UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2016

or

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 0-19254

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	11-2682486
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York, 11530

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(516) 683-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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

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

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

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

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2016 was 14,431,027.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

INDEX

		Page No.
Part I.	Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015		2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) – Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015		3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) – Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015		4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015		5
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		6
	Review Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		23
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		24
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		38
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		38
Part II.	Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		38
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		39
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		40
Item 6.	Exhibits		41
Signatures			42

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

	September 30,			December 31,
	2016			2015
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5,831		$	7,131
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $5,174 at September 30, 2016 and $5,300 at December 31, 2015		130,112			90,576
Inventory (Note A)		171,337			136,890
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		8,323			8,783
Income taxes receivable (Note I)		2,172			—
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		317,775			243,380
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		21,402			24,877
INVESTMENTS (Note C)		22,536			24,973
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net (Note D)		96,923			96,593
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note I)		7,164			6,486
OTHER ASSETS		2,104			2,022
TOTAL ASSETS	$	467,904		$	398,331
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturity of Credit Agreement Term Loan (Note E)	$	9,851		$	19,646
Short term loan (Note E)		118			252
Accounts payable		49,228			27,245
Accrued expenses		52,350			40,154
Income taxes payable (Note I)		—			4,064
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		111,547			91,361
DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		19,257			18,556
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Note I)		9,143			8,596
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY (Note E)		128,686			65,617
CREDIT AGREEMENT TERM LOAN (Note E)		1,970			14,733
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, shares authorized: 100 shares of Series A and 2,000,000 shares of Series B; none issued and outstanding					—
Common stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized: 50,000,000 at September 30, 2016 and 25,000,000 at December 31, 2015; shares issued and outstanding: 14,431,027 at September 30, 2016 and 14,030,221 at December 31, 2015		144			140
Paid-in capital		171,217			165,780
Retained earnings		46,860			47,733
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note L)		(20,920	)		(14,185	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		197,301			199,468
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	467,904		$	398,331

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

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net sales	$	170,124		$	163,198		$	399,099		$	401,790
Cost of sales		111,802			106,246			257,232			256,419
Gross margin		58,322			56,952			141,867			145,371
Distribution expenses (Note A)		14,531			13,348			40,225			39,378
Selling, general and administrative expenses		33,009			33,842			94,662			99,389
Restructuring expenses		—			—			1,701			—
Income from operations		10,782			9,762			5,279			6,604
Interest expense (Note E)		(1,231	)		(1,454	)		(3,546	)		(4,344	)
Financing expense		—			—			—			(154	)
Loss on early retirement of debt		—			—			(272	)		—
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings		9,551			8,308			1,461			2,106
Income tax provision (Note I)		(2,961	)		(2,745	)		(218	)		(665	)
Equity in losses, net of taxes (Note C)		(138	)		(459	)		(270	)		(169	)
NET INCOME	$	6,452		$	5,104		$	973		$	1,272
BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE H)	$	0.45		$	0.37		$	0.07		$	0.09
DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE H)	$	0.44		$	0.36		$	0.07		$	0.09
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.0425		$	0.0425		$	0.1275		$	0.1175

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

consolidated financial statements.

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net income	$	6,452		$	5,104		$	973		$	1,272
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Translation adjustment		(2,007	)		(3,174	)		(6,762	)		(4,681	)
Derivative fair value adjustment		33			(34	)		(14	)		(71	)
Effect of retirement benefit obligations		14			20			41			60
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes		(1,960	)		(3,188	)		(6,735	)		(4,692	)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	4,492		$	1,916		$	(5,762	)	$	(3,420	)

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

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016			2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	973		$	1,272
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		11,744			10,703
Amortization of financing costs		513			477
Deferred rent		(125	)		511
Deferred income taxes		—			699
Stock compensation expense		2,115			2,314
Undistributed equity in (earnings) losses, net		270			169
Gain on disposal of fixed assets		(23	)		—
Loss on early retirement of debt		272			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of business acquisitions)
Accounts receivable		(42,360	)		(2,576	)
Inventory		(34,552	)		(36,422	)
Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets		(412	)		(642	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		38,410			17,886
Income taxes receivable		(1,967	)		—
Income taxes payable		(5,246	)		(5,822	)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES		(30,388	)		(11,431	)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment		(1,982	)		(4,190	)
Proceeds from disposition of GSI		567			—
Acquisitions		(9,382	)		—
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(10,797	)		(4,190	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility		200,144			213,625
Repayments of Revolving Credit Facility		(136,175	)		(187,267	)
Repayment of Credit Agreement Term Loan		(23,000	)		(7,500	)
Proceeds from Short Term Loan		118			37
Payments on Short Term Loan		(248	)		(803	)
Payment of financing costs		(13	)		—
Payments for capital leases		(55	)		—
Payments of tax withholding for stock based compensation		(74	)		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,217			843
Cash dividends paid (Note L)		(1,804	)		(1,557	)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES		40,110			17,378
Effect of foreign exchange on cash		(225	)		(546	)
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(1,300	)		1,211
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		7,131			5,068
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	5,831		$	6,279

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

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

NOTE A — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization and business

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

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist only of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016.

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

Revenue recognition

The Company sells products wholesale, to retailers and distributors, and retail, directly to the consumer. Wholesale sales and retail sales are recognized when title passes to the customer, which is primarily at the shipping point for wholesale sales and upon delivery to the customer for retail sales. Shipping and handling fees that are billed primarily to retail customers in sales transactions are included in net sales and amounted to $302,000 and $313,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Net sales exclude taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to the taxing authorities.

The Company offers various sales incentives and promotional programs to its 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 and an estimate of sales returns are reflected as reductions in net sales in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Cost of sales

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

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

Distribution expenses

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

In September 2016, the Company identified and corrected an error in the accumulated depreciation balance relating to certain leasehold improvements at one of its U.S. warehouses. Accordingly, distribution expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes $1.3 million of additional depreciation expense to properly reflect the accumulated depreciation balance of these assets as of September 30, 2016.

Accounts Receivable

The Company periodically reviews the collectability of its accounts receivable and establishes allowances for estimated losses that could result from the inability of its customers to make required payments. A considerable amount of judgment is required to assess the ultimate realization of these receivables including assessing the initial and on-going creditworthiness of the Company’s customers.

