ACME UNITED CORP - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission file number 01-07698

ACME UNITED CORPORATION

Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 254-6060

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES [_]   NO [X]

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 [_]   NO [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (l) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES [X]   NO [_]

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (sec. 229.405) 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. [_] 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one).

Large accelerated filer [_]     Accelerated filer [X]     Non-accelerated filer [_]     Smaller reporting company [_]

Emerging growth company [_]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(s) of the Exchange Act. [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES [_]   NO [X]

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $84,519,435.

Registrant had 3,374,061 shares of its $2.50 par value Common Stock outstanding as of March 3, 2018.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

(1)        Certain portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting scheduled for April 23, 2018 are incorporated into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, in Part III.

PART I

Item 1. Business

Overview

Acme United Corporation, a Connecticut corporation (together, with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative cutting, measuring, first aid and sharpening products to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets. The Company's operations are in the United States, Canada, Europe (located in Germany) and Asia (located in Hong Kong and China). The operations in the United States, Canada and Europe are primarily involved in product development, marketing, sales, administrative, manufacturing and distribution activities. The operations in Asia consist of sourcing, product development, production planning, quality control and sales activities. Total net sales in 2017 were $130.6 million. The Company was organized as a partnership in l867 and incorporated in l882 under the laws of the State of Connecticut.

The Company has grouped its operations into three reportable segments based on the Company’s geographical organization and structure: (1) United States (which includes its Asian operations); (2) Canada; and (3) Europe. Net sales in 2017 for each of our segments were: United States (including direct import sales from Asia) - $115.5 million, Europe - $8.2 million and Canada - $6.9 million. Principal products across all segments are scissors, shears, knives, rulers, pencil sharpeners, first aid kits, and safety related products. We sell our products primarily to wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply super stores, mass market and e-commerce retailers, industrial distributors, school supply distributors, drug store retailers, sporting goods stores, hardware chains and wholesale florists. Refer to Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional segment information.

The Company sources most of its products from suppliers located outside the United States, primarily in Asia. The Company assembles its first aid kits at its facilities in Vancouver, WA and Rocky Mount, NC. The components for the first aid kits are primarily sourced from U.S. suppliers.

Business Strategy

The Company’s business strategy includes the following key elements:

· a commitment to technological innovation achieved through consumer insight, creativity and speed to market;

· a broad selection of products in both brand and private label;

· prompt response;

· superior customer service; and

· value pricing.

Purchase of Property

On October 26, 2017, the Company exercised its option to purchase its First Aid Only manufacturing and distribution center in Vancouver, WA for $4.0 million. The property consists of 53,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse space on 2.86 acres. The purchase was financed by a variable rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%.

Acquisitions

On February 1, 2017 the Company acquired the assets of Spill Magic, Inc. (“Spill Magic”), for $7.2 million in cash. The Spill Magic products are leaders in absorbents that encapsulate spills into dry powders that can be safely disposed. Many large retail chains use Spill Magic products to remove liquids from broken glass containers, oil and gas spills, bodily fluids, and solvents. The easy-to-use and environmentally friendly products permanently absorb the spills, leaving the floors underneath dry and reducing injuries from falls. The Spill Magic product line also includes spill clean-up kits and blood borne pathogen kits for the safety market.

On February 1, 2016, the Company acquired the principal assets of Vogel Capital, Inc., d/b/a Diamond Machining Technology (“DMT”) based in Marlborough, MA for $7.0 million in cash. The DMT products are leaders in sharpening tools for knives, scissors, chisels, and other cutting tools. They complement the Company’s existing brands and products within the industrial, hardware, floral, food preparation and sporting goods markets.

Principal Products

The Company markets and sells under three main categories – School, Home and Office (Westcott® brand), First Aid & Safety (First Aid Only®, PhysiciansCare®, Pac-Kit® and Spill Magic® brands), and Hardware, Industrial and Sporting Goods (Clauss®, Camillus®, Cuda® and DMT® brands).

School, Home and Office

Westcott

Westcott, with a history of quality dating back to 1872, provides innovative cutting and measuring products for the school, home and office. Principal products under the Westcott brand include scissors, rulers, pencil sharpeners, paper trimmers, lettering products and math tools. It is one of the leading scissor and ruler brands in North America. The iPoint pencil sharpener, introduced in 2008, and its successor, the iPoint Evolution, have won GOOD DESIGN awards from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design.

Many of the Westcott branded cutting products contain patented titanium bonding and proprietary non-stick coatings, making the blades more than three times harder than stainless steel as well as reducing friction and corrosion. Significant product introductions in 2015 included a Carbo titanium line of scissors which are 8x harder than steel allowing the blades to stay shaper longer. Westcott also launched a line of safety ceramic utility cutters for use in home and office. Significant product introductions in 2016 included our new line of ergonomic scissors for children designed in tandem with the U.S. Ergonomics Institute. Significant product introductions in 2017 included Westcott hot glue guns and glue pen line which feature ergonomic triggers and handles. The glue guns also feature a safety and performance tip that turns red when hot and blue when cool. They were a winner of the 2017 GOOD DESIGN award.

First Aid & Safety

First Aid Only

The First Aid Only brand offers first aid kits, refills, and safety products that meet regulatory requirements for a broad range of industries.  The Smart Compliance® first aid system is an effective technique for maintaining OSHA compliance. Our SafetyHub App technology streamlines the inspection and replenishment process for a broad range of Safety products and provides data analytics to optimize costs.

Pac-Kit

The Pac-Kit brand offers first aid kits, industrial stations and refills, emergency medical travel and recreational kits for the industrial, safety, transportation and marine markets. The brand has a long history dating back to the 19th century. Although Pac-Kit’s products are similar to the PhysiciansCare brand, the Pac-Kit brand is especially known for its customized products which are designed to meet customer specifications.

PhysiciansCare

The PhysiciansCare brand offers a wide assortment of first aid kits, emergency and disaster kits, kit refills, hearing, eye, and head protection, as well as ergonomic supports and braces. PhysiciansCare also carries a branded line of over-the counter medications, including the active ingredients aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Spill Magic

The Spill Magic brand is a leader in absorbents that encapsulate spills into dry powders that can safely be disposed. The spill response system reduces slip & fall accidents in their locations, including grocery, retail, big box and other stores; food service & hotel chains; municipalities; and industry-specific distributors in the U.S. and Europe. Acquired in February 2017, we introduced additional Spill Magic products in 2017, including clean-up kits for bodily fluids and blood-borne pathogens.

Hardware, Industrial and Sporting Goods

Clauss

Clauss, with its roots dating back to 1877, offers a line of quality cutting tools for professionals in the hardware & industrial, lawn & garden, food processing, sewing and housewares channels. Many of the Clauss products are enhanced with the Company’s patented titanium and proprietary non-stick coatings.

Camillus

Since 1876 Camillus has been supplying the world with innovative and high quality knives. The Camillus brand has a strong heritage in the hunting, sporting and tactical markets. The Company acquired the brand in 2007 and re-launched it in 2009 with an updated and innovative line of fixed blade, folding knives, line of sight cutting tools and tactical tools. Many of the knives are enhanced with Titanium Carbonitride coatings to increase the hardness of the blade of up to 10 times that of untreated stainless steel.

In 2014, Camillus launched a wide variety of new products, including the Camillus Carnivore X machete, Ravenous tomahawk, Heat Sizzle and WildFire knives and the Trench multi tool. In 2015, Camillus introduced Glide, its first pocket sharpener. In 2016, Camillus launched a new line of assisted folding knives using its patented linkage system and its ball-bearing assisted system. In 2017, Camillus introduced a new line of knives and tools featuring the Prym1 camouflage providing patterns that are both aesthetically desirable and also functional in the field.  In addition, Camillus launched a line of knives and tools called Line Of Sight™.  Line of Sight tools provide the consumer with cutting tools to clear shooting lanes during hunting season.

Cuda

We launched the Cuda line of fishing tools and knives in 2014. Featuring titanium bonded German steels and alloys, Cuda tools provide world class hardness, corrosion and adhesive resistance. In July of 2014, Cuda won Best of Show in the “Fish Smart” category at the ICast show in Orlando, Florida. In January 2016, Cuda won six GOOD DESIGN awards from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design. In 2017, Cuda launched a line of cut and puncture resistant gloves which feature quadruple layered Kevlar® and a line of telescopic landing nets featuring replaceable nets and a net containment system.

