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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 June 30, 2007

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, including Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (516) 683-6000

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 is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer    Non-accelerated filer  

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 August 2, 2007 was 13,312,726.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

INDEX

Part I. Financial Information Page No.

Item 1.		 Financial Statements  

 		 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 2007 (unaudited) and December 31, 2006 2 

 		 Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 3 

 		 Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 4 

 		 Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 5 

 		 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 17 

Item 2.		 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 18 

Item 3.		 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk 28 

Item 4.		 Controls and Procedures 28 

Part II. 		Other Information

Item 1A.		 Risk Factors 29 

Item 4.		 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 29 

Item 6.		 Exhibits 29 

Signatures		   30 

INDEX

PART 1.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)

  June 30,
2007
(unaudited)
 December 31,
2006
ASSETS            
CURRENT ASSETS  
    Cash and cash equivalents   $1,150   $150  
    Accounts receivable, less allowances of $12,283 at 2007 and $12,097 at 2006    45,960    60,516  
    Inventory    166,414    155,350  
    Deferred income taxes    9,168    8,519  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets    12,341    7,098  
    Building held for sale    5,073     —  
        TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS   $240,106   $ 231,633  

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net		    45,643    42,722  
GOODWILL    28,414    20,951  
OTHER INTANGIBLES, net    35,900    42,391  
OTHER ASSETS    4,965    5,367  
                   TOTAL ASSETS   $355,028   $343,064  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  
CURRENT LIABILITIES  
    Short-term borrowings   $ 39,600   $ 21,500  
    Accounts payable    11,666    15,585  
    Accrued expenses    34,771    45,743  
    Income taxes payable     —    6,899  
       TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES   $86,037   $ 89,727  

DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		    5,619    5,522  
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES    7,938    6,204  
LONG-TERM DEBT    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: 13,312,726 in 2007 and 13,283,313 in 2006    133    133  
      Paid-in capital    112,493    111,165  
      Retained earnings    45,230    50,235  
      Accumulated other comprehensive income    78    78  
      TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    157,934    161,611  
                   TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 355,028   $ 343,064  

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

2

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2007
 2006
 2007
 2006
Net sales     $ 91,371   $ 84,051   $ 195,158   $ 158,472  

Cost of sales		    51,906    48,201    113,003    90,071  
Distribution expenses    11,721    10,933    25,032    21,204  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    29,494    26,508    59,425    47,036  
Income (loss) from operations    (1,750 )  (1,591 )  (2,302 )  161  

Interest expense		    1,546    827    3,081    1,133  
Other expense, net     —    32     —    31  
Loss before income taxes    (3,296 )  (2,450 )  (5,383 )  (1,003 )

Income tax benefit		    (1,270 )  (943 )  (2,074 )  (392 )
NET LOSS   $ (2,026 ) $ (1,507 ) $ (3,309 ) $ (611 )
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE   $ (0.15 ) $ (0.11 ) $ (0.25 ) $ (0.05 )

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

3

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(unaudited)

  Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2007
 2006
OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
    Net loss   $ (3,309 ) $ (611 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash  
         used in operating activities:  
       Depreciation and amortization    4,301    3,522  
       Deferred income taxes    1,085    2,280  
       Reserve for sales returns and allowances    7,110    5,952  
       Stock compensation expense    966    330  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of the business acquisitions):  
      Accounts receivable    7,446    22,483  
      Inventory    (9,875 )  (19,494 )
      Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets    (4,841 )  (5,988 )
      Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities    (14,978 )  (19,279 )
      Income tax payable    (6,878 )  (9,001 )
           NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES    (18,973 )  (19,806 )
INVESTING ACTIVITIES  
     Purchase of property and equipment    (11,803 )  (3,928 )
     Business acquisitions    (2,119 )  (43,742 )
                NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES    (13,922 )  (47,670 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES  
    Proceeds from (repayments of ) short-term borrowings, net    35,600    (3,988 )
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options    137    107  
    Proceeds from the issuance of 4.75% Convertible Notes     —    72,188  
    Excess tax benefits from stock compensation    69    387  
    Payment of capital lease obligations    (225 )  (188 )
    Cash dividends paid    (1,686 )  (1,648 )
           NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES    33,895    66,858  
INCREASE(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS    1,000    (618 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    150    786  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD   $ 1,150   $ 168  

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

4

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE A — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The Company’s business and working capital needs are highly seasonal, with a majority of sales occurring in the third and fourth quarters. In 2006, 2005 and 2004, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 65%, 71% and 63% of total annual net sales, respectively. Operating profits earned in the third and fourth quarters of 2006, 2005 and 2004 accounted for 99%, 83% and 92% of total annual operating profits, respectively. Inventory levels increase primarily in the June through October time period in anticipation of the pre-holiday shipping season.

Revenue Recognition

The Company sells products wholesale to retailers and distributors, and retail, direct to the consumer, through Company-operated outlet stores and catalog and Internet operations. Wholesale sales are recognized when title passes and the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer. Outlet store sales are recognized at the time of sale, while catalog and Internet sales are recognized upon receipt by the customer. Shipping and handling fees that are billed to customers are included in net sales and amounted to $824,000 and $825,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $1.9 million and $1.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Net sales exclude taxes collected from customers.

Distribution Expenses

Distribution expenses consist primarily of warehousing expenses, handling costs of products sold and freight-out expenses. Freight-out expenses included in distribution expenses amounted to $1.5 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $3.9 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.

Derivatives

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and subsequent amendments. SFAS No. 133 requires that all derivative instruments be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value as either an asset or a liability. Accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on whether it qualifies and has been designated as part of a hedging relationship. For derivatives that qualify and have been designated as hedges for accounting purposes, changes in fair value have no net impact on earnings, to the extent the derivative is considered perfectly 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. For derivatives that do not qualify or are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings.

