Lifetime Brands Annual Report 2015

Plain-text annual report

L i f e t i m e B r a n d s A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 5 Positioned for Growth LIFETIME BRANDS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Financial Highlights NET SALES IN MILLIONS EBITDA(1) IN MILLIONS 500 $487 $503 $586 $588 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED NET INCOME(2) IN MILLIONS 45 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AND ADJUSTED DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE(2) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 NET INCOME ADJUSTED NET INCOME DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ADJUSTED DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE Year Ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share data) 2015 2014 2013 2012 $587,670 $586,010 $502,721 $486,842 $44,885 $12,278 $14,199 $0.86 $1.00 $42,542 $43,478 $1,544 $9,281 $10,263 $14,496 $0.11 $0.73 $0.71 $1.11 $41,242 $20,947 $16,156 $1.64 $1.26 NET SALES EBITDA(1) NET INCOME ADJUSTED NET INCOME(2) DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ADJUSTED DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE(2) (1) EBITDA IS A NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE THAT IS RECONCILED TO GAAP NET INCOME IN THE COMPANY’S FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015. (2) ADJUSTED NET INCOME IS A NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE THAT IS RECONCILED TO GAAP NET INCOME IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT. Lifetime Brands We are one of the world’s leading designers, developers, and marketers of a broad range of nationally branded consumer products used in the home. Our categories include Kitchenware, Cutlery, Cutting Boards, Bakeware, Cookware, Dinnerware, Flatware, Glassware, Pantryware, Spices, and Home Solutions. Mission Statement We are committed to delivering five-star experiences to the earth’s consumers through innovative products, services, and solutions for the home. In return, they reward us with increased market share and profitability, allowing our associates, stakeholders, and shareholders to prosper. 1 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®Dear fellow shareholders I am pleased to report that, for 2015, despite our businesses were adversely affected a somewhat rocky and rapidly evolving retail by weakness of the British pound relative to the environment, net sales in our U.S. wholesale dollar; which, on a relative basis, increased cost of segment grew by 3.9%. Sales rose in all three of our goods, which are sourced in dollars, and by weakness product categories — Kitchenware, Tableware and of the euro relative to the pound, which hurt export Home Solutions. We realized a particularly strong sales. Although these headwinds dampened our improvement in Home Solutions, where we have been overall results for the year, through improved focusing on giftables and functional home décor, two operating margins we produced a 5.5% increase in categories that are showing good growth. This focus consolidated EBITDA, which grew to almost positioned us to successfully launch a large program $45.0 million for the year. with a major pharmacy chain, our first significant foray into this retail class. Key Initiatives for 2016 In Kitchenware, we realized strong increases in With the assistance of a major international consulting cutlery and expanded our Farberware® brand, which firm, we recently began an in-depth review of is increasingly accepted as “America’s Housewares Lifetime’s U.S. wholesale businesses to ensure that we Brand.” Farberware® is the largest brand in Lifetime’s have the right structure to grow and thrive in today’s portfolio; and, in 2015, sales under this iconic complex business environment. The study — which brand increased by 9%, reflecting, among other includes evaluations of our divisional organization successful initiatives, the launch of our Farberware structure, product pipeline, and brand management, Colourworks® collection. as well as SKU rationalization and SG&A spending — will serve as a template to right size Lifetime’s Tableware sales also rose as a result of the good SG&A expense base, realign our operating structure, reception of various new programs for dinnerware and redirect our operating activities to increase our and flatware. During the year, we launched several efficiency and effectiveness. new programs for Mikasa®, our most important tableware brand. Sales under this brand increased We already have completed the first phase of the by 17% for the year, and we are expanding these study and have implemented initial steps, including programs in 2016, targeting both new retailers and several structural changes in our wholesale divisions. product expansions. When the study is complete and its findings fully implemented, we believe our business will be in a The strength in Lifetime’s U.S. operations unfortunately much stronger position to achieve future growth and was offset by currency challenges in the U.K., where improved profitability. 2 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®In recent years there has been a significant shift in Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. The reaction retailing, which is moving heavily towards the Internet, to the new products was overwhelmingly positive. both for brick-and-mortar retailers and for Internet- To succeed with today’s consumers, housewares only retailers. We expect this shift to continue and manufacturers need to deliver improved performance, have been positioning Lifetime to capitalize on it as expanded function, and great design. The wide array much as possible. We have established our systems of new products we introduced, all featuring new so that we can efficiently ship direct to consumers for technologies, materials, or designs, clearly show that our retail partners – again, whether brick-and-mortar Lifetime is leading this effort, keeping ahead of the or Internet-only – and we have built a large and curve on the ever-evolving kitchenware industry. experienced team that is focused on building sales of our products on the Internet through our customers. We believe the breadth of our offerings — combined with our strong position with major retailers in the Although most of the impact of currency challenges U.S. and the U.K. and our expanding footprint with appears to be mostly behind us, economic uncertainty independent retailers world-wide — provide us with remains in some of our key international markets. Our outstanding opportunities for profitable growth. Our two U.K.-based businesses, Kitchen Craft and Creative vision of becoming a one billion dollar company is Tops, are therefore working together harder than intact and we continue to make progress to that goal. ever to build on each other’s network and create new Moreover, our financial profile is strong, giving us the opportunities for their businesses. Creative Tops sells ability to finance attractive investment opportunities. primarily to major retailers while Kitchen Craft sells predominantly to independent retailers, a channel We look forward to making Lifetime Brands an even we are working hard to strengthen for Creative Tops. better company for our customers, our shareholders, In addition, with e-Commerce sales growing nicely and our employees in 2016 and the years to come. at Kitchen Craft, we are striving to bring some of those lessons and practices to Creative Tops. We look forward to seeing the results of these efforts in 2016. Business for the coming year appears to be heading in the right direction In the first few months of the year, we showed our line-up of new products at the Birmingham Spring Respectfully, Jeffrey Siegel Fair, at Ambiente in Frankfurt and, at the International Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 3 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®Our strategic plan, Lifetime Next™, is the foundation for our continued success, and it provides a clear vision for sustainable growth. It puts us on the path that best fits our company and culture to achieve our goal of becoming a company with $1 billion in sales and a substantially improved profitability. Increase Sales of Key Brands FARBERWARE COLOURWORKS® One of our most-recognized brands, Farberware®, recently expanded its offerings through the creation of a new line named Farberware Colourworks®, a full collection of high-function, high-design kitchen tools and gadgets, pantryware, and cutlery. Colourworks® has been a successful brand in the UK and Europe for our subsidiary, KitchenCraft, and has sold well in those markets. For its launch in the United States, we positioned it for even greater success by co-branding it with Farberware®, the most recognized cutlery brand in the country. That move was a significant success, particularly with the Millennial consumer, whose buying habits align perfectly with the attractive colors and affordable price point of Colourworks®. It has been one of the fastest growing lines of product in our company’s history, and routinely surpasses expectations everywhere it’s been placed. The program has been picked up by top retailers and big box stores across the country, with many of them reporting that it’s one of their most successful lines in all of housewares. Farberware Colourworks® is the only national brand to offer kitchen items that feature color and design in such an impactful way. 5 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®SABATIER COLLECTION Increase Sales of Owned and Controlled Brands SABATIER® After identifying Sabatier® as a major opportunity in cutlery and cutting boards several years ago, the Company dedicated significant resources on product and brand development, including several patent- pending offerings. In addition, Lifetime hired an outside agency to create modern packaging that pays homage to the brand’s rich history. These efforts have been successful in placing the brand with major retailers, where it has been performing extremely well. Such successes have enabled the company to expand our offerings with additional cutlery products as well as introducing categories such as cookware, kitchen tools and gadgets. 6 New programs have been launched in several chain stores, and Sabatier®’s presence “ We are launching new expanded in several others. Big box stores have also embraced Sabatier® by placing programs in several major large product orders, and we are also retail chains and expanding building the online presence of the brand in the brand’s presence in conjunction with our eCommerce, marketing, several others. Big box stores and product development teams. have embraced Sabatier® and we are also building the online presence of the brand in conjunction with our eCommerce, marketing, and product development teams. ” LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®7 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®Accelerate Product Development CUTLERY Our recently introduced, patent-pending Edgekeeper™ open stock knives have sharpening rods built into each storage sheath that automatically sharpen the knife blade every time the consumer removes or replaces the knife into the storage sheath. The rods are aligned to sharpen the blade at the correct angle, which ensures the user will have a razor sharp edge every time it is used. stock items, including cutting boards with built-in sharpeners. These new products were unveiled under Lifetime’s Sabatier®, Farberware®, and Reo® brands at the International Home + Housewares Show. SINKWARE Several years ago, Lifetime identified sinkware as a major opportunity and we went to work bringing innovation and newness to a category that had been relatively stagnant. Capitalizing on the extremely successful introduction of Edgekeeper™ products in 2015, we are expanding Edgekeeper™ by incorporating this unique feature in cutlery blocks and in a larger selection of open After achieving a sizable success at a major retailer within the first year, we made an even larger investment in the category in order to expand our market share and create a sustainable everyday business. 8 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ® Accelerate Product Development We created a team for this category and began to explore innovative designs in multiple brands across all of our retail channels. This combination of dedicated and focused resources transformed Lifetime Brands into the leader in the dish rack category. Our prominence in branded dish racks has also led to high profile private label programs at major retailers. Our goal is to further expand our offerings utilizing our product development, innovation, and fashion expertise within the sink accessories category. Additionally, we are developing unique dish racks with smaller footprints and lower profiles to target global opportunities. BUILT NY Built®, Lifetime’s line of stylish lifestyle accessories, introduced its patent-pending IceTec™ technology to help keep food and beverages cold for several hours, eliminating the need for separate ice packs to keep contents cold. The reusable bags feature a food-safe freezable gel sandwiched between an insulting outside layer and cold-transmitting inside layer. Built® IceTec™ bags have secure zipper closures and stitch-free interiors, which makes them easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. The introductory assortment includes multiple lunch bags, and a wine and champagne bag. 9 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ® Shrinking Retail Space ECOMMERCE In an age where more and more shoppers choose to login rather than walk-in, creating a sustainable increase in online revenue is vital. We are actively pursuing ways to capture additional business in the rapidly growing area of eCommerce. Our dedicated eCommerce team combines online strategy, sales, and logistics to help accelerate online relevance and revenue as we pursue aggressive sales goals. We are committed to this online endeavor, and it is our mission to become the expert in online strategy within our industry. 10 * * U.S. Online Retail Forecast, 2011 to 2016, by Forrester LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®Shrinking Retail Space INDEPENDENT RETAILERS To help support our independent retailers, we created a Direct Outreach Program that offers these accounts a reliable business partner with high quality products under premium brands. Each territory is structured to align by region of the country, demographics, and location serviced by each rep group. The accounts are serviced by the reps with in- store appointments and visits to company and rep showrooms. Our independent sales force ranges from traditional housewares reps, gift reps, and more niche boutique line reps that give us a unique approach, extending our coverage in the marketplace. By consolidating our food prep brands within each territory, we are able to focus on gourmet and independent housewares accounts and cater to them at trade shows such as the International Housewares Show, Atlanta Home & Gift, Dallas Total Home & Gift, NY NOW, L.A. Gift & Home Market, San Francisco International Gift Fair, Las Vegas Market, and the Minneapolis Gift Show. We positioned Lifetime for growth by making the transition to rep groups that provide nationwide coverage, attending tradeshows where the independent accounts are buying, and having the brands and inventory to support this channel. sitioned Lifetime for growth by making the transition to rep groups that provide nationwide coverage, attending tradeshows where the independent accounts are buying, and having 11 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ® Founded in 1945, Lifetime Brands has become one of America’s largest providers of home products. We are proud of our growth within the industry, and take a proactive approach to ensuring that growth is sustainable for many years to come. 12 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®Lifetime Next™ This past year, we embarked on a major initiative to better align our company to achieve our long-term growth targets. In Phase I, the consultants interviewed top managers to identify the company’s strengths and challenges. This included: To successfully continue in our journey to become a $1 billion in sales company and to create a path to substantially improve our profitability, we engaged a major international consulting firm to assess opportunities to increase efficiencies to drive growth in revenues, gross margin, operating profit, and cash flow. This exciting initiative, Lifetime Next™, uses a framework that explicitly links strategy, “ This exciting initiative, which is our growth agenda, cost transformation, and sustainability. By using this approach, it helps incorporated into our Lifetime us make deliberate, holistic choices within the Next™ strategic plan, uses a context of our company’s long-term goals. framework that explicitly links strategy, our growth agenda, cost transformation, and sustainability. By using this approach, it helps us make deliberate, holistic choices within the context of our company’s long-term goals.. ” • Assessing critical capabilities • Assessing critical capabilities • Analyzing cost and capacity • Analyzing cost and capacity competitiveness competitiveness • Identifying gaps and improvement • Identifying gaps and improvement opportunities through benchmarking opportunities through benchmarking and and selected analytics selected analytics • Framing the cost take-out opportunities and initiatives to capture opportunities • Framing the cost take-out opportunities and initiatives to capture opportunities The findings reaffirmed Lifetime’s strong market position, diverse portfolio, solid client relationships, and experienced leadership. The diagnostic also identified a number of effectiveness and efficiency savings opportunities for the company, including organization realignment, indirect spend management, brand management, and SKU management. The project now has entered Phase II, which includes designing solutions and implementing plans to eliminate impediments, increase efficiencies, reduce SKUs, strengthen brand management, and reduce complexity throughout the organization. These actions will eliminate complexities and reduce SG&A, which positions the company for continued growth. 13 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. Supplemental Information Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results (In thousands - except per share data) Consolidated EBITDA: Year Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, Net income as reported $ 2,715 $ 20,261 $ 14,066 $ 14,066 $ 20,947 20,947 $ $ 9,281 9,281 $ $ 1,544 $ 1,544 $ 12,278 2009 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 (unaudited) (unaudited) 2014 2013 2014 2015 Net income as reported Subtract out: Add back: Subtract out: Add back: Undistributed equity in (earnings) losses, net Undistributed equity in (earnings) losses, net Income tax provision Income tax provision Interest expense Interest expense Financing expense Financing expense Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Stock compensation expense Stock compensation expense Loss on early retirement of debt Loss on early retirement of debt Intangible asset impairment Intangible asset impairment Contingent consideration Contingent consideration Restructuring expenses Restructuring expenses Permitted acquisition related expenses, net of recovery Permitted acquisition related expenses Consolidated EBITDA Consolidated EBITDA (1,953) 1,880 13,185 11,472 2,099 - 0 - 0 2,616 - 0 32,014 (2,321) (2,896) (2,896) (5,665) (5,665) 5,354 5,354 6,724 6,724 (348) 4,602 6,122 9,351 7,758 - 9,810 8,397 2,928 2,795 764 - - 0 - - - 0 - - 0 1,856 42,918 $ 38,098 6,122 5,208 7,758 5,898 - 0 - 8,397 9,324 2,795 2,793 - 0 1,363 - 0 1,069 - 0 - - 0 - 1,856 305 38,098 $ 41,242 5,208 9,175 5,898 4,847 - 0 - 9,324 10,415 2,793 2,881 1,363 102 1,069 - - 0 - - 0 367 305 1,056 41,242 $ $ 43,478 9,175 5,825 4,847 6,418 - 0 758 10,415 14,200 2,881 4,493 102 346 - 0 3,384 - 0 (3,450) 367 125 1,056 2,175 43,478 $ $ 42,542 $ $ 5,825 6,418 758 14,200 4,493 346 3,384 (3,450) 125 2,175 42,542 6,627 5,746 154 14,203 5,286 - 0 - 0 816 437 (314) $ 44,885 $ - 0 $ Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that the Company defines as net income, adjusted to exclude undistributed equity earnings, income taxes, interest, financing expenses, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, loss on early retirement of debt, intangible asset impairment, contingent consideration, restructuring and acquisition related expenses, as shown in the table above. 2009 2010 2013 2011 Year Ended December 31, 2012 (unaudited) 2014 2015 Net income as reported Adjustments: Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share: 2,715 $ $ 20,261 $ $ 14,066 Year Ended December 31, 20,947 $ 9,281 $ 1,544 $ 12,278 2013 2014 $ $ $ - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 Net income as reported Contingent consideration Intangible asset impairment Loss on early retirement of debt Acquisition related expenses, net of recoveries Financing expenses Restructuring expenses Impairment of Vasconia investment, net of tax Vasconia recovery of value-added taxes, net of tax Impairment of GS Internacional S/A Bargain purchase gain in equity in earnings, net of tax Adjustments: Deferred tax expense (benefit) for foreign currency translation for Grupo Vasconia Retirement beneﬁt obligation expense Reduction of deferred tax liability related to prior year Normalized tax provision on reported income Income tax effect on adjustments 1,570 - 0 Contingent consideration, net of tax Impairment of Vasconia investment, net of tax Vasconia recovery of value-added taxes Impairment of GS Internacional S/A, net of tax Intangible asset impairment, net of tax Loss on early retirement of debt, net of tax Acquisition related expenses, net of tax Financing expenses, net of tax Restructuring expenses, net of tax Bargain purchase gain in equity in earnings, net of tax Tax benefit recorded in equity in earnings Retirement benefit obligation expense, net of tax Reduction of deferred tax liability related to prior year Normalized tax provision on reported income $ $ - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 910 5,195 0.43 Adjusted net income Adjusted diluted income per share Adjusted net income Adjusted diluted income per share 2011 - 0 443 14,066 - 0 $ - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - - - - - - 1,230 - 0 - - 0 - - 0 (3,658) - - - - (810) 14,486 1.16 1.18 14,569 $ $ $ $ $ $ 2012 - 0 - 0 (unaudited) - 0 20,947 1,230 - 0 - - 0 1,336 - 0 - - 0 - - 0 645 - 0 822 188 - 0 - - 0 - - 0 (810) (4,112) (1,116) 268 14,486 (2,283) 1.16 (539) 16,156 1.26 $ $ - 1,069 1,363 9,281 305 - - - 5,040 1,336 (740) - - - - (4,112) 61 634 (1,116) - 455 220 (2,283) (539) - (1,269) - - 16,156 - 1.26 - 14,496 1.11 1,544 - - 102 1,056 - (2,522) 367 - 5,040 - (740) 6,012 - 2,030 - 208 1,399 - 455 - 75 - - - (610) - - 14,496 - - 9,200 0.66 1.11 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (4,203) 3,384 346 2,175 758 125 - - 6,012 - 1,063 - - - (941) 10,263 821 - - (382) 154 437 - - - 1,303 - - - (412) $ 14,199 0.73 $ 1.00 $ $ Adjusted net income in 2011 excludes acquisition related expenses. Adjusted net income in 2012 excludes the bargain purchase gain included in equity in earnings, a tax benefit recorded in equity in earnings, a write down in the Vasconia investment to fair value, intangible asset impairment, a loss on early retirement of debt related to the repayment of the Company’s Term Loan, an expense related to retirement benefit obligations, acquisition related expenses, and a reduction of the Company’s deferred tax liability related to the prior year. 2011 and 2012 include an adjustment to reflect a normalized annual tax rate. Adjusted net income in 2013 excludes restructuring expenses, a write down in the Vasconia investment to fair value, Vasconia’s recovery of value-added taxes, a loss on early retirement of debt related to the repayment of the Company’s Term Loan and acquisition related expenses. Adjusted net income in 2014 excludes a credit for the reduction in fair value of certain contingent consideration obligations, a write down in the GS Internacional S/A investment to fair value, intangible asset impairment, a loss on early retirement of debt related to the repayment of the Company’s Term loan, acquisition related expenses, financing expenses related to the refinancing of indebtedness that was not completed and restructuring expenses. EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share are non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of income, balance sheets, or statements of cash flows of the Company; or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company has provided a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are provided because management of the Company uses these financial measures in evaluating the Company's on-going financial results and trends. Management uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance. 14 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ®! ! UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K ⌧ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (cid:2) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2015 or For the transition period from to Commission file number: 0-19254 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 11-2682486 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530 (Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code) (516) 683-6000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, $.01 par value (Title of each class) The NASDAQ Global Select Market (Name of each exchange on which registered) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (cid:2) No ⌧ Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes (cid:2) No ⌧ 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 ⌧ No (cid:2) 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 ⌧ No (cid:2) Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. (cid:2) 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 (cid:2) Non-accelerated filer (cid:2) (do not check if a smaller reporting company) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes (cid:2) No ⌧ The aggregate market value of 11,093,655 shares of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2015 was approximately $163,853,284. Directors, executive officers, and trusts controlled by said individuals are considered affiliates for the purpose of this calculation and may not necessarily be considered affiliates for any other purpose. The number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding as of February 29, 2016 was 14,030,645. ⌧ Smaller reporting company (cid:2) Accelerated filer Parts of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 3 6 18 18 18 19 19 21 22 37 38 39 39 41 41 41 41 41 41 42 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I Business Item 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments Item 2. Item 3. Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures Properties Legal Proceedings PART II Item 5. Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Selected Financial Data Item 6. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Item 8. Item 9. Item 9A. Controls and Procedures Item 9B. Other Information Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure PART III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Item 11. Executive Compensation Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services PART IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 1 DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 and its subsidiaries’ 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, under the headings Business and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Item 1 of Part I and Item 7 of Part II, respectively. When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “may,” “should,” “seeks,” “potential” 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 Annual 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 this Annual Report, including the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A under the heading Risk Factors. 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. WHERE YOU CAN FIND OTHER INFORMATION The Company is required to file its annual reports on Forms 10-K and quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q, and other reports and documents as required from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company also maintains a website at http://www.lifetimebrands.com. Information contained on this website is not a part of or incorporated by reference into this annual report. The Company makes available on its website the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Users can access these reports free of charge on the Company’s website. The public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information may be obtained with respect to the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company’s electronic filings with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. 2 PART I Item 1. Business OVERVIEW The Company designs, sources and sells branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home and markets its products under a number of widely-recognized brand names and trademarks, which are either owned or licensed by the Company, or through retailers’ private labels and their licensed brands. The Company’s products, which are targeted primarily towards consumer purchases of moderately priced kitchenware, tableware and housewares, are sold through virtually every major level of trade. The Company generally markets several lines within each of its product categories under more than one brand. The Company sells its products directly to retailers (including through their Internet websites) and, to a lesser extent, to distributors. The Company also sells a limited selection of its products directly to consumers through its own Internet websites. At the heart of the Company is a culture of innovation. 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’s product categories include two categories of products used to prepare, serve and consume foods, Kitchenware (kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, cutting boards, shears, cookware and bakeware) and Tableware (dinnerware, stemware, flatware and giftware); and one category, Home Solutions, which comprises other products used in the home (pantryware, spice racks, thermal beverageware, food storage, neoprene travel products and home décor). The Company has a presence in international markets through subsidiaries and affiliate companies that are based outside of the United States. The Company has two wholly-owned businesses based in the United Kingdom (“U.K”). One is Kitchen Craft, acquired in 2014, a leading supplier of kitchenware products and accessories in the U.K. and in over 70 countries. The other is Creative Tops, acquired in 2011, a supplier of private label and branded tableware (including La Cafetière and Randwyck brands, acquired in 2014) products in the U.K. other countries in Europe. The Company also has a subsidiary in China to supply kitchenware and tableware products to the market and a subsidiary based in Hong Kong to facility the sale of its products to other parts of Asia and smaller markets elsewhere in the world. The Company has a presence in Mexico and other parts of Latin America (excluding Brazil) through its 30% equity interest in Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. (“Vasconia”), a housewares company and aluminum manufacturer based in Mexico; a presence in Brazil through a 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”) a wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil; and a strategic alliance with a Canadian company to distribute many of the Company’s products in Canada. The Company continually evaluates opportunities to expand the reach of its brands and to invest in other companies that operate principally outside the United States and that own or license complementary brands. These opportunities involve risks as the industry and foreign markets may not evolve as anticipated and the Company’s objectives may not be achieved. In addition to seeking opportunities to expand the Company’s international footprint, the Company regularly evaluates potential acquisitions of businesses or product lines to grow its product offerings and distribution in the United States market. In December 2012, the Company acquired Fred® & Friends, a business which designs and markets novelty housewares and other products under the Fred® brand. The acquisition resulted in an expansion of the Company’s Kitchenware product category to include novelty kitchen tools, tableware accessories, party goods, personal accessories and other products. In 2014, the Company acquired certain assets of Built NY, a designer and distributor of brightly colored, uniquely patterned neoprene travel products, including bags, totes, cases and sleeves, and acquired the business and assets of Empire Silver Company, a manufacturer of sterling silver and pewter giftware products. The Company is a Delaware corporation, incorporated on December 22, 1983. The Company’s top brands and their respective product categories are: Brand Farberware® Mikasa® KitchenAid® KitchenCraft® Pfaltzgraff® Sabatier® Kamenstein® masterclass® Fred® Towle® Built® Licensed/Owned Licensed* Owned Licensed Owned Owned Licensed Owned Owned Owned Owned Owned Product Category Kitchenware Tableware and Home Solutions Kitchenware Kitchenware Tableware and Home Solutions Kitchenware Home Solutions Kitchenware Kitchenware Tableware Home Solutions * The Company has a royalty free license to utilize the Farberware® brand for kitchenware and tableware products for a term that expires in 2195, subject to earlier termination under certain circumstances. 3 With the exception of the Company’s sterling silver products, the Company sources almost all of its products from suppliers located outside the United States, primarily in the People’s Republic of China. The Company manufactures its sterling silver products at a leased facility in San Germán, Puerto Rico and fills canisters with spices and assembles spice racks at its owned Winchendon, Massachusetts distribution facility. BUSINESS SEGMENTS The Company’s segments include three categories, U.S. Wholesale, International and Retail Direct. The U.S. Wholesale segment includes the domestic operations of the Company’s primary business that designs, markets and distributes its products to retailers and distributors. Certain business operations conducted outside the U.S. are included in the International segment. The Retail Direct segment is that in which the Company markets and sells a limited selection of its products through its Pfaltzgraff, Mikasa, Built NY, Fred & Friends 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. Additional information regarding the Company’s reportable segments is included in Note J of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15. CUSTOMERS The Company’s wholesale customers include mass merchants, specialty stores, national chains, department stores, warehouse clubs, supermarkets, off-price retailers and Internet retailers. The Company’s products are sold globally to a diverse customer base including mass merchants (such as Walmart and Target), specialty stores (such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Dunelm), national chains (such as Kohl’s and JCPenney), department stores (such as Macy’s and Bon-Ton), warehouse clubs (such as Costco and Sam’s Club), supermarkets (such as Stop & Shop, Meijer, Winn-Dixie, Tesco and Sainsbury’s), off-price retailers (such as TJX Companies, Ross Stores and Big Lots), home and garden centers (such as TrueValue, ACE Hardware Stores and Wyevale) and Internet retailers (such as Amazon). The Company also does business with independent retailers, including through business-to-business Internet sites aimed at independent retailers. The Company also operates its own consumer Internet sites that provide information about the Company’s products and offer consumers the opportunity to purchase a limited selection of the Company’s products directly from the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., including Sam’s Club and Asda Superstore, (“Walmart”), accounted for 16%, 16% and 15% of consolidated net sales, respectively. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net sales during these periods. DISTRIBUTION The Company sells its products directly to retailers and, to a lesser extent, to distributors. The Company also sells a limited quantity of the Company’s products to individual consumers and smaller retailers through its own Internet sites. The Company operates distribution centers at the following locations: Location Size (square feet) Fontana, California ............................................................................................... Robbinsville, New Jersey ..................................................................................... Birmingham, England ........................................................................................... Winchendon, Massachusetts ................................................................................. Corby, England ................................................................................................ Medford, Massachusetts ....................................................................................... 