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

In order to reduce accounts receivable balances and improve cash flows, on September 30, 2016 the Company entered into an uncommitted Receivables Purchase Agreement among the Company and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HSBC”), as Purchaser (the “Receivables Purchase Agreement”). Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, the Company may offer to sell certain eligible accounts receivable (the “Receivables”) to HSBC, 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 $25.0 million. HSBC will assume the credit risk of the Receivables sold and the Company will 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. The term of the agreement is for 364 days and shall automatically be extended for annual successive terms unless terminated. Either party may terminate the agreement at any time upon sixty days’ prior written notice to the other party. The Company did not sell any Receivables pursuant to this agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Subsequent to September 30, 2016, the Company sold $16.1 million of Receivables pursuant to this agreement.

Inventory

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

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

The components of inventory are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Finished goods	$	168,908	$	133,618
Work in process		1,547		1,754
Raw materials		882		1,518
Total	$	171,337	$	136,890

Fair value of financial instruments

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

Derivatives

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

Goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets

Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but, instead, are subject to an annual impairment assessment. Additionally, if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable, the Company would evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment at that time. As it relates to the goodwill assessment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment testing described in ASU Topic No. 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. If, after assessing qualitative factors, the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary and the Company’s goodwill is considered to be unimpaired. However, if based on the Company’s qualitative assessment it concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment, the Company will proceed with performing the two-step process. The first step in the two-step process compares the carrying value of each reporting unit that has goodwill with the estimated fair value of the respective reporting unit. Should the carrying value of a reporting unit be in excess of the estimated fair value of that reporting unit, the second step must be performed. The second step represents a hypothetical purchase price allocation as if the Company had acquired the reporting unit on that date. The Company also evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether or not its indefinite lived intangibles have been impaired and then performs quantitative tests if required. These tests can include the relief from royalty model or other valuation models.

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

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 asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Employee healthcare

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

Restructuring Expenses

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

In December 2015, the Company commenced an in-depth review of its U.S. Wholesale business segment, which included the evaluation of the segment’s efficiency and effectiveness, with the objective of developing a plan to restructure its operations as appropriate. The Company expanded this restructuring plan in the first quarter of 2016 to focus on specific actions required to achieve the plan’s objectives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $1.7 million of restructuring expense related to the execution of this plan.

At September 30, 2016, $29,000 was accrued related to severance expense from the restructuring plan. The Company expects the remaining severance will be paid in the fourth quarter of 2016. The Company expects to incur $606,000 of additional U.S. Wholesale restructuring charges, related to severance and consulting, in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs and ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This guidance requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. ASU 2015-15 clarifies that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. In connection with the adoption of this standard, debt issuance costs associated with the Company’s Term Loan are presented as a deduction from the Term loan balance as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The retrospective adoption of this pronouncement results in a reduction of Other assets of $621,000, a reduction of the Current maturity of Credit Agreement Term Loan of $354,000 and a reduction of Credit Agreement Term Loan of $267,000 on the condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2015. The debt issuance costs associated with the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility are presented as Other assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

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

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

Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted in Future Periods

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which reduces the diversity in practice on how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this pronouncement.

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

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

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

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

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

NOTE B — ACQUISITIONS

On September 16, 2016, the Company acquired the Amco Houseworks^®, Chicago^™ Metallic and Swing-A-Way^® kitchenware and bakeware brands, together with their related inventory, from Focus Products Group International, LLC (“Focus”). The assets and operating results of the Focus brands are reflected in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC Topic No. 805, Business Combinations, commencing from the acquisition date. The purchase price was allocated based on the Company’s preliminary estimate of the fair values of the assets acquired including, inventory ($3.5 million) and customer relationships and trade names ($5.3 million). Customer relationships and trade names are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 15 years.

On October 6, 2016, the Company acquired the Copco^® product line from Wilton Industries, Inc, for cash in the amount of $12.3 million. The product line includes thermal and hydration beverageware, tea kettles and kitchen organization products. The estimated fair values of the assets acquired will be determined in the fourth quarter of 2016.

NOTE C — INVESTMENTS

The Company owns approximately a 30% interest in Grupo Vasconia S.A.B. (“Vasconia”), an integrated manufacturer of aluminum products and one of Mexico’s largest housewares companies. Shares of Vasconia’s capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, the Mexican Stock Exchange. The Quotation Key is VASCONI. The Company accounts for its investment in Vasconia using the equity method of accounting and records its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income in the Company’s statement of operations. Accordingly, the Company has recorded its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income (reduced for amortization expense related to the customer relationships acquired) for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The value of the Company’s investment balance has been translated from Mexican Pesos (“MXN”) to U.S. Dollars (“USD”) using the spot rates of MXN 19.54 and MXN 17.38 at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company’s proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income has been translated from MXN to USD using the average exchange rates of MXN 18.73 and MXN 16.41 during the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and MXN 17.79 to MXN 18.27 and MXN 14.94 to MXN 16.41 during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. The effect of the translation of the Company’s investment resulted in a decrease to the investment of $2.5 million and $5.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively (also see Note L). These translation effects are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Included within prepaid expenses and other current assets at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are amounts due from Vasconia of $182,000 and $55,000, respectively. Included within accrued expenses and accounts payable at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are amounts due to Vasconia of $130,000 and $28,000, respectively.

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

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

	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016						2015
	(in thousands)
	USD			MXN			USD		MXN
Net sales	$	34,416		$	644,788		$	42,759	$	701,631
Gross profit		5,736			107,474			7,755		127,258
Income from operations		630			11,798			2,134		35,012
Net income (loss)		(215	)		(4,020	)		1,210		19,859
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016						2015
	(in thousands)
	USD			MXN			USD		MXN
Net Sales	$	109,594		$	2,002,137		$	139,748	$	2,169,538
Gross Profit		18,601			339,808			27,838		431,333
Income from operations		3,626			65,933			8,742		135,210
Net Income		521			9,274			4,774		73,981

The Company recorded equity in losses of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $138,000 and $459,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company recorded equity in losses of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Due to the requirement to record tax benefits for foreign currency translation losses through other comprehensive income (loss), with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities, equity in losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes deferred tax expense of $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Equity in earnings for the three and nine month periods ended 2015 include deferred tax expense of $0.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value (based upon Vasconia’s quoted stock price) of the Company’s investment in Vasconia was $31.4 million and $35.9 million, respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in Vasconia was $22.3 million and $24.7 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 the Company sold its 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”), a wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil. The Company initially acquired GSI in December 2011 and accounted for this investment using the equity method of accounting; however, impairment losses in 2014 reduced the investment balance to zero. Upon the sale of its equity interest in GSI the Company recognized a net gain of $189,000. This gain is included within Equity in earnings (losses), net of tax, and represents the net consideration received of R$2.3 million (approximately $567,000) reduced by currency translation losses of $378,000 which were reclassified out of Other comprehensive income (loss).