5

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE A — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

New accounting pronouncement

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 establishes a common definition of fair value, provides a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. GAAP and expands disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that SFAS No. 157 may have on its consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses and distribution expenses have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation. A reclassification from selling, general and administrative expenses to distribution expenses was made to reflect certain freight-out costs as a component of distribution expenses. A reclassification from selling, general and administrative expenses to cost of sales was due to a change in the fourth quarter of 2006 to the allocations of sourcing and receiving payroll that are included in cost of sales. The reclassifications were not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006.

NOTE B — ACQUISITIONS

Pomerantz and Design for Living

On April 25, 2007, in two separate transactions, the Company acquired the Pomerantz® brand and certain related assets from JP Products, LLC for a total purchase price of $1.5 million and the Design for Living® brand and certain related assets from Design for Living, LLC for a total purchase price of $275,000.

The combined purchase price has been determined as follows (in thousands):

Cash paid     $1,678  
Professional fees and other costs    114  
   Total purchase price   $1,792  

On a preliminary basis, the combined purchase price has been allocated as follows (in thousands):

  Preliminary
Purchase Price
Allocation
Assets acquired:        
  Inventory   $ 1,189  
  Intangibles    603  
     Total assets acquired   $ 1,792  

6

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE B — ACQUISITIONS (continued)

Syratech

In April 2006, the Company acquired the business and certain assets of Syratech Corporation (“Syratech”), a designer, importer, manufacturer and distributor of a diverse portfolio of tabletop, home décor and picture frame products. The assets acquired included Syratech’s registered trademarks, including Wallace Silversmiths®, Towle Silversmiths®, International® Silver Company, Melannco International® and Elements® and a license to market Cuisinart® branded tabletop products. The acquisition was accounted for by the Company under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations. Accordingly, the results of operations of Syratech have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. After the effect of post closing working capital adjustments and a related arbitration proceeding, the purchase price was as follows (in thousands):

Cash paid     $ 41,871  
Common stock issued    6,955  
Professional fees and other costs    3,237  
   Total purchase price   $ 52,063  

The cash portion of the purchase price was funded by borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company finalized the valuation of the identifiable intangible assets and goodwill related to Syratech, and as a result, the Company recorded an increase to goodwill of $7.5 million. Of the $14.1 million of intangible assets, $13.3 million was assigned to the trade names acquired in the transaction, which were determined to have indefinite lives, and $770,000 was assigned to a license for the Cuisinart® brand name and customer relationships, which were determined to have lives of three years and five years respectively.

The purchase price has been allocated as follows (in thousands):

Purchase Price
Allocation
Assets acquired:        
  Cash   $ 509  
  Accounts receivable    16,698  
  Inventory    30,411  
  Prepaid and other current assets    566  
  Property and equipment    4,654  
  Other assets    126  
  Other intangibles    13,839  
  Goodwill    7,463  
Liabilities assumed    (22,203 )
     Total net assets acquired   $ 52,063  

7

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE C — GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

At June 30, 2007, changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, all of which is included as an asset in the wholesale segment, is as follows (in thousands):

Balance December 31, 2006     $ 20,951  
  Syratech acquisition    7,463  
Balance June 30, 2007   $28,414  

Intangible assets

Intangible assets, all of which relate to the wholesale segment, consist of the following (in thousands):

  June 30 , 2007
 December 31, 2006
  Gross
 Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
 Gross
 Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:                            
    Trade names   $ 22,050   $ —   $ 22,050   $ 27,979   $ —   $ 27,979  

Finite-lived intangible assets:		  
    Licenses    15,847    4,173    11,674    15,885    3,872    12,013  
    Trade names    2,477    979    1,498    2,477    937    1,540  
    Designs    460    295    165    460    261    199  
    Customer relationships    886    373    513    949    289    660  
Total   $ 41,720   $ 5,820   $ 35,900   $ 47,750   $ 5,359   $ 42,391  

8

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE D — CONVERTIBLE DEBT

In June 2006, the Company issued $75 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 (the “Notes”). The Company used the proceeds from the Notes to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility. The Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $28.00 per share, subject to adjustment in certain events. The Notes bear interest at 4.75% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year and are unsubordinated except with respect to the Company’s debt to the extent secured by the Company’s assets. The Notes mature on July 15, 2011. The Company may not redeem the Notes at any time prior to maturity.

The Notes are convertible at the option of the holder anytime prior to the close of business on the business day prior to the maturity date. Upon conversion, the Company may elect to deliver either shares of the Company’s common stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations upon conversion of the Notes. At any time prior to the 26th trading day preceding the maturity date, the Company may irrevocably elect to satisfy in cash the Company’s conversion obligation with respect to the principal amount of the Notes to be converted after the date of such election, with any remaining amount to be satisfied in shares of the Company’s common stock. The election would be in the Company’s sole discretion without the consent of the holders of the Notes. The conversion rate of the Notes may be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events that would dilute the Company’s common stock. In addition, holders that convert their Notes in connection with certain fundamental changes, such as a change in control, may be entitled to a make whole premium in the form of an increase in the conversion rate.

The Company has reserved 2,678,571 shares of common stock for issuance upon conversion of the Notes. Such shares have been registered and the Notes include a registration rights agreement that would require the Company to pay liquidating damages to the holders of the Notes if the Company fails to keep the registration statement effective.

