Company Achieves Third Consecutive Year of Double-Digit Annual Revenue Growth Up 18% to $32.8 Million

2016 GAAP Net Income of $2.7 Million; Non-GAAP Net Income of $4.9 Million

2016 Adjusted EBITDA of $8.5 Million

NEW YORK, March 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:XELB) ("Xcel" or the "Company"), a media and brand management company, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016.

"This was a transformative year for us in which we achieved another year of double-digit revenue growth while continuing to make progress on our strategic plan to better position the company for long-term growth," said Robert W. D'Loren, Xcel's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite a retail environment challenged by an unprecedented cycle of change, we continue to believe our business model has us well-positioned to deliver solutions for today's challenges." He further stated, "I am pleased with the expansion of our department store business with our H Halston brand at Dillard's. We are beginning to see the return on investment from our short lead time production platform."

Full Year 2016 Results
Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased 18% to $32.8 million, compared with $27.7 million in the prior year.

GAAP net income was $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net income of $2.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the prior year. After adjusting for certain cash and non-cash items, non-GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased approximately 21% to $4.9 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared with $6.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, in the prior year. These results are primarily reflective of increased staffing and scaling of our operations and infrastructure in order to support growth in our business.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $0.8 million or approximately 8% to $8.5 million, compared with $9.3 million in the prior year.

See reconciliation tables below for non-GAAP metrics. These non-GAAP metrics may be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies and should only be used in conjunction with our results reported according to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Any financial measure other than those prepared in accordance with GAAP should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2016 remains strong, with stockholders' equity of $106.2 million, cash and cash equivalents of approximately $14.1 million, and working capital of approximately $11.5 million.

Fourth Quarter 2016
Total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 decreased approximately 7% to $6.9 million, compared with $7.5 million for the prior year quarter. This was primarily attributable to strong headwinds experienced by our interactive television partner QVC in the latter part of 2016.

GAAP net income was $2.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with net income of $0.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. After adjusting for certain cash and non-cash items, non-GAAP net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared with $2.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 decreased by approximately 52% to $1.4 million, compared with $3.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a conference call with members of the executive management team to discuss these results with additional comments and details at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. A webcast of the conference call will be available live on the Investor Relations section of Xcel's website at www.xcelbrands.com. Interested parties unable to access the conference call via the webcast may dial 888-542-1101. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company website for 30 days following the event and can be accessed at 844-512-2921 using replay pin number 4121068.

About Xcel Brands
Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:XELB) is a media and brand management company engaged in the design, production, licensing, marketing, and direct-to-consumer sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, jewelry, home goods, and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands. Xcel was founded by Robert W. D'Loren in 2011 with a vision to reimagine shopping, entertainment, and social as one. Xcel owns and manages the Isaac Mizrahi, Judith Ripka, H Halston, C. Wonder, and Highline Collective brands, pioneering a ubiquitous sales strategy which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through direct-response television, internet, brick and mortar retail, and e-commerce channels. Headquartered in New York City, Xcel Brands is led by an executive team with significant production, merchandising, design, marketing, retailing, and licensing experience, and a proven track record of success in elevating branded consumer products companies.  With a team of over 100 professionals focused on design, production, and digital marketing, Xcel maintains control of product quality and promotion across all of its product categories and distribution channels.  Xcel differentiates by design.  www.xcelbrands.com

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "anticipates," "believes," "can," "continue," "ongoing," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "appears," "suggests," "future," "likely," "goal," "plans," "potential," "projects," "predicts," "seeks," "should," "would," "guidance," "confident" or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our anticipated revenue, expenses, profitability, strategic plans and capital needs. These statements are based on information available to us on the date hereof and our current expectations, estimates and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including, without limitation, the risks discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its other filings with the SEC, which may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	14,127		$	16,860
Accounts receivable, net		6,969			7,594
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		807			655
Total current assets		21,903			25,109
Property and equipment, net		2,600			871
Trademarks and other intangibles, net		111,220			112,323
Goodwill		12,371			12,371
Restricted cash		1,509			1,109
Other assets		1,517			343
Total non-current assets		129,217			127,017
Total Assets	$	151,120		$	152,126
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	1,523		$	1,448
Accrued payroll		2,185			1,924
Deferred revenue		234			597
Current portion of long-term debt		6,427			8,918
Current portion of contingent obligations		-			250
Total current liabilities		10,369			13,137
Long-Term Liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current portion		25,495			31,860
Deferred tax liabilities, net		6,901			6,749
Other long-term liabilities		2,181			297
Total long-term liabilities		34,577			38,906
Total Liabilities		44,946			52,043
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding		-			-
Common stock, $.001 par value, 35,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and 18,644,982 and 18,434,634 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		19			18
Paid-in capital		97,354			93,999
Retained earnings		8,801			6,066
Total Stockholders' Equity		106,174			100,083
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	151,120		$	152,126