The Company evaluated the disclosure requirements of ASC Topic No. 860, Transfers and Servicing, and determined that at September 30, 2016, the Company did not have a controlling voting interest or variable interest in any of its investments and therefore continued accounting for the investments using the equity method of accounting.

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

NOTE D — INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2016							December 31, 2015
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Goodwill	$	18,101	$	—		$	18,101	$	18,101	$	—		$	18,101
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trade names		7,616		—			7,616		7,616		—			7,616
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Licenses		15,847		(8,805	)		7,042		15,847		(8,462	)		7,385
Trade names		32,621		(8,540	)		24,081		29,724		(6,818	)		22,906
Customer relationships		53,477		(13,877	)		39,600		50,823		(10,806	)		40,017
Other		1,266		(783	)		483		1,202		(634	)		568
Total	$	128,928	$	(32,005	)	$	96,923	$	123,313	$	(26,720	)	$	96,593

The Company performed its annual impairment test for its indefinite-lived trade names as of October 1, 2016. The Company elected to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names are less than the carrying values. The Company considered events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived trade names. Based on the qualitative assessment the Company determined it is not more likely than not that the fair values of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names are less than the carrying values.

NOTE E — DEBT

Credit Agreement

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

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility were $128.7 million and $65.6 million, respectively, and open letters of credit were $2.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively. At September 30, 2016, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $43.9 million. The borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility depends, in part, on eligible levels of accounts receivable and inventory that fluctuate regularly and certain trademark values based upon periodic appraisals, and may be lower in the first and second quarters when the Company’s inventory level is lower due to seasonality.

The Company’s payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by each of its existing U.S. subsidiaries and will be unconditionally guaranteed by each of its future U.S. subsidiaries. Certain payment obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are also direct obligations of its foreign subsidiary borrowers designated as such under the Credit Agreement and, subject to limitations on such guaranties, are guaranteed by the foreign subsidiary borrowers, as well as by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Revolving Credit Facility and any hedging arrangements and cash management services and the guarantees by its domestic subsidiaries in respect of those obligations are secured by substantially all of the assets and stock (but in the case of foreign subsidiaries, limited to 65% of the capital stock in first-tier foreign

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

subsidiaries and not including the stock of subsidiaries of such first-tier foreign subsidiaries) owned by the Company and the U.S. subsidiary guarantors, subject to certain exceptions. Such security interests consist of a first-priority lien, subject to certain permitted liens, with respect to the assets of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries pledged as collateral in favor of lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility.

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $12.0 million and $35.0 million, respectively, was outstanding under the Term Loan. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, unamortized debt issuance costs were $179,000 and $621,000. In May 2015 the credit agreement was amended to provide for a $10.0 million prepayment of the Term Loan, if such amount was greater than the payment that would have been required pursuant to the agreement’s original terms (50% of the Company’s excess cash flow for the 2015 fiscal year). In April 2016, the Company made a prepayment of $15.2 million in accordance with the amended terms. In connection therewith, the Company wrote-off debt issuance costs of $0.3 million.

Interest rates on outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2016 ranged from 2.50% to 5.06%. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.

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

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, as of September 30, 2016, the maximum additional permitted indebtedness other than certain subordinated indebtedness was $43.9 million. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement at September 30, 2016.

In August 2016, the Company amended the Credit Agreement, among other things, to allow the sale of certain accounts receivable by the Company to other financial institutions (subject to approval of the Credit Agreement’s administrative agent) and revise the definition of EBITDA to provide that non-recurring charges shall not exceed $5.0 million during the term of the Credit Agreement (the previous limit was $2.0 million).

Other Credit Agreements

A subsidiary of the Company has a credit facility (“HSBC Facility” or “Short term loan”) with HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch (“HSBC”) for up to RMB 18.0 million ($2.9 million). The HSBC Facility is subject to annual renewal and may be used to fund general working capital needs of the Company’s subsidiary which is a trading company in the People’s Republic of China. Borrowings under the HSBC Facility are guaranteed by the Company and are granted at the sole discretion of HSBC. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, borrowings of RMB 787,000 ($118,000) and RMB 1.6 million ($252,000), respectively, were outstanding under the HSBC Facility. Outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2016 carried an interest rate of 5.0%.

- 14 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

NOTE F — DERIVATIVES

The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $15.8 million and $20.1 million, at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, to manage interest rate exposure in connection with its variable interest rate borrowings. The hedge periods of these agreements commenced in March 2013 and expire in June 2018 and the notional amounts amortize over these periods. The interest rate swap agreements were designated as cash flow hedges under ASC Topic No. 815. The effective portion of the fair value gain or loss on these agreements is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The Company has also entered into certain foreign exchange contracts, primarily to offset the earnings impact related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with sales and inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. The aggregate gross notional values of foreign exchange contracts at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $20.6 million and $5.5 million, respectively. These foreign exchange contracts have not been designated as hedges as required in order to apply hedge accounting. The changes in the fair values of these contracts are recorded in earnings immediately.

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

		Liabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Interest rate swaps	Accrued Expenses	$	29	$	10
	Deferred rent & other long-term liability		30		25
		Assets
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Foreign exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	575	$	261

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

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

	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) on Derivatives
	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	2016		2015			2016			2015
Interest rate swaps	$	33	$	(34	)	$	(14	)	$	(71	)

- 15 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

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

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

		Amount of Gain Recognized in Earnings on Derivatives
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	Location of Gain Recognized in Earnings on Derivatives	2016		2015		2016		2015
Foreign exchange contracts	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	403	$	161	$	1,271	$	283

NOTE G — STOCK COMPENSATION

Option Awards

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:

	Options			Weighted- average exercise price		Weighted- average remaining contractual life (years)		Aggregate intrinsic value
Options outstanding, January 1, 2016		2,242,202		$	14.28
Grants		56,850			15.69
Exercises		(140,693	)		8.65
Cancellations		(29,750	)		15.48
Expirations		(218,100	)		27.93
Options outstanding, September 30, 2016		1,910,509			13.16		4.9	$	3,303,700
Options exercisable, September 30, 2016		1,564,076		$	12.45		4.4	$	3,253,200

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their stock options on September 30, 2016. The intrinsic value is calculated for each in-the-money stock option as the difference between the closing price of the Company’s common stock on September 30, 2016 and the exercise price.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of a stock option that is exercised is calculated at the date of exercise.

