UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 6, 2007


Lifetime Brands, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


0-19254
 (Commission File Number)

 

11-2682486
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 


1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)


(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) 516-683-6000


(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) N/A


     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     o
     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     o      
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     o      
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     o      
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




Item 2.02. Results of Operation and Financial Condition

On November 6, 2007, Lifetime Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits


(d)

Exhibits

99.1      Press Release dated November 6, 2007.




 

Signature

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.

By:       /s/ Laurence Winoker______

Laurence Winoker

Senior Vice President – Finance, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer


Date: November 6, 2007




Exhibit 99.1

LIFETIME BRANDS ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2007 RESULTS

GARDEN CITY, NY, November 6, 2007 – Lifetime Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCUT), North America’s leading resource for nationally branded kitchenware, tabletop and home décor products, today announced results for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

For the third quarter of 2007, Lifetime’s net sales totaled $143.5 million, as compared to net sales of $141.7 million for the same period in 2006. The Company reported net income of $6.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2006.
 

Jeffrey Siegel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Most people are familiar with the impact that recent economic uncertainty and continued high energy costs had on consumer spending in the third quarter. These factors prompted most retailers to take a very conservative stance with respect to their inventory levels across all product categories. As a result, our sales in the 2007 third quarter increased only slightly over those of last year’s period. The softness in sales occurred even though we achieved our key operational and competitive objectives of expanding product placement, increasing shelf space and winning key industry programs.

“In our wholesale segment, our new programs at Macy’s (Martha Stewart Collection®) and Kohl’s (The Food Network®) have been performing well. Our cutlery business continued to stand-out, reflecting increased placement of our key brands. We are also pleased with the growth in our home décor business, acquired in 2006 through our acquisition of Syratech Corporation. This growth validates Lifetime’s strategy of expanding into complementary product categories and then leveraging our product development and sourcing strengths, as well as our strong customer relationships, to drive growth across our brands and customer base. During the quarter we completed the integration of the Gorham® sterling silver business, while our acquisition of a 29.99% interest in Ekco, S.A.B., one of Mexico’s leading housewares companies, remains on track and is expected to close by year-end.”

“The performance of our Direct to Consumer (‘DTC’) segment improved considerably, driven by the elimination of excess promotional discounts, closing of certain unprofitable stores and a better in-stock performance. We continue to expect to reduce the losses in this business substantially in 2007 and are taking steps to expand the Internet/catalog channel. At the same time, we continue to evaluate the long-term viability of the factory outlet store model and its strategic importance to the Company.”




Mr. Siegel concluded, “Lifetime’s market position for the holiday shopping season is very strong and we are in an excellent position to benefit if it develops more favorably than some analysts expect. Nevertheless, considering the cautious approach many retailers are taking, we are scaling back our financial projections for the fourth quarter and the full year 2007. We currently anticipate net sales for the year to be between $500 and $515 million, as compared to net sales of $457 million in 2006. Based on this forecast, we expect diluted earnings per share for 2007 to be between $1.10 and $1.20, as compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.14 in 2006. This forecast includes approximately $0.15 per diluted share attributable to the sale of our former headquarters building, which is scheduled to close this month.”

“Our balance sheet position and liquidity remains very strong, and we are seeing the benefits of our inventory reduction program.”

“While the current environment is indeed challenging, we remain highly confident that we are well-positioned to achieve our long-term strategic objective of building Lifetime’s position as the leading resource for nationally branded kitchenware, tabletop and home décor products in North America.”

As of September 30, 2007, Lifetime had repurchased on the open market 763,565 shares of common stock for a total purchase price of $15.1 million under the $20 million share buyback program the Company announced in August 2007.

Lifetime has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, November 6 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss third quarter 2007 results. The dial-in number for the call is (706) 634-1218. A replay of the call will also be available through Tuesday, November 13, 2007 and can be accessed by dialing (706) 645-9291, conference ID #19925562. A live webcast of the call will be broadcast at the Company’s web site, www.lifetimebrands.com. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, an audio replay of the call will also be available on the site.

