Lifetime Brands, Inc LCUT US Equity☆

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company’s businesses, operations, liquidity and financial condition are subject to various risks. The Company’s business, financial condition or results of operation could be materially affected by the risks below or additional risks not presently known to the Company or by risks that the Company presently deems immaterial, such as changes in the economy, disruptions due to terrorist activity or man-made or natural disasters, or changes in law or accounting standards. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that the Company considers material as of the date hereof. We have grouped the risk factors into categories for ease of reading, and without any reflection on the importance of, or likelihood of, any particular category.

Economic and political risks

The Company’s business may be materially adversely affected by market conditions and by global and economic conditions and other factors beyond its control.

The Company’s performance is affected by general economic factors, the strength of retail economies and political conditions that are beyond its control. Retail economies are impacted by factors such as consumer demand and the condition of the retail industry, which in turn, are affected by general economic factors. These general economic factors include, among others:

•recession, inflation, deflation, unemployment and other factors adversely affecting consumer spending patterns generally;

•conditions affecting the retail environment for the home and other matters that influence consumer spending in the home retail industry specifically;

•conditions affecting the housing markets;

•consumer credit availability and consumer debt levels;

•material input costs, including fuel and energy costs and labor cost inflation;

•foreign currency translation;

•interest rates and the ability to hedge interest rate risks;

•government policies including tax policies relating to value-added taxes, import and export duties and quotas, anti-dumping regulations and related tariffs, import and export controls and social compliance standards;

•the impact of natural disasters, conflicts and terrorist activities;

•public health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;

•unfavorable economic conditions in the United States, the U.K., continental Europe, Asia and elsewhere;

•unstable economic and political conditions, lack of legal regulation enforcement, civil unrest and political activism, particularly in Asia; and

•restructuring and integration of the Company's European operations;

The occurrence of negative events related to any of the foregoing may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

The Company must successfully manage the demand, supply, and operational challenges associated with the actual or perceived effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any failure to do so could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and competitive position.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy and disrupted global supply chains. Continuing concerns over economic and business prospects in the U.S. and other countries have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, coupled with the prospect of decreased business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19, may precipitate a prolonged economic slowdown and recession.

The Company’s business may be unfavorably impacted by the fear of exposure to or actual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as reduced travel or recommendations or mandates from governmental authorities to cease particular business activities.

These risks include, but are not limited to:

•Reductions in demand or volatility in demand for one or more of the Company’s products, which may be caused by, among other things: the temporary inability of consumers to purchase the Company’s products due to illness and, brick and mortar retailers closing their store operations, which has occurred as a result of reduced demand from such customers, quarantine or other travel restrictions, or financial hardship for customers and consumers;

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•Inability to meet the Company’s customers’ needs and achieve cost targets due to disruptions in the Company's supply chain arrangements as well as distribution centers caused by the loss or disruption of transportation, trucking availability, workforce, or other distribution capability;

•Failure of third parties on which the Company relies, including the Company’s suppliers, third-party manufacturers, distributors, and external business partners, to meet their obligations to the Company, including due to a lack of manufacturing capacity, or significant disruptions in their ability to do so, which may be caused by their own financial or operational difficulties;

•Customers' inability to make payments due to the Company pursuant to existing payment terms as a result of store closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic;

•Significant changes in the political and labor conditions in markets in which the Company sells, or distributes products, including quarantines, governmental or regulatory actions, closures or other restrictions that limit or close the Company’s distribution facilities, restrict the Company’s employees’ ability or willingness to travel or perform necessary business functions, or otherwise prevent the Company's facilities or its third-party partners, suppliers, or customers from sufficiently staffing operations, including operations necessary for the production, distribution, sale, and support of the Company's products;

•Increased cybersecurity threats that could result from many of the Company’s key employees working remotely; new and preexisting cybersecurity threats that arise from reliance on home networks, virtual workspaces, videoconferencing, and other forms of remote work practices to support this temporary working environment, which may expose additional cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities to the Company's network, and increase the exposure of the Company to electrical or internet outages; or

•Negative impact on the Company’s workforce that could result if executive officers or other key employees or a large number of its workers fall ill.The temporary or permanent loss of any of the Company’s executive officers or other key employees could harm the Company’s business and negatively affect the Company’s ability to timely achieve its strategic initiatives.Moreover, the Company may not be successful in finding or integrating suitable successors in the event of the loss of executive officers or other key employees or if such persons become unavailable for a prolonged period of time.

There are no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic may have, and, as a result, the ultimate impact of the pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. The Company does not yet know the full extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy. Although disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to occur, the long-term economic impact and near-term financial impact on the Company, including but not limited to, any possible impairment, restructuring, and other charges, cannot be reliably quantified or estimated at this time due to the uncertainty of future developments. Despite efforts to manage and remedy the impact of COVID-19, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and competitive position, and depends on factors beyond the Company’s knowledge or control, including the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as third-party actions taken in response thereto.

The Company’s U.K. operations and sales may be materially adversely affected by the exit of the U.K. from the European Union.

On January 31, 2020, the U.K. left the European Union ("Brexit"). In December 2020, the U.K and European Union announced the agreement of a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement that will govern the ongoing relationship between the U.K. and the European Union. The U.K.’s exit from the European Union is unprecedented and it remains unclear what long-term impact this will have on the U.K.’s access to the EU Single Market and on the legal and regulatory environment in which the Company operates, as well as its effect on the global macroeconomic environment. Net sales attributable to U.K. domiciled businesses were $78.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and represent approximately 10% of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the period.

Significant uncertainty remains regarding the impact of the U.K.’s exit from the European Union. The uncertainty surrounding the consequences of the U.K.’s exit could adversely impact the U.K. economy, customers and investor confidence. Such uncertainty may contribute to additional market volatility, including volatility in the value of the U.K. pound and European euro, and may adversely affect the Company’s businesses, results of operations, and financial condition.

The Company’s business may be materially adversely affected by the imposition of tariffs and other trade policies implemented by the U.S. and other governments.

During the last few years, the U.S. government has announced and, in some cases, implemented additional tariffs on certain foreign goods, including finished products and raw materials such as steel and aluminum. These tariffs and potential tariffs have resulted or may result in increased prices for these imported goods and materials and may limit the amount of these goods and materials that may be imported into the U.S.

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A majority of the Company’s products are sourced from vendors in China. In 2018 and 2019, tariffs were imposed by the United States Trade Representative on certain finished products imported by the Company into the U.S. from China. In response to the tariffs, the Company may seek to increase prices to its customers, which may diminish demand for its products. Additionally, if the Company is unable to increase prices, this may result in the lowering of the gross margin that the Company realizes from the sale of its products. The results of either eventuality could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Moreover, the imposition of further policies restrictive on trade by the U.S. government, or the imposition of retaliatory policies or tariffs by other governments, may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

The Company's ability to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be materially adversely affected by macroeconomic and company-specific events, as well as the financial condition of insurers.

The Company is generally not fully insured against all significant losses. For example, the Company is not fully insured against hurricane and earthquake related losses. A loss for which the Company is not fully insured could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be available at rates or on terms similar to those presently available to the Company. The Company's ability to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be materially adversely affected by international, national, state or local events and company-specific events, as well as the financial condition of insurers. If insurance coverage is not available or obtainable on acceptable terms, the Company may be required to pay costs associated with adverse future events.

Liquidity and financial risks

The Company has substantial indebtedness and the highly seasonal nature of the Company’s business impacts its borrowing needs.

The Company has a substantial amount of indebtedness and is dependent on the availability of its bank loan facilities to finance its liquidity needs. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $289.9 million of consolidated debt, consisting of $27.3 million under its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL Agreement”) and $262.6 million outstanding under a senior secured term loan credit facility (the “Term Loan” and, collectively with the ABL Agreement, the “Debt Agreements”).

The ABL Agreement provides for, among other things, a maximum aggregate principal amount of $150.0 million and will mature on March 2, 2023. The Term Loan will be repaid in quarterly payments of principal equal to 0.25% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan, which payments commenced June 30, 2018. The Term Loan requires the Company to make an annual mandatory prepayment of principal based upon excess cash flow (the “Excess Cash Flow”), if any. Per the Debt Agreements, when the Company makes an Excess Cash Flow payment, the payment is first applied to satisfy the future quarterly required payments in order of maturity. This amount is recorded in the current maturity of the Term Loan on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2020, borrowings under the Debt Agreements represented approximately 36% of total capital (indebtedness plus stockholders’ equity).

In 2018, the Company utilized the proceeds of borrowings under the Debt Agreements (i) to repay in full all existing indebtedness for borrowed money under its former credit agreement and (ii) to finance, in part, the acquisition of Filament, the refinancing of certain indebtedness of Filament and its subsidiaries, and the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. The Company may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay when due the principal of, interest on, or other amounts due with respect to, its indebtedness. In addition, the Company’s business is seasonal with a significant amount of its revenue realized during the latter portion of the year. Therefore, the Company’s borrowing needs fluctuate widely based upon its seasonal working capital requirements.

The Company’s leverage and the effects of seasonal fluctuations in its cash flow, borrowing requirements and ability to borrow could have significant negative consequences on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, including:

•impairing the Company’s ability to meet the financial covenants, if and when applicable, contained in the ABL Agreement or to generate cash sufficient to pay interest or principal due under its Debt Agreements, which could result in an acceleration of some or all of the Company’s outstanding debt;

•limiting the Company’s ability to borrow money, dispose of assets or sell equity to fund the Company’s working capital, capital expenditures, dividend payments, debt service, strategic initiatives or for other obligations or purposes;

•limiting the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the economy, the markets, regulatory requirements, its operations or business;

•limiting the Company's ability to enter into derivative agreements to hedge interest rate and foreign exchange risk;

•making the Company more highly leveraged than some of its competitors, which may place the Company at a competitive disadvantage;

•making the Company more vulnerable to downturns in the economy or its business;

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•requiring a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations to make interest payments;

•making it more difficult for the Company to satisfy other obligations;

•risking credit rating downgrades of the Company, which could increase future debt costs and limit the future availability of debt financing; and

•preventing the Company from borrowing additional funds as needed or taking advantage of business opportunities as they arise, pay cash dividends or repurchase common stock.

To the extent the Company incurs additional indebtedness, the risks described above could increase. In addition, the Company’s actual cash requirements in the future may be greater than expected. The Company’s cash flow from operations may not be sufficient to service its outstanding debt or to repay the outstanding debt as it becomes due, and the Company may not be able to borrow money, sell assets or otherwise raise funds on acceptable terms, or at all, to service or refinance its debt.

The Company’s failure to meet certain covenants or comply with other requirements of its Debt Agreements may materially and adversely affect the Company’s assets, financial position and cash flows.