753,000 700,000 204,000 175,000 121,000 5,590 SALES AND MARKETING The Company’s sales and marketing staff coordinates directly with its wholesale customers to devise marketing strategies and merchandising concepts and to furnish advice on advertising and product promotion. The Company has developed many promotional programs for use in the ordinary course of business to promote sales throughout the year. 4 The Company’s sales and marketing efforts are supported from its principal offices and showroom in Garden City, New York; as well as showrooms in New York, New York; Medford, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; Bentonville, Arkansas; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin; Birmingham, England; Corby, England and Hong Kong. The Company generally collaborates with its largest wholesale customers and in many instances produces specific versions of the Company’s product lines with exclusive designs and/or packaging for their stores. DESIGN AND INNOVATION At the heart of the Company is a culture of innovation and new product development. The Company’s in-house design and development teams currently consist of 122 professional designers, artists and engineers. Utilizing the latest available design tools, technology and materials, these teams create new products, redesign existing products and create packaging and merchandising concepts. SOURCES OF SUPPLY The Company sources its products from hundreds of suppliers. Most of the Company’s suppliers are located in the People’s Republic of China. The Company also sources products from suppliers in Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Slovakia, Canada, Czech Republic, Taiwan, Mexico, France, Poland, Italy, Japan, American Samoa, Brazil, Korea, Thailand, Portugal, Slovenia, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Israel. The Company orders products substantially in advance of the anticipated time of their sale by the Company. The Company does not have any formal long-term arrangements with any of its suppliers and its arrangements with most manufacturers allow for flexibility in modifying the quantity, composition and delivery dates of orders. MANUFACTURING The Company manufactures its sterling silver products at its leased manufacturing facility in San Germán, Puerto Rico and fills jars and other canisters with spices and assembles spice racks at the Company’s owned Winchendon, Massachusetts distribution facility. The Company does not manufacture any of its other products. COMPETITION The markets for kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home including home décor products are highly competitive and include numerous domestic and foreign competitors, some of which are larger than the Company. The primary competitive factors in selling such products to retailers are innovative products, brand, quality, aesthetic appeal to consumers, packaging, breadth of product line, distribution capability and selling price. PATENTS The Company owns approximately 320 design and utility patents. The Company believes that the expiration of any of its patents would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. BACKLOG Backlog is not material to the Company’s business, because actual confirmed orders from the Company’s customers are typically received within close proximity to the required shipment dates. EMPLOYEES At December 31, 2015, the Company had a total of 1,414 full-time employees, of whom 215 were located in Asia and 303 in Europe. In addition, the Company employed 40 people on a part-time basis, predominately in Corporate Marketing/Sales Support. The Company also hires seasonal workers at its distribution centers through temporary staffing agencies. None of the Company’s employees are represented by a labor union or subject to collective bargaining agreements, except as required by local law. A recent vote to unionize a certain class of employees in our Robbinsville, New Jersey warehouse was defeated. The Company considers its employee relations to be good. 5 REGULATORY MATTERS The Company and its affiliates are subject to significant regulation by various governmental, regulatory and other administrative authorities. As a manufacturer and distributor of consumer products, the Company is subject to the Consumer Products Safety Act in the United States and the Consumer Protection Act in the United Kingdom. Additionally, laws regulating certain consumer products exist in some cities and states, as well as in other countries in which the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates sell products. The Company’s spice filling operation is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. The Company’s operations also are subject to national, state and local environmental and health and safety laws and regulations, including those that impose workplace standards and regulate the discharge of pollutants into the environment and establish standards for the handling, generation, emission, release, discharge, treatment, storage and disposal of materials and substances including solid and hazardous wastes. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties associated with economic and political conditions in foreign countries, including but not limited to, foreign government regulations, taxes including value-added taxes, import and export duties and quotas, anti-dumping regulations and related tariffs associated with certain types of products, incidents and fears involving security, terrorism and wars, political unrest and other restrictions on trade and travel. 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, net sales in the third and fourth quarters accounted for 59% of total annual net sales. In anticipation of the pre- holiday shipping season, inventory levels increase primarily in the June through October time period. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Geographic information concerning the Company’s revenues and long-lived assets is contained in Note J of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 of this annual report. RESTRUCTURING In the fourth quarter of 2015, a restructuring plan relating primarily to the U.S. Wholesale segment commenced. The restructuring plan is intended to realign product categories to best achieve the Company’s strategic plan and implement cost reduction initiatives. The Company recorded a charge of $437,000 in the year ended December 31, 2015 and expects to record an additional $0.5 million, primarily for severance, in fiscal 2016 related to this plan. The Company’s 2015 results do not present the realignment of product categories within the U.S. Wholesale segment. The realignment includes grouping certain pantryware products and spice racks within the Kitchenware product category. The Company does not expect this restructuring plan to impact total net sales of the U.S. Wholesale segment. Item 1A. Risk Factors The Company’s businesses, operations, liquidity and financial condition are subject to various risks. The Company’s business, financial condition or results of operation could be significantly affected by the risks below or additional risks not presently known to the Company or by risks that the Company presently deems immaterial such as changes in the economy, disruptions due to terrorist activity or manmade or natural disasters, or changes in law or accounting standards. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that the Company considers material. The Company has substantial indebtedness and the Company’s business is highly seasonal. The Company has a substantial amount of indebtedness and is dependent on the availability of its bank loan facilities to finance its liquidity needs. The Company’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, as Administrative Agent and Co-Collateral Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Syndication Agent and Co-Collateral Agent (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) provides for, among other things, a Revolving Credit Facility commitment totaling $175.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a term loan facility of $35.0 million at December 31, 2015 (“Term Loan”). As of December 31, 2015, the Company had approximately $100.9 million of consolidated debt, including $100.6 million under the Credit Agreement, representing approximately 25% of total capital (indebtedness plus stockholders’ equity). The Company may borrow 6 under its Revolving Credit Facility, subject to the limitations of a borrowing base. Because the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility depends on levels of eligible inventory, accounts receivable and the appraised value of certain intellectual property that fluctuate from time to time, the full commitment amount may not represent actual borrowing capacity. The financial covenants governing the Company’s Term Loan agreement limit its ability to incur senior indebtedness. The Company may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay when due the principal of, interest on, or other amounts due with respect to, its indebtedness. In addition, the Company’s business is seasonal with a significant amount of its revenue being realized during the latter portion of the year. Therefore, the Company’s borrowing needs fluctuates largely based upon its working capital requirements. The Company’s leverage and the effects of seasonal fluctuations in its cash flow, borrowing requirements and ability to borrow could have significant negative consequences on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, including: • • • • • • • • impairing the Company’s ability to meet one or more of the financial ratio covenants contained in its debt agreements or to generate cash sufficient to pay interest or principal due under those agreements, which could result in an acceleration of some or all of the Company’s outstanding debt; increasing the Company’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; limiting the Company’s ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing; increasing the Company’s borrowing costs if it were to obtain additional debt financing or amend its existing debt agreements; requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations to service the Company’s debt, thereby reducing the amount of cash flow available for other purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions; requiring the Company to seek debt or equity financing or to sell some of the Company’s core assets, possibly on unfavorable terms, to meet payment obligations; limiting the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the markets in which the Company competes; limiting the Company’s ability to declare and pay dividends to its stockholders and engage in share repurchase programs; and • placing the Company at a possible competitive disadvantage to less leveraged competitors and competitors that may have better access to capital resources. The Company’s failure to meet certain covenants or other requirements of its Credit Agreement may materially and adversely affect the Company’s assets, financial position and cash flows. The Credit Agreement, under certain circumstances, requires the Company to maintain a certain fixed charge coverage ratio. In addition, at any time the Company’s Term Loan is outstanding, the Company’s Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain its Senior Leverage Ratio within defined parameters. As a result of these requirements within the Credit Agreement, the Company is limited in its ability to incur additional debt, make investments or undertake certain other business activities. These requirements could limit the Company’s ability to obtain future financing and may prevent the Company from taking advantage of attractive business opportunities. The Company’s ability to meet the covenants or requirements in its Credit Agreement may be affected by events beyond the Company’s control, and the Company cannot assure you that it will satisfy such covenants and requirements. A breach of these covenants or the Company’s inability to comply with the restrictions could result in an event of default under the Credit Agreement, which in turn could result in an event of default under the terms of the Company’s other indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Company’s Credit Agreement, after the expiration of any grace periods, the Company’s lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the Company’s debt arrangements, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If this happens, the Company cannot assure that its assets would be sufficient to repay in full the payments due under the Credit Agreement or the Company’s other indebtedness. The Company’s borrowings are subject to interest rate fluctuations and an increase in interest rates could adversely affect the Company’s financial results. The Company’s borrowings bear interest at floating rates. An increase in interest rates would adversely affect the Company’s profitability. The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate exposure in connection with a portion of its variable interest rate borrowings. To the extent that the Company’s access to credit may be restricted because of its own performance, its bank lenders’ performances or conditions in the capital markets generally, the Company would not be able to operate normally. 7 • • • The Company’s business may be materially adversely affected by market conditions and by global and economic conditions and other factors beyond its control. The Company’s performance is affected by general economic factors, the strength of retail economies and political conditions that are beyond its control. Retail economies are impacted by factors such as consumer demand and the condition of the retail industry, which in turn, are affected by general economic factors. These general economic factors include, among other factors: recession, inflation, deflation, unemployment and other factors adversely affecting consumer spending patterns generally; conditions affecting the retail environment for the home and other matters that influence consumer spending in the home retail industry specifically; conditions affecting the housing markets; consumer credit availability and consumer debt levels; • • material input costs, including fuel and energy costs and labor cost inflation; • • foreign currency translation; interest rates and the ability to hedge interest rate risks; • government policies including tax policies relating to value-added taxes, import and export duties and quotas, anti- dumping regulations and related tariffs, import and export controls and social compliance standards; the impact of natural disasters, conflicts and terrorist activities; • • unfavorable economic conditions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Asia and elsewhere; and • unstable economic and political conditions, lack of legal regulation enforcement, civil unrest and political activism, particularly in Asia. The Company faces intense competition from other companies worldwide. The markets for the Company’s products are intensely competitive with the principal competitive factors being product innovation, brand name, product quality, aesthetic appeal to customers, packaging, breadth of product offerings, distribution capability, delivery time and price. Advantages or disadvantages in any of these competitive factors may be sufficient to cause the customer to consider changing providers of the kinds of products that the Company sells. The Company competes with many other suppliers, some of which are larger than the Company, have greater financial and other resources or employ brands that are more established, have greater consumer recognition or are more favorably perceived by consumers or retailers than the Company’s brands. Some competitors may be willing to reduce prices and accept lower profit margins to compete with the Company. As a result of this competition, the Company could lose market share and sales, or be forced to reduce its prices to meet competition. If the Company’s product offerings are unable to compete successfully, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. Changes in the Company’s customer purchasing practices could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results. The Company’s wholesale customers include mass merchants, specialty stores, national chains, department stores, warehouse clubs, supermarkets, off-price retailers and Internet retailers. Unanticipated changes in purchasing and other practices by the Company’s customers, including a customer’s pricing and payment terms, inventory destocking, limitations on shelf space, more extensive packaging requirements, changes in order quantities, use of private label brands and other practices, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, as a result of the desire of retailers to more closely manage inventory levels, there is a growing trend among retailers to make purchases on a “just-in-time” basis. This requires the Company to shorten its lead time for production in certain cases and more closely anticipate demand, which could in the future require the Company to carry additional inventories. The Company’s annual earnings and cash flows also depend to a great extent on the results of operations in the latter half of the year due to the seasonality of its sales. The Company’s success and sales growth is also dependent on its evaluation of consumer preferences and changing trends. Many of the Company’s wholesale customers are significantly larger than the Company, have greater financial and other resources and also purchase goods directly from vendors in Asia and elsewhere. Decisions by large customers to increase their purchases directly from overseas vendors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Significant changes or financial difficulties, including consolidations of ownership, restructurings, bankruptcies, liquidations or other events that affect retailers, could result in fewer retailers selling the Company’s products, reliance on a smaller group of customers, an increase in the risk of extending credit to these customers or limitations on the Company’s ability to collect amounts due from these customers. Although the Company has long-established relationships with many of its customers, the 8 Company does not have any long-term supply or binding contracts or guarantees of minimum purchases. Purchases by the Company’s customers are generally made using individual purchase orders. Customers may cancel their orders, change purchase quantities from forecast volumes, delay purchases for a number of reasons beyond the Company’s control or change other terms of their business relationship with the Company. Significant or numerous cancellations, reductions, delays in purchases or changes in business practices by customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Retailers place great emphasis on timely delivery of products for specific selling seasons, especially during the third fiscal quarter, and on the fulfillment of consumer demand throughout the year. The Company cannot control all of the various factors that might affect product delivery to retailers. Failure to deliver products to the Company’s retailers in a timely and effective manner, often under special vendor requirements to use specific carriers and delivery schedules, could damage the Company’s reputation and brands and result in a loss of customers or reduced orders. Changes at the Company’s large customers, or actions taken by them, and consolidation in the retail industry could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results. In 2015, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., including Sam’s Club and, in the United Kingdom, Asda Superstore (“Walmart”), accounted for 16% of the Company’s consolidated net sales. The Company’s top ten customers accounted for approximately 54% of the Company’s net sales in 2015. A material reduction in purchases by any of such customers could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s business and operating results. In addition, pressures by such customers that would cause the Company to materially reduce the price of the Company’s products could result in reductions of the Company’s operating margin. Any significant changes or financial difficulties that affect these customers, such as reduced sales by such customers (whether for reasons that affect a particular customer or the retail industry in general) may also result in reduced demand for the Company’s products. The Company would also be subject to increased credit risk with respect to such customers. In particular, the concentration of the Company’s business with Walmart extends to its international business, including in China, as well as through Vasconia in Mexico, GSI in Brazil and the Company’s strategic alliance in Canada, due to the market presence of Walmart in these foreign countries. Further, with the continuing trend of consolidation in the retail industry, the ability of the Company’s largest customers to continue to purchase from the Company is always subject to risk. Any changes in purchasing practices or decline in the financial condition, of Walmart or other large customers may have a material adverse impact on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company. The Company’s large customers also have significant purchasing leverage. They may demand lower pricing, special packaging, shorter lead times for the delivery of products or impose other requirements on product suppliers like the Company. These business demands may relate to inventory practices, logistics or other aspects of the customer-supplier relationship. If the Company does not effectively respond to the demands of its customers, they could decrease or eliminate their purchases from the Company. These risks could be exacerbated if such large customers consolidate, or if the Company’s smaller customers consolidate to become larger customers, which would increase their purchasing leverage. A reduction in the purchases of the Company’s products by its wholesale customers or the costs of complying with customer business demands could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s customers could carry products that directly compete with the Company’s products for retail space and consumer purchases. There is a risk that these customers could give higher priority to products of, or form alliances with, our competitors. Failure of customers to provide the Company’s products with similar levels of promotional support and retail space could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The loss of certain licenses or material changes in royalty rates could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating margin and cash flow. Significant portions of the Company’s business are dependent on trade names, trademarks and patents, some of which are licensed from third parties. In 2015, sales of licensed brands accounted for approximately 42% of the Company’s gross sales. The Company’s licenses for many of these brands require it to pay royalties based on sales. Many of these license agreements are subject to termination by the licensor, if, for example, the Company fails to satisfy certain minimum sales obligations or breaches the terms of the license. The loss of significant licenses or a material increase in the royalty rates the Company pays or other new terms negotiated upon renewal of such licenses could result in a reduction of the Company’s operating margins and cash flow from operations or otherwise adversely affect its business. In particular, the Company’s license to use the KitchenAid brand, which represents a material portion of its sales, is subject to a license agreement that has a three-year term that will expire in December 2018. The Company originally entered into a licensing arrangement for use of the KitchenAid brand in 2000, and has renewed the license, typically for three-year periods, since that time. Although it expects to be able to renew its current KitchenAid license prior to its expiration, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so on reasonable terms, or at all, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. 9 The Company also holds certain rights to use the Farberware brand for kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, cutting boards, shears and certain other products which together represent a material portion of its sales, through a fully-paid, royalty-free license for a term that expires in 2195, subject to earlier termination under certain circumstances. The licensor is a joint venture of which the Company is a 50% owner. The other 50% owner of the joint venture has the right to terminate the Company’s license if the Company materially breaches any of the material terms of the license and fails to cure the material breach within 180 days of notice of the breach, if it is determined in an arbitration proceeding that money damages alone would not be sufficient compensation to the licensor and that the breach is so egregious as to warrant termination of the license and forfeiture of the Company’s rights to use the brand under that license agreement. If the Company were to lose the Farberware license for kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, cutting boards, shears and other products through termination as a result of an uncured breach, its business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected. The Company’s international operations present special challenges that the Company may not be able to meet, and this could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial results. The Company conducts business outside of the United States through subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures. These entities have operations and assets in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, China and Hong Kong. Therefore, the Company is subject to increases and decreases in its investments in these entities resulting from the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. These entities also bear risks similar to those risks faced by the Company. However, there are specific additional risks related to these organizations, such as the failure of the Company’s partners or other investors to meet their obligations and higher credit and liquidity risks related to thinly capitalized entities. Failure of these entities or the Company’s vendors to adhere to required regulatory or other standards, including social compliance standards, could materially and adversely impact the Company’s reputation and business. In addition, the Company sells its products in foreign countries and seeks to increase its level of international business activity. Accordingly, the Company is subject to various risks, including: • U.S.-imposed embargoes of sales to specific countries; • • • • • foreign import controls (which may be arbitrarily imposed or enforced); import regulations and duties; export regulations (which require the Company to comply with stringent licensing regimes); anti-dumping regulations; price and currency controls; exchange rate fluctuations; dividend remittance restrictions; expropriation of assets; • • war, civil uprisings and riots; • government instability; • • the necessity of obtaining governmental approval for new and continuing products and operations; legal systems or decrees, laws, taxes, regulations, interpretations and court decisions that are not always fully developed and that may be retroactively or arbitrarily applied; unanticipated income taxes, excise duties, import taxes, export taxes or other governmental assessments; and • • difficulties in managing a global enterprise. • • Any significant violations of these regulations could result in civil or criminal sanctions or the loss of export or other licenses, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Company’s organizational structure may limit its ability to transfer funds between countries, particularly into and out of the United States, without incurring adverse tax consequences. Any of these events could result in a loss of business or other unexpected costs that could reduce sales or profits and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. International suppliers subject the Company to regional regulatory, political, economic and foreign currency exchange risk that could materially and adversely affect the Company’s operating results. The Company sources its products from suppliers located principally in Asia, Europe and the United States. The Company’s vendors in Asia, from whom a substantial majority of the Company’s products are sourced, are located primarily in the People’s Republic of China, which subjects the Company to various risks within the region including regulatory, political, economic and foreign currency changes. The Company’s ability to select and retain reliable vendors and suppliers who provide timely deliveries of quality parts and 10 products efficiently will impact its success in meeting customer demand for timely delivery of quality products. The Company’s sourcing operations and its vendors are impacted by labor costs in China, where labor historically has been readily available at low cost relative to labor costs in North America. However, as China is experiencing rapid social, political and economic changes, labor costs have risen in some regions and labor in China may not continue to be available to the Company at costs consistent with historical levels. Changes in labor or other laws may be enacted which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations in China, or those of the Company’s suppliers. Although China currently enjoys “most favored nation” trading status with the U.S., the U.S. government has in the past proposed to revoke such status and to impose higher tariffs on products imported from China. Changes in currency exchange rates might negatively affect the Company and its overseas vendors’ profitability and business prospects. The Company does not have access to its vendors’ financial information and the Company is unable to assess its vendors’ financial condition, including their liquidity. Interruption of supplies from any of the Company’s vendors, or the loss of one or more key vendors, could have a negative effect on the Company’s business and operating results. Foreign exchange variability could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results. The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. Changes in the relation of foreign currencies to the U.S. Dollar will affect the Company’s sales and profitability and can result in exchange losses because the Company has operations and assets located outside the United States. The Company transacts a portion of its business in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, primarily British Pounds, and to a lesser degree, Chinese Renminbi, Euros and Canadian Dollars. Such transactions include sales, certain inventory purchases and operating expenses. As a result, portions of the Company’s cash, trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable are denominated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, foreign operations expose the Company to foreign currency fluctuations, both for purposes of actual conversion and financial reporting purposes. In our consolidated financial statements, we translate local currency financial results into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates prevailing during the reporting periods. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, the reported revenues and earnings of our international operations will be reduced because the local currencies will translate into fewer U.S. dollars. The Company’s strategic alliances in Mexico, Canada and Brazil also subject the Company to increases and decreases in its investments resulting from the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The vast majority of products are purchased from China in U.S. Dollars, including products purchased by the Company’s international operations. As a result, the gross margin from international operations is subject to volatility from movements in exchange rates, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and profitability from the growth desired from international operations. The Company has entered into foreign exchange derivative financial instruments to hedge the volatility of exchange rates related to a portion of its international inventory purchases. The Company cannot ensure, however, that these hedges will fully offset the impact of foreign currency rate movements. If the Chinese Renminbi should appreciate against the U.S. Dollar, the costs of the Company’s products will likely rise over time because of the impact the fluctuations will have on the Company’s suppliers, and the Company may not be able to pass on these price increases to its customers. The Company is also subject to the risks of currency controls and devaluations. Currency controls may limit the Company’s ability to convert currencies into U.S. Dollars or other currencies, as needed, or to pay dividends or make other payments from funds held by subsidiaries in the countries imposing such controls, which could adversely affect the Company’s liquidity. As the Company continues to expand its international operations, it will be subject to increased foreign exchange variability which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations. The impact of future exchange rate fluctuations on the Company’s results of operations cannot be accurately predicted. The Company’s international trade subjects it to transportation risks. The Company imports its products for delivery to its distribution centers, as well as arranges for its customers to import goods to which title has passed overseas or at port of entry. For purchases that are to be delivered to its distribution centers, the Company arranges for transportation, primarily by sea, from ports in Asia and Europe to ports in the United States, principally New York/Newark/Elizabeth and Los Angeles/Long Beach, and in the United Kingdom, principally Felixstowe. Accordingly, the Company is subject to risks incidental to such transportation. These risks include, but are not limited to, increases in fuel costs, fuel shortages, the availability of ships, increased security restrictions, work stoppages, weather disruptions and carriers’ ability to provide delivery services to meet the Company’s shipping needs. Transportation disruptions and increased transportation costs could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company delivers its products to its customers or makes such products available for customer pickup from its distribution centers. During the third and fourth quarter of 2014, the Company’s distribution process was impacted by the longshoremen’s work slowdown and the threat of a strike on the west coast. The impact of slowdowns and labor strikes on the Company’s operations, prolonged domestic transportation disruptions, as well as workforce or systems issues related to the Company’s distribution centers, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to deliver goods to its customers. 11 The Company may not be able to adequately establish or protect its intellectual property rights, and the infringement or loss of the Company’s intellectual property rights could harm its business. To establish and protect the Company’s intellectual property rights, the Company relies upon a combination of U.S., foreign and multi-national patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, together with licenses, confidentiality agreements and other contractual arrangements. The measures that the Company takes to protect its intellectual property rights may prove inadequate to prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating the Company’s intellectual property, or from breaching their contractual obligations to the Company. The Company has obtained and applied for numerous U.S. and foreign trademark, service mark and patent registrations, and will continue to evaluate the registration of additional marks, patents or other intellectual property, as appropriate. The Company cannot guarantee that any of its pending applications will be approved by the applicable governmental authorities. Moreover, even if such applications are approved, third parties may seek to oppose, declare invalid or otherwise challenge these registrations. Failure to obtain registrations for the Company’s intellectual property in the United States and other countries could limit the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and impede the Company’s marketing efforts and operations in those jurisdictions. The Company may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend its intellectual property rights. If a competitor or collaborator files a patent application claiming technology also claimed by the Company, or a trademark application claiming a trademark, service mark or trade dress also used by the Company, in order to protect the Company’s rights, the Company may have to participate in opposition or interference proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or a similar foreign agency. The Company cannot guarantee that the operation of its business does not infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties, and the Company’s intellectual property rights may be challenged by third parties or invalidated through administrative process or litigation. The costs associated with protecting intellectual property rights, including litigation costs associated with litigation or administrative proceedings, may be material and there can be no assurance that any such litigation or administrative proceedings will be successful. Any such matters or proceedings could be burdensome, divert the time and resources of the Company’s personnel and the Company may not prevail. Furthermore, even if the Company’s intellectual property rights are not directly challenged, disputes among third parties could lead to the weakening or invalidation of the Company’s intellectual property rights, or other parties such as the Company’s competitors may independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to the Company’s technology. The laws of certain foreign countries in which the Company operates or may operate in the future do not protect, and the governments of certain foreign countries do not enforce, intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws and government of the U.S., which may negate the Company’s competitive or technological advantages in such markets. Moreover, any repeal or weakening of intellectual property laws or enforcement of those laws in the United States or foreign jurisdictions could make it more difficult for the Company to adequately protect its intellectual property rights, negatively impacting their value and increasing the cost of enforcing the Company’s rights. If the Company is unable to establish or adequately protect its intellectual property rights, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If the Company is unable to protect the confidentiality of its proprietary information and know-how, the value of the Company’s technology, products and services could be harmed significantly. In addition to registered intellectual property, the Company relies on know-how and other proprietary information in operating its business. If this information is not adequately protected, then it may be disclosed or used in an unauthorized manner. To the extent that consultants, vendors, key employees or other third parties apply technology independently developed by them or by others to the Company’s proposed products in the absence of a valid license or suitable non-disclosure or assignment of inventions provisions, disputes may arise as to the ownership of or rights to use such technology, which may not be resolved in the Company’s favor. The risk that other parties may breach confidentiality or other agreements could harm the Company by enabling the Company’s competitors and other entities, who may have greater experience and financial resources, to copy or use the Company’s proprietary information in the advancement of their products, methods or technologies. The Company sells consumer products which involve an inherent risk of product liability claims. The marketing of certain of the Company’s consumer products involve an inherent risk of product liability claims or recalls or other regulatory or enforcement actions initiated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, by the Office of Fair Trading in the U.K., by other regulatory authorities or through private causes of action and the Company has had in the past, and may have in the future, recalls (both voluntary and involuntary) of its products. Any defects in products the Company markets could harm the Company’s reputation, adversely affect its relationship with its customers and decrease market acceptance of the Company’s products and the strength of the brand names under which the Company markets such products. Potential product liability claims may exceed the amount of the Company’s insurance coverage and could materially damage the Company’s business and its financial condition. Additionally, the Company’s product standards could be impacted by new or revised environmental rules and regulations or other social initiatives. 