NOTE E — CREDIT FACILITY

At June 30, 2007, the Company had a $150 million secured credit facility, with an accordion feature for an additional $50 million, (the “Credit Facility”) that expires in April 2011. Borrowings under the Credit Facility are secured by all of the assets of the Company. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the Company is required to satisfy certain financial covenants, including covenants providing limitations on indebtedness, sale of assets and capital expenditures, a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. At June 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. Borrowings under the Credit Facility have different interest rate options that are based either on an alternate base rate, the LIBOR rate or the lender’s cost of funds rate, plus in each case a margin based on a leverage ratio. At June 30, 2007, the Company had $2.3 million of open letters of credit, $39.6 million of short-term borrowings and $22.5 million of long-term borrowings outstanding under its Credit Facility, and as a result, the availability under the Credit Facility at June 30, 2007 was $85.6 million. Interest rates on the outstanding borrowings at June 30, 2007 ranged from 5.20% to 6.08%.

NOTE F — DERIVATIVE

The Company has a derivative instrument consisting of an interest swap that it entered into during the quarter ended June 30, 2007. The Company entered into the interest rate swap to effectively fix the interest rate on $17.5 million of the Company’s variable interest rate borrowings outstanding under the Company’s Credit Facility. The interest rate swap agreement serves as an economic hedge against increases in interest rates and was not designated as a hedge for accounting purposes. The interest rate swap has a notional value of $17.5 million and expires January 31, 2011. The effect of marking the interest rate swap to fair value resulted in a gain for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 in the amount of $140,500. The gain is recorded as an offset in interest expense.

9

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE G — STOCK OPTIONS

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2007 is as follows:

  Options
 Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
 Weighted- average
remaining contractual
life (years)
 Aggregate
intrinsic
value
Options outstanding, January 1, 2007      1,410,900   $ 22.78              
Grants    411,500    22.45          
Exercises    (17,500 )  7.83          
Cancellations    (20,500 )  28.13          
Options outstanding June 30, 2007    1,784,400    22.79 6.43   $4,329,000  
Options exercisable June 30, 2007    925,776    19.43 5.51   $4,329,000  

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 June 30, 2007. The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of quarter ended June 30, 2007 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money stock options.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $233,000. The intrinsic value of a stock option that is exercised is calculated as the difference between the market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of exercise and the exercise price of the stock option.

10

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE G – STOCK OPTIONS (continued)

The Company recognized stock option expense of $533,000 and $330,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $966,000 and $330,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options at June 30, 2007, before the effect of income taxes, was $7.8 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.69 years.

The Company values stock options using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. However, the Black-Scholes option valuation model, as well as other available models, were developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company’s stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, any changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

The weighted-average per share grant date fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $8.54.

The fair value for the stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2007 was estimated at the date of grant using the following weighted-average assumptions:

Volatility(1)      4 0.2%
Expected term (years)(2)    5 .00 
Risk-free interest rate(3)    4 .55%
Expected dividend yield(4)    1 .11%

(1)  

Volatility is measured using historical volatility.


(2)  

The expected term represents the period of time for which the stock options granted are expected to be outstanding.


(3)  

The risk-free interest rate is based on United States treasury yields in effect at the time of grant corresponding to the expected term of the stock options.


(4)  

The expected dividend yield was calculated by dividing the expected annual dividends by the market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date.


11

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE H — LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding. Diluted loss per common share adjusts basic loss per common share for the effect of all potentially dilutive shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding. The calculations of basic and diluted loss per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2007
 2006
 2007
 2006
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net loss- basic		   $(2,026 ) $(1,507 ) $(3,309 ) $    (611 )
 Net interest expense, 4.75% Convertible Notes  -   -   -   -  
Net loss- diluted  $(2,026 ) $(1,507 ) $(3,309 ) $    (611 )
Weighted- average shares outstanding - basic  13,300   13,324   13,295   13,137  
 Effect of dilutive securities: 
    Stock options  -   -   -   -  
    4.75% Convertible Notes  -   -   -   -  
Weighted- average shares outstanding - diluted  13,300   13,324   13,295   13,137  
Basic and diluted loss per common share  $  (0.15 ) $  (0.11 ) $  (0.25 ) $  (0.05 )

The computation of diluted loss per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 excludes options to purchase 1,784,400 shares and 1,593,400 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, and 2,678,571 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Company’s 4.75% Convertible Notes. The computation of weighted-average dilutive shares outstanding for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 excludes options to purchase 1,434,100 shares and 892,050 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, and 2,678,571 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Company’s 4.75% Convertible Notes. These shares were excluded due to their antidilutive effect as a result of the Company’s losses during these periods.



12

INDEX

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE I — INCOME TAXES

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN No. 48 provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken upon the adoption of FIN No. 48 or in subsequent periods. The Company adopted FIN No. 48 on January 1, 2007.

The Company has analyzed filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions.  As a result of this review, the Company determined that no adjustments to the estimated value of its uncertain tax positions were necessary. Accordingly, upon the adoption of FIN No. 48 no charge to retained earnings was required. The estimated value of the Company’s uncertain tax positions is a liability of approximately $1.7 million. The liability for uncertain tax positions is included in accrued expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2007. If the Company’s positions are sustained by the taxing authorities in favor of the Company, the Company’s income tax provision would be reduced by approximately $1.7 million.

The Company has identified federal, New York and New Jersey as “major” tax jurisdictions. The periods subject to examination for the Company’s federal return are years 2002 through 2006. The periods subject to examination for the Company’s New York return are years 2003 through 2006. The periods subject to examination for the Company’s New Jersey return are years 2001 through 2006.

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 each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.



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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE J — BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company operates in two reportable business segments  — wholesale and direct-to-consumer. The wholesale segment is the Company’s primary business, that designs, markets and distributes household products to retailers and distributors. The direct-to-consumer segment is comprised of the Company’s business that sells household products directly to the consumer through Company-operated retail outlet stores and catalog and Internet operations. At June 30, 2007, the Company operated 36 stores under the Farberware® brand name and 40 outlet stores under the Pfaltzgraff® brand name. The Company has segmented its operations in a manner that reflects how management reviews and evaluates the results of its operations. While both segments distribute similar products, the segments are distinct due to their different types of customers and the different methods used to sell, market and distribute the products in each segment.