The ABL Agreement, under certain circumstances, requires the Company to maintain a certain fixed charge coverage ratio. As a result of this and other covenants within the Debt Agreements, the Company may be limited in its ability to incur additional debt, make investments or undertake certain other business activities. These requirements could limit the Company’s ability to obtain future financing and may prevent the Company from taking advantage of attractive business opportunities. The Company’s ability to meet the covenants or requirements in its Debt Agreements may be affected by events beyond the Company’s control, and the Company may not be able to satisfy such covenants and requirements. A breach of these covenants or the Company’s inability to comply with the restrictions could result in an event of default under the Debt Agreements, which in turn could result in an event of default under the terms of the Company’s other indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Company’s Debt Agreements, after the expiration of any grace periods, the Company’s lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the Company’s debt arrangements, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If this happens, the Company cannot assure that its assets would be sufficient to repay in full the amounts due under the Debt Agreements or the Company’s other indebtedness.

The Company’s borrowings, and discount rate applied to sale of receivables, are subject to interest rate fluctuations and an increase in interest rates could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

The Company’s borrowings bear interest at floating rates. An increase in interest rates would adversely affect the Company’s profitability. To the extent that the Company’s access to credit may be restricted because of its own performance, its bank lenders’ performances or conditions in the capital markets generally, the Company would not be able to operate normally.

The Company’s Receivables Purchase Agreement also depends upon LIBOR, as it is a component of the discount rate applicable to the agreement. If LIBOR increases, the Company may not be able to rely on the Receivables Purchase Agreement, which could have a material and adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of the LIBOR benchmark interest rate could increase the Company's borrowing costs.

Some of the Company’s borrowings bear interest at a variable rate based on LIBOR. In July 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), a regulator of financial services firms and financial markets in the United Kingdom, stated that it will plan for a phase out of regulatory oversight of LIBOR interest rates indices. The FCA has indicated they will support the LIBOR indices through 2021, to allow for an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee has proposed the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its recommended alternative to LIBOR, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing SOFR rates in April 2018. SOFR is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. Further, other central banks have convened working groups to determine alternative reference rates for other currencies. For example, the working group for the Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates, have recommended the Sterling Overnight Index Average ("SONIA") as the alternative to Sterling LIBOR.

The Company is evaluating the potential impact of the eventual replacement of the LIBOR benchmark interest rate, including the possibility of SOFR as the dominant replacement. Introduction of an alternative rate also may introduce additional basis risk for market participants as an alternative index is utilized along with LIBOR. There can be no guarantee that SOFR will become widely used and that alternatives may or may not be developed with additional complications. The Company is not able to predict whether LIBOR will cease to be available after 2021, whether SOFR will become a widely accepted benchmark in place of LIBOR, or what the impact of such a possible transition to SOFR may be on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

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The Company’s inability to complete future acquisitions or strategic alliances and/or integrate acquired businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.

The Company has historically achieved growth through acquisitions, investments and joint ventures. The Company seeks acquisition opportunities that complement and expand its operations, some of which are based outside the United States. The Company may not be able to identify and successfully negotiate suitable acquisitions, obtain financing for future acquisitions on satisfactory terms, obtain regulatory approval or otherwise complete acquisitions in the future.

Additionally, the Company may not be able to successfully integrate future acquired businesses into its existing business without substantial costs, delays or other operational or financial difficulties. Potential difficulties the Company may encounter as part of the integration process include the following:

•the potential inability to successfully combine businesses in a manner that permits the Company to achieve the cost synergies expected to be achieved as a result of the consummation of the acquisition and other benefits anticipated to result from the acquisition;

•the potential inability to integrate acquired companies’ products and services;

•challenges leveraging the customer information and technology of the two companies;

•challenges effectuating the Company’s diversification strategy, including challenges achieving revenue growth from sales of each company’s products and services to the clients and customers of the other company;

•complexities associated with managing the combined businesses, including difficulty addressing possible differences in corporate cultures and management philosophies and the challenge of integrating complex systems, technology, networks, and other assets of each of the companies in a seamless manner that minimizes any adverse impact on customers, clients, employees, lenders, and other constituencies; and

•potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen increased expenses or delays associated with the acquisition.

It is possible that the integration process could result in diversion of the attention of each company’s management, which could adversely affect each company’s ability to maintain relationships with customers, clients, employees, and other constituencies or the Company’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, or could reduce each company’s operating results or otherwise adversely affect the Company’s business and financial results.

Foreign exchange variability and currency controls could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results and financial condition.

The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Changes in the relation of foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar will affect the Company’s sales and profitability and can result in exchange losses because the Company has operations and assets located outside the United States. The Company, especially its foreign subsidiaries and affiliates, transacts business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily U.K. pounds, and to a lesser degree, Chinese renminbi, Euros, Hong Kong dollars, Mexican peso and Canadian dollars. Such transactions affect the Company’s operating results and financial condition. Foreign operations expose the Company to foreign currency fluctuations, for both transactions and financial reporting translation purposes. In the consolidated financial statements, local currency financial results are translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates prevailing during the reporting periods. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, the reported revenues and earnings of the Company’s international operations will be reduced because the local currencies will translate into fewer U.S. dollars. As described below, during times of a weakening U.S. dollar, the Company’s costs related to the supplies and inventory it sources internationally will increase.

The vast majority of the Company’s inventory is purchased from Chinese suppliers in U.S. dollars, including inventory purchased by the Company’s international operations. As a result, the gross margin from international operations is subject to volatility from movements in exchange rates, which could have an adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations and profitability from international operations. The Company has entered into foreign exchange derivative contracts to hedge the volatility of exchange rates related to a portion of its international inventory purchases. The Company cannot ensure, however, that these hedges will fully offset the impact of foreign currency rate movements. If the Chinese renminbi should appreciate against the U.S. dollar, the costs of the Company’s products will likely rise over time because of the impact the strengthening renminbi will have on the Company’s cost of sales, and the Company may not be able to pass on these price increases to its customers. The Company is also subject to the risks of currency controls and devaluations. Currency controls may limit the Company’s ability to convert currencies into U.S. dollars or other currencies, as needed, to pay dividends or make other payments from funds held by subsidiaries in countries imposing such controls, which could adversely affect the Company’s liquidity.

If the Company expands its international operations, it will be subject to increased foreign exchange variability which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

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The Company’s business requires it to maintain large fixed costs that can affect its profitability.

The Company’s business requires it to maintain large distribution facilities in its key markets, which represent high fixed rental costs relating to its leased facilities. In addition, significant portions of the Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses, including leased showrooms, are fixed, as they neither increase nor decrease proportionally with sales. Furthermore, the Company’s gross margins depend, in part, on its ability to spread sourcing costs, of which a significant portion are fixed, over its products sold. Decreased demand or the need to reduce inventories can lower the Company’s ability to absorb certain sourcing costs and adversely affect its results of operations. This is exacerbated by the high degree of seasonality impacting the Company, which results in lower demand during the first two quarters of the year, while many of the operating costs remain fixed, which further affects profitability.

Cost reduction efforts may not be successful and restructuring benefits may not be realized.

In order to operate more efficiently and control costs, the Company may announce restructuring plans from time to time, including workforce reductions, global facility consolidations and other cost reduction initiatives that are intended to generate operating expense savings. The implementation of restructuring plans could be disruptive to the Company’s operations, result in higher than anticipated charges and otherwise adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Company’s ability to complete restructuring plans and achieve the anticipated benefits from a plan is subject to estimates and assumptions and may vary materially from the Company’s expectations, including as a result of factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Furthermore, following completion of a restructuring plan, the business may not be more efficient or effective than prior to implementation of the plan.

If the Company’s goodwill or other long-term assets become impaired, the Company will be required to record impairment charges, which may be significant.

A portion of the Company’s long-term assets consists of goodwill recorded as a result of the Company’s acquisitions; other identifiable intangible assets, including trade names; and fixed assets. At December 31, 2020, goodwill, net of impairment totaled $30.3 million. The Company does not amortize goodwill but rather reviews it for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its current fair value as determined based on the discounted future cash flows of the reporting unit or comparable market sales and earnings multiples, the goodwill or intangible asset is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a prolonged period of global economic weakness, a decline in economic conditions and/or a slow, weak economic recovery, as well as sustained declines in the price of the Company’s common stock, adverse changes in the regulatory environment, adverse changes in the market share of the Company’s products, adverse changes in interest rates, further corporate income tax reforms or other factors leading to reductions in the long-term sales or profitability that the Company expects. Determination of the fair value of a reporting unit includes developing estimates which are highly subjective and incorporate calculations that are sensitive to minor changes in underlying assumptions. Management’s assumptions change as more information becomes available. Changes in these assumptions could result in an impairment charge in the future, which could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s reported earnings. If the future operating performance of one or more of the Company’s operating segments does not meet expectations, the Company may be required to record a significant charge during the period in which any impairment of the Company’s goodwill or other long-term assets is determined.

The further recognition of an impairment of the Company’s goodwill or any of the Company’s assets would negatively affect the Company’s results of operations and total capitalization, the effect of which could be material.

U.S. Reporting Unit

During the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company performed an interim assessment of the goodwill for the U.S. reporting unit as of March 31, 2020, by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple method. Based upon the analysis performed, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $19.1 million during the first quarter of 2020. The goodwill impairment charge resulted from, among other factors, the uncertain market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted the Company's market capitalization, as well as a reduction of forecasted future cash flows associated with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fair value of the U.S. reporting unit was approximately 3.9% below its carrying value as of March 31, 2020.

The Company performed its annual impairment assessment of its U.S. reporting unit as of October 1, 2020 by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple method. As of October 1, 2020, the fair value of the U.S. reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of goodwill.

In 2019, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $33.2 million, during the three months ended December 31, 2019. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple method. The goodwill impairment charge resulted from, among other factors, a sustained decline in the Company's market capitalization observed in the fourth quarter of 2019. The fair value of the U.S, reporting unit was approximately 6.1% below its carrying value at October 1, 2019.

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The Company’s projections of product demand, sales and net income are highly subjective in nature and the Company’s future sales and net income could vary materially from the Company’s projections.

From time to time, the Company may provide projections to its stockholders, lenders, the investment community, and other stakeholders of the Company’s future sales and net income. Since the Company does not have long-term purchase commitments from customers and the customer order and shipment process is very short, it is difficult for the Company to accurately predict the demand for many of its products, or the amount and timing of the Company’s future sales and related net income. The Company’s projections are based on management’s best estimate of sales using historical sales data and other information deemed relevant. These projections are highly subjective since sales can fluctuate substantially based on the demands of retail customers and due to other risks described in this Annual Report. Additionally, changes in retailer inventory management strategies could make the Company’s inventory management more difficult. Because the Company’s ability to forecast product demand and the timing of related sales requires significant subjective input, future sales and net income could vary materially from the Company’s projections.

Increases in the cost of employee benefits could materially adversely impact the Company’s financial results and cash flows.

The Company self-insures a substantial portion of the costs of employee healthcare and workers compensation. This could result in higher volatility in the Company’s earnings and exposes the Company to higher financial risks. The Company’s medical costs in recent years have generally increased and an aging workforce and other employee demographics could result in an increase in medical costs beyond what the Company has experienced or expects. The Company has stop-loss coverage in place for catastrophic events, but the aggregate impact of a high number of claims up to the Company’s stop-loss limit may have an effect on the Company’s profitability.

There are inherent limitations on the effectiveness of the Company’s controls.