Total unrecognized stock option compensation expense at September 30, 2016, before the effect of income taxes, was $1.8 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

- 16 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

Restricted Stock

A summary of the Company’s restricted stock activity and related information for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:

	Restricted Shares			Weighted- average grant date fair value
Nonvested restricted shares, January 1, 2016		101,435		$	14.77
Grants		109,170			15.64
Vested		(44,639	)		14.84
Cancellations		(2,325	)		14.93
Nonvested restricted shares, September 30, 2016		163,641		$	15.33
Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining	$	2,090,000
Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over		2.8

The total fair value of restricted stock that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $682,000.

Performance shares

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

A summary of the Company’s performance-based award activity and related information for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:

	Performance- based awards (1)			Weighted- average grant date fair value
Nonvested performance-based awards, January 1, 2016		66,150		$	14.84
Grants		82,000			15.69
Cancellations		(2,041	)		14.94
Nonvested performance-based awards, September 30, 2016		146,109		$	15.32
Total unrecognized compensation expense remaining	$	1,526,000
Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over		1.8

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

The Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, of which $0.4 million represents stock option compensation expense and $0.4 million represents restricted stock and performance based compensation expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 the Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $2.1 million, of which $1.0 million represents stock option compensation expense, $1.1 million represents restricted stock and performance based compensation expense and $32,000 represents stock awards granted in 2016.

- 17 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

The Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, of which $0.5 million represents stock option compensation expense and $0.3 million represents restricted stock and performance based compensation expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 the Company recognized total stock compensation expense of $2.3 million, of which $1.7 million represents stock option compensation expense, $0.5 million represents restricted stock and performance based compensation expense and $53,000 represents stock awards granted in 2015.

At September 30, 2016, there were 410,504 shares available for awards that could be granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

NOTE H — INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

Basic income per common share has been computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted income per common share adjusts net income and basic income per common share for the effect of all potentially dilutive shares of the Company’s common stock. The calculations of basic and diluted income per common share for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income – basic and diluted	$	6,452	$	5,104	$	973	$	1,272
Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic		14,266		13,912		14,129		13,824
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock		365		395		365		418
Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted		14,631		14,307		14,494		14,242
Basic income per common share	$	0.45	$	0.37	$	0.07	$	0.09
Diluted income per common share	$	0.44	$	0.36	$	0.07	$	0.09

The computation of diluted income per common share for the three September 30, 2016 excludes options to purchase 523,375 shares. The computation of diluted income per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 excludes options to purchase 1,543,387 shares and 89,164 restricted shares. The computation of diluted income per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 excludes options to purchase 682,900 shares and 1,732,076 shares, respectively. These shares were excluded due to their antidilutive effects.

NOTE I — INCOME TAXES

On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates its tax positions and revises its estimates accordingly. The estimated value of the Company’s uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2016 is a gross liability of tax and interest of $172,000. The Company believes that $70,000 of its tax positions will be resolved within the next twelve months.

The Company has identified the following jurisdictions as “major” tax jurisdictions: U.S. Federal, California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and the United Kingdom. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the years prior to 2014. At September 30, 2016, the periods subject to examination for the Company’s major state jurisdictions are the years ended 2012 through 2015.

- 18 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties is to record such items as a component of income taxes. Interest and penalties were not material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was 14.9% as compared to 31.6% for the 2015 period. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflects the enactment of lower corporate income tax rates in the United Kingdom, from 18% to 17%, effective April 1, 2020, as well as a lower blended state income tax rate as compared to the prior year.

NOTE J — BUSINESS SEGMENTS

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

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

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(in thousands)
Net sales
U.S. Wholesale	$	139,607		$	130,588		$	314,613		$	311,710
International		26,736			28,812			71,969			76,641
Retail Direct		3,781			3,798			12,517			13,439
Total net sales	$	170,124		$	163,198		$	399,099		$	401,790
Income (loss) from operations
U.S. Wholesale	$	14,367		$	13,464		$	15,846		$	20,094
International		1,024			608			1,037			(3,060	)
Retail Direct		(97	)		(377	)		(54	)		(784	)
Unallocated corporate expenses		(4,512	)		(3,933	)		(11,550	)		(9,646	)
Income from operations	$	10,782		$	9,762		$	5,279		$	6,604
Depreciation and amortization
U.S. Wholesale (1)	$	3,386		$	2,164		$	7,837		$	6,609
International		1,264			1,312			3,804			3,982
Retail Direct		32			34			103			112
Total depreciation and amortization (1)	$	4,682		$	3,510		$	11,744		$	10,703

- 19 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Assets
U.S. Wholesale	$	336,901	$	269,143
International		117,639		115,128
Retail Direct		369		443
Unallocated/ Corporate/ Other		12,995		13,617
Total assets	$	467,904	$	398,331

⁽¹⁾  The three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes a $1.3 million charge to correct prior years’ depreciation of certain assets within the U.S. Wholesale segment.

NOTE K — CONTINGENCIES

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

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

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

- 20 -

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

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

NOTE L — OTHER

Cash dividends

Dividends declared in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 are as follows:

Dividend per share	Date declared	Date of record	Payment date
$  0.0425	March 3, 2016	May 2, 2016	May 16, 2016
$  0.0425	June 9, 2016	August 1, 2016	August 15, 2016
$  0.0425	August 4, 2016	November 1, 2016	November 15, 2016

On February 15, 2016, May 16, 2016 and August 15, 2016 the Company paid cash dividends of $594,000, $602,000 and $608,000 respectively. In the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reduced retained earnings for the accrual of $619,000 relating to the dividend payable on November 15, 2016.

On November 3, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0425 per share payable on February 15, 2017 to shareholders of record on February 1, 2017.