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	For the Quarter Ended December 31,							For the Year Ended December 31,
		2016				2015			2016				2015
	(unaudited)				(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Revenues
Net licensing revenue	$	6,855			$	7,323		$	32,603			$	27,405
Net e-commerce sales		60				150			151				316
Total revenues		6,915				7,473			32,754				27,721
Cost of goods sold		49				136			196				267
Gross profit		6,866				7,337			32,558				27,454
Operating expenses
Salaries, benefits and employment taxes		3,601				2,601			16,082				12,240
Other design and marketing costs		742				614			3,181				2,375
Other selling, general and administrative expenses		1,112				1,161			4,881				3,643
Facility exit costs		-				-			670				-
Stock-based compensation		973				1,227			4,727				4,640
Depreciation and amortization		388				426			1,560				1,379
Total operating expenses		6,816				6,029			31,101				24,277
Other expenses (income)
Gain on reduction of contingent obligation		(3,409	)			-			(3,409	)			(3,000	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		-				-			-				1,371
Total other income, net		(3,409	)			-			(3,409	)			(1,629	)
Operating income		3,459				1,308			4,866				4,806
Interest and finance expense
Interest expense - term debt		330				295			1,333				1,220
Other interest and finance charges		91				133			515				584
Total interest and finance expense		421				428			1,848				1,804
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		3,038				880			3,018				3,002
Income tax provision		318				121			315				156
Income from continuing operations		2,720				759			2,703				2,846
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net		34				9			34				(272	)
Net income	$	2,754			$	768		$	2,737			$	2,574
Basic net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$	0.15			$	0.04		$	0.15			$	0.18
Discontinued operations, net		0.00				0.00			0.00				(0.02	)
Net income	$	0.15			$	0.04		$	0.15			$	0.16
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$	0.14			$	0.04		$	0.14			$	0.17
Discontinued operations, net		0.00				0.00			0.00				(0.02	)
Net income	$	0.14			$	0.04		$	0.14			$	0.15
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		18,673,760				18,438,585			18,625,670				16,151,163
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		19,042,615				19,406,691			19,044,749				17,223,240

 

Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
	For the Year Ended December 31,
		2016				2015
	(unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	2,737			$	2,574
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net		(34	)			272
Depreciation and amortization expense		1,560				1,379
Amortization of deferred finance costs		205				141
Stock-based compensation		4,727				4,640
Recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts		-				(21	)
Amortization of note discount		245				406
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		168				(394	)
Tax benefit from vested stock grants and exercised options		-				(306	)
Non-cash property exit charge		648				-
Gain on reduction of contingent obligation		(3,409	)			(3,000	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		-				1,371
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		625				(3,931	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(131	)			(187	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities		258				(217	)
Deferred revenue		(363	)			341
Other liabilities		680				119
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations		7,916				3,187
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations, net		-				108
Net cash provided by operating activities		7,916				3,295
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash consideration for asset acquisition of the H Halston Brand		-				(14	)
Cash consideration for asset acquisition of the C Wonder Brand		-				(3,587	)
Cost to acquire additional intangible assets		(26	)			-
Security deposit received related to sublease of former office		400				-
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate		(100	)			-
Disbursement for loan made in exchange for promissory note receivable		(877	)			-
Purchase of property and equipment		(2,160	)			(530	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,763	)			(4,131	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of direct costs		-				16,107
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants		20				65
Tax benefit from vested stock grants and exercised options		-				306
Shares repurchased including vested restricted stock in exchange for withholding taxes		(1,429	)			(748	)
Payment of deferred finance costs		(152	)			(10	)
Payment of long-term debt		(5,500	)			(3,256	)
Payment of earn-out obligations		(425	)			-
Payment of installment obligations related to the acquisition of the Ripka Brand		-				(2,190	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(7,486	)			10,274
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		(2,333	)			9,438
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period		17,969				8,531
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$	15,636			$	17,969
Reconciliation to amounts on consolidated balance sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	14,127			$	16,860
Restricted cash		1,509				1,109
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	15,636			$	17,969
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition of the C Wonder Brand	$	-			$	9,000
Contingent obligation related to acquisition of the C Wonder Brand	$	-			$	2,850
Issuance of common stock as payment for a portion of the Ripka Seller Notes	$	-			$	5,400
Issuance of common stock as payment for a portion of the QVC Earn-Out	$	-			$	2,515
Financing of certain insurance obligations	$	294			$	-
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$	230			$	453
Cash paid during the period for interest	$	1,256			$	1,157