DMT

DMT products are leaders in diamond sharpening tools for knives, scissors, chisels, skis, skates and many other edges that require sharpening. DMT was founded in 1976 by aerospace engineers. The DMT products use a proprietary process of finely dispersed diamonds bonded to the surfaces of sharpeners and are recognized for providing diamond sharpeners with the flattest sharpening surface, greatest concentrated amount of diamonds and the highest quality diamonds per sharpener.  In 2017, DMT launched 12 new diamond sharpeners that include a gear-driven sharpener, sonic sharpener and pull through sharpeners that provide a simple sharpening solution for beginners as well as sharpening enthusiast.

Product Development

Our strong commitment to understanding our consumers and defining products that fulfill their needs through innovation drives our product development strategy, which we believe is and will be a key contributor to our success. The Company incurred research and development costs of $752,000 in 2017 and $750,000 in 2016.

Intellectual Property

The Company owns many patents and trademarks that are important to its business. The Company’s success depends in part on its ability to maintain patent protection for its products, to preserve its proprietary technology and to operate without infringing upon the patents or proprietary rights of others. The Company generally files patent applications in the United States and foreign countries where patent protection for its technology is appropriate and available. The Company also considers its trademarks important to the success of its business. The more significant trademarks include Westcott, Clauss, Camillus, PhysiciansCare, First Aid Only, Cuda, DMT, Pac-Kit and Spill Magic. Patents and trademarks are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The weighted average amortization period remaining for intangible assets at December 31, 2017 was 10 years.

Product Distribution; Major Customers

Independent manufacturer representatives and direct sales are primarily used to sell the Company’s line of consumer products to wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply super stores, school supply distributors, industrial distributors, wholesale florists, mass market and ecommerce retailers and hardware chains (including through their websites). The Company also sells a limited selection of its products directly to consumers through its own websites. In each 2017 and 2016, the Company had two customers that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. In 2017, net sales to these customers amounted to approximately 16% and 11%, respectively, of consolidated net sales, and approximately 14% and 11%, respectively, for each in 2016.

Competition

The Company competes with many companies in each market and geographic area. The Company believes that the principal points of competition in these markets are product innovation, quality, price, merchandising, design and engineering capabilities, product development, timeliness and completeness of delivery, conformity to customer specifications and post-sale support. The major competitors in the cutting category are 3M and Fiskars Corporation. The major competitors in the measuring category are Maped and Staedtler. The major competitor in the pencil sharpener category is Bostitch. The major competitors in the first aid & safety category are Honeywell, 3M and Johnson & Johnson.

Seasonality

Traditionally, the Company’s sales are stronger in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year due to the seasonal nature of the back-to-school business.

Compliance with Environmental Laws

The Company believes that it is in compliance with applicable environmental laws. The Company anticipates that no material adverse financial impact will result from compliance with current environmental rules and regulations.

Employees

As of December 31, 2017, the Company employed 421 people, all of whom are full time and none of whom is covered by union contracts. Employee relations are considered good and no foreseeable problems with the work force are evident.

Available Information

The Company files its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the SEC electronically. These filings may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room which is located at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

You may obtain at no charge, a copy of the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports on the Company’s website at http://www.acmeunited.com or by contacting the Investor Relations Department at the Company’s corporate offices by calling (203) 254-6060. Such reports and other information are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed with or furnished to the SEC.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company is subject to a number of significant operational risks that might cause the Company’s actual results to vary materially from its forecasts, targets or projections, including:

The Company’s expectations for both short and long-term future net revenues are based on the Company’s estimates of future demand. Orders from the Company’s principal customers are ultimately based on demand from end-users and end-user demand can be difficult to predict. Low end-user demand would negatively affect orders the Company receives from distributors and other principal customers which could, in turn adversely affect the Company’s revenues in any fiscal period. If the Company’s estimates of sales are not accurate and the Company experiences unforeseen variability in its revenues and operating results, the Company may be unable to adjust its expense levels accordingly and its profit margins could be adversely affected.

Uncertainties in the interpretation and application of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could materially affect our tax obligations and effective tax rate.  

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) was enacted on December 22, 2017, and significantly affected U.S. tax law by changing how the U.S. imposes income tax on multinational corporations. The U.S. Department of Treasury has broad authority to issue regulations and interpretative guidance that may significantly impact how we will apply the law and impact our results of operations in the period issued.

The Tax Act requires complex computations not previously provided in U.S. tax law. As such, the application of accounting guidance for such items is currently uncertain. Further, compliance with the Tax Act and the accounting for such provisions require accumulation of information not previously required or regularly produced. As a result, we have provided a provisional estimate on the effect of the Tax Act in our financial statements. As additional regulatory guidance is issued by the applicable taxing authorities, as accounting treatment is clarified, as we perform additional analysis on the application of the law, and as we refine estimates in calculating the effect, our final analysis, which will be recorded in the period completed, may be different from our current provisional amounts, which could materially affect our tax obligations and effective tax rate.

Because our products are primarily sold by third parties, our financial results depend in part on the financial health of these parties and any loss of a third party distributor could adversely affect the Company’s revenues.

A large majority of the Company’s products are sold through third-party distributors and large retailers. Some of our distributors also market products that compete with our products. Changes in the financial or business conditions or the purchasing decisions of these third parties or their customers could affect our sales and profitability.

Additionally, no assurances can be given that any or all of such distributors or retailers will continue their relationships with the Company. Distributors and other significant retail customers cannot easily be replaced and the loss of revenues and the Company’s inability to reduce expenses to compensate for the loss of revenues could adversely affect the Company’s net revenues and profit margins.

The ability to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner and to satisfy our customers’ fulfillment standards are subject to several factors, some of which are beyond our control.

Customers place great emphasis on timely delivery of our products for specific selling seasons, especially during our second and third fiscal quarters, and on the fulfillment of consumer demand throughout the year. We cannot control all of the various factors that might affect product delivery to customers. Vendor production delays, cybersecurity attacks on our vendors, difficulties encountered in shipping from overseas and customs clearance delays are on-going risks of our business. We also rely upon third-party carriers for our product shipments from our distribution centers to customers. Accordingly, we are subject to risks, including labor disputes, inclement weather, natural disasters, cybersecurity attacks, possible acts of terrorism, availability of shipping containers, and increased security restrictions associated with such carriers’ ability to provide delivery services to meet our shipping needs.  Failure to deliver products to our customers in a timely and effective manner, often under special vendor requirements to use specific carriers and delivery schedules, could damage our reputation and brands and result in loss of customers or reduced orders.

Reliance on foreign suppliers could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company sources its products from suppliers located in Asia, Europe and the United States. The Company’s Asia vendors are located primarily in China, which subjects the Company to various risks within the region including regulatory, political, economic and foreign currency changes. The Company’s ability to select and retain reliable vendors and suppliers who provide timely deliveries of quality products efficiently will impact its success in meeting customer demand for timely delivery of quality products. The Company’s sourcing operations and its vendors are impacted by labor costs in China. Labor historically has been readily available at low cost relative to labor costs in North America. However, as China is experiencing rapid social, political and economic changes, labor costs have risen in some regions and there can be no assurance that labor will continue to be available to the Company in China at costs consistent with historical levels or that changes in labor or other laws will not be enacted which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations in China. Interruption 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.

Changes in currency exchange rates might negatively affect the profitability and business prospects of the Company and its overseas vendors. In particular, although the Chinese Renminbi has recently depreciated against the U.S. Dollar, if the Chinese Renminbi appreciates with respect to the U.S. Dollar in the future, the Company may experience cost increases on such purchases, and this can adversely impact profitability. Future interventions by China may result in further currency appreciation and increase our product costs over time.  The Company may not be successful at implementing customer pricing or other actions in an effort to mitigate the related effects of the product cost increases.

Additional factors that could adversely affect the Company’s business include increases in transportation costs, new or increased import duties, transportation delays, work stoppages, capacity constraints and poor quality.

The Company’s operations are increasingly global in nature. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by the political and economic conditions in the countries in which we conduct business, by fluctuations in currency exchange rates and other factors related to our international operations.

As our international operations and activities expand, we face increasing exposure to the risks of operating in foreign countries. These factors include:

These risks could affect the cost of manufacturing and selling our products, our pricing, sales volume, and ultimately our financial performance. The likelihood of such occurrences and their potential effect on the Company vary from country to country and are unpredictable.

Continuing uncertainty in the global economy could negatively impact our business.

Uncertainty in the global economy could adversely affect our customers and our suppliers and businesses such as ours. In addition, any uncertainty could have a variety of negative effects on the Company, such as reduction in revenues, increased costs, lower gross margin percentages, increased allowances for doubtful accounts and/or write-offs of accounts receivable and could otherwise have material adverse effects on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

The Company’s business is subject to risks associated with seasonality which could adversely affect its cash flow, financial condition, or results of operations.

