Acme United Corporation Acquires the Assets of My Medic

Rhea-AI Summary

Acme United (NYSE American: ACU) acquired the assets of SLED Distribution d/b/a My Medic on Jan 15, 2026 for a $18.7 million purchase price.

My Medic reported approximately $19 million revenue in 2025, operates from North Salt Lake, Utah with 40 employees, and has a strong direct-to-consumer presence including over 500,000 social media followers. Acme paid $14.6 million at closing; a $4.1 million balance is held back (including a $1.0 million contingent payment tied to 2027 revenue milestones and a $3.1 million indemnity holdback). Acme plans to keep My Medic operations in North Salt Lake and expand product distribution in the U.S. and Canada.

Positive

• Acquired My Medic for $18.7M total purchase price
• My Medic had ~$19M revenue in 2025
• Acme paid $14.6M in cash at closing
• My Medic direct-to-consumer reach: 500,000+ followers

Negative

• $4.1M of purchase price subject to holdbacks
• $1.0M contingent on 2027 revenue milestones
• $3.1M held for potential indemnification claims

News Market Reaction

-0.52%

1 alert

-0.52% News Effect

On the day this news was published, ACU declined 0.52%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

My Medic 2025 revenue: $19 million Acquisition price: $18.7 million Closing payment: $14.6 million +5 more

8 metrics

My Medic 2025 revenue $19 million Revenues in 2025 for acquired My Medic business

Acquisition price $18.7 million Total purchase price for My Medic assets

Closing payment $14.6 million Cash paid at closing for My Medic acquisition

Deferred balance $4.1 million Balance of purchase price subject to holdbacks

Revenue milestone earnout $1,000,000 Contingent on revenue milestones through Dec 31, 2027

Indemnity holdback $3.1 million Non-exclusive recovery source for indemnification claims

Employees 40 My Medic workforce at North Salt Lake, Utah location

Social media followers 500,000+ Followers on My Medic social media platforms

Market Reality Check

Price: $44.03 Vol: Volume 3,855 is about 50%...

low vol

$44.03 Last Close

Volume Volume 3,855 is about 50% of the 20-day average 7,781, indicating muted trading. low

Technical Price $43.92 is trading above the 200-day MA of $40.09, reflecting a pre-existing uptrend.

Peers on Argus

Peers show mixed moves: some up (e.g., EWCZ +8.23%, GROV +1.57%) and some down (...

Peers show mixed moves: some up (e.g., EWCZ +8.23%, GROV +1.57%) and some down (DSY -0.49%), suggesting ACU’s +1.43% move is more stock-specific than sector-driven.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 16 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 16	Dividend declaration	Positive	+2.5%	Board approved a $0.16 per share cash dividend.
Oct 21	Earnings report	Neutral	-1.8%	Q3 2025 net sales up 2% but net income and EPS declined.
Oct 14	Earnings scheduling	Neutral	+0.4%	Announced timing and access details for Q3 2025 results call.
Sep 19	Dividend declaration	Positive	+1.5%	Declared quarterly $0.16 per share cash dividend.
Jul 30	Brand promotion	Positive	-4.7%	Launched National Scissors Day marketing initiative for Westcott brand.

Pattern Detected

Recent news shows mixed price reactions: dividends often saw gains, while promotional or strategic announcements, including an earlier acquisition, sometimes coincided with sell-offs.

Recent Company History

Over the last six months, Acme United has reported steady operations and shareholder returns. Dividend declarations on Sep 19, 2025 and Dec 16, 2025 coincided with modest gains. Q3 2025 results on Oct 21, 2025 showed slightly higher sales but lower net income and a small share-price decline. An earnings release scheduling notice on Oct 14, 2025 had little impact. A marketing initiative for National Scissors Day on Jul 30, 2025 was followed by a larger drop. Today’s acquisition adds to this pattern of strategic expansion alongside varied market reactions.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Acme United’s continued expansion into first aid and emergency response...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Acme United’s continued expansion into first aid and emergency response through the My Medic asset acquisition. The target generated $19 million in 2025 revenue, employs 40 people, and has over 500,000 social media followers, strengthening direct-to-consumer reach. The $18.7 million purchase structure includes a $1,000,000 revenue-based earnout and a $3.1 million indemnity holdback. Investors may watch future filings and updates for integration progress and milestone achievement.

Key Terms

direct-to-consumer, holdbacks, revenue milestones, indemnification claims, +1 more

5 terms

direct-to-consumer financial

"primarily in the direct-to-consumer channel."