Supplemental cash flow information

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	2,998	$	3,636
Cash paid for taxes		6,361		6,883
Non-cash investing activities:
Translation adjustment	$	7,140	$	4,681

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(in thousands)
Accumulated translation adjustment:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(17,716	)	$	(9,187	)	$	(12,961	)	$	(7,680	)
Translation loss during period		(2,007	)		(3,174	)		(7,140	)		(4,681	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss: (1)
Currency translation adjustment		—			—			378
Balance at end of period	$	(19,723	)	$	(12,361	)	$	(19,723	)	$	(12,361	)
Accumulated deferred losses on cash flow hedges:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(67	)	$	(55	)	$	(20	)	$	(18	)
Derivative fair value adjustment, net of taxes of $22 and $22 for the three month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $10 and $47 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively		33			(34	)		(14	)		(71	)
Balance at end of period	$	(34	)	$	(89	)	$	(34	)	$	(89	)
Accumulated effect of retirement benefit obligations:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(1,177	)	$	(2,184	)	$	(1,204	)	$	(2,224	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss: (2)
Amortization of actuarial losses, net of taxes of $9 and $13 for the three month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $27 and $40 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively		14			20			41			60
Balance at end of period	$	(1,163	)	$	(2,164	)	$	(1,163	)	$	(2,164	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period	$	(20,920	)	$	(14,614	)	$	(20,920	)	$	(14,614	)

(1) Amount is recorded in equity in earnings (losses) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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

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Review Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Lifetime Brands, Inc. as of September 30, 2016, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and the related condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

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

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

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

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Jericho, New York

November 9, 2016

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

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

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

• Indebtedness;

• Liquidity;

• Interest;

• General economic factors and political conditions;

• Competition;

• Customer practices;

• Intellectual property, brands and licenses;

• International operations;

• Supply chain;

• Foreign exchange rates;

• International trade and transportation;

• Product liability;

• Regulatory matters;

• Product development;

• Reputation;

• Technology;

• Personnel;

• Price fluctuations;

• Seasonality;

• Business interruptions;

• Projections;

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• Fixed costs; and

• Acquisitions and investments;

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

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Company designs, sources and sells branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home. During the first quarter of 2016 the Company realigned its U.S. Wholesale product categories. The realignment included grouping certain pantryware products and spice racks within the Kitchenware product category. The Company’s realigned product categories include two categories of products used to prepare, serve and consume foods, Kitchenware (kitchen tools and gadgets, cutlery, 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, food storage, neoprene travel products and home décor). In 2015, with categories recast to conform with the current period presentation, Kitchenware products and Tableware products accounted for approximately 92% of the Company’s U.S. Wholesale net sales and 90% of the Company’s consolidated net sales.

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

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

In 2016, the Company further expanded its brand portfolio through the acquisition of brands and certain other assets of Wilton Armetale and the acquisition of certain assets of the Kitchen division of Focus Products Group, LLC. The Focus Products Group acquisition included kitchenware and bakeware products marketed under the Amco Houseworks^®, Chicago™ Metallic and Swing-A-Way^® brands.

In October 2016 the Company acquired the Copco^® product line, which specializes in thermal and hydration beverageware, tea kettles and kitchen organization products, from Wilton Industries, Inc.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

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

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EQUITY INVESTMENTS

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

The Company accounts for its investment in Vasconia using the equity method of accounting and has recorded its proportionate share of Vasconia’s net income, net of taxes, as equity in earnings in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Pursuant to a Shares Subscription Agreement (the “Agreement”), the Company may designate four persons to be nominated as members of Vasconia’s Board of Directors. As of September 30, 2016, Vasconia’s Board of Directors is comprised of ten members of whom the Company has designated three members.

During the second quarter of 2016 the Company sold its 40% equity interest in GS Internacional S/A (“GSI”), a wholesale distributor of branded housewares products in Brazil. The Company initially acquired GSI in December 2011 and accounted for this investment using the equity method of accounting; however, impairment losses recognized in 2014 reduced the value of the investment to zero. Upon the sale of its equity interest in GSI the Company recognized a net gain of $189,000 which is included within Equity in earnings (losses), net of tax.

SEASONALITY

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

In 2015 the Company commenced an in-depth review of its U.S. Wholesale business segment, which included the evaluation of the segment’s efficiency and effectiveness, with the objective of developing a plan to restructure its operations as appropriate. During 2016 the Company expanded this restructuring plan to focus on specific actions required to achieve the plan’s objectives. The restructuring plan included the realignment of product categories to best achieve the Company’s strategic plan and implementation of cost reduction initiatives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $1.7 million of restructuring expense. The Company expects to incur $606,000 of additional severance charges in the fourth quarter of 2016 related to the U.S. Wholesale restructuring.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

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

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net sales		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Cost of sales		65.7			65.1			64.5			63.8
Gross margin		34.3			34.9			35.5			36.2
Distribution expenses		8.5			8.2			10.1			9.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses		19.4			20.7			23.7			24.7
Restructuring expenses		—			—			0.4			—
Income from operations		6.4			6.0			1.3			1.7
Interest expense		(0.7	)		(0.9	)		(0.9	)		(1.1	)
Financing expense		—			—			—			—
Loss on early retirement of debt		—			—			(0.1	)		—
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings		5.6			5.1			0.4			0.6
Income tax provision		(1.7	)		(1.7	)		(0.1	)		(0.2	)
Equity in losses, net of taxes		(0.1	)		(0.3	)		(0.1	)		—
Net income		3.8	%		3.1	%		0.2	%		0.4	%

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Net Sales

Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $170.1 million, an increase of $6.9 million, or 4.2%, as compared to net sales of $163.2 million for the corresponding period in 2015.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $139.6 million, an increase of $9.0 million, or 6.9%, as compared to net sales of $130.6 million for the corresponding period in 2015. As a result of the Company’s realignment of the product categories within the U.S. Wholesale segment, previous periods presented for the U.S. Wholesale segment product categories have been recast to conform to the current period presentation.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Kitchenware product category were $75.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 4.5%, as compared to $78.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Kitchenware product category sales was attributable to a decrease in cutlery sales; and cookware sales, in part, due to timing. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in pantryware warehouse club programs and an increase in sales from a cross-divisional program at a major retailer.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Tableware product category were $48.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $8.1 million, or 20.0%, as compared to $40.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase was attributable to dinnerware and flatware warehouse club program sales.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment’s Home Solutions product category were $16.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $4.4 million, or 37.9%, as compared to $11.6 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase reflects new home décor programs and the timing of drug store chain programs. The increase also reflects the new program launch for the Built NY line.

Net sales for the International segment were $26.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 7.3%, as compared to net sales of $28.8 million for the corresponding period in 2015. In constant currency, net sales increased approximately 4.8%. The increase, in local currencies, was primarily due to kitchenware sales to on-line retailers and export sales and, to a lesser extent, tableware sales.

Net sales for the Retail Direct segment were $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

Gross margin

Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $58.3 million, or 34.3%, as compared to $57.0 million, or 34.9%, for the corresponding period in 2015.

Gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment was $47.1 million, or 33.8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $44.8 million, or 34.3%, for the corresponding period in 2015. Gross margin may fluctuate from period to period based on a number of factors, including product and customer mix. The decrease reflects a change in product mix and shift in product category growth.