The Company does not expect that its disclosure controls or the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that resource constraints exist, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls are revised, as necessary, due to changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. If in the future the Company’s controls become inadequate, it could fail to meet its financial reporting obligations, its reputation may be adversely affected, its business and operating results could be harmed, and the market price of its stock could decline.

Customer risks

The Company faces intense competition from other companies worldwide and if the Company is unable to compete successfully, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

The markets for the Company’s products are intensely competitive with the principal competitive factors being product innovation, brand name, product quality, aesthetic appeal to customers, packaging, breadth of product offerings, distribution capability, delivery time and price. Advantages or disadvantages in any of these competitive factors may be sufficient to cause the customer to consider changing providers of the kinds of products that the Company sells. The Company competes with many other suppliers, some of which are larger than the Company, have greater financial and other resources or employ brands that are more established, have greater consumer recognition or are more favorably perceived by consumers or retailers than the Company’s brands. Some competitors may be willing to reduce prices and accept lower profit margins to compete with the Company. As a result of this competition, the Company could lose market share and sales, or be forced to reduce its prices to meet competition. If the Company’s product offerings are unable to compete successfully, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

Changes in the Company’s customer purchasing practices could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

The Company’s wholesale customers include mass market merchants, specialty stores, commercial stores, department stores, warehouse clubs, grocery stores, off-price retailers, food service distributors, pharmacies, food and beverage outlets and e-commerce. Unanticipated changes in purchasing and other practices by the Company’s customers, including a customer’s pricing and payment terms, inventory de-stocking, limitations on shelf space, more extensive packaging requirements, changes in order quantities, use of private label brands and other practices, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, as a result of the desire of retailers to more closely manage inventory levels, there is a growing trend among retailers to make purchases on a “just-in-time” basis. While the Company generally orders products significantly in advance of

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the anticipated time of their sale by the Company, this trend may require the Company to shorten its lead time for production in certain cases and more closely anticipate demand, which may require the Company to carry additional inventories. The Company’s annual earnings and cash flows also depend to a great extent on the results of operations in the latter half of the year due to the seasonality of its sales. The Company’s success and sales growth is also dependent on its evaluation of consumer preferences and changing trends.

As certain online retailers grow they may continue to demand lower pricing, special packaging, shorter lead times for the delivery of products, smaller more frequent shipments, or impose other requirements on product suppliers. The cost of compliance with customers’ demands could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

Many of the Company’s wholesale customers are significantly larger than the Company, have greater financial and other resources and also purchase goods directly from vendors in Asia and elsewhere. Decisions by large customers to increase their purchases directly from overseas vendors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Significant changes or financial difficulties, including consolidations of ownership, restructurings, bankruptcies, liquidations or other events that affect retailers, could result in fewer retailers selling the Company’s products, reliance on a smaller group of customers, an increase in the risk of extending credit to these customers or limitations on the Company’s ability to collect amounts due from these customers. Although the Company has long-established relationships with many of its customers, the Company does not have any long-term supply or binding contracts or guarantees of minimum purchases. Purchases by the Company’s customers are generally made using individual purchase orders. Customers may cancel their orders, change purchase quantities from forecast volumes, delay purchases for a number of reasons beyond the Company’s control or change other terms of their business relationship with the Company. Significant or numerous cancellations, reductions, delays in purchases or changes in business practices by customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

Retailers place great emphasis on timely delivery of products for specific selling seasons, especially during the third fiscal quarter, and on the fulfillment of consumer demand throughout the year. The Company cannot control all of the various factors that might affect product delivery to retailers. Failure to deliver products to the Company’s retailers in a timely and effective manner, often under special vendor requirements to use specific carriers and delivery schedules, could damage the Company’s reputation and brands and result in a loss of customers or reduced orders.

Changes at the Company’s large customers, or actions taken by them, and consolidation in the retail industry could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., including Sam’s Club and, in the U.K., Asda Superstore, (“Walmart”), accounted for 20%, 16% and 14% of consolidated net sales, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, sales to Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco”) accounted for 11% of consolidated net sales. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Amazon.com Inc., (“Amazon”), accounted for 10% of consolidated net sales. Sales to Walmart, Costco and Amazon are included in the Company's U.S. and International segments. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s sales during these periods.

A material reduction in sales to the aforementioned or other top customers in the aggregate, could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s business and operating results. In addition, pressures by such customers that would cause the Company to materially reduce the price of its products could result in reduced sales and operating margin. Any significant changes or financial difficulties that affect these customers, such as reduced sales by such customers (whether for reasons that affect a particular customer or the retail industry in general) may also result in reduced demand for the Company’s products. The Company would also be subject to increased credit risk with respect to such customers. In particular, the concentration of the Company’s business with Walmart extends to its international business as well as through Vasconia in Mexico and the Company’s strategic alliance in Canada, due to the market presence of Walmart in these foreign countries. Any changes in purchasing practices or decline in the financial condition, of Walmart or other large customers may have a material adverse impact on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company.

The Company’s large customers also have significant purchasing leverage. Customers may demand lower pricing, special packaging, shorter lead times for the delivery of products or impose other requirements on product suppliers like the Company. These business demands may relate to inventory practices, logistics or other aspects of the customer-supplier relationship. If the Company does not effectively respond to the demands of its customers, they could decrease or eliminate their purchases from the Company. These risks could be exacerbated if such large customers consolidate, or if the Company’s smaller customers consolidate to become larger customers, which would increase their purchasing leverage. A reduction in the purchases of the Company’s products by its wholesale customers or the costs of complying with customer business demands could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s customers could carry products that directly compete with the Company’s products for retail space and consumer purchases. There is a risk that these customers could give higher priority to products of, or form alliances with, the Company’s

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competitors. The failure of customers to provide the Company’s products with similar or better levels of promotional support and retail space as competitors receive could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The rapidly changing retail environment could result in the loss of, or a material reduction in, sales to the Company’s brick-and-mortar customers, which could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

The retail environment is highly competitive and rapidly evolving with the increase pace of technological development. Consumers are increasingly embracing shopping online and through mobile commerce applications, and this trend has been significantly increasing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, an increasing portion of total consumer expenditures with retailers is occurring online and through mobile commerce applications. This overall trend has negatively affected many brick-and-mortar retailers, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. If the Company’s brick-and-mortar retail customers fail to maintain or grow their overall market position through the integration of physical retail presence and digital retail, these customers may experience financial difficulties including store closures, bankruptcies or liquidations. This could, in turn, substantially reduce the Company’s revenues, increase credit risk and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

If the Company is unable to effectively manage its existing Internet business, the Company's reputation and operating results may be harmed.

The success of the Company’s Internet business depends, in part, on factors over which the Company may have limited control. The Company must successfully respond to changing consumer preferences and buying trends relating to Internet usage. The Company is also vulnerable to certain additional risks and uncertainties associated with the Internet, including: changes in required technology interfaces; website downtime and other technical failures; costs and technical issues as the Company upgrades its website software; computer viruses; changes in applicable federal and state regulations; security breaches; data breaches; and consumer privacy concerns. In addition, the Company must keep up to date with competitive technology trends, including the use of improved technology, creative user interfaces and other Internet marketing tools such as paid search, which may increase its costs and which may not succeed in increasing sales or attracting customers. The Company’s failure to successfully respond to these risks and uncertainties might adversely affect the sales in its Internet business, as well as damage the Company’s reputation and brands.

Demand for new products and the inability to develop and introduce new competitive products at favorable profit margins could adversely affect the Company’s performance and prospects for future growth.

New product introductions and product innovation are significant contributors to the Company’s growth strategy and the Company’s long-term success in the competitive retail environment depends in part on the Company’s ability to develop and market a continuing stream of innovative new products that meet changing consumer preferences. The uncertainties associated with developing and introducing new products, such as the market demands and the costs of development and production may impede the successful development and introduction of new products. Acceptance of the new products may not meet sales expectations due to several factors, such as the Company’s failure to accurately predict market demand or its inability to resolve technical issues in a timely and cost-effective manner. Additionally, the inability to develop new products on a timely basis could result in the loss of business to competitors.

Supply chain risks

International suppliers subject the Company to regional regulatory, man-made or natural disasters, health epidemics, political, economic and foreign currency exchange risk that could materially and adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

The Company sources its products from suppliers located principally in Asia, Europe and the United States, which international scope of operations subjects the Company to various risks, including man-made or natural disasters, health epidemics, political, economic and foreign currency changes. Additionally, the Company’s vendors in Asia, from whom a substantial majority of the Company’s products are sourced, are located primarily in China, which subjects the Company to regional risks including regulatory, social and other risks. The Company’s ability to select and retain reliable vendors and suppliers who provide timely deliveries of quality parts and products efficiently will impact its success in meeting customer demand for timely delivery of quality products. The Company’s sourcing operations and its vendors are impacted by labor costs in China, where labor historically has been readily available at low cost relative to labor costs in North America. However, as China is experiencing rapid social, political and economic changes, labor costs have risen in some regions and labor in China may not continue to be available to the Company at costs consistent with historical levels. Changes in labor or other laws may be enacted, in China or in other countries in which the Company does business, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations and/or those of the Company’s suppliers. Changes in currency exchange rates might negatively affect the Company and its overseas vendors’ profitability and business prospects. The Company does not have access to its vendors’ financial information and the Company is unable to assess its vendors’ financial condition, including

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their liquidity. Interruption of supplies from any of the Company’s vendors, or the loss of one or more key vendors, could have a negative effect on the Company’s business and operating results.

The Company’s international trade subjects it to transportation risks.

The Company imports its products for delivery to its distribution centers, as well as arranges for its customers to import goods to which title has passed overseas or at a port of entry. For purchases that are to be delivered to its distribution facilities, the Company arranges for transportation, primarily by sea, from ports in Asia and Europe to ports in the United States, principally New York/Newark/Elizabeth and Los Angeles/Long Beach, and in the U.K., principally Felixstowe. Accordingly, the Company is subject to risks incidental to such transportation. These risks include, but are not limited to, increases in fuel costs, fuel shortages, the availability of ships, increased security restrictions, work stoppages, weather disruptions and carriers’ ability to provide delivery services to meet the Company’s shipping needs. Transportation disruptions and increased transportation costs could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company depends on third-party manufacturers to produce the vast majority of its products, which presents quality control risks to the Company.

With the exception of the Company’s sterling silver products, the Company sources almost all of its products from suppliers located outside the United States, primarily in China, which restricts the Company’s ability to monitor and control their manufacture of the Company’s goods.

Although the Company has agreements with its third party manufacturers regarding quality standards and regularly audits the facilities of its manufacturers through its quality control program, the third party manufacturers may not continue to meet the Company’s quality standards, social standards regarding its workforce that are expected in the United States or legislation and regulations that apply to the products the Company contracts to manufacture. Failure by the Company’s manufacturers to meet these standards could, in turn, increase order cancellations, returns and price concessions and decrease customer demand for the Company’s products. Non-compliance with the Company’s product standards, regulatory requirements or product recall (or other regulatory actions) could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company’s product costs are subject to price fluctuation.

