The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP" or "US GAAP"). The results of operations represent the results of operations of the Company’s acquired businesses from the date of their acquisition by the Company, and therefore may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Trust and the Company, as well as the businesses acquired as of their respective acquisition date. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Discontinued operating entities are reflected as discontinued operations in the Company’s results of operations and statements of financial position.

The acquisition of businesses that the Company owns or controls more than a 50% share of the voting interest are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. The amount assigned to the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed is based on the estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition, with the remainder, if any, recorded as goodwill.

The Company completed the sale of Wheelhouse Holdings, Inc. ("Marucci") during the fourth quarter of 2023, Compass AC Holdings, Inc. ("Advanced Circuits or "ACI") during the first quarter of 2023 and Liberty Safe Holding Corporation ("Liberty") during the third quarter of 2021. The results of operations of Marucci and ACI are reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The results of operations of Liberty are reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for year ended December 31, 2021. Refer to "Note D - Discontinued Operations" for additional information. Unless otherwise indicated, the disclosures accompanying the consolidated financial statements reflect the Company's continuing operations.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements. These estimates are based on historical factors, management’s best knowledge of current events and actions the Company may undertake in the future. It is possible that in 2023 actual conditions could be better or worse than anticipated when the Company developed the estimates and assumptions, which could materially affect the results of operations and financial position in the future. Such changes could result in future impairment of goodwill, intangibles and long-lived assets, inventory obsolescence, establishment of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets and increased tax liabilities, among other things. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

At the time of the Company's Initial Public Offering, the Company issued Allocation Interests governed by the LLC agreement that entitle the holders (the "Holders") to receive distributions pursuant to a profit allocation formula upon the occurrence of certain events. The Holders are entitled to receive and as such can elect to receive the positive contribution based profit allocation payment for each of the business acquisitions during the 30-day period following the fifth anniversary of the date upon which the Company acquired a controlling interest in that business (a "Holding Event") and upon the sale of that business (a "Sale Event"). The payment to the Holders for a Sale Event is based on the pre-tax gain from the sale of the business. Payments of profit allocation to the Holders are accounted for as dividends declared on Allocation Interests and recorded in stockholders' equity once they are approved by our Board of Directors.

The Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods or services, and excludes any sales incentives or taxes collected from customers which are subsequently remitted to government authorities. Refer to "Note E - Revenue" for a detailed description of the Company's revenue recognition policies.

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Certain cash account balances held in domestic financial institutions exceed FDIC insurance limits of $250,000 per account and, as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts in excess of the insurance limits. We monitor the financial stability of these financial institutions and believe that we are not exposed to any significant credit risk in cash or cash equivalents. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the amount of cash and cash equivalents held by our subsidiaries in foreign bank accounts was $24.8 million and $24.4 million, respectively.

Trade receivables are reported on the consolidated balance sheets at cost adjusted for any write-offs and net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company uses estimates to determine the amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts in order to reduce accounts receivable to their estimated net realizable value. The Company estimates the amount of the required allowance by reviewing the status of past-due receivables and analyzing historical bad debt trends. The Company’s estimate also includes analyzing existing economic conditions. When the Company becomes aware of circumstances that may impair a specific customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations subsequent to the original sale, the Company will record an allowance against amounts due, and thereby reduce the net receivable to the amount it reasonably believes will be collectible. Balances that remain outstanding after the Company has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. The Company's Lugano operating segment has adopted the practical expedient available under the revenue recognition accounting standard whereby for revenue contracts that have an original duration of one year or less, Lugano does not consider the time value of money and does not recognize a financing component on trade receivables where the period between the transfer of a promised good to a customer and the customer’s payment for that good will be one year or less.

in, first-out method or average cost method. At our Lugano business, cost is determined based on specific identification. Cost includes raw materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead and indirect overhead. Net realizable value is based on current replacement cost for raw materials and supplies and on estimated selling costs less reasonably predictable costs of completion, and disposal for finished goods. The net realizable value of the Company’s inventory is estimated based on historical experience, current and forecasted demand and other market conditions. In addition, reserves for inventory losses are estimated based on historical experience. The Company’s inventory reserves are estimates, which could vary significantly from actual results if future economic conditions, customer demand or competition differ from expectations. The Company's historical estimates of these adjustments have not differed materially from actual results.

Property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets that have definitive lives are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable (‘triggering event’). Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the asset is reviewed to assess whether the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected from the use of the asset plus residual value from the ultimate disposal exceeds the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated recoverable amounts, the asset is written down to its fair value.

The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to their short term nature. The fair value of the Company's senior notes are based on interest rates that are currently available to the Company for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, the Senior Notes would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company allocates the amount it pays for each acquisition to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the date of acquisition, including identifiable intangible assets which arise from a contractual or legal right or are separable from goodwill. The Company bases the fair value of identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination on detailed valuations that use information and assumptions provided by management, which consider management’s best estimates of inputs and assumptions that a market participant would use. The Company allocates any excess purchase price that exceeds the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired to goodwill. The use of alternative valuation assumptions, including estimated growth rates, cash flows, discount rates and estimated useful lives could result in different purchase price allocations and amortization expense in current and future periods. Transaction costs associated with these acquisitions are expensed as incurred through selling, general and administrative expense on the consolidated statement of operations. In those circumstances where an acquisition involves a contingent consideration arrangement, the Company recognizes a liability equal to the fair value of the contingent payments expected to be made as of the acquisition date. The Company re-measures this liability each reporting period and records changes in the fair value through operating income within the consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company is required to perform impairment reviews at each of its reporting units annually and more frequently in certain circumstances. In accordance with accounting guidelines, the Company is able to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative goodwill impairment test.

