Acme United Reports Third Quarter Sales and Earnings

FAIRFIELD, Conn.

Acme United Corporation (NYSE MKT:ACU) today announced that net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015 were $29.9 million, compared to $30.0 million in the comparable period of 2014 and an increase of 3% in constant currency. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $86.7 million, compared to $82.6 million in the comparable period of 2014, an increase of 5%, or 8% in constant currency.

Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 was $1.21 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to $1.19 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the 2014 period, an increase in net income of 2%. During the quarter, the Company incurred $150,000 of one-time moving and severance costs related to the consolidation of its first aid operations. Excluding these costs, earnings per share would have been $0.35 in the third quarter. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $4.35 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, compared to $4.10 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, in the 2014 comparable period, a 6% increase in net income.

Chairman and CEO Walter C. Johnsen commented, “Third quarter sales were even with last year, and we continued to deliver a solid, profitable performance. I am particularly happy with the sales growth in our Westcott office products, first aid business, and European operations. Our Canadian subsidiary was impacted by difficult economic conditions, but we are gaining new business and working to recover.”

Mr. Johnsen continued, “We are in the final stages of consolidating our Norwalk, Connecticut first aid operations into our modern facility in Vancouver, Washington. We expect the consolidation to generate savings in fixed expenses and provide operating leverage in 2016 and beyond. Excluding the one-time consolidation costs of the move, earnings per share would have been $0.35 in the third quarter.”

In the Company’s U.S. segment, net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 increased 2% compared to the same period in 2014. Sales of the Westcott family of school and office products increased 7%, with the largest contribution coming from iPoint pencil sharpeners and titanium scissors. Sales of first aid products increased 4%. Excluding discontinuation of some low-margin over-the-counter medications, first aid sales increased 9%. Sales of Camillus knives declined $0.7 million in the quarter due to a retail promotion in last year’s quarter that did not repeat. Year over year, net sales for the first nine months of 2015 grew 9%, mainly due to increased sales of first aid and Westcott products.

Net sales in Canada for the three months ended September 30, 2015 decreased 24% in U.S. dollars and 9% in local currency compared to the prior-year period. Year over year, net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 decreased 22% in U.S. dollars and 11% in local currency. These decreases were primarily due to a large retail chain exiting the Canadian market and weak economic conditions.

Net sales in Europe for the three months ended September 30, 2015 increased 5% in U.S. dollars and 24% in local currency compared to the 2014 period. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 decreased 7% in U.S. dollars but rose 13% in local currency.

Gross margins were 34.5% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to 35.4% in the 2014 period. In the third quarter of 2015 the Company moved most of its first aid production from Norwalk, Connecticut to its Vancouver, Washington plant, incurring approximately $150,000 of one-time moving and severance costs. The Connecticut facility will be closed on schedule in the fourth quarter of 2015 as part of a planned consolidation of first aid facilities. Gross margins were 36.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to 35.4% for last year’s period. The gross margin improvement for the year was primarily due to a more favorable product mix.

The Company’s bank debt less cash on September 30, 2015 was $23.9 million compared to $24.5 million on September 30, 2014.

ACME UNITED CORPORATION is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative cutting, measuring and safety products to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets. Its leading brands include Westcott®, Clauss®, Camillus®, Cuda®, PhysiciansCare®, First Aid Only® and Pac-Kit®. For more information, visit www.acmeunited.com

Forward-looking statements in this report, including without limitation, statements related to the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the following: (i) changes in the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, which may be made at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the impact of uncertainties in global economic conditions, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (iv) the impact of competition and technological changes on the Company; (v) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; (vi) currency fluctuations; and (vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Acme United Corporation
Paul G. Driscoll, 203-254-6060
Fax: (203) 254-6521