12 The Company operates in a regulated environment that imposes significant compliance requirements. Non-compliance with these requirements could subject the Company to sanctions and materially adversely affect the Company’s business. The Company is subject in the ordinary course of its business, in the United States and elsewhere, to many statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations that, if violated by the Company or its affiliates, partners or vendors, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. The Company is required to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act and similar anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-kickback laws adopted in many of the countries in which the Company does business which prohibit the Company from engaging in bribery or making other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and also require maintenance of adequate record-keeping and internal accounting practices to accurately reflect transactions. Under the FCPA, companies operating in the United States may be held liable for actions taken by their strategic or local partners or representatives. The U.K. Bribery Act is broader in scope than the FCPA in that it directly addresses commercial bribery in addition to bribery of government officials and it does not recognize certain exceptions, notably facilitation payments that are permitted by the FCPA. Civil and criminal penalties may be imposed for violations of these laws. In many of the countries in which the Company operates, particularly those with developing economies, it is or has been common for government officials and businesses to engage in business practices that are prohibited by these laws. If the Company does not properly implement and maintain practices and controls with respect to compliance with applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws, or if the Company fails to enforce those practices and controls properly, the Company may be subject to regulatory sanctions, including administrative costs related to governmental and internal investigations, civil and criminal penalties, injunctions and restrictions on the Company’s business and capital raising activities, any of which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company’s employees, distributors, dealers and other agents could engage in conduct that is not in compliance with such laws for which the Company might be held responsible. If the Company’s employees, distributors, dealers or other agents are found to have engaged in illegal practices, the Company could suffer substantial penalties and the reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company could be materially adversely affected. The Company is additionally subject to general business laws and regulations, as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. Such existing and future laws and regulations may impede the growth of Internet or other online services and thereby adversely impact the Company’s sales. These laws and regulations may cover taxation, user privacy, data security, pricing, content, proprietary rights, advertising, distribution, electronic contracts and other communications, consumer protection, the provision of online payment services, broadband residential Internet access and the characteristics and quality of products and services. It is not clear in certain cases how existing laws and regulations governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes and personal privacy apply to the Internet and e-commerce. Unfavorable resolutions of these issues would harm the Company’s business, diminish the demand for the Company’s products on the Internet and increase the Company’s cost of doing business. Demand for new products and the inability to develop and introduce new competitive products at favorable profit margins could adversely affect the Company’s performance and prospects for future growth. New product introductions and product innovation are significant contributors to the Company’s growth strategy and the Company’s long-term success in the competitive retail environment depends in part on the Company’s ability to develop and market a continuing stream of innovative new products that meet changing consumer preferences. The uncertainties associated with developing and introducing new products, such as the market demands and the costs of development and production may impede the successful development and introduction of new products. Acceptance of the new products may not meet sales expectations due to several factors, such as the Company’s failure to accurately predict market demand or its inability to resolve technical issues in a timely and cost-effective manner. Additionally, the inability to develop new products on a timely basis could result in the loss of business to competitors. The Company’s brands are subject to reputational risks. The Company’s brands and its reputation are among its most important assets. The Company’s ability to attract and retain customers depends, in part, upon the external perceptions of the Company, the quality of its products and its corporate and management integrity. The consumer goods industry is by its nature more prone to reputational risks than other industries. This has been compounded in recent years by the free flow of unverified information on the Internet and, in particular, on social media. Damage to the Company’s brands or reputation or negative publicity or perceptions about the Company could adversely affect its business. The Company depends on third-party manufactures to produce the majority of its products which presents quality control risks to the Company. With the exception of the Company’s sterling silver products, the Company sources almost all of its products from suppliers located outside the United States, primarily in the People’s Republic of China, which restricts the Company’s ability to monitor and control their manufacture of the Company’s goods. 13 Although the Company has agreements with its third party manufacturers regarding quality standards and regularly audits the facilities of its manufacturers, through its quality control program, there can be no assurance that the third party manufacturers will continue to meet the Company’s quality standards, social standards regarding its workforce that is expected in the United States or legislation and regulations that apply to the products the Company contracts to manufacture. Failure by the Company’s manufacturers to meet these standards could, in turn, increase order cancellations, returns, price concessions and decrease customer demand for our products. Non- compliance with the Company’s product standards, regulatory requirements or product recall (or other regulatory actions) could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. A failure in the Company’s operating systems or infrastructure or those of third parties could disrupt the Company’s business and cause losses. The Company relies on many information technology systems for the operation of its principal business functions, including the Company’s enterprise resource planning, warehouse management, inventory forecast and re-ordering and call center systems. In the case of the Company’s inventory forecast and re-ordering system, most of the Company’s orders are received directly through electronic connections with the Company’s largest customers. Additionally, the success of certain product categories in a competitive marketplace is dependent upon the creation and launch of new, innovative products. Accordingly, to keep pace within a competitive retail environment, the Company uses and will continue to evaluate new technologies to improve the efficiency of designing new innovative products. The failure of any of these systems or technologies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. The Company is subject to cyber security risks and may incur increasing costs in an effort to minimize those risks. The Company employs information technology systems and Internet systems, including websites, which allow for the secure storage and transmission of proprietary or confidential information regarding the Company’s customers, employees and others, including credit card information and personal identification information. The Company has made significant efforts to secure its computer network to mitigate the risk of possible cyber-attacks. However, the regulatory environment governing information, security and privacy laws, as well as the requirements imposed on the Company by the credit card industry, is increasingly demanding and continues to evolve. The security of the Company’s computer networks could be compromised which could impact operations and confidential information could be misappropriated, which could lead to negative publicity, loss of sales and profits or cause the Company to incur significant costs to reimburse third-parties for damages which could adversely impact profits. Furthermore, maintaining compliance with applicable security and privacy regulations and standards may increase the Company’s operating costs and/or adversely impact the Company’s ability to market its products or process payment information. The Company’s senior executives and other key management are critical to the Company’s success. The loss of, and failure to attract and maintain its highly skilled personnel could adversely affect the Company’s business. The Company’s success depends, in part, on the efforts and skills of the executive officers of the Company. The Company’s executive officers are experienced and highly qualified in the housewares industry. The loss of any of our executive officers or other key management personnel could harm our business and our ability to timely achieve our strategic initiatives. The Company’s success also depends, in part, on its ability to identify, hire and retain other skilled personnel. The Company’s industry is characterized by a high level of employee mobility and aggressive recruiting among competitors for personnel with successful track records. The Company may not be able to attract and retain skilled personnel or may incur significant costs in order to do so. Increases in the cost of employee benefits could materially adversely impact the Company’s financial results and cash flows. The Company self-insures a substantial portion of the costs of employee healthcare and workers compensation. This could result in higher volatility in the Company’s earnings and exposes the Company to higher financial risks. The Company’s medical costs in recent years have generally increased and an aging workforce and other employee demographics could result in an increase in our medical costs beyond what we have experienced or expect. We have stop-loss coverage in place for catastrophic events, but the aggregate impact of a high number of claims up to our stop-loss limit may have an effect on our profitability. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, which came into effect in 2013, contains provisions which could materially adversely impact the Company’s future healthcare costs. Changes in the law, including the imposition of a penalty on individuals who do not obtain healthcare coverage, may result in employees who are currently eligible but elect not to participate in the Company’s healthcare plans now finding it more advantageous to do so, which may increase the Company’s healthcare costs. The requirements of the Affordable Care Act is also likely to impose some additional administrative costs on the Company. It is also possible that making changes or failing to make changes in the healthcare plans the Company offers will make the Company less attractive to its current or potential employees. 14 The Company’s product costs are subject to price fluctuation. Various commodities comprise the raw materials used to manufacture the Company’s products. The prices of these commodities have historically fluctuated on a cyclical basis and have often depended on a variety of factors over which the Company has no control. Additionally, labor costs represent a significant component of the Company’s supplier’s manufacturing costs and the Company’s suppliers may increase the prices they charge the Company if they experience rising labor costs. The cost of producing and distributing the Company’s products is also sensitive to energy costs, duties and tariffs. The selling prices of the Company’s products have not always increased in response to raw material, labor or other cost increases, and the Company is unable to determine to what extent, if any, it will be able to pass future cost increases through to its customers. The Company’s inability to come to favorable agreements with its suppliers or to pass increased costs through to the Company’s customers could materially and adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations. The Company’s business is highly seasonal. 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, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 59% of total annual net sales. If the Company has poor operating results during the third and fourth quarters it would have a disproportionately adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. In addition, with a significant amount of its revenue being realized during the latter portion of the year, the Company’s working capital and borrowing needs fluctuate, which could result in higher borrowings and lower availability under the Credit Agreement during these quarters. If the Company’s goodwill or other long-term assets become impaired, the Company will be required to record impairment charges, which may be significant. A portion of the Company’s long-term assets consists of goodwill recorded as a result of the Company’s acquisitions; other identifiable intangible assets, including trade names; and fixed assets. At December 31, 2015, goodwill totaled $18.1 million. The Company does not amortize goodwill but rather reviews it for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its current fair value as determined based on the discounted future cash flows of the reporting unit or market comparable sales and earnings multiples, the goodwill or intangible asset is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a prolonged period of global economic weakness, a further decline in economic conditions or a slow, weak economic recovery, as well as sustained declines in the price of the Company’s common stock, adverse changes in the regulatory environment, adverse changes in the market share of our products, adverse changes in interest rates, or other factors leading to reductions in the long-term sales or profitability that we expect. Determination of the fair value of a reporting unit includes developing estimates which are highly subjective and incorporate calculations that are sensitive to minor changes in underlying assumptions. Management’s assumptions change as more information becomes available. Changes in these assumptions could result in an impairment charge in the future, which could have a significant adverse impact on our reported earnings. If future operating performance of one or more of the Company’s operating segments does not meet expectations, the Company may be required to record a significant charge during the period in which any impairment of the Company’s goodwill or other long-term assets is determined. As of October 1, 2015, the Company’s annual impairment testing date, the estimated fair value of each reporting unit was calculated by the discounted cash flow method and the resultant estimated fair value of each of the reporting units exceeded their carrying value and no goodwill impairment charges were recorded. For one of the reporting units tested, the Kitchen Craft reporting unit, which carried goodwill of $13.0 million, the excess of fair value over its carrying value was 5%. This reporting unit was acquired in 2014, and therefore the Company did not expect the fair value to be significantly in excess of the carrying value. There were no fundamental changes in the business that would indicate a significant decline in the fair value since the acquisition date, however macroeconomic conditions in Europe have contributed to a decline in operating profit. Management’s projections used to estimate the undiscounted cash flows included increasing net sales and operational improvements designed to reduce costs. Changes in any of the significant assumptions used can materially affect the expected cash flows, and such impacts can potentially result in a material non-cash impairment charge. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.4 million to reduce the book value of Elements and Melannco, home decor trade names. In addition, during 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $6.0 million related to its investment in GSI. The recognition of an impairment of the Company’s goodwill or any of the Company’s assets would negatively affect the results of operations and total capitalization, the effect of which could be material. 15 Interruptions in the Company’s operations caused by outside forces could cause material losses. The Company’s worldwide operations could be subject to natural and man-made disasters, telecommunications failures, water shortages, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, fires, extreme weather conditions, conflicts, acts of terrorism, health epidemics and other business interruptions. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could seriously harm the Company’s business, revenue and financial condition and increase the Company’s costs and expenses. If the Company’s or its manufacturers’ warehousing facilities or transportation facilities are damaged or destroyed, the Company would be unable to distribute products on a timely basis, which could harm the Company’s business. The Company’s back-up operations may be inadequate, and the Company’s business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to compensate for any losses that may occur. The Company’s projections of product demand, sales and net income are highly subjective in nature and the Company’s future sales and net income could vary in a material amount from the Company’s projections. From time to time, the Company may provide projections to its stockholders, lenders, the investment community, and other stakeholders of the Company’s future sales and net income. Since the Company does not have long-term purchase commitments from customers and the customer order and shipment process is very short, it is difficult for the Company to accurately predict the demand for many of its products, or the amount and timing of the Company’s future sales and related net income. The Company’s projections are based on management’s best estimate of sales using historical sales data and other information deemed relevant. These projections are highly subjective since sales can fluctuate substantially based on the demands of retail customers and due to other risks described in this Annual Report. Additionally, changes in retailer inventory management strategies could make the Company’s inventory management more difficult. Because the Company’s ability to forecast product demand and the timing of related sales includes significant subjective input, future sales and net income could vary materially from the Company’s projections. The Company’s business requires it to maintain a large fixed-cost base that can affect its profitability. Cost reduction efforts and restructurings benefits may not be realized. The Company’s business requires it to maintain large distribution facilities in its key markets, which represent high fixed rental costs relating to its leased facilities. In addition, significant portions of the Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses, including leased showrooms, are fixed, they neither increase nor decrease proportionally with sales. Furthermore, the Company’s gross margins depend, in part, on its ability to spread certain other costs, of which a significant portion are fixed, over its products sold. Decreased demand or the need to reduce inventories can lower the Company’s ability to absorb fixed costs and adversely affect its results of operations. This is exacerbated by the high degree of seasonality impacting the Company, which results in lower demand during the first two quarters of the year, while many of the operating costs remain fixed, which further affects profitability. In order to operate more efficiently and control costs, the Company may announce from time to time restructuring plans, including workforce reductions, global facility consolidations and other cost reduction initiatives that are intended to generate operating expense savings. The implementation of restructuring plans could be disruptive to the Company’s operations, result in higher than anticipated charges and otherwise adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Company’s ability to complete the restructuring plan and achieve the anticipated benefits from the plan is subject to estimates and assumptions and may vary materially from the Company’s expectations, including as a result of factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Furthermore, following completion of a restructuring plan, the business may not be more efficient or effective than prior to implementation of the plan. The Company may not be able to adequately address the additional review and disclosure required in respect of “Conflict Minerals.” The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act contains regulations concerning the supply of conflict minerals originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries. As a result, the SEC adopted annual disclosure and reporting requirements for those companies that use such conflict minerals in the products they manufacture or contract to manufacture. These requirements require ongoing due diligence efforts and there are costs associated with complying with these disclosure requirements, including the costs of investigations to determine the sources of raw materials used in the Company’s products and the costs of any changes to products, processes or sources of supply as a consequence of the results of such investigations. These rules could adversely affect the sourcing, supply and pricing of materials used in the Company’s products. As there may be only a limited number of suppliers offering these conflict minerals from “conflict free” sources, the Company cannot ensure that it will be able to obtain necessary materials from such suppliers in sufficient quantities or at competitive prices. Also, the Company may face reputational challenges if it determines that certain of its products contain conflict minerals not determined to be “conflict free” or if it is unable to sufficiently verify the origins for all conflict minerals used in its products through the procedures the Company has implemented and may implement in the future. 16 The Company may incur material costs due to environmental liabilities. The Company is subject to a broad range of federal, state, local, foreign and multi-national laws and regulations relating to the environment. These include laws and regulations that govern: • discharges to the air, water and land; • • the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and wastes; and remediation of contamination associated with release of hazardous substances at the Company’s facilities and at off-site disposal locations. The Company may incur material costs to comply with increasingly stringent environmental laws and enforcement policies. Moreover, there are proposed international accords and treaties, as well as federal, state and local laws and regulations, which would attempt to control or limit the causes of climate change, including the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. In the event that the U.S. government or foreign governments enact new climate change laws or regulations or make changes to existing laws or regulations, compliance with applicable laws or regulations may result in increased manufacturing costs for the Company’s products, such as by requiring investment in new pollution control equipment or changing the ways in which certain of the Company’s products are made. The Company may incur some of these costs directly and others may be passed on to the Company from its third- party suppliers. Although the Company believes that it is substantially in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at its facilities, the Company may not always be in compliance with such laws and regulations or any new laws and regulations in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. 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”). WSPR has cooperated with the EPA in their investigation. In August 2015, the EPA released its remedial investigation and feasibility study (“RI/FS”) for the Site. In December 2015, the EPA issued its Record of Decision (“ROD”) for OU-1, selecting a dual phase removal remedy to deal with soil contamination. The EPA’s selected remedy consists of soil vapor extraction and dual-phase extraction/in-situ treatment. 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. If previously unknown contamination of property underlying or in the vicinity of the Company’s manufacturing facility or other properties that are currently or have formerly been owned, operated or used by the Company is discovered, the Company could be required to incur material unforeseen expenses. If this occurs, it may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s ability to complete future acquisitions or strategic alliances and/or integrate acquired businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. The Company has achieved growth through acquisitions, investments and joint ventures. The Company has completed approximately 15 acquisitions and strategic investments since 2006, including four acquisitions completed in the first quarter of 2014. The Company seeks acquisition opportunities that complement and expand its operations, some of which are based outside the United States. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify and successfully negotiate suitable acquisitions, obtain financing for future acquisitions on satisfactory terms, obtain regulatory approval or otherwise complete acquisitions in the future. Additionally, the Company may not be able to successfully integrate these businesses or future acquisitions into its existing business without substantial costs, delays or other operational or financial difficulties. The Company could face significant challenges in consolidating functions and integrating procedures and processes, internal controls, information technology and other systems, personnel, product lines and operations in a timely and efficient manner. 17 There are inherent limitations on the effectiveness of the Company’s controls. The Company does not expect that its disclosure controls or the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that resource constraints exist, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. If the Company’s controls become inadequate, it could fail to meet its financial reporting obligations, its reputation may be adversely affected, its business and operating results could be harmed, and the market price of its stock could decline. Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments None Item 2. Properties The following table lists the principal properties at which the Company operates its business at December 31, 2015: Location Fontana, California (1) Robbinsville, New Jersey(1) Birmingham, England (2) Winchendon, Massachusetts(1) Corby, England (2) Garden City, New York(3) Medford, Massachusetts(1) San Germán, Puerto Rico(1) Cumberland, Rhode Island(1) Shanghai, China(3) Kowloon, Hong Kong(3) Guangzhou, China(3) New York, New York (1) York, Pennsylvania(1) Atlanta, Georgia(1) Bentonville, Arkansas(1) Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin(1) Carlisle, Pennsylvania(1) Description Principal West Coast warehouse and distribution facility Principal East Coast warehouse and distribution facility Offices, showroom, warehouse and distribution facilities Warehouse and distribution facility, and spice packing line Offices, showroom, warehouse and distribution facility Corporate headquarters/main showroom Offices, showroom, warehouse and distribution facility Sterling silver manufacturing facility Offices Offices Offices and showrooms Offices Showrooms Offices Showrooms Offices and showroom Showroom Showroom Size (square feet) 753,000 700,000 204,000 175,000 168,000 159,000 69,000 55,000 34,000 22,000 19,000 18,000 17,000 14,000 11,000 7,000 4,000 2,300 Owned/ Leased Leased Leased Leased Owned Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased Leased (1) (2) (3) Location used by the U.S. Wholesale segment. Location used by the International segment. Location used by all segments. Item 3. 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 18 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 such other current litigation is routine in nature and incidental to the conduct of the Company’s business and that none of this litigation, individually or collectively, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure Not applicable. PART II Item 5. Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities The Company’s common stock is traded under the symbol “LCUT” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”). The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices for the common stock of the Company for the fiscal periods indicated as reported by NASDAQ. 2015 2014 High Low High Low First quarter ................................................................................................ $ Second quarter ............................................................................................... Third quarter ................................................................................................ Fourth quarter ................................................................................................ 17.27 $ 16.45 15.43 15.81 12.48 $ 14.06 12.87 12.55 18.84 $ 19.95 18.06 18.15 14.03 14.47 15.03 14.74 At December 31, 2015, the Company estimates that there were approximately 2,200 record holders of the Company’s common stock. The Company is authorized to issue 100 shares of Series A Preferred stock and 2,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred stock, none of which were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2015. In the last two fiscal years, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.0375 per share payable on each of February 14, 2014, May 15, 2014, August 15, 2014, November 14, 2014, February 13, 2015, May 15, 2015 and August 14, 2015 and declared a dividend of $0.0425 per share payable on each of November 13, 2015 and February 15, 2016. The Board of Directors currently intends to continue paying cash dividends for the foreseeable future, although the Board of Directors may in its discretion determine to modify or eliminate such dividends at any time. 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. The Company’s Credit Agreement, however, may restrict its ability to declare and pay dividends, establishing conditions that are to be met prior to making any dividend payment as well as restrictions on the amount of any dividend payment. 19 There were no purchases made by or on behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser” of the Company’s common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The following table summarizes the Company’s equity compensation plan as of December 31, 2015: Plan category Number of shares of common stock to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants or rights (1) Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options (2) Number of shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance Equity compensation plan approved by security holders ................. Equity compensation plan not approved by security holders ........... 2,341,427 $ — Total ................................................................................................ 2,341,427 $ 14.28 — 14.28 604,460 — 604,460 (1) Securities reported in this column include outstanding options to purchase 2,242,202 shares of common stock as well as 99,225, the maximum number of performance-based deferred stock awards, where the underlying shares have not been issued. (2) The weighted-average exercise price takes into account option awards but not the shares subject to performance-based deferred stock awards. The following chart compares the cumulative total return on the Company’s common stock with the NASDAQ Market Index and the Hemscott Group Index for Housewares & Accessories. The comparisons in this chart are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of the possible future performance of the Company’s common stock. PERFORMANCE GRAPH Date Lifetime Brands, Inc. Hemscott Group Index NASDAQ Market Index 12/31/2010 ........................................................................................... 12/31/2011 ........................................................................................... 12/31/2012 ........................................................................................... 12/31/2013 ........................................................................................... 12/31/2014 ........................................................................................... 12/31/2015 ........................................................................................... $ 100.00 $ 87.09 77.08 115.30 127.29 99.15 100.00 $ 92.51 136.86 210.39 251.16 286.18 100.00 99.17 116.48 163.21 187.27 200.31 20 Note: (1) The graph assumes $100 was invested as of the open of trading on January 1, 2011 and dividends were reinvested. Measurement points are at the last trading day of each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The material in this chart is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether or not the chart is prepared before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and irrespective of any general incorporation language in such filing. A list of the companies included in the Hemscott Group Index will be furnished by the Company to any stockholder upon written request to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Item 6. Selected Financial Data The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 have been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for those respective years, which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This information should be read together with the discussion in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Year ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 (in thousands, except per share data) STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA(1) Net sales ............................................................................................... Cost of sales ......................................................................................... Distribution expenses ................................................................ Selling, general and administrative expenses (2) ................................ Intangible asset impairment ................................................................ Restructuring expenses ................................................................ Income from operations................................................................ Interest expense .................................................................................... Financing expense ................................................................ Loss on early retirement of debt ........................................................... Income before income taxes, equity in earnings and $ 587,670 373,284 54,815 134,903 — 437 24,231 (5,746) (154) — extraordinary item ................................................................ Income tax provision ................................................................ Equity in (losses) earnings, net of taxes (3) ................................ $ Net income ........................................................................................... 18,331 (6,627) 574 12,278 Basic income per common share .......................................................... 