The first step of the process after the qualitative assessment fails is estimating the fair value of each of its reporting units based on a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model using revenue and profit forecast and a market approach which compares peer data and earnings multiples. The Company then compares those estimated fair values with the carrying values, which include allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, then a goodwill impairment is recorded.

The Company cannot predict the occurrence of certain future events that might adversely affect the implied value of goodwill and/or the fair value of intangible assets. Such events include, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on its customer base, and material adverse effects in relationships with significant customers. The impact of over-estimating or under-estimating the implied fair value of goodwill at any of the reporting units could have a material effect on the results of operations and financial position. In addition, the value of the implied goodwill is subject to the volatility of the Company’s operations which may result in significant fluctuation in the value assigned at any point in time.

Deferred debt issuance costs represent the costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments and are amortized over the life of the related debt instrument. Deferred debt issuance costs are presented in the consolidated balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability.

The Company recognizes warranty costs based on an estimate of the amounts required to meet future warranty obligations. The Company accrues an estimated liability for exposure to warranty claims at the time of a product sale based on both current and historical claim trends and warranty costs incurred. Warranty reserves are included within "Accrued expenses" in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Certain of the Company’s segments have operations outside the United States, and the local currency is typically the functional currency. The financial statements are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at year-end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during the year for results of operations. The resulting translation gain or loss is included in stockholders' equity as other comprehensive income or loss.

Deferred income taxes are calculated under the asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Deferred income taxes are provided for the differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes at the enacted tax rates.

A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is expected to more likely than not be realized. Several of the Company’s majority owned subsidiaries have deferred tax assets recorded at December 31, 2023 which in total amounted to approximately $107.0 million. This deferred tax asset is net of $10.5 million of valuation allowance primarily associated with the realization of domestic and foreign net

operating losses, domestic and foreign tax credits and the limitation on the deduction of interest expense. These deferred tax assets are comprised primarily of reserves not currently deductible for tax purposes. The temporary differences that have resulted in the recording of these tax assets may be used to offset taxable income in future periods, reducing the amount of taxes required to be paid. Realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent on generating sufficient future taxable income at those subsidiaries with deferred tax assets. Based upon the expected future results of operations, the Company believes it is more likely than not that those subsidiaries with deferred tax assets will generate sufficient future taxable income to realize the benefit of existing temporary differences, although there can be no assurance of this. The impact of not realizing these deferred tax assets would result in an increase in income tax expense for such period when the determination was made that the assets are not realizable.

We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 740 - Income Taxes, on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

Effective September 1, 2021 (the "Effective Date"), the Trust elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the "Election"). Prior to the Effective Date, the Trust was treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the Trust’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction flowed through from the Trust to the shareholders, and the Trust shareholders were subject to income taxes on their allocable share of the Trust’s income and gain. After the Effective Date, the trust is taxed as a corporation and is subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax at the Trust level, but items of income, gain, loss and deduction will not flow through to Trust shareholders. Trust shareholders will no longer receive an IRS Schedule K-1. After the Effective Date, distributions from the Trust will be treated as dividends to the extent the Trust has accumulated or current earnings and profits. If the Trust does not have current or accumulated earnings and profits available for distribution, then the distribution will be treated as a return of capital and reduce Trust shareholders’ basis in their shares.

Prior to the Effective Date, each of the Company’s majority owned subsidiaries were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The election did not change the tax status of any Company subsidiary, and each majority owned Company subsidiary is still treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Basic and fully diluted earnings per Trust common share is computed using the two-class method which requires companies to allocate participating securities that have rights to earnings that otherwise would have been available only to common shareholders as a separate class of securities in calculating earnings per share. The Company has granted Allocation Interests that contain participating rights to receive profit allocations upon the occurrence of a Holding Event or a Sale Event, and has issued preferred shares that have rights to distributions when, and if, declared by the Company's board of directors.

The calculation of basic and fully diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of Trust common shares outstanding during the period. Earnings per common share reflects the effect of distributions that were declared and paid to the Holders and distributions that were paid on preferred shares during the period.

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company incurred research and development expense of $14.6 million, $12.3 million and $11.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company and many of its segments sponsor defined contribution retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans. Employee contributions to the plan are subject to regulatory limitations and the specific plan provisions. The Company and its segments may match these contributions up to levels specified in the plans and may make additional discretionary contributions as determined by management. The total employer contributions to these plans were $5.1 million, $4.6 million and $3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company’s Arnold subsidiary maintains a defined benefit plan for certain of its employees which is more fully described in "Note J - Defined Benefit Plan". Accounting guidelines require employers to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and postretirement plans as assets or liabilities in their consolidated balance sheets and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur as a component of comprehensive income.

Earnings of certain of our operating segments are seasonal in nature due to various recurring events, holidays and seasonal weather patterns, as well as the timing of our acquisitions during a given year. Historically, the third and fourth quarter have produced the highest net sales in our fiscal year, however, due to various acquisitions in the last three years, there is generally less seasonality in our net sales on a consolidated basis than there has been historically.

The Company does not have a stock based compensation plan; however, all of the Company’s subsidiaries maintain stock based compensation plans under which some form of stock compensation, typically stock options or profit interests, is issued to employees and outside directors of each subsidiary. The fair value of the awards are estimated on the date of grant using a pricing model and assumptions specific to the subsidiary that granted the stock award. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, $10.7 million, $12.0 million, and $9.8 million of stock based compensation expense was recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2023, the amount to be recorded for stock-based compensation expense in future years for unvested options is approximately $48.5 million.