Management evaluates the performance of the wholesale and direct-to-consumer 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
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2007
 2006
 2007
 2006
(in thousands)
Net sales          
  Wholesale  $ 77,422   $ 68,732   $ 166,594   $ 126,463  
  Direct-to-Consumer  13,949   15,319   28,564   32,009  
   Total net sales  $ 91,371   $ 84,051   $ 195,158   $ 158,472  

 
Income (loss) from operations 
  Wholesale  $   3,461   $   3,218   $     9,013   $     9,495  
  Direct-to-Consumer  (2,957 ) (2,762 ) (7,060 ) (6,051 )
  Unallocated corporate expenses  (2,254 ) (2,047 ) (4,255 ) (3,283 )
   Total income (loss) from operations  $ (1,750 ) $ (1,591 ) $   (2,302 ) $        161  

 
Depreciation and amortization 
  Wholesale  $   1,943   $   1,709   $     3,632   $     2,959  
  Direct-to-Consumer  323   263   669   563  
   Total depreciation and amortization  $   2,266   $   1,972   $     4,301   $     3,522  

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE K — CONTINGENCIES

The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its business. Management does not expect the outcome of any of these matters, individually or collectively, to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

In addition to the matters referred to in the foregoing paragraph, on April 10, 2007, a complaint was filed against the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in which Plaintiff alleges that the Company violated the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003. The Company intends vigorously to defend against the allegations in the complaint.  At this time, the Company cannot provide any evaluation as to the outcome, nor reasonably estimate the amount or range of any loss that may be attributable to this matter.

NOTE L — OTHER

Dividends

Dividends declared in 2007 are as follows:

Dividend Date declared Date of record Payment date
$ 0.0625 February 9, 2007 February 9, 2007 February 16, 2007
$ 0.0625 April 25, 2007 May 4, 2007 May 18, 2007
$ 0.0625 July 20, 2007 August 3, 2007 August 17, 2007


Supplemental cash flow information

Six Months Ended
June 30,
2007
 2006
  (in thousands)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
Cash paid for interest  $3,157   $1,207  
Cash paid for taxes  5,347   7,741  

 
Non-cash investing activities: 
Reclassification of property and equipment to building held for sale  5,073   -  

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LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2007
(unaudited)

NOTE L — OTHER (continued)

Building held for sale

In January 2007, the Company moved its corporate headquarters to a new leased facility where it occupies approximately 114,000 square feet of space. Prior thereto, the Company’s corporate headquarters were located in a 47,000 square foot building owned by the Company, which the Company has put up for sale. The net book value of the land, building, and building improvements is approximately $5.1 million and it has been classified as building held for sale in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2007. On July 24, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the building for $9.3 million.

Ekco S.A.B

On June 8, 2007 the Company signed a definitive agreement to purchase a 29.99% interest in Ekco, S.A.B. (“Ekco”) for approximately 241.2 million Mexican Pesos ($22.1 million based on forward exchange rate discussed below) based upon the estimated closing date. Ekco is one of Mexico’s leading housewares companies and manufactures and sells cookware, bakeware, kitchenware, cutlery, dinnerware, flatware and related items under the Ekco®, Vasconia®, Regal®, H. Steele®, Presto® and Thermos® brands. Shares of Ekco’s capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, S.A. de C.V., (the Mexican Stock Exchange), under the symbol BMV: EKCO. The agreement provides for the Company to appoint four new directors to Ekco’s 11-member Board of Directors. The agreement also provides mechanisms whereby the Company would be able to acquire 100% ownership of Ekco or, conversely, to require Ekco to repurchase the Company’s ownership interests. The Company anticipates the transaction will close in 2007. The transaction is subject to government, regulatory and corporate approvals and conditions.

On July 31, 2007 the Company entered into a forward contract to purchase 239.8 million Mexican Pesos at an exchange rate of 10.90 Mexican Pesos to the U.S. Dollar on October 31, 2007.

Distribution center lease

On June 29, 2007, the Company entered into a ten year lease agreement (the “Lease”) for approximately 753,170 square feet of warehouse and distribution space in Fontana, California. The facility will serve as the Company’s main West Coast distribution center to which all of the Company’s current West Coast distribution facilities will be consolidated. Annual rent is approximately $3.3 million at the onset of the Lease and will increase over the term of the Lease to approximately $4.5 million. The Lease contains two renewal options for five years each. The Company expects to occupy the space by December 1, 2007.

Subsequent event

On July 19, 2007, the Company acquired the Gorham®, Kirk Stieff®, Whiting™ and Durgin™ sterling silver businesses, including certain trademarks, fixed assets and working capital, from Lenox Group Inc. (“Lenox”) for a total purchase price, subject to a working capital adjustment, of $8.8 million. As part of the transaction the Company also entered into a long-term licensing agreement with Lenox under which the Company will exclusively license from Lenox the Gorham®, Kirk Stieff®, Whiting™ and Durgin™ trademarks in connection with the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of sterling silver products.



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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. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2007 and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with 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, 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 the Company as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended not presented herein and in our report dated March 6, 2007, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph for the Company’s adoption of the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (Revised 2004) Share-Based Payment, effective January 1, 2006. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which was derived.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Melville, New York
August 2, 2007



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ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and notes thereto set forth in Item 1. This discussion contains forward-looking statements relating to future events and the future performance of the Company based on the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about it and the Company’s industry. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results and timing of various events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, as more fully described in this section and elsewhere in this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Overview

The Company is a leading designer, developer and marketer of a broad range of nationally branded consumer products. The Company’s three major product categories and the products that are included in each of the categories are as follows:

Food Preparation   Tabletop   Home Décor  
Kitchenware  Flatware  Wall Décor 
Cutlery & Cutting Boards  Crystal  Picture Frames 
Bakeware & Cookware  Dinnerware  Non-electric Lighting 
Pantryware & Spices  Glassware  Lawn & Garden Décor 
Fondues  Serveware  Seasonal Decorations 
   Tabletop Accessories    
   Barware    
   Giftware    

In addition the Company sells products in the Bath Hardware and Accessories product category.