Gross margin for the International segment was $8.7 million, or 32.4%, for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $9.6 million, or 33.2%, for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in margin is the result of the weakened British pound and, to a lesser extent, customer mix for kitchenware products.

Gross margin for the Retail Direct segment was $2.5 million, or 66.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $2.6 million, or 69.2%, for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in gross margin in the Retail Direct segment reflects a change in product mix.

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Distribution expenses

Distribution expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $14.5 million as compared to $13.3 million for the corresponding period in 2015. In September 2016, the Company identified and corrected an error in the accumulated depreciation balance relating to certain leasehold improvements at one of its U.S. warehouses. Accordingly, distribution expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 includes $1.3 million of additional depreciation expense to properly reflect the accumulated depreciation balance of these assets as of September 30, 2016. Excluding this additional depreciation expense, distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 7.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 as compared to 8.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment were approximately 7.7% and 7.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Excluding the additional depreciation expense described above, distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment were approximately 6.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses, distribution expenses for the U.S. Wholesale segment were 8.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 8.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease reflects the effect of an increase in sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the International segment were approximately 9.7% and 10.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s U.K. warehouses were 12.2% and 12.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The improvement reflects a reduction in freight rates.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the Retail Direct segment were approximately 31.6% and 32.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease was from lower freight-out expenses due to fewer product breakage replacements.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $33.0 million, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 2.4%, as compared to $33.8 million for the corresponding period in 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the U.S. Wholesale segment were $22.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $22.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The 2016 period reflects a reduction in headcount. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 15.8% and 16.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 for the International segment were $5.0 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, from $6.1 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in the 2016 quarter was due to foreign currency transaction gains resulting from the Company’s hedging activity and the effect of foreign currency translation as a result of the weakened British pound.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Retail Direct segment were $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in headcount and a reduction in selling expenses.

Unallocated corporate expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $4.5 million as compared to $3.9 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in acquisition related expenses.

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Interest expense

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.2 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, from $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in expense was attributable to a decrease in average borrowings and a decrease in average borrowing rate due to Term Loan repayments.

Income tax provision

Income tax provision for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $3.0 million as compared to $2.7 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was 31.0% as compared to 33.0% for the corresponding 2015 period. The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2016 reflects the enactment of lower corporate income tax rates in the United Kingdom, from 18% to 17%, effective April 1, 2020 as well as a lower blended state income tax rate as compared to the prior year.

Equity in losses

Equity in losses of Vasconia, net of taxes, was $138,000, net of tax, for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $459,000, net of tax, for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Equity in losses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 include deferred tax expense of $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively, due to the requirement to record tax benefits for foreign currency translation losses through other comprehensive income (loss), with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities. Vasconia reported income from operations of $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to a $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in income from operations is primarily due to a decrease in sales volume and margin in Vasconia’s aluminum business.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AS COMPARED TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Net Sales

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $399.1 million, a decrease of $2.7 million, or 0.7%, as compared to net sales of $401.8 million for the corresponding period in 2015.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $314.6 million, an increase of $2.9 million, or 0.9%, as compared to net sales of $311.7 million for the corresponding period in 2015. As a result of the Company’s realignment of its product categories within the U.S. Wholesale segment, previous periods presented for the U.S. Wholesale segment product categories have been recast to conform to the current period presentation.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Kitchenware product category were $189.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $7.8 million, or 4.0%, as compared to $197.0 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in the U.S. Wholesale’s Kitchenware product category was primarily attributable to a decrease in cutlery sales and a decrease in cookware sales, in part, due to timing. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in sales from a cross-divisional program at a major retailer.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Tableware product category were $95.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $6.4 million, or 7.2%, as compared to $88.6 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase was attributable to dinnerware and glassware warehouse club program sales.

Net sales for the U.S. Wholesale’s Home Solutions product category were $30.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $4.3 million, or 16.5%, as compared to $26.1 million for the corresponding period in 2015. This increase reflects an increase in home décor sales, on timing of a drug store program and new programs at certain retailers, and a new program launch for the Built NY line.

Net sales for the International segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $72.0 million, a decrease of $4.6 million, as compared to net sales of $76.6 million for the corresponding period in 2015. In local currency, net sales increased approximately 1.4%. The increase was primarily due to an increase in kitchenware sales to on-line retailers and export sales, partially offset by a decline in tableware sales with certain customers.

Net sales for the Retail Direct segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $12.5 million, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 6.7%, as compared to $13.4 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in sales from the Mikasa^® Internet website.

Gross margin

Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $141.9 million, or 35.5%, as compared to $145.4 million, or 36.2%, for the corresponding period in 2015.

Gross margin for the U.S. Wholesale segment was $108.9 million, or 34.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $110.4 million, or 35.4%, for the corresponding period in 2015. Gross margin may fluctuate from period to period based on a number of factors, including product and customer mix. The decrease reflects an increase in customer incentives and a change in product mix.

Gross margin for the International segment was $24.6 million, or 34.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $25.8 million, or 33.7%, for the corresponding period in 2015. The increase in margin is the result of a decrease in tableware promotional activities and change in customer mix.

Gross margin for the Retail Direct segment was $8.4 million, or 66.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $9.1 million, or 67.9%, for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in gross margin in Retail Direct reflects additional costs to reduce shipment breakage and higher royalty expenses.

Distribution expenses

Distribution expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $40.2 million as compared to $39.4 million for the corresponding period in 2015. In September 2016, the Company identified and corrected an error

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in the accumulated depreciation balance relating to certain leasehold improvements at one of its U.S. warehouses. Accordingly, distribution expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes $1.3 million of additional depreciation expense to properly reflect the accumulated depreciation balance of these assets as of September 30, 2016. Excluding this additional depreciation expense, distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 9.7% and 9.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment were approximately 9.1% and 8.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Excluding the additional depreciation expense described above, distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. Wholesale segment were approximately 8.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses, distribution expenses for the U.S. Wholesale segment were 9.6% and 9.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease reflects the effect of an increase in sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses and a decrease in freight-out expenses due to carrier rate negotiations.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the International segment were approximately 11.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to 10.7% for the corresponding period in 2015. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s U.K. warehouses, distribution expenses for the International segment were 12.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. A decrease in sales shipped from the warehouses offset a decrease in freight-out expenses due to a change in customer mix.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the Retail Direct segment were approximately 30.4% and 31.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease was from lower freight-out expenses due to fewer product breakage replacements.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $94.7 million, a decrease of $4.8 million, or 4.7%, as compared to $99.4 million for the corresponding period in 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 for the U.S. Wholesale segment were $62.9 million, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 3.1%, as compared to $64.9 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease was attributable to a reduction in headcount and unrealized foreign currency translation gains, partially offset by an increase in selling related expenses. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 20.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to 20.8% for the corresponding period in 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 for the International segment were $15.7 million, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 18.2%, as compared to $19.2 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The nine months ended September 30, 2015 included a charge of approximately $1.5 million related to the change in fair value of contingent consideration attributable to the Kitchen Craft acquisition. The decrease in the 2016 quarter was due to foreign currency transaction gains resulting from the Company’s hedging activity and the effect of foreign currency translation as a result of the weakened British pound.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 for the Retail Direct segment were $4.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in headcount and a reduction in selling expenses.

