other things, a Revolving Credit Facility commitment totaling $175.0 million ($40.0 million of which is available for multi-currency borrowings) and a Term Loan facility.

At March 31, 2016, borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility were $77.0 million and open letters of credit were $2.3 million. At March 31, 2016, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $63.3 million. The borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility depends, in part, on eligible levels of accounts receivable and inventory that fluctuate regularly and certain trademark values based upon periodic appraisals, and may be lower in the first and second quarters when the Company’s inventory level is lower due to seasonality.

The Company’s payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by each of its existing U.S. subsidiaries and will be unconditionally guaranteed by each of its future U.S. subsidiaries. Certain payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are also direct obligations of its foreign subsidiary borrowers designated as such under the Credit Agreement and, subject to limitations on such guaranties, are guaranteed by the foreign subsidiary borrowers, as well as by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Revolving Credit Facility and any hedging arrangements and cash management services and the guarantees by its domestic subsidiaries in respect of those obligations are secured by substantially all of the assets and stock (but in the case of foreign subsidiaries, limited to 65% of the capital stock in first-tier foreign subsidiaries and not including the stock of subsidiaries of such first-tier foreign subsidiaries) owned by the Company and the U.S. subsidiary guarantors, subject to certain exceptions. Such security interests consist of a first-priority lien, subject to certain permitted liens, with respect to the assets of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries pledged as collateral in favor of lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $32.5 million and $35.0 million, respectively, were outstanding under the Term Loan. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, unamortized debt issuance costs were $570,000 and $621,000. In May 2015 the credit agreement was amended to provide for a $10.0 million prepayment of the Term Loan, if such amount was greater than the payment that would have been required pursuant to the agreement’s original terms (50% of the Company’s excess cash flow for the 2015 fiscal year). In April 2016, the Company made a prepayment of $15.2 million in accordance with the amended terms.

Interest rates on outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2016 ranged from 2.43 to 7.0%. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Credit Agreement provides for customary restrictions and events of default. Restrictions include limitations on additional indebtedness, acquisitions, investments and payment of dividends, among other things. Further, the Credit Agreement provides that at any time any Term Loan is outstanding or at any time no Term Loan is outstanding and availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is less than $17.5 million and continuing until availability of at least $20.0 million is maintained for three consecutive months, the Company is required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00 for each of four consecutive fiscal quarter periods. The Credit Agreement also provides that when the Term Loan is outstanding, the Company is required to maintain a Senior Leverage Ratio within defined parameters not to exceed 4.00 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2016; and 3.75 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter. For any fiscal quarter of the Company ending on September 30th, the maximum Senior Leverage Ratio is increased by an additional 0.25:1.00 in excess of the applicable level otherwise provided.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s Senior Leverage Ratio was 2.6 to 1.00.

 

- 28 -


Table of Contents

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, as of March 31, 2016 the maximum additional permitted indebtedness other than certain subordinated indebtedness was $58.5 million. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2016.

Covenant Calculations

Consolidated EBITDA, as provided below, is used in the calculation of covenants provided for in the Company’s Credit Agreement. The following is the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters:

 

     Consolidated EBITDA
for the Four Quarters
Ended March 31, 2016
 
     (in thousands)  

Three months ended March 31, 2016

   $ 268   

Three months ended December 31, 2015

     23,889   

Three months ended September 30, 2015

     14,089   

Three months ended June 30, 2015

     4,388   
  

 

 

 

Total for the four quarters

   $ 42,634   
  

 

 

 

Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $0.8 million.

Non-GAAP financial measure

Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following is a reconciliation of the net income, as reported, to Consolidated EBITDA, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2016      2015  
     (in thousands)  

Net loss as reported

   $ (4,288    $ (2,105

Subtract out:

     

Undistributed equity in (earnings) losses, net

     150         (288

Add back:

     

Income tax benefit

     (2,270      (1,363

Interest expense

     1,193         1,431   

Financing expense

     —           154   

Depreciation and amortization

     3,484         3,555   

Stock compensation expense

     803         750   

Contingent consideration

     —           147   

Permitted acquisition related expenses

     555         238   

Restructuring expenses

     641         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated EBITDA

   $ 268       $ 2,519   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Credit Agreements

A subsidiary of the Company has a credit facility (“HSBC Facility” or “Short term loan”) with HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch (“HSBC”) for up to RMB 18.0 million ($2.9 million). The HSBC Facility is subject to annual renewal and may be used to fund general working capital needs of the subsidiary which is a trading company in the People’s Republic of China. Borrowings under the HSBC Facility are guaranteed by the Company and are granted at the sole discretion of HSBC. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, RMB 870,000 ($135,000) and RMB 1.6 million ($252,000) was outstanding, respectively. Outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2016 carried an interest rate of 5.0%.