0.89 $ Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic ................................ 13,850 Diluted income per common share ....................................................... 0.86 $ $ 586,010 373,129 54,202 133,786 3,384 125 21,384 (6,418) (758) (346) $ 502,721 315,459 44,364 114,345 — 367 28,186 (4,847) — (102) $ 486,842 310,054 44,046 104,338 1,069 — 27,335 (5,898) — (1,363) $ 444,418 282,058 43,882 93,894 — — 24,584 (7,758) — — 13,862 (5,825) (6,493) 1,544 0.11 13,519 $ $ 23,237 (9,175) (4,781) 9,281 0.73 12,757 $ $ 20,074 (5,208) 6,081 20,947 1.67 12,511 $ $ 16,826 (6,122) 3,362 14,066 1.16 12,128 0.11 $ 0.71 $ 1.64 $ 1.12 $ $ $ Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted ................................ 14,266 13,974 13,043 12,810 12,529 Cash dividends declared per common share ................................ $ 0.16 $ 0.15 $ 0.13125 $ 0.125 $ 0.075 21 December 31, 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 (in thousands) BALANCE SHEET DATA(1) Current assets ....................................................................................... Current liabilities ................................................................................. Working capital .................................................................................... Total assets ........................................................................................... Short-term borrowings ................................................................ Long-term debt .................................................................................... Stockholders’ equity ............................................................................ $ 243,380 $ 258,117 $ 214,676 $ 212,759 $ 198,797 69,962 128,835 318,745 15,000 82,625 146,175 69,494 145,182 336,739 3,937 65,919 180,905 83,869 174,248 421,402 10,765 127,655 188,233 91,715 151,665 398,952 20,252 80,617 199,468 66,899 145,860 348,797 11,375 84,593 172,230 Notes: (1) (2) (3) Investments and acquisitions of the following, in the respective years noted, affect the comparability of the periods: the acquisition of Creative Tops in November 2011, a 40% equity investment in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”) in December 2011, the acquisition of Fred® & Friends in December 2012 and the acquisition of Kitchen Craft in January 2014. In 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded a net charge of $0.7 million and a credit of $4.2 million, respectively, related to adjustments to the fair value of certain contingent consideration. In 2012, the Company recorded a gain of $4.1 million related to Vasconia’s purchase of Almexa and in 2013, the Company recorded a charge of $5.0 million, net of tax for a reduction of the fair value of the Company’s investment in Vasconia. In 2014, the Company recorded a charge of $6.0 million, net of tax, for a reduction of the fair value of the Company’s investment in GSI. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the Company and notes thereto set forth in Item 15. This discussion contains forward-looking statements relating to future events and the future performance of the Company based on the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about it and the Company’s industry. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results and timing of various events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, as more fully described in this section and elsewhere in this Annual Report including those discussed on pages 2-3 of this Annual Report under “Disclosures regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and under Item 1A “Risk Factors” and Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Market Risk.” The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. ABOUT THE COMPANY The Company designs, sources and sells branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home. The Company’s 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 and bakeware) and Tableware (dinnerware, stemware, flatware and giftware); and one category, Home Solutions, which comprises other products used in the home (pantryware, spice racks, thermal beverageware, food storage and home décor). In 2015, Kitchenware products and Tableware products accounted for approximately 86% of the Company’s U.S. Wholesale net sales and 86% of the Company’s consolidated net sales, as compared with 88% and 87%, respectively, in 2014. 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. A significant element of this strategy is the Company’s in-house design and development teams that create new products, packaging and merchandising concepts. More recently, the Company has significantly expanded its international footprint through acquisitions of businesses which own or license complementary brands in markets outside the United States. 22 BUSINESS SEGMENTS The Company has 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 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. 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. 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. 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 recorded equity in earnings (losses) of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $594,000, $230,000 and $(4.0) million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In 2013, as a result of a decline in the quoted stock price and the 2013 quarterly decline in the operating results of Vasconia, the carrying amount of the Company’s investment in Vasconia exceeded its fair value and, therefore, the Company reduced its investment value by $5.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2013, net of tax, to its fair value. In December 2011, the Company acquired a 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”). GSI is a wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil. GSI markets dinnerware, glassware, home décor, kitchenware and barware to customers throughout Brazil including major department stores, housewares retailers and independent shops. The Company accounts for its investment in GSI using the equity method of accounting and has recorded its proportionate share of GSI’s net income, net of taxes, as equity in earnings in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. 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. As a result of the decline in operating results of GSI and the business environment in Brazil, the Company evaluated the carrying value of its investment for other-than-temporary impairment under the equity-method of accounting and recorded an impairment charge of $6.0 million, net of tax, in 2014. In February 2012, the Company acquired a 50% stake in Grand Venture Holdings Limited (“Grand Venture”), a joint venture with Manweal Development Limited (“Manweal”), a Chinese corporation, to distribute Mikasa® products in China, which included an initial investment by the Company of $500,000. The Company and Manweal each own 50% of Grand Venture and have rights and obligations proportionate to their ownership percentages. The Company accounts for its investment in Grand Venture using the equity method of accounting and has recorded its proportionate share of Grand Venture’s net loss in equity in earnings in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. In January 2011, the Company, together with Vasconia and unaffiliated partners, formed a joint venture based in Hong Kong that supplies imported kitchenware products to retailers in North, Central and South American. The Company sold its investment in this joint venture to an unaffiliated partner in October 2014. 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, 2014 and 2013, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 59%, 60% and 61%, 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. 23 IMPACT OF INFLATION Inflation rates in the United States and in major foreign countries where the Company operates have not had a significant impact on its results of operations or financial position during 2015, 2014, or 2013. The Company will continue its practice of monitoring costs and adjusting prices, accordingly. EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“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. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which requires an entity to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent within a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. This update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company early adopted ASU 2015-17 on a prospective basis as of December 31, 2015. Prior period amounts were not retrospectively adjusted. In September 2015, the FASB issued 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 guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The amendments to in this update should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date of this update with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The Company does not expect that the adoption of the ASU will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements. 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. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued 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. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. This ASU can be applied prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently determining its implementation approach and assessing the impact, if any, on the consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs and during August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, which clarifies the treatment of debt issuance costs from line-of-credit arrangements after adoption of ASU 2015-03. ASU 2015-03 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. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. This ASU will be applied on a retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company’s adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position. 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 the consolidated financial statements. 24 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 below. Year Ended December 31, Net sales ................................................................................................ Cost of sales ............................................................................................ 100.0% 63.5 2015 2014 100.0% 63.7 2013 100.0% 62.8 Gross margin ........................................................................................... 36.5 Distribution expenses .............................................................................. 9.3 Selling, general and administrative expenses ......................................... 23.0 Intangible asset impairment .................................................................... — Restructuring .......................................................................................... 0.1 36.3 9.2 22.8 0.6 — Income from operations .......................................................................... 4.1 Interest expense ...................................................................................... (1.0) Financing expense .................................................................................. — Loss on early retirement of debt ............................................................. — Income before income taxes and equity in earnings ............................... Income tax provision .............................................................................. Equity in earnings (losses), net of taxes .................................................. 3.1 (1.1) 0.1 3.7 (1.1) (0.1) (0.1) 2.4 (1.0) (1.1) 37.2 8.8 22.7 — 0.1 5.6 (1.0) — — 4.6 (1.8) (1.0) Net income .............................................................................................. 2.1% 0.3% 1.8% 25 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 2015 COMPARED TO 2014 Net Sales Net sales for the year 2015 were $587.7 million, an increase of $1.7 million, or 0.3%, compared to net sales of $586.0 million in 2014. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment in 2015 were $458.6 million, an increase of $17.3 million, or 3.9%, compared to net sales of $441.3 million in 2014. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Kitchenware product category in 2015 were $271.0 million, an increase of $1.7 million, or 0.6%, compared to net sales of $269.3 million in 2014. The increase in the U.S. Wholesale’s Kitchenware product category was primarily attributable to an increase in cutlery and cookware sales volume, partially offset by a decline in tools and gadgets. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Tableware product category in 2015 were $124.4 million, an increase of $6.9 million, or 5.9%, compared to net sales of $117.5 million for 2014. The Tableware product category sales increase was primarily attributable to an increase in housewares and flatware on sales to new customers and on growth from warehouse club programs. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Home Solutions products category in 2015 were $63.2 million, an increase of $8.7 million, or 16.0%, compared to net sales of $54.5 million in 2014. The increase in the Home Solutions product category reflects an increase in pantryware and Built NY sales on growth from warehouse club and ecommerce customers and an increase in home décor sales for new customer programs. Net sales for the International segment in 2015 were $108.0 million, a decrease of $17.2 million, compared to net sales of $125.2 million for 2014. In local currency, net sales decreased approximately 5.4%. The decrease is due in part to a decline in export sales of kitchenware products, as a result of the weakness in the European economy, as well as a decline in tools and gadgets and tableware sales with certain customers. Net sales for the Retail Direct segment in 2015 were $21.1 million, an increase of $1.6 million, or 8.2%, compared to $19.5 million for 2014. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in sales from the Mikasa and Pfaltzgraff Internet websites, as well as sales from Built NY and Fred & Friends internet websites which were launched in the latter part of 2014. Gross margin Gross margin for 2015 was $214.4 million, or 36.5%, compared to $212.9 million, or 36.3%, for the corresponding period in 2014. Gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment was $163.5 million, or 35.7%, for 2015 compared to $155.8 million, or 35.3%, for 2014. Gross margin may be expected to fluctuate from period to period based on a number of factors, including product and customer mix. The increase in gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment reflects an increase in margin in the tableware and certain home solutions product categories due to new product introductions. Gross margin for the International segment was $36.7 million, or 34.0%, for 2015 compared to $43.8 million, or 35.0%, for 2014. The decrease in gross margin in the International segment is a result of the strengthened U.S. Dollar against the Pound Sterling as well as the weakened Euro against the Pound Sterling during the period. Gross margin for the Retail Direct segment was $14.2 million, or 67.2%, for 2015 compared to $13.4 million, or 68.8%, for 2014. The decrease in gross margin in the Retail Direct segment reflects increased promotional activities. Distribution expenses Distribution expenses for 2015 were $54.8 million as compared to $54.2 million for 2014. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 9.3% in 2015 and 9.2% in 2014. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment were approximately 8.0% in 2015 and 8.2% in 2014. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses located in the United States for the U.S. Wholesale segment were 9.0% for 2015 as compared to 9.3% for 2014. Sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses increased and offset an increase in labor related to smaller case pack shipments. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the International segment were approximately 10.5% and 9.6% for 2015 and 2014, respectively. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses for the International segment were 12.4% and 12.1% for the 2015 and 2014, respectively. The change reflects the decrease in sales volume and an increase in drop ship volume. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the Retail Direct segment were 30.8% for 2015 compared to 29.7% for 2014. The increase in expense reflects an increase in carrier rates. 26 Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for 2015 were $134.9 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 0.8%, as compared to $133.8 million for 2014. SG&A expenses for 2015 for the U.S. Wholesale segment were $84.8 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 0.2%, compared to $85.0 million for 2014. The 2014 period includes a $4.2 million credit related to contingent consideration. The increase is attributable to higher employee related expenses, including healthcare costs and expenses of the export operations, which began in the latter part of 2014. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 18.5% for 2015 compared to 19.3% for 2014. SG&A expenses for 2015 for the International segment were $27.0 million compared to $28.0 million for 2014. The decrease was attributable to the weakness of the Pound Sterling against the U.S. Dollar in 2015, as compared to 2014, offset by the change in fair value of contingent consideration attributable to the Kitchen Craft acquisition. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 25.0% for 2015 compared to 22.4% for 2014. SG&A expenses for 2015 for the Retail Direct segment were $8.2 million compared to $8.7 million for 2014. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in employee related expenses and a decrease in marketing expenditures. Unallocated corporate expenses for 2015 were $14.9 million compared to $16.2 million for 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in acquisition related fees including reimbursement of expenses incurred for an acquisition not completed and reimbursement of certain litigation expenses. Intangible asset impairment The Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.4 million, related to the Company’s home décor products during the year ended December 31, 2014. There were no impairment charges recorded in the year ended December 31, 2015. Restructuring expenses The Company incurred one-time restructuring expenses of $0.4 million in 2015 and $0.1 million in 2014. The restructuring expenses in 2015 resulted primarily from the Company’s reorganization of the U.S. Wholesale product categories. The Company expects to recognize an additional $0.5 million, primarily for severance, in the first quarter of 2016 related to the execution of this plan. The restructuring expenses in 2014 resulted from the consolidation of our customer service and call center functions which resulted in the elimination of certain employee positions. Interest expense Interest expense for 2015 was $5.7 million compared to $6.4 million for 2014. The decrease in expense is attributable to the use of operating cash flow to reduce indebtedness. Financing expenses In 2015 and 2014, the Company wrote off $0.2 million and $0.7 million of expenses, respectively, related to the refinancing of indebtedness that was not completed. Loss on early retirement of debt In January 2014, in connection with the refinancing of its senior debt, the Company repaid the senior secured term loan outstanding under its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 28, 2011 with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, which was replaced by the Credit Agreement (the “Senior Secured Term Loan”). In connection therewith, the Company wrote off the related debt issuance costs of $0.3 million. Income tax provision The income tax provision was $6.6 million in 2015 and $5.8 million in 2014. The Company’s effective tax rate for 2015 was 36.2%, compared to 42.0% for 2014. The lower effective tax rate in 2015 reflects a reduction of deferred tax liabilities in the U.K. as a result of a rate change. The effective tax rate in 2014 reflects non-deductible transaction costs in both the U.S. and the U.K., as well as a reduction in the deferred tax assets in Puerto Rico as a result of a rate change and an increase in uncertain state tax positions. 27 Equity in earnings (losses) The Company’s equity in earnings (losses) for 2015 and 2014 are as follows: Equity in earnings of Grupo Vasconia: ................................................. Equity earnings, net of tax ...........................................................$ Tax provision recorded in equity in earnings (1) ........................... Equity in earnings of Grupo Vasconia .................................................. Equity in losses of GSI: Equity in losses before reduction in investment to fair value, net of tax ................................................................................. Reduction in investment to fair value, net of tax ......................... Equity in losses of GSI .......................................................................... Equity in losses of other investments .................................................... $ Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) $ 1,897 (1,303) 594 — — — (20) 574 $ 1,293 (1,063) 230 (657) (6,012) (6,669) (54) (6,493) (1) Income tax provision related to the valuation allowance for deferred taxes associated with the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment. Equity in earnings of Vasconia, net of taxes, was $594,000 in 2015, as compared to equity in earnings, net of taxes, of $230,000 in 2014. Vasconia reported income from operations for 2015 of $10.6 million, as compared to $7.8 million for 2014 and net income of $7.4 million in 2015, compared to $5.3 million in 2014. The Company’s investment in GSI was $0 as of December 31, 2015. The Company has not recorded its share of equity in losses for the year ended December 31, 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. Equity in losses of GSI in 2014 was $6.7 million (including a charge of $6.0 million, net of tax, for the reduction in the fair value of the Company’s investment in GSI). 28 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 2014 COMPARED TO 2013 Net Sales Net sales for the year 2014 were $586.0 million, an increase of 16.6%, compared to net sales of $502.7 million in 2013. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment in 2014 were $441.3 million, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 0.7%, compared to net sales of $444.2 million in 2013. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Kitchenware product category in 2014 were $269.3 million, a decrease of $11.9 million, or 4.2%, compared to net sales of $281.2 million in 2013. The decrease in the U.S. Wholesale’s Kitchenware product category sales was in part due to a decrease in cutlery programs and decreased sales volume in both cookware and novelty kitchenware. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Tableware product category in 2014 were $117.5 million, an increase of $7.4 million, or 6.7%, compared to net sales of $110.1 million for 2013. The Tableware product category sales increase reflects higher sales volumes of luxury tableware and stainless flatware. The increased sales volume was primarily attributable to an increase in successful warehouse club programs year over year. Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Home Solutions products category in 2014 were $54.5 million, an increase of $1.6 million, or 3.0%, compared to net sales of $52.9 million in 2013. The increase in the Home Solutions product category reflects the inclusion of Built NY®, acquired in the first quarter of 2014, partially offset by a decrease in pantryware warehouse club programs and lower volume for the home décor product line resulting from a reduction in retail space allocated to this category. Net sales for the International segment in 2014 were $125.2 million, an increase of $86.3 million, compared to net sales of $38.9 million for 2013. Of the increase, $71.9 million represents sales from Kitchen Craft and La Cafetière, which were acquired during the first quarter of 2014. The balance of the increase was due to higher sales of tableware products as the impact of higher duties on ceramic products imposed by the European Union in 2013 has subsided and to a lesser degree the strength of the British Pound. Net sales for the Retail Direct segment in 2014 were $19.5 million, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 5.8%, compared to $20.7 million for 2013. The decrease was primarily attributable to reduced activity on the Company’s Pfaltzgraff and Mikasa internet websites in 2014 compared to 2013. The decrease in activity on the Pfaltzgraff and Mikasa internet websites was partially offset by the launch of the Built NY and Fred & Friends internet websites in 2014. Gross margin Gross margin for 2014 was $212.9 million, or 36.3%, compared to $187.3 million, or 37.2%, for the corresponding period in 2013. Gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment was $155.8 million, or 35.3%, for 2014 compared to $163.4 million, or 36.8%, for 2013. Gross margin may be expected to fluctuate from period to period based on a number of factors, including product and customer mix. The decrease in gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment reflects actions taken to create opportunities to expand the Company’s retail placement, an increase in the proportion of tableware product sales, which typically have lower gross margin than kitchenware products, and an increase in promotional activities to introduce new brands and products. The decreases in margin in the Kitchenware and Tableware product categories were partially offset by an increase in margin in the Home Solutions product category. Gross margin for the International segment was $43.8 million, or 35.0%, for 2014 compared to $10.7 million, or 27.6%, for 2013. The increase in gross margin in the International segment is due to the inclusion of Kitchen Craft, the products of which carry a higher margin than other product categories in the segment, and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in pricing promotions for tableware products. Gross margin for the Retail Direct segment was $13.4 million, or 68.8%, for 2014 compared to $14.3 million, or 68.8%, for 2013. 29 Distribution expenses Distribution expenses for 2014 were $54.2 million as compared to $44.4 million for 2013. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 9.2% in 2014 and 8.8% in 2013. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses located in the United States for the U.S. Wholesale segment were 9.3% for 2014 as compared to 8.8% for 2013. The increase reflects higher expenses despite flat year over year shipments and the effect of labor costs on lower revenue per shipment. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses for the International segment were 12.1% and 15.1% for the 2014 and 2013, respectively. The decrease in expenses as a percentage of sales shipped reflects the higher sales volume from the tableware warehouses and a more efficient use of freight lines. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the Retail Direct segment were 29.7% for 2014 compared to 29.6% for 2013. The increase was due to declining sales relative to fixed expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for 2014 were $133.8 million, an increase of $19.5 million, or 17.1%, as compared to $114.3 million for 2013. The 2014 period includes a credit of $4.2 million for the reduction in the fair value of certain contingent consideration obligations. SG&A expenses for 2014 for the U.S. Wholesale segment were $85.0 million (excluding the credit related to the contingent consideration), an increase of $3.2 million, or 3.9%, compared to $81.8 million in 2013. During 2014, the Company incurred certain expenses related to its growth and acquisition activities which were offset primarily by a reduction in short term incentive compensation expense. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 19.3% for 2014 compared to 18.4% for 2013. SG&A expenses for 2014 for the International segment were $28.0 million compared to $9.5 million for 2013. The increase was primarily due to the inclusion of Kitchen Craft. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses decreased to 22.4% for 2014 compared to 24.4% for 2013. SG&A expenses for 2014 for the Retail Direct segment were $8.7 million compared to $8.2 million for 2013. The increase was primarily due to an increase in costs related to the launch of two new websites in 2014. Unallocated corporate expenses for 2014 were $16.2 million compared to $14.9 million for 2013. The increase is primarily due to an increase in professional fees and acquisition related expenses. Intangible asset impairment The Company’s home décor products category has experienced a decline in sales and profit in recent years. The Company believes the most significant factor resulting in the decline was the reduction in retail space allocated to the category which has also contributed to pricing pressure. The Company has been re-branding a portion of the home décor products under the Mikasa® and Pfaltzgraff® trade names and more recently under the Bombay® license. The Company is also taking advantage of promotional sale opportunities, such as flash sale websites and online retailers to offset the effect of a reduction in retail space for this product category and pricing pressures. As a result of these factors, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.4 million, related to these brands in its consolidated statement of operations for 2014. Restructuring expenses The Company incurred one-time restructuring expenses of $0.1 million in 2014 and $0.4 million in 2013. The restructuring expenses in 2014 resulted from the consolidation of our customer service and call center functions which resulted in the elimination of certain employee positions. The expenses in 2013 resulted from the planned closure of the Fred® & Friends distribution center which included the elimination of certain employee positions in the third quarter of 2013. 30 Interest expense Interest expense for 2014 was $6.4 million compared to $4.8 million for 2013. The increase in interest expense was attributable to higher average borrowings attributable to the recent acquisitions, which were partially offset by lower rates resulting from the debt refinancing in January 2014. Financing expenses In 2014 the Company wrote off $0.7 million of expenses related to the refinancing of indebtedness that was not completed. The Company did not incur financing expenses in 2013. Loss on early retirement of debt In January 2014, in connection with the refinancing of its senior debt, the Company repaid the senior secured term loan outstanding under its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 28, 2011 with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, which was replaced by the Credit Agreement (the “Senior Secured Term Loan”). In connection therewith, the Company wrote off the related debt issuance costs of $0.3 million. In December 2013, the Company repaid a portion of its senior secured credit agreement. In connection with the payoff, the Company wrote off debt issuance costs of $0.1 million. Income tax provision The income tax provision was $5.8 million in 2014 and $9.2 million in 2013. The Company’s effective tax rate for 2014 was 42.0%, compared to 39.5% for 2013. The effective tax rate in 2014 reflects non-deductible transaction costs in both the U.S. and the U.K., as well as a reduction in the deferred tax assets in Puerto Rico as a result of a rate change and an increase in uncertain state tax positions. The effective tax rate in 2013 reflects a reduced tax rate in the U.K. and an increased tax rate in Puerto Rico. Equity in earnings (losses) Equity in earnings of Vasconia, net of taxes, was $230,000 in 2014, as compared to equity in losses, net of taxes, of $4.0 million for 2013. Equity in losses in 2013 includes a charge of $5.0 million, net of tax, for the reduction in Vasconia’s fair value. Vasconia reported income from operations for 2014 of $7.8 million, compared to $5.4 million for 2013 and net income of $5.3 million in 2014, compared to $4.3 million in 2013. Equity in losses of GSI was $6.7 million (including a charge of $6.0 million, net of tax, for the reduction in the fair value of the Company’s investment in GSI) for 2014 and $0.7 million for 2013, respectively. As discussed under Equity Investments above, as a result of the decline in operating results of GSI and the business environment in Brazil, the Company recorded an aggregate impairment charge of $6.0 million, net of tax, during 2014. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company’s consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and with the instructions to Form 10-K and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The Company evaluates these estimates including those related to revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, reserves for sales returns and allowances and customer chargebacks, inventory mark-down provisions, health insurance reserves, impairment of goodwill, tangible and intangible assets, stock option expense, accruals related to the Company’s tax positions and tax valuation allowances. Actual results may differ from these estimates using different assumptions and under different conditions. The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note A of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15. The Company believes that the following discussion addresses its most critical accounting policies, which are those that are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. 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. 31 Accounts Receivable The Company periodically reviews the collectability of its accounts receivable and establishes allowances for estimated losses that could result from the inability of its customers to make required payments. A considerable amount of judgment is required to assess the ultimate realization of these receivables including assessing the initial and on-going creditworthiness of the Company’s customers. The Company also maintains an allowance for anticipated customer deductions. The allowances for deductions are primarily based on contracts with customers. However, in certain cases the Company does not have a formal contract and, therefore, customer deductions are non-contractual. To evaluate the reasonableness of non-contractual customer deductions, the Company analyzes currently available information and historical trends of deductions. If the financial conditions of the Company’s customers or general economic conditions were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments or sell the Company’s products at reasonable sales prices, or the Company’s estimate of non-contractual deductions varied from actual deductions, revisions to allowances would be required, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition. Historically, the Company’s allowances have been appropriate and have not resulted in material unexpected charges. Goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but, instead, are subject to an annual impairment assessment. Additionally, if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable, the Company would evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment at that time. As it relates to the goodwill assessment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment testing described in ASU Topic No. 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. If, after assessing qualitative factors, the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary and the Company’s goodwill is considered to be unimpaired. However, if based on the Company’s qualitative assessment it concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment, the Company will proceed with performing the two-step process. The first step in the two-step process compares the carrying value of each reporting unit that has goodwill with the estimated fair value of the respective reporting unit. Should the carrying value of a reporting unit be in excess of the estimated fair value of that reporting unit, the second step must be performed. The second step represents a hypothetical purchase price allocation as if the Company had acquired the reporting unit on that date. The Company also evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether or not its indefinite lived intangibles have been impaired and then performs quantitative tests if required. These tests can include the royalty savings model or other valuation models. Long-lived assets, including intangible assets deemed to have finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such assets may have been impaired. Impairment indicators include, among other conditions, cash flow deficits, historic or anticipated declines in revenue or operating profit or material adverse changes in the business climate that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may be impaired. When impairment indicators are present, the Company compares the carrying value of the assets to the estimated discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If the assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. In 2014, the result of the impairment assessment of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names indicated that the carrying values of the Elements® and Melannco® trade names exceeded their fair values as of October 1, 2014. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.4 million, related to these brands. The impairment was triggered by a period of decline in the sales and gross margin of the brands. Revenue recognition The Company sells products: • Wholesale, to retailers and distributors, and • Retail, directly to consumers. 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. 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 consolidated statements of operations. 