Lifetime Brands Reports EPS of $0.40 for Third Quarter of 2009

Net income for the quarter was $4.9 million, as compared to a net loss of $1.1 million in the same period last year. Diluted income per common share was $0.40, as compared to a loss of $0.09 per common share in the 2008 quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, which the Company defines as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, restructuring expenses and stock option expense, as shown in the table below, was $12.3 million for the 2009 quarter, as compared to $11.5 million in the 2008 period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Adjusted EBITDA was $17.9 million, as compared to $6.4 million in 2008.

Net sales for the quarter were $111.4 million, as compared to $140.6 million in 2008.

Net wholesale sales were $106.3 million, a decrease of $18.0 million, as compared to net wholesale sales of $124.3 million in 2008. Approximately one-half of the decrease reflects, in the 2009 quarter, the absence of sales to Linens 'N Things, the non-recurrence of sales of excess inventory in connection with our June 2008 purchase of Mikasa and the discontinuance of certain low-margin sales to a direct response retailer.

Net sales for the Company's Direct to Consumer business during the quarter were $5.1 million, consisting only of net sales from its e-commerce websites and mail order catalogs. Direct to Consumer sales in the corresponding 2008 quarter were $6.5 million, excluding $9.9 million in net sales from the Company's retail outlet stores that were closed in 2008.

Jeffrey Siegel, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "I am pleased to report that Lifetime's strong market position, driven by its premier brands and its commitment to innovation, enabled the Company to perform well notwithstanding the weak economy.

"Throughout the year, retailers sharply trimmed inventories, which now are the lowest in memory. This has had a negative effect on sales, as inventory replenishment generally was at rates below those of retail sell-throughs. While it appears that the sell-down of retail inventories has now run its course, I believe retailers will continue carefully to manage their inventories in a conservative manner for the foreseeable future.

"Despite these challenges, Lifetime achieved new placements in all categories and significantly increased its market share in several product areas, including dinnerware, picture frames and its newest category, water bottles and thermal coffee mugs.

"Grupo Vasconia SAB posted a strong quarter. Net sales and net income, in Mexican Pesos, were up more than 30% and 118%, respectively. These gains were driven by strong increases in sales of kitchen and tabletop products across all distribution channels. Sales of aluminum blanks and other commodity products produced by its mill operations decreased, reflecting both lower demand and lower world aluminum prices. For the quarter, Lifetime's equity in Grupo Vasconia's earnings, net of taxes, increased to $727 thousand, as compared to $390 thousand in 2008, notwithstanding a weaker Mexican Peso in the 2009 period.

"Reflecting the success of our ongoing restructuring activities, Selling, General and Administrative Expense ("SG&A") decreased by $9.4 million, a reduction of 28.9%, as compared to the same quarter in 2008. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A was 20.7%, as compared to 23.1% for the same period last year.

"The initiative to reduce and rationalize inventory levels, which began in 2007, continued to produce the desired results. Inventory at September 30, 2009 was $126.5 million, as compared to $141.6 million at December 31, 2008, a decrease of 10.7%, and $170.6 million at September 30, 2008, a decrease of 25.8%. This initiative is ongoing and I expect to see continuing progress in the fourth quarter and throughout 2010.

"Lower inventory levels, combined with improved operating results, enabled the Company to reduce its bank borrowings, which, at September 30, 2009, were $65.3 million, a reduction of $52.8 million, as compared to September 30, 2008, and of $26.1 million, as compared to December 31, 2008.

"Despite some recent positive economic news, the retail environment remains challenging, especially as retailers continue to trim their selections and focus on maintaining leaner inventory levels. On the other hand, I believe these conditions will benefit those suppliers that quickly can adapt to new circumstances and can provide retailers with innovative new products at those price points at which consumers are most comfortable. Consequently, I believe Lifetime is well positioned for the Holiday Season and for 2010."

Third-Quarter 2009 Conference Call

Lifetime has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third-quarter 2009 results. The dial-in number for the call is 706-679-7464; the conference ID is #37259599. A live webcast of the call will be broadcast at the Company's web site, www.lifetimebrands.com.

A replay of the call will also be available through November 12, 2009 and can be accessed by dialing 706-645-9291, conference ID #37259599. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, an audio replay of the call will also be available on the site.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release contains non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of income, balance sheets, or statements of cash flows of the Company; or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company has provided reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are provided because management of the Company uses these financial measures in maintaining and evaluating the Company's on-going financial results and trends. Management uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance

Forward-Looking Statements

In this press release, the use of the words "believe," "could," "expect," "may," "positioned," "project," "projected," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent the Company's current judgment about possible future events. The Company believes these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Such factors might include, among others, the Company's ability to comply with the requirements of its credit agreement; the availability of funding under that credit agreement; the Company's ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; changes in general economic conditions which could affect customer payment practices or consumer spending; the impact of changes in general economic conditions on the Company's customers; changes in demand for the Company's products; shortages of and price volatility for certain commodities; significant changes in the competitive environment and the effect of competition on the Company's markets, including on the Company's pricing policies, financing sources and an appropriate level of debt.