The Company’s business, historically, has experienced higher sales volume in the second and third quarters of the calendar year, when compared to the first and fourth quarters. The Company is a major supplier of products related to the “back-to-school” season, which occurs principally during the months of May, June, July and August. If this typical seasonal increase in sales of certain portions of the Company’s product line does not materialize in any year, the Company could experience a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to manage growth and continue to expand our operations successfully could adversely affect our financial results.

Our business has experienced significant historical growth over the years, and we expect our business to continue to grow organically and through strategic acquisitions. This growth places significant demands on management and operational systems. If we cannot effectively manage our growth, it is likely to result in operational inefficiencies and ineffective management of our business thus negatively impacting our operating results. To the extent we grow through strategic acquisitions, our success will depend on selecting the appropriate targets, integrating such acquisitions quickly and effectively and realizing any expected synergies and cost savings related to such acquisitions.

Loss of a major customer could result in a decrease in the Company’s future sales and earnings.

Sales of our products are primarily concentrated in a few major customers including office product superstores and mass market distributors. In each 2017 and 2016, the Company had two customers that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. In 2017, net sales to these customers amounted to approximately 16% and 11%, respectively, of consolidated net sales, and approximately 14% and 11%, respectively, of consolidated net sales for each in 2016. The Company anticipates that a limited number of customers may account for a substantial portion of its total net revenues for the foreseeable future. The business risks associated with this concentration, including increased credit risks for these and other customers and the possibility of related bad debt write-offs, could negatively affect our margins and profits. Additionally, the loss of a major customer, whether through competition or consolidation, or a disruption in sales to such a customer, could result in a decrease of the Company’s future sales and earnings.

The loss of key management could adversely affect the Company’s ability to run its business.

The Company’s success depends, to a large extent, on the continued service of its executive management team, operating officers and other key personnel. The Company must therefore continue to recruit, retain and motivate management and operating personnel sufficient to maintain its current business and support its projected growth. The Company’s inability to meet its staffing requirements in the future could adversely affect its results of operations.

Execution or the lack thereof, of our e-commerce business may reduce our operating results.

Our e-commerce business constituted approximately 13% of our net sales in 2017 and has been our fastest growing distribution channel over the last several years. The continued successful growth of our e-commerce business depends, in part, on third parties and factors over which we have limited control, including difficulty forecasting demand, changing consumer preferences, and e-commerce buying trends, both domestically and abroad, as well as promotional or other advertising initiatives employed by our customers or other third parties on their e-commerce sites.  Additionally, sales in our e-commerce distribution channel may also divert sales from our other customers.

Additionally, the success of our e-commerce business depends, in part, on the timely receipt of our products by our customers and their end users. The efficient flow of our products requires that our distribution facilities have adequate capacity to support increases in our e-commerce business. If we encounter difficulties with forecasting and supply to our distribution facilities, we could face shortages of inventory, resulting in “out of stock” conditions in the e-commerce sites operated by our customers or other third parties, and we could incur significantly higher costs and longer lead times associated with distributing our products to our customers. 

Our failure to successfully respond to these risks and uncertainties might adversely affect the sales in our e-commerce business, as well as damage our brands.

Failure to protect the Company’s proprietary rights or the costs of protecting these rights could adversely affect its business.

The Company’s success depends in part on its ability to obtain patents and trademarks and to preserve other intellectual property rights covering its products and processes. The Company has obtained certain domestic and foreign patents, and intends to continue to seek patents on its inventions when appropriate. The process of seeking patent protection can be time consuming and expensive. There can be no assurance that pending patents related to any of the Company’s products will be issued, in which case the Company may not be able to legally prevent others from producing similar and/or compatible competing products. If other companies were to sell similar and/or compatible competing products, the Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Company’s efforts to protect its intellectual property will be successful. Any infringement of the Company’s intellectual property or legal defense of such action could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company is subject to intense competition in all of the markets in which it competes.

The Company’s products are sold in highly competitive markets including at mass merchants, high volume office supply stores and online. The Company believes that the principal points of competition in these markets are product innovation, quality, price, merchandising, design and engineering capabilities, product development, timeliness and completeness of delivery, conformity to customer specifications and post-sale support. Competitive conditions may require the Company to match or better competitors’ prices to retain business or market shares. The Company believes that its competitive position will depend on continued investment in innovation and product development, manufacturing and sourcing, quality standards, marketing and customer service and support. The Company’s success will depend in part on its ability to anticipate and offer products that appeal to the changing needs and preferences of our customers in the various market categories in which it competes. The Company may not have sufficient resources to make the investments that may be necessary to anticipate those changing needs and the Company may not anticipate, identify, develop and market products successfully or otherwise be successful in maintaining its competitive position. In addition there are numerous uncertainties inherent in successfully developing and commercializing innovative new products on a continuing basis, and new product launches may not provide expected growth results. There are no significant barriers to entry into the markets for most of the Company’s products.

Compromises of our information systems or unauthorized access to confidential information or our customers' or associates' personal information may materially harm our business or damage our reputation.

Through our sales and marketing activities and our business operations, we collect and store confidential information and certain personal information from our customers and associates. We also process payment card information and check information. In addition, in the normal course of business, we gather and retain personal information about our associates and generate and have access to confidential business information. Although we have taken steps designed to safeguard such information, there can be no assurance that such information will be protected against unauthorized access or disclosure. Computer hackers may attempt to penetrate our or our vendors' network security and, if successful, misappropriate such information. An Acme United associate, contractor or other third-party with whom we do business may also attempt to circumvent our security measures in order to obtain such information or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information. We could be subject to liability for failure to comply with privacy and information security laws, for failing to protect personal information, or for misusing personal information, such as use of such information for an unauthorized marketing purpose. Any compromise of our systems or data could disrupt our operations, damage our reputation, and expose us to claims from customers, financial institutions, regulators, payment card associations, employees and other persons, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may not be able to maintain or to raise prices in response to inflation and increasing costs.

Future market and competitive pressures may prohibit the Company from raising prices to offset increased product costs, freight costs and other inflationary items or to offset currency fluctuations. The inability to pass these costs through to the Company’s customers could have a negative effect on its results of operations.

The Company may need to raise additional capital to fund its operations.

The Company’s management believes that, under current conditions, the Company’s current cash and cash equivalents, cash generated by operations, together with the borrowing availability under its revolving loan agreement with HSBC Bank N.A., will be sufficient to fund planned operations for the next twelve months. However, if the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash from operations, it may be required to find additional funding sources. If adequate financing is unavailable or is unavailable on acceptable terms, the Company may be unable to maintain, develop or enhance its operations, products and services, take advantage of future opportunities or adequately respond to competitive pressures.

Changes in interest rates could adversely affect us.

We have exposure to increases in interest rates under our revolving credit loan agreement with HSBC, N.A. which presently bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2%.  In response to the last global economic recession, actions of the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banking institutions, were taken to create and maintain a low interest rate environment. However, in 2017, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate three times and indicated that additional increases would likely be forthcoming in 2018. While it is unclear whether these actions suggest a change in previous monetary policy positions, any such change or market expectation of such change may result in significantly higher long-term interest rates. Increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs on our variable-rate debt as well as any future fixed rate debt, we may incur at higher interest rates, and interest which we pay reduces our cash available for working capital, acquisitions, and other uses.

Product liability claims or regulatory actions could adversely affect the Company's financial results and reputation.

Claims for losses or injuries allegedly caused by some of the Company’s products arise in the ordinary course of its business. In addition to the risk of substantial monetary judgments, product liability claims or regulatory actions could result in negative publicity that could harm the Company’s reputation in the marketplace or the value of its brands. The Company also could be required to recall possible defective products, which could result in adverse publicity and significant expenses. Although the Company maintains product liability insurance coverage, potential product liability claims are subject to a deductible or could be excluded under the terms of the policy.

The Company is subject to environmental regulation and environmental risks.

The Company is subject to national, state, provincial and/or local environmental laws and regulations that impose limitations and prohibitions on the discharge and emission of, and establish standards for the use, disposal and management of, certain materials and waste. These environmental laws and regulations also impose liability for the costs of investigating and cleaning up sites, and certain damages resulting from present and past spills, disposals, or other releases of hazardous substances or materials. Environmental laws and regulations can be complex and may change often. Capital and operating expenses required to comply with environmental laws and regulations can be significant, and violations may result in substantial fines and penalties. In addition, environmental laws and regulations, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, in the United States impose liability on several grounds for the investigation and cleanup of contaminated soil, ground water and buildings and for damages to natural resources on a wide range of properties. For example, contamination at properties formerly owned or operated by the Company, as well as at properties it will own and operate, and properties to which hazardous substances were sent by the Company, may result in liability for the Company under environmental laws and regulations. The costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations and any claims concerning noncompliance, or liability with respect to contamination in the future could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

We cannot provide assurance that we will continue to pay dividends or purchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program.