32 Share-based compensation The Company accounts for its share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Stock Compensation”, which requires the measurement of compensation expense for all share-based compensation granted to employees and non-employee directors at fair value on the date of grant and recognition of compensation expense over the related service period for awards expected to vest. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of its stock options. The Black-Scholes option valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility of the Company’s common stock and the risk-free interest rate. Changes in these subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate of the Company’s stock options on the date of the option grant. Performance share awards are initially valued at the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant. 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 the end of the performance period, as determined by the Compensation Committee. Compensation expense for performance awards is recognized over the vesting period, and will vary based on remeasurement during the performance period. If the performance metrics are not probable of achievement during the performance period, compensation expense would be reversed. The awards are forfeited if the performance metrics are not achieved as of the end of the performance period. The performance share awards vest in full at the end of a three year period. The Company bases the estimated fair value of restricted stock awards based on the date of grant. The estimated fair value is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares awarded. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, reduced by an estimated forfeiture rate. 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 IBNR claims, actual claims may vary significantly from estimated claims. Income taxes The Company applies the required provisions for financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in the Company’s financial statements. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken. The valuation allowance is also calculated, established or maintained when it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. Derivatives The Company accounts for all derivative instruments on the balance sheet at fair value as either an asset or a 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 the 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. 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 under the Credit Agreement. The Company’s primary uses of funds consist of working capital requirements, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments and payments of principal and interest on its debt. At December 31, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $7.1 million compared to $5.1 million at December 31, 2014, working capital of $151.7 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $174.2 million at December 31, 2014 and the current ratio (current assets to current liabilities) was 2.7 to 1 at December 31, 2015 compared to 3.1 to 1 at December 31, 2014. Borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility decreased to $65.6 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $92.7 million at December 31, 2014. The amount of the borrowings in 2014 were primarily attributable to the financing of the Kitchen Craft acquisition in 2014. 33 The Company believes that availability under its Revolving Credit Facility and cash flows from operations are sufficient to fund the Company’s operations for the next twelve months. However, if circumstances were to adversely change, the Company may seek alternative sources of liquidity including debt and/or equity financing. However, there can be no assurance that any such alternative sources would be available or sufficient. The Company closely monitors the creditworthiness of its customers. Based upon its evaluation of changes in customers’ creditworthiness, the Company may modify credit limits and/or terms of sale. However, notwithstanding the Company’s efforts to monitor its customers’ financial condition, the Company could be materially affected by changes in the future. Credit Facilities The Company’s Credit Agreement, which expires in January 2019, provides for, among other things, the Revolving Credit Facility commitment totaling $175.0 million ($40.0 million of which is available for multi-currency borrowings) and a Term Loan. Each borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility bears interest, at the Company’s option, at one of the following rates: (i) the Alternate Base Rate, defined as the greater of the Prime Rate, Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% or the Adjusted LIBO Rate plus 1.0%, plus a margin of 0.75% to 1.25%, or (ii) the Eurodollar Rate, defined as the Adjusted LIBO Rate plus a margin of 1.75% to 2.25%. Interest rates on outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2015 ranged from 2.125%-4.5%. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility. Availability under the Credit Agreement depends on the valuation of certain current assets and trademark values and the Company’s ability to meet and maintain certain financial ratios, as discussed below. Due to the Company’s seasonality, this may mean that the Company will have greater borrowing availability during the third and fourth quarters of each year. At December 31, 2015, borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility were $65.6 million and open letters of credit were $1.4 million. At December 31, 2015, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $86.2 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. Consequently, the $175.0 million commitment may not represent actual borrowing capacity. The Company classifies a portion of the Revolving Credit Facility as a current liability if the Company intends to and is able to repay the loan from cash flows from operations which are expected to occur within the year. Repayments and borrowings under the facility can vary significantly from planned levels based on cash flow needs and general economic conditions. ABR Term Loans or Eurocurrency Term Loans, provided for under the Credit Agreement, bear interest based on the applicable Senior Leverage Ratio. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s Senior Leverage Ratio was 2.3 to 1. The ABR Spread for Term Loans is 3.0% to 3.5% and the Eurocurrency Spread for Term Loans is 4.0% to 4.5%. As of December 31, 2015, $35.0 million was outstanding under the Term Loan. The interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Term Loan was 4.75%. The Company’s payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by each of its existing and 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 guaranty, 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 interest consists 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. 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 4.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2015; 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. 34 Pursuant to the term loan agreement, as of December 31, 2015 the maximum additional permitted indebtedness other than certain subordinated indebtedness was $99.7 million. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement at December 31, 2015. In January 2014, the Company repaid the previously outstanding Senior Secured Term Loan in connection with the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement. The Company expects that it will continue to borrow and repay funds, subject to availability, under the Credit Agreement based on working capital and other corporate needs. Covenant Calculations Consolidated EBITDA, as provided below, is used in the calculation of covenants provided for in the Company’s Credit Agreement. The following is the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters: Consolidated EBITDA for the four quarters ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands) Three months ended December 31, 2015 ........................................................ Three months ended September 30, 2015 ........................................................ Three months ended June 30, 2015 ................................................................ Three months ended March 31, 2015 .............................................................. Total for the four quarters ......................................................................$ 23,889 14,089 4,388 2,519 44,885 Non-GAAP financial measure Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the SEC. This measure is provided because management of the Company uses this financial measure in evaluating the Company’s on-going financial results and trends. Management also uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance. Consolidated EBITDA is also one of the measures used to calculate financial covenants required to be maintained under the Company’s Credit Agreement. Investors should consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the Company’s financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, the Company’s non-GAAP information may be different from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies including other companies within the home retail industry. The following is a reconciliation of net income as reported to Consolidated EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and each fiscal quarter of 2015 and 2014: Net income as reported .......................................................... Subtract out: ................................................................. Undistributed equity (earnings) losses, net ......... Add back: ..................................................................... Income tax provision (benefit) ............................ Interest expense................................................... Financing expense............................................... Depreciation and amortization ............................ Stock compensation expense .............................. Contingent consideration accretion ..................... Restructuring expenses (1) .................................... Permitted acquisition related expenses, net of recovery .......................................................... Consolidated EBITDA ........................................................... $ Three Months Ended Year Ended March 31, 2015 June 30, 2015 September 30, 2015 (in thousands) December 31, 2015 December 31, 2015 (2,105) $ (1,727) $ 5,104 $ 11,006 $ 12,278 (288) (2) 459 (517) (348) (1,363) 1,431 154 3,555 750 147 — (717) 1,459 — 3,638 773 1,545 — 2,745 1,454 — 3,510 791 — — 5,962 1,402 — 3,500 2,972 (876) 437 6,627 5,746 154 14,203 5,286 816 437 238 2,519 (581) $ 4,388 $ 26 14,089 $ 3 23,889 $ (314) 44,885 35 Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 June 30, 2014 September 30, 2014 (in thousands) December 31, 2014 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Net income as reported .......................................................... Subtract out: ................................................................ Undistributed equity (earnings) losses, net ......... Add back: ..................................................................... Income tax provision (benefit) ............................ Interest expense................................................... Financing expense............................................... Depreciation and amortization ............................ Stock compensation expense .............................. Loss on early retirement of debt (1) ...................... Intangible asset impairment ................................ Contingent consideration accretion ..................... Restructuring expenses (1) .................................... Permitted acquisition related expenses ............... Consolidated EBITDA ...........................................................$ (2,929) $ (3,202) $ (1,586) $ 9,261 $ 1,544 208 (41) 5,193 1,364 6,724 (1,185) 1,390 — 3,613 726 319 — — — 1,518 3,660 $ 1,494 $ (1,586) 1,672 — 3,716 713 — — — 125 97 3,123 1,698 — 3,299 694 — 3,384 665 — — 16,470 $ 5,473 1,658 758 3,572 2,360 27 — (4,115) — 560 20,918 $ 5,825 6,418 758 14,200 4,493 346 3,384 (3,450) 125 2,175 42,542 (1) Loss on retirement of debt and restructuring expenses represent non-recurring charges incurred during such periods and are permitted exclusions from the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA, pursuant to the Company’s Credit Agreement. 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 18.0 million Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”) ($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 December 31, 2015, RMB 1.6 million ($252,000) was outstanding and the interest rate was 5.0% under the HSBC Facility. Capital expenditures Capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $5.2 million. Derivatives The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $20.1 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 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 inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. None of these foreign exchange contracts were designated as hedges as required in order to apply hedge accounting. An aggregate notional amount of $5.5 million foreign exchange contracts are open at December 31, 2015. Dividends The Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.0375 per share, payable on each of February 14, 2014, May 15, 2014, August 15, 2014, November 14, 2014, February 13, 2015, May 15, 2015 and, August 14, 2015 and declared a dividend of $0.0425 per share, payable on each of November 13, 2015 and February 15, 2016. Operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities was $46.5 million in 2015 compared to $4.6 million in 2014 and $35.8 million in 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to a decrease in accounts receivable, a decrease in inventory and an increase in net income. 36 Investing activities Net cash used in investing activities was $5.0 million in 2015 compared to $72.2 million in 2014 and $3.8 million in 2013. In 2014 investing activities primarily related to the cash consideration paid in the 2014 acquisition of Kitchen Craft. No such investing activities occurred in 2015 and 2013. Financing activities Net cash used in financing activities was $39.1 million in 2015 compared to net cash provided by financing activities $67.8 million in 2014 and cash used in financing activities of $29.0 million in 2013. The Company had net repayments of $26.7 million, net borrowings of $43.9 million and net repayments of $11.7 million under its Revolving Credit Facility in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The proceeds from the 2014 borrowings were principally used to finance the 2014 acquisition of Kitchen Craft. Additionally, a portion of the Company’s 2013 borrowings were used to repurchase 245,575 shares of common stock under the 2013 stock repurchase program for a total cost of $3.2 million. CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s contractual obligations were as follows (in thousands): Payment due by period Total Less than 1 year 1-3 years 3-5 years More than 5 years Operating leases .....................................................................................$ 140,275 $ 17,058 $ 30,770 $ 21,412 $ Short-term debt ...................................................................................... Long-term debt ...................................................................................... Interest on debt ....................................................................................... Minimum royalty payments ................................................................... Post retirement benefits.......................................................................... Contingent consideration (1) .................................................................... 21,123 — 3,128 6,986 144 3,193 — 34,474 888 1,546 761 — 21,123 81,183 7,984 22,692 3,598 4,085 — 46,709 3,968 13,556 690 892 71,035 — — — 604 2,003 — Total .......................................................................................................$ 280,940 $ 51,632 $ 96,585 $ 59,081 $ 73,642 (1) Reported amounts reflect the fair value of contingent payment obligations in connection with certain acquisitions. Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. The Company is exposed to market risk associated with changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company believes it has moderate exposure to these risks. The Company assesses market risk based on changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis that measures the potential loss in earnings and cash flows based on a hypothetical 10% or 100 basis point change in these rates. The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. The Company has foreign operations through its acquisitions, investments and strategic alliances in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Hong Kong and China; therefore, the Company is subject to increases and decreases in its investments resulting from the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Additional transactions exposing the Company to exchange rate risk include sales, certain inventory purchases and operating expenses. Through its subsidiaries, portions of the Company’s cash, trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable are denominated in foreign currencies. For the year ended December 31, 2015, approximately 16% of the Company’s net sales revenue was in foreign currencies, compared to 18% for the year ended December 31, 2014. These sales were primarily denominated in British Pounds, Euros and Canadian Dollars. The Company makes most of its inventory purchases from the Far East and uses the U.S. Dollar for such purchases. In the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, foreign exchange gains and losses are recognized in SG&A expense. A hypothetical 10% change in exchange rates, with the U.S. Dollar as the functional and reporting currency, would result in an approximately $0.4 million increase in SG&A expense. In 2015, the Company entered into certain foreign exchange contracts, primarily to offset the earnings impact related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. Included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations is a gain of $272,000 related to these foreign exchange derivative contracts. The aggregate notional amount of outstanding foreign exchange contracts was $5.5 million at December 31, 2015. 37 The Company’s Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan, provided for under the Credit Agreement bear interest at variable rates. The Credit Agreement provides for interest rates linked to one of the Adjusted LIBO, the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate; and, therefore, the Company is subject to increases and decreases in interest expense resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement in August 2012 to manage interest rate exposure in connection with its variable interest rate borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, approximately $82.2 million of the Company’s debt carries a variable rate of interest, as compared to $113.0 million at December 31, 2014. The decrease of variable rate interest borrowings was primarily due to the scheduled repayments of the Company’s term loan and repayments of borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility. The remainder of the debt at December 31, 2015 (approximately $20.1 million) carries a fixed rate of interest through the use of interest rate swaps. A hypothetical and instantaneous 100 basis point increase in the Company’s variable interest rates would increase interest expense by approximately $1.1 million over a twelve month period. The sensitivity analysis above assumes interest rate changes are instantaneous, parallel shifts in the yield curve. The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $20.1 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. Interest rate swaps expose the Company to counterparty credit risk for nonperformance. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit risk by dealing with counterparties who are international financial institutions with investment grade credit ratings. Although the Company’s credit risk is the replacement cost at the estimated fair value of these instruments, the Company believes that the risk of incurring credit risk losses as a result of counterparty nonperformance is remote. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 in Item 15 commencing on page F-1 are incorporated herein by reference. The following tables set forth certain unaudited consolidated quarterly statement of operations data for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2015. This information is unaudited, but in the opinion of management, it has been prepared substantially on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, have been included in the amounts stated below to present fairly the unaudited consolidated quarterly results of operations. The consolidated quarterly data should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to such statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. The results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any future period: Year ended December 31, 2015 First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter (in thousands, except per share data) Net sales ..........................................................................................$ 117,657 $ 120,935 Gross margin ................................................................................... 43,511 Income (loss) from operations ......................................................... (987) Net income (loss) ............................................................................ (1,727) Basic income (loss) per common share ........................................... (0.12) Diluted income (loss) per common share ........................................ (0.12) 44,908 (2,171) (2,105) (0.15) (0.15) $ 163,198 $ 185,880 69,015 17,627 11,006 0.79 0.77 56,952 9,762 5,104 0.37 0.36 Year ended December 31, 2014 First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter (in thousands, except per share data) Net sales ..........................................................................................$ 118,411 $ 115,321 $ 162,244 Gross margin ................................................................................... 57,923 Income (loss) from operations ......................................................... 8,428 Net income (loss) ............................................................................ (1,586) Basic income (loss) per common share ........................................... (0.12) Diluted income (loss) per common share ........................................ (0.12) 40,852 (3,157) (3,202) (0.24) (0.24) 44,332 (2,197) (2,929) (0.22) (0.22) $ 190,034 69,774 18,310 9,261 0.68 0.66 38 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure None Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 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 December 31, 2015, that the Company’s 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 Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’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. Changes in Internal Controls On January 15, 2014, the Company acquired 100% of the share capital of Kitchen Craft. In connection with this acquisition, the Company has assessed the effectiveness of Kitchen Craft’s internal controls, and has deemed the controls over financial reporting to be effective as of December 31, 2015. Except for any changes in internal controls related to the integration of Kitchen Craft into the post-acquisition combined company, during the quarter ended on December 31, 2015, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for performing an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principle executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: • • • Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Because of the inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Accordingly, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Management performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 using the criteria set forth in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 is effective. The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. 39 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Lifetime Brands, Inc. We have audited Lifetime Brands, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). Lifetime Brands, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, Lifetime Brands, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 based on the COSO criteria. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Lifetime Brands, Inc. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 of Lifetime Brands, Inc. and our report dated March 14, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Jericho, New York March 14, 2016 40 Item 9B. Other Information Not applicable. PART III Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 The information required under these items is contained in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference. 41 PART IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules (a) See Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule on page F-1. (b) Exhibits*: Exhibit No. Description 3.1 3.2 4.1 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2016) Indenture dated as of June 27, 2006, Lifetime Brands, Inc. as issuer, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association as trustee, $75,000,000 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s registration statement No. 333-137575 on Form S-3) License Agreement dated December 14, 1989 between the Company and Farberware, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s registration statement No. 33-40154 on Form S-1) Evan Miller employment agreement dated July 1, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003)* Evan Miller Amendment of Employment Agreement dated June 29, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 3, 2007)* Employment Agreement, dated March 4, 2011, by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Jeffrey Siegel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 8, 2011)* First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated April 30, 2012, between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Jeffrey Siegel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 30, 2012)* Employment Agreement, dated March 12, 2014, by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Jeffrey Siegel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 18, 2014)* Lease Agreement dated as of May 10, 2006 between AG Metropolitan Endo, L.L.C and Lifetime Brands, Inc. for the property located at 1000 Stewart Avenue in Garden City, New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2006) First Amendment to the Lease Agreement dated as of May 10, 2006 between AG Metropolitan Endo, L.L.C and Lifetime Brands, Inc. for the property located at 1000 Stewart Avenue in Garden City, New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006) Amended 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 9, 2006)* Amendment to the Lifetime Brands, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated November 1, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 5, 2007)* Amendment of the Lifetime Brands, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated June 11, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 12, 2009)* Amendment of the Lifetime Brands, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated June 13, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 15, 2012)* Lifetime Brands Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated June 10, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 11, 2015) * Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2000 Long-term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2015) * Form of Deferred Stock (Performance-Vesting) Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2000 Long-term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2015) * 10.16 Amended 2000 Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 9, 2006)* 42 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 10.28 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 10.33 Employment Agreement dated June 28, 2007 between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Laurence Winoker (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 3, 2007)* Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated March 8, 2010, between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Laurence Winoker (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 10, 2010)* Amendment of Employment Agreement, dated April 12, 2012, between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Laurence Winoker (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 16, 2012)* Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated September 10, 2015, between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Laurence Winoker (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 16, 2015) * Shares Subscription Agreement by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc., Ekco, S.A.B. and Mr. José Ramón Elizondo Anaya and Mr. Miguel Ángel Huerta Pando, dated as of June 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 11, 2007) Amendment No.1 dated September 5, 2007 to the Shares Subscription Agreement by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc., Ekco, S.A.B. and Mr. José Ramón Elizondo Anaya and Mr. Miguel Ángel Huerta Pando, dated as of June 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008) Amendment No. 2 dated September 25, 2008 to the Shares Subscription Agreement by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc., Ekco, S.A.B. and Mr. José Ramón Elizondo Anaya and Mr. Miguel Ángel Huerta Pando, dated as of June 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008) Lease Agreement between Granite Sierra Park LP and Lifetime Brands, Inc. dated June 29, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 6, 2007) Asset Purchase Agreement between Mikasa, Inc. and Lifetime Brands, Inc. dated June, 6 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008) Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 10, 2009 by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Ronald Shiftan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 12, 2009)* Amendment of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated November 9, 2010, by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Ronald Shiftan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010)* Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2012, by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Ronald Shiftan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8- K filed December 21, 2012)* Third Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2015, by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Ronald Shiftan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 30, 2015)* Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2010, among Lifetime Brands, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and a co-collateral agent, and HSBC Business Credit (USA) Inc., as syndication agent and a co-collateral agent, with exhibits (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013) Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2010, among Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, with exhibits (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 15, 2010) Amendment No. 1 to the Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2011, among Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010) Amendment No. 2 of the Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2011, by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, with exhibits (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 3, 2011) 43 10.34 10.35 10.36 10.37 10.38 10.39 10.40 10.41 10.42 10.43 10.44 10.45 10.46 10.47 14.1 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2011, by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc., the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers parties thereto, the Other Loan Parties hereto, the Lenders party hereto, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Syndication Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013) Share Purchase Agreement, dated November 4, 2011, by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Creative Tops Holding Limited and Creative Tops Far East Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 8, 2011) Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2012, among Lifetime Brands, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013) Amendment No. 1 to the Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2012, among Lifetime Brands, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Swap Agreement Counterparty, the financial institutions party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 27, 2013) Amendment No. 2 to the Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2013, among Lifetime Brands, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the financial institutions party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 27, 2013) Share Purchase Agreement, dated January 15, 2014, relating to Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 17, 2014) Deed of Variation and Settlement, dated April 1, 2015, by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc. and the sellers of Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 8, 2015) Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2014, among Lifetime Brands, Inc., as Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors Party Thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders Party Thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Syndication Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, with exhibits. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 17, 2014) Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2014 among Lifetime Brands, Inc., as Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors Party Thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders Party Thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Syndication Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 26, 2014) Amendment No. 2 to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2015 among Lifetime Brands, Inc., as Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors Party Thereto, as Subsidiary Guarantors, The Lenders Party Thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Syndication Agent and a Co-Collateral Agent. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 23, 2015) Amendment No. 3 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 29, 2015, among Lifetime Brands, Inc., as the Company, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2015) Employment Agreement, dated November 28, 2014, by and between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Daniel Siegel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 3, 2014)* Amendment of Employment Agreement dated April 27, 2015 between Lifetime Brands, Inc. and Daniel Siegel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 2015)* Form of Amended and Restated Director’s and Officer’s Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2016) Code of Ethics dated February 28, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 6, 2013) 44 18.1 21.1 23.1 23.2 23.3 31.1 31.2 32.1 99.1 99.2 Letter from Ernst & Young LLP stating an acceptable change in accounting method for the impairment of goodwill dated October 28, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 18 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September, 30 2008) Subsidiaries of the registrant Consent of Ernst & Young LLP Consent of KPMG Cardenas Dosal, S. C. (Mexico) Consent of Castillo Miranda Y Compañía, S.C. 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 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 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 Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm on Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. (formerly Ekco, S.A.B.), consolidated financial statements Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm on Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. (formerly Ekco, S.A.B.), consolidated financial statements 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 Notes to exhibits: The Company will furnish a copy of any of the exhibits listed above upon payment of $5.00 per exhibit to cover the cost of the Company furnishing the exhibit. * Compensatory plans in which the directors and executive officers of the Company participate. (c) Financial Statement Schedules — the response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section of this Annual Report. 45 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. SIGNATURES Lifetime Brands, Inc. /s/ Jeffrey Siegel Jeffrey Siegel Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Director Date: March 14, 2016 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date /s/ Jeffrey Siegel Jeffrey Siegel /s/ Ronald Shiftan Ronald Shiftan /s/ Laurence Winoker Laurence Winoker /s/ David E.R. Dangoor David E.R. Dangoor /s/ Michael J. Jeary Michael J. Jeary /s/ John Koegel John Koegel /s/ Cherrie Nanninga Cherrie Nanninga /s/ Craig Phillips Craig Phillips /s/ Dennis E. Reaves Dennis E. Reaves /s/ Michael J. Regan Michael J. Regan /s/ Sara Genster Robling Sara Genster Robling /s/ William U. Westerfield William U. Westerfield Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) March 14, 2016 Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief March 14, 2016 Operating Officer and Director Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief March 14, 2016 Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director Director 46 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 March 14, 2016 Item 15 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE The following consolidated financial statements of Lifetime Brands, Inc. are filed as part of this Annual Report under Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ................................................................................................................. F-2 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 ........................................................................................................ F-3 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 ..................................................... F-4 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 ....................... F-5 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 ................................ F-6 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 .................................................... F-7 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ......................................................................................................................................... F-8 The following consolidated financial statement schedule of Lifetime Brands, Inc. required pursuant to Item 15(a) is submitted herewith: Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts .............................................................................................................................. S-1 All other financial schedules are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted. The unaudited supplementary data regarding quarterly results of operations are incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. F-1 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Lifetime Brands, Inc. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lifetime Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits. 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. In the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s investment in Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries is stated at $24.7 million and $27.8 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and the Company’s equity in the net income (loss) of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries is stated at $0.6 million, $0.2 million and ($4.0) million for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and Subsidiaries, is based solely on the reports of the other auditors. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the reports of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, based on our audits and the reports of other auditors, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Lifetime Brands, Inc. at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Lifetime Brands, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 14, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Jericho, New York March 14, 2016 F-2 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands-except share data) ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS ........................................................................................................................................... Cash and cash equivalents .........................................................................................................................$ Accounts receivable, less allowances of $5,300 at December 31, 2015 and $6,663 at December 31, December 31, 2015 2014 7,131 $ 5,068 2014 ...................................................................................................................................................... Inventory (Note M) ................................................................................................................................ Prepaid expenses and other current assets ................................................................................................ TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS .......................................................................................................... 90,576 136,890 8,783 243,380 107,211 137,924 7,914 258,117 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net (Note M) ................................................................................................ INVESTMENTS (Note C) ................................................................................................................................ INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net (Note D) ............................................................................................................... DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note I) ............................................................................................................ OTHER ASSETS ................................................................................................................................................ 24,877 24,973 96,593 6,486 2,643 TOTAL ASSETS ..................................................................................................................$ 398,952 26,801 28,155 103,597 — 4,732 $ 421,402 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES ................................................................................................................................ Current maturity of Credit Agreement Term Loan (Note E) ..................................................................... Short term loan (Note E) ............................................................................................................................ Accounts payable ....................................................................................................................................... Accrued expenses (Note M)....................................................................................................................... Deferred income taxes (Note I) .................................................................................................................. Income taxes payable (Note I) ................................................................................................................... TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES ................................................................................................ DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES (Note M) ........................................................... DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note I) ............................................................................................................ REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY (Note E) ................................................................................................ CREDIT AGREEMENT TERM LOAN (Note E) .............................................................................................. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY ............................................................................................................................ Preferred stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized: 100 shares of Series A and 2,000,000 shares of $ 20,000 252 27,245 40,154 — 4,064 91,715 18,556 8,596 65,617 15,000 10,000 765 28,694 36,961 2,293 5,156 83,869 20,160 1,485 92,655 35,000 Series B; none issued and outstanding ................................................................................................ — — Common stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized: 25,000,000; shares issued and outstanding: 14,030,221 at December 31, 2015 and 13,712,081 at December 31, 2014 ........................................... Paid-in capital ............................................................................................................................................ Retained earnings ....................................................................................................................................... Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note M) ..................................................................................... TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY ........................................................................................... 140 165,780 47,733 (14,185) 199,468 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY ...........................................$ 398,952 137 160,315 37,703 (9,922) 188,233 $ 421,402 See notes to consolidated financial statements. F-3 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands – except per share data) Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Net sales ................................................................................................................................ $ 587,670 Cost of sales ................................................................................................................................ 373,284 214,386 Gross margin ................................................................................................................................ 54,815 Distribution expenses ................................................................................................................... 134,903 Selling, general and administrative expenses ............................................................................... — Intangible asset impairment (Note D) .......................................................................................... 437 Restructuring expenses ................................................................................................................. 24,231 Income from operations ............................................................................................................... (5,746) Interest expense (Note E) ............................................................................................................. (154) Financing expense ........................................................................................................................ — Loss on early retirement of debt (Note E) .................................................................................... 18,331 Income before income taxes and equity in earnings ................................................................ (6,627) Income tax provision (Note I) ................................................................................................ 574 Equity in earnings (losses), net of taxes (Note C) ................................................................ 12,278 NET INCOME ............................................................................................................................$ $ 586,010 373,129 212,881 54,202 133,786 3,384 125 21,384 (6,418) (758) (346) 13,862 (5,825) (6,493) 1,544 $ $ 502,721 315,459 187,262 44,364 114,345 — 367 28,186 (4,847) — (102) 23,237 (9,175) (4,781) 9,281 $ BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE H) .........................................................$ DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE H) ...................................................$ 0.89 0.86 $ $ 0.11 0.11 $ $ 0.73 0.71 See notes to consolidated financial statements. F-4 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (in thousands) Year ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Net income ..........................................................................................................................................$ 12,278 $ 1,544 $ 9,281 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: .................................................................................. Translation adjustment (Note M) ............................................................................................... Deferred (losses) gains on cash flow hedges (Notes F & M): ................................................... Fair value adjustment, net of tax of $1 in 2015, $9 in 2014 and $160 in 2013 ................ (4,736) (5,281) 241 (140) 13 (2) Total deferred (losses) gains on cash flow hedges .................................................. (2) 13 241 Effect of retirement benefit obligations (Note M): .................................................................... Net income (loss) arising from retirement benefit obligations, net of tax of $211 in 2015, ($589) in 2014 and $241 in 2013 ....................................................................... 941 (1,507) Less: amortization of loss included in net income, net of tax of $53 in 2015, $19 in 2014 and $36 in 2013 ................................................................................................ 79 Total effects of retirement benefit obligations ........................................................ 1,020 Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax ................................................................................... (4,263) 28 (1,479) (6,202) 361 54 415 516 Comprehensive income (loss) .............................................................................................................$ 8,015 $ (4,658) $ 9,797 See notes to consolidated financial statements. F-5 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (in thousands) BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2012 .................... Comprehensive income: .............................................. Net income ......................................................... Translation adjustment ....................................... Derivative fair value adjustment (Note F) ......................................................... Effect of retirement benefit obligations ............. Total comprehensive income .................... Shares issued to directors (Note G) ............................. Stock compensation expense (Note G) ........................ Reduction of tax benefit from stock options, net ......... Exercise of stock options ............................................. Treasury Stock Repurchase ......................................... Dividends (Note G) ..................................................... BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013 .................... Comprehensive income: .............................................. Net income ......................................................... Translation adjustment ....................................... Derivative fair value adjustment (Note F) ......... Effect of retirement benefit obligations ............. Total comprehensive loss ......................... Shares issued to directors (Note G) ............................. Shares issued to employee (Note G) ........................... Stock compensation expense (Note G) ........................ Issuance of 581,432 shares of common stock for acquisition of Kitchen Craft (Note B)..................... Tax provision on exercise of stock options ................. Exercise of stock options ............................................. Dividends (Note G) ..................................................... BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014 .................... Comprehensive income: .............................................. Net income ......................................................... Translation adjustment ....................................... Derivative fair value adjustment (Note F) ......... Effect of retirement benefit obligations ............. Total comprehensive income .................... Shares issued to directors (Note G) ............................. Shares issued to employees (Note G) .......................... Stock compensation expense (Note G) ........................ Reduction of tax benefit from stock options, net ......... Exercise of stock options ............................................. Dividends (Note G) ..................................................... BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2015 .................... Common stock Shares 12,754 $ Amount 128 Paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total $ 142,489 $ 33,849 $ (4,236) $ 172,230 — — — — — — 9,281 — — (140) 9,281 (140) — — — — — — — — 21 — — 248 (246) — 12,777 $ — — — 2 (2) — 128 277 2,604 (310) 1,213 — — — — — — (3,227) (1,679) $ 146,273 $ 38,224 $ — — — — — — — — — — — — 1,544 — — — 23 5 — — — — 344 2 2,489 — — — 581 — 326 — 13,712 $ 6 — 3 — 137 — — — — — — — — 28 189 — — 101 — 14,030 $ — 2 — — 1 — 140 8,376 343 2,488 — — — — (2,065) $ 160,315 $ 37,703 $ — — — — 12,278 — — — 416 1,655 2,689 (138) 843 — — — — — — (2,248) $ 165,780 $ 47,733 $ 241 415 241 415 9,797 277 2,604 (310) 1,215 (3,229) (1,679) (3,720) $ 180,905 — — — — — — — (4,736) 13 (1,479) — — — 1,544 (4,736) 13 (1,479) (4,658) 344 2 2,489 — — — — 8,382 343 2,491 (2,065) (9,922) $ 188,233 1,020 — (5,281) (2) 12,278 (5,281) (2) 1,020 8,015 416 1,657 2,689 (138) 844 (2,248) (14,185) $ 199,468 — — — — — — See notes to consolidated financial statements. F-6 LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 12,278 $ 1,544 $ 9,281 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income ................................................................................................................................ $ Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: ......................... Provision for doubtful accounts ............................................................................................ Depreciation and amortization .............................................................................................. Amortization of financing costs ............................................................................................ Deferred rent ......................................................................................................................... Deferred income taxes........................................................................................................... Stock compensation expense ................................................................................................ Undistributed equity (earnings) losses .................................................................................. Intangible asset impairment (Note D) ................................................................................... Loss on early retirement of debt (Note E) ............................................................................. Contingent consideration fair value adjustment ................................................................ Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of business acquisitions) ............ Accounts receivable .............................................................................................................. Inventory ............................................................................................................................... Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets......................................................... Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities ..................................................... Income taxes payable ............................................................................................................ 46 14,203 641 848 (1,440) 5,286 (348) — — 650 15,481 (308) 1,087 (397) (1,517) NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES ................................ 46,510 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of property and equipment .............................................................................................. Equity investments .......................................................................................................................... Kitchen Craft acquisition, net of cash acquired ............................................................................... Other acquisitions, net of cash acquired .......................................................................................... Net proceeds from sale of property ................................................................................................ NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES ............................................... (5,166) 112 — — 26 (5,028) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility (Note E) .......................................................................... Repayments from Revolving Credit Facility (Note E) ................................................................ Repayments of Senior Secured Term Loan (Note E) ................................................................ Proceeds from Credit Agreement Term Loan (Note E) ................................................................ Repayments of Credit Agreement Term Loan (Note E) ................................................................ Proceeds from Short Term Loan (Note E) ....................................................................................... Payments from Short Term Loan (Note E) ...................................................................................... Payments for stock repurchase ................................................................................................ Payment of financing costs .............................................................................................................. Cash dividends paid (Note G) .......................................................................................................... Payment of capital lease obligations ................................................................................................ Payment of contingent consideration ............................................................................................... Proceeds from the exercise of stock options .................................................................................... Excess tax benefit from stock options ............................................................................................. 263,632 (290,346) — — (10,000) 289 (802) — (212) (2,150) (50) (391) 843 43 NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES ................ (39,144) Effect of foreign exchange on cash ............................................................................................................ (275) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ......................................................................................... 2,063 5,068 286 14,200 617 (722) (3,757) 4,493 6,724 3,384 346 (4,203) (6,209) (6,354) (2,063) (950) (2,747) 4,589 (6,171) (764) (59,977) (5,389) 68 (72,233) 278,014 (234,067) (20,625) 50,000 (5,000) 1,645 (880) — (2,283) (2,031) — — 2,488 553 67,814 (49) 121 4,947 139 10,415 528 (962) (2,275) 2,881 5,354 — 102 — 10,099 (8,207) (449) 9,437 (579) 35,764 (3,842) — — — 11 (3,831) 220,222 (231,959) (14,375) — — — — (3,229) — (1,515) — — 1,215 613 (29,028) 171 3,076 1,871 4,947 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR $ 7,131 $ 5,068 $ See notes to consolidated financial statements LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. F-7 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2015 NOTE A — SIGNIFICANT 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 consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-K. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, reserves for sales returns and allowances and customer chargebacks, inventory mark-down provisions, impairment of tangible and intangible assets, stock based compensation expense, estimates for unpaid healthcare claims, derivative valuations, accruals related to the Company’s tax positions and tax valuation allowances. Although these and other estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual results could be materially different from these estimates. Principles of consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Foreign Currency All foreign wholly-owned subsidiaries use the local currency of their respective countries as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet dates. Revenues, costs and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates for the relevant period. Income and losses resulting from translation are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recognized in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Foreign currency gain/loss included within selling, general and administrative expenses was a $714,000 loss in 2015, $1.4 million loss in 2014 and a $258,000 loss in 2013. Revenue recognition The Company sells products wholesale, to retailers and distributors, and retail, directly to consumers. Wholesale sales and retail direct 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 direct sales. Shipping and handling fees that are billed to customers in sales transactions are included in net sales and amounted to $1.6 million in 2015 and $1.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. 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 consolidated statements of operations. Cost of sales Cost of sales consist primarily of costs associated with the production and procurement of product, inbound freight costs, purchasing costs, royalties and other product procurement related charges. F-8 Distribution expenses Distribution expenses consist primarily of warehousing expenses and freight-out expenses. Freight-out expenses were $11.3 million, $11.4 million and $9.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Handling costs of products sold are included in cost of sales. Advertising expenses Advertising expenses are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses were $1.5 million, $1.6 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Accounts receivable The Company periodically reviews the collectability of its accounts receivable and establishes allowances for estimated losses that could result from the inability of its customers to make required payments. A considerable amount of judgment is required to assess the ultimate realization of these receivables including assessing the initial and on-going creditworthiness of the Company’s customers. The Company also maintains an allowance for anticipated customer deductions. The allowances for deductions are primarily based on contracts with customers. However, in certain cases the Company does not have a formal contract and, therefore, customer deductions are non-contractual. To evaluate the reasonableness of non-contractual customer deductions, the Company analyzes currently available information and historical trends of deductions. 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. Property and equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost. Property and equipment, other than leasehold improvements, is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Building and improvements are being depreciated over 30 years and machinery, furniture and equipment over periods ranging from 3 to 10 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Advances paid towards the acquisition of property and equipment and the cost of property and equipment not ready for use before the end of the period are classified as construction in progress. Cash equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Concentration of credit risk The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are potentially subject to concentration of credit risk. The Company maintains cash with several financial institutions that, in some cases, is in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., including Sam’s Club and, in the United Kingdom, Asda Superstore, (“Walmart”), accounted for 16%, 16%, and 15% of net sales, respectively. Sales to Walmart are included in the Company’s U.S. Wholesale and International segments. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s sales during these periods. F-9 Fair value measurements Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and establishes a common definition of fair value, provides a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. Fair value measurements included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements relate to the Company’s annual goodwill and other intangible asset impairment tests and derivatives, described in Notes D and F, respectively. 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 and Term Loan approximate fair value since such borrowings bear interest at variable market rates. Derivatives The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with 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 hedge item is recognized in earnings. If the 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. Goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but, instead, are subject to an annual impairment assessment. Additionally, if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable, the Company would evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment at that time. As it relates to the goodwill assessment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment testing described in ASU Topic No. 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. If, after assessing qualitative factors, the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary and the Company’s goodwill is considered to be unimpaired. However, if based on the Company’s qualitative assessment it concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment, the Company will proceed with performing the two-step process. The first step in the two-step process compares the carrying value of each reporting unit that has goodwill with the estimated fair value of the respective reporting unit. Should the carrying value of a reporting unit be in excess of the estimated fair value of that reporting unit, the second step must be performed. The second step represents a hypothetical purchase price allocation as if the Company had acquired the reporting unit on that date. The Company also evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether or not its indefinite lived intangibles have been impaired and then performs quantitative tests if required. These tests can include the royalty savings model or other valuation models. Long-lived assets, including intangible assets deemed to have finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such amounts may have been impaired. Impairment indicators include, among other conditions, cash flow deficits, historic or anticipated declines in revenue or operating profit or material adverse changes in the business climate that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may be impaired. When impairment indicators are present, the Company compares the carrying value of the asset to the estimated discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Income taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company accounts for foreign income taxes based upon anticipated reinvestment of profits into respective foreign tax jurisdictions. F-10 The Company applies the authoritative guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in the Company’s financial statements. In accordance with this guidance, tax positions must meet a more-likely- than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position. A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. Share-based compensation The Company accounts for its share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Stock Compensation”, which requires the measurement of compensation expense for all share-based compensation granted to employees and non-employee directors at fair value on the date of grant and recognition of compensation expense over the related service period for awards expected to vest. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of its stock options. The Black-Scholes option valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility of the Company’s common stock and the risk-free interest rate. Changes in these subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate of the Company’s stock options on the date of the option grant. Performance share awards are initially valued at the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant. 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 the end of the performance period, as determined by the Compensation Committee. Compensation expense for performance awards is recognized over the vesting period, and will vary based on remeasurement during the performance period. If the performance metrics are not probable of achievement during the performance period, compensation expense is reversed. The awards are forfeited if the performance metrics are not achieved as of the end of the performance period. The performance share awards vest in full at the end of a three year period. The Company bases the estimated fair value of restricted stock awards on the date of grant. The estimated fair value is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares awarded. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, reduced by an estimated forfeiture rate. Employee Healthcare The Company self-insures certain portions of its health insurance plan. The Company maintains an accrual for estimated unpaid claims and claims incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”). Although management believes that it uses the best information available to estimate IBNR claims, 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. In December 2015, the Company commenced a plan to reorganize its product categories and U.S. Wholesale organizational structure. The Company recorded $437,000 of restructuring expenses during the year ended December 31, 2015 related to the execution of this plan. The Company expects to recognize an additional $0.5 million, primarily for severance, in the first quarter of 2016 related to the execution of this plan. In May 2014, the Company commenced a plan to consolidate its customer service and call center functions and eliminated certain employee positions in connection with this consolidation. The Company recorded $125,000 of restructuring expenses during the year ended December 31, 2014 related to the execution of this plan. The Company does not anticipate that it will incur any further restructuring expenses related to this plan. In April 2013, the Company commenced a plan to close the Fred® & Friends distribution center and eliminate certain employee positions in conjunction with the closure. The Company recorded $367,000 of restructuring expenses during the year ended December 31, 2013 related to the execution of this plan. The Company does not anticipate that it will incur any further restructuring expenses related to this closure. F-11 New Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“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. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which requires an entity to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent within a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. This update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company early adopted ASU 2015-17 on a prospective basis as of December 31, 2015. Prior period amounts were not retrospectively adjusted. In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“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 guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date of this update with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The Company does not expect that the adoption of the ASU will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements. 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 consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued 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. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. This ASU can be applied prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently determining its implementation approach and assessing the impact, if any, on the consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs and during August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, which clarifies the treatment of debt issuance costs from line-of-credit arrangements after adoption of ASU 2015-03. ASU 2015-03 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. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. This ASU will be applied on a retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company’s adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position. 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 the consolidated financial statements. F-12 NOTE B —ACQUISITIONS Kitchen Craft On January 15, 2014, the Company acquired 100% of the share capital of Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Limited (“Kitchen Craft”) for cash in the amount of £37.4 million (approximately $61.3 million) and 581,432 shares of common stock of the Company with an intrinsic value of £5.5 million ($9.0 million). The purchase price also includes contingent cash consideration of up to £5.5 million ($9.0 million) which will be payable in future years if Kitchen Craft achieves certain financial targets. Kitchen Craft is a leading supplier of kitchenware products and accessories in the United Kingdom. The assets, liabilities and operating results of Kitchen Craft are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC Topic No. 805, Business Combinations, commencing from the acquisition date. The purchase price has been determined to be as follows (in thousands): Cash ...............................................................................................................$ Share consideration issued(1) .......................................................................... Value of contingent consideration(2)............................................................... Working capital adjustment(3) ........................................................................ 61,302 8,382 2,488 374 Total purchase price .............................................................................$ 72,546 (1) Share consideration issued is valued at the closing market price discounted to account for lack of marketability related to the lock up period as described in the share purchase agreement. (2) The value of contingent consideration represents the present value of the estimated payments related to the attainment of certain financial targets for the years 2014 through 2016. The maximum undiscounted contingent consideration to be paid on the agreement is £5.5 million ($9.0 million). (3) A working capital adjustment was made in May 2014 as provided for in the share purchase agreement. The purchase price was allocated based on the Company’s estimate of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as follows (in thousands): Accounts Receivable (1) ..............................................................................