Acme United Corporation Acquires the Assets of Hawktree Solutions, Inc.

SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that it has acquired selected assets of Hawktree Solutions, Inc., a supplier of first aid and survival kits, medical supplies, and training. The Company was in receivership and the purchase price was approximately $1.0 million.

Hawktree has the exclusive license for first aid, safety, and survival products with the Canadian Red Cross. Annual revenues in prior years averaged approximately $4.0 million. The business will be operated from our facilities in Laval, Canada. The acquisition is expected to be accretive starting in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Walter C. Johnsen, Chairman and CEO, said, “Hawktree Solutions will expand our product line of first aid and survival items that are focused on devastating fires, floods, and earthquakes. We intend to work closely with the Canadian Red Cross to deliver outstanding products to those impacted by natural disasters. In the short term, we will be re-activating the Hawktree website, filling existing orders, and working with customers on new programs.”

About Acme United
ACME UNITED CORPORATION is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative safety solutions and cutting technology to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets. Its leading brands include First Aid Only^®, First Aid Central^®, PhysiciansCare^®,  Spill Magic^®, Westcott^®, Clauss^®, Camillus^®, Cuda^®, DMT^®, and Med-Nap. For more information, visit www.acmeunited.com.  

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

Forward-looking statements in this report, including without limitation, statements related to the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may impact the Company’s business, operations and financial results.

These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the following: (i) changes in the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, which may be made at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the impact of uncertainties in global economic conditions, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by pandemics, natural disasters, or otherwise, including trucker shortages, port closures and delays, and delays with container ships themselves; (iv) the continuing adverse impact of inflation, including product costs, and interest rates; (v) potential adverse effects on the Company, its customers, and suppliers resulting from the war in Ukraine; (vi) labor related costs the Company has and may continue to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (vii) currency fluctuations including, for example, the fluctuation of the dollar against the euro; (viii) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment; (ix) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (x) the impact of competition; (xi) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; (xii) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; (xiii) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position, including the imposition of new tariffs or changes in existing tariff rates; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.