The Company sells and markets its products under various brands which are either owned or licensed.

Brands owned by the Company and the products marketed under these brands include: Elements® (Wall Décor, Non-electric Lighting, Lawn & Garden Décor and Seasonal Decorations), Pfaltzgraff® (Dinnerware and Pantryware & Spices), Kamenstein® (Pantryware & Spices), Wallace Silversmiths® (Flatware, Serveware, Giftware and Tabletop Accessories), Towle Silversmiths® (Flatware, Serveware, Giftware and Tabletop Accessories), International® Silver Company (Flatware, Serveware, Giftware and Tabletop Accessories), Tuttle® (Flatware, Serveware, Giftware and Tabletop accessories), Melannco International® (Picture Frames), Gemco® (Glassware, Serveware, Tabletop Accessories and Bath Hardware and Accessories), Roshco® (Kitchenware and Bakeware & Cookware), Block® (Crystal, Dinnerware and Giftware), Hoan® (Kitchenware), USE® (Bath Hardware & Accessories), Hoffritz® (Cutlery & Cutting Boards, Kitchenware, Tabletop Accessories and Bakeware & Cookware), Rochard® (Tabletop Accessories), Retroneu® (Flatware), CasaMôda® (Barware), Cuisine de France® (Cutlery & Cutting Boards and Bakeware & Cookware), Baker’s Advantage® (Bakeware), Pomerantz® (Pantryware & Spices) and Design for Living®(Pantryware & Spices).



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Brands licensed by the Company and the products marketed under these brands include: KitchenAid® (Kitchenware, Cutlery & Cutting Boards and Bakeware & Cookware), Farberware® (Kitchenware and Cutlery & Cutting Boards, Flatware, Dinnerware and Serveware), Cuisinart® (Kitchenware, Cutlery & Cutting Boards, Dinnerware and Pantryware & Spices), Sabatier® (Cutlery & Cutting Boards, Bakeware & Cookware, Kitchenware and Serveware), Hershey®’s (Fondues), Calvin Klein® (Dinnerware), Pedrini® (Kitchenware and Barware), Sasaki® (Crystal, Glassware, Dinnerware, Serveware and Flatware), Joseph Abboud Environments® (Dinnerware), Nautica® (Dinnerware and Glassware), Jell-O® (Bakeware & Cookware), Weir in Your Kitchen™ (Bakeware & Cookware) and DBK™ Daniel Boulud Kitchen (Pantryware & Spices).

The Company markets several product lines within each of the Company’s product categories and under each of the Company’s brands, primarily targeting moderate to premium price points, through every major level of trade. At the heart of the Company is a strong culture of innovation and new product development. The Company developed or redesigned over 3,000 products in 2006 and expects to develop or redesign approximately 3,600 products in 2007. The Company has been sourcing its products in Asia for over 46 years and currently sources its products from approximately 400 suppliers located primarily in China. The Company produces its sterling silver flatware at its manufacturing facility in San German, Puerto Rico, where it fabricates and manufactures sterling silver into finished products under the Wallace Silversmiths®, Towle Silversmiths®, International® Silver Company and Tuttle® Brands.

Over the last several years, the Company’s sales growth has come from: (i) expanding product offerings within the Company’s current categories, (ii) developing and acquiring new brands and product categories and (iii) entering new channels of distribution, primarily in the United States. Key factors in the Company’s growth strategy have been, and will continue to be, the selective use and management of the Company’s strong brands and the Company’s ability to provide a steady stream of new products and designs. A significant element of this strategy is the Company’s in-house design and development team that currently consists of approximately 100 professional designers, artists and engineers. This team creates new products, packaging and merchandising concepts. Utilizing the latest available design tools, technology and materials, the Company works closely with its suppliers to enable efficient and timely manufacturing of its products.

In April 2006, the Company acquired the business and certain assets of Syratech Corporation (“Syratech”), a designer, importer, manufacturer and distributor of a diverse portfolio of tabletop, home décor and picture frame products. The assets acquired included Syratech’s registered trademarks including Wallace Silversmiths®, Towle Silversmiths®, International® Silver Company, Melannco International® and Elements® and a license to market Cuisinart® branded tabletop products.

Business Segments

The Company operates in two reportable business segments  — wholesale and direct-to-consumer. The wholesale segment is the Company’s primary business that designs, markets and distributes household products to retailers and distributors. The direct-to-consumer segment is comprised of the Company’s business that sells household products directly to the consumer through Company-operated retail outlet stores and catalog and Internet operations. At June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company operated 76 stores and 87 stores, respectively, under the Farberware® and Pfaltzgraff® brand names. The Company has segmented its operations in a manner that reflects how management reviews and evaluates the results of its operations. While both segments distribute similar products, the segments are distinct due to their different types of customers and the different methods used to sell, market and distribute the products in each segment.

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 2006, 2005 and 2004, net sales for the third and fourth quarters accounted for 65%, 71% and 63% of total annual net sales, respectively. Operating profits earned in the third and fourth quarters of 2006, 2005 and 2004 accounted for 99%, 83% and 92% of total annual operating profits, respectively. In anticipation of the pre-holiday shipping season inventory levels increase primarily in the June through October time period.



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Sales in the Company’s direct-to-consumer segment are heavily weighted to the holiday shopping season in the latter part of the year and operating expenses, such as salaries and rent, are largely fixed throughout the year. As a result, the direct-to-consumer segment generally recognizes losses in the first three quarters of the year.