Various commodities comprise the raw materials used to manufacture the Company’s products. The prices of these commodities have historically fluctuated on a cyclical basis and have often depended on a variety of factors over which the Company has no control. Additionally, labor costs represent a significant component of the Company’s supplier’s manufacturing costs and the Company’s suppliers may increase the prices they charge the Company if they experience rising labor costs. The cost of producing and distributing the Company’s products is also sensitive to energy costs, duties and tariffs. The selling prices of the Company’s products have not always increased in response to raw material, labor or other cost increases, and the Company is unable to determine to what extent, if any, it will be able to pass future cost increases through to its customers. The Company’s inability to come to favorable agreements with its suppliers or to pass increased costs through to the Company’s customers could materially and adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations.

A widespread outbreak of an illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or other health issue could negatively affect various aspects of the business, including the Company's supply chain, and make it more difficult and expensive to meet the Company's obligations to its customers, and could result in reduced demand from its customers.

The Company's global operations are susceptible to global events, including a widespread outbreak of an illness, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, or other health issue, As a result of epidemic outbreaks businesses can be shut down, supply chains can be interrupted, slowed, or rendered inoperable, and individuals can become ill, quarantined, or otherwise unable to work and/or travel due to health reasons or governmental restrictions. Epidemic outbreaks could also substantially interfere with general commercial activity related to the Company's supply chain and customer base, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, business, or prospects.

If the Company's operations are curtailed and the supply chain continues to be disrupted, the Company may need to seek alternate sources of supply for services and staff, which may be more expensive. Alternate sources may not be available or may result in delays in shipments to the Company from its supply chain and subsequently to the customers, each of which would affect the Company's results of operations. Further, if the customers’ businesses are similarly affected, they might delay or reduce purchases from the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results from operations.

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Intellectual property risks

The loss of certain licenses or material changes in royalty rates could materially adversely affect the Company’s operating margin and cash flow.

Significant portions of the Company’s business are dependent on trade names, trademarks and patents, some of which are licensed from third parties. In 2020, sales of licensed brands accounted for approximately 14% of the Company’s gross sales. The Company’s licenses for many of these brands require it to pay royalties based on sales. Many of these license agreements are subject to termination by the licensor, if, for example, the Company fails to satisfy certain minimum sales obligations or breaches the terms of the license. The loss of significant licenses or a material increase in the royalty rates the Company pays or other new terms negotiated upon renewal of such licenses could result in a reduction of the Company’s operating margins and cash flow from operations or otherwise adversely affect its business.

The Company holds certain rights to use the Farberware brand for kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, cutting boards, shears and certain other products which together represent a material portion of its sales, through a fully-paid, royalty-free license for a term that expires in 2195, subject to earlier termination under certain circumstances. The licensor is a joint venture of which the Company is a 50% owner. The other 50% owner of the joint venture has the right to terminate the Company’s license if the Company materially breaches any of the material terms of the license and fails to cure the material breach within 180 days of notice of the breach, if it is determined in an arbitration proceeding that money damages alone would not be sufficient compensation to the licensor and that the breach is so egregious as to warrant termination of the license and forfeiture of the Company’s rights to use the brand under that license agreement. If the Company were to lose the Farberware license for kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, cutting boards, shears and certain other products through termination as a result of an uncured breach, its business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

Sales of KitchenAid branded products, to a lesser extent, also represent a material portion of the Company’s sales. The Company also holds a license to use the KitchenAid brand subject to a license agreement that will expire in December 2022. The Company originally entered into a licensing arrangement for use of the KitchenAid brand in 2000, and has renewed the license, typically for three-year periods, since that time. Although it expects to be able to renew its current KitchenAid license prior to its expiration, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so on reasonable terms, or at all, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company may not be able to adequately establish or protect its intellectual property rights, and the infringement or loss of the Company’s intellectual property rights could harm its business.

To establish and protect the Company’s intellectual property rights, the Company relies upon a combination of U.S., foreign and multi-national patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, together with licenses, confidentiality agreements and other contractual arrangements. The measures that the Company takes to protect its intellectual property rights may prove inadequate to prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating the Company’s intellectual property, or from breaching their contractual obligations to the Company.

The Company has obtained and applied for numerous U.S. and foreign trademark, service mark and patent registrations, and will continue to evaluate the registration of additional marks, patents or other intellectual property, as appropriate. The Company cannot guarantee that any of its pending applications will be approved by the applicable governmental authorities. Moreover, even if such applications are approved, third parties may seek to oppose, declare invalid or otherwise challenge these registrations. Failure to obtain registrations for the Company’s intellectual property in the United States and other countries could limit the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and impede the Company’s marketing efforts and operations in those jurisdictions.

The Company may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend its intellectual property rights. If a competitor or collaborator files a patent application claiming technology also claimed by the Company, or a trademark application claiming a trademark, service mark or trade dress also used by the Company, in order to protect the Company’s rights, the Company may have to participate in opposition or interference proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or a similar foreign agency. The Company cannot guarantee that the operation of its business does not infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties, and the Company’s intellectual property rights may be challenged by third parties or invalidated through administrative process or litigation. The costs associated with protecting intellectual property rights, including costs associated with litigation or administrative proceedings, may be material and there can be no assurance that any such litigation or administrative proceedings will be successful. Any such matters or proceedings could be burdensome, divert the time and resources of the Company’s personnel and the Company may not prevail. Furthermore, even if the Company’s intellectual property rights are not directly challenged, disputes among third parties could lead to the weakening or invalidation of the Company’s intellectual property rights, or other parties such as the

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Company’s competitors may independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to the Company’s technology.

The laws of certain foreign countries in which the Company operates or may operate in the future do not protect, and the governments of certain foreign countries do not enforce, intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws and government of the U.S., which may negate the Company’s competitive or technological advantages in such markets. Moreover, any repeal or weakening of intellectual property laws or enforcement of those laws in the United States or foreign jurisdictions could make it more difficult for the Company to adequately protect its intellectual property rights, negatively impacting their value and increasing the cost of enforcing the Company’s rights. If the Company is unable to establish or adequately protect its intellectual property rights, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

If the Company is unable to protect the confidentiality of its proprietary information and know-how, the value of the Company’s technology, products and services could be harmed significantly.

In addition to registered intellectual property, the Company relies on know-how and other proprietary information in operating its business. If this information is not adequately protected, then it may be disclosed or used in an unauthorized manner. To the extent that consultants, vendors, key employees or other third parties apply technology independently developed by them or by others to the Company’s proposed products in the absence of a valid license or suitable non-disclosure or assignment of inventions provisions, disputes may arise as to the ownership of or rights to use such technology, which may not be resolved in the Company’s favor. If other parties breach confidentiality or other agreements, or if the Company’s registered intellectual property is not protected in the U.S. or foreign jurisdictions, this could harm the Company by enabling the Company’s competitors and other entities, who may have greater experience and financial resources, to copy or use the Company’s proprietary information in the advancement of their products, methods or technologies.

The Company’s brands are subject to reputational risks and damage to the Company’s brands or reputation could adversely affect its business.

The Company’s brands and its reputation are among its most important assets. The Company’s ability to attract and retain customers depends, in part, upon external perceptions of the Company, the quality of its products and its corporate and management integrity. The consumer goods industry is by its nature more prone to reputational risks than other industries. This has been compounded in recent years by the free flow of unverified information on the Internet and, in particular, on social media. Damage to the Company’s brands or reputation or negative publicity or perceptions about the Company could adversely affect its business.

Operational and regulatory risks

Interruptions in the Company’s operations caused by outside forces could cause material losses.

The Company’s worldwide operations could be subject to natural and man-made disasters, telecommunications failures, water shortages, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, fires, extreme weather conditions, conflicts, acts of terrorism, health epidemics and other business interruptions. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could seriously harm the Company’s business, revenue and financial condition and increase the Company’s costs and expenses. If the Company’s or its manufacturers’ warehousing facilities or transportation facilities are damaged or destroyed, the Company would be unable to distribute products on a timely basis, which could harm the Company’s business. The Company’s back-up operations may be inadequate, and the Company’s business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to compensate for any losses that may occur.

The Company’s international operations present special challenges that the Company may not be able to meet, and this could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

The Company conducts business outside of the United States through subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures. These entities have operations and assets in the U.K., Mexico, Brazil, Canada, China and Hong Kong. Therefore, the Company is subject to increases and decreases in its investments in these entities resulting from the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. These entities also bear risks similar to those risks faced by the Company. However, there are specific additional risks related to these organizations, such as the failure of the Company’s partners or other investors to meet their obligations and higher credit and liquidity risks related to thinly capitalized entities. Failure of these entities or the Company’s vendors to adhere to required regulatory or other standards, including social compliance standards, could materially and adversely impact the Company’s reputation and business.

In addition, the Company sells its products in foreign countries and seeks to increase its level of international business activity. Accordingly, the Company is subject to various risks, including:

•U.S.-imposed embargoes of sales to specific countries;

•foreign import controls (which may be arbitrarily imposed or enforced);

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•import regulations and duties;

•export regulations (which require the Company to comply with stringent licensing regimes);

•anti-dumping regulations;

•price and currency controls;

•exchange rate fluctuations;

•dividend remittance restrictions;

•expropriation of assets;

•war, civil uprisings and riots;

•government instability;

•the necessity of obtaining governmental approval for new and continuing products and operations;

•legal systems or decrees, laws, taxes, regulations, interpretations and court decisions that are not always fully developed and that may be retroactively or arbitrarily applied;

•restructuring and integration of the Company's European operations;

•public health epidemics;

•unanticipated income taxes, excise duties, import taxes, export taxes or other governmental assessments; and

•difficulties in managing a global enterprise.

Any significant violations of regulations or the occurrence of the events listed above could result in civil or criminal sanctions or the loss of export or other licenses, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Company’s organizational structure may limit its ability to transfer funds between countries, particularly into and out of the United States, without incurring adverse tax consequences. Any of these events could result in a loss of business or other unexpected costs that could reduce sales or profits and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company operates in a regulated environment that imposes significant compliance requirements. Non-compliance with these requirements could subject the Company to sanctions and materially adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company is subject in the ordinary course of its business, in the United States and elsewhere, to many statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations that, if violated by the Company or its affiliates, partners or vendors, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. The Company is required to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act and similar anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-kickback laws adopted in many of the countries in which the Company does business that prohibit the Company from engaging in bribery or making other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business and also require maintenance of adequate record-keeping and internal accounting practices to accurately reflect transactions. Under the FCPA, companies operating in the United States may be held liable for actions taken by their strategic or local partners or representatives. The U.K. Bribery Act is broader in scope than the FCPA in that it directly addresses commercial bribery in addition to bribery of government officials and it does not recognize certain exceptions, notably facilitation payments that are permitted by the FCPA. Civil and criminal penalties may be imposed for violations of these laws. In many of the countries in which the Company operates, particularly those with developing economies, it is or has been common for government officials and businesses to engage in business practices that are prohibited by these laws. If the Company does not properly implement and maintain practices and controls with respect to compliance with applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws, or if the Company fails to enforce those practices and controls properly, the Company may be subject to regulatory sanctions, including administrative costs related to governmental and internal investigations, civil and criminal penalties, injunctions and restrictions on the Company’s business and capital raising activities, any of which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company’s employees, distributors, dealers and other agents could engage in conduct that is not in compliance with such laws for which the Company might be held responsible. If the Company’s employees, distributors, dealers or other agents are found to have engaged in illegal practices, the Company could suffer substantial penalties and the reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company could be materially adversely affected.