Unallocated corporate expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were $11.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in acquisition related fees and the reimbursement of expenses incurred for an acquisition not completed during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

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Restructuring expenses

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $1.7 million of restructuring expense. The expense for the period includes severance of approximately $0.6 million and consulting expenses of approximately $1.1 million. These charges are related to the execution of the U.S. Wholesale restructuring plan.

Interest expense

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $3.5 million as compared to $4.3 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The decrease in expense was attributable to a decrease in average borrowings and a decrease in average borrowing rate due to Term Loan repayments.

Financing expense

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company wrote off $0.2 million of expenses related to the refinancing of indebtedness that was not completed. The Company did not incur financing expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Loss on early retirement of debt

In April 2016, the Company made a prepayment of $15.2 million in accordance with the amended terms of the Company’s Term Loan. In connection therewith, the Company wrote-off debt issuance costs of $0.3 million.

Income tax provision

The income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $0.2 million as compared to $0.7 million for the corresponding period in 2015. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was 14.9% as compared to 31.6% for the 2015 period. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflects the enactment of lower corporate income tax rates in the United Kingdom, from 18% to 17%, effective April 1, 2020, as well as a lower blended state income tax rate as compared to the prior year.

Equity in earnings (losses)

Equity in losses of Vasconia, net of taxes, was $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Equity in losses includes a deferred tax expense of $0.5 million and $1.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, due to the requirement to record tax benefits for foreign currency translation losses through other comprehensive income (loss), with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities. Vasconia reported income from operations of $3.6 million and $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and net income of $0.5 million and $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in income from operations is primarily due to a decrease in sales volume and margin in Vasconia’s aluminum business.

As described above, the Company sold its 40% equity interest in GSI during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Upon the sale of its equity interest in GSI the Company recognized a net gain of $189,000. This gain represents the net consideration received of R$2.3 million (approximately $567,000) reduced by currency translation losses of $378,000 reclassified out of Other comprehensive income (loss).

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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. The Company’s primary uses of funds consist of working capital requirements, capital expenditures and payments of principal and interest on its debt.

At September 30, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $5.8 million compared to $7.1 million at December 31, 2015. Working capital was $206.2 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $152.0 million at December 31, 2015. Liquidity, which includes cash and cash equivalents and availability under its credit facilities (subject to the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement), was $49.8 million.

Inventory, a large component of the Company’s working capital, is expected to fluctuate from period to period, with inventory levels higher primarily in the June through October time period. The Company also expects inventory turnover to fluctuate from period to period based on product and customer mix. Certain product categories have lower inventory turnover rates as a result of minimum order quantities from the Company’s vendors or customer replenishment needs. Certain other product categories experience higher inventory turns due to lower minimum order quantities or trending sale demands. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 inventory turnover was 2.8 times, or 132 days, as compared to 2.6 times, or 142 days, for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in turnover and decrease in turnover days is, in part, the result of a reduction in average inventory in the U.S. Wholesale segment due to SKU rationalization and inventory management. This was partially offset by an increase in average inventory in the International segment due to a change in strategy to accommodate the replenishment of certain high volume items with certain retailers.

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

At September 30, 2016, borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility were $128.7 million and open letters of credit were $2.4 million. At September 30, 2016, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $43.9 million. The borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility depends, in part, on eligible levels of accounts receivable and inventory that fluctuate regularly and certain trademark values based upon periodic appraisals, and may be lower in the first and second quarters when the Company’s inventory level is lower due to seasonality.

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

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $12.0 million and $35.0 million, respectively, were outstanding under the Term Loan. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, unamortized debt issuance costs were $179,000 and $621,000, respectively.

Interest rates on outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2016 ranged from 2.50% to 5.06%. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Credit Agreement provides for customary restrictions and events of default. Restrictions include limitations on additional indebtedness, acquisitions, investments and payment of dividends, among other things. Further, the Credit Agreement provides that at any time any Term Loan is outstanding or at any time no Term Loan is outstanding and availability under the Revolving Credit Facility is less than $17.5 million and continuing until

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availability of at least $20.0 million is maintained for three consecutive months, the Company is required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00 for each of four consecutive fiscal quarter periods. The Credit Agreement also provides that when the Term Loan is outstanding, the Company is required to maintain a Senior Leverage Ratio within defined parameters not to exceed 4.00 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending June 30 and September 30, 2016; and 3.75 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter. For any fiscal quarter of the Company ending on September 30^th, the maximum Senior Leverage Ratio is increased by an additional 0.25:1.00 in excess of the applicable level otherwise provided.

As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s Senior Leverage Ratio was 3.11 to 1.00.

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, as of September 30, 2016 the maximum additional permitted indebtedness other than certain subordinated indebtedness was $43.9 million. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement at September 30, 2016.

Covenant Calculations

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

	Consolidated EBITDA for the Four Quarters Ended September 30, 2016
	(in thousands)
Three months ended September 30, 2016		16,652
Three months ended June 30, 2016		5,206
Three months ended March 31, 2016		268
Three months ended December 31, 2015		23,889
Total for the four quarters	$	46,015

Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $2.0 million.