Sales for Syratech that the Company acquired in April 2006 are also heavily weighted toward the second half of the year due to the nature of the products that they sell and, therefore, Syratech generally incurs operating losses in the first half of the year.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company expected that it would report a net loss in each of the first two quarters of 2007.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Other than the Company’s adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes that is described in the Note I to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided 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 dated December 31, 2006. The adoption of FIN No. 48 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



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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 below.

Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2007
 2006
 2007
 2006
Net sales   100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
Cost of sales  56.8   57.3   57.9   56.8  
Distribution expenses  12.8   13.0   12.8   13.4  
Selling, general and administrative expenses  32.3   31.5   30.5   29.7  
Income (loss) from operations  (1.9 ) (1.8 ) (1.2 ) 0.1  
Interest expense  1.7   1.1   1.6   0.7  
Loss before income taxes  (3.6 ) (2.9 ) (2.8 ) (0.6 )
Income tax benefit  (1.4 ) (1.1 ) (1.1 ) (0.2 )
Net loss  (2.2 )% (1.8 )% (1.7 )% (0.4 )%

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2007 AS COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 2006

Net Sales

Net sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 were $91.4 million, an increase of 8.7% over net sales of $84.1 million for the 2006 period.

Net sales for the Company’s wholesale segment were $77.4 million, an increase of $8.7 million or 12.6% over net sales of $68.7 million for the 2006 period. Quarter-to-quarter net sales comparisons for the wholesale segment were impacted by the acquisition of Syratech on April 27, 2006. Excluding Syratech’s net sales of $20.9 million and $15.5 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, wholesale net sales were $56.5 million for the 2007 quarter, an increase of $3.3 million or 6.2% over net sales of $53.2 million for the 2006 period. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to sales growth in the Company’s food preparation product category.

Net sales for the direct-to-consumer segment for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 were $14.0 million compared to net sales of $15.3 million for the 2006 period. The decrease in net sales was primarily attributable to a reduction in the number of Farberware® and Pfaltzgraff® stores at June 30, 2007 (76 stores) compared to June 30, 2006 (87 stores) and to lesser extent lower comparable store sales due to certain promotional sales events that occurred in the 2006 period were not repeated in the 2007 period.



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Cost of Sales

Cost of sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 was $51.9 million, compared to $48.2 million for the 2006 period. Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 56.8% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 57.3% for the 2006 period.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales in the wholesale segment was 60.7% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 61.0% for the 2006 period. This improvement in gross margin was attributable to favorable product mix.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales in the direct-to-consumer segment improved to 35.3% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 41.1% for the 2006 period. The increase in gross profit margin was due primarily to the impact of planned reductions of the aggressive sale promotions that occurred in the 2006 period.

Distribution Expenses

Distribution expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 were $11.7 million, an increase of $800,000, or 7.2%, over distribution expenses of $10.9 million for the 2006 period. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 12.8% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 13.0% for the 2006 period.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales in the Company’s wholesale segment improved to 11.7% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 12.9% for the 2006 period. This improvement was due principally to the impact of the Syratech business acquired in April 2006, which has a much higher proportion of their sales shipped direct to retailers from overseas suppliers than the Company’s other major product lines. Excluding Syratech, distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 13.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 14.7% for the 2006 period. This improvement was due primarily to lower fees charged by the Company’s third party logistic provider.

Distribution expenses for the direct-to-consumer business were approximately $2.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to $2.0 million for the 2006 period. The increase in expenses was attributable to higher receiving and storage costs in the 2007 period associated with the higher inventory levels, including cookware, that is necessary to support planned future sales, and higher shipping and handling costs for the increase in catalog and Internet sales.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 were $29.5 million, an increase of $3.0 million, or 11.1%, over the $26.5 million of selling, general and administrative expenses for 2006 period.

The Company measures operating income by segment excluding certain unallocated corporate expenses that are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Unallocated corporate expenses for the quarters ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 were $2.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively. Unallocated corporate expenses for the quarters ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 include $533,000 and $330,000 of stock option expense, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 in the Company’s wholesale segment were $17.9 million, an increase of $3.1 million or 21.2% over the $14.8 million of selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2006 period, and as a percentage of net sales was 23.1% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 21.5% for the 2006 period. The higher percentage relationship reflects the added costs of the Company’s new leased headquarters in Garden City, the additional costs of the Company’s new SAP business enterprise system and the effect of including Syratech for a full quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s direct-to-consumer segment decreased by $424,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 to $9.3 million and as a percentage of net sales was 66.9% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared to 63.7% for the 2006 period. The percentage increase is the result of an increase in store operating expenses due to the termination in 2006 of a contract the Company had with a third party who occupied 30% of the floor space in each Farberware® store and reimbursed the Company for 30% of the related expenses of the stores.



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INDEX

Loss From Operations

Loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $1.8 million compared to a loss from operations of $1.6 million for the 2006 period.

The Company measures operating income by segment excluding certain unallocated corporate expenses.

Income from operations for the wholesale segment for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $3.5 million, compared to $3.2 million for the 2006 period and, as a percentage of net sales, was 4.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 4.6% for the 2006 period.

The direct-to-consumer segment incurred an operating loss of $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared to an operating loss of $2.8 million for the 2006 period.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $1.5 million compared with $827,000 for the 2006 period. The increase in interest expense was attributable to the 4.75% Convertible Notes that the Company issued in June 2006.

Income Tax Benefit

Income tax benefit for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $1.3 million, compared to $943,000 for the 2006 period. The Company’s marginal income tax rate was 38.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.

SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2007 AS COMPARED TO THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 2006

Net Sales

Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $195.2 million, an increase of 23.1% over net sales of $158.5 million for the 2006 period.