New and future laws and regulations governing the Internet and e-commerce could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company is subject to laws and regulations governing the Internet and e-commerce. These existing and future laws and regulations may impede the growth of the Internet, e-commerce or other online services. These regulations and laws may cover taxation, user privacy, data protection, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, electronic contracts and other communications,

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consumer protection, the provision of online payment services, broadband residential Internet access and the characteristics and quality of products and services. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes, and personal privacy apply to the Internet and e-commerce. Unfavorable resolutions of these issues could diminish the demand for the Company’s products on the Internet and increase the cost of doing business.

On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. et al, (the “Wayfair Decision”), a case that challenged existing law under which online retailers are not required to collect sales tax unless they have a physical presence in the buyer’s state. The Wayfair Decision established that a state may enforce or adopt laws requiring online retailers to collect and remit sales tax if there is a substantial nexus between the online retailer’s activity and the state, even if the retailer has no physical presence within the taxing state. The majority of U.S. states have enacted laws or have pending legislation that require online retailers to collect and remit sales tax for online sales. These laws and pending legislation could result in the Company incurring substantial tax liabilities, including taxes on past sales, as well as penalties and interest. The imposition by state governments of sales tax collection obligations on out-of-state internet retailers could also create additional administrative burdens on the Company. This decision and the enactment and enforcement of laws resulting from this decision could also impact where the Company is required to file state income taxes. As a result, the Company’s effective income tax rate, the cost of the Company’s e-commerce business, and the growth of its e-commerce business, could be materially adversely effected by the Wayfair Decision and other new laws or regulations governing the internet and e-commerce. This potential negative impact on the Company’s e-commerce business could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s overall business, results of operations and financial condition.

A failure in or compromise of the Company’s operating systems or infrastructure or those of third parties could disrupt the Company’s business and cause losses.

The Company relies on many information technology systems for the operation of its principal business functions, including, but not limited to, the Company’s enterprise resource planning, warehouse management, inventory forecast and ordering and call center systems. In the case of the Company’s inventory forecast and ordering system, most of the Company’s orders are received directly through electronic connections with the Company’s largest customers. Additionally, the success of certain product categories in a competitive marketplace is dependent upon the creation and launch of new, innovative products. Accordingly, to keep pace within a competitive retail environment, the Company uses and will continue to evaluate new technologies to improve the efficiency of designing new innovative products. The failure or compromise of any of these systems or technologies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.

The Company is subject to cyber security risks and may incur increasing costs in efforts to minimize those risks and to comply with regulatory standards.

The Company employs information technology systems and operates websites which allow for the secure storage and transmission of proprietary or confidential information regarding the Company’s customers, employees and others, including credit card information and personal identification information. The Company has made significant efforts to secure its computer network to mitigate the risk of possible cyber-attacks, including, but not limited to, data breaches, and is continuously working to upgrade its existing information technology systems and provide employee awareness training around phishing, malware, and other cyber risks to ensure that the Company is protected, to the greatest extent possible, against cyber risks and security breaches. In the first quarter of 2021, we experienced a cyber security incident affecting our information technology systems. The business disruption caused by the cyber incident was minimal. Despite our continuous efforts to ensure the security of the Company’s computer networks, any future cyber incidents could compromise our information technology systems, which could impact operations and confidential information could be misappropriated, which could lead to negative publicity, loss of sales and profits or cause the Company to incur significant costs to reimburse third- parties for damages, which could adversely impact profits.

Additionally, the Company must comply with increasingly complex and rigorous regulatory standards enacted to protect businesses and personal data, including the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the California Consumer Privacy Act. GDPR is a comprehensive European Union privacy and data protection reform, effective in 2018, which applies to companies that are organized in the European Union or otherwise provide services to consumers who reside in the European Union, and imposes strict standards regarding the sharing, storage, use, disclosure and protection of end user data and significant penalties (monetary and otherwise) for non-compliance. The California Consumer Privacy Act, which became effective in January 2020, created new data privacy rights, including a new private right of action for data breaches and requires companies that process information on California residents to make new disclosures to consumers about their data collection, use and sharing practices and allow consumers to opt out of certain data sharing with third parties. Any failure to comply with GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or other regulatory standards, could subject the Company to legal and reputational risks. Misuse of or failure to secure personal information could also result in violation of data privacy laws and regulations, proceedings against the Company by governmental entities or others, damage to the Company’s reputation and credibility, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.

The Company is in the process of transitioning the Company's Systems, Applications and Products and other critical systems to cloud-based technologies. As the Company transitions to cloud-based technologies, the Company may be exposed to additional cyber threats

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as the Company migrates from legacy systems to cloud-based solutions. The Company's increased dependence on third parties for cloud-based systems may also subject the Company to further cyber threats.

The Company sells consumer products which involve an inherent risk of product liability claims.

The marketing of certain of the Company’s consumer products involve an inherent risk of product liability claims or recalls or other regulatory or enforcement actions initiated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, by the Office of Fair Trading in the U.K., by other regulatory authorities or through private causes of action. The Company has in the past, and may have in the future, recalls (both voluntary and involuntary) of its products. Any defects in products the Company markets could harm the Company’s reputation, adversely affect its relationship with its customers and decrease market acceptance of the Company’s products and the strength of the brand names under which the Company markets such products. Potential product liability claims may exceed the amount of the Company’s insurance coverage (which is subject to self-insured retention amounts) and could materially damage the Company’s business and its financial condition. Additionally, the Company’s product standards could be impacted by new or revised environmental rules and regulations or other social initiatives.

The Company may incur material costs due to environmental liabilities which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company is subject to a broad range of federal, state, local, foreign and multi-national laws and regulations relating to the environment. These include laws and regulations that govern:

•discharges into the air, water and land;

•the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and wastes; and

•remediation of contamination associated with release of hazardous substances at the Company’s facilities and at off-site disposal locations.

The Company may incur material costs to comply with increasingly stringent environmental laws and enforcement policies. Moreover, there are proposed international accords and treaties, as well as federal, state and local laws and regulations, which would attempt to control or limit the causes of climate change, including the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. In the event that the U.S. government or foreign governments enact new climate change laws or regulations or make changes to existing laws or regulations, compliance with applicable laws or regulations may result in increased manufacturing costs for the Company’s products, such as by requiring investment in new pollution control equipment or changing the ways in which certain of the Company’s products are made. The Company may incur some of these costs directly and others may be passed on to the Company from its third-party suppliers. Although the Company believes that it is substantially in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at its facilities, the Company may not always be in compliance with such laws and regulations or any new laws and regulations in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

For further discussion of the Company's legal proceedings refer to NOTE 14 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES to the Company's consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company’ executives and other key employees are critical to the Company’s success. The loss of and/or failure to attract and maintain its highly skilled employees could adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s success depends, in part, on the efforts and skills of its executives and other key employees. The Company’s key employees are experienced and highly qualified in the housewares industry. The loss of any of the Company’s executive officers or other key employees could harm the business and the Company’s ability to timely achieve its strategic initiatives. The Company’s success also depends, in part, on its ability to identify, hire and retain other skilled personnel. The Company’s industry is characterized by a high level of employee mobility and aggressive recruiting among competitors for personnel with successful track records. The Company may not be able to attract and retain skilled personnel or may incur significant costs in order to do so.

As a result of the Company’s acquisition of Filament, Taylor Parent has significant influence over the Company and its interests may conflict with the Company’s or its stockholders in the future.

As a result of the issuance of common stock to Taylor Parent, Taylor Parent has significant influence over the Company. Going forward, Taylor Parent’s degree of control will depend on, among other things, its level of ownership of the Company’s common stock and its ability to exercise certain rights under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement that the Company entered into with Taylor Parent in connection with the acquisition and merger agreement.

Under the Stockholders Agreement, for so long as Taylor Parent continues to beneficially own at least 50% of the shares it received at the consummation of the acquisition, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries may take any of the following actions without the approval of the directors designated by Taylor Parent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld: (i) enter into any agreement for a transaction that would result in a change of control of the Company; (ii) consummate any transaction for the sale of all or

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substantially all of the Company’s assets; (iii) file for reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11, or for liquidation pursuant to Chapter 7, of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; (iv) liquidate or dissolve the business and affairs of the Company; (v) take any Board of Directors action to seek an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or approve, or recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, except as required by Delaware Law (as defined in the merger agreement) or other applicable law and other than amendments that would not materially and disproportionately affect Taylor Parent; (vi) incur additional debt in excess of $100 million in the aggregate, subject to certain exceptions; (vii) acquire or dispose of assets or a business, in each case with an individual value in excess of $100 million; (viii) terminate the employment of the Chief Executive Officer, other than for cause (in which case the Company shall consult in good faith with Taylor Parent on a replacement Chief Executive Officer); or (ix) adopt a stockholder rights plan that does not exempt as “grandfathered persons” the stockholders party to the Stockholders Agreement and their affiliates from being deemed “acquiring persons” due to their beneficial ownership of the common stock of the Company upon the public announcement of adoption of such stockholder rights plan (it being understood that no such plan shall restrict any stockholder party to the Stockholders Agreement or its affiliates from acquiring, in the aggregate, common stock up to the level of their aggregate percentage beneficial ownership as of the public announcement of the adoption of such stockholder rights plan).

Accordingly, Taylor Parent’s influence over the Company and the consequences of such control could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and business prospects and negatively impact the trading price of its common stock.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

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Item 2. Properties

The following table lists the principal properties at which the Company operated its business at December 31, 2020:

Location Description Size(square feet) Owned/Leased

Garden City, New York (3) Corporate headquarters/main showroom 159,000 Leased

San Germán, Puerto Rico (1) Sterling silver manufacturing facility 55,000 Leased

Shanghai, China (3) Offices 22,000 Leased

Oak Brook, Illinois (1) Offices 18,000 Leased

Guangzhou, China (3) Offices 18,000 Leased

Seattle, Washington (1) Offices 17,500 Leased

New York, New York (1) Offices and showrooms 12,000 Leased

Atlanta, Georgia (1) Showrooms 11,000 Leased

Bentonville, Arkansas (1) Offices and showroom 7,000 Leased

Newtown, Pennsylvania (1) Offices 5,900 Leased

Pawtucket, Rhode Island (1) Offices and showroom 4,900 Leased

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (1) Showroom 4,000 Leased

Kowloon, Hong Kong (3) Offices and showroom 2,585 Leased

Tianjin, China (3) Offices 2,400 Leased

Minneapolis, Minnesota (1) Offices 1,956 Leased

Isaaquah, Washington (1) Offices and showroom 1,125 Leased

(1)Location primarily used by the U.S. segment.

(2)Location used by the International segment.

(3)Location used by all segments.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

For a description of our legal proceedings, please see NOTE 14 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, tothe Company's consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s common stock is traded under the symbol “LCUT” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”).