We continue to pay and declare dividends on a quarterly basis and we anticipate that we will continue to do so. However, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient cash or surplus under the law to be able to continue to pay dividends or purchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. (At December 31, 2017, a total of 41,227 may be purchased in the future under the repurchase program which the Company announced in 2010.) This may result from extraordinary cash expenses, actual expenses exceeding contemplated costs, funding of capital expenditures, increases in reserves or lack of available capital. We may also suspend the payment of dividends or our stock repurchase program if the Board deems such action to be in the best interests of our shareholders. If we do not pay dividends, the price of our common stock would likely decrease.

Our shares of common stock are thinly traded and our stock price may be volatile.

Because our common stock is thinly traded, its market price may fluctuate significantly more than the stock market in general or the stock prices of other companies listed on major stock exchanges. There were approximately 2,959,874 shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates as of December 31, 2017. Thus, our common stock will be less liquid than the stock of companies with broader public ownership, and, as a result, the trading price for shares of our common stock may be more volatile. Among other things, trading of a relatively small volume of our common stock may have a greater impact on the trading price for our stock than would be the case if our public float were larger.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 2. Properties

The Company’s facilities located in the United States and China are utilized by all of its segments.  The Company’s facilities located in Canada and Germany are utilized by its Canadian segment and its European segment, respectively.

Management believes that the Company's facilities, whether leased or owned, are adequate to meet its current needs and should continue to be adequate for the foreseeable future.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There are no pending material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or, to the actual knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental agency.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

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 on the NYSE American under the symbol "ACU". The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices on the NYSE American for the Common Stock for the periods indicated:

As of March 3, 2018 there were approximately 2,101 holders of record of the Company's Common Stock.

Performance Graph

The graph below compares the yearly cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s Common Stock with the yearly cumulative total return of the following for the period 2013 to 2017: (a) the NYSE American Index and (b) a diversified peer group of companies that, like the Company, (i) are currently listed on the NYSE American, and (ii) have a market capitalization of $80 million to $90 million.

The Company does not believe that it can reasonably identify a peer group of companies, on an industry or line-of-business basis, for the purpose of developing a comparative performance index. While the Company is aware that some other publicly-traded companies market products in the Company’s line-of-business, none of these other companies provide most or all of the products offered by the Company, and many offer products or services not offered by the Company. Moreover, some of these other companies that engage in the Company’s line-of-business do so through divisions or subsidiaries that are not publicly-traded. Furthermore, many of these other companies are substantially more highly capitalized than the Company. For these reasons, any such comparison would not, in the opinion of the Company, provide a meaningful index of comparative performance.

The comparisons in the graph below are based on historical data and are not indicative of, or intended to forecast, the possible future performance of the Company’s Common Stock.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On November 22, 2010, the Company announced a Common Stock repurchase program of up to a total 200,000 shares. The program does not have an expiration date. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, the Company did not repurchase shares of its Common Stock. As of December 31, 2017, a total of 41,227 shares may be purchased in the future under the repurchase program announced in 2010.

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

FIVE YEAR SUMMARY OF SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(All figures in thousands except per share data)

The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, when presented together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide useful information to investors and management regarding financial and business trends relating to its results of operations. However, non-GAAP financial measures have certain limitations in that they do not reflect the tax expenses associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which ultimately impact the Company’s determination of net income in accordance with GAAP.

Tax Reform

Tax reform legislation in the U.S. was signed into law in December 2017 with the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). Among the tax reforms was a transitional tax assessed on undistributed earnings of foreign operations amounting to $1,170,000. Also, among the tax reforms was a reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Historically, we have recognized deferred tax assets for items providing future reductions of taxable income. These deferred tax assets are valued based on the corporate tax rate expected to be available when the deductions are taken. With the enactment of the lower corporate tax rate in 2017, we have reduced our deferred tax assets by $75,000. The total impact of the tax reform was a non-cash increase in 2017 income tax expense of $1,245,000 taken in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Information

The Company may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements” including statements contained in this report and in other communications by the Company, which are made in good faith pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. When used in this document, words like “may,” “might,” “will,” “except,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “potential,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from our current expectations.

Forward-looking statements in this report, including without limitation, statements related to the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties 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; (vii) increases in the cost of borrowings resulting from rising interest rates (viii) uncertainties arising from the interpretation and application of the recently enacted Tax Act; and (ix) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors affecting the Company, see the Risk Factors set forth above in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain accounting estimates are particularly important to the understanding of the Company’s financial position and results of operations and require the application of significant judgment by the Company’s management and can be materially affected by changes from period to period in economic factors or conditions that are outside the control of management. The Company’s management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates. Those estimates are based on historical operations, future business plans and projected financial results, the terms of existing contracts, the observance of trends in the industry, information provided by customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. The following discusses the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates:

Estimates. Operating results may be affected by certain accounting estimates. The most sensitive and significant accounting estimates in the financial statements relate to customer rebates, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, obsolete and slow moving inventories, potentially uncollectible accounts receivable, pension liability and accruals for income taxes. Although the Company’s management has used available information to make judgments on the appropriate estimates to account for the above matters, there can be no assurance that future events will not significantly affect the estimated amounts related to these areas where estimates are required. However, historically, actual results have not been materially different than original estimates.

Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenue from the sales of its products when ownership transfers to the customers, which occurs either at the time of shipment or upon delivery based upon contractual terms with the customer. The Company recognizes customer program costs, including rebates, cooperative advertising, slotting fees and other sales related discounts, as a reduction to sales.

Allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon a review of outstanding accounts receivable, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents estimated uncollectible accounts receivables associated with potential customer defaults on contractual obligations, usually due to potential insolvencies. The allowance includes amounts for certain customers where a risk of default has been specifically identified. In addition, the allowance includes a provision for customer defaults based on historical experience. The Company actively monitors its accounts receivable balances, and its historical experience of annual accounts receivable write offs has been negligible.

Customer Rebates. Customer rebates and incentives are a common practice in the office products industry. We incur customer rebate costs to obtain favorable product placement, to promote sell-through of products and to maintain competitive pricing. Customer rebate costs and incentives, including volume rebates, promotional funds, catalog allowances and slotting fees, are accounted for as a reduction to gross sales. These costs are recorded at the time of sale and are based on individual customer contracts. Management periodically reviews accruals for these rebates and allowances, and adjusts accruals when appropriate.

Obsolete and Slow Moving Inventory. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. An allowance is established to adjust the cost of inventory to its net realizable value. Inventory allowances are recorded for obsolete or slow moving inventory based on assumptions about future demand and marketability of products, the impact of new product introductions and specific identification of items, such as discontinued products. These estimates could vary significantly from actual requirements if future economic conditions, customer inventory levels or competitive conditions differ from expectations.

Income Taxes. Deferred income tax liabilities or assets are established for temporary differences between financial and tax reporting bases and are subsequently adjusted to reflect changes in tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred income tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

The Tax Act was signed into law in December 2017 and legislation represents a fundamental and dramatic shift in U.S. taxation, with many provisions of the Act differing significantly from previous U.S. tax law. With enactment occurring late in 2017, companies with calendar reporting years have not had extensive time to analyze the impacts of the legislation. Applying the effects of a lower corporate tax rate to deferred tax assets and liabilities, evaluating the one-time transition tax on undistributed earnings of foreign operations, examining the implications of changes to net operating loss and other credit carryforwards and considering other provisions of the Act in a relatively compressed time frame necessitates significant estimation and judgment. Following the guidance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, we have made reasonable estimates of the Act's provisions and have recorded a non-cash charge to fourth quarter tax expense of $1,245,000 to reflect these effects. This provisional estimate could be affected based on further analysis of the Act's requirements. Given the Act's broad and complex changes, further clarification, interpretation and regulatory guidance could affect the assumptions we used in making our reasonable estimate. As we continue to assess the Act's provisions, any adjustments to our provisional estimate will be reported as a component of income tax expense in 2018 and disclosed in the period when any such adjustments have been determined.