Net sales for the Company’s wholesale segment were $166.6 million, an increase of $40.1 million or 31.7% over net sales of $126.5 million for the 2006 period. Year-over-year net sales comparisons for the wholesale segment were impacted by the acquisition of Syratech on April 27, 2006. Excluding Syratech’s net sales of $45.1 million and $15.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, wholesale net sales were $121.5 million for the 2007 period, an increase of 9.5% over net sales of $111.0 million for the 2006 period. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to sales growth in the Company’s food preparation product category.

Net sales for the direct-to-consumer segment for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $28.6 million compared to net sales of $32.0 million for the 2006 period. The decrease in net sales was primarily attributable to a reduction in the number of Farberware® and Pfaltzgraff® stores at June 30, 2007 (76 stores) compared to June 30, 2006 (87 stores) and to lesser extent lower comparable store sales due to certain promotional sales events that occurred in the 2006 period were not repeated in the 2007 period.



23

INDEX

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $113.0 million, compared to $90.1 million for the 2006 period. Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 57.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 56.8% for the 2006 period.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales in the wholesale segment was 61.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 59.7% for the 2006 period. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to the impact of the Syratech business acquired in April 2006, as Syratech’s products generally are sold at lower gross profit margins than the average margin of the Company’s other major product categories. Excluding Syratech, cost of sales as a percentage of net sales for the wholesale business improved to 57.5% during the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 58.2% for the 2006 period. This improvement in gross margin was attributable to favorable product mix.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales in the direct-to-consumer segment improved to 37.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 45.7% for the 2006 period. The increase in gross profit margin was due primarily to the impact of planned reductions of the aggressive sale promotions that occurred in the 2006 period.

Distribution Expenses

Distribution expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $25.0 million, an increase of $3.8 million, or 18.1%, over distribution expenses of $21.2 million for the 2006 period. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 12.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 13.4% for the 2006 period.

Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales in the Company’s wholesale segment improved to 11.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 13.4% for the 2006 period. This improvement was due principally to the impact of the Syratech business acquired in April 2006, which has a much higher proportion of its sales shipped direct to retailers from overseas suppliers than the Company’s other major product lines. Excluding Syratech, distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 13.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 14.3% for the 2006 period. This improvement was due primarily to lower fees charged by the Company’s third party logistic provider.

Distribution expenses for the direct-to-consumer business were approximately $6.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $4.3 million for the 2006 period. The increase in expenses was attributable to higher receiving and storage costs in the 2007 period associated with the higher inventory levels, including cookware, that is necessary to support planned future sales, and higher shipping and handling costs for the increase in catalog and Internet sales.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $59.4 million, an increase of $12.4 million, or 26.3%, over the $47.0 million of selling, general and administrative expenses for 2006 period.

The Company measures operating income by segment excluding certain unallocated corporate expenses that are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Unallocated corporate expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 were $4.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Unallocated corporate expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 include $966,000 and $330,000 of stock option expense, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 in the Company’s wholesale segment were $36.2 million, an increase of $11.5 million or 46.4% over the $24.7 million of selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2006 period, and as a percentage of net sales was 21.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 19.5% for the 2006 period. The higher percentage relationship reflects the added costs of the Company’s new headquarters in Garden City, the additional costs of the Company’s new SAP business enterprise system and the inclusion of Syratech for the full period in 2007.



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Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s direct-to-consumer segment decreased by $113,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007 to $19.0 million and as a percentage of net sales was 66.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 59.8% for the 2006 period. The percentage increase is the result of an increase in store operating expenses due to the termination in 2006 of a contract the Company had with a third party who occupied 30% of the floor space in each Farberware® store and reimbursed the Company for 30% of the related expenses of the stores.

Income (Loss) From Operations

Loss from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $2.3 million compared to income from operations of $161,000 million for the 2006 period.

The Company measures operating income by segment excluding certain unallocated corporate expenses.

Income from operations for the wholesale segment for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $9.0 million, compared to $9.5 million for the 2006 period and, as a percentage of net sales, was 5.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 7.4% for the 2006 period. The lower operating profit margin was attributable to the Syratech business that was acquired in April 2006 which generated an operating loss for the 2007 period. Excluding Syratech, the wholesale segment’s operating profit margin was 9.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 10.0% for the 2006 period.

The direct-to-consumer segment incurred an operating loss of $7.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared to an operating loss of $6.1 million for the 2006 period.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $3.1 million compared with $1.1 million for the 2006 period. The increase in interest expense was due primarily to an increase in debt levels in 2007 including the Company’s 4.75% Convertible Notes that were issued in June 2006.

Income Tax Benefit

Income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $2.1 million, compared to $392,000 for the 2006 period. The Company’s marginal income tax rate was 38.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 39.1% for the 2006 period. The decrease in the marginal tax rate is due to lower state apportionment factors.



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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 Credit Facility. The Company’s primary uses of funds consist of acquisitions, capital expenditures, funding for working capital increases, payments of principal and interest on its debt and payment of cash dividends.

At June 30, 2007, the Company had a $150 million secured credit facility, with an accordion feature for an additional $50 million, (the “Credit Facility”) that expires in April 2011. Borrowings under the Credit Facility are secured by all of the assets of the Company. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the Company is required to satisfy certain financial covenants, including covenants providing limitations on indebtedness, sale of assets and capital expenditures, a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. At June 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. Borrowings under the Credit Facility have different interest rate options that are based either on an alternate base rate, the LIBOR rate or the lender’s cost of funds rate, plus in each case a margin based on a leverage ratio. At June 30, 2007, the Company had $2.3 million of open letters of credit, $39.6 million of short-term borrowings and $22.5 million of long-term borrowings outstanding under its Credit Facility, and as a result, the availability under the Credit Facility at June 30, 2007 was $85.6 million. Interest rates on the outstanding borrowings at June 30, 2007 ranged from 5.20% to 6.08%.