At February 28, 2021, the Company estimates that there were approximately 2,095 record holders of the Company’s common stock.

The Company is authorized to issue 100 shares of Series A Preferred stock and 2,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred stock, none of which were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2020.

For a discussion of dividends paid by the Company in 2020 and 2019, refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Dividends. The Board of Directors currently intends to continue paying cash dividends for the foreseeable future, although the Board of Directors may in its discretion determine to modify or eliminate such dividends at any time.

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PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The following chart compares the cumulative total return on the Company’s common stock with the NASDAQ Market Index, the Company’s peer group, which is comprised of companies that we believe have comparable characteristics and are in the same industry or line-of-business, and the Hemscott Group Index for Housewares & Accessories. The comparisons in this chart are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of the possible future performance of the Company’s common stock.

Date LifetimeBrands, Inc. HemscottGroup Index PeerGroup NASDAQMarketIndex

(1)The graph assumes $100 was invested as of the close of trading on December 31, 2015 and dividends were reinvested. Measurement points are at the last trading day of each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The material in this chart is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, irrespective of any general incorporation by reference language in such filing. A list of the companies included in the Company’s Hemscott Group Index will be furnished by the Company to any stockholder upon written request to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Peer issuers included in the peer group identified include, Acushnet Holdings Corp., Callaway Golf Co., Crocs, Inc., Delta Apparel, Inc., Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co., Helen of Troy Ltd., JAKKS Pacific, Inc., Lands’ End, Inc., Movado Group, Inc., Oxford Industries, Inc., The Buckle, Inc. and Tupperware Brands Corp.

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The table below sets forth information regarding issuer purchases of equity securities:

(1)The repurchased shares were acquired other than as part of a publicly announced plan or program. The Company repurchased these securities in connection with its Amended and Restated 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan which allows participants to use shares to satisfy certain tax liabilities arising from the vesting of restricted stock. The number above does not include unvested shares forfeited back to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Company’s stock compensation plans.

(2)On April 30, 2013, the Board of Directors of Lifetime Brands, Inc. authorized the repurchase of up to $10.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The repurchase authorization permits the Company to effect the repurchases from time to time through open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions. No repurchases occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2020.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 have been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 have been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for those respective years, which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

This information should be read together with the discussion in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Company’s consolidated financial statements and Notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Year ended December 31,

(in thousands, except per share data)

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA (1)

Mark to market (loss) gain on interest rate derivatives (2,144) 402

Loss on early retirement of debt — — (66) (110) (272)

Basic (loss) income per common share $ (0.14) $ (2.16) $ (0.09) $ 0.15 $ 1.11

Diluted (loss) income per common share $ (0.14) $ (2.16) $ (0.09) $ 0.14 $ 1.08

December 31,

(in thousands)

BALANCE SHEET DATA (1)

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Notes:

(1)The acquisition of Filament in March 2018 affects the comparability of the periods.

(2)Prior to January 1, 2019, depreciation associated with certain tooling used to produce products was classified as selling, general and administrative expenses. The amount recorded in cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The impact on the comparative periods presented is immaterial and therefore, the comparative periods have not been adjusted to reflect this change in accounting policy.

(3)The 2016 period includes a $1.2 million charge to correct prior years’ depreciation of certain assets within the U.S. segment.

(4)The 2018 period includes a gain of $1.7 million related to adjustments to the fair value of certain contingent consideration.

(5)The computations of weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted excludes stock options and other stock awards that if included would have been anti-dilutive.

(6)The 2019 and subsequent periods reflect the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (“FASB”) Accounting Standard's Update No. (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”) which requires a lessee, in most leases, to initially recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. As a result, comparability to the prior years' current liabilities, working capital, and total assets is affected.

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the Company and Notes thereto set forth in Item 15. This discussion contains forward-looking statements relating to future events and the future performance of the Company based on the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about it and the Company’s industry. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results and timing of various events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, as more fully described in this section and elsewhere in this Annual Report including those discussed under “Disclosures regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors Summary” under Item 1A “Risk Factors” and under Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Market Risk.” The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future, other than as required by law.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Company designs, sources and sells branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home. The Company’s product categories include two categories of products used to prepare, serve and consume foods, Kitchenware (kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, kitchen scales, thermometers, cutting boards, shears, cookware, pantryware, spice racks and bakeware) and Tableware (dinnerware, stemware, flatware and giftware); and one category, Home Solutions, which comprises other products used in the home (thermal beverageware, bath scales, weather and outdoor household products, food storage, neoprene travel products and home décor). In 2020, Kitchenware products and Tableware products accounted for approximately 83% of the Company’s U.S. net sales and 85% of the Company’s consolidated net sales. In 2019, Kitchenware products and Tableware products accounted for approximately 79% of the Company’s U.S. net sales and 82% of the Company’s consolidated net sales. The year ended December 31, 2018 includes the operations of Filament for the period from March 2, 2018, the date of the acquisition of Filament, to December 31, 2018.

The Company markets several product lines within each of its product categories and under most of the Company’s brands, primarily targeting moderate price points through virtually every major level of trade. The Company believes it possesses certain competitive advantages based on its brands, its emphasis on innovation and new product development, and its sourcing capabilities. The Company owns or licenses a number of leading brands in its industry, including Farberware®, Mikasa®, Taylor®, KitchenAid®, KitchenCraft® , Pfaltzgraff® , BUILT NY®, Rabbit®, Kamenstein®, and MasterClass®. Historically, the Company’s sales growth has come from expanding product offerings within its product categories, by developing existing brands, acquiring new brands (including complementary brands in markets outside the United States), and establishing new product categories. Key factors in the Company’s growth strategy have been the selective use and management of the Company’s brands and the Company’s ability to provide a stream of new products and designs. A significant element of this strategy is the Company’s in-house design and development teams that create new products, packaging and merchandising concepts.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company operates in two reportable segments: U.S. and International. The U.S. segment is the Company’s primary domestic business that designs, markets and distributes its products to retailers and distributors, as well as directly to consumers through third parties and its own internet websites. The International segment consists of certain business operations conducted outside the U.S. The Company has segmented its operations to reflect the manner in which management reviews and evaluates its results of operations.

EQUITY INVESTMENTS

The Company owns approximately 30% interest in Grupo Vasconia S.A.B (“Vasconia”), an integrated manufacturer of aluminum products and one of Mexico's largest housewares companies. Shares of Vasconia's capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, the Mexican Stock Exchange. The Quotation Key is VASCONI. The Company accounts for its investment in Vasconia using the equity method of accounting and records its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Accordingly, the Company has recorded its proportionate share of Vasconia's net income (reduced for amortization expense related to the customer relationships acquired) for the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Pursuant to a Shares Subscription Agreement, the Company may designate four persons to be nominated as members of Vasconia’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2020, Vasconia's Board of Directors is comprised of fourteen members of whom the Company has designated three members.

The Company recorded equity in earnings of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $1.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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SEASONALITY

The Company’s business and working capital needs are highly seasonal, with a majority of sales occurring in the third and fourth quarters. In 2020, 2019 and 2018, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 62%, 60% and 62% of total annual net sales, respectively. In anticipation of the pre-holiday shipping season, inventory levels increase primarily in the June through October time period. In 2020, the Company's inventory levels did not significantly decrease during the fourth quarter. The higher inventory levels at December 31, 2020 were a result of increased inventory purchases to meet higher expected demand in 2021 due in part to the effects on demand from the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with the seasonality of the Company's net sales and inventory levels, the Company also experiences seasonality in its inventory turnover and turnover days from one quarter to the next.

RESTRUCTURING

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company's U.S. segment incurred $0.7 million and $2.1 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company's International segment incurred $0.2 million of restructuring expenses related to severance associated with the strategic reorganization of the International segment’s product development and sales workforce. The strategic reorganization was the result of the Company's efforts for product development efficiencies and an international sales approach tailored to countries.

During the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018, the Company's international segment incurred $0.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of restructuring expense primarily related to the integration of its legal entities operating in Europe. The Company does not expect to incur any additional restructuring charges for these efforts.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the United States and the rest of the world. The pandemic has resulted in an increase in sales of certain of the Company’s products as well as a decrease in sales in other of its products. The Company has experienced a reduction in sales at certain retailers, that had closed or had limited store openings, during the pandemic. These declines were offset by higher sales at retailers that remained open and by e-commerce sales. Many of the retailers that had remained open provide products that are deemed essential.

The Company’s distribution facilities remain operational and continue to support e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail customers. The Company has not experienced significant disruptions in its supply chain related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In limited instances and categories, increased demand has strained the manufacturing capacity of certain of the Company’s suppliers. The Company expects, in the short term, higher inbound freight cost to import inventory as a result of expected higher demand of the Company's products and broader macroeconomic demand for ocean freight. Additionally, in the U.S., the Company has experienced instances of trucking availability shortages, resulting in delays of shipments to certain of its customers.

During 2019, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (‘‘USTR’’) imposed additional tariffs on products imported from China. In certain cases, both in 2019 and 2020, these tariffs were subsequently reduced, suspended or removed. The Company purchases a high concentration of products from unaffiliated manufacturers located in China. This concentration exposes the Company to risks associated with doing business globally, including changes in tariffs.

The tariff increases that were implemented by the USTR began to adversely impact the Company's cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and will continue to do so, as long as these tariff increases remain in effect. In January 2020, the U.S. and China signed a trade agreement known as the Phase One Agreement. This agreement reversed some tariff increases that had become effective in September 2019. Significant uncertainty exists as to the timing and content of a Phase Two agreement, particularly due to the ongoing pandemic and to changes in the United States Administration as a result of the November 2020 Presidential election.

The Company expects to mitigate the impact of tariff increases primarily through pricing actions and product cost reductions in its supply chain. Since July 2018, the USTR has periodically issued lists of products that are excluded from tariffs on Chinese imports. Under the USTR exclusion process, companies have the opportunity to seek to have particular products excluded from the tariff lists and apply for a refund.

On January 31, 2020, the U.K. left the European Union. In December 2020, the U.K and European Union announced the agreement of a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement that will govern the ongoing relationship between the U.K. and the European Union. The U.K.’s exit from the European Union is unprecedented and it remains unclear what long-term impact this will have on the U.K.’s access to the EU Single Market and on the legal and regulatory environment in which the Company operates, as well as its effect on the global macroeconomic environment.

The uncertainty surrounding the consequences of the U.K.’s exit could adversely impact the U.K. economy, customers and investor confidence. The U.K.'s exit also could adversely impact the export of products between the U.K. and the European Union. Such

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uncertainty may contribute to additional market volatility, including volatility in the value of the U.K. pound and European euro, and may adversely affect the Company’s businesses, results of operations, and financial condition. Net sales attributable to U.K. domiciled businesses were $78.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, and represent approximately 10% of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the period.

On March 3, 2021, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the U.K Budget 2021 to Parliament. The budget includes a proposal to increase the U.K. corporate tax rate from 19% to 25% effective April 1, 2023. The proposed change will be enacted into law upon approval by Parliament, which is expected in the second half of 2021. The Company expects the higher tax rate could negatively impact the Company's operating results.