Intangible Assets and Goodwill. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are recorded at cost upon acquisition and amortized over the term of the related contract, if any, or useful life, as applicable. Intangible assets held by the Company with finite useful lives include patents and trademarks. The weighted average amortization period for intangible assets at December 31, 2017 was 10 years. The Company periodically reviews the values recorded for intangible assets and goodwill to assess recoverability from future operations whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company assessed the recoverability of its long-lived assets and goodwill and believed that there were no events or circumstances present that would that would require a test of recoverability on those assets. As a result, there was no impairment of the carrying amounts of such assets and no reduction in their estimated useful lives. The net book value of the Company’s intangible assets was $17,882,005 as of December 31, 2017, compared to $13,988,186 as of December 31, 2016, and the net book value of the Company’s goodwill was approximately $4,696,000 at December 31, 2017 compared to $3,948,000 at December 31, 2016.

Pension Obligation. The pension benefit obligation is based on various assumptions used by third-party actuaries in calculating this amount.  These assumptions include discount rates, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates and other factors.  Revisions in assumptions and actual results that differ from the assumptions affect future expenses, cash funding requirements and obligations.  Our funding policy is to fund the plan in accordance with applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations.

These assumptions are reviewed annually and updated as required. The Company has a frozen defined benefit pension plan.  Two assumptions, the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and liability measurement.

We determine the discount rate used to measure plan liabilities as of the December 31 measurement date. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the associated liabilities could be effectively settled at the end of the year. In estimating this rate, we look at rates of return on fixed-income investments of similar duration to the liabilities in the plan that receive high, investment grade ratings by recognized ratings agencies. Using these methodologies, we determined a discount rate of 3.14% to be appropriate as of December 31, 2017, which is a decrease of 0.26 percentage point from the rate used as of December 31, 2016.

The expected long-term rate of return on assets considers the Company’s historical results and projected returns for similar allocations among asset classes. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, actual results that differ from the Company’s assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, affect expense and obligation in future periods. For the U.S. pension plan, our assumption for the expected return on plan assets was 6.0% for 2017. For more information concerning these costs and obligations, see the discussion in Note 6 – Pension and Profit Sharing, in the Notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. Stock based compensation cost is measured at the grant date fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option - pricing model to determine fair value of the awards, which involves certain subjective assumptions. These assumptions include estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (“expected term”), the estimated volatility of the Company’s common stock price over the expected term (“volatility”) and the number of options for which vesting requirements will not be completed (“forfeitures”). Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect estimates of fair value stock-based compensation, and the related amount recognized on the consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 11 - Stock Option Plans - in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for a more detailed discussion.

Results of Operations 2017 Compared with 2016

On October 26, 2017, the Company exercised its option to purchase its First Aid Only manufacturing and distribution center in Vancouver, WA for $4.0 million. The property consists of 53,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse space on 2.86 acres. The purchase was financed by a variable rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%.

On February 1, 2017, the Company purchased the assets of Spill Magic, Inc., located in Santa Ana, CA and Smyrna, TN for $7.2 million in cash. The Spill Magic products are leaders in absorbents that encapsulate spills into dry powders that can be safely disposed. Many large retail chains use its products to remove liquids from broken glass containers, oil and gas spills, blood and solvents. Additional information concerning the acquisition of Spill Magic assets is set forth in Note 17 – Business Combinations, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

On February 1, 2016, the Company purchased certain assets of Vogel Capital, Inc., d/b/a Diamond Machining Technology (DMT), located in Marlborough, MA. DMT products are leaders in sharpening tools for knives, scissors, chisels and other cutting tools. The DMT products use finely dispersed diamonds on the surfaces of sharpeners. The Company purchased inventory, accounts receivable, equipment, patents, trademarks and other intellectual property for $7 million using funds borrowed under its revolving credit facility with HSBC. Additional information concerning the acquisition of DMT assets is set forth in Note 17 – Business Combinations, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Net Sales

In 2017, sales increased by $5,976,000, or 4.8%, to $130,550,000 compared to $124,574,000 in 2016.

The U.S. segment sales increased by $4,614,000, or 4%, in 2017 compared to 2016. Our acquisition of Spill Magic assets in February 2017 contributed $6.5 million to sales in 2017. Excluding Spill Magic, net sales in the U.S. segment declined $1.9 million, or 2%. Sales of first aid products were strong, but due to a large back-to-school promotion that did not repeat this year, Westcott school and office product sales were slightly lower than 2016.

Sales in Canada increased 2% in U.S. dollars and were constant in local currency in 2017 compared to 2016.

European sales increased by $1,251,000, or 18%, in U.S. dollars and 16% in local currency in 2017 compared to 2016. The increase in sales in Europe in 2017 was primarily due to increased market share in the office products channel and higher sales of DMT products.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was 36.7% of net sales in 2017 compared to 36.6% in 2016.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $40,103,000 in 2017 compared with $37,113,000 in 2016, an increase of $2,990,000, or 8%. SG&A expenses were 30.7% of net sales in 2017 compared to 29.8% in 2016. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily the result of increases in delivery costs and sales commissions which resulted from higher sales, incremental fixed costs resulting from the acquisition of Spill Magic assets, and higher headcount, which include compensation and recruiting costs.

Operating Income

Operating income was $7,796,000 in 2017, compared with $8,442,000 in 2016. Operating income in the U.S. decreased by approximately $1,068,000 primarily as a result of lower profit margins due to customer/product mix and higher fixed selling, general and administrative costs. Operating income in Canada increased by approximately $207,000 principally due to a better product mix and higher sales. Operating income in the European segment increased by approximately $215,000 primarily due to higher sales.

Interest Expense, Net

Net interest expense for 2017 was $1,327,000, compared with $869,000 for 2016, an increase of $458,000. The increase in interest expense, net for 2017, was primarily the result of higher average borrowings under the Company’s bank revolving credit facility compared to 2016 and a higher average interest rate during 2017. The higher borrowings were primarily the result of funding the acquisition of assets of Spill Magic.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Net other income was $24,000 in 2017 compared to net other expense of $77,000 in 2016. The increase in other income, net for 2017, was primarily due to lower losses from foreign currency transactions.

Income Tax

Income tax expense was $2,441,000 in 2017, resulting in a tax rate of 38%. With the enactment of the Tax Act in December 2017 in the U.S., provisions of this tax reform were required to be recognized in 2017. The most significant 2017 impact on the Company of this legislation was the imposition of a transition tax on undistributed earnings of foreign operations in the amount of $1,170,000. The other impact of the legislation was an adjustment to deferred tax assets. As a result of the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 34% to 21%, we have taken a charge of $75,000 to reduce the value of these assets. The total impact of the tax reform resulted in a non-cash in 2017 income tax expense of $1,245,000. Without this special charge, income tax expense was $1,196,000 or an effective tax rate of 18% compared to 22% in 2016. In 2017, the Company recorded approximately $350,000 in excess tax benefits resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-09 in 2017. Excluding the impact of the tax benefit, the effective tax rate would have been 24% for 2017. Excluding the impact of a charitable product donation in 2016, the effective tax rate would have been 25%.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

The Company did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions during 2017.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During 2017, working capital increased by approximately $8.9 million compared to December 31, 2016. Inventory increased by approximately $2.8 million, or 7%, which corresponds mostly to the increase in sales. The Company expects that changes in inventory levels will continue to be consistent with changes in sales, including the seasonal impact on the Company’s revenue stream. Inventory turnover, calculated using a twelve month average inventory balance, increased to 2.2 from 2.1 at December 31, 2016. The reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory was $654,855 at December 31, 2017 compared to $677,253 at December 31, 2016. We do not anticipate significant increases in the allowance for slow moving and obsolete inventory in the ordinary course of business during 2018.

Receivables increased by approximately $6.0 million at December 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016. The average number of days sales outstanding in accounts receivable was 65 days in 2017 compared to 64 days in 2016. Accounts payable and other current liabilities increased by approximately $4.0 million.

At December 31, 2017, total debt outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility increased by approximately $10.5 million compared to total debt at December 31, 2016. The change in debt was primarily due to borrowings to fund the acquisition of assets of Spill Magic on February 1, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, $43,450,000 was outstanding and $6,550,000 was available for borrowing under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

On May 6, 2016, the Company amended its revolving credit loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. The amended facility provides for borrowings of up to an aggregate of $50 million at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.0%.

On January 27, 2017, the Company amended its revolving credit loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. on a temporary basis in order to provide for the funding of the Company’s acquisition of the assets of Spill Magic, Inc. as described in Note 17. The amended facility provided for an increase in borrowings from $50 million to $55 million for the period commencing April 1, 2017 and ending on September 30, 2017. Commencing October 1, 2017, the maximum amount outstanding at any time under the facility returned to $50 million. The interest rate on borrowings remained unchanged at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.0%. Under the revolving credit loan agreement, the Company must pay a facility fee, payable quarterly, in an amount equal to two tenths of one percent (.20%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit line. All principal amounts outstanding under the agreement are required to be repaid in a single amount on May 6, 2019, the date the agreement expires; interest is payable monthly. Funds borrowed under the agreement may be used for working capital, acquisitions, general operating expenses, share repurchases and certain other purposes.