Lifetime Brands, Inc.

Lifetime Brands is North America's leading resource for nationally branded kitchenware, tabletop and home decor products. The Company markets its products under many of the industry's best known brands, including Farberware(R), KitchenAid(R), Pfaltzgraff(R), Mikasa(R), Cuisinart(R), Calvin Klein(R), CasaModa(R), Gorham(R), Hoffritz(R), International(R) Silver, Kirk Stieff(R), Nautica(R), Pedrini(R), Roshco(R), Sabatier(R), Sasaki(R), Towle(R) Silversmiths, Tuttle(R), Wallace(R) and Vasconia(R). Lifetime's products are distributed through most major retailers in North America.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
                                                                   Three Months Ended            Nine Months Ended
                                                                   September 30,                 September 30,
                                                                   2009           2008           2009           2008
Net sales                                                          $  111,422     $  140,624     $  286,970     $  331,217
Cost of sales                                                         69,778         86,096         181,032        200,989
Distribution expenses                                                 10,313         14,104         30,863         40,260
Selling, general and administrative expenses                          23,061         32,464         68,583         94,750
Restructuring expenses                                                671            4,595          832            7,582
Income (loss) from operations                                         7,599          3,365          5,660          (12,364 )
Interest expense                                                      (3,294  )      (2,870  )      (9,061  )      (8,206  )
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of Grupo     4,305          495            (3,401  )      (20,570 )
Vasconia, S.A.B.
Income tax benefit (provision)                                        (153    )      (1,936  )      (569    )      8,256
Equity in earnings of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B., net of taxes            727            390            1,637          1,354
NET INCOME (LOSS)                                                  $  4,879       $  (1,051  )   $  (2,333  )   $  (10,960 )
BASIC INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE                               $  0.41        $  (0.09   )   $  (0.19   )   $  (0.92   )
DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE                             $  0.40        $  (0.09   )   $  (0.19   )   $  (0.92   )

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
                                                                      September 30,      December 31,
                                                                      2009               2008
                                                                      (unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents                                             $    899           $    3,478
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $11,371 at 2009 and $14,651        71,915             67,562
at 2008
Inventory                                                                  126,455            141,612
Income taxes receivable                                                    226                11,597
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                  8,203              8,429
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                                       207,698            232,678
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net                                                45,065             49,908
INTANGIBLES, net                                                           37,824             38,420
INVESTMENT IN GRUPO VASCONIA, S.A.B.                                       19,231             17,784
OTHER ASSETS                                                               3,565              2,991
TOTAL ASSETS                                                          $    313,383       $    341,781
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank borrowings                                                       $    62,863        $    89,300
Accounts payable                                                           27,819             24,151
Accrued expenses                                                           28,571             36,530
Deferred income tax liabilities                                            436           --
Income taxes payable                                                       127           --
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                  119,816            149,981
DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES                                23,259             23,054
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                                      3,841              3,373
CONVERTIBLE NOTES                                                          69,840             67,864
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, shares authorized: 25,000,000; shares       120                120
issued and outstanding: 12,023,059 in 2009 and 11,989,724 in 2008
Paid-in capital                                                            128,983            127,497
Accumulated deficit                                                        (23,850 )          (21,515 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                       (8,626  )          (8,593  )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                 96,627             97,509
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                            $    313,383       $    341,781

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
                                      Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
                                      September 30,               September 30,
                                      2009        2008            2009            2008
                                      (in thousands)
Net income (loss) reported            $   4,879   $   (1,051 )    $   (2,333 )    $   (10,960 )
Add back:
Provision (benefit) for income taxes      153         1,936           569             (8,256  )
Interest expense                          3,294       2,870           9,061           8,206
Depreciation and amortization             2,445       2,512           7,532           7,843
Amortization of bank fees                 325         45              726             110
Restructuring expenses                    671         4,595           832             7,582
Stock option expense                      547         615             1,488           1,843
Adjusted EBITDA                       $   12,314  $   11,522      $   17,875      $   6,368

SOURCE: Lifetime Brands, Inc.

Lifetime Brands, Inc. 
Laurence Winoker, 516-203-3590 
Chief Financial Officer 
investor.relations@lifetimebrands.com 
or 
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc. 
Harriet Fried, 212-838-3777 
Vice President 
hfried@lhai.com