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EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On April 10, 2020, the FASB staff issued a question-and-answer document to address stakeholder questions on the application of the lease accounting guidance for lease concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (the “Question-and-Answer Document”). The guidance allows concessions related to the timing of payments, where the total consideration has not changed, to not be accounted for as lease modifications. Instead, any such concessions can be accounted for as if no change was made to the contract or as variable lease payments. The Company adopted the guidance on April 1, 2020 and elected to account for COVID-19-related rent concessions that did not result in a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or the obligations of the lessee not as lease modifications. See NOTE 4 — LEASES for additional information on the Company’s adoption of this guidance.

Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted in Future Periods

Updates not listed below were assessed and either determined to not be applicable or are expected to have a minimal effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and simplifies the application of U.S. GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending the existing guidance. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The impact of the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance introduces a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. The ASU also provides updated guidance regarding the impairment of available-for-sale debt securities and includes additional disclosure requirements. The new guidance is effective for public business entities that meet the definition of a Smaller Reporting Company as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions to account for contract modifications, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate that is expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. The guidance was effective upon issuance and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated as of any date from March 12, 2020 but no later than December 31, 2022. The Company has not yet applied the guidance in this ASU and is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The results of operations below focuses on the results of 2020 compared to 2019. For a discussion of 2019 compared to 2018 refer to "Results of Operations" in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

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

Year Ended December 31,

Distribution expenses 9.5 9.9 9.9

Selling, general and administrative expenses 20.3 22.0 23.1

Goodwill and other impairments 2.6 5.8 0.3

Restructuring expenses 0.0 0.2 0.3

Income (loss) from operations 3.2 (3.2) 2.7

Interest expense (2.2) (2.8) (2.6)

Mark to market (loss) gain on interest rate derivatives (0.3) 0.0 —

Loss on early retirement of debt — — 0.0

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings 0.7 (6.0) 0.1

Income tax provision (1.3) (0.2) (0.4)

Equity in earnings, net of taxes 0.2 0.1 0.1

Net loss (0.4) % (6.1) % (0.2) %

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

2020 COMPARED TO 2019

Net Sales

Net sales for the year 2020 were $769.2 million, an increase of $34.3 million, or 4.7%, compared to net sales of $734.9 million in 2019. In constant currency, a non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and was determined by applying 2020 average rates to 2019 local currency amounts, net sales increased $33.6 million, or 4.6%, as compared to consolidated net sales in the corresponding period in 2019.

Net sales for the U.S. segment in 2020 were $683.5 million, an increase of $39.3 million, or 6.1%, compared to net sales of $644.2 million in 2019.

Net sales for the U.S. segment’s Kitchenware product category in 2020 were $426.9 million, an increase of $72.6 million, or 20.5%, compared to net sales of $354.3 million in 2019. The net sales increase in the U.S. segment’s Kitchenware product category was primarily a result of higher consumer demand in both the e-commerce and wholesale channels for essential food preparation products including kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery/boards, and measurement products.

Net sales for the U.S. segment’s Tableware product category in 2020 were $141.1 million, a decrease of $15.0 million, or 9.6%, compared to net sales of $156.1 million for 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by lower sales of dinnerware products to brick-and-mortar retailers many of which were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decrease was partially offset by higher sales of flatware products and e-commerce sales.

Net sales for the U.S. segment’s Home Solutions products category in 2020 were $115.5 million, a decrease of $18.3 million, or 13.7%, compared to net sales of $133.8 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by lower sales in the food and beverage outlet channel and lower home décor sales due to certain retailer program initiatives not repeating in 2020 and store closing due to the pandemic. This decrease was offset by higher sales resulting from new programs of branded hydration products in the wholesale channel.

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Net sales for the International segment in 2020 were $85.7 million, a decrease of $5.0 million, compared to net sales of $90.7 million for 2019. In constant currency, a non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and was determined by applying 2020 average exchange rates to 2019 local currency amounts, net sales decreased approximately 6.3%. The decrease in sales was driven by lower sales to national and independent retailers primarily as a result from lower demand and store closures due to COVID-19. This decrease was offset by increased e-commerce sales due to higher customer demand in online channels.

Gross margin

Gross margin for 2020 was $274.0 million, or 35.6%, compared to $255.2 million, or 34.7%, for the corresponding period in 2019.

Gross margin for the U.S. segment was $250.5 million, or 36.6%, for 2020, compared to $226.5 million, or 35.2%, for 2019. Gross margin in the 2019 period reflects an $8.5 million charge for the SKU Rationalization initiative. Excluding the SKU Rationalization initiative, the gross margin in the 2019 period would have been 36.5%.

Gross margin for the International segment was $23.5 million, or 27.4%, for 2020, compared to $28.7 million, or 31.6%, for 2019. The decrease in gross margin percentage was primarily due to higher inventory reserves and unfavorable sales mix related to store closures due to COVID-19.

Distribution expenses

Distribution expenses were $72.8 million for the 2020 period as compared to $72.5 million for the 2019 period. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 9.5% and 9.9% in 2020 and 2019.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. segment were approximately 8.4% in 2020 and 8.6% in 2019. Distribution expenses in 2019 included $0.2 million for the Company’s facility relocation efforts of its west coast distribution facility. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses, distribution expenses, excluding the relocation costs for the U.S. segment, were 8.8% and 9.6% for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The improvement reflects the continued realization of labor management efficiency and synergy savings as well as the leverage benefit of fixed costs on higher sales volume. The improvement was partially offset by higher hourly labor rates for warehouse employees.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the International segment were approximately 17.9% in 2020 and 18.7% in 2019, respectively. Distribution expenses in 2020 and 2019 included $1.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for the Company’s facility relocation costs of its International distribution facilities. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses, distribution expenses, excluding the relocation costs for the International segment, were 13.8% and 15.6% for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease was primarily attributable to the improvement in the fulfillment of orders and labor efficiencies compared to the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for 2020 were $155.9 million, a decrease of $5.7 million, or 3.5%, as compared to $161.6 million for 2019.

SG&A expenses for 2020 for the U.S. segment were $112.6 million, a decrease of $4.5 million, or 3.8%, compared to $117.1 million for 2019. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 16.5% for 2020, compared to 18.2% for 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in headcount and selling and marketing expenses as a result from the Company's cost savings efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction was partially offset by higher employee incentive compensation and higher estimates for bad debt expense related to the economic uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SG&A expenses for 2020 for the International segment were $20.7 million, compared to $24.3 million for 2019. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses decreased to 24.2% for 2020, compared to 26.8% for 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in headcount resulting from the Company's cost savings efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as lower selling and marketing expenses. This was partially offset by higher estimates for bad debt expense related to the economic uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unallocated corporate expenses for 2020 were $22.6 million, compared to $20.2 million for 2019. The increase was driven by higher executive incentive compensation, partially offset by lower executive salary costs for the temporary reduction in base salary during 2020 and lower professional fees.

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Goodwill and other impairments

U.S. Reporting Unit

During the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company performed an interim assessment of the goodwill for the U.S. reporting unit as of March 31, 2020, by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple method. Based upon the analysis performed, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $19.1 million during the first quarter of 2020. The goodwill impairment charge resulted from, among other factors, the uncertain market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted the Company's market capitalization, as well as a reduction of forecasted future cash flows associated with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fair value of the U.S. reporting unit was approximately 3.9% below its carrying value as of March 31, 2020.

The Company performed its annual impairment assessment of its U.S. reporting unit as of October 1, 2020 by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple method. As of October 1, 2020, the fair value of the U.S. reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of goodwill.

In 2019, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $33.2 million, during the three months ended December 31, 2019. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple method. The goodwill impairment charge resulted from, among other factors, a sustained decline in the Company's market capitalization observed in the fourth quarter of 2019. The fair value of the U.S, reporting unit was approximately 6.1% below its carrying value at October 1, 2019.

International Reporting Unit

In the third quarter of 2019, the Company performed an interim assessment of its European kitchenware business by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value as of September 30, 2019. The Company performed the analysis using a discounted cash flow and market multiple approach. Based upon the analysis performed, the Company recognized a $9.7 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge during the third quarter of 2019. The goodwill impairment charge was the result of a decline in operating performance and reduced expectations for future cash flows of the European kitchenware business. The fair value of the business was approximately 30.1% below its carrying value as of September 30, 2019.

Indefinite-lived intangibles

As a result of the impairment testing performed in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic triggering event, the Company determined that certain of its indefinite-lived intangible assets in the U.S. segment were impaired. As a result, the Company recorded a $1.0 million non-cash impairment charge during the first quarter of 2020.

Restructuring expenses

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's U.S. segment incurred $0.7 million, of restructuring expense related to the integration of Filament, of which $0.1 million was accrued at December 31, 2019.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company's International segment incurred $0.2 million of restructuring expenses related to severance associated with the strategic reorganization of the International segment’s product development and sales workforce. The strategic reorganization was the result of the Company's efforts for product development efficiencies and an international sales approach tailored to countries.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's International segment incurred $0.7 million of restructuring expense primarily related to the integration of its legal entities operating in Europe. The Company had no international restructuring accrual as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

The Company does not expect to incur any additional restructuring charges for these efforts.

Interest expense

Interest expense for 2020 was $17.3 million, compared to $20.8 million for 2019. The decrease in expense was primarily a result of less debt outstanding and a lower interest rate environment.

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Mark to market (loss) gain on interest rate derivatives

Mark to market loss on interest rate derivatives was $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to a mark to market gain on interest rate derivatives of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The mark to market amount represents the change in the fair value on the Company's interest rate derivatives that have not been designed as hedging instruments. These derivatives were entered into for purposes of locking-in a fixed interest rate on the Company's variable interest rate debt. The current period loss was caused by lower interest rates as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. The intent of the Company is to hold these derivative contracts until their maturity. Therefore, the Company expects that this loss will reverse over time.

Income tax provision

The income tax provision was $9.9 million in 2020 and $1.1 million in 2019. The Company’s effective tax rate for 2020 was 177.8%, compared to (2.5)% for 2019. The effective tax rate in 2020 was driven primarily by the impairment of goodwill in the U.S, nondeductible expenses, equity-based awards, and a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets in the United Kingdom. The effective tax rate in 2019 was driven by the impairment of goodwill in the U.S. and international reporting units, nondeductible expenses, state taxes and tax credits.

Equity in earnings

The Company’s equity in earnings, net of tax, for 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

Vasconia Equity earnings, net of taxes $ 1,545 $ 467

Equity in earnings (losses), net of taxes $ 1,310 $ 467

Vasconia reported loss from operations for 2020 of $0.1 million, as compared to income of $8.6 million for 2019 and reported net income of $5.6 million and $1.8 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The effect of the translation of the Company’s investment, as well as the translation of Vasconia’s balance sheet, resulted in a decrease of the investment of $2.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 and a decrease of the investment of $1.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2019.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized a loss of $0.2 million, relating to cumulative translation foreign currency losses that were recognized to earnings upon the dissolution of Lifetime Brands Do Brasil Participacoes Ltda., a 100% owned foreign subsidiary. The foreign currency translation losses related to the notes receivable due to the Company from the 2016 sale of its equity interest in GS International S/A.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and with the instructions to Form 10-K and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The Company evaluates these estimates including those related to revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, reserves for sales returns and allowances and customer chargebacks, inventory mark-down provisions, estimates for unpaid healthcare claims, impairment of goodwill, tangible and intangible assets, stock compensation expense, accruals related to the Company’s tax positions and tax valuation allowances. Actual results may differ from these estimates using different assumptions and under different conditions and changes in these estimates are recorded when known. The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in NOTE 1 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 15. The Company believes that the following discussion addresses its most critical accounting policies, which are those that are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments.