A direct-to-consumer (DTC) model is when a company sells its products or services straight to customers, skipping middlemen like retailers or wholesalers. For investors, DTC matters because it can mean higher profit margins, closer customer relationships and faster feedback—like a baker who sells directly from the shop instead of through a grocery chain—while also exposing the business to costs for marketing, customer support and logistics that affect growth and profitability.

holdbacks financial

"The $4.1 million balance of the purchase price is subject to holdbacks as follows:"

A holdback is a portion of a payment or transaction amount that is deliberately withheld for a set period to cover potential problems, like hidden liabilities, returns, or unmet conditions. Think of it as a security deposit in a rental agreement: it reduces the immediate cash received and can be released later if no issues arise, so investors watch holdbacks because they affect near-term cash flow, deal value and the timing of realized returns.

revenue milestones financial

"payment of which is contingent upon certain revenue milestones during the twelve months ended December 31, 2027;"

Revenue milestones are predefined sales thresholds a company aims to reach at specific times, serving as concrete checkpoints to measure growth and execution — like distance markers on a road trip showing how far a traveler has come. Investors watch these milestones because meeting or missing them changes expectations about future cash flow and growth, can affect stock valuation and investor confidence, and may trigger contract payments or changes in strategic plans.

indemnification claims regulatory

"non-exclusive source of recovery primarily to satisfy indemnification claims under the Asset Purchase Agreement."

Indemnification claims are demands for payment when one party seeks reimbursement for losses, costs or legal bills that another party agreed to cover. Think of it like asking a roommate to pay for a broken appliance they promised to insure; for investors, these claims can create sudden cash outflows, change projected profits, and alter the value or risk of a deal or company if the potential payout is large or uncertain.

asset purchase agreement regulatory

"primarily to satisfy indemnification claims under the Asset Purchase Agreement."

An asset purchase agreement is a legal contract in which a buyer agrees to buy specific assets and contracts of a business rather than buying the company’s stock or ownership. It matters to investors because it determines exactly what is being bought and what liabilities stay behind — like buying the furniture and equipment from a store but not the building or past debts — which affects the deal’s value, taxes and future risk exposure.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SHELTON, Conn., Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that it has acquired the assets of SLED Distribution, LLC. (d/b/a “My Medic”), a leading supplier of tactical, trauma and emergency response products, primarily in the direct-to-consumer channel. 
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My Medic had revenues in 2025 of approximately $19 million. Established in 2014, the company is located in North Salt Lake, Utah and employs 40 people.

Walter C. Johnsen, Chairman and CEO of Acme United, said, “We are delighted to welcome the management and team of My Medic to our Company. We believe the combined marketing, distribution, sourcing, and manufacturing capabilities of our two operations will greatly enhance the reach and value of My Medic’s life-saving products.

“My Medic has an extensive library of training videos and over 500,000 followers on its social media platforms. We believe its direct-to-consumer presence for trauma and emergency response products is the strongest in the United States. We intend to keep My Medic’s operations in North Salt Lake and to expand its product offering and distribution in the U.S. and Canada.”

The purchase price of the acquisition was $18.7 million. At closing, the Company paid $14.6 million to My Medic. The $4.1 million balance of the purchase price is subject to holdbacks as follows: (a) $1,000,000, the payment of which is contingent upon certain revenue milestones during the twelve months ended December 31, 2027; and (b) $3.1 million, which is subject to a holdback as a non-exclusive source of recovery primarily to satisfy indemnification claims under the Asset Purchase Agreement. 

Further information on My Medic is available at its website www.mymedic.com.

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®, DMT®, Med-Nap, Safety Made and Elite. 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 press release 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) 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 by the United States or foreign governments; (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 conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; (vi) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by pandemics, natural disasters, including trucker shortages, strikes, port closures or otherwise; (vii) labor related costs the Company has and may continue to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (viii) currency fluctuations; (ix) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment; (x) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (xi) the impact of competition; (xii) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; and (xiii) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:	Paul G. Driscoll	Acme United Corporation	1 Waterview Drive	Shelton, CT 06484
	Phone: (203) 254-6060	FAX: (203) 254-6521

FAQ

What did Acme United (ACU) acquire on January 15, 2026?

Acme United acquired the assets of SLED Distribution d/b/a My Medic for a total purchase price of $18.7M.

How much revenue did My Medic generate in 2025 and why does it matter for ACU?

My Medic reported approximately $19M in 2025 revenue, providing Acme with an established direct-to-consumer revenue stream.

How was the $18.7M purchase price paid by Acme United (ACU)?

Acme paid $14.6M at closing and $4.1M remains subject to holdbacks, including a $1.0M contingent payment and a $3.1M indemnity holdback.

Will My Medic operations move after the ACU acquisition?

Acme intends to keep My Medic operations in North Salt Lake, Utah and expand distribution in the U.S. and Canada.

What investor risk is associated with the My Medic acquisition by ACU?

Investors should note $4.1M of the purchase price is contingent or held back, which could reduce final consideration paid to sellers.