Under the revolving loan agreement, the Company is required to maintain specific amounts of tangible net worth, a specified total liabilities to net worth ratio, and a fixed charge coverage ratio, and must have annual net income greater than $0, measured as of the end of each fiscal year.  Specifically, under the loan agreement, the Company was required to maintain a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of not more than 2.25 to 1, calculated as at December 31, 2017. However, at December 31, 2017, the Company’s ratio was 2.37 to 1, or 5% higher than the maximum permitted ratio. The Company was not in compliance with the covenant at that date due solely to the impact on the Company of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which was enacted into law in December 2017, as a result of which the Company incurred a one-time, non-cash charge of $1,170,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017 relating to taxation of the Company’s foreign earnings. The Company and HSBC Bank, N.A. subsequently agreed to amend the loan agreement to increase the permitted ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth from 2.25 to 1 to 2.50 to 1, effective for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. All other covenants remain unchanged. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of the loan agreement as so amended.

On October 26, 2017, the Company exercised its option to purchase its First Aid Only manufacturing and distribution center in Vancouver, WA for $4.0 million. The purchase was financed by a variable rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%. Commencing December 1, 2017, principal payments of $22,222 and interest are due monthly, with all amounts outstanding due on maturity on October 31, 2024. The outstanding principal on December 31, 2017 was $3,978,000.

Capital expenditures during 2017 and 2016 were $3,146,194 and $1,809,823, respectively, which were, in part, financed with borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Capital expenditures in 2018 are expected to increase approximately $0.7 million over 2017, to continue to increase capacity and upgrade equipment at the Company’s recently acquired DMT and Spill Magic facilities.

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we have repatriated approximately $5.8 million so far in 2018. We have used the proceeds to pay down debt and plan to finance expanded production at our DMT, Spill Magic, and first aid facilities in the U.S. as well as acquisitions.

The Company believes that cash on hand, and cash generated from operating activities, together with funds available under its revolving credit facility, are expected, under current conditions, to be sufficient to finance the Company’s planned operations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of this Form 10-K.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that will change the requirements for accounting for leases. The principal change under the new accounting guidance is that lessees under leases classified as operating leases will recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Current lease accounting does not require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities arising under operating leases on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, lessees (including lessees under leases classified as finance leases and operating leases) will recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet, initially measured as the present value of lease payments under the lease. Expense recognition and cash flow presentation guidance will be based upon whether the lease is classified as an operating lease or a finance lease (the classification criteria for distinguishing between finance leases and operating leases is substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases under current guidance). The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition approach for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements; the guidance provides certain practical expedients. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 to improve the accounting for employee share-based payments. This standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows, as part of FASB’s simplification initiative to reduce cost and complexity in accounting standards while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to the users of financial statements. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017. The adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of excess tax benefits in the amount of approximately $350,000 in our provision for income taxes within the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, rather than additional paid-in capital. Additionally, our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows now present excess tax benefits as an operating activity included in other accrued liabilities, adjusted prospectively.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) by one year. ASU 2015-14 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. As a result, the ASU is now effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, which for us is the first quarter of 2018. The Company has elected to adopt the new guidance using the modified retrospective method. We have completed our analysis of the anticipated impact of ASU 2015-17 on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and other than an increase in the level of such disclosures, we do not expect the impact to have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740), which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. This ASU requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current in a statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 may be adopted either prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU retrospectively, resulting in a reclassification of its net current deferred tax asset of $501,708 to the net non-current deferred tax asset on its consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The new guidance clarifies the definition of a business in order to allow for the evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect that ASU 2017-01 would be likely have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment ASU 2017-04 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating the second step of the goodwill impairment test. The second step measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Under ASU 2017-04, a company will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. ASU 2017-04 will be applied prospectively and is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02 Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2018-02 provides companies with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (or portion thereof) is recorded. ASU No. 2018-02 also requires disclosure of a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI and whether an election was made to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU No. 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Companies can adopt the provisions of ASU No. 2018-02 in either the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. The Company is beginning to evaluate the impact the adoption of ASU No. 2018-02 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

See accompanying  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  

Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS    

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acme United Corporation and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Operations

The operations of Acme United Corporation (the “Company”) consist of three reportable segments. The operations of the Company are structured and evaluated based on geographic location. The three reportable segments operate in the United States (including Asian operations), Canada and Europe. Principal products across all segments are scissors, shears, knives, rulers, pencil sharpeners, first aid safety kits, and related products which are sold primarily to wholesale, contract and retail stationery distributors, office supply super stores, mass market retailers, industrial distributors, school supply distributors, drug store retailers, sporting goods stores, hardware chains and wholesale florists.

2. Accounting Policies

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most sensitive and significant accounting estimates relate to customer rebates, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, obsolete and slow-moving inventories, potentially uncollectible accounts receivable, pension liability and accruals for income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned by the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Translation of Foreign Currency – For foreign operations whose functional currencies are not U.S. dollars, assets and liabilities are translated at rates in effect at the end of the year; revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the year. Resulting translation adjustments are made directly to accumulated other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recognized in operating results. Included in other income (expense) were foreign currency transaction gains of $24,404 in 2017 and foreign currency transaction losses of $75,041 in 2016.

Cash Equivalents – Investments with an original maturity of three months or less, as well as time deposits and certificates of deposit that are readily redeemable at the date of purchase, are considered cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable – Accounts receivable are shown less an allowance for doubtful accounts of $166,907 at December 31, 2017 and $152,357 at December 31, 2016.

Inventories – Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation – Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 30 years.

Intangible Assets – Intangible assets with finite useful lives are recorded at cost upon acquisition, and amortized over the term of the related contract or useful life, as applicable. Intangible assets held by the Company with finite useful lives include patents and trademarks. Patents and trademarks are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The weighted average amortization period for intangible assets at December 31, 2017 was 10 years. The Company periodically reviews the values recorded for intangible assets to assess recoverability from future operations whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company assessed the recoverability of its long-lived assets and believed that there were no events or circumstances present that would that would require a test of recoverability on those assets. As a result, there was no impairment of the carrying amounts of such assets and no reduction in their estimated useful lives.

Deferred Income Taxes – Deferred income taxes are provided for the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and on operating loss carryovers, using tax rates in effect in years in which the differences are expected to reverse.

Revenue Recognition – Revenue is recognized when the price is fixed, the title and risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer, and when collection is reasonably assured. Depending on the contractual terms of each customer, revenue is recognized either at the time of shipment or upon delivery. When revenue is recorded, estimates of returns are made and recorded as a reduction of revenue. Customer rebates and incentives earned based on promotional programs in place, volume of purchases or other factors are also estimated at the time of revenue recognition and recorded as a reduction of that revenue.

Research and Development – Research and development costs ($752,000 in 2017 and $750,000 in 2016) are expensed as incurred.

Shipping Costs – The costs of shipping product to our customers ($6,595,544 in 2017 and $5,388,481 in 2016) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Advertising Costs – The Company expenses the production costs of advertising the first time that the related advertising takes place. Advertising costs ($1,997,113 in 2017 and $1,934,250 in 2016) are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Subsequent Events – The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2017 through the date the consolidated financial statements were included in this Form 10-K and filed with the SEC.