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Inventory

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

Accounts Receivable

The Company periodically reviews the collectability of its accounts receivable and establishes allowances for estimated losses that could result from the inability of its customers to make required payments, taking into consideration customer credit history and financial condition, industry and market segment information, credit reports, and economic trends and conditions such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A considerable amount of judgment is required to assess the ultimate realization of these receivables including assessing the initial and on-going creditworthiness of the Company’s customers.

The Company also maintains an allowance for anticipated customer deductions. The allowances for deductions are primarily based on contracts with customers. However, in certain cases the Company does not have a formal contract and, therefore, customer deductions are non-contractual. To evaluate the reasonableness of non-contractual customer deductions, the Company analyzes currently available information and historical trends of deductions.

Receivable purchase agreement

To improve its liquidity during seasonally high working capital periods, the Company has an uncommitted Receivables Purchase Agreement with HSBC Bank USA, as Purchaser (the “Receivables Purchase Agreement”). Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, the Company may offer to sell certain eligible accounts receivables (the “Receivables”) to HSBC Bank USA, which may accept such offer, and purchase the offered Receivables. Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, following each purchase of Receivables, the outstanding aggregate purchased Receivables shall not exceed $30.0 million. HSBC Bank USA will assume the credit risk of the Receivables purchased; and, the Company will continue to be responsible for all non-credit risk matters. The Company will service the Receivables, and as such servicer, collect and otherwise enforce the Receivables on behalf of HSBC Bank USA. The term of the agreement is for 364 days and automatically extends for annual successive terms unless terminated. Either party may terminate the agreement at any time upon 60 days prior written notice to the other party. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company sold $159.4 million and $115.4 million of Receivables during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, $24.7 million and $20.9 million, respectively, of receivables sold are outstanding and are due to HSBC Bank USA from customers. A charge of $0.4 million and $0.6 million related to the sale of the Receivables is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of a contract. Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets are included in operating lease right-of-use assets on the consolidated balance sheets. The current and long-term components of operating lease liabilities are included in the current portion of operating lease liability and operating lease liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, net, accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities. The Company's finance leases are not material to the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset may also include any lease payments made, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued rent payments, lease incentives, and initial direct costs incurred. Certain leases may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

For certain equipment leases, the Company applies a portfolio approach to effectively account for any ROU assets and lease liabilities. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet.

The Company has elected the practical expedient to account for each separate lease component of a contract and its associated non-lease components as a single lease component, thus causing all fixed payments to be capitalized.

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Goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets

Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but, instead, are subject to an annual impairment assessment. Additionally, if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable, the Company would evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment at that time.

As it relates to the goodwill assessment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment testing described in the FASB's Accounting Standards Update No. (“ASU”) Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. If, after assessing qualitative factors, the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the quantitative test is unnecessary and the Company’s goodwill is considered to be unimpaired. However, if based on the Company’s qualitative assessment it concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment, the Company will proceed with performing the quantitative impairment test.

The Company reviews goodwill and other intangibles that have indefinite lives for impairment annually as of October 1st or when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of these assets might exceed their current fair values. For goodwill, impairment testing is based upon the best information available using a combination of the discounted cash flow method, a form of the income approach, and the guideline public company method, a form of the market approach.

The significant assumptions used under the income approach, or discounted cash flow method, are projected net sales, projected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), terminal growth rates, and the cost of capital. Projected net sales, projected EBITDA and terminal growth rates were determined to be significant assumptions because they are three primary drivers of the projected cash flows in the discounted cash flow fair value model. Cost of capital was also determined to be a significant assumption as it is the discount rate used to calculate the current fair value of those projected cash flows. For the guideline public company method, significant assumptions relate to the selection of appropriate guideline companies and related valuation multiples used in the market analysis.

Although the Company believes the assumptions and estimates made are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact its reported financial results. In addition, sustained declines in the Company's stock price and related market capitalization could impact key assumptions in the overall estimated fair values of its reporting units and could result in non-cash impairment charges that could be material to the Company's consolidated balance sheet or results of operations. Should the carrying value of a reporting unit be in excess of the estimated fair value of that reporting unit, an impairment charge will be recorded to reduce the reporting unit to fair value. The Company also evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether or not its indefinite lived intangibles have been impaired and then performs quantitative tests if required. These tests can include the relief from royalty model or other valuation models. The significant assumptions used in the relief from royalty model are future net sales for the related brands, royalty rates and the cost of capital to determine the fair value of the indefinite lived intangibles.

The Company also evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether or not its indefinite lived intangibles have been impaired and then performs quantitative tests if required. These tests can include the relief from royalty model or other valuation models.

Long-lived assets, including intangible assets deemed to have finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment indicators include, among other conditions, cash flow deficits, historic or anticipated declines in revenue or operating profit or material adverse changes in the business climate that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may be impaired. When impairment indicators are present, the recoverability of the asset is measured by comparing the carrying value of the asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of each long-lived asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Revenue recognition

The Company sells products wholesale, to retailers and distributors, and sells products retail, directly to consumers. Wholesale sales and retail sales are recognized at the point in time the customer obtains control of the products in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those products. To indicate the transfer of control, the Company must have a present right to payment, legal title must have passed to the customer, the customer must have the significant risks and rewards of ownership, and where acceptance is not a formality, the customer must have accepted the product or service. The Company’s principal terms of sale are Free on Board ("FOB") Shipping Point, or equivalent, and, as such, the Company primarily transfers control and records revenue for product sales upon shipment. Sales arrangements with delivery terms that are not FOB Shipping Point are not recognized upon shipment and the transfer of control for revenue recognition is evaluated based on the associated shipping terms and customer obligations. Shipping and handling fees that are billed to customers in sales transactions are included in net sales. Net sales exclude taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to the taxing authorities.

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The Company offers various sales incentives and promotional programs to its wholesale customers from time to time in the normal course of business. These incentives and promotions typically include arrangements such as cooperative advertising, buydowns, volume rebates and discounts. These arrangements represent forms of variable consideration, and an estimate of sales returns are reflected as reductions in net sales in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. These estimates are based on historical experience and other known factors or as the most likely amount in a range of possible outcomes. On a quarterly basis, variable consideration is assessed on a portfolio approach in estimating the extent to which the components of variable consideration are constrained.

Payment terms vary by customer, but generally range from 30 to 90 days or at the point of sale for the Company’s retail direct sales. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in the first quarter of 2020 and lasting through the fourth quarter of 2020, many of the Company's customers that operate retail locations temporarily closed their stores voluntarily or as mandated by government stay at home orders. In response to these closings, the affected customers have requested extended payment terms. The Company has been working with these customers to address their temporary extended payment requests.

The Company incurs certain direct incremental costs to obtain contracts with customers, such as sales-related commissions, where the recognition period for the related revenue is less than one year. These costs are expensed as incurred and recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. Incidental items that are immaterial in the context of the contract are expensed as incurred.

Cost of sales

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

In 2019, the Company implemented programs to improve the productivity of its inventory and simplify its U.S. business. In connection therewith, it initiated a stock keeping unit rationalization (“SKU Rationalization”) initiative to identify inventory to discontinue from active status, consistent with the objectives of these programs. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded an $8.5 million charge to cost of sales associated with the SKU Rationalization initiative. The inventory charge, which was recognized in cost of sales during the three months ended June 30, 2019, represented approximately 8% of the Company's consolidated inventory at June 30, 2019.

Prior to January 1, 2019, depreciation associated with certain tooling used to produce products was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. The amount recorded in cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The impact on the comparative periods presented is immaterial and therefore, the comparative periods have not been adjusted to reflect this change in accounting policy.

Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for its share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation: Stock-based Compensation, which requires the measurement of compensation expense for all share-based compensation granted to employees and non-employee directors at fair value on the date of grant and recognition of compensation expense over the related service period. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of its stock options. The Black-Scholes option valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility of the Company’s common stock and the risk-free interest rate. Changes in these subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate of the Company’s stock options on the date of the option grant.

Performance share awards are initially valued at the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant. Each performance award represents the right to receive up to 150% of the target number of shares of common stock. The number of shares of common stock earned will be determined based on the attainment of specified performance goals, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, by the end of the performance period. Compensation expense for performance awards is recognized over the vesting period and will vary based on remeasurement during the performance period. If achievement of the performance metrics is not probable of achievement during the performance period, compensation expense is reversed. The awards are forfeited if the performance metrics are not achieved as of the end of the performance period. The performance share awards vest at the end of a three year period, as determined by the Compensation Committee.

The Company bases the estimated fair value of restricted stock awards on the date of grant. The estimated fair value is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares awarded. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

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Restructuring Expenses

Costs associated with restructuring activities are recorded at fair value when a liability has been incurred. A liability has been incurred at the communication date for severance. Charges associated with lease terminations, related to restructuring activities, are recognized at the effective date of the lease modification.

Employee healthcare

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

Income taxes

The Company applies the authoritative guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in the Company’s financial statements. In accordance with this guidance, tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position. A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Derivatives

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASC 815 requires that all derivative instruments be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value as either an asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that qualify as hedges and have been designated as part of a hedging relationship for accounting purposes have no net impact on earnings until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The change in the fair value of hedges are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations to mirror the location of the hedged items impacting earnings. Changes in fair value of derivatives that do not qualify as hedging instruments for accounting purposes are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.

Foreign currency

Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet dates. Revenues, costs and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates for the relevant period. Income and losses resulting from translation are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The Company may enter into foreign exchange derivative contracts to hedge the volatility of exchange rates related to a portion of its international inventory purchases. Realized gains and losses from designated foreign currency derivative contracts are recognized in cost of sales as the hedged inventory purchases are sold. Unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions on the fair value of foreign exchange contracts designated as hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Realized and unrealized gains and losses from non-designated foreign currency hedges are recognized in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various claims and contingencies related to lawsuits, certain taxes and environmental matters, as well as commitments under contractual and other commercial obligations. The Company recognizes liabilities for contingencies and commitments when a loss is probable and estimable.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

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

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $36.0 million and $11.4 million, respectively, and working capital of $241.2 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $221.8 million at December 31, 2019. The current ratio (current assets to current liabilities) was 2.3 to 1.0 at December 31, 2020, compared to 3.1 to 1.0 at December 31, 2019. The increase in working capital was driven by higher sales and increased inventory levels compared to the prior year. The decrease in the current ratio was primarily due to an increase in accounts payable due to timing of inventory purchases and an increase in the estimated excess cash flow principal payment related to the Company's debt agreement.