 

- 29 -


Table of Contents

Derivatives

The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $18.8 million to manage interest rate exposure in connection with its variable interest rate borrowings. The hedge periods in these agreements commenced in March 2013 and will expire in September 2018, and the notional amounts amortize over this period. The hedge provides for a fixed payment of interest at an annual rate of 1.05% in exchange for the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

The Company has also entered into certain foreign exchange contracts, to primarily offset the earnings impact related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with sales and inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. These foreign exchange contracts have not been designated as hedges as required in order to apply hedge accounting. The changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $8.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $10.2 million for the corresponding 2015 period. The change in operating cash flow was primarily due to an increase in payments of accrued expenses and accounts payable in the 2016 period, as compared to the 2015 period, and changes in the timing of the collection of receivables in the current period as compared to the 2015 period.

Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $0.8 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to cash used in financing activities of $10.4 million for the corresponding 2015 period. The change in financing activities was attributable to the change in borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility.

 

- 30 -


Table of Contents
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There were no material changes in market risk for changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates from the information provided in Item 7A – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have concluded, based on their evaluation as of March 31, 2016, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed by it under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

- 31 -


Table of Contents

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Wallace Silversmiths de Puerto Rico, Ltd. (“WSPR”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, operates a manufacturing facility in San Germán, Puerto Rico that is leased from the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (“PRIDCO”). In March 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) announced that the San Germán Ground Water Contamination site in Puerto Rico (the “Site”) had been added to the Superfund National Priorities List due to contamination present in the local drinking water supply.

In May 2008, WSPR received from the EPA a Notice of Potential Liability and Request for Information Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 9607(a) and 9604(e) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). In July 2011, WSPR received a letter from the EPA requesting access to the property that it leases from PRIDCO to conduct an environmental investigation, and the Company granted such access. In February 2013, the EPA requested access to conduct a further environmental investigation at the property. PRIDCO agreed to such access and the Company consented. EPA conducted further investigation during 2013 and, in April 2015, notified the Company and PRIDCO that the results from vapor intrusion sampling may warrant implementation of measures to mitigate potential exposure to sub-slab soil gas. The Company reviewed the information provided by the EPA and requested that PRIDCO, as the property owner, find and implement a solution acceptable to the EPA. While WSPR did not cause the sub-surface condition that resulted in the potential for vapor intrusion, in order to protect the health of its employees and continue its business operations, it has nevertheless implemented corrective action measures to prevent vapor intrusion such as sealing floors of the building and conducting periodic air monitoring to address potential exposure. On August 13, 2015, the EPA released its remedial investigation and feasibility study (“RI/FS”) for the Site. On December 11, 2015, the EPA issued the Record of Decision (“ROD”) for OU-1, electing to implement its preferred remedy which consists of soil vapor extraction and dual-phase extraction/in-situ treatment. This selected remedy includes soil vapor extraction (“SVE”) to address soil (vadose zone) source areas at the Site, impermeable cover as necessary for the implementation of SVE, dual phase extraction in the shallow saprolite zone, and in-situ treatment as needed to address residual sources. The EPA’s estimated capital cost for its selected remedy is $7.3 million. The EPA also designated a second operable unit which will consist of further investigations to determine the nature and extent of groundwater contamination. WSPR never used the primary contaminant of concern and did not take up its tenancy at the Site until after the EPA had discovered the contamination in the local water supply. The EPA has also issued notices of potential liability to numerous other entities affiliated with the Site, which used the contaminants of concern.

Accordingly, based on the above uncertainties and variables, it is not possible at this time for the Company to estimate its share of liability, if any, related to this matter. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations related to this matter, it is possible that the ultimate liability resulting from this matter and the impact on the Company’s results of operations could be material.

The Company is, from time to time, involved in other legal proceedings. The Company believes that other current litigation is routine in nature and incidental to the conduct of the Company’s business and that none such litigation, individually or collectively, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10K.

 

- 32 -


Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
    
  31.1    Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2    Certification by Laurence Winoker, Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32.1    Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Laurence Winoker, Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

- 33 -


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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

 

  Lifetime Brands, Inc.   
 

/s/ Jeffrey Siegel

   May 10, 2016
  Jeffrey Siegel   
  Chief Executive Officer and Director   
  (Principal Executive Officer)   
 

/s/ Laurence Winoker

   May 10, 2016
  Laurence Winoker   
  Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer   
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   

 

- 34 -