Concentration – The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral for the extension of credit. Allowances for credit losses are provided and have been within management's expectations. In 2017 and 2016, the Company had two customers that individually exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales. Net sales to these customers amounted to approximately 16% and 11%, respectively, in 2017 and approximately 14% and 11%, respectively, for each in 2016.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Auditing Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new amendments, an entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. We adopted this guidance prospectively at the beginning of first quarter 2017 and it has not had a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The new guidance clarifies the definition of a business in order to allow for the evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect that ASU 2017-01 will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that will change the requirements for accounting for leases. The principal change under the new accounting guidance is that lessees under leases classified as operating leases will recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Current lease accounting does not require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities arising under operating leases on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, lessees (including lessees under leases classified as finance leases and operating leases) will recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet, initially measured as the present value of lease payments under the lease. Expense recognition and cash flow presentation guidance will be based upon whether the lease is classified as an operating lease or a finance lease (the classification criteria for distinguishing between finance leases and operating leases is substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases under current guidance). The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition approach for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements; the guidance provides certain practical expedients. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine its impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 to improve the accounting for employee share-based payments. This standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows, as part of FASB’s simplification initiative to reduce cost and complexity in accounting standards while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to the users of financial statements. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017. The adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of excess tax benefits in the amount of approximately $350,000 in our provision for income taxes within the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, rather than additional paid-in capital. Additionally, our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows now present excess tax benefits as an operating activity included in other accrued liabilities, adjusted prospectively.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740), which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. This ASU requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current in a statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 may be adopted either prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this ASU retrospectively, resulting in a reclassification of its net current deferred tax asset of $501,708 to the net non-current deferred tax asset on its consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) by one year. ASU 2015-14 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. As a result, the ASU is now effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, which for us is the first quarter of 2018. The Company has elected to adopt the new guidance using the modified retrospective method. We have completed our analysis of the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and other than an increase in the level of disclosures, we do not expect the impact to be material.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02 Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2018-02 provides companies with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (or portion thereof) is recorded. ASU No. 2018-02 also requires disclosure of a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI and whether an election was made to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU No. 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Companies can adopt the provisions of ASU No. 2018-02 in either the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. The Company is beginning to evaluate the potential impact the adoption of ASU No. 2018-02 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Inventories

Inventories are stated net of valuation allowances for slow moving and obsolete inventory of $654,855 as of December 31, 2017 and $677,253 as of December 31, 2016.

4.  Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Amortization expense for patents and trademarks for the years ended December 31, 2017, and 2016 were $1,172,292 and $930,941, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five succeeding years, calculated on a similar basis, is as follows: 2018 - $1,215,549; 2019 - $1,165,086; 2020 - $1,160,466; 2021 - $1,158,641; and 2022 - $1,141,933.

5.  Other Accrued Liabilities

Other current and long-term accrued liabilities consisted of:     

6. Pension and Profit Sharing

United States employees, hired prior to July 1, 1993, are covered by a funded, defined benefit pension plan. The benefits of this pension plan are based on years of service and the average compensation of the highest three consecutive years during the last ten years of employment. In December 1995, the Company's Board of Directors approved an amendment to the United States pension plan that terminated all future benefit accruals as of February 1, 1996, without terminating the pension plan.

The Company’s funding policy with respect to its qualified plan is to contribute at least the minimum amount required by applicable laws and regulations. In 2017, the Company did not contribute to the plan.

The plan asset weighted average allocation at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, by asset category, were as follows:

The Company’s investment policy for the pension plan is to minimize risk by balancing investments between equity securities and fixed income securities. Plan funds are invested in long-term obligations with a history of moderate to low risk.

The pension plan asset information included below is presented at fair value. ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures about assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels as follows:

The following tables present the pension plan assets by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

Other disclosures related to the pension plan follow:

Accrued benefits costs are included in other accrued liabilities (non-current).     

The Company employs a building block approach in determining the long-term rate of return for plan assets. Historical markets are studied and long-term historical relationships between equity securities and fixed income securities are preserved consistent with the widely-accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate higher returns over the long run.   Our expected 6% long-term rate of return on plan assets is determined based on long-term historical performance of plan assets, current asset allocation and projected long-term rates of return.

The following table discloses the change recorded in other comprehensive income related to benefit costs:

The Company anticipates that in 2018, net periodic benefit cost will include approximately $86,000 of net actuarial loss and $1,000 of prior service cost.

The following benefits are expected to be paid:

The Company also has a qualified, profit sharing plan covering substantially all of its United States employees. Annual Company contributions to this profit sharing plan are determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company contributed 50% of employee’s contributions, up to the first 6% contributed by each employee. Total contribution expense under this profit sharing plan was $236,993 in 2017 and $188,518 in 2016.

7.  Income Taxes

The amounts of income tax expense (benefit) reflected in operations is as follows:

The current state tax provision was comprised of taxes on income, the minimum capital tax and other franchise taxes related to the jurisdictions in which the Company's facilities are located.

A summary of United States and foreign income before income taxes follows:

As discussed in Note 10 below, for segment reporting, Direct Import sales are included in the United States segment. However, the revenues are earned by our Hong Kong subsidiary and related income taxes are paid in Hong Kong whose rate approximates 16.5%. As such, income of the Asian subsidiary is included in the foreign income before taxes.

The following schedule reconciles the amounts of income taxes computed at the United States statutory rates to the actual amounts  reported in operations:

The following summarizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities:

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law in December 2017 and includes a broad range of tax reforms, certain of which were required by GAAP to be recognized upon enactment. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (SAB 118), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Act.

The Act introduced provisions that fundamentally change the U.S. approach to taxation of foreign earnings. Under the Act, qualified dividends of foreign subsidiaries are no longer subject to U.S. tax. Under the previously-existing tax rules, dividends from foreign operations were subjected to U.S. tax, and if not considered permanently reinvested, we had recognized expense and recorded a liability for the tax expected to be incurred upon receipt of the dividend of these foreign earnings. Although the Act excludes dividends of foreign subsidiaries from taxation, it includes provisions for a mandatory deemed dividend of undistributed foreign earnings at tax rates of 15.5% or 8% ("transition tax") depending on the nature of the foreign operations' assets. Companies may utilize tax attributes (including net operating losses and tax credits) to offset the transition tax. The estimated provisional net effect of applying the provisions of the Act on our 2017 results of operations was a non-cash charge to tax expense of $1,170,000. This provisional amount could be revised as additional guidance and interpretations are issued and as we continue to examine the details of the Act and the related tax attributes.

Based on our historical financial performance in the U.S., at December 31, 2017, we have a significant net deferred tax asset position. As such, with the Act's reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, we re-measured our net deferred tax assets at the lower corporate rate of 21% and recognized a $75,000 tax expense to adjust net deferred tax assets to the reduced value.

The total effect in 2017 of applying the U.S. tax reform provisions of the Act was tax expense of $1,245,000 increasing the effective rate for 2017 by 128%.

In 2017, the Company evaluated its tax positions for years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions, in accordance with the requirements of ASC 740 and as a result, concluded no adjustment was necessary. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s evaluation of uncertain tax positions was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2013 and forward, the tax years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of December 31, 2017.

In accordance with the Company’s accounting policies, any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Due to the uncertain nature of the realization of the Company's deferred income tax assets based on past performance of its German subsidiary and carry forward expiration dates, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for the amount of deferred income tax assets which are not expected to be realized. This valuation allowance, all of which is related to deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses of the Company’s German subsidiary, is subject to periodic review, and, if the allowance is reduced, the tax benefit will be recorded in future operations as a reduction of the Company's tax expense.

8. Long-Term Debt and Shareholders’ Equity

On May 6, 2016, the Company amended its revolving credit loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. The amended facility provides for borrowings of up to an aggregate of $50 million at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.0%.

On January 27, 2017, the Company amended its revolving credit loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. on a temporary basis in order to provide for the funding of the Company’s acquisition of the assets of Spill Magic, Inc. as described in Note 17. The amended facility provided for an increase in borrowings from $50 million to $55 million for the period commencing April 1, 2017 and ending on September 30, 2017. Commencing October 1, 2017, the maximum amount outstanding at any time under the facility returned to $50 million. The interest rate on borrowings remains unchanged at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.0%. In addition, the Company must pay a facility fee, payable quarterly, in an amount equal to two tenths of one percent (.20%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit line. All principal amounts outstanding under the agreement are required to be repaid in a single amount on May 6, 2019, the date the agreement expires; interest is payable monthly. Funds borrowed under the agreement may be used for working capital, acquisitions, general operating expenses, share repurchases and certain other purposes.

Under the revolving loan agreement, the Company is required to maintain specific amounts of tangible net worth, a specified total liabilities to net worth ratio, and a fixed charge coverage ratio, and must have annual net income greater than $0, measured as of the end of each fiscal year.  Specifically, under the loan agreement, the Company was required to maintain a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of not more than 2.25 to 1, calculated as at December 31, 2017. However, at December 31, 2017, the Company’s ratio was 2.37 to 1, or 5% higher than the maximum permitted ratio. The Company was not in compliance with the covenant at that date due solely to the impact on the Company of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which was enacted into law in December 2017, as a result of which the Company incurred a one-time, non-cash charge of $1,170,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017 relating to taxation of the Company’s foreign earnings. The Company and HSBC Bank, N.A. subsequently agreed to amend the loan agreement to increase the permitted ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth from 2.25 to 1 to 2.50 to 1, effective for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. All other covenants remain unchanged. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of the loan agreement as so amended.