About Lifetime Brands, Inc.

Lifetime Brands is North America’s leading designer, developer and marketer of kitchenware, cutlery & cutting boards, bakeware & cookware, pantryware & spices, tabletop, home décor, picture frames and bath accessories. The Company markets its products under some of the industry’s best known brands, including KitchenAid®, Farberware®, Pfaltzgraff®, Cuisinart®, Block® China and Crystal, Calvin Klein®, CasaModa®, Cuisine de France®, Gorham®, Hoffritz®, International® Silver, Joseph Abboud™, Kamenstein®, Kirk Stieff®, Lisa Jenks®, Melannco®, Nautica®, Pedrini®, Roshco®, Sabatier®, Sasaki®, Towle® Silversmiths, Tuttle®, Wallace®, :USE® and Vasconia®. Lifetime’s products are distributed through almost every major retailer in the United States.




The information herein contains certain forward-looking statements including statements concerning the Company’s future prospects. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks relating to general economic conditions and risks relating to the Company’s operations, such as the risk of loss of major customers and risks relating to changes in demand for the Company’s products, as detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

COMPANY CONTACT:

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

Christian G. Kasper

Harriet Fried

Senior Vice President

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.

(617) 568-8148

(212) 838-3777

chris.kasper@lifetimebrands.com

hfried@lhai.com




LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

   

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

   

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

                 

Net sales

 

$     143,470

 

$    141,654 

 

$     338,628

 

$     300,126

                 

Cost of sales

 

84,534

 

84,261 

 

197,537

 

174,293

Distribution expenses

 

13,068

 

13,721 

 

38,100

 

34,925

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

32,116

 

31,280 

 

91,541

 

78,355

                 

Income from operations

 

13,752

 

12,392 

 

11,450

 

12,553

                 

Interest expense

 

2,578

 

       1,535 

 

5,659

 

2,668

Other expense (income), net

 

121

 

(11)

 

121

 

20

                 

Income before income taxes

 

11,053

 

10,868 

 

5,670

 

9,865

                 

Income tax provision

 

4,258

 

4,184 

 

2,184

 

3,792

                 

NET INCOME

 

$        6,795

 

$       6,684 

 

$         3,486

 

$         6,073

                 

BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

 

$          0.52

 

$         0.50

 

$           0.26

 

$           0.46

DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

 

$          0.47

 

$         0.45

 

$           0.26

 

$           0.45




LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)


       
 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

2007

 

2006

 

(unaudited)

   

ASSETS

     

CURRENT ASSETS     

     

Cash and cash equivalents

$            764

 

$           150

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $12,707 at 2007 and

     

      $12,097 at 2006

81,545

 

60,516

Inventory

179,661

 

155,350

Deferred income taxes

9,123

 

8,519

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

8,086

 

7,098

Building held for sale

5,073

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS  


284,252


 

231,633


PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

47,456

 

42,722

GOODWILL

27,114

 

20,951

OTHER INTANGIBLES, net

36,062

 

42,391

OTHER ASSETS

4,404

 

5,367

TOTAL ASSETS

$     399,288

 

$     343,064

       

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

     

CURRENT LIABILITIES

     

Bank borrowings - short-term

$       86,000

 

$       21,500

Accounts payable

9,962

 

15,585

Accrued expenses

40,996

 

45,743

Income taxes payable

2,430

 

6,899

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

139,388


 

89,727


DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES          

5,550

 

5,522

DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES

7,190

 

6,204

BANK BORROWINGS - LONG-TERM

22,500

 

5,000

CONVERTIBLE NOTES

75,000

 

75,000

       

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

     

Common stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized: 25,000,000; shares issued

   and outstanding: 12,561,213 in 2007 and 13,283,313 in 2006     

126

 

133

Paid-in capital

113,323

 

111,165

Retained earnings

36,133

 

50,235

Accumulated other comprehensive income

78

 

78

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

149,660

 

161,611

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$      399,288

 

$      343,064