In June 2006, the Company issued $75 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 (the “Notes”). The Company used the proceeds from the Notes to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility. The Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $28.00 per share, subject to adjustment in certain events. The Notes bear interest at 4.75% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year and are unsubordinated except with respect to the Company’s debt to the extent secured by the Company’s assets. The Notes mature on July 15, 2011.

At June 30, 2007, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.2 million, compared to $150,000 at December 31, 2006.

The Company has declared the following dividends in 2007:

Dividend
Date declared
Date of record
Payment date
$ 0.0625 February 9, 2007 February 9, 2007 February 16, 2007
$ 0.0625 April 25, 2007 May 4, 2007 May 18, 2007
$ 0.0625 July 20, 2007 August 3, 2007 August 17, 2007


Capital expenditures were $11.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and $3.9 million for the 2006 period. The Company’s 2007 planned capital expenditures are estimated at $16.0 million. The increase in capital expenditures is the result of expenditures related to leasehold improvements at the Company’s new headquarters in Garden City, New York and expenditures related to the Company’s new SAP business enterprise system. These expenditures are expected to be funded from current operations and, if necessary, borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility.

The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents, internally generated funds and existing credit arrangement will be sufficient to finance its operations for at least the next twelve months.

The results of operations of the Company for the periods discussed have not been significantly affected by inflation or foreign currency fluctuation. The Company negotiates all of its purchase orders with its foreign manufacturers in United States dollars. Thus, the cost of the Company’s purchase orders is generally not subject to change after the time the order is placed. However, the weakening of the United States dollar against local currencies could lead certain manufacturers to increase their United States dollar prices for products. Although there can be no assurance, the Company believes it would be able to compensate for any such price increase.



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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include information concerning Lifetime Brands, Inc.‘s (the “Company’s”) plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future revenues, performance, capital expenditures, financing needs and other information that is not historical information. Many of these statements appear, in particular, under the heading “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” 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 on Form 10-Q. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed as forward-looking statements are set forth in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, included under the heading “Risk Factors.” As described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others:

• The Company's relationship with key customers;

• The Company's relationship with key licensors;

• The Company's dependence on foreign sources of supply and foreign manufacturing;

• The level of competition in the Company's industry;

• Changes in demand for the Company's products and the success of new products;

• Changes in general economic and business conditions which could affect customer payment practices or consumer spending;

• Industry trends;

• Increases in costs relating to manufacturing and transportation of products;

• The seasonal nature of the Company's business;

• Departure of key personnel;

• The timing of orders received from customers;

• Fluctuations in costs of raw materials;

• Encroachments on the Company's intellectual property;

• Product liability claims or product recalls;

• The increased size of the Company's direct-to-consumer retail business; and

• Future acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses.

• Complexities associated with a multi-channel and multi-brand business.

• Reliance on a third-party logistics provider.

• Noncompliance with applicable regulations including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

• Limited experience in the table top and home décor product categories.

• Risks associated with the Company’s Internet operations.

• Technological risks.

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.



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Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. The Company is exposed to market risk associated with changes in interest rates. The Company’s revolving credit facility bears interest at variable rates and, therefore, the Company is subject to increases and decreases in interest expense on its variable rate debt resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. There were no changes in interest rates that would have a material impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company for the three-month period ended June 30, 2007.

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 June 30, 2007, that the Company’s 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 SEC’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

  In April 2007, the Company implemented a new ERP system which involved changes in internal controls inherent in the Company’s systems and other data processing controls. There were no other 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.



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PART II -   OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A.   Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The following proposals were submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company and approved at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held on June 7, 2007:

  (1)   Election of the following eight directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified:

    For   Withheld  
Fiona Dias  11,445,654   249,300  
Michael Jeary  11,391,150   303,804  
Sheldon Misher  11,390,738   304,216  
Cherrie Nanninga  11,391,099   303,855  
Craig Phillips  9,854,581   1,840,373  
Ronald Shiftan  9,799,604   1,895,350  
Jeffrey Siegel  9,855,440   1,839,514  
William Westerfield  11,456,795   238,159  

  (2)   Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company:

For   Against   Abstain  
11,396,047  292,693  6,214 

Item 6.   Exhibits

Exhibit 31.1   Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and President, 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.

Exhibit 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.

Exhibit 32.1   Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and President, 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.


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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 August 6, 2007
  Jeffrey Siegel  
  Chief Executive Officer and President  
  (Principal Executive Officer)  


  /s/ Laurence Winoker August 6, 2007
  Laurence Winoker  
  Senior Vice President - Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer  
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)  

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Jeffrey Siegel, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lifetime Brands, Inc. (“the registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-14 and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))) for the registrant and have:

a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

    a.   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

    b.   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:   August 6, 2007

/s/ Jeffrey Siegel
Jeffrey Siegel
Chief Executive Officer and President

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Laurence Winoker, certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lifetime Brands, Inc. (“the registrant”);

  2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-14 and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))) for the registrant and have:

    a.   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

    b.   designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

    c.   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

    d.   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

    a.   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

    b.   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:   August 6, 2007

/s/ Laurence Winoker
Laurence Winoker
Senior Vice President - Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.1

Certification by Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and President, 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.

I, Jeffrey Siegel, Chief Executive Officer and President, and I, Laurence Winoker, Senior Vice President - Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, of Lifetime Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each hereby certifies that:

  (1)   The Company’s periodic report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007 (the “Form 10-Q”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

  (2)   The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Jeffrey Siegel /s/ Laurence Winoker
Jeffrey Siegel Laurence Winoker
Chief Executive Officer and President Senior Vice President - Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 6, 2007 Date: August 6, 2007

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 1350 has been provided to Lifetime Brands, Inc. and will be retained by Lifetime Brands, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, upon request.