Long term debt consists of borrowings under the Company’s revolving loan agreement with HSBC Bank, N.A. As of December 31, 2017, $43,450,000 was outstanding and $6,550,000 was available for borrowing under the Company’s revolving loan agreement.

On October 26, 2017, the Company exercised its option to purchase its First Aid Only manufacturing and distribution center in Vancouver, WA for $4.0 million. The property consists of 53,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse space on 2.86 acres. The purchase was financed by a variable rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%. Commencing December 1, 2017, principal payments of $22,222 are due monthly, with all amounts outstanding due on maturity on October 31, 2024. Minimum annual mortgage payments are due as follows: 2018 - $266,664; 2019 - $266,664; 2020 - $266,664; 2021 - $266,664; 2022 - $266,664 and thereafter - $2,644,458.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Common Stock. As of December 31, 2017, 41,227 shares may be purchased in the future under the repurchase program announced in 2010.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company leases certain office, manufacturing and warehouse facilities and various equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Total rent expense was $1,432,677 and $1,227,341 in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable leases with remaining terms of one year or more as of December 31, 2017 are as follows: 2018 - $992,665; 2019 - $627,467; 2020 - $530,454; 2021 – $285,499; 2022 - $18,000 and thereafter - $0.

There are no pending material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or, to the actual knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental authority.

10. Segment Information

The Company reports financial information based on the organizational structure used by management for making operating and investment decisions and for assessing performance. The Company’s reportable business segments include (1) United States; (2) Canada and (3) Europe. The financial results for the Company’s Asian operations have been aggregated with the results of its United States operations to form one reportable segment called the “United States segment”. Sales in the United States segment include both domestic sales as well as direct import sales. Each reportable segment derives its revenue from the sales of cutting devices, measuring instruments and first aid products for school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial use.

Domestic sales orders are filled from the Company’s distribution centers in North Carolina, Washington and Massachusetts. The Company is responsible for the costs of shipping, insurance, customs clearance, duties, storage and distribution related to such products. Orders filled from the Company’s inventory are generally for less than container-sized lots.

Direct Import sales are products sold by the Company’s Asian subsidiary, directly to major U.S. retailers who take ownership of the products in Asia. These sales are completed by delivering product to the customers’ common carriers at the shipping points in Asia. Direct Import sales are made in larger quantities than domestic sales, typically full containers. Direct Import sales represented approximately 11% and 17% of the Company’s total net sales in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Chief Operating Decision Maker evaluates the performance of each operating segment based on segment revenues and operating income. Segment revenues are defined as total revenues, including both external customer revenue and inter-segment revenue. Segment operating earnings are defined as segment revenues, less cost of goods sold and operating expenses. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets used in the respective reportable segment’s operations. Inter-segment amounts are eliminated to arrive at consolidated financial results.

The following table sets forth certain financial data by segment for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016: 

Financial data by segment:         

The following is a reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated income before taxes:

The table below presents revenue by geographic area. Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of the customer.

11. Stock Option Plans

The Company grants stock options under the 2012 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “2012 Employee Plan”) and under the 2017 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan (the “2017 Director Plan”). The Company also has two plans under which the Company no longer grants options but under which certain options remain outstanding: the 2002 Employee stock Option Plan and the 2005 Non-Salaried Director Stock Option Plan (the “2005 Director Plan”).

The 2012 Employee Plan, which became effective April 23, 2012, provides for the issuance of incentive and nonqualified stock options at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The terms of the options granted are subject to the provisions of the 2012 Employee Plan. Options granted under the 2012 Employee Plan vest 25% one day after the first anniversary of the grant date and 25% one day after each of the next three anniversaries. As of December 31, 2017, the number of shares available for grant under the 2012 Employee Plan was 22,700. Under the terms of the Employee Plan, no option may be granted under that plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the plan. Options outstanding under the Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Option Plan have the same vesting schedule as the 2012 Employee Plan.

The 2017 Director Plan provides for the issuance of stock options for up to a total of 60,000 shares of the Company's common stock to non-salaried directors. Under the Director Plan, Directors elected after the effective date and at subsequent Annual Meetings who have not received any prior grant under this or previous plans shall receive an initial grant of an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Option”). Each year, each elected Director not receiving an Initial Option will receive an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Annual Option”). The Initial Option vests 25% on the date of grant and 25% on the anniversary of the grant date in each of the following 3 years. Each Annual Option becomes fully exercisable one day after the date of grant. The exercise price of each option granted equals the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted, and expires ten (10) years from the date of grant. As provided in the Director Plan, no options may be granted under the Director Plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan, i.e., after April 24, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the number of shares available for grant under the 2017 Director Plan was 40,000.

The 2005 Director Plan, as amended, provided for the issuance of stock options for up to a total of 180,000 shares of the Company's common stock to non-salaried directors. Under the Director Plan, Directors elected on April 25, 2005 and at subsequent Annual Meetings who have not received any prior grant under this or previous plans received an initial grant of an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Option”). Each year, each elected Director not receiving an Initial Option received a 5,000 share option (the “Annual Option”). The Initial Option vests 25% on the date of grant and 25% on the anniversary of the grant date in each of the following 3 years. Each Annual Option becomes fully exercisable one day after the date of grant. The exercise price of each option granted equals the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted, and expires ten (10) years from the date of grant. As provided in the Director Plan, no options may be granted under the Director Plan after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan, i.e., after April 25, 2015.

The Company has amended certain of its stock option plans for both employees and directors to permit options to be exercised on a net basis and receive either cash or shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Specifically, optionees may, at the time of exercise of an option and subject to the consent of the Company, elect either (i) to receive from the Company cash in an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option (or portion thereof) that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (a) the fair market value per share over (b) the exercise price per share of the option ( a “net cash settlement”); or (ii) to make payment of the exercise price of the option by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such option by the number of shares having an aggregate fair market value equal to the total exercise price of the option (or portion thereof). In 2017, the Company paid a total of approximately $823,530 to optionees who had elected a net cash settlement of their respective options.

A summary of changes in options issued under the Company’s stock option plans follows:

A summary of options outstanding at December 31, 2017 is as follows:

The weighted average remaining contractual life of all outstanding stock options is 6 years.

Stock Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of employee and non-employee director stock options. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant, using an option-pricing model, is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These assumptions include estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (“expected term”), the estimated volatility of the Company’s Common Stock price over the expected term (“volatility”) and the number of options that will not fully vest in accordance with applicable vesting requirements (“forfeitures”).

The Company estimates the expected term of options granted by evaluating various factors, including the vesting period, historical employee information, as well as current and historical stock prices and market conditions. The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock by calculating historical volatility based on the closing stock price on the last day of each of the 60 months leading up to the month the option was granted. The risk-free interest rate that the Company uses in the option valuation model is the interest rate on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bond issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the options granted. Historical information was the basis for calculating the dividend yield. The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and to revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company used a mix of historical data and future assumptions to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and to record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. All stock-based payment awards are amortized over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.

The assumptions used to value option grants for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows:

Total stock-based compensation recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $684,351 and $440,536, respectively. At December 31, 2017, there was approximately $1,809,742 of unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested stock-based payments granted to the Company’s employees. As of December 31, 2017, the remaining unamortized expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3 years.

The weighted average fair value at the date of grant for options granted during 2017 and 2016 was $4.83 and $4.05 per option, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options was $8,841,377 at December 31, 2017. The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable options was $8,260,579 at December 31, 2017. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during 2017 was $1,553,894.

12. Earnings Per Share

The calculation of earnings per share follows:

For 2017 and 2016, respectively, 205,500 and 203,000 stock options were excluded from diluted earnings per share calculations because they would have been anti-dilutive.

13.    Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

The components of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income follow:

14. Financial Instruments

The carrying value of the Company’s bank debt is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the nature of its payment terms and maturity.

 15. Quarterly Data (unaudited)

Earnings per share were computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the four quarterly earnings per share amounts may not necessarily equal the earnings per share for the year.

16. Purchase of Property

On October 26, 2017, the Company exercised its option to purchase its First Aid Only manufacturing and distribution center in Vancouver, WA for $4.0 million. The property consists of 53,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse space on 2.86 acres. The purchase was financed by a variable rate mortgage with HSBC Bank, N.A. at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.5%.

17. Business Combinations

On February 1, 2017, the Company purchased the assets of Spill Magic, Inc., located in Santa Ana, CA and Smyrna, TN for $7.2 million in cash. The Spill Magic products are leaders in absorbents that encapsulate spills into dry powders that can be safely disposed. Many large retail chains use its products to remove liquids from broken glass containers, oil and gas spills, bodily fluids and solvents.

The purchase price was allocated to assets acquired as follows (in thousands):