$ Inventory................................................................................................ Other assets ................................................................................................ Other liabilities .......................................................................................... Deferred income tax .................................................................................. Goodwill and other intangibles ................................................................ Purchase Price Allocation 14,267 17,912 4,054 (10,242) (8,391) 54,946 Total allocated value ..................................................................................$ 72,546 (1) The fair value of accounts receivable approximated the gross contractual amounts receivable. Goodwill results from such factors as an assembled workforce. The total amount of goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. All of the goodwill and other intangible assets are included in the International Segment. Customer relationships and trade names are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (see Note D). In April 2015, the Company entered into a Deed of Variation and Settlement with the sellers of Kitchen Craft to amend the calculation and financial targets of the contingent consideration included in the share purchase agreement. The maximum undiscounted contingent consideration to be paid remains unchanged at £5.5 million. As a result of the amendment, in April 2015, a charge of £1.0 million (approximately $1.5 million) was recorded in selling, general and administration expenses. As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of the amended contingent consideration is £2.7 million (approximately $4.0 million). Kitchen Craft was the sponsor of a defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”) for which service costs accrual ceased prior to the acquisition. Pursuant to the share purchase agreement, the Company and the sellers agreed to take action to settle the Plan’s obligation through the purchase of a group annuity contract, to individual annuity contracts and to terminate the Plan. The Plan was settled and terminated in the fourth quarter of 2015. There was no impact to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 in connection with the 2015 settlement of the Plan. The Company’s net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are described in Note L. F-13 Unaudited pro forma results The year ended December 31, 2014 includes the operations of Kitchen Craft for the period from January 15, 2014 to December 31, 2014. The consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes $67.6 million of net sales and $4.1 million of income from operations attributable to Kitchen Craft. The following table presents the Company’s pro forma consolidated net sales and income before income taxes and equity in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. The unaudited pro forma results include the historical statements of operations information of the Company and of Kitchen Craft, giving effect to the Kitchen Craft acquisition and related financing as if they had occurred at the beginning of the period presented. The Company consummated certain other acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2014; however the Company has not included the results prior to their acquisition in these pro forma results as the impact would not have been material. Net sales ................................................................$ Income before income taxes and equity in earnings ................................................................ Net income ................................................................ Basic earnings per common share ............................. Diluted earnings per common share ..........................$ Unaudited pro forma results Year ended December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 (In thousands, except per share data) 586,010 $ 567,218 15,760 2,702 0.20 0.19 $ 26,491 12,031 0.90 0.88 The pro forma results, prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, include the following pro forma adjustments related to the Kitchen Craft acquisition: (i) (ii) the elimination of the charge in cost of sales related to the increase in fair value of acquired inventory of $0.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2014; an increase in amortization expense related to the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets of $3.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2013; (iii) the elimination of acquisition costs recorded in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 of $1.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively; (iv) an increase in interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs of $2.0 million, resulting from the refinancing of the Company’s debt to finance the acquisition, during the year ended December 31, 2013; and (v) an adjustment of $2.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to conform compensation expense to the Company’s current compensation policies. The unaudited pro forma results do not include any revenue or cost reductions that may be achieved through the business combination, or the impact of non-recurring items directly related to the business combination. The unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Kitchen Craft acquisition had been completed as of the date for which the pro forma financial information is presented. In addition, the unaudited pro forma results do not purport to project the future consolidated operating results of the combined companies. See Note M for amounts accrued as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 related to contingent consideration. The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration was calculated using level 3 unobservable inputs. NOTE C — 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 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 years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 in the accompanying 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 rate of MXN 17.38 and MXN 14.74 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income has been translated from MXN to USD using the F-14 average exchange rates of MXN 14.94 to 16.76, MXN 12.99 to 13.87 and MXN 12.46 to 13.01, during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. The effect of the translation of the Company’s investment resulted in a decrease of the investment of $4.9 million, $4.0 million and $0.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. These translation effects are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company received cash dividends of $226,000, $230,000, and $571,000 from Vasconia during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Included in prepaid expenses and other current assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $55,000 and $33,000 due from Vasconia. Included within accrued expenses at December 31, 2015 and 2013 was $28,000 and $152,000 due to Vasconia. Summarized income statement information for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, as well as summarized balance sheet information as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, for Vasconia in USD and MXN is as follows: 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands) 2013 Income Statement Net Sales ......................................................$ 178,832 $ 2,824,399 $ 188,863 $ 2,514,294 $ 159,574 $ 2,038,200 Gross Profit .................................................. 367,944 534,285 Income from operations ............................... 70,430 165,507 Net Income ................................................... 55,077 117,194 474,482 103,658 71,732 35,592 7,790 5,328 33,982 10,551 7,353 28,775 5,438 4,315 USD MXN MXN MXN USD USD December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) Balance Sheet Current assets .............................................................................$ Non-current assets ................................................................ Current liabilities ........................................................................ Non-current liabilities................................................................ USD MXN USD MXN 100,482 $ 87,118 38,983 56,339 1,745,922 $ 1,513,724 677,355 978,910 110,865 $ 86,888 37,032 58,753 1,634,154 1,280,723 545,852 866,022 The Company recorded equity in earnings (losses) of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $0.6 million, $0.2 million and $(4.0) million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Equity in earnings in 2015 and 2014 includes deferred tax expense of $1.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively, 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. Equity in losses in 2013 includes a charge of $5.0 million, net of tax, for the reduction in Vasconia’s fair value as a result of a decline in the quoted stock price and the 2013 quarterly decline in the operating results of Vasconia. As of December 31, 2015, the fair value (based upon the quoted stock price) of the Company’s investment in Vasconia was $35.9 million. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in Vasconia was $24.7 million. The Company owns a 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”), a wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil, which the Company acquired in December 2011. As a result of the decline in operating results of GSI and the current business environment in Brazil, the Company evaluated its carrying value of the investment for other-than-temporary impairment under the equity-method of accounting. Management performed an evaluation of quantitative factors and concluded that the investment was other-than-temporarily impaired as of September 30, 2014. The estimate of fair value was based upon the median of the income- approach (discounted cash flow method) and market-approach valuation methodology using Level 3 unobservable inputs. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company purchased 40% of newly issued common stock of GSI for R$2.0 million ($764,000). The Company assessed the valuation of its fourth quarter investment in GSI and determined there were no significant changes to the assumptions used in the valuation of GSI performed during the third quarter. As a result, the new investment was also determined to be impaired. Accordingly, the Company recorded a total $6.0 million impairment charge, net of tax, in equity in earnings (losses), net of tax during the third and fourth quarters 2014. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, 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 year ended December 31, 2015. In February 2012, the Company entered into Grand Venture Holdings Limited (“Grand Venture”), a joint venture with Manweal Development Limited (“Manweal”), a Chinese corporation, to distribute Mikasa® products in China, which included an initial investment of $500,000. The Company and Manweal each own 50% of Grand Venture and have rights and obligations proportionate to their ownership percentages. The Company accounts for its investment in Grand Venture using the equity method of accounting and has recorded its proportionate share of Grand Venture’s net loss as equity in earnings (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company recorded equity in losses of the joint venture of $20,000, $39,000 and $83,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in Grand Venture was $246,000 and $251,000, respectively. F-15 The Company evaluated the disclosure requirements of ASC Topic No. 860, Transfers and Servicing, and determined that at December 31, 2015, the Company did not have a controlling voting interest or variable interest in any of its investments and therefore continued accounting for the investments using the equity method of accounting. NOTE D — GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS The Company’s intangible assets, all of which are included in the U.S. Wholesale and International segments, consist of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2015 Accumulated Amortization Gross Net Gross 2014 Accumulated Amortization Net Goodwill ...........................................................$ Indefinite-lived intangible assets: 18,101 $ — $ 18,101 $ 18,101 $ — $ 18,101 Trade names .............................................. 7,616 — 7,616 7,616 — 7,616 Finite-lived intangible assets: ......................... Licenses .................................................... Trade names .............................................. Customer relationships ............................. Other ......................................................... 15,847 29,724 50,823 1,202 (8,462) (6,818) (10,806) (634) 7,385 22,906 40,017 568 15,847 29,768 50,823 1,202 (8,007) (4,568) (6,754) (431) 7,840 25,200 44,069 771 Total ................................................................$ 123,313 $ (26,720) $ 96,593 $ 123,357 $ (19,760) $ 103,597 The Company performed its 2015 annual impairment test for its indefinite-lived trade names as of October 1, 2015. The Company elected to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names are less than the carrying values. The Company considered events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used to determine the fair values of the indefinite-lived trade names. Based on the qualitative assessment, the Company determined it is not more likely than not that the fair values of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names are less than the carrying values. In 2014, the Company performed quantitative impairment test for its indefinite-lived trade names which involved the assessment of the fair market values of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names based on Level 3 unobservable inputs, using a relief from royalty approach, assuming a discount rate of 14.0%-15.5% and an average long term growth rate of 2.5%-3%. The result of the impairment assessment of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names indicated that the carrying values of the Elements® and Melannco® trade names exceeded their fair values as of October 1, 2014. The Company’s home décor products category has experienced a decline in sales and profit in recent years. The Company believes the most significant factor resulting in the decline was the reduction in retail space allocated by the Company’s customers to the category which has also contributed to pricing pressure. As a result of these factors, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.4 million, related to these brands, in its consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, as of October 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, the Company assessed the carrying value of its goodwill and determined based on quantitative and qualitative factors that no impairment existed. The Company bypassed the optional qualitative impairment analysis for its three reporting units with goodwill for its October 1, 2015 impairment test. Accordingly, the first step of the two step goodwill impairment test as described was performed. Under the first step, the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is calculated by the discounted cash flow method. The significant assumptions used under the discounted cash flow method are projected net sales, projected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), terminal growth rates, and the cost of capital. Projected net sales, projected EBITDA and terminal growth rates were determined to be significant assumptions because they are three primary drivers of the projected cash flows in the discounted cash flow fair value model. Cost of capital was also determined to be a significant assumption as it is the discount rate used to calculate the current fair value of those projected cash flows. Under this approach, the resultant estimated fair value of each of the reporting units exceeded their carrying value as of October 1, 2015 and no goodwill impairment charges were recorded. For one of the reporting units tested under the first step, the Kitchen Craft reporting unit, which carried goodwill of $13.0 million, the excess of fair value over its carrying value was 5%. This reporting unit was acquired in 2014, and therefore the Company did not expect the fair value to be significantly in excess of the carrying value. There were no fundamental changes in the business that would indicate a significant decline in the fair value since the acquisition date, however macroeconomic conditions in Europe have F-16 contributed to a decline in EBITDA. Management’s projections used to estimate the undiscounted cash flows included increasing net sales and operational improvements designed to reduce costs. Changes in any of the significant assumptions used can materially affect the expected cash flows, and such impacts can result in the requirement to proceed to the second step of the test and potentially a material non-cash impairment charge could result. The Company is not currently aware of any negative changes in its assumptions that could lead to the fair value of the reporting units being less than the carrying value. A summary of the activities related to the Company’s intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 consists of the following (in thousands): Intangible Assets Goodwill Total Intangible Assets and Goodwill Goodwill and Intangible Assets, December 31, 2012 ...............$ Amortization .................................................................................. 52,757 $ (2,693) Goodwill and Intangible Assets, December 31, 2013 ............... 50,064 Acquisition of trade names ............................................................ Acquisition of customer relationships ........................................... Acquisition of other intangible assets ............................................ Goodwill from Kitchen Craft acquisition ...................................... Impairment of trade names ............................................................ Amortization .................................................................................. 12,348 32,417 618 — (3,384) (6,567) Goodwill and Intangible Assets, December 31, 2014 ............... 85,496 $ 5,085 — 5,085 — — — 13,016 — — 18,101 Amortization .................................................................................. (7,004) — Goodwill and Intangible Assets, December 31, 2015 ...............$ 78,492 $ 18,101 $ 57,842 (2,693) 55,149 12,348 32,417 618 13,016 (3,384) (6,567) 103,597 (7,004) 96,593 The weighted-average amortization periods for the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2015 are as follows: Trade names ............................................................................................ Licenses ................................................................................................ Customer relationships ........................................................................... Other ................................................................................................ 14 33 13 11 Years Estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, 2016 .......................................................................................................................... 2017 .......................................................................................................................... 2018 .......................................................................................................................... 2019 .......................................................................................................................... 2020 .......................................................................................................................... 6,993 6,705 6,705 6,705 6,690 $ Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $7.0 million, $6.6 million and $2.7 million, respectively. NOTE E — DEBT Credit Agreement In January 2014, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which has been amended, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, as Administrative Agent and Co-Collateral Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Syndication Agent and Co-Collateral Agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The 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 of $50.0 million. F-17 At December 31, 2015 and 2014, borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility were $65.6 million and $92.7 million, respectively. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, open letters of credit were $1.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $86.2 million and $64.9 million, respectively. The borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility depends, in part, on eligible levels of accounts receivable and inventory, each of which fluctuates based upon seasonality of the business, and certain trademark values, based upon periodic appraisals. Therefore, the actual borrowing capacity may be less than the $175.0 million commitment. The Company classifies a portion of the Revolving Credit Facility as a current liability if the Company’s intent and ability is to repay the loan from cash flows from operations which are expected to occur within the next 12 months. Repayments and borrowings under the facility can vary significantly from planned levels based on cash flow needs and general economic conditions. The Company expects that it will continue to borrow and repay funds, subject to availability, under the facility based on working capital and other corporate needs. 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 December 31, 2015 and 2014, $35.0 million and $45.0 million, respectively, was outstanding under the Term Loan. In May 2015, the Credit Agreement was amended to provide for a $10.0 million prepayment of the Term Loan if such amount exceeded 50% of the Company’s excess cash flow for the 2015 fiscal year. Interest rates on outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2015 ranged from 2.125% to 4.75%. 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 4.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2015; 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 December 31, 2015 the maximum additional permitted indebtedness other than certain subordinated indebtedness was $99.7 million. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement at December 31, 2015. 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 December 31, 2015, RMB 1.6 million ($252,000) was outstanding and the interest rate was 5.0% under the HSBC Facility. NOTE F — DERIVATIVES The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $20.1 million 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). F-18 The Company has also entered into foreign exchange contracts, primarily to offset the earnings impact related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. The aggregate gross notional amount of foreign exchange contracts at December 31, 2015 was $5.5 million. 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. The fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments included in the consolidated balance sheets are presented as follows (in thousands): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments Balance Sheet Location 2015 2014 Interest rate swaps ................................................................ Acrrued Expenses $ 10 $ 6 Liabilities December 31, Deferred rent & other long-term liability 25 26 Assets December 31, Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments Balance Sheet Location 2015 2014 Foreign exchange contracts .................................................. Prepaid expenses and other current assets $ 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): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives 2015 Year ended December 31, 2014 2013 Interest rate swaps ............................................................$ (2) $ 13 $ 241 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): Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Earnings on Derivatives Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Earnings on Derivatives Year Ended December 31, 2014 2015 2013 Foreign exchange contracts ................................................................ Selling, general and administrative expense $ 272 $ 694 $ — NOTE G — CAPITAL STOCK Long-term incentive plan The Company’s Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the granting of awards of up to 4,850,000 shares of common stock. These shares of the Company’s common stock are available for grants to directors, officers, employees, consultants and service providers and affiliates in the form of stock options or other equity-based awards. The Plan authorizes the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly appointed committee thereof, to issue incentive stock options, non- qualified options, restricted stock, performance based awards and other stock-based awards. Options that have been granted under the F-19 Plan expire over a range of five to ten years from the date of grant and vest over a range of up to five years from the date of grant. Shares of restricted stock that have been granted under the Plan vest over a range of up to four years from the date of grant. Performance based awards that have been granted under the Plan vest after three years based upon the attainment of specified performance goals. As of December 31, 2015, there were 604,460 shares available for the grant of awards. Cash dividends Dividends were declared in 2015 and 2014 as follows: Dividend per share Date declared $0.0375 ................................................................October 31, 2013 $0.0375 ................................................................March 11, 2014 $0.0375 ................................................................June 19, 2014 $0.0375 ................................................................July 29, 2014 $0.0375 ................................................................November 5, 2014 $0.0375 ................................................................March 4, 2015 $0.0375 ................................................................June 10, 2015 $0.0425 ................................................................August 4, 2015 $0.0425 ................................................................November 3, 2015 Payment date February 14, 2014 May 15, 2014 August 15, 2014 Date of record January 31, 2014 May 1, 2014 August 1, 2014 October 31, 2014 November 14, 2014 January 30, 2015 May 1, 2015 July 31, 2015 October 30, 2015 November 13, 2015 February 1, 2016 February 13, 2015 May 15, 2015 August 14, 2015 February 15, 2016 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. Stock repurchase program On April 30, 2013, Lifetime’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The repurchase authorization permits the Company to effect repurchases from time to time through open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company repurchased 245,575 shares for a total cost of $3.2 million and thereafter retired the shares. No shares were repurchased during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Preferred stock The Company is authorized to issue 100 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 2,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, none of which has been issued or is outstanding at December 31, 2015. Stock options A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the three years ended December 31, 2015, is as follows: Options outstanding at December 31, 2012 ......................... Grants .............................................................................. Exercises ......................................................................... Cancellations................................................................ Expirations ...................................................................... Options outstanding at December 31, 2013 ......................... Grants .............................................................................. Exercises ......................................................................... Cancellations................................................................ Expirations ...................................................................... Options outstanding at December 31, 2014 ......................... Grants .............................................................................. Exercises ......................................................................... Cancellations................................................................ Expirations ...................................................................... Options outstanding at December 31, 2015 ......................... Options 2,528,177 390,800 (247,827) (68,000) (231,500) 2,371,650 394,400 (365,223) (32,200) (42,000) 2,326,627 89,600 (110,375) (37,750) (25,900) 2,242,202 Options exercisable at December 31, 2015 .......................... 1,725,944 $ F-20 Weighted- average exercise price Weighted- average remaining contractual life (years) Aggregate intrinsic value 13.06 12.26 4.91 16.89 22.46 12.75 18.83 8.63 12.23 26.61 14.19 13.99 8.84 15.57 26.60 14.28 13.85 5.1 3,715,000 4.3 $ 3,551,000 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 in-the-money stock options on December 31, 2015. 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 December 31, 2015 and the exercise price. The total intrinsic values of those stock options that were exercised in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 were $639,000, $3,103,000 and $1,997,000, 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 December 31, 2015, before the effect of income taxes, was $3.1 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. The Company values stock options using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model, as well as other available models, was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The Black-Scholes option valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility and risk-free interest rate. Because the Company’s stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates of the Company’s stock options. The weighted-average per share grant date fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 was $4.68, $9.73 and $6.12, respectively. The fair values for these stock options were estimated at the dates of grant using the following weighted-average assumptions: Historical volatility ....................................................................................... Expected term (years) ................................................................................... Risk-free interest rate .................................................................................... Expected dividend yield................................................................................ 2015 39% 5.2 1.67% 1.18% 2014 58% 6.0 1.95% 0.77% 2013 61% 5.6 0.88% 0.97% Restricted Stock A summary of the Company’s restricted stock activity and related information for the three years ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: Nonvested restricted shares, December 31, 2012 .................. Grants ............................................................................... Vested ............................................................................... Nonvested restricted shares, December 31, 2013 .................. Grants ............................................................................... Vested ............................................................................... $ Restricted Shares 23,394 22,459 (23,394) 22,459 26,511 (22,459) Nonvested restricted shares, December 31, 2014 .................. Grants ............................................................................... Vested ............................................................................... Cancellations ................................................................ 26,511 100,073 (24,649) (500) Nonvested restricted shares, December 31, 2015 .................. 101,435 $ Total unrecognized compensation expense Weighted- average grant date fair value 11.54 13.26 11.54 13.26 15.86 13.26 15.86 14.78 15.97 14.84 14.77 remaining ............................................................................ $ 1,089,700 Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over ...................................................................................... 2.6 The total fair value of restricted stock that vested during the year ended December 31, 2015 was $374,000. F-21 Performance shares During the year ended December 31, 2015, awards for performance shares were granted under the Plan. 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. A summary of the Company’s performance-based award activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: Performance- based awards Weighted- average grant date fair value Nonvested performance-based awards, January 1, 2015 .......................... Grants (at target) ..................................................................................... Cancellations .......................................................................................... $ — 66,650 (500) Nonvested performance-based awards, December 31, 2015 ..................... 66,150 $ — 14.84 14.84 14.84 Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining ...............................$ 740,560 Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over ........................... 2.0 The Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, of which $2.2 million represents stock option compensation expense, $0.8 million represents restricted stock, including restricted stock granted to directors, and performance based compensation expense and $2.2 million represents stock awards. For the year ended December 31, 2014 the Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $4.5 million, of which $2.5 million represents stock option compensation expense, $0.3 million represents restricted stock compensation expense and $1.7 million represents stock awards. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $2.9 million. NOTE H — INCOME PER COMMON SHARE Basic income per common share has been computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding. Diluted income per common share adjusts net income and basic income per common share for the effect of all potentially dilutive shares of the Company’s common stock. The calculations of basic and diluted income per common share for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 are as follows: 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands - except per share amounts) Net income – Basic and Diluted ................................................ $ 12,278 $ 1,544 $ 9,281 Weighted-average shares outstanding – Basic......................... Effect of dilutive securities: 13,850 13,519 12,757 Stock options and restricted stock ...................................... 416 Weighted-average shares outstanding – Diluted ..................... 14,266 Basic income per common share ............................................... $ 0.89 Diluted income per common share ........................................... $ 0.86 455 13,974 286 13,043 $ $ 0.11 0.11 $ $ 0.73 0.71 The computations of diluted income per common share for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 excludes options to purchase 1,467,857, 2,004,836 and 1,417,145 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively. These shares were excluded due to their antidilutive effect. F-22 NOTE I — INCOME TAXES The components of income before income taxes, equity in earnings and extraordinary item are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 Domestic ......................................................................................$ Foreign ......................................................................................... Total income before income taxes and equity in earnings ...........$ 22,096 (3,765) 18,331 The provision for income taxes (before equity in earnings) consists of: (in thousands) 10,251 3,611 13,862 $ $ $ $ 26,470 (3,233) 23,237 Current: .......................................................................................... Federal ..................................................................................$ State and local ...................................................................... Foreign ................................................................................. Deferred ......................................................................................... Income tax provision .....................................................................$ Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands) 5,584 1,879 604 (1,440) 6,627 $ $ 4,709 1,284 1,691 (1,859) 5,825 $ $ 8,996 1,707 747 (2,275) 9,175 Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred income tax assets are as follows: December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) Deferred income tax assets: ............................................................. Deferred rent expense ............................................................$ Stock options ......................................................................... Inventory ................................................................................ Operating loss carry-forward ................................................. Accounts receivable allowances ............................................ Accrued compensation........................................................... Other ...................................................................................... Total deferred income tax assets ................................$ 4,028 4,179 1,298 2,213 217 867 2,820 15,622 $ $ 3,686 3,348 1,312 2,073 406 897 2,911 14,633 Significant components of the Company’s net deferred income tax (liability) asset are as follows: December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) Deferred income tax liabilities: Depreciation and amortization ..............................................$ Intangibles ............................................................................ Equity in earnings ................................................................ Total deferred income tax liabilities ............................ (3,121) (12,380) (154) (15,655) Net deferred income tax asset (liability) ................................ Valuation allowance ................................................................ Net deferred income tax (liability) asset ................................ $ (33) (2,077) (2,110) $ $ (3,461) (12,549) (504) (16,514) (1,881) (1,897) (3,778) F-23 The Company has generated various state net operating loss carryforwards of which, $13.4 million remained at December 31, 2015 that begin to expire in 2016. The Company has net operating losses in foreign jurisdictions of $7.5 million at December 31, 2015 that begin to expire in 2020. The reduction in the deferred tax liabilities is primarily due to the enactment of lower corporate income tax rates in the United Kingdom, from 20% in 2015 to 18% in 2020. The valuation allowance which remained as of December 31, 2015 relates to certain state and foreign net operating losses. The provision for income taxes (before equity in earnings) differs from the amounts computed by applying the applicable federal statutory rates as follows: Provision for federal income taxes at the statutory rate ................................ Increases (decreases): ................................................................................... State and local income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit ......... Foreign rate differences ....................................................................... Non-deductible expenses ..................................................................... Other.................................................................................................... Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 5.3 (8.6) 5.5 (1.0) 4.9 (2.7) 6.4 (1.6) 5.5 (1.1) 2.8 (2.7) Provision for income taxes ........................................................................... 36.2% 42.0% 39.5% The estimated values of the Company’s gross uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are liabilities of $157,000, $572,000 and $351,000, respectively, and consist of the following: Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2015 Balance at January 1 ............................................................................... $ Additions based on tax positions related to the current year ......... Additions for tax positions of prior years ...................................... Settlements .................................................................................... Balance at December 31 ......................................................................... $ (572) (15) — 430 (157) (in thousands) (351) — (221) — (572) $ $ $ $ (301) (31) (164) 145 (351) The Company had approximately $42,000 and $40,000, net of federal and state tax benefit, accrued at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for the payment of interest. The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties is to record such items as a component of income taxes. If the Company’s tax positions are ultimately sustained, the Company’s liability, including interest, would be reduced by $149,000 all of which would impact the Company’s tax provision. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates its tax positions and revises its estimates accordingly. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that $76,000 of its tax positions will be resolved within the next twelve months. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the years prior to 2013. The Company has identified the following jurisdictions as “major” tax jurisdictions: U.S. Federal, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and the United Kingdom. At December 31, 2015, the periods subject to examination by the Company’s major state jurisdictions are the years ended 2011 through 2014. NOTE J — BUSINESS SEGMENTS Segment information The Company has three reportable segments, U.S. Wholesale, International and Retail Direct. The U.S. Wholesale segment includes 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 to consumers through its Pfaltzgraff, Mikasa, Built NY, Fred & Friends and Lifetime Sterling 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 have been 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 F-24 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. Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands) Net sales: U.S. Wholesale ..............................................................$ International ................................................................ Retail Direct ................................................................ Non-operating adjustment(1) .......................................... 458,593 108,000 21,077 — $ 441,293 125,230 19,487 — $ 444,187 38,907 20,680 (1,053) Total net sales ......................................................$ 587,670 $ 586,010 $ 502,721 Income from operations: U.S. Wholesale(2) ...........................................................$ International (3) ............................................................... Retail Direct ................................................................ Non-operating adjustment(1) .......................................... Unallocated corporate expenses .................................... 41,343 (1,600) (596) — (14,916) $ 34,874 3,759 (1,034) — (16,215) $ 46,303 (2,151) (62) (1,053) (14,851) Total income from operations ..............................$ 24,231 $ 21,384 $ 28,186 Depreciation and amortization: U.S. Wholesale ..............................................................$ International ................................................................ Retail Direct ................................................................ $ 8,784 5,272 147 $ 8,618 5,379 203 8,549 1,601 265 Total depreciation and amortization ....................$ 14,203 $ 14,200 $ 10,415 Note: (1) (2) (3) In 2013, the Company recorded a non-operating adjustment to reduce accounts receivable for previously issued credits within the Retail Direct business which related to 2010 and earlier periods. In 2014, income from operations for the U.S. Wholesale segment included a $3.4 million of intangible asset impairment charge and $4.2 million related to the reduction in certain contingent consideration accruals. In 2015, income from operations for the International segment includes a $1.0 million net charge related to the change in certain contingent consideration accruals. F-25 Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2015 Assets: U.S. Wholesale ..............................................................$ International ................................................................ Retail Direct ................................................................ Unallocated/ corporate/ other ........................................ Total assets ..........................................................$ 269,764 115,128 443 13,617 398,952 Capital expenditures: U.S. Wholesale ..............................................................$ International ................................................................ Retail Direct ................................................................ Total capital expenditures ....................................$ 4,087 1,004 75 5,166 (in thousands) 287,744 128,055 535 5,068 421,402 5,431 650 90 6,171 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 291,757 35,365 730 8,887 336,739 3,375 272 195 3,842 Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) 2013 Goodwill: U.S. Wholesale .............................................................. Beginning balance .........................................................$ Acquisition activity ....................................................... Ending balance .............................................................. $ 2,412 — 2,412 $ 2,412 — 2,412 International Beginning balance ......................................................... Acquisition activity ....................................................... Ending balance .............................................................. 15,689 — 15,689 2,673 13,016 15,689 2,412 — 2,412 2,673 — 2,673 Total goodwill (1) ............................................................$ 18,101 $ 18,101 $ 5,085 Note: (1) No goodwill is allocated to the Company’s Retail Direct reportable segment. Geographical information The following table sets forth net sales and long-lived assets by the major geographic locations: Year ended December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) 2013 Net sales: United States ................................................................ $ United Kingdom ............................................................ Rest of World ................................................................ Total .....................................................................$ 462,234 81,347 44,089 587,670 $ $ 436,049 93,432 56,529 586,010 $ $ 439,129 29,012 34,580 502,721 Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets, at period-end: United States ......................................................................................................$ United Kingdom ................................................................................................ Rest of World ..................................................................................................... Total ..........................................................................................................$ 49,990 1,550 953 52,493 $ $ 54,594 3,927 1,167 59,688 December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) F-26 Product category information – net sales The following table sets forth net sales by major product categories included within the Company’s U.S. Wholesale operating segment: Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands) Category: Kitchenware ................................................................ $ Tableware ...................................................................... Home Solutions ............................................................. 271,045 124,353 63,195 $ 269,265 117,546 54,482 $ 281,211 110,108 52,868 Total .....................................................................$ 458,593 $ 441,293 $ 444,187 The following table sets forth net sales by major product categories included within the Company’s International operating segment: Category: Kitchenware ................................................................... $ Tableware ....................................................................... 61,291 46,709 $ 67,604 57,626 $ — 38,907 Total ...................................................................... $ 108,000 $ 125,230 $ 38,907 Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands) NOTE K — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Operating leases The Company has lease agreements for its corporate headquarters, distribution centers, showrooms and sales offices that expire through 2029. These leases generally provide for, among other things, annual base rent escalations and additional rent for real estate taxes and other costs. Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands): Year Ending December 31, 2016 ................................................................................................. 2017 ................................................................................................. 2018 ................................................................................................. 2019 ................................................................................................. 2020 ................................................................................................. Thereafter ........................................................................................ $ 17,058 17,294 13,476 11,280 10,132 71,035 Total ....................................................................................... $ 140,275 Rent and related expenses under operating leases were $17.4 million, $15.8 million and $14.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There was no sublease rental income in 2015, 2014 or 2013. The Company leases two properties from the trustees of active retirement benefit plans in which former and current employees of the Company participate in. Total lease payments made to these related parties in 2015 were $850,000. The lease agreements expire in 2020. F-27 Royalties The Company has license agreements that require the payment of royalties on sales of licensed products which expire through 2023. Future minimum royalties payable under these agreements are as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, 2016 .................................................................................................................$ 2017 ................................................................................................................. 2018 ................................................................................................................. 2019 ................................................................................................................. 2020 ................................................................................................................. Thereafter ........................................................................................................ 6,986 6,823 6,733 1,140 406 604 Total .......................................................................................................$ 22,692 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 of this litigation, individually or collectively, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. F-28 NOTE L — RETIREMENT PLANS 401(k) plan The Company maintains a defined contribution retirement plan for eligible employees under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participants can make voluntary contributions up to the Internal Revenue Service limit of $18,000 ($24,000 for employees 50 years or over) for 2015. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company suspended its matching contribution as an expense savings measure. The Company’s United Kingdom-based subsidiaries also maintain defined contribution pension plans. Retirement benefit obligations The Company assumed retirement benefit obligations, which are paid to certain former executives of a business acquired in 2006. These obligations under these agreements are unfunded and amounted to $6.5 million at December 31, 2015 and $6.9 million at December 31, 2014. The discount rate used to calculate the retirement benefit obligations was 3.96% at December 31, 2015 and 3.65% at December 31, 2014. The retirement benefit obligations are included in accrued expenses and deferred rent and other long-term liabilities. The Company expects to recognize $91,000 of actuarial losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in net periodic benefit cost in 2016. Expected benefit payments for each of the next five fiscal years and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter are as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, 2016 ................................................................................................$ 2017 ................................................................................................ 2018 ................................................................................................ 2019 ................................................................................................ 2020 ................................................................................................ 2021 through 2024 ............................................................................... 144 294 396 386 375 2,003 Kitchen Craft pension plan Kitchen Craft was the sponsor of a defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”) for which service costs accrual ceased prior to its acquisition in January 2014. In October 2014, the Plan trustees secured, in full, all benefits payable or contingently payable under the Plan (subject to adjustment as determined by the UK pension authority in connection with its approval of the Plan’s termination) through the purchase of a group annuity contract from a major UK-based insurance company. The share purchase agreement, pursuant to which the Company acquired Kitchen Craft, provides that any additional contributions required in connection with the settlement and termination of the Plan shall be offset by future amounts owed to the sellers or, if those amounts are insufficient, reimbursed to the Company by the sellers. Accordingly, there was no impact, nor is there any expected future impact, to the Company’s statement of operations in connection with the settlement and termination of the Plan, which occurred in 2015. F-29 The following table summarizes the changes in the projected benefit obligations and plan assets for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014: Year Ended December 31, 2014 2015 (in thousands) Change in projected benefit obligations ................................................... Projected benefit obligations, beginning of year/ acquisition .........$ Interest cost ..................................................................................... Actuarial (gain) loss ........................................................................ Benefits paid ................................................................................... Annuity purchase ............................................................................ Currency adjustment ....................................................................... Projected benefit obligations, end of year ................................................$ Change in plan assets ............................................................................... Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year/ acquisition ................$ Actual return on plan assets ............................................................ Employer (refund) contributions .................................................... Benefits paid ................................................................................... Annuity purchase ............................................................................ Currency adjustment ....................................................................... Fair value of plan assets, end of year .......................................................$ 13,796 — (2,492) (58) (11,008) (238) — 15,533 (1,903) (2,295) (58) (11,008) (269) — Net Plan funding, end of year ...................................................................$ — $ $ $ $ $ 11,678 364 2,887 (216) — (917) 13,796 11,678 2,618 2,471 (216) — (1,018) 15,533 1,738 The following table summarizes the components of net period pension costs: Components of net periodic pension cost Expected return on plan assets ....................................................... $ — Interest cost on projected benefit obligations ................................ — Net periodic pension cost ........................................................................ $ — $ $ (390) 364 (26) Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) The accumulated benefit obligations at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are $0 and $13.8 million. The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are $0 and $623,000. NOTE M — OTHER Inventory The components of inventory are as follows: Finished goods ............................................................................. Work in process ............................................................................ Raw materials ............................................................................... $ 133,618 1,754 1,518 $ 134,564 1,887 1,473 Total ............................................................................................. $ 136,890 $ 137,924 December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) F-30 Property and equipment Property and equipment consist of: December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) Machinery, furniture and equipment ............................................ Leasehold improvements.............................................................. Building and improvements ......................................................... Construction in progress............................................................... Land ............................................................................................. $ Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization ........................ Total .................................................................................... $ 88,914 28,989 1,604 1,543 100 121,150 (96,273) 24,877 $ $ 85,556 28,056 1,604 1,108 100 116,424 (89,623) 26,801 Depreciation and amortization expense of property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $7.2 million, $7.7 million and $7.7 million, respectively. Included in machinery, furniture and equipment at each of December 31, 2015 and 2014 is $2.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively, related to assets recorded under capital leases. Included in accumulated depreciation and amortization at December 31, 2015 and 2014 is $2.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively, related to assets recorded under capital leases. Accrued expenses Accrued expenses consist of: December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) Customer allowances and rebates ................................................... Compensation and benefits ............................................................. Interest ............................................................................................. Vendor invoices .............................................................................. Royalties.......................................................................................... Commissions ................................................................................... Freight ............................................................................................. Professional fees.............................................................................. VAT ................................................................................................ Contingent consideration related to acquisitions ............................. Other ............................................................................................... Total ....................................................................................... $ $ 10,474 10,762 241 4,424 2,330 989 1,360 860 1,312 3,193 4,209 40,154 $ $ 12,314 9,412 224 3,071 2,266 1,222 1,519 1,527 1,400 — 4,006 36,961 Deferred rent & other long-term liabilities Deferred rent & other long-term liabilities consist of: December 31, 2015 2014 (in thousands) Deferred rent liability ................................................................ Retirement benefit obligations ........................................................ Contingent consideration related to acquisitions ............................. Compensation .................................................................................. Capital lease obligations................................................................ Derivative liability ................................................................ $ Total ....................................................................................... $ 10,450 6,349 892 719 121 25 18,556 $ $ 9,530 6,776 3,286 542 — 26 20,160 F-31 Supplemental cash flow information Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands) Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest .....................................................................$ Cash paid for taxes ......................................................................... 4,909 8,963 $ 5,035 4,912 $ 4,115 10,862 Non-cash investing activities: Translation adjustment ...................................................................$ (5,281) $ (4,736) $ (140) Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net Accumulated translation adjustment: .......................................... Balance at beginning of year .......................................................$ Translation adjustment during period .......................................... Year Ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 (in thousands) (7,680) (5,281) $ (2,944) (4,736) $ (2,804) (140) Balance at end of year ................................................................ $ (12,961) $ (7,680) $ (2,944) Accumulated effect of retirement benefit obligations: Balance at beginning of year .......................................................$ Net gain (loss) arising from retirement benefit obligations, net of tax ....................................................................................... Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss: (2,224) $ (745) $ (1,160) 941 (1,507) 361 Amortization of loss, net of tax(1) ....................................... 79 28 54 Balance at end of year ................................................................ $ (1,204) $ (2,224) $ (745) Accumulated deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges: Balance at beginning of year .......................................................$ Derivative fair value adjustment, net of tax ................................ Balance at end of year (2) ..............................................................$ (18) (2) (20) $ $ (31) 13 (18) $ $ (272) 241 (31) Notes: (1) Amount is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. (2) No amounts were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Amounts reclassified would be recorded in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations. F-32 Item 15(a) COL. A Description LIFETIME BRANDS, INC. SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (in thousands) COL. B Balance at beginning of period COL. C Additions COL. D COL. E Due to acquisitions Charged to costs and expenses Deductions Balance at end of period Year ended December 31, 2015 Deducted from asset accounts: Allowance for doubtful accounts ................................$ Reserve for sales returns and allowances ................... 815 $ — $ 5,848 — 226 6,504 (c) $ (344) (a) $ 697 (7,749) (b) 4,603 $ 6,663 $ — $ 6,730 $ (8,093) $ 5,300 Year ended December 31, 2014 Deducted from asset accounts: Allowance for doubtful accounts ................................$ Reserve for sales returns and allowances ................... 473 $ 119 $ 4,736 350 401 10,996 (c) $ (178) (a) $ 815 (10,234) (b) 5,848 $ 5,209 $ 469 $ 11,397 $ (10,412) $ 6,663 Year ended December 31, 2013 Deducted from asset accounts: Allowance for doubtful accounts ................................$ Reserve for sales returns and allowances ................... 361 $ — $ 3,635 — 260 6,004 (c) $ (148) (a) $ 473 (4,903) (b) 4,736 $ 3,996 $ — $ 6,264 $ (5,051) $ 5,209 (a) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries. (b) Allowances granted. (c) Charged to net sales. S-1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant Name of subsidiary Exhibit 21.1 State/Country of Incorporation Ownership Pfaltzgraff Factory Stores, Inc. ....................................................................................................................Delaware TMC Acquisition Inc. ................................................................................................................................Delaware Francis I Acquisition Corp. ..........................................................................................................................Delaware Lifetime Delaware Holdings, LLC ..............................................................................................................Delaware Wallace Silversmiths de Puerto Rico Ltd. ................................................................................................Cayman Islands Lifetime Brands Global Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited ................................................................China New Goal Development Limited .................................................................................................................Hong Kong Lifetime Brands UK Limited .......................................................................................................................United Kingdom Creative Tops Holdings Limited ..................................................................................................................United Kingdom Creative Tops Limited ................................................................................................................................United Kingdom La Cafetiere (UK) Limited ...........................................................................................................................United Kingdom Creative Tops NL B.V. ................................................................................................................................Netherlands Lifetime Brands Holdings Limited ..............................................................................................................United Kingdom Lifetime Brands do Brasil Participacoes Ltda..............................................................................................Brazil Grand Venture Enterprises Limited .............................................................................................................Hong Kong Lifetime Brands Global Limited ..................................................................................................................Hong Kong Thomas Plant (Birmingham) Limited ..........................................................................................................United Kingdom Kitchen Craft (Asia) Limited .......................................................................................................................Hong Kong LTB de México, S.A. de C.V. ......................................................................................................................Mexico LVA Limited................................................................................................................................................Hong Kong 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.99% 80% CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-105382, 333-146017, 333-162734 and 333-186208) pertaining to the 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-137575) of Lifetime Brands, Inc. of our reports dated March 14, 2016, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Lifetime Brands, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Lifetime Brands, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2015. Exhibit 23.1 /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Jericho, New York March 14, 2016 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Exhibit 23.2 The Board of Directors and Stockholders Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements No. 333-105382, 333-146017, 333-162734, 333-186208 and 333-208961 on Forms S-8 and in the registration statement No. 333-137575 on Form S-3 of Lifetime Brands, Inc., of our report dated March 11, 2016, with respect to the consolidated statements of financial position of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the years then ended not included herein, which report appears in the December 31, 2015 annual report on Form 10-K of Lifetime Brands, Inc. Our report dated March 11, 2016 contains an explanatory paragraph that states that International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the IASB vary in certain significant respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in note 21 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company. KPMG Cárdenas Dosal, S.C. /s/ Erick G. Aguilar Erick G. Aguilar Mexico City, Mexico March 14, 2016. Tel.: +(55) 8503 4200 Fax: +(55) 8503 4299 www.bdomexico.com Exhibit 23.3 Castillo Miranda y Compañía, S.C. Paseo de la Reforma 505-31 Torre Mayor Colonia Cuauhtémoc México, D.F. CP 06500 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Board of Directors and Stockholders Lifetime Brands, Inc. We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-208961, 333-105382, 333-146017, 333162734 and 333-186208) and on Form S-3 (No. 333-137575) of Lifetime Brands, Inc., of our report dated February 28, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013, which report appears in the December 31, 2015 annual report on Form 10-K of Lifetime Brands, Inc. Castillo Miranda y Compañía, S.C. /s/ Bernardo Soto Peñafiel Bernardo Soto Peñafiel Mexico City, Mexico March 11, 2016. Castillo Miranda y Compañía, S. C. (BDO Castillo Miranda) es una sociedad civil mexicana de contadores públicos y consultores de empresas, miembro de BDO International Limited, una compañía del Reino Unido limitada por garantia, y forma parte de la red internacional de firmas independientes de BDO. I, Jeffrey Siegel, certify that: CERTIFICATION Exhibit 31.1 1. 2. 3. 4. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lifetime Brands, Inc. (“the registrant”); Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report; Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report; The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))) for the registrant and have: a. b. c. d. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared; designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a. b. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 14, 2016 /s/ Jeffrey Siegel Jeffrey Siegel Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors Exhibit 31.2 I, Laurence Winoker, certify that: CERTIFICATION 1. 2. 3. 4. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lifetime Brands, Inc. (“the registrant”); Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report; Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report; The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))) for the registrant and have: a. b. c. d. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared; designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a. b. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 14, 2016 /s/ Laurence Winoker Laurence Winoker Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Exhibit 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. I, Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer Chairman of the Board of Directors, and I, Laurence Winoker, Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, of Lifetime Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each hereby certifies that: (1) The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “Form 10-K”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (2) The information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. /s/ Jeffrey Siegel /s/ Laurence Winoker Jeffrey Siegel Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors Laurence Winoker Senior Vice President- Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Date: March 14, 2016 Date: March 14, 2016 A signed original of this written statement required by Section 1350 has been provided to Lifetime Brands, Inc. and will be retained by Lifetime Brands, Inc. and furnished to the SEC or its staff, upon request. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Exhibit 99.1 The Board of Directors and Stockholders Grupo Vasconia, S. A. B. We have audited the consolidated statement of financial position of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the IASB vary in certain significant respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in note 21 to the consolidated financial statements. KPMG CARDENAS DOSAL, S. C. /s/ Erick G. Aguilar Erick G. Aguilar Mexico City, Mexico March 11, 2016. Exhibit 99.2 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF GRUPO VASCONIA, S. A. B. AND SUBSIDIARIES - ESTADO DE MEXICO, MEXICO We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Grupo Vasconia, S. A. B. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Grupo Vasconia, S. A. B. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards, which differ in certain respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (See Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements). These consolidated financial statements have been translated into English solely for the convenience of readers of this language. In all cases, where there are any differences between the English and Spanish versions, the Spanish version shall be considered authoritative and controlling. CASTILLO MIRANDA Y COMPAÑÍA, S. C. /s/ Bernardo Soto Peñafiel Bernardo Soto Peñafiel, CPA Mexico, City, Mexico February 28, 2014 Officers and Directors Offices CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 1000 Stewart Avenue Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 683-6000 Corporate Information CORPORATE COUNSEL Samuel B. Fortenbaugh III New York, NY 10111 CODE OF ETHICS A copy of the Company’s Code of Ethics will be furnished to any stockholder, without charge, upon written request to the Senior Vice President - Finance of the Company. INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Ernst & Young LLP Jericho, NY 11753 TRANSFER AGENT & REGISTRAR Computershare P.O. Box 43006 Providence, RI 02940-3006 ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at the Corporate Headquarters. JEFFREY SIEGEL Chairman of the Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer RONALD SHIFTAN Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Chief Operating Officer DANIEL SIEGEL President LAURENCE WINOKER Senior Vice President – Finance Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer SARA SHINDEL General Counsel and Secretary DAVID E. R. DANGOOR Director MICHAEL J. JEARY Director JOHN KOEGEL Director CHERRIE NANNINGA Director CRAIG PHILLIPS Director DENNIS E. REAVES Director MICHAEL J. REGAN Director SARA GENSTER ROBLING Director WILLIAM U. WESTERFIELD Director L i f e t i m e B r a n d s A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 5 Lifetime Brands, Inc. 1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530 www.lifetimebrands.com

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