 

	Xcel Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
	Reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures
	(Unaudited)
	Non-GAAP net income:
			Quarter Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
	(amounts in thousands)			2016				2015				2016				2015
	Net income		$	2,754			$	768			$	2,737			$	2,574
	Non-cash interest and finance expense			9				85				245				415
	Stock-based compensation			973				1,227				4,727				4,640
	Loss on extinguishment of debt			-				-				-				1,371
	Gain on reduction of contingent obligations			(3,409	)			-				(3,409	)			(3,000	)
	Non-recurring property exit charges			-				-				670				-
	(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net			(34	)			(9	)			(34	)			272
	Non-GAAP net income		$	293			$	2,071			$	4,936			$	6,272
	Non-GAAP diluted EPS:
			Quarter Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
	Diluted earnings per share		$	0.14			$	0.04			$	0.14			$	0.15
	Non-cash interest and finance expense			-				-				0.01				0.02
	Stock-based compensation			0.05				0.06				0.25				0.27
	Loss on extinguishment of debt			-				-				-				0.08
	Gain on reduction of contingent obligations			(0.18	)			-				(0.18	)			(0.18	)
	Non-recurring property exit charges			-				-				0.04				-
	(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net			-				-				-				0.02
	Non-GAAP diluted EPS		$	0.01			$	0.10			$	0.26			$	0.36
	Weighted average shares - Non-GAAP diluted:
			Quarter Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
	Basic weighted average shares			18,673,760				18,438,585				18,625,670				16,151,163
	Effect of exercising warrants			364,631				872,339				414,131				946,902
	Effect of exercising stock options			4,224				95,767				4,948				125,175
	Weighted average shares - Non-GAAP diluted			19,042,615				19,406,691				19,044,749				17,223,240
	Adjusted EBITDA:
			Quarter Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
	(amounts in thousands)			2016				2015				2016				2015
	Net income		$	2,754			$	768			$	2,737			$	2,574
	Depreciation and amortization			388				426				1,560				1,379
	Interest and finance expense			421				428				1,848				1,804
	Income tax provision			318				121				315				156
	State and local franchise taxes			27				24				102				108
	Stock-based compensation			973				1,227				4,727				4,640
	Loss on extinguishment of debt			-				-				-				1,371
	Gain on reduction of contingent obligations			(3,409	)			-				(3,409	)			(3,000	)
	Non-recurring property exit charges			-				-				670				-
	(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net			(34	)			(9	)			(34	)			272
	Adjusted EBITDA		$	1,438			$	2,985			$	8,516			$	9,304

Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS are non-GAAP unaudited terms. We define non-GAAP net income as net income, exclusive of stock-based compensation, non-cash interest expense from discounted debt related to acquired assets, gain on the reduction of contingent obligations, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-recurring facility exit charges, and net income or loss from discontinued operations. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS measures do not include the tax effect of the aforementioned adjusting items, due to the nature of these items and the Company's tax strategy.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP unaudited measure, which we define as net income before stock-based compensation, interest and other financing costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, gain on the reduction of contingent obligations, income taxes, other state and local franchise taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-recurring facility exit charges, and net income or loss from discontinued operations.

Management uses non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to identify business trends relating to our results of operations. Management believes non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA are also useful because they provide supplemental information to assist investors in evaluating our financial results. Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, earnings per share, or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Given that non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures not deemed to be in accordance with GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, our non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including companies in our industry, because other companies may calculate non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA in a different manner than we calculate these measures. In evaluating non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may or may not incur expenses similar to some of the adjustments in this document. Our presentation of non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA does not imply that our future results will be unaffected by these expenses or any unusual or non-recurring items. When evaluating our performance, you should consider non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including our net income and other GAAP results, and not rely on any single financial measure.

For further information please contact:

Hunter Wells / John Mills
ICR
646-277-1246
Hunter.wells@icrinc.com / John.mills@icrinc.com