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Non-GAAP financial measure

Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following is a reconciliation of the net income, as reported, to Consolidated EBITDA, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Net income as reported	$	6,452	$	5,104	$	973	$	1,272
Subtract out:
Undistributed equity in losses, net		138		459		270		169
Add back:
Income tax provision		2,961		2,745		218		665
Interest expense		1,231		1,454		3,546		4,344
Financing expense		—		—		—		154
Loss on early retirement of debt		—		—		272		—
Depreciation and amortization		4,682		3,510		11,744		10,703
Stock compensation expense		825		791		2,115		2,314
Contingent consideration		—		—		—		1,692
Permitted acquisition related expenses, net of recovery		363		26		1,287		(317	)
Restructuring expenses		—		—		1,701		—
Consolidated EBITDA	$	16,652	$	14,089	$	22,126	$	20,996

Other Credit Agreements

A subsidiary of the Company has a credit facility (“HSBC Facility” or “Short term loan”) with HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch (“HSBC”) for up to RMB 18.0 million ($2.9 million). The HSBC Facility is subject to annual renewal and may be used to fund general working capital needs of the subsidiary which is a trading company in the People’s Republic of China. Borrowings under the HSBC Facility are guaranteed by the Company and are granted at the sole discretion of HSBC. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, borrowings of RMB 787,000 ($118,000) and RMB 1.6 million ($252,000), respectively, were outstanding under the HSBC Facility. Outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2016 carried an interest rate of 5.0%.

Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement

In order to reduce accounts receivable balances and improve cash flows, on September 30, 2016 the Company entered into an uncommitted Receivables Purchase Agreement among the Company and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HSBC”), as Purchaser (the “Receivables Purchase Agreement”). Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, the Company may offer to sell certain eligible accounts receivable (the “Receivables”) to HSBC, 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 $25.0 million. HSBC will assume credit risk of the Receivables sold and the Company will 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. The term of the agreement is for 364 days and shall automatically be extended for annual successive terms unless terminated. Either party may terminate the agreement at any time upon sixty days’ prior written notice to the other party. The Company did not sell any Receivables pursuant to this agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Subsequent to September 30, 2016, the Company sold $16.1 million of Receivables pursuant to this agreement.

Derivatives

The Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $15.8 million to manage interest rate exposure in connection with its variable interest rate borrowings. The hedge periods in these agreements commenced in March 2013 and will expire in September 2018, and the notional amounts amortize over this period. The hedge provides for a fixed payment of interest at an annual rate of 1.05% in exchange for the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

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

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Operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $30.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $11.4 million for the corresponding 2015 period. The change in operating cash flow was primarily due to the timing of the collection of receivables in the current period as compared to the 2015 period and a decrease in payments of accrued expenses and accounts payable in the 2016 period, as compared to the 2015 period.

Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $10.8 million and $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The 2016 investing activity includes the Company’s acquisition of inventory and intangibles from Focus Products Group International, LLC and the acquisition of the Wilton Armetale^® trade name.

Financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $40.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $17.4 million for the corresponding 2015 period. The change in financing activities was attributable to the change in borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility and the prepayment of borrowings under the Company’s Term Loan.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

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

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have concluded, based on their evaluation as of September 30, 2016, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed by it under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

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

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

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

In May 2008, WSPR received from the EPA a Notice of Potential Liability and Request for Information Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 9607(a) and 9604(e) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). In July 2011, WSPR received a letter from the EPA requesting access to the property that it leases from PRIDCO to conduct an environmental investigation, and the Company granted such access. In February 2013, the EPA requested access to conduct a further environmental investigation at the property. PRIDCO agreed to such access and the Company consented. EPA conducted a further investigation during 2013 and, in April 2015, notified the Company and PRIDCO that the results from vapor intrusion sampling may warrant implementation of measures to mitigate potential exposure to sub-slab soil gas. The Company reviewed the information provided by the EPA and requested that PRIDCO, as the property owner, find and implement a solution acceptable to the EPA. While WSPR did not cause the sub-surface condition that resulted in the potential for vapor intrusion, in order to protect the health of its employees and continue its business operations, it has nevertheless implemented corrective action measures to prevent vapor intrusion such as sealing floors of the building and conducting periodic air monitoring to address potential exposure. On August 13, 2015, the EPA released its remedial investigation and feasibility study (“RI/FS”) for the Site. On December 11, 2015, the EPA issued the Record of Decision (“ROD”) for OU-1, electing to implement its preferred remedy which consists of soil vapor extraction and dual-phase extraction/in-situ treatment. This selected remedy includes soil vapor extraction (“SVE”) to address soil (vadose zone) source areas at the Site, impermeable cover as necessary for the implementation of SVE, dual phase extraction in the shallow saprolite zone, and in-situ treatment as needed to address residual sources. The EPA’s estimated capital cost for its selected remedy is $7.3 million. The EPA also designated a second operable unit under which the EPA will conduct further investigations to determine the

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nature and extent of groundwater contamination, as well as a determination by EPA on the necessity of any further response actions to address groundwater contamination. WSPR never used the primary contaminant of concern and did not take up its tenancy at the Site until after the EPA had discovered the contamination in the local water supply. The EPA has also issued notices of potential liability to a number of other entities affiliated with the Site, which used the contaminants of concern.

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

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

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following is an update to the corresponding risk factor set forth in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as modified below, there have been no other material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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

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

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

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

• conditions affecting the housing markets;

• consumer credit availability and consumer debt levels;

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

• foreign currency translation;

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

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

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

• unfavorable economic conditions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Asia and elsewhere; and

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

The referendum held in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) on June 23, 2016 resulted in a determination that the U.K. should exit the European Union. Such an exit from the European Union would be unprecedented and it is unclear, if passed into law, what impact this would 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 Company has two wholly-owned businesses based in the U.K., Kitchen Craft, acquired in 2014, and Creative Tops, acquired in 2011. Net sales attributable to these U.K. domiciled businesses were $26.0 million and $70.0 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and represent 15.3% and 17.5% of the Company’s consolidated net sales for those periods, respectively. The uncertainty

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surrounding the terms of the U.K.’s exit and its consequences could adversely impact customer and investor confidence, result in additional market volatility, including volatility in the value of the British pound and European euro and adversely affect the Company’s businesses, results of operations, and financial condition.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period	Total number of shares purchased(1)		Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (2)		Maximum approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs subsequent to end of period (2)
August 1- August 31, 2016		617	$	14.21		—	$	6,771,467

(1) The repurchased 617 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 us pursuant to the terms of our 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 September 30, 2016.

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit No.

10.1	Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2016 by and among Lifetime Brands, Inc., as a Seller and as a Seller Agent and initial Servicer, for itself and each of its subsidiaries thereafter signatory thereto as a Seller, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Purchaser (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2016)
31.1	Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2	Certification by Laurence Winoker, Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1	Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Laurence Winoker, Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

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SIGNATURES

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

Lifetime Brands, Inc.
/s/ Jeffrey Siegel	November 9, 2016
Jeffrey Siegel
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Laurence Winoker	November 9, 